In this guide, we’ve handpicked 15 unique WordPress website examples that stand out for their ideas, storytelling, and design choices.

Some attract significant traffic, while others serve smaller but highly engaged communities. All of them use WordPress.com in thoughtful, creative ways.

Along the way, you’ll see practical design and content ideas you can apply to your own site, whether you’re starting fresh or refining what you already have.

1. Hidden Gem Animal Rescue: Foster-based rescue organization

• Website type: Nonprofit
• Theme: Custom 

Logan and Murphy founded Hidden Gem Animal Rescue out of a shared love for animals.

While many animal welfare websites rely on gloomy colors and emotional imagery to drive support, this animal rescue takes a different visual approach. 

Working with Automattic’s Special Projects team, the organization chose a soft pastel palette that feels optimistic and hopeful, bringing youthful energy to a serious cause.

Because the muted colors feel quieter, bolder tones stand out — the founders’ picture and mission statement catch your eyes instantly.

The playful language reframes the tough realities of pet adoption into celebratory moments.

For example, Hidden Gem Animal Rescue describes the adopted kittens as “Rescue Graduates.” 

It calls to mind our college graduation, a universally joyful milestone — exactly how adoptions should be.

What we love about this website

• The Welsh Corgi separates the hero section from the remaining content. It adds adorable appeal, unlike a standard divider line or color block. 
• Hidden Gem Animal Rescue deliberately chose an image of a Corgi with its head tilted. The dog’s gaze refocuses your attention to the call-to-action (CTA) button, nudging you to adopt a pet.

Tip: WordPress.com supports all types of websites. With pre-built templates, styles, plugins, and patterns, you can quickly design a personal, small business, or ecommerce site. Paid plans include managed hosting, unlimited bandwidth, and expert support.

2. Job.blog: Personal and professional blog

• Website type: Personal and business blog
• Theme: Twenty Twenty-Five

“Focus on one topic to build an authoritative blog,” — that’s the common advice to new bloggers.

Job’s blog goes against the grain.

A longtime WordPress.com user before joining the company, Job wrote about theology and culture.

These days, he blogs about technology and leadership as the Chief Customer Officer at WooCommerce. It’s rare to hear from a customer, let alone an employee deep in the ecosystem.

The website serves as a creative outlet for Job to express his opinions freely. 

Fun fact: Job created his blog via the WordPress.com Site Editor with no custom code.

What we love about this website

• The masonry layout of photos is a visual feast. Despite the different heights and widths, the photo journals flow organically, creating a scrollable experience.   

• The 404 page injects humor to ease frustration when users can’t access a page. The Pulp Fiction “Looking Confused” GIF acknowledges the awkwardness and lightens the mood.

Tip: Likewise, you can use humor in your 404 page to show your personality. To customize the default 404 error page template on WordPress.com, go to Appearance → Editor and edit the Page: 404 template.

3. PostSecret: Community mail art project

• Website type: Community-driven blog
• Theme: Custom 

PostSecret publishes anonymous secrets that people around the world mail in on handwritten postcards. It shares these secrets exactly as submitted.

Founded by Frank Warren, the project spotlights deeply human stories from all walks of life.

The site’s minimal text and design are intentional; as you scroll, handmade postcards — from childhood memories to heartbreak — take center stage.

These unfiltered confessions keep people coming back to the point that PostSecret has attracted 881,000,000+ visitors, a rare milestone that the site footer notes.

Today, the 21-year-old community art project has grown into a global movement, raising over $1 million to support suicide prevention.

What we love about this website

• All eyes are on the postcards, thanks to the single-column layout against a plain background. Each postcard resembles a framed artwork in a modern art museum. 

• PostSecret relies on its community to keep the project alive, directing you to its Patreon — a platform for recurring creator support — near the end of the page. The community’s support also keeps PostSecret free of ads, creating a pleasant user experience. 

Tip: Want to sync your Patreon posts with WordPress.com? Install the Patreon plugin to connect your site in a few clicks.

4. Bedfordshire Bird Club: Birdwatching community

• Website type: Knowledge base and membership
• Theme: Custom 

Bedfordshire Bird Club is an ornithological community that started in 1992. After a collaboration with the Automattic Special Projects team, the new website now boasts a striking brand identity.

Most importantly, its birding sites deserve a deeper look. 

The location search bar is prominently displayed, allowing birdwatchers to easily plan their next visits.

Each birding site provides extensive information like interactive maps, GPS coordinates, viewpoints, and the bird species you can see during each season. This allows you to easily explore the birdwatching spots.

What we love about this website

• Bedfordshire Bird Club spotlights members’ photography to foster community. The credited photos instill pride and motivate continued engagement with the site.

• The homepage adapts its bird sightings to the current season. Bedfordshire Bird Club can keep its content fresh and timely all year round.

5. Engnovate: English and IELTS resource hub

• Website type: Online courses and e-learning
• Theme: Astra

Engnovate is an online IELTS test preparation platform with over 1 million monthly learners — and over 350K in monthly traffic according to Semrush.

At first glance, Engnovate resembles most test preparation platforms: writing tasks, speaking evaluation, grammar checker, etc. 

Yet as you scroll through the site, you notice a differentiating feature: interactive elements and AI. 

The self-introduction exercise, for instance, assigns an AI English coach. Like one-on-one guidance in a professional school setting, it evaluates and deepens your English skills in real time.

What we love about this website

• The hero section promotes Trustpilot reviews, but the CTA is intentionally muted so it doesn’t compete with learning-focused actions.

• The site offers ungated interactive tools that help you practice. These tools function as traffic magnets that encourage you to explore and stay longer.

• Because task answers are public, learners can see real examples from others, compare approaches, and understand how their own answers measure up.

6. Cozy Grove Camp Spirit: Mobile game microsite

• Website type: A site to promote a mobile app 
• Theme: Custom

Cozy Grove Camp Spirit is a cozy adventure game, and its website pulls you into that world from the start. Whimsical visuals — from character art to a hand-drawn forest landscape — evoke childlike wonder and invite exploration.

The premise is simple and intriguing: You play as a Spirit Scout helping friendly ghosts on a haunted island.

A single-column layout uses gameplay videos and screenshots to show daily quests like fishing, crafting, and rebuilding the island — moments fans recognize from the original game.

What we love about this website

• The microsite mirrors the game’s distinctive charm. It delights fans and new players alike.
• Vivid phrases like “soothe the local ghosts” position you as the hero, while playful section dividers act as Easter eggs.

7. Brodo: Bone broth ecommerce store

• Website type: Ecommerce shop
• Theme: Custom

Marco Canora founded Brodo after turning to bone broth during his own health recovery — and the website now attracts over 40K visitors monthly according to Semrush.

On the website, that personal story takes a back seat to conversion. Instead of leading with a mission or ingredient sourcing, the homepage quickly highlights a starter box with a default “Subscribe & Save” option.

For this direct-to-consumer brand built on subscriptions, this sales-first layout supports Brodo’s core revenue model.

To drive subscriptions, Brodo anchors its pricing by listing the same product at a higher one-time price. Paying 20% more for a single order makes the subscription feel like the better deal, as do the additional sign-up perks beyond delivery frequency:

What we love about this website

• There is a “Shop all broths” CTA in all customer reviews, creating a frictionless shopping experience. Spotted a review that resonates? Just click the link below to order.

• Each expert testimonial features a specific benefit of bone broth, addressing different customer segments. For example, Bobbi Brown’s testimonial about protein targets athletes who want to increase their protein intake and build muscle growth:

8. The King’s Monologue: African history resource hub

• Website type: Knowledge base and creator site 
• Theme: Assembler

The King’s Monologue uniquely redefines the participation of indigenous Africans in the global history of Black people. Andrew Adetitun-King, a reconstruction artist, researcher, and YouTuber with over 100K subscribers, is its founder.

The site features thoughtful essays, such as critiques of Eurocentric interpretations of the Tomb of Seti I, offering perspectives that standard history curricula rarely cover.

Beyond the content, the activist-focused language shines. 

The 1,000 book giveaway callout urges you to support Andrew’s new book, Reconstructuring Egypt:

Fun fact: Andrew created The King’s Monologue on our AI website builder in just one day. Your new website is also only a few prompts away.

You bring the idea — AI makes it real

Use our AI website builder for free today.

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What we love about this website

• The site’s visual identity and content are tightly aligned. The regal imagery, typography, and academic tone reinforce the project’s mission to reframe African history through a research-driven lens.

• By placing the full name and initials around the site icon, the circular logo reinforces brand recognition across the site and beyond.

9. ArtLesson: Illustration website

• Website type: Blog
• Theme: H4

ArtLesson offers free creative art ideas for teachers and students. The site skips a traditional top menu, instead using colorful doodles below the hero section and in the sidebar as navigation.

Clicking the green “Year 4” icon, for example, takes elementary school teachers to current lessons like color blending and pattern drawing.

What we love about this website 

• Doodle-based navigation makes it easy to find popular illustration, cardboard sculpture, and lettering lessons while reinforcing ArtLesson’s visual identity.

• You can’t help but smile scrolling through ArtLesson; it feels like you’re learning from your favorite teacher.  

Tip: To replicate ArtLesson’s creative approach, use graphic design platforms (e.g., Canva) or install a graphic plugin to customize images directly on your WordPress.com site.

10. Jia: Writing portfolio

• Website type: Portfolio
• Theme: Custom 

Jia Tolentino’s website opens with an artistic portrait — a bold choice in a space where most writers rely on standard headshots.

The minimalist design keeps the focus on her work, stripping away distractions like subscription boxes or social feeds. The result is a clean, calm space that supports a text-heavy biography and curated writing clips.

What we love about this website

• The vertical artistic portrait resembles a magazine cover and creates a strong first impression. It suits Jia’s line of work because she’s written for magazines like The New Yorker and The Hairpin. 
• The two-column layout breaks up the long text, allowing you to pause between lengthy paragraphs. Note how the empty columns provide a natural stopping point.

It’s a simple trick with minimal layout edits — and you can easily create these columns on WordPress.com.

11. BCSP: Academic center website

• Website type: Academic 
• Theme: Custom 

BCSP curates its extensive psychedelic research into one compact website. Each section features bold fonts and neon headers, creating an uncluttered user experience — even a layperson can navigate with ease.

The groovy design echoes a trendy digital magazine, not a research center’s website. The varying blocks of copy are evenly distributed, maintaining your interest.

What we love about this website

• The custom clinical trial map for therapists and patients to navigate past, ongoing, and future trials. It’s intuitive to add filters like eligibility criteria and trial status thanks to the user-friendly interface.

• The menu gives a bird’s-eye view of BCSP’s content. Once clicked, it opens and displays all links in a structured panel. To highlight the researched substances, BCSP assigns each compound a unique neon color button.  

12. Fit For Golf: Golf app website

• Website type: Website to promote an app
• Theme: Custom 

Fit For Golf is a golf training app focused on strength and mobility. Mike Carroll, a fitness coach for PGA and DP World Tour players, founded the app. Fit For Golf’s website relies on workout GIFs to immediately show how the program works:

Mike demonstrates the workouts himself, adding a strong personalized touch. He also personally answers all training-related questions from app subscribers. This quick access to an experienced coach is a huge selling point. 

What we love about this website

• The 4.9-star rating pop-up on the bottom left instills trust, but its small size doesn’t interrupt the user experience. 

• The video testimonials and highly specific results customers achieved boost credibility. Pairing each golfer’s testimonial with their workout results creates an emotional connection through a relatable journey.

13. This Sweet Life: Luxury family travel blog

• Website type: Blog
• Theme: Veni

Travel blogs need to inspire exploration while making trip planning easy — and This Sweet Life does both.

Natalie Sullivan, a traveler who’s visited 40+ countries, founded the blog. It blends luxury family travel with personal experience, from five-star stays to hotel collaborations as a mom influencer.

Natalie focuses on four passion-led topics — luxury family travel, mentorship for mom influencers, Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, and party planning — capturing the everyday celebrations of a vibrant life.

What we love about this website

• The clever use of negative space highlights the hero image and vivid copy in a balanced way. The beach background elicits feelings of escape, while the candid shot of Natalie’s family adds warmth. The core message is clear, triggering your wanderlust.  

• The lead magnet, The Influencer Starter Kit for Moms, drives subscribers and nurtures them for a paid upgrade. It allows Natalie to build her email list and earn revenue simultaneously.

