WordPress

When it comes to features, WordPress offers more than any site owner will use.

Templates

Getting started with a template (called a “theme” on WordPress) is easy. You can search what type of theme you want (portfolio, blog, wedding, etc.), browse by price (free versus premium), or filter by subject, number of columns, layout, and more. Some themes are flagged as being beginner-friendly, which is a good choice for anyone building their first site. In all, WordPress offers hundreds of themes, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one that suits your needs.

Plugins

WordPress has a plugin for pretty much everything. Just browse the plugins store from your WordPress dashboard and choose the one you want. Many of the most popular plugins are free or free with limited features. Some plugins are automatically built in (such as for social media, stats, and form builders), but you can also add thousands of other plugins. Some popular plugins that people choose to install include Yoast and WooCommerce. One of the things that makes WordPress so appealing is that you can also develop your own plugin if you need to, which is why you can find so many useful ones in the store. Developers from all over the world upload their plugins for email marketing, social media, calendars, and many other useful features for site owners to install. Before installing, you can see how updated the plugin is, it’s reviews, description, and who developed it.

Blog

WordPress is most appealing to bloggers and site owners that plan on hosting a blog. Once a site is set up, adding and editing blog posts is very easy. Just click Posts, Add New, and enter the texts. The basic editing options are similar to Microsoft Word, though more advanced users can edit the HTML and CSS code or install plugins for more formatting capabilities.

Comments

Because WordPress is so blog-friendly, you already have the comments section built-in for all posts and pages. This can easily be managed or turned off at any time, and comments can be viewed and approved in the dashboard.

There are hundreds of WordPress templates available. With certain plans (free, Blogger, and Personal) the number of themes is more limited, however, those with Premium, Business, and eCommerce plans have access to unlimited premium themes. Each template will have different features, so make sure to look for one that has the features you need. If you’re new to building a website, you may prefer to choose a theme with the “Beginner” ribbon on it.

WordPress has a support section on their site with a lot of documentation as well as forums to ask questions and get help from others. If you have signed up for a paid plan (starting at just $4/month), you’re eligible for email support. If you’ve signed up for the Personal, Premium, Business, or eCommerce plan, you also will have access to live chat support.