Is WordPress Still a Suitable Choice for Article/News-Based Sites in 2022?

WordPress, once the go-to CMS for a wide range of websites, has long been a favorite for news and article-based sites. But with the rise of other options like Drupal or custom combinations, the question arises: is WordPress still a good fit for such large-scale operations?

Myths and Misconceptions

There is a prevalent myth that WordPress is not suitable for large-scale websites processing tens of thousands to millions of page views daily. Yet, many well-known and highly trafficked sites like BBC America, Time, TechCrunch, New York Post, and CNN use it successfully. My work experience with a major publisher further supports this. We manage sites that see several million page views per day, and WordPress remains our platform of choice.

It's important to recognize that choosing a CMS is a strategic decision based on your current and future needs. Just because some prefer other options like Drupal doesn't mean it's inherently right for everyone. Many people choose WordPress because it works for them and suits their content and scale.

Alternatives and Suitability

There are other options that can be equally or more suitable for specific needs. Webflow is a great choice if you value a stunning design and performance, offering solutions that perform better than most WordPress sites. Ghost CMS is ideal if you don't need extensive customization, as it focuses on simplicity and content publishing. JAMstack (JavaScript, APIs, and Markdown) solutions provide blazing fast performance, but they require more coding and expertise.

When considering WordPress, it's important to avoid using mainstream page builders like Elementor or Divi. These are often recommended for affiliate commissions rather than practical benefits. They are suitable for small projects or personal websites but may not be ideal for serious business needs.

Pros and Cons of WordPress

WordPress offers immense value in terms of customization, with an extensive collection of experienced developers and plugins addressing nearly every situation. This means you can achieve virtually any functionality you need. However, it comes with several drawbacks:

It requires more setup work compared to other modern solutions. WordPress isn't the cheapest option, with additional expenses for features like cookies, pop-forms, and caching plugins. The codebase can be quite extensive, which can be challenging to manage.

Cost Considerations

To run a serious WordPress-based website, you can expect the following recurring costs:

Hosting: most good plans start around $15/month. Themes: GenePress is an excellent choice and costs around $60/year. SEO Plugins: you have options like SEOpress ($40/year) or the free RankMath alternative. Caching Plugins: $49/year. CDN: you can use the free plan of Cloudflare.

These expenses add up, and even without including developer costs, you're looking at a minimum of around $300/year.

Personal Experience

I've personally used Ghost because I don't require extensive customization and prefer simplicity. Ghost is easier to manage and fits my current needs more than a full-featured CMS like WordPress.

Ultimately, the best CMS is the one that works for your specific requirements. While WordPress may not be the easiest or cheapest option, it offers unparalleled flexibility and a vast ecosystem of resources. For most, the effort and expense are justified by the results it can deliver.