Tip: You can replicate This Sweet Life’s paid upgrade using WordPress.com’s Paid Content block. It lets you accept one-time, monthly, or annual payments for access to your exclusive content. 

14. Robert Brancatelli: Personal essays

• Website type: Personal
• Theme: Hermes

Robert Brancatelli’s life as a professor, author, and taxi driver shapes the offbeat voice he uses across his blog.

 His magazine-style site publishes recurring features on a set schedule, building anticipation over time.

The “Mittwoch Matinee” series, for example, ties each post to a notable event from the publication date — like an October 8, 2025, essay reflecting on Don Larsen’s perfect game in World Series history.

What we love about this website

• The sidebar display of subscriber avatars shows you that the site has an active, engaged readership.

15. Maybe It’s Just Me: Health, wellness, and self-improvement website

• Website type: Personal and portfolio
• Theme: Custom

Maybe It’s Just Me is a personal health and wellness site by journalist Kaitlin Vogel, who showcases her magazine bylines across the site. By blending professional credentials with personal storytelling, the site clearly establishes her expertise — an important signal for a creator working with wellness brands.

“Maybe it’s just me” is Kaitlin’s signature phrase, repeated throughout her writing — much like Carrie Bradshaw’s recurring “I couldn’t help but wonder” and “just like that.” 

In her Summer Reading List post, for example, Kaitlin opens with it before sharing her book recommendations: 

What we love about this website

• Generous spacing and simple typography make longer wellness posts easy to read, supporting a calm, distraction-free browsing experience.

• Many websites prioritize popular content to prevent newer posts from burying it, but Maybe It’s Just Me shows the newest blog posts by default to drive quick buzz. 

Tip: That said, you can pin any post to the top of your WordPress.com blog by marking it as “Sticky” in the post’s Status settings.

Launch a unique website on WordPress.com today

Building a site that stands out takes more than a good idea. Design, content, and structure all play a role in how people experience and remember your website.

These 15 examples show there’s no single formula. Some stand out through storytelling, others through design, navigation, or community. What matters is choosing the approach that fits your unique story.

WordPress.com gives you the flexibility to start with a template and shape it over time, whether you’re building a personal blog, a small business site, or something more experimental. 

Behind the scenes, reliable hosting matters too. WordPress.com includes managed hosting, security, and performance features to keep your site running smoothly as it grows.

And with its new AI website builder, designing a website has become even easier — simple text prompts are enough to turn your ideas into a working site for any need.

I challenged myself to build 21 different types of websites using this tool. 

Here are the results, along with pro tips for prompting, design, page structure, and more.

1. Portfolio website

A portfolio website helps share your creative work, whether that’s writing, photography, design, video production, or something else. 

You can send it to clients to highlight your expertise and share work samples.

Here’s the prompt I used with the AI site builder to build a portfolio site:

“Create a portfolio website called ‘Rochi’s Portfolio’ to display my long-form writing services for tech companies. There should be five sections on the site: Introduction, Work Samples, Testimonials, How I Work, and Contact Form. Use warm colors, a minimalistic design, and a friendly tone.”

In under five minutes, I got a clean, ready-to-use portfolio site that I could refine with the AI chat by adding content, examples, and customizations.

Key pages and features of portfolio sites

• Work samples: Add a dedicated page showing your work samples, or use a new section in a one-page website to showcase your top portfolio pieces.
  
• Service details: Add a page or section about the services you offer, including your timeline, working process, and prices (if you’re comfortable). This gives a potential client a good idea of what they can expect while working with you.
  
• Contact methods: Make it clear how visitors can inquire about your services. You can mention your email, or better yet, use a Form block so leads can fill out the necessary details without leaving your website.

You bring the idea — AI makes it real

Use our AI website builder for free today.

Try it now ->

2. Resume/CV website

A resume website is your CV in digital form. It offers a unique and interactive experience for hiring managers and more room for creativity when showcasing your skills.

Here’s the prompt I used in WordPress.com’s AI website builder to create a resume site:

“Build a resume website for Rochi Zalani to showcase my abilities as a content writer. The design should feel professional, minimal, and easy to scan. Include four pages: Home, About, Testimonials, and Contact.”

Key pages and features of resume/CV sites

• About page: Your homepage is your resume itself. But beyond that, it’s a great way to demonstrate your personality and skills beyond the work-related confines of a CV. You don’t need to complicate it — talk about your hobbies, interests, and professional journey.
  
• Testimonials and endorsements: Ask your previous employers to write a brief testimonial about what it’s like working with you. Add a new page or a section on your homepage with their endorsements. This social proof will help you build trust with future employers.
  
• Contact methods: Use a Form block or include your email on your homepage so prospective employers can easily reach out.

Tip: Keep your initial prompts detailed and specific, but focused. Always use the AI chat to refine your initial site — add pages, adjust content, request new features, and ask for improvement ideas.

3. Personal website

A personal website can be anything — a blog about your hobbies, a creative outlet, a journal, a place to build your side projects, etc. It’s your own corner of the internet and helps you connect with people who share your interests.

I wanted to create a personal website documenting my travel experiences and recommendations. 

Here’s the prompt I used to create this site:

“Create a personal website documenting my travel experiences and recommendations called ‘The Nomad Freelancer.’ Include five pages: Home, About, Budget Trips, Luxury Travel, and Travel Tips. The design should be bright and colorful.” 

Key pages and features of personal websites

• About page: Include a page with details about you and your website so readers know what to expect from it. Share why you began your site, and sprinkle it with some personality.
  
• Social links: Invite visitors to connect with you beyond your site. Use the Social Icons block to integrate your social media accounts into your website.

4. Link‑in‑bio page

A link-in-bio site is mainly for social media creators who send followers to their bio to get a link, a download, an offer, etc. 

Since most platforms limit how many links you can add to your social media profile, a link-in-bio page is a great workaround. 

You can combine everything in one place and use it to share affiliate links, discount codes, freebies, and more.

Here’s the prompt I used to create a link-in-bio page:

“Create a link-in-bio website called ‘Rochi’s recs.’ Include the following pages: Home, Instagram, TikTok, Top recommendations, and Newsletter. The CTA on the homepage should be to “Stay connected,” which leads to the Newsletter page. Use bold colors and eye-catching visuals.” 

Key pages and features of link‑in‑bio pages

• Top recommendations: Add a separate page for your most-loved product recommendations. This allows your followers to find your favorite items without digging through your social media posts.
  
• Platform-specific pages: If you have built a presence on multiple social media sites, add separate pages for each platform. Your audience can easily navigate to the profile where they already follow you to find your recommendations.
  
• Newsletter: Add a newsletter to your site to grow your email list. This helps you deepen your relationship with your social media audience and connect with them beyond the algorithm.

5. Blogging website

A blogging website can be a part of a larger business or a personal endeavor. 

You can create a blog around your hobbies (similar to a personal site) or focus on a niche topic to build an audience and monetize through ads, sponsored content, affiliate links, and more.

Here’s the prompt I used to create a blogging website about influencer marketing:

“Build a website called ‘Influencing Right’ for influencer marketers looking for pro tips to improve their creator marketing strategy. Include five pages: Home, Research Reports, Sponsored Campaigns, Free Strategy Template, and About. The tone should be warm and friendly.”

Key pages and features of blogging websites

• Category pages: Use different pages to categorize various posts on your blog. For example, if you’re starting a productivity blog, you can create categories around time management, productivity tools, and organization tips. Use the Categories List block on WordPress.com to display the various topics on your site.
  
• Lead magnet page: Create a freebie that you can offer to your website visitors as a lead magnet. This lets you collect their emails so you can stay connected with readers and encourage recurring visitors to your site.
  
• About page: Explain why you’re starting the website, and establish your expertise. This helps build trust and lends authority to your posts.

6. Business website

You can also create a business website to sell almost anything — digital products, merchandise, services, etc. 

Your small business needs a site so people can learn about your products, company, or services. It establishes credibility and allows customers to learn more about your brand.

Here’s the prompt I used to create a site offering cleaning services:

“Create a multipage website for a cleaning business. Add pages: Home, About, Services, Pricing, Testimonials, Contact. Use a clean, modern layout with blue colors and simple, professional but friendly copy.”

Key pages and features of business websites

• Appointment booking: Use a scheduling plugin that allows potential customers to check your availability and book a service appointment through your site.
  
• FAQ answers: Have a section or page dedicated to answering your customers’ common questions. For example, if you sell merch, answer questions about your refund or exchange policy.
  
• Business details: Depending on your business model, create a section or website page sharing key product or service information. For example, if you have a brick-and-mortar store, enter your business hours and map location.

7. Landing page

A landing page is a single, focused page designed to drive one action — for example, collecting emails, promoting a product, booking a call, launching something new, or running paid ads.

Landing pages work well when you want a clean, distraction-free layout that guides visitors toward a single CTA.

Here’s the prompt I used to create a high-converting landing page:

“Create a conversion-focused landing page for a digital product called ‘Influencer Briefs,’ which are brief templates used by marketers. The page should include: a strong hero section with a centered headline and one CTA (‘Download the template’), a problem/solution section, what’s included, testimonials, and a FAQ. Use clean, modern design with bold accents and minimal distractions.”

Key pages and features of landing pages

• Hero section: Add a centered headline with one clear CTA, plus a short value statement that explains what the visitor gets.

• Offer overview + social proof: Combine your problem/solution, what’s included, and a few testimonials or logos into one streamlined section.

• Conversion elements: Include a simple form or repeated CTA at the bottom of the page, plus a short FAQ to resolve hesitation (questions about refunds, access, delivery, etc.).

8. Nonprofit website

Nonprofit websites can help nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) promote their work, raise funds, recruit volunteers, and provide a company history. 

A dedicated website also makes it easier to organize events and stay connected with your community.

Here’s the prompt I used to create a nonprofit website for an educational organization:

“Create a modern, inspiring website for an educational NGO called ‘Education for All.’ The site should feel hopeful, community-driven, and trustworthy, with bright, positive colors and warm photography. Include the following pages and sections: Homepage with a prominent CTA to ‘Get involved,’ Mission Statement page, Programs page, and Impact page. Make the overall site feel credible, community-focused, and mission-driven.”

Key pages and features of nonprofit websites

• Programs and impact pages: Create separate pages for future campaigns and to highlight successful past events. This can help attract more volunteers and donations.
  
• Mission page: Dedicate a page to explaining what you do, along with a brief company history. Spotlight the founders and the team to help people understand and connect to your company’s values and goals.
  
• Donate and volunteer page: Use the Donations Form block to accept donations via your site, and use a Form block for people to register their interest in volunteering.

9. Restaurant or café website

A restaurant or café site helps familiarize people with key information, such as your working hours, menu, prices, location, and special offers. 

You can also use it to encourage customers to sign up for a loyalty program, book a table, or order online.

Here’s the prompt I used to create a site for a Japanese restaurant:

“Create a clean, modern website for a Japanese restaurant called Sakura, inspired by minimalist Japanese design and warm, natural textures. Include the following pages: Home, Menu, Reservations, Contact, and Locate Us. The homepage should feature a hero image of signature Japanese dishes, highlighted specials, operating hours, and a clear ‘Reserve Now’ button. Make the website elegant, mobile-friendly, and visually focused on authentic Japanese cuisine.”

Key pages and features of restaurant sites

• Locate us: Have a dedicated page or section with your address so people can locate your restaurant or café easily. If you have multiple locations, create a dedicated page to highlight their precise locations. You can also use the Map block feature to make your customers’ experience interactive and ease site navigation.
  
• Menu: Upload a snapshot of your menu in a dedicated page so people can see exactly what you offer, including prices. Include CTA options to book a table and order online on this page as well.
  
• Special offers: Use the homepage to highlight any special or seasonal offers you’re running. Add a newsletter form or a website chat plugin encourage customers to sign up for regular updates.

10. Educational or course website

You can also create an educational site, whether it’s a knowledge base for a specific topic or a site to inform your customers about business-related topics. 

Course websites allow you to host and sell an educational course, making it interactive through features such as polls or community plugins.

