WordPress is popular due to its versatility, user-friendliness, and extensive customization options. It’s a free and open-source platform, making it accessible to a wide range of users, from beginners to experienced developers. Its large community and ecosystem of plugins and themes further contribute to its widespread adoption
- Open Source: Yes, WordPress is open-source software, licensed under the GPLv2. This means the source code is freely available, and anyone can use, modify, and distribute the software.
- Pay Service: While the core WordPress software is free, there are associated costs involved in running a WordPress website, such as:
- Hosting: You’ll need to pay for web hosting to make your website accessible online.
- Domain Name: A custom domain name will also incur a cost.
- Premium Themes and Plugins: While there are numerous free themes and plugins available, many developers offer premium versions with advanced features and dedicated support for a fee.
- Managed WordPress Hosting: Services like WordPress.com offer managed hosting plans that can include a variety of features for a monthly or annual fee, according to Hostinger.
- Who developed it: WordPress was initially created by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, building upon an existing blogging platform called b2/cafelog. The first version was released on May 27, 2003. It has since evolved into a community-driven project with countless contributors worldwide.
- How long it has been in use: WordPress was first released in May 2003, meaning it has been in use for over 22 years