WordPress
The open-source CMS that still runs much of the web
4.2Free / open sourceBest for Content-heavy firm sites where ownership matters
CMS Open Source Blogging
Overview
WordPress is the open-source content management system powering roughly 43% of all websites, with a block-based editor and an unmatched ecosystem of themes and plugins. Run it self-hosted for full control or via WordPress.com and managed hosts for convenience. For funds it earns its keep where content is the strategy — long-running thesis blogs, research libraries, multilingual sites — and where owning your stack outweighs the convenience of a closed builder.
Key features
- Open-source CMS with full data ownership
- Gutenberg block editor and site editing
- Tens of thousands of themes and plugins
- Strong SEO foundations and extensions
- REST API and headless deployment options
- Multilingual and multisite capabilities
Pros
- No platform lock-in — your content, your server
- Ecosystem solves nearly any requirement
- Free core keeps costs at hosting level
Cons
- Updates, security and plugins need ongoing maintenance
- Quality varies wildly across the plugin ecosystem
- Polished results usually require a developer or premium theme
