Since its introduction in 2003, WordPress has come a long way. What started as a simple blogging platform has become one of the most used content management systems in the world.
In 2023, WordPress had a market share of over 60% as a CMS and about 43% of all websites. This almost seems too good to be true for WordPress. Which is why lots of people are asking themselves what the future of WordPress is and if WordPress is still going to be relevant in a few years from now. We’ll get to the bottom of it.
What does the Future of WordPress hold for Users?
People still certainly do use WordPress. However, there are already critics saying WordPress is outdated and some would even say it’s dead. That is because these people haven’t had a look at modern WordPress development and genuinely prefer other options. Looking at it from a neutral perspective, we can tell that WordPress’ popularity hasn’t been going down in the last ten years and more. But enough of the past, now we are looking at the future of WordPress. With the release of WordPress 6.4, the focus is clearly on accessibility and improving performance. These focal points provide insight into where the platform will be heading in the coming years. But let’s just take a closer look at the key trends and predictions for the future of WordPress and website designs with one of the most popular CMS in the world.
Progress with the Block Editor and Full Site Editing
“The focus of current WordPress development is now on Gutenberg Phase 3, where the collaboration and workflow environments are being elaborated and greatly expanded.” – Matt Mullenweg
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The evolution of block-based development in WordPress continues with improvements to the Gutenberg block editor. Developers can expect advanced features that simplify the creation of intricate layouts and designs. The focus on reusable blocks will promote site consistency, streamline the development process, and encourage a standardized design approach.
Key features:
- Reusable blocks for consistent design
- Enhanced collaboration tools for team workflows
- Improved user interface for easier editing
More Automation through AI
Matt Mullenweg also stated that he has investigated the combination possibilities of AI tools with a view to the future and established playground blueprints for WordPress. This function enables the creation of playground websites in a natural language. He supports the use and testing of AI tools for WordPress and encourages WordPress users to actively use AI to expand their knowledge.
The benefits of AI integration can be:
- Content optimization: AI-powered tools to enhance SEO and readability
- Personalized recommendations: Tailored content suggestions based on user behavior
- Performance analysis: Automated insights and analytics
Apart from AI-based plugins, augmented and virtual reality technologies are also leading the way for immersive and interactive content in WordPress. These technologies will revolutionize the user experience on WordPress websites, making them more engaging and interactive.
WordPress for Enterprise
Many people are discussing whether WordPress is becoming less relevant because their market share hasn’t been growing for some time. For us that’s not really surprising. As the growth in market share was partly due to the fact that there were still many people who simply didn’t have a website and this market itself therefore continued to grow.
Now that this phase is over, market growth is basically only possible if you target a new audience. Such as enterprises. But when it comes to WordPress for enterprises, the platform is definitely not yet as present in this sector as it could be. That’s why Greyd and other initiatives like the Scale Consortium are actively working to strengthen WordPress for enterprise use.
We from Greyd have already proven in numerous projects that WordPress offers a strong foundation for enterprise solutions. The approach in our case is to offer a comprehensive enterprise product built on WordPress. Rather than selling a pure WordPress project.
WordPress so far offers companies a flexible and scalable solution that can be adapted to the needs of large organizations. With powerful plugins, robust security features and extensive customization options, WordPress is well equipped to gain a foothold in the enterprise market. Future developments will continue to focus on making WordPress even more attractive and functional for large enterprises.
High Focus on Accessibility
Accessibility is a key aspect of web development and there are more and more directives on how to create accessible website content. Therefore digital accessibility will play an even greater role in WordPress in the future.
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Version 6.4 has already brought important improvements in this area, and future updates will continue these efforts. The aim is to make WordPress as accessible as possible so that people with disabilities can use the platform with ease.
This includes:
- Keyboard navigation: Enhanced for easier use
- Screen reader support: Optimized for better accessibility
- Accessible themes and plugins: Ensuring inclusivity
And WordPress will for sure continue to work closely with the community to ensure that the platform meets the latest accessibility standards and enables inclusive use for everybody.
Improved Performance and Security
Performance and security are two of the most important factors for any website, and WordPress is no exception. Future releases will continue to focus on performance optimization and security improvements. By introducing new technologies and best practices, WordPress will become faster and more secure.
- Performance enhancements:
- Lazy loading: Reduces load times
- Improved caching: Boosts speed
- HTTP/3 support: Modern web protocol for faster connections
- Security upgrades:
- Regular updates: Keeps the platform secure
- Better encryption: Protects data integrity
- Enhanced protection: Defends against threats like brute force attacks and malware
The 1-Click Data Migration
According to Matt Mullenweg, another focus for WordPress in 2024 is 1-click data migration from other platforms to WordPress. And also between 2 WordPress websites. This makes it easier for users to switch to WordPress and enables a seamless migration of content and settings.
Matt Mullenweg has encouraged the community in his explanation to become part of this initiative and join the project. All necessary tools will be made available to test the migration tool in a prioritized manner. The purpose of the initiative is to further increase the usability and flexibility of WordPress and help make the platform even more attractive to new users but also to businesses.
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Trends in Plugins and Obsolescence of Page Builders
Plugins are an essential part of the WordPress ecosystem and offer countless expansion options. One interesting observation is the fact that a lot of plugins but also themes and especially page builders will sooner or later become obsolete. Due to Full Site Editing (FSE) and the stronger use of AI they will gradually become unnecessary.
What the future for page builders could look like:
- Full Site Editing: Reduces the need for external page builders
- AI integration: Simplifies design and development processes
- Streamlined workflows: Directly within WordPress, reducing reliance on third-party tools
With the advanced capabilities of the Block Editor and FSE this movement will go even further. This shift could fundamentally change the way websites are created and managed.
Will WordPress still be relevant in the Future?
Looking at WordPress trends it is pretty clear why people still like to use the platform and why WordPress is not only suitable for developers but also for newbies.
It’s safe to say that the near future looks promising for WordPress. The platform will not become obsolete any time soon and will continue to dominate the CMS market. Thanks to continuous development in the areas of user-friendliness, functionality, performance and security, WordPress remains competitive and continues to set standards. However, the future is unpredictable. So everything is possible and the development of WordPress remains exciting.
If you are interested in learning more about the development of WordPress and how to use it in combination with Greyd feel free to book a demo with one of our experts.
