WordPress and WooCommerce

WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS), released under the GPLv2-or-later licence. It started in 2003, and according to W3Techs it now runs 40.1% of all websites and 58.6% of the websites whose CMS can be identified (data of 7 October 2026). WooCommerce is an open-source extension that turns a WordPress website into an online store. The articles in this category look at WordPress from a business point of view, from choosing the system to keeping it running.

What WordPress is in practice

• WordPress.org or WordPress.com. The software is the same; the difference is hosting. WordPress.com is a commercial service owned by Automattic, with hosting included. WordPress from WordPress.org is installed on a server you choose and look after yourself.
• Requirements. WordPress.org recommends PHP 8.3 or greater, MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.11 or greater, and HTTPS support.
• Cost. The licence is free. You pay for hosting, premium themes and plugins, and for time — yours or a developer's.
• Duties. Running your own installation means keeping the core, theme and plugins updated and having backups.

Where to start

• What to build your company website on — WordPress next to website builders and other routes, with the cost of leaving each. For readers still choosing.
• WordPress setup — hosting, addresses and indexing before any content goes in.
• WordPress themes and what a WordPress page builder costs — Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi, and when they stop paying.

Upkeep and security

• Website updates and website security — plugin vulnerabilities and access control.
• 500, 502, 503 and 504 errors — including the WordPress critical error.
• Website migration and website maintenance services — moving hosts and what a maintenance contract covers.

WordPress compared, and WooCommerce

• Headless CMS, PHP vs JavaScript and website tools.
• WooCommerce: e-commerce platform comparison, ecommerce website cost, free online store, store templates and ecommerce SEO.