Here’s the AI prompt I used to build a site selling a course on YouTube growth:

“Create a modern, conversion-focused website for an online course brand called ‘Freelance Writer Pro,’ which teaches people how to earn money via freelance writing. Include the following pages: Home, Courses, Pricing, Testimonials, and About. The homepage should highlight the main course, student success stories, and a strong CTA saying ‘Earn your first $100 via freelance writing.’ Use bold, energetic colors, clean typography, and visuals. Make the site mobile-friendly and optimized for selling digital courses.”

Key pages and features of educational course websites

• Courses or topics overview: Create an overview page or section that lists the topics of your educational site. If you’re selling a course (or multiple courses), you can create a page to describe the course’s content. This helps readers easily navigate your site and get clarity on your offerings.
  
• Pricing page: If you’re selling a course, create a pricing page with your payment policy, refund options, and FAQs. If you’re offering tiered pricing, include a table about what each plan includes.
  
• About page: Use the about page to showcase your expertise in the site topic. Explain why you’re the right person to learn from, highlighting your experience or credentials to build trust.

11. Membership or subscription website

If you sell a membership or subscription of any sort, you need a website to manage it. 

This enhances your members’ experience, makes it easy to share exclusive content, and encourages community participation.

Here’s the AI prompt I used to create a membership site for content marketers:

“Build a modern, professional membership website called ‘Content Marketer Collective,’ designed for content marketers who want ongoing training, templates, and community support. Include these pages: Home, Membership benefits, Pricing, Content library, About, Support, and Login. The homepage should highlight the core value — weekly resources, templates, live sessions, and expert feedback. Make the design clean, editorial, and conversion-focused.”

Key pages and features of membership websites

• “Who is it for” section: Add a dedicated section about who your ideal member is. This helps ensure the right people self-select themselves for your subscription, reducing your need to filter applicants manually.
  
• Membership overview: Include a page or section explaining the benefits members can expect from a membership or subscription. If you have them, add a few testimonials from existing members to build some social proof.
  
• Special features and member-only content: Offer paid content behind a paywall, run subscriber-only newsletters, and create full membership platforms with user accounts, tiers, dashboards, and restricted content using a membership plugin. 

12. Podcast website

Having a website for your podcast gives you a dedicated home for your episodes, including which streaming platforms they’re available on, and full control over your brand presentation.

You can also use it to share extra details — transcripts, guest info, sponsor notes, and more — for each episode. 

If you want your podcast to feel more interactive, enable comments and engage with your audience directly on your site.

Here’s the prompt I used to create a podcast website about a marketer’s show:

“Create a clean, engaging website for a marketing podcast called ‘Marketer Secrets,’ focused on interviewing top marketers about their content strategy and digital marketing insights. Include four pages: Home, Episodes, About, and Sponsor Us. The homepage should have a CTA button saying ‘Listen Now’ or ‘Subscribe on Your Favorite App.’ There should also be a Newsletter block in the second section.”

Key pages and features of podcast websites

• Episode archives: Have a page that contains all your podcast episodes, along with a quick excerpt for each. Use the Podcast Player block to allow your audience to filter and search the episodes (by most recent, most popular, etc.).
  
• Sponsorship page: Dedicate a page on your site to attract sponsors. Include details such as audience demographics, past results, previous sponsors, pricing, and any testimonials. This gives you a professional link to share with prospects. You can also use specialized sponsorship plugins to enable various features.
  
• Newsletter block: Include a newsletter block on your site so listeners can sign up for new episode notifications. Offer a free resource to encourage more people to subscribe.

13. News or magazine website

News and magazines need a website to host their content, connect with readers, and achieve wider distribution. 

WordPress.com is a great choice to build this type of site because it offers plenty of multimedia embed options, including podcast and video embeds, plus helpful features such as an option to add multiple authors or newsfeed plugins.

Here’s the AI prompt I used to create a magazine website:

“Create a bright, engaging website for a digital magazine called ‘Nourish Weekly,’ focused on nutrition, healthy eating, and science-backed wellness tips. Include five pages: Home, Articles, Healthy Eating, About, and Previous Issues. The homepage should feature top stories, trending topics, a featured expert column, and a clear ‘Read the Latest Issue’ CTA. Use a fresh, editorial design with clean typography, soft colors, and plenty of white space.”

Key pages and features of news and magazine websites

• Topic hubs: Use categories to organize your news or magazine content so it’s easy for readers to navigate your website and find exactly what they need.
  
• Author widget: Author widgets allow you to seamlessly indicate authorship and establish expertise. You can also use it to give credit to experts, along with pullquote blocks to highlight key quotes.
  
• Archives: Include an archives page so readers can quickly find old issues or news pieces. It’s also a good idea to use a search bar plugin so visitors can easily search through large archives.

14. Community forum website

Community forum websites help you gather a group of people with similar interests on one site. 

You can use it to facilitate discussion, share knowledge and updates, and enable collaboration among members.

Here’s the AI prompt I used to create a community forum website centered around fitness:

“Create a community forum website called ‘Female Fitness Forum,’ where women can discuss workouts, nutrition, weight loss, strength training, and overall fitness. Include five pages: Home, Forum, Guidelines, Contact, and About. The homepage should have a CTA like ‘Join the Community.’ Use a clean, energetic design with easy navigation, mobile-friendly layouts, and features like search, tags, upvotes, and notifications.”

Key pages and features

• Community guidelines: Have a page or section where you share the guidelines for joining your community and any member rules to follow once you enter the forum. Your audience will know what to expect, and moderation rules promote healthy, respectful communication.
  
• Interactive features: Allow members to interact with community posts using features such as liking, commenting, and sharing. You can use vote, poll, and upvote blocks to achieve this on WordPress.com sites.
  
• Discussion boards: Add discussion boards on your site using community plugins. Doing this for various subjects allows members to interact with each other on the topics they’re interested in.

15. Photography gallery website

Photographers can use a website to showcase their work with full creative control and create a professional home for their portfolio.

It also serves as a central hub for bookings, inquiries, and service packages. 

A site can host high-resolution galleries, content carousels, and organized albums, giving your photos the space and quality they deserve.

Here’s the AI prompt I used to create a website for a wedding photographer:

“Create a romantic, elegant website for a wedding photographer called ‘Captured Promise Weddings.’ Include four pages: Home, Gallery, Packages, and Contact. The homepage should feature a clear ‘Book Your Date’ CTA button. Use a soft, timeless aesthetic with warm tones and refined typography.”

Key pages and features of photography gallery websites

• Galleries: Add a dedicated page on your site for your photos, dividing them into categories for easy browsing. For example, a wedding photographer can use subcategories such as engagement or candid. Use photo gallery plugins to make organizing your portfolio easier.
  
• Pricing and FAQs: Include a page or section about your pricing — how you charge (by hour, project, etc.), “starting at” ranges if your price depends on project scope, and a list of services you offer. Add an FAQ section to answer common questions such as turnaround times for photos, what clients can expect during a session, and how they can help you succeed.
  
• Testimonials: Feature testimonials from previous clients to build trust and social proof. You can choose how you display these reviews on your site via WordPress.com.

16. Recipe/food website

If you create recipe or food content, a website gives you far more control and a better user experience than social posts. 

A food blog lets you organize recipes, add clear, step-by-step instructions and videos, and offer extras (such as printable recipe cards).

Here’s the AI prompt I used to create a vegan recipe website:

“Create a bright, inviting vegan recipe website called ‘Plantful Kitchen,’ focused on sharing healthy plant-based recipes for busy moms. Include five pages: Home, Recipes, Meal Prep, Contact, and About. The homepage should highlight featured recipes, trending dishes, seasonal picks, and have a clear CTA button ‘Browse all recipes.’ Use a clean, fresh aesthetic with soft greens, warm neutrals, and easy-to-read layouts.”

Key pages and features of recipe websites

• Recipe pages: Use a consistent format across all your recipes so readers can build familiarity with the structure and your work. Recipe plugins give you plenty of ready-to-use template options.
  
• Social sharing plugins: Make it easy for yourself to promote your website and recipes to social media, directly from your site. On WordPress.com, you can instantly reshare (or schedule a reshare) to any of your social media accounts.
  
• Like button: Add a like button to all your recipe pages so you can find out which recipes are the most popular. This can help you pinpoint what your audience loves.

17. Event/conference website

If you are hosting an event or conference, a site allows you to build a central hub for all information and updates, instead of attendees relying on scattered social media posts. 

Having a dedicated website also makes it easy for participants to register and sign up for future events.

Here’s the AI prompt I used to build a website for a marketing event:

“Create a sleek, high-energy conference website for a marketing event called ‘Marketing Momentum Summit 2026’ held in London for content marketers. Include four pages: Home, Speakers, Tickets, and Sponsors. The homepage should feature a bold hero section with event dates (31 Jan–2 Feb), location, and a clear ‘Get your ticket now’ CTA button.”

Key pages and features of event websites

• Tickets and pricing: Add one page for all ticket details, including pricing tiers, refund policy, venue information, and cancellation charges. Use the Payments block on WordPress.com to collect ticket fees right from your site.
  
• Agenda and schedule: Dedicate one section of your homepage to the agenda and schedule of the event or conference. Share details about what you’ll discuss each day and at what time. This helps attendees plan their day accordingly.
  
• Countdown section: Use the Event Countdown block on your homepage, which updates automatically, to garner excitement among your attendees.

18. Health/fitness website

Fitness professionals benefit immensely from having a site — it can become a singular place to update your class schedule, host memberships, upload free workouts or meal plans, and streamline booking.

Here’s an AI prompt I used to create a fitness website for a pilates instructor:

“Create a calming, elegant website for a Pilates instructor called ‘The Pilates Room.’ Include five pages: Home, Classes, About your instructor, Group sessions, and Contact. The hero image of the homepage should feature a soothing image of a woman doing pilates on a reformer and a clear CTA button ‘Book a session.’ Use a clean, airy design with neutral colors and gentle typography.”

Key pages and features of fitness websites

• Calendar block: Use a Calendar block on your scheduling or classes page to display your availability. You can combine this with a Table block to show your class schedule if you offer group classes or a set schedule for 1:1 sessions.
  
• Members-only area: If you offer subscriptions to your visitors, you can create members-only areas using subscriber logins and paywall plugins. These features allow you to host your free and paid content under one site.
  
• About page: Add a detailed about page with your credentials and certifications. Put a spotlight on your fitness journey to build trust.

19. Author/book website

A polished author website builds credibility with agents, media, and publishers. It also gives you a direct channel to reach readers without relying on third-party algorithms. 

You can use it to promote events you’re part of and publish additional writing, such as blog posts or short stories.

Here’s the AI prompt I used to create a website for a young adult (YA) fiction writer:

“Create a bold, character-driven author website for Rochi Zalani, a YA fiction writer. Include five pages: Home, Books, About, Events, and Blog. The CTA button on the homepage should say ‘Get the first chapter for free.’ Use an atmospheric, youthful design with strong typography.”

Key pages and features of author websites

• Freebies: Offer a free chapter of your book, a sneak peek into your next book, or some other incentive. Use this freebie to build your email list, establishing a direct line of communication with your readers.
  
• Books page(s): Dedicate one page to each book, including available purchasing options such as via Kindle, Amazon, or local, independent bookstores. You should also add a synopsis for each book, along with a few reviews to build excitement.
  
• Events page: If you’re doing book signings, hosting events, or speaking at conferences, use a page on your site and update it regularly. Upload recordings of past events if you can — this allows people to see what an event might look like.

20. Travel guide website

A travel recommendations website boosts visibility through SEO and gives you space for long-form guides and monetization. 

You can also offer downloadable resources, such as itineraries and checklists.

Here’s the AI prompt I used to build a travel guide site:

“Create an inspiring, easy-to-navigate travel guide website called ‘Wander With Rochi’ — focused on destination guides, itineraries, and travel tips. Include five pages: Home, Destinations, Blog, Contact, and About. The homepage should highlight featured locations, trending guides, a ‘Start planning’ CTA button, and a search bar. Use an artsy, editorial design with travel-friendly visuals.”

Key pages and features

• Strong search and filtering: Make it easy for fellow travelers to seek recommendations from you by using a search bar and filter plugins. If you want to go even further, create quizzes that readers can take to determine the type of traveler they are (adventurous, offbeat, relaxed, etc.) and customize the content they see.
  
• Map block: Use the Map block to highlight the exact locations you recommend. It makes it easier for your audience to view — and navigate to — those places directly from your site.
  
• Table of contents: If you’re writing a long and detailed guide about a place, add a Table of Contents block at the top so readers can easily jump between sections and find exactly what they need.

