If you run a business in Leeds, Halifax, York or anywhere across God’s Own County, you want a website that looks sharp, loads fast, and does its job without faff. You have probably heard all sorts about WordPress, Wix, Squarespace and Webflow. So, should you still use WordPress in 2025? Short answer, yes, in many cases it is still the most flexible and business friendly way to run a site you actually own. But there are times a simpler builder will do just fine. Let’s break it down in plain English, with real talk for busy Yorkshire SMEs.
Is WordPress still a thing in 2025?
Very much so. WordPress powers a hefty chunk of the web and continues to be the most popular CMS worldwide. People still use WordPress in 2025 for blogs, brochure sites, ecommerce, memberships, directories, and more. It is open source, which means you are not locked into a single provider, and you can move your site between hosts if needed. That freedom matters when your business grows or changes direction.
Do government websites use WordPress? Yes, plenty do, along with universities and big brands. They choose it for flexibility, accessibility options, and the ability to harden security to strict standards.
Can WordPress be used as a CMS?
Absolutely. In fact, that is the core of what it does. With the block editor, often called Gutenberg, you can add headings, images, galleries, buttons and forms with a few clicks. You can set featured images, categories, tags, schedule posts, and control visibility without touching code. For a Yorkshire café adding a seasonal menu, a Halifax accountant posting tax tips, or a Leeds charity updating events, WordPress works as a straightforward CMS you can use day to day.
Is WordPress still the best CMS?
Best depends on your needs, budget, and how much control you want. Here is a straight comparison to help you decide.
- WordPress: Best for control, ownership, and flexibility. Thousands of themes and plugins, from booking systems to ecommerce. You can fine tune speed, SEO, security, and design. Ideal for SMEs that plan to grow or need custom features.
- Wix and Squarespace: Quick to start, tidy templates, hosting included. Great for one person businesses, pop up projects, or a simple brochure site. Less flexible as you grow, and you stay inside their ecosystem.
- Webflow: Powerful visual designer with fine control over layout and interactions. Great for design heavy projects. Costs can rise, and non technical editing can feel fiddly for some teams.
So, should you still use WordPress in 2025? If you want a site you truly own that can evolve with you, yes. If you just need a simple three page site with a phone number and opening hours, a site builder may be enough.
What about speed?
Speed matters for Google and for your customers on patchy mobile data between Ilkley and Skipton. A well built WordPress site can be lightning fast with:
- Sensible hosting and server level caching.
- Modern PHP, tidy themes, and lean plugins.
- Optimised images, web fonts, and lazy loading.
- A content delivery network for broader reach.
The problem is not WordPress itself, it is bloated themes and too many plugins. With a clean build and proper caching, you can get sub two second loads with ease. At Ee‑By‑Gum we pair smart theme choices with performance checks and managed hosting so pages stay snappy.
Is WordPress secure?
Yes, when managed properly. The core platform is secure and updated regularly. Risk creeps in when sites are left untouched for months. The fix is simple, and we follow it on every build:
- Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated.
- Use strong passwords, limit admin accounts, and enable 2FA.
- Install a reputable security plugin to block brute force attempts.
- Harden wp-config and .htaccess, and disable file editing in the dashboard.
- Take regular, off site backups and test restores.
Plenty of public sector sites run on WordPress with strict policies. Your SME can do the same with sensible routines and a watchful eye.
How easy is Gutenberg to use?
If you can drag and drop, you can edit pages. Gutenberg uses blocks, so content is broken into small, manageable pieces. Want an image next to text? Add a columns block. Need a call to action at the end of a service page? Drop in a button and set a link. We also create reusable blocks for things like testimonials and price panels to keep your site consistent and quick to update.
Plugins, without the bloat
The plugin ecosystem is a huge strength. You can add booking forms, ecommerce, events, memberships, multilingual content, and more. The trick is to choose fewer, better plugins. We lean on proven tools, keep versions current, and test updates on a staging site. That way your live site stays stable and fast.
When to choose WordPress
Pick WordPress if you:
- Need more than a simple brochure site.
- Want full control over SEO, speed, and structure.
- Plan to add ecommerce, bookings, memberships, or integrations.
- Care about owning your content and being able to move hosts.
- Have a team who will update content regularly and need permissions.
Local examples:
- Hospitality: menus, booking integrations, gift vouchers, events.
- Professional services: service pages, resources, gated downloads, CRM forms.
- Charities: accessible content, donations, event listings, volunteer sign ups.
- Manufacturers: product catalogues with filters and spec sheets.
When a simpler builder will do
Choose Wix or Squarespace if you:
- Need a basic site this week and budget is tight.
- Will not update the site often.
- Only need a handful of pages and a contact form.
You can always migrate to WordPress later when you outgrow the template. If that time comes, we handle cms migration to wordpress leeds projects with minimal downtime and tidy redirects.
How Ee‑By‑Gum keeps WordPress fast, secure and easy
We build lean, custom WordPress sites, then back them with managed hosting, updates, and ongoing support:
- Design and build: clean layouts, clear scroll paths, strong CTAs, accessible typography.
- Performance: image optimisation, caching, CDN advice, and PHP tuning.
- Security: updates, hardened configs, 2FA, monitoring, and tested backups.
- Editing experience: reusable blocks, sensible content structure, and training.
- Support: troubleshooting, staging tests, and steady improvements as your needs change.
If you want a local web design Leeds partner who speaks your language, we are a friendly wordpress agency leeds that believes websites should graft for a living, not sit pretty.
Quick answers to common questions
- Is WordPress still the most popular CMS? Yes, it still leads the field in 2025 by a wide margin.
- Can WordPress be used as a CMS? Yes, that is exactly what it is, with Gutenberg making editing simple.
- Do people still use WordPress in 2025? Millions do, from sole traders to governments.
- Is WordPress still the best CMS? For flexibility and ownership, often yes, though the best choice depends on your goals.
Bring it back to your business
If you are weighing WordPress against a builder, think about where you will be in 12 to 24 months. If growth, new services, or online sales are on the cards, WordPress gives you room to move without rebuilding from scratch. If you need a simple starter site, that is fine too, we will tell you straight.
Fancy a cuppa and a chat with a Leeds web designer? Book a discovery call and let’s map your options. We can help with wordpress support leeds, performance tweaks, hosting, and fresh builds, all delivered with plain speaking Yorkshire pragmatism.
