Is WordPress Free and Open Source?

Yes, WordPress is free and open-source software. It is released under the GPLv2 (or later) license, which allows users to access and modify the source code.

  • Updated on: December 19, 2022

Wasim Akram

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Yes, WordPress is free and open-source software. It is released under the GPLv2 (or later) license, which allows users to access and modify the source code.

WordPress is owned by the WordPress Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that aims to support and promote WordPress and its community of developers and users.

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that is used to create and manage websites. As of October 2021, it is used by over 42.8% of the top 10 million websites.

It is available for download and installation on a web server, and users can customize and extend the functionality of their websites using themes and plugins.

On the other hand, WordPress.com is a website hosting service that is based on WordPress software. It provides users with a simplified way to create and manage a website, and it is financially supported through paid upgrades, VIP services, and advertising.

As of February 2017, over 77 million new posts and 42.7 million new comments are published on WordPress.com each month. While WordPress.com uses WordPress software, it is not affiliated with the WordPress project or the WordPress Foundation, and it is not open-source.

In summary, WordPress is a free and open-source software that is used to create and manage websites, while WordPress.com is a website hosting service that is based on WordPress software and is not open-source. Both have their own advantages and are suitable for different types of users.

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