21. Music/band website

Musicians and bands can use their website to keep their audience informed about upcoming shows, sell tickets, and organize their albums in one place. 

A website also makes it easy to build a direct connection with fans and connect with the press.

Here’s the AI prompt I used to build a music website:

“Create an indie, atmospheric website for a musician called Rochi Zalani. Include five pages: Home, Tours, Music, Press, and Contact. The homepage should feature cinematic visuals, a featured track, and a ‘Listen now’ CTA. Use a moody, artistic aesthetic with soft colors, expressive typography, and a mobile-first layout.”

Key pages and features

• Music players: Use music player plugins so visitors can easily access and play your songs directly from your website. This removes the friction for someone encountering your work for the first time.
  
• Tour page: If you’re on tour now or in the future, add a page for visitors to see when you’re performing in their city. It’s also a great idea to include a Subscribe block so people can sign up for notifications when you visit (or revisit) their city in the future.
  
• Merch store: You can sell merch such as t-shirts, posters, and hoodies using your site. Use the Payments block to receive payments directly.

Tell your unique story with our AI website builder 

Exploring these 21 websites shows how easily you can create almost anything with our AI website builder.

No developer help, design skills, or long setup is required — the AI handles the structure, layout, and starter content, so the creative work is what matters.

Plus, nothing is fixed. You can further customize every page, block, color, and element through AI commands or manual editing.

The best part: You can launch instantly with WordPress.com’s managed hosting, built-in SEO tools, essential security and performance features, and more.

You bring the idea — AI makes it real

Use our AI website builder for free today.

Try it now ->

When she moved back to Brazil after years in Singapore and Australia, she noticed something: most Brazilians had no idea they could work remotely for U.S. companies and earn in dollars.

So she started posting about it on LinkedIn. Job openings. Resume tips. Interview advice. All free.

“I wasn’t doing it for work,” Tammy says. “I was just trying to reach people. If I helped 10 or 20 people get better jobs, that was enough.”

But people kept following. The audience grew. What started as a side project became a full-time business — and a website she built in one day using our AI website builder.

From a side project to a full-time business

What began as a volunteer effort turned into something bigger:

• A recruiting agency connecting Brazilian talent with U.S. startups
• A growing audience of job seekers Tammy educates for free
• Speaking engagements, coaching sessions, and a newsletter
• Over 190,000 LinkedIn followers 

Tammy’s approach was simple: give everything away for free. No gated content. No paywalls. Just genuine help.

She spent hours a week hunting for remote roles that would hire Brazilians — work she did voluntarily, on top of her day job. She posted resume tips, interview advice, and job openings. 

Nobody teaches you how to build a resume. I started my career in HR — I’ve reviewed thousands of them. I know what companies actually look for. So I just started sharing what I knew.

People followed because the help was real. And what started as a passion project became a full-time business.

The inbox problem

But with scale came a problem.

Every day, Tammy’s inbox flooded with the same questions: What do you do? Can you help me? Is this free? How do I work with you?

I was getting 50+ messages a day. People didn’t understand what I offered or how to work with me. I needed one place to explain it all.

Tammy needed a website. And she’d been putting it off for too long.

From an idea to a website — in one afternoon

Tammy had wanted a website for months. But between running the business, creating content, and managing clients, it kept sliding down the list.

Then one Friday evening, she decided she’d had enough.

I didn’t want to hire a UI/UX designer plus a developer. I wanted something ready.

She opened WordPress.com, found the AI website builder, and got to work:

• The tool generated a website to match Tammy’s vision and needs
• She used the drag-and-drop blocks to further structure the site
• The AI helped her refine her copy to match her tone of voice and the visual look
• She also used AI to add extra features, like embedding a newsletter signup form
• All of it runs on WordPress.com’s managed hosting — set up and maintained for her

And of course, she picked a pink color palette to match her brand…

…and her hair:

In a couple of hours, her website was live.

I built my website in an afternoon. No designer. No developer. Just me.

23K site visitors and counting

Today, tammysilva.com.br works as a self-serve hub:

• Explains who Tammy is and what she offers
• Separates free resources from paid services
• Collects resumes directly into her candidate database
• Drives newsletter signups
• Links to events and speaking engagements

The result? People now check the site before reaching out.

Now people already have all the information. They don’t need to message me to ask what I do.

Since launching in August, the website has helped Tammy achieve:

• Almost 23,000 site visits
• Monthly views reaching over 7,000 in peak months
• Fully booked 1:1 coaching sessions — 10 slots filled in 2 days
• Massive reduction in inbox volume

Before, I would have to post about my 1:1s to fill them. Now I don’t even mention them on LinkedIn. People just check the website and book.

Your story deserves a home, too

Tammy is already building her second WordPress.com site — this one for her B2B recruiting business.

She didn’t need to hire a developer for the first site. She won’t need one for the second either.

That’s what makes WordPress.com special — the AI website builder gets you started fast, and managed hosting means you’re not stuck dealing with updates, security, or backups. 

You focus on your business. The platform handles the rest.

Tammy’s story started on LinkedIn. But her website is where it all comes together — a place she owns, controls, and can grow however she wants.

Yours can too.

You bring the idea — AI makes it real

Use our AI website builder for free today.

Try it now ->

Where did your story start — and where does it live now? Tell us in the comments.

Going online itself isn’t the hard part. The real challenge is knowing what to focus on first.

This guide walks through the key steps required to build an online presence, focusing on what actually matters in your first few months.

We spoke with founders and small business experts to pull together practical advice and examples you can learn from.

Step 1: Define your business in one sentence

Start by writing a one-line descriptor that clearly explains what you do, who you help, and which problems you solve. 

This sentence becomes the baseline for your homepage, service pages, and how you talk about your business everywhere else.

The most important thing is to make sure that the site clearly says what you do, who you do it for, how well you do it, and what specifically you do. Nothing else will work unless the site is clear. — Andy Crestodina, co-founder and CMO at Orbit Media

Take Coa — a platform providing a therapist-led learning experience. Its “gym for mental health” tagline works because it borrows a familiar concept everyone understands (gym as a place for regular practice, professional guidance, and ongoing improvement) and applies it to mental wellness.

Use this template to write your own one-line description:

“I/We help [who] [do / achieve] by [how you do it], so they can [solve problems or get outcomes].”

Let’s say you have a business selling ready-made meals for busy moms. Your description line could be shaped as:

“We help busy moms feed their families healthy, balanced meals without the hassle of cooking every night.”

The sentence is simple, shows exactly the value offered, and makes it clear who it’s for. 

Step 2: Focus on one audience (not everyone)

Choose one specific audience to focus on and make sure your website is built primarily for them.

When you try to speak to everyone, your messaging gets vague and harder to act on.

Prioritizing one target market early makes your site clearer, faster to build, and easier to improve.

Audience alignment is the number one and the most important thing in a strategic partnership. You have to get extremely clear on who you serve. The clearer you get on that, the easier everything else becomes. — Jimmy Newson, founder and CEO of Moving Forward Small Businesses.

To identify this ideal customer profile, narrow your focus using the criteria below:

• Who has the problem you solve: Think about who needs your services or products right now.
  
• Who can you reach: There might be a large market for your business, but think about a smaller audience segment you can reach right now.
  
• What they need: Once you’ve narrowed down your target audience, focus on understanding their pain points and how you can address them.

Kat Boogard demonstrates this on her hiring page by clearly defining the types of businesses she works with — such as software companies in the “world of work” space that already have a strategy and understand results take time:

Tip: Whenever you redefine your ideal customer profile — or learn more about your audience — make sure you update your one-line business description.

Step 3: Create a homepage that explains what you do

Your homepage should make it crystal clear what you do and who you serve within five seconds. 

This means writing headlines and copy that your target audience can understand instantly — clarity beats cleverness every time:

People are buying you. They want to like you, trust you, and understand you. If they don’t understand you, they’re not going to move forward. — Sarah Noel Block, founder of Tiny Marketing

Your homepage needs three core elements:

• A one-line description of the problem you solve and who it’s for, written as a clear, specific tagline.

• Content that shows what makes you different or better than other solutions.

• A clear call to action to buy, explore, or learn more about your products and services, or sign up for a lead magnet.
  

Using our meal service business as an example, I applied these elements to build a homepage with WordPress.com’s AI website builder using the following prompt:

“Create a website called “Easy Nourish” that provides meal services for busy moms who want to feed healthy meals to their families every night without the hassle of cooking every day. Keep the tone lighthearted and empathetic. The color palette should be sky blue.”

The homepage makes the value clear at a glance: ready-to-heat meals for busy moms, with a clear next step to try the service.

You bring the idea — AI makes it real

Use our AI website builder for free today.

Try it now ->

Step 4: Create niche-specific pages on your site

Next, create dedicated pages for your main offers, so visitors can land directly on what they need.

Separate your core services and offerings into their own pages, then keep foundational pages such as About and Pricing focused and easy to scan. 

This makes navigation clearer, improves search visibility for specific queries, and gives each offer a place to explain outcomes, proof, and next steps.

For example, Justin Moore has a standalone page for each of his offerings (coaching, course, and event) on his website:

When mapping out your pages:

• Write down the exact services or offers you want people to pay for (for example: career coaching, website design, tax consulting) and create one page per service.

• Focus on long-tail phrases such as “career coaching for women working in tech in Barcelona” to attract people with a clear, specific need.

• State clearly what the service is, who it’s for, and how to get in touch or buy, without making people hunt for information.

Tip: A simple way to check if your pages work is to ask a few people to click through your site and tell you what feels unclear or hard to find.

Have other people go through the site, because they’ll see things you’re blind to. You might think something is clever, but it’s actually stopping people from getting where they want to go. — Jimmy Newson, founder and CEO of Moving Forward Small Businesses

Step 5: Show the human(s) and vision behind the business

Share your story on your site — who you are, why you do this work, and what you care about — not just what you sell. 

For small businesses, trust is the differentiator and a way to compete with bigger brands. People trust people, not logos or vague brand statements.

If I were starting again, I’d put my face on the homepage. People are not buying a logo. They’re buying trust. — Andy Crestodina, Co-founder & CMO, Orbit Media

Here’s how you can achieve this with your new website:

• Include real people: Add your (or your team’s) image over stock images. It will help people instantly recognize and connect with you.
  
• Share why you care: Explain the mission behind your work. When your audience understands your why, it helps them trust you more.
  
• Add your background story: Briefly explain how you came to start your business. Use first person language if appropriate and don’t be afraid to showcase your expertise in the business.

Tammy Silva embodies humanizing your site perfectly.

Instead of hiding behind a logo or generic brand language, she puts herself front and center — Tammy with pink hair, openly sharing her goal of helping people find remote work opportunities.

The key is to write the way you speak and let your personality shine. Avoid fussing too much over sounding smart, professional, or clever.

Step 6: Set up the technical basics to go live

Your site should be reliable, secure, and easy to manage from day one, so you can focus on growing your business instead of troubleshooting technical issues. 

These technical foundations create a smooth experience for your customers while freeing you to do what you do best:

• Reliable web hosting: Your site needs to load fast and stay online 24/7.
• Tight security: An essential investment to ensure your site remains free of malware, hacks, and spam.
• Regular updates and backups: This will ensure your site continues to run smoothly and there is no risk of data being lost.
• Basic site analytics: These will provide essential and usable data on how people are finding and using your site.
  

Tip: Many small businesses choose WordPress.com’s managed hosting because these essentials are built in without extra setup. If you’re creating your site with the AI website builder, you can simply choose a relevant plan after you finish building your site.

Step 7: Create high-impact assets for your site

From here, focus on publishing a few high-quality pieces — comprehensive guides, detailed case studies, or in-depth tutorials that genuinely help your audience.

It’s tempting to pad your site with lots of surface-level blog posts just to “have content,” but that often backfires. 

Thin, semi-useful pieces quietly erode trust and leave visitors unimpressed. Quality beats quantity every time.

Don’t start with thin content. Start with something big. Publish the detailed thing that explains your thinking or what works based on research. — Andy Crestodina, co-founder and CMO at Orbit Media

Take The King’s Monologue, for example.

Instead of publishing dozens of thin articles on history, the site only shares deeply researched, well-written, in-depth articles and academic papers:

As a starting point, concentrate your efforts on three or four core topics you can cover exceptionally well — fewer pieces, higher standards, and content that actually earns attention.

