Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

WordPress.com VS ProcessWire

Compare WordPress.com VS ProcessWire and see what are their differences

WordPress.com logo WordPress.com

Create a free website or build a blog with ease on WordPress.com. Dozens of free, customizable, mobile-ready designs and themes. Free hosting and support.

ProcessWire logo ProcessWire

ProcessWire is a PHP5-based open source CMS/CMF built to save you time and make development fun at any scale. It works the way you do.
  • WordPress.com Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-03
  • ProcessWire Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-04

WordPress.com features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    WordPress.com provides a user-friendly interface that is easy for beginners to navigate. It offers pre-installed themes and plugins, making it simple to get started with a minimal learning curve.
  • Maintenance-Free
    The platform handles all the technicalities such as updates, backups, and security, allowing users to focus solely on creating content.
  • Cost-Effective
    There are free plans available, and even the paid plans are relatively affordable. It eliminates the need for a separate hosting service, reducing overall costs.
  • Built-In Community
    WordPress.com hosts a large community of users, providing opportunities for networking and increased visibility through its social features.
  • Scalability
    Various premium plans allow you to scale up as your website grows. You can start with a free plan and upgrade to more advanced features as needed.

Possible disadvantages of WordPress.com

  • Limited Customization
    You have less control over your website's design and functionality compared to self-hosted WordPress. Custom themes and plugins are often restricted or not allowed.
  • Monetization Restrictions
    Free and lower-tier plans have limitations on monetization options. For instance, you can't use third-party ad networks unless you upgrade to a higher-tier plan.
  • Less Flexibility
    The platform is less flexible compared to self-hosted solutions. Certain advanced features and customizations are not available or are limited.
  • Data Portability
    Migrating your site from WordPress.com to another platform can be complicated and may require technical assistance, posing a challenge if you decide to move.
  • Price for Advanced Features
    While the basic plans are affordable, the cost can add up if you choose to add advanced features and services. Some premium options can be relatively expensive.

ProcessWire features and specs

  • Flexibility
    ProcessWire allows you to define custom content types, fields, and templates, providing great flexibility for different types of projects.
  • User-Friendly API
    The API is simple and intuitive, making it easy for developers to interact with the CMS and retrieve or manipulate data.
  • Scalability
    Due to its robust architecture, ProcessWire can handle a large number of pages and high traffic, making it suitable for both small and large websites.
  • Security
    ProcessWire places a strong emphasis on security, offering features like CSRF protection, secure user authentication, and other best practices.
  • Community Support
    The platform has a strong, active community that contributes plugins, modules, and offers support through forums and documentation.
  • Performance
    ProcessWire is known for its high performance, thanks to its efficient core and caching mechanisms.
  • Customizable Admin Interface
    The admin interface is highly customizable, allowing you to tailor it to fit the needs of your clients or project requirements.

Possible disadvantages of ProcessWire

  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a learning curve, especially if they are not familiar with PHP or custom CMS development.
  • Limited Ready-to-Use Themes
    While ProcessWire offers great flexibility, it lacks a large selection of ready-to-use themes compared to other CMS platforms like WordPress.
  • Third-Party Module Dependency
    Some advanced functionalities require third-party modules, which may not always be actively maintained or could introduce security risks.
  • Documentation
    While the existing documentation is good, some users find it lacking in certain advanced areas, requiring more detailed guidance.
  • Smaller Ecosystem
    ProcessWire has a smaller ecosystem compared to more popular CMS platforms, meaning fewer plugins, themes, and community contributions.
  • Hosting Requirements
    It requires a more robust hosting setup than simpler CMS platforms, which could be a con for smaller projects with limited resources.

WordPress.com videos

WordPress.COM Review: Is it really easier than WordPress.ORG?

More videos:

  • Review - Wordpress.com Review: Good For Users Familiar with Wordpress
  • Review - WORDPRESS.COM REVIEW 2020: THE BEST WEBSITE BUILDER?! | PROS AND CONS | TECH TIME #110
  • Review - WordPress.org VS WordPress.com: The Confusing Differences Explained!
  • Review - Should You Use WordPress.com? | WordPress.com Honest Review

ProcessWire videos

WordPress vs. ProcessWire - Bootstrapping

More videos:

  • Demo - ProcessWire Module Demo - MarkInPageTree
  • Demo - ProcessWire Module Demo - Admin Actions

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to WordPress.com and ProcessWire)
CMS
91 91%
9% 9
Website Builder
98 98%
2% 2
Blogging
64 64%
36% 36
Website Design
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare WordPress.com and ProcessWire

WordPress.com Reviews

WordPress vs. Proprietary Site Builders: What to Know Before Starting a Website Development Project
WordPress: WordPress.org (not to be confused with WordPress.com) is an open-source content management system (CMS). When you build a website on WordPress, you own the code, the design, and the data. This means you can fully customize your site, transfer it to any hosting provider, and have complete control over all aspects of the website. The site can be hosted on any...
Comparing 9 WordPress alternatives & competitors in 2024
WordPress.com claims affordability as one of their best benefits. Their pricing plans are similar to other website platforms like Wix, but many of the plugins and assets that add crucial features like product listings and SEO tools come at a steep cost. Even if you only add one or two plugins, like WooCommerce or Yoast, you’ll spend more on add-ons than on the website...
Source: webflow.com
19 Best WordPress Alternatives in 2025
While WordPress is undeniably popular, it might not be the perfect fit for everyone. Here are the key differences between WordPress.com (hosted platform) and WordPress.org (self-hosted software) to help you understand more about WordPress and why you should look for an alternative website builder:
Source: www.pixpa.com
The 17 Best Wix Alternatives (2024) Who Else Can You Build Your Website With?
WordPress is the undisputed king of CMS or Content Management Systems. From blogs to online stores, there isn’t much you can’t do with this powerful website building solution. Keep in mind that WordPress comes in two versions: WordPress.org and WordPress.com.
8+ Best Cheap Domain Name Providers in 2024 [Compared]
WordPress.com has grown to become one of the leading domain registration companies in the industry in the past few years. While they strive to keep their prices competitive, they also maintain a high level of service quality and customer support.
Source: themehunk.com

ProcessWire Reviews

11 Popular Free And Open Source WordPress CMS alternatives in 2021
Processwire is a friendly, powerful open source CMS with a strong API.ProcessWire gives you more control over your fields, templates, and markup than other platforms, while ProcessWire’s API makes working with your content easy and enjoyable.
Source: medevel.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, WordPress.com seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1020 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

WordPress.com mentions (1020)

View more

ProcessWire mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ProcessWire yet. Tracking of ProcessWire recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing WordPress.com and ProcessWire, you can also consider the following products

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

WiX - Create a free website with Wix.com. Customize with Wix' website builder, no coding skills needed. Choose a design, begin customizing and be online today

Drupal - Drupal - the leading open-source CMS for ambitious digital experiences that reach your audience across multiple channels. Because we all have different needs, Drupal allows you to create a unique space in a world of cookie-cutter solutions.

SquareSpace - Squarespace is the easiest way for anyone to create an exceptional website. Pages, galleries, blogs, e-commerce, domains, hosting, analytics, 24/7 support - all included.

Ghost - Ghost is a fully open source, adaptable platform for building and running a modern online publication. We power blogs, magazines and journalists from Zappos to Sky News.

Hostinger - Everything You Need to Create a Website