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WordPress 2 min read · Updated July 2026

Is WordPress Hard to Use? Sometimes, But It’s Worth It (Here’s Why)

AK
Ajay Khandal
WordPress Developer
TL;DR

WordPress can feel overwhelming at first because it's open-source, relies on third-party plugins and themes, and gives you enough control to make design mistakes without a developer's help. The difficulty comes mostly from having too many choices, not from the platform itself being fundamentally complex. Most business owners find it's worth the learning curve, or worth hiring help, because of the flexibility and ownership it provides over cheaper site builders.

Why WordPress is worth it

There are many benefits of working with WordPress, making it a leading platform for web creators.

In this post, we will discuss the benefits and disadvantages of using WordPress. Also, we will be discussing some strategies to create great websites with WordPress.

You may find WordPress hard to use but trust me it is worth it. It all depends on where you are coming from and what you’re trying to build. Not just the newbies but some experienced people also might struggle with WordPress.

Why is WordPress hard to use?

Some of the reasons for WordPress being hard to use have been listed below:

  • One of the biggest reasons why WordPress may seem to be complicated is that it’s an open-source content management system (CMS). This means that to make a WordPress site, you first need to take the WordPress software and install it on your web hosting.
  • WordPress relies on a third-party extension.
  • Plugins and themes give you a lot of control over your site. However, they also create complications because they all come from different third-party developers.
  • Creating the perfect design may feel overwhelming with WordPress.
  • If you’re not an experienced WordPress Developer may actually feel very overwhelming. Being responsible for your site’s design can be a lot of work.
  • There are a lot of dashboard settings.
  • There are a number of settings contained within the settings.
  • Terms – There are a lot of WordPress terms to be learned. For example, “posts vs pages”, “permalinks”, “blocks”, “widgets”, etc.

Why WordPress is still preferred by the professionals and is the right choice

The reason that WordPress is complicated is not justified enough to not use it.

The reason for WordPress being the right choice is that it strikes the right balance between flexibility and simplicity. It powers over 37 per cent of websites on the internet for a reason. You don’t need to be a WordPress expert to use it effectively. All you need to do is to figure out how to use it effectively and efficiently.

There are ways to make the use of WordPress easier

  • Use managed WordPress hosting
  • Use a website builder like Elementor
  • Limit how many plugins you use
  • Use a lightweight, streamlined theme
  • Get involved in the WordPress community.

Conclusion

WordPress gives you the right balance between flexibility and simplicity. Though it has its own disadvantages, you can use it to build websites from start to finish.

To dive deeper, see five things to know before building a WordPress site.

AK

Written by Ajay Khandal

WordPress Developer — building, fixing and speeding up WordPress sites.

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