Step 8: Join the conversation in your niche

Build relationships in your niche by joining communities where your target audience already gathers — both on public platforms such as LinkedIn and in smaller, targeted communities.

This helps you build an online presence through real relationships and understand your niche on a deeper level.

Show up consistently, pay attention to what people are asking, and contribute helpfully before promoting anything.

The new currency is community. Instead of trying to blast a message to thousands of people, have real, direct conversations with people in the places they already show up — whether that’s private groups, forums, or smaller communities. — Jimmy Newson, Founder & CEO, Moving Forward Small Businesses

Here’s how you can build a network strategically:

• List the people who lead or influence communities in your niche.

• Send personalized connection requests focused on starting a conversation, not making an ask.

• Show up consistently over time so your feed reflects the people and topics you actually care about.
  

Tip: Look for the smaller, intentionally-built communities where your target audience gathers.

The best clients come from small, private communities. Slack groups, invite-only groups, places you can’t just search for. You don’t find them through Google. You find them by asking people: where do you hang out online? Ask your customers or peers what communities they’re part of. If you’re a good fit, you’ll often get invited. — Sarah Noel Block, founder of Tiny Marketing

For example, The Mom Collective is a community of moms in Barcelona where participants discuss the challenges they are facing, share new things they’ve learned, and organize meet-ups. 

If you’re running a business catering to this audience and you meet the criteria, it’s a good idea to join this group.

Step 9: Contribute to external sources to boost your visibility

Instead of waiting for people to find your site, borrow attention from places your audience already trusts. 

This can include guest appearances on podcasts, writing for industry blogs or newsletters, being quoted in articles, or collaborating with complementary businesses.

Podcast guesting is the main reason my website ranks so well. I have hundreds of backlinks because of those guest appearances, and my last clients all came from that. — Sarah Noel Block, founder of Tiny Marketing

Visibility opportunities will come your way organically when you focus on building a community in your niche. To take a more proactive approach:

• Research the intricacies of the influential voices and platforms in your niche — what do they publish, which topics they cater to, what is missing from their catalog, and what value can you add.
  
• Pitch yourself as a guest by showcasing the value you bring to the table — highlight your unique perspective and explain why you’d be a good fit in the community.

For instance, marketer Katelyn Bourgoin has appeared in many podcasts, provided insights for articles, and partnered with other companies — not just to gain early traction, but to sustain momentum as her business continues to grow.

Step 10: Treat effort and consistency as your KPIs

In the early days, measure your success by effort and consistency — not external metrics.

Traffic and subscriber metrics take time to grow. In the early days, it’s more useful to measure your effort with internal benchmarks such as:

• Content published: guides, service pages, or guest posts you’ve published.
• Collaborations initiated: podcast appearances, guest articles, or partnerships started.
• Real conversations: calls, DMs, or feedback sessions with customers and potential partners.

When you’re new, track success based on activity, not performance. It would be strange to see big results early on — what matters is staying consistently active and building the foundation. — Andy Crestodina, Co-founder & CMO, Orbit Media

Growing your online presence from zero requires time and effort and doesn’t typically provide immediate rewards — but the payoff is totally worth it.

Step 11: Build community through real conversations 

Finally, have direct conversations with your audience to understand their real needs, gather feedback, and refine your business based on what you learn.

This can include:

• Scheduling regular 1:1 calls with early customers to gather feedback.
• Participating in community discussions where your target audience is present.
• Maintaining relationships with your peers who share the same target audience and want to solve similar problems.
  

Instead of trying to reach a thousand people, talk to seven. Those direct conversations will give you more insight than anything else — and they’ll shape your messaging, offers, and direction far better than broadcasting ever will.— Jimmy Newson, Founder & CEO, Moving Forward Small Businesses

Rishabh Goyal — founder of Dodo Payments — demonstrates this well. He interacts with relevant Reddit threads without pushing his product, staying genuinely helpful and curious about solving problems.

This provides him with understanding of his audience’s real needs and builds direct, two-way communication with the community.

Build your online presence in 2026

Building an online presence for your new business doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

The secret is knowing what to tackle first: Get clear on what you do and who you serve, create a homepage that reflects that clarity, and build momentum through real conversations and consistent effort.

WordPress.com makes this entire process simpler. 

With the AI website builder to get you online quickly and managed WordPress hosting to handle the technical side, you’re free to focus on your audience and your business.

In earlier releases, the Studio CLI focused mainly on creating and managing preview sites. 

With version two, it becomes a full-featured command-line companion for much of your Studio workflow, including creating and managing local sites, running WP-CLI in the right context, connecting to WordPress.com, and more.

In this post, we’ll review what’s new and share practical ways to incorporate the Studio CLI into AI-assisted workflows. 

For the full command reference and advanced options, see the updated Studio CLI documentation included with this release.

What is a CLI?

A CLI (command-line interface) lets you control tools and applications by typing commands into a terminal, instead of clicking through menus. Developers tend to like CLIs because they’re:

• Fast: Spin up, change, or remove environments with a single command
• Repeatable: Run the same commands on any machine, or bake them into scripts
• Automatable: Let build systems and AI agents run commands for you

Even if you don’t typically work in the terminal, the Studio CLI is still worth paying attention to. 

It’s the common “language” automation tools can use to interact with Studio. Once it’s enabled, your editor, scripts, or AI coding assistants can do things like create a new site, run database upgrades, or publish a preview without you having to navigate through multiple screens in the Studio application.

Getting started with the Studio CLI

To begin using the Studio CLI, complete the following steps:

1. Open the WordPress Studio application on your machine.
2. From the main menu, open the Settings modal. You can also click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the app.
3. Enable the Studio CLI option and click Save.
4. On macOS, you’ll be prompted for your computer password to allow installation.

Once the Studio CLI is enabled, you will have access to a global studio command from your preferred terminal application:

studio <area> <command> [options]

In Studio 1.7.0, the CLI now covers four main areas:

• Authentication: Manage your WordPress.com account for features that require it
• Preview sites: Create and update WordPress.com hosted preview sites
• Local site management: Create, start, stop, configure, and delete Studio-managed local sites
• WP-CLI integration: Run WP-CLI commands inside correctly configured Studio environments, without installing WP-CLI yourself

You can see an overview at any time by running studio --help:

Most commands are designed to be run from the root folder of a Studio-managed site. 

For quick access, you can open that folder directly in your terminal by clicking the Terminal button on the site’s Overview tab.

Managing local Studio sites

One of the biggest upgrades in Studio CLI v2 is end-to-end local site management from the terminal. 

Rather than switching back to the Studio user interface for routine tasks, you can create a site, check its status, start or stop it, and clean it up when you’re finished. 

It’s a faster day-to-day workflow, and it also makes automation much easier, whether you’re writing scripts yourself or using an AI agent to do it for you.

At the center of it all is the studio site command. The available options include:

studio site status    # Get status of site
studio site create    # Create a new site
studio site list      # List sites
studio site start     # Start site
studio site stop      # Stop site(s)
studio site delete    # Delete site
studio site set       # Configure site settings

Create local sites with a single command

Use studio site create to spin up a new site in your current directory or at a specific path. Here are a few examples of what you can do:

# Create a new site with default options in the current folder
studio site create
# Create a new site with a custom domain and HTTPS
studio site create --https --domain hello.wp.local
# Create a site in a different directory
studio site create --path /path/to/site

The CLI will:

• Set up a local WordPress environment.
• Start the WordPress server.
• Open WP Admin in your browser when it is ready.

You can run this from an empty folder, or from a directory that already contains a WordPress site that is not yet registered within the Studio app.

List, inspect, start, and stop local sites

When you are working with multiple local sites, the `list` and `status` commands make management much easier:

studio site list       # Show all local sites known to Studio
studio site status     # Status of the site in the current directory

Status output includes:

• Whether the site is running
• The local URL, for example http://localhost:PORT
• Key configuration details such as PHP version and login information

Starting and stopping sites is also straightforward:

studio site start      
studio site stop

This works well in scripts that need to start a site, run tests or content operations, and then stop it again.

Delete and configure sites safely

When you are finished with a project, you can remove it from Studio and, if needed, delete all the associated files from your machine with the following commands:

studio site delete          # Remove the site from Studio
studio site delete --files  # Remove the site and files

For configuration changes, studio site set lets you adjust settings for a specific local site:

studio site set [options]

You can, for example:

• Change the PHP or WordPress version.
• Update the local domain or port.
• Toggle features that affect how the local environment runs.

Tip: Run studio site set --help for the full list of available options.

Authentication from the terminal

Some Studio features, such as creating or updating preview sites, require a logged-in WordPress.com account. 

Studio CLI v2 gives you dedicated studio auth commands so you can manage this from the terminal:

• studio auth login launches a browser flow and gives you a token to paste back into your terminal to complete the login.
• studio auth status tells you whether you are authenticated and which account is active.
• studio auth logout disconnects the CLI from your WordPress.com account and clears stored credentials.

If you run a command that needs authentication while logged out, such as studio preview create that we will review next, the CLI will guide you to log in.

Preview sites from the CLI

Preview sites are temporary, shareable environments hosted on WordPress.com that mirror your local Studio site. They are ideal for sharing work with others who do not have a local environment.

The CLI provides a complete set of commands:

studio preview create          # Create a preview site
studio preview list            # List all your preview sites
studio preview update <host>   # Redeploy changes to a preview
studio preview delete <host>   # Remove a preview site

Tip: Run studio preview list to see all previews associated with your WordPress.com account, then use the host value from that output with studio preview update or studio preview delete.

Built-in WP-CLI, configured for you

WP-CLI is the official command-line interface for WordPress itself. Studio CLI v2 integrates it directly through a dedicated studio wp command, so you do not need to install or configure WP-CLI on your own:

studio wp [<wp-cli-command>] [<wp-cli-arguments>...]

From your site’s root directory, you can run common WP-CLI tasks like:

• studio wp core version shows the WordPress version for the current site.
• studio wp plugin list lists installed plugins (and their status).
• studio wp core update-db runs any required database updates after a WordPress update.

Studio sets the environment variables, paths, and credentials for you, so these commands run against the correct database and files with no extra setup.

Using Studio CLI with AI coding tools

One of the biggest advantages of Studio CLI v2 is how naturally it fits into AI-assisted development workflows, especially with tools like Claude Code and Cursor. 

These agents read the code in your local project (including themes and plugins) and run commands in your environment, which makes it possible to offload much of the repetitive work. For example, they can:

• Use studio site commands to create, start, stop, and manage local environments.
• Run studio wp for diagnostics, database tasks, and content management.
• Create and update WordPress.com preview sites for review without leaving your editor.

Provide context

The AI tool you’re using may not automatically understand WordPress Studio or the Studio CLI. To get useful results, start by giving the AI agent a bit of context about what it’s looking at and what tools it can use.

For example, imagine you’ve opened a local Studio site folder in your terminal. 

Begin by telling the AI agent what this directory is, and that it can run the Studio CLI. 

In this example, we’ll use Claude Code and explicitly note that it can invoke the CLI via studio.

“This is the folder for a WordPress Studio site. You have access to the Studio CLI, which can be invoked by running studio. Start by exploring the available options.”

From there, you should get a response that looks like this:

With a simple prompt, the AI now has a solid understanding of the Studio CLI. This example was generated using Opus 4.5.

Automate environment setup

Once the AI understands what Studio can do, you can start handing off routine setup tasks. For instance, you might tell your agent:

“Set up a new local WordPress site using Studio with the name “Nick’s Site””

Behind the scenes, it may run something like:

studio site create --path "../nicks-site" --name "Nick's Site" --skip-browser

Here’s an example of the output from Claude Code, again using Opus 4.5.

Debugging and verification with WP-CLI

Studio also makes it easy to troubleshoot issues using WP-CLI — especially when you’re staring at an error and don’t want to manually hunt down the cause.

You might say:

“Use the Studio CLI to run WP-CLI checks and figure out why this site is failing, then propose fixes.”

From there, the agent can:

• Run studio wp commands (for example, plugin list, theme list, or core update-db) to collect diagnostics.
• Suggest (or apply) code and configuration changes based on what it finds.
• Re-run the same WP-CLI checks to confirm the issue is resolved.

If you haven’t already, check out this great overview of WP-CLI to get a sense of what it can do.

Creating preview sites

Preview sites are one of the most popular features in WordPress Studio, but creating them and keeping them updated can feel a bit tedious if you’re doing it through the Studio user interface. 

The CLI streamlines the workflow, and it becomes even easier when you pair it with an AI agent.

When you’re ready to share your work with a client or teammate, you can simply ask your AI to create a preview site:

“Can you spin up a preview site for me?”

If you’re not already authenticated, the agent will prompt you to log in, then it will create the preview and return the URL. The output should look something like this:

As you continue working locally, you can periodically ask the agent to update the preview site. 

If you’re also using the AI to help build the site, theme, or plugin, you can even add a rule like: after any major change, update the preview site automatically so your shared link stays current.

Best practices when using AI with Studio CLI

AI agents can be incredibly effective copilots when you pair them with the Studio CLI. They can speed up setup, troubleshooting, preview deployments, and run real commands against your environment. 

That said, a little structure up front helps you get the benefits while avoiding unpleasant surprises.

• Work from the Studio site root (or use `–path`). This ensures commands run against the project you actually intend, especially if you have multiple sites on your machine.
• Set clear boundaries in your prompts. For example: “Do not delete sites,” “Only run read-only studio wp commands,” or “Ask before running database migrations.”
• Double-check destructive operations. For commands like studio site delete and studio preview delete, have the agent show you the exact commands it plans to run before it executes anything.

Used thoughtfully, AI plus Studio CLI can remove much of the repetitive setup, testing, and deployment friction, so you can focus more on designing and building great WordPress experiences.

Start building with Studio CLI

Studio CLI v2 makes WordPress Studio more scriptable and automation-friendly for everyday development, whether you’re running commands yourself or working with an AI agent.

If you want to go further, the Studio CLI documentation walks through everything you can do and how to fit it into your workflow.

If you haven’t tried WordPress Studio yet, or it’s been a while, this is a great time to jump in. Download Studio, spin up a site, and take the updated CLI for a quick test drive.

I went through the most popular options on WordPress.com — based on real usage data — and tested each one. 

From personal blogs to online stores, I looked at what works best for different types of sites.

Here are the 12 best WordPress themes worth considering in 2026.

TL;DR: The best WordPress themes

Here are our top picks of WordPress.com themes based on real usage data from WordPress.com:

• Twenty Twenty-Four: Best for content-focused sites.
• Retrospect: Best for photography websites.
• Twenty Twenty-Three: Best for getting a flexible starting point
• Twenty Twenty-Five: Best for building an adaptable, creative site
• Zoologist: Best for all types of blogging websites
• Hey: Best for personal blogging
• Tsubaki: Best for ecommerce websites
• Fewer: Best for portfolio sites
• Poema: Best for poetry or pure text sites
• Nook: Best for hobby and community-driven sites
• Aether: Best for small business sites
• Vivre: Best for magazine sites.

Pro tip: Set up and customize your site in minutes with our AI website builder, using simple text prompts to define the layout and visual look.

1. Twenty Twenty-Four

• Best for: Content-focused sites
• Price: Free
  

Twenty Twenty-Four is a great WordPress theme for beginners who want a clean, simple, and minimalist design.

It’s one of the most popular themes in the WordPress.com universe, with 9.78% of sites using it based on our data. 

The theme’s simple yet powerful features make it perfect for content-focused sites, such as blogs and portfolio sites.

My experience

Right from the start, I loved the styling options. The typography and color choices are excellent and offer a lot of diversity.

Each option looks elegant and professional. You can easily pick one that fits your brand and tweak it to your liking.

I also liked the template options. 

They felt especially geared toward content-heavy sites, with layouts for pages with sidebars, index pages, blog homepages, and single posts.

Twenty Twenty-Four also comes with over 200 patterns — predesigned blocks you can drop into your pages.

I found them helpful for building layouts quickly without starting from scratch.

Choose this theme to:

• Build a content-heavy site, such as a blog or personal writing website.
• Showcase your creative work.
• Create a clean, minimal, and modern design.

2. Retrospect

• Best for: Photography websites
• Price: Free
  

Retrospect is a perfect WordPress theme for photographers. It displays images at full resolution alongside your post content. 

Over 5.93% of WordPress.com users choose this theme for photo blogs and visual-first sites.

My experience

I liked the minimalist approach of the Retrospect theme. It’s a strong choice for art, travel, or photography blogs, where the focus should stay on visuals. 

The layout is distraction-free, so your images can shine without clutter.

It also comes with patterns for newsletter sign-up, booking forms, and contact sections.

Setup is fast and intuitive. On mobile, images still look sharp without taking over the whole screen.

Choose this theme to:

• Build a visual-first site, whether that’s a photo journal or personal blog.
• Run a low-maintenance site that’s easy to set up.
• Create a clean, distraction-free layout.

3. Twenty Twenty-Three

• Best for: Getting a flexible starting point
• Price: Free

Twenty Twenty-Three is a minimalist theme that gives you a clean starting point without heavy styling. 

It offers plenty of style variations, but the base design stays flexible — more blank canvas than finished product. 

About 5.53% of WordPress.com users choose this theme.

My experience

I liked the style variation options in this theme. The color palettes and typography options are vastly different from one another, making it easy to match the look to different kinds of sites.

If you’re building a simple one-page website, the template library and patterns make it easy to get started. 

The minimal base also gives you room to experiment, which is great when you want more creative control over the design.

Choose this theme to:

• Create a minimal design without heavy styling.
• Maintain full creative control over your website’s design.

4. Twenty Twenty-Five

• Best for: Building an adaptable, creative site
• Price: Free
  

Twenty Twenty-Five sits at the cusp of a blank canvas and a fully designed premium theme. 

It hits the right balance if you want something that looks and feels polished but is still easily customizable to your needs. 

This theme is chosen by 3.83% of WordPress.com users.

My experience

My favorite part about this theme is the new and improved patterns. 

There’s a wide variety of choices, from online store layouts to poster-style sections and event RSVP blocks.

No matter what type of site you’re building, you’re guaranteed to find something valuable here, which makes it a strong choice for beginners and more advanced users.

The style variations are also ready to use. You can switch between different color palettes and typography options without extra tweaking.

The bottom line: Twenty Twenty-Five sits between Twenty Twenty-Four, which is more specialized toward blogging with a clearly defined design, and Twenty Twenty-Three, which is broader and more open in its design.

Choose this theme to:

• Gain a versatile base for many kinds of sites.
• Build pages visually using patterns and templates.
• Customize the appearance of your site easily.

5. Zoologist

• Best for: All types of blogging websites
• Price: Free
  

Zoologist is an ideal theme for all sorts of blogging websites. 

The single-column layout displays your posts in a clean, linear format, with no sidebars or distractions. 

My experience

Zoologist has strong blogging roots. 

To me, it felt like a great choice for anyone publishing long-form, whether that’s a business blog, a personal website, or a journal. 

You can choose from several color variations to customize the visual design of your site.

The theme also offers templates and patterns similar to Twenty Twenty-Four, which help you add essential elements such as newsletter sign-up forms and waitlists.

My favorite part of this WordPress theme: It has little noise, with no unnecessary bells and whistles — just set it up and start publishing.

Choose this theme to:

• Publish content using a simple, clean, single-column layout.
• Build a straightforward blog or content-centric site.
• Create a lightweight, minimal design.

6. Hey

• Best for: Personal blogging
• Price: Free

If you want a site that feels like your creative playground but is still easy to use, it doesn’t get better than the Hey theme. 

It’s designed for personal blogging and keeps things simple with a ready-to-go setup.

My experience

The Hey theme instantly reminds me of a personal diary or journal. It works well for founder or artist notes or for logging your creative progress. 

The focus is purely on the reading and writing experience, with no extra frills or complex customization options.

Choose this theme to:

• Get your website up and running quickly.
• Prioritize readability and simplicity over fancy layouts.
• Create a blank-canvas feel with generous whitespace.

7. Tsubaki

• Best for: E-commerce websites
• Price: Available on the Business plan ($25/month on the annual plan)

If you’re building an online store, Tsubaki is a WordPress theme worth considering. 

It’s designed for e-commerce and integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce, so your store, blog, and site all live in one place.

My experience

Tsubaki is built around e-commerce from the ground up. 

The layout, navigation, and structure all support product displays and shopping flows. 

The patterns are e-commerce-focused, with options for product categories, new arrivals, checkout sections, and more.

The additions don’t detract from the core blogging features, though. You can use this theme to host your blog while selling your physical or digital products. 

Choose this theme to:

• Build an online store or e-commerce site.
• Combine shop and blog content on one site.
• Use WooCommerce with an e-commerce-friendly layout.

8. Fewer

• Best for: Portfolio sites
• Price: Free

Fewer’s clean content presentation and project-driven focus, which combine text and visuals neatly, make it an excellent choice for building portfolio sites. 

Its design is clear and readable without being noisy, which helps keep the spotlight on your work.

My experience

I was immediately impressed by Fewer’s style variations. 

The designs are versatile but not so loud that they shift focus away from the projects you want to highlight. 

I found the typography especially clean and balanced.

Fewer is a solid choice if you want an elegant, content-first site that displays your work with minimal clutter.

While it’s great for portfolio sites, it’s also flexible enough to work for business or blog sites. 

Choose this theme to:

• Take advantage of style and typography variations.
• Build a blog, portfolio, or content-driven site.
• Keep the focus on your content or visuals through good typography and design.

9. Poema

• Best for: Poetry or pure text sites
• Price: Free

Poema is a simple black-and-white text site built in honor of writer and poet Fernando Pessoa. 

It’s designed to focus 100% on the writing material, with no visuals or design elements overpowering the text. 

Poema is perfect for poetry sites, personal journals, or anywhere writing needs to take center stage.

My experience

Entering the Poema theme feels like opening a poetry book. 

The design is clean and clutter-free — just your words on the page. The layout feels classic and literary, with serif fonts, neutral colors, and lots of whitespace. 

Despite the name, it works just as well for long-form essays, journal entries, or personal reflections.

Choose this theme to:

• Create an elegant site focused on typography and reading.
• Set up a simple site that’s easy to maintain.
• Publish writing without complex layouts

10. Nook

• Best for: Hobby and community-driven sites
• Price: Free

Nook uses a classic two-column layout with a sidebar structure, giving it a familiar blog feel. 

It’s a strong choice for someone creating a personal site, food blog, journal, or craft-focused blog. 

My experience

Nook has a warm, nostalgic blog feel. 

If I were building a site for fun or to explore a hobby, this is the theme I’d pick. It’s great for getting creative and connecting with people who share your interests.

The templates and patterns are especially helpful if you’re a beginner or want to get started quickly.

I also liked the overall familiarity of the theme. Everything feels intuitive — easy to set up for you and easy to navigate for your visitors.

Choose this theme to:

• Create a classic two-column blog layout with a sidebar.
• Design a warm, comfortable, and timeless site.
• Build a blog or personal site.

11. Aether

• Best for: Small business sites
• Price: Available on the Premium plan ($8/month on the annual plan)

Aether is a great WordPress theme for small-scale stores that want to weave storytelling into their business site. 

It’s particularly suitable for handcrafted goods, boutique products, or small merch brands, where you want clean presentation and built-in store-style flows.

My experience

As soon as I entered the Aether theme, its focus was clear: it’s built to help you sell your products while combining shop functionality with a brand story, an About page, a testimonials section, and a visual gallery.

The homepage includes sections for best-sellers, brand story, testimonials, and contact info, so you can launch a shop with minimal custom work. 

The patterns are small business-friendly, with options for Instagram grids, sitewide notices, product displays, and more.

Choose this theme to:

• Run a small jewelry, accessories, or artisan brand store.
• Showcase products with a focus on style and storytelling.
• Launch quickly with a ready-to-use homepage and store-oriented sections.

12. Vivre

• Best for: Magazine sites
• Price: Free

Vivre is heavily inspired by fashion and lifestyle magazines, making it a good fit for publication sites. 

The design has a stylish, editorial feel that enhances the reading experience. The font pairing (heavy sans with elegant serif) and generous whitespace give it a traditional magazine vibe.

My experience

Vivre feels like a magazine from the moment you open it. 

It features bold visuals, strong headers, and stylized typography that feels like ink on paper, making it well-suited for editorial or publication sites.

The patterns are also especially helpful when finishing your site. You can quickly add a hero post, a recent content section, and a posts grid.

It’s a great theme if your site relies on strong visuals or a distinct brand style.

Choose this theme to:

• Create a bold, magazine-style look.
• Balance style with readability. 
• Build a fast-loading site, even with heavy stylistic elements.

How to choose the right WordPress theme

The best WordPress theme is the one that matches your site’s purpose and saves you time down the road. 

Use this quick checklist:

• Does it match your use case? If you’re building a blog, pick a blogging theme. If you’re building a portfolio, choose one designed for showcasing work. You’ll get the right features without extra customization.
• Does it fit the visual style you want? Most themes offer style variations, so check them all before committing. Think about the impression you want to make, whether it’s calm, minimalist, bold, or editorial.

• Does it have the features you need? For example, if you’re selling products, you’ll want a theme with WooCommerce support. If you’re a beginner, look for a solid pattern library to help you build pages fast.

• Can it scale with you? If you’re planning to add pages, products, or content over time, make sure the theme can handle it.

• Is it well-maintained? Themes from trusted developers get regular updates, which means fewer bugs and better performance.

You can always switch themes later — it’s not irreversible. But investing time upfront helps you avoid dealing with broken layouts and user experience headaches down the road.

Get started with WordPress.com

WordPress.com gives you plenty of themes to build any kind of site. 

But themes are just the start.

WordPress.com also takes care of the essentials that keep your site running smoothly:

• Power your site with specialized WordPress hosting so it always stays up.
• Get a free domain name for one year with paid plans.
• Add unlimited pages and users, with pricing that doesn’t scale with traffic.
• Protect your site with built-in security against spam and attacks.
• Expand your site with hundreds of plugins, AI features, and more.
  

Today, WordPress.com supports OAuth 2.1, making MCP integrations simpler. 

MCP clients work natively with OAuth 2.1, so authorizing the AI tools you already use is as straightforward as adding a URL and approving access — no workarounds or manual configuration required.

With MCP, AI agents can help with everyday tasks on your WordPress.com site, such as finding posts, pulling site details, or drafting new content, while you control what they can access.

How OAuth 2.1 powers MCP integrations

When an AI assistant (like Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, or a custom AI tool) wants to access your WordPress.com content, OAuth 2.1 now handles the secure connection:

1. The MCP client requests authorization.
2. You’re redirected to WordPress.com to approve the connection.
3. After approval, the client receives secure tokens.
4. The client uses those tokens to access the WordPress.com MCP.
5. Tokens refresh automatically as needed.

All of this is protected by PKCE (Proof Key for Code Exchange). 

Even if someone intercepts the authorization code, they can’t use it without the secret verification code that stays on your device.

Simple setup: Just add a URL

WordPress.com provides an MCP server that AI tools can connect to using OAuth 2.1.

All you’ll need to do is:

• Create a custom connector or app in your AI tool
• Add the WordPress.com MCP server URL
• Authenticate and approve access through WordPress.com using OAuth 2.1

That’s it. 

WordPress.com handles authentication and permissions, so there’s no manual credential setup and no passwords to share.

Tip: View the MCP connection guide in the developer documentation for Claude Desktop and ChatGPT–specific instructions.

What MCP clients can do with WordPress.com

Once authenticated, MCP clients can interact with your WordPress.com sites through the MCP API:

• Search and retrieve posts: Find content across your sites
• Read post details: Access full post content, metadata, and comments
• Access site information: Get site settings, statistics, and user data

All of this happens with the permissions you’ve explicitly granted, and you can revoke MCP access at any time from your WordPress.com MCP settings.

Get started with MCP and OAuth 2.1

OAuth 2.1 is available now for all AI agents to connect to WordPress.com. 

Whether you’re building a custom integration or using existing MCP-compatible AI tools, it provides the secure authentication foundation for your work.

If you haven’t already, enable MCP on your WordPress.com account to start connecting your AI assistants.

Useful resources

• WordPress.com MCP documentation
• Available MCP tools reference
• MCP prompt examples
• Model Context Protocol documentation

Share Your Feedback

We’d love to hear how you’re using OAuth 2.1 and MCP with WordPress.com. Have questions or suggestions? Drop a comment below or share your experience in the developer forums.

Today, I’m happy to announce the launch of the second stage of that effort: introducing the new and improved Code block.

This is not a new block. It’s an enhancement to the current Code block that you’ve likely already been using, which includes several improvements over the original:

• Syntax highlighting: Supports color-based syntax highlighting for over 100 common languages.
• Configuration: Decide to show the filename, language name, line numbers, and even include a copy button for visitors.
• Drag-and-drop: Dragging a code file from your computer to the editor will automatically transform it to the Code block with the language set.
• Transforms: Transform other code-supported blocks on WordPress.com, such as Syntax Highlighter, to the new Code block.
• Styles: Customize syntax colors directly from the editor or via ‘theme.json’ if you’re a developer.

Using the enhanced Code block

You do not have to enable anything to begin using the new version of the Code block. It’s already available to use. Just insert the Code block anywhere in the block editor and add your code.

By default, when adding a Code block and inserting code, you will see your code in Plain Text:

Of course, Plain Text doesn’t include any syntax highlighting since it’s not a language. To change this, choose a code language from the Settings → Language dropdown in the sidebar:

Syntax highlighting will then be applied based on the language that you selected, making the code much more readable for both you and your visitors!

Pro tip: If you type three backticks followed by the language name (e.g., ```php) and then hit Enter, the editor will automatically create a new Code block instance and auto-fill the Language setting.

If you want to kick your Code block’s features up a notch, you can also configure several other settings besides the language:

• Filename: Add a custom filename to display in the top left of the code block (useful when walking readers through tutorials).
• Show language name: Displays the language name in the top right corner of the block.
• Show copy button: Inserts a Copy button in the top right of the block, allowing site visitors to copy the entirety of the code.
• Show line numbers: Displays line numbers next to your code on the left.
• Line numbers start at: Choose a starting line number.

This will make your site’s code examples much more reader friendly:

Customizing the Code block colors

There are multiple ways to customize the syntax highlighting and colors shown with the enhanced Code block. In this section, I’ll walk you through each from the quickest/simplest to the more advanced techniques.

Selecting a block style

The Code block ships with four block styles out of the box:

• Default: Will use the default styles and colors from your theme.
• No Highlight: Disables syntax highlighting.
• Solarized Light: A light color scheme.
• Solarized Dark: A dark color scheme.

Themes can also register additional styles. Selecting one of these styles is the quickest way to change how your Code block is output:

Customizing colors from the editor

You can also customize the colors directly from the editor via the Styles → Color panel in the block sidebar. The block has an extensive array of color options for customizing every aspect of the syntax highlighting:

You are not limited to only colors either. You can customize any of the other available styles, such as Typography, Border, and more. These options haven’t changed with the latest enhancement.

Customizing the Code block via theme.json

If you’re a developer or theme author, you’ll most likely want to define default syntax colors and other styles for the default output of the block. theme.json support is included with this batch of enhancements.

Here’s what my custom Code block styles look like after a few tweaks in theme.json:

Because the WordPress software itself doesn’t support custom colors via theme.json, the developers at WordPress.com built in custom support for this feature.

You can customize any of the syntax colors via settings.custom.core/code in theme.json. This is an object where each key is the syntax color name and the value is the color itself.

Here’s an example snippet that you can use to customize your own colors:

{
	"$schema": "https://schemas.wp.org/trunk/theme.json",
	"version": 3,
	"settings": {
		"custom": {
			"core/code": {
				"comment": "#94a3b8",
				"keyword": "#8b5cf6",
				"boolean": "#f59e0b",
				"literal": "#10b981",
				"string": "#06b6d4",
				"specialString": "#ec4899",
				"macroName": "#8b5cf6",
				"variableDefinition": "#3b82f6",
				"typeName": "#14b8a6",
				"className": "#f97316",
				"invalid": "#ef4444"
			}
		}
	}
}

Any valid CSS color is supported, so you’re not limited to hex color codes. Use CSS custom properties, RGBA, and more.

If you want to borrow my full theme.json customizations, copy and paste the following code. It includes additional custom styles to make the Code block even nicer:

{
	"$schema": "https://schemas.wp.org/trunk/theme.json",
	"version": 3,
	"settings": {
		"custom": {
			"core/code": {
				"comment": "#94a3b8",
				"keyword": "#8b5cf6",
				"boolean": "#f59e0b",
				"literal": "#10b981",
				"string": "#06b6d4",
				"specialString": "#ec4899",
				"macroName": "#8b5cf6",
				"variableDefinition": "#3b82f6",
				"typeName": "#14b8a6",
				"className": "#f97316",
				"invalid": "#ef4444"
			}
		}
	},
	"styles": {
		"blocks": {
			"core/code": {
				"border": {
					"color": "#e2e8f0",
					"style": "solid",
					"width": "1px",
					"radius": "8px"
				},
				"color": {
					"background": "#f1f5f9",
					"text": "#1e293b"
				},
				"typography": {
					"fontSize": "15px"
				}
			}
		}
	}
}

Start sharing code now.

Whether you’re publishing snippets or full-blown tutorials, the enhanced Code block makes sharing and styling code in WordPress.com smoother and more customizable than ever before. 

Syntax highlighting, block styles, and custom color options put you in full control of how your code appears. 

With these improvements, you can focus less on formatting and more on writing great content that helps your readers learn and build.

I didn’t realize how much that mattered until I built my first site. I thought my job was just to write and publish — then the updates, security alerts, and performance issues started piling up.

In this guide, I explain what managed hosting includes, how it compares to regular hosting, and its advantages.

What is managed hosting?

Managed hosting is a type of web hosting where the provider takes care of the technical work behind your site for you.

Instead of dealing with things like updates, security, and ongoing maintenance yourself, you rely on the host to handle them.

Here’s what you typically get:

• Automatic updates: The host takes care of important system and platform updates in the background.

• Security monitoring: Your site is checked for security issues and protected against common threats.

• Regular backups: Backups are handled automatically by the host, making it easier to recover your site if something goes wrong.

• Performance optimization: The host handles speed-related setup and optimizations to help your site load faster.

• Uptime monitoring: Your site is monitored to make sure it stays online, and issues are caught early.

Tip: WordPress.com offers managed hosting out of the box. The technical setup is handled for you, so you don’t need to worry about maintenance or configuration.

Managed hosting vs. unmanaged hosting

The key difference is who handles the technical work. With managed hosting, your provider takes care of it; with unmanaged, you do everything yourself. 

This applies across hosting types — VPS, dedicated, cloud — as any of them can come in a managed or unmanaged version.

In practice, managed hosting gets you up and running faster and keeps the technical workload off your plate long-term.

Here’s how the two compare across key areas:

When is managed hosting the right choice?

I recommend managed hosting if you want a reliable website without taking on the technical overhead of running it.

WordPress.com users, for example, often choose managed hosting so they can focus on building their site and publishing — not troubleshooting updates or security issues. 

Here’s how managed hosting helps me day to day:

• No surprise maintenance tasks: Routine updates and server work happen automatically.
• Fewer disruptions: Issues are handled before you ever notice them.
• Stable, predictable performance: No juggling settings or extra tools.
• More time for real work: Publishing, designing, or growing your business takes center stage.
• Peace of mind: You’re not the one troubleshooting issues.

Key features of managed hosting to look for 

If you consider opting for managed hosting, look for features that keep your site running smoothly with minimal maintenance.

These are the ones that make the biggest difference:

Server management

Check that setup, configuration, and ongoing server maintenance are included. 

A managed host should give you a ready-to-use environment without requiring server knowledge, while still letting you access server settings when needed.

Performance optimization

Look for built-in performance features like caching and server-level tuning. 

These help keep your site fast and stable, with less need for extra plugins or manual setup.

For example, WordPress.com includes server-level caching by default, so key performance optimizations are handled at the hosting layer.

Tip: If your audience is global, also check whether the host provides edge caching or a distributed data-center network. On WordPress.com, Global Edge Caching across 28+ data centers helps pages load quickly for visitors worldwide.

Security and backups

Look for built-in security protections and automatic backups that run without manual setup. 

A managed host should handle malware scanning, firewalls, and regular backups so that you don’t need to worry about running scans or remembering backup schedules.

Tip: WordPress.com includes SSL certificates, malware detection, and brute-force protection on all plans. Business and Commerce plans add real-time backups with one-click restore and advanced security features.

Support and expertise

Check what the support team is trained to help with — for example, whether they have experience with your specific CMS.

Managed hosting often includes support that’s familiar with the software your site runs on, which can be helpful when issues go beyond basic hosting questions.

With managed WordPress hosting, this usually means access to WordPress-specific support.

Tip: All WordPress.com paid plans include direct support from WordPress experts. Business and Commerce plans also include priority 24/7 support.

Scalability and reliability

Opt for hosting that can handle traffic spikes and keep your site stable as it grows, without you having to manage servers or make technical decisions.

For example, WordPress.com runs your site across multiple locations worldwide, so pages load quickly for visitors everywhere.

When traffic spikes, the system automatically handles the extra load — and you don’t need to add any manual changes.

How to select the best managed hosting provider

The best managed hosting provider will make running your site easier and take most of the technical work off your hands.

Because “managed” can mean very different things depending on the provider, I recommend focusing on how much responsibility they take off your plate and whether they fit your setup.

Here are a few questions to guide your decision:

1. How much technical work does the host handle for you?

The more setup, updates, and security they manage, the less you have to worry about.

2. Is the hosting environment optimized for your platform — e.g., WordPress?

For instance, some hosts simply install WordPress on a generic server and leave the rest to you. 

Others, like WordPress.com, are optimized for running WordPress, so your site runs faster and stays stable without extra tuning.

3. What kind of support will you receive?

Support teams familiar with your website platform can solve problems faster and with less back-and-forth.

4. Will the hosting grow with your site?

Your site should be able to grow and receive more traffic without forcing you to switch plans or providers. For instance, WordPress.com includes unmetered traffic on every plan, so your costs don’t increase as your audience grows.

5. How transparent is the pricing?

Look for plans where essential features — like backups, security, and SSL — are included upfront, so you’re not surprised by extra charges as your site scales.

6. Does the host keep your site online if something goes wrong?

Some managed hosts use a distributed infrastructure, so your site stays available even if a server in one region has issues.

For instance, during a recent AWS outage that took many websites offline, WordPress.com sites continued running without interruption:

Get started with WordPress.com managed hosting

If you’re building a site with WordPress, managed hosting can take a lot of work off your plate — from updates and backups to security and basic maintenance. 

On WordPress.com, managed hosting is built in, so you don’t need to set up servers, install performance tools, or manage updates yourself.

That’s the setup I wish I’d had when I started. Once I made the switch, the updates, security alerts, and performance issues that used to eat up my time disappeared. Now I just focus on the site itself.

Sound like something you’d benefit from?

Even though WordPress can run on almost any server, the hosting environment you choose affects performance, stability, security, and how much technical work you’re responsible for.

This guide gives you a simple framework to select the right WordPress hosting plan — whether you’re a first-time blogger, a small business owner, or an experienced agency user.

TL;DR: How to pick WordPress hosting for your needs

When choosing hosting for your WordPress site, focus on a few key factors like ease of management, speed, security, support, and budget.

For a quick overview, we’ve listed them in the table below:

Looking for WordPress hosting that covers all of the points above? WordPress.com brings them together in one managed platform.

Now, let’s break down how to choose the right WordPress hosting provider step by step.

1. Explore different types of WordPress hosting

First, you need to understand how different web hosting providers divide server resources — this affects your site’s performance, stability, and price.

Your website sits on a server with limited capacity, and each hosting model allocates those resources differently.

As a result, each hosting type offers a different balance of control, speed, and stability:

• Shared hosting: Your site shares a server with many others, which keeps costs low but may affect your website’s performance as traffic on other websites increases.

• VPS (Virtual Private Server): Fewer sites share the server, and each gets a set amount of resources, giving your site somewhat more consistent speed.

• Dedicated hosting: Your site uses an entire server on its own, giving you full control and the highest level of performance.

• Cloud hosting: Your site uses resources from multiple servers, which helps it handle traffic changes without the higher cost of a dedicated server.

Tip: These hosting types explain how server resources are shared and how much raw capacity your site has access to. WordPress-optimized hosting, on the other hand, describes how that server environment is prepared specifically for WordPress — with the right software, settings, and defaults in place — so you don’t have to handle the technical configuration yourself.

2. Choose your level of hands-on management

Next, decide how much of the server setup and technical maintenance you want the host to handle for you.

Two different approaches exist:

• Managed hosting: Managed WordPress hosting providers like WordPress.com take over day-to-day tasks such as automatic updates for WordPress core, security, performance optimization, and backups.

• Unmanaged hosting: You’re responsible for setting up and maintaining the WordPress environment yourself, including updates, security, performance tuning, and backups.

Managed WordPress hosting is often an ideal choice for beginners. It frees up time for more impactful work instead of routine maintenance.

However, experienced users can benefit from it too — especially when the managed plan includes the right developer features. 

For example, WordPress.com Business and Commerce plans offer staging sites, WP-CLI, SSH access, and multi-site management, making them a strong fit for advanced users and agencies looking to focus on growth rather than hands-on management.

3. Prioritize core hosting features

The hosting environment you choose plays a big role in your site’s performance, security, ease of use, and the tools you have access to.

So make sure you understand which features matter most before making a decision.

Performance and stability

Pick a hosting plan that keeps your WordPress site fast and stable.

When too many sites share the same hosting resources, slowdowns and outages are more likely, especially during traffic spikes.

Hosting that limits resource sharing or can scale when needed tends to deliver more consistent performance.

Focus on these features when it comes to performance and stability:

• Fast storage: Faster storage helps your pages load more quickly. Look for hosting that uses SSD storage.

• Built-in caching: Caching saves parts of your site so repeat visitors can pick up where they left off.

• Uptime guarantees: Uptime is how consistently your website is reachable to visitors. The industry standard is at least 99% uptime.

• Servers close to your audience: Helps people in your desired region get faster load times.

• A global CDN: A Content Delivery Network stores copies of your site on servers around the world so people in other countries get quicker load times.

• Modern technology: The latest version of PHP and other server software help your site run smoothly and stay compatible with WordPress.

On WordPress.com, your site benefits from a 99.999% uptime guarantee, a global CDN and edge-cache network across 28+ data centers — plus a hosting environment configured specifically for WordPress. 

Security and protection

From here, consider safety features that keep your site protected from hacks, malware, and downtime. 

The best approach is to choose a provider that handles most of this for you, so you can focus on running your site instead of maintaining the infrastructure.

In particular, look for these features:

• SSL certificates: SSL/TLS encrypts data between the browser and server. Your host should include and set this up for free.

• Malware scanning and removal: Malware hurts both user trust and search visibility. You can add protection yourself or choose a host that includes it.

• Firewalls: A firewall blocks threats before they reach your site. It’s best when this is built in, since setting it up yourself takes extra work.

• DDoS protection: Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks flood servers with fake traffic to knock sites offline. Good hosts have protections in place to prevent this.

• Automated backups: Backups let you restore your site quickly if something goes wrong. You can handle this yourself or pick a host that automates it.

• Anti-spam filters: Comment spam is also common. Filters stop harmful links and content before they appear on your site. Similarly, you can configure this yourself or use a host that covers it.

All WordPress.com plans come with free SSL encryption, regular malware scans, and automatic software updates and backups. Additionally, your website is protected by a Web Application Firewall (WAF) and comes with one-click restore on Business and Commerce plans.

Ease of use and site management

Choose hosting that lets you manage your site from one place, without juggling multiple tools or dashboards.

With many hosting providers, managing a website means jumping between different systems that don’t work the same way.

You might handle hosting settings in one panel, manage your domain somewhere else, and use separate tools for performance, security, or analytics.

For beginners, this can become overwhelming fast. That’s why, on WordPress.com, nearly all of this happens in a single interface:

The custom-built control panel lets you manage everything — performance monitoring, logs, PHP version, SFTP/SSH accounts, caching, and more — without leaving your account or dealing with separate dashboards.

Support quality and availability

Whether you’re a beginner or not, having reliable hosting support makes a real difference when something goes wrong.

Ask these key questions about a potential hosting provider:

• Is support available for your timezone, including weekends and holidays?
• What’s the average response time?
• Do they offer live chat or ticket-only support? Are there other support channels?
• What’s the support depth? Do they help with server issues only or also troubleshoot WordPress-specific problems?
• How about onboarding and documentation? Does support help you migrate your website to them?

On WordPress.com, you get access to 24/7 expert support with a live chat, along with WordPress-specific guides, courses, and community forums.

It’s a mix of experts who know WordPress inside out and self-serve resources designed to help you learn and troubleshoot quickly.

Developer and agency tools

If you’re a developer or agency, look for hosting that supports features like multi-site management, automation, environment optimization, and professional workflows.

You may look for functionalities like:

• Staging sites: Create separate environments to test changes before deploying them.

• Command Line Interface (CLI): Manage WordPress installations from the console to save time, for example, by batching and automating tasks.

• Git/GitHub integrations: Enable version-controlled theme, plugin, and feature deployments. Revert changes easily if something breaks.

• Selective push/pull: Move only specific parts of a site between staging and production environments to save time.

• Multi-site dashboards: Manage multiple client sites from a single interface instead of juggling different logins.

• SSH access: Get secure, direct access to the server so you can administer files via the command line.

WordPress.com offers all of the above. Additionally, you can use WordPress Studio to spin up local WordPress sites in minutes, push and pull to and from production, and share preview links with clients.

4. Review additional features and extras

Beyond core hosting features, check what other tools and services the provider offers to make site management easier.

Here are some useful extras you might look for depending on your needs:

• Domain and email services: Being able to register a domain and set up branded email in one place to save time and resources.

• Premium themes and plugins: Access to premium WordPress themes, performance tools, or other extensions.

• Ecommerce and marketing tools: Built-in payment options, email marketing, or SEO features.

• Website builders and AI features: AI website building tools like our AI website builder, AI writing features, AI tools for web development, etc.

On WordPress.com, annual plans include a free domain for the first year, and you can set up a professional email with your domain. Each site also comes with premium plugins like Akismet and Jetpack already included, adding built-in tools for spam protection, analytics, social sharing, and more.

For example, you can use Jetpack Stats to track your site and visitor behavior without leaving the platform:

5. Compare your needs to your options

From here, compare providers based on how well they support your specific requirements.

Your hosting choice should match the type of site you’re building, the traffic you expect, and how hands-on you want to be with technical tasks.

Here’s what to consider:

• Website type: A simple one-page site needs far fewer resources than a complex, multi-language e-commerce store.

• Traffic expectations: A small hobby blog doesn’t require the same infrastructure as a news site that sees large, regular traffic spikes.

• Skill level and workflow: Beginners may want a simple setup, developers often prefer full control, and agencies need an easy way to manage multiple client sites.

WordPress.com hosting is flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of needs. Every site comes with unlimited traffic and visitors, theme designs for many purposes, and the ability to customize website functionality via plugins. Affordable plans allow you to start small and scale up later.

6. Clarify the real cost of your hosting plan

Finally, make sure you understand the long-term costs of your chosen WordPress hosting plan.

Pay special attention to renewal prices and any extra charges, including fees for essential features or going over bandwidth or traffic limits.

Check for the following:

• Initial pricing vs renewal rates: It’s common for hosts to advertise lower first-term rates that significantly increase at renewal.

• Charges for traffic overages: Many hosting plans include bandwidth or visitor limits. If you exceed them, you may be charged incremental extra fees. This can add up quickly when one of your blog posts goes viral.

• Unclear resource limits: Shared hosting often advertises “unlimited” resources, but may throttle or shut down your site if it consumes too much processing power.

• Hidden fees: Watch out for extra charges such as for SSL certificates, backups, restores, or malware cleanups.

The good news: All WordPress.com plans include unlimited bandwidth, unlimited visitors, and a clear, bundled pricing structure with no hidden fees. 

WordPress.com: A great choice for most WordPress hosting needs

Your hosting should match your goals, budget, and skill level, and offer the level of hands-on management you’re comfortable with.

Once you’ve compared your options, the best next step is to get started — you’ll understand hosting much better once you’re working with it.

That’s where WordPress.com fits in: it offers a managed WordPress environment that works for a wide range of users.

Beginners get automated security, performance, and updates with expert support, while advanced users have access to staging sites, WP-CLI, SSH, multi-site management, and WordPress Studio for local workflows.