If you’ve been keeping tabs on the WordPress world, you’ve likely heard about the recent clash between Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, and WP Engine, one of the largest WordPress hosting providers. The disagreement revolves around WP Engine’s perceived lack of contributions to the WordPress ecosystem, leading to Automattic (the company behind WordPress) restricting WP Engine’s access to WordPress.org’s plugin and theme repositories.
What does this mean for WP Engine users? They can no longer directly update plugins or themes from their dashboards—a major inconvenience. The debate has sparked criticism of Matt Mullenweg and raised concerns across the WordPress ecosystem. But let’s cut through the noise and talk about what really matters: how this affects you, your business, and your website.
Why I Still Build WordPress Websites
At WebPressPRO, I’ve built my business around creating high-performance WordPress sites. Despite the drama, I stand by WordPress—and here’s why you should, too.
01. WordPress Is Too Big to Fail
WordPress isn’t just another website platform—it’s a global powerhouse. It powers over 40% of all websites on the internet, and its open-source foundation ensures it’s supported by a massive, independent community.
Even if Automattic or Matt Mullenweg disappeared tomorrow, WordPress would survive. Its decentralized nature means that thousands of developers, designers, and businesses contribute to its growth. This ensures its adaptability and longevity, making it a safe and smart choice for businesses of all sizes.
02. The Power of Community
WordPress’s open-source model is its superpower. It’s backed by an ecosystem of independent developers, agencies, and businesses that keep it innovative and resilient.
Take Gravity Forms, for example. This premium plugin operates entirely outside of WordPress.org’s repositories and thrives because it delivers value and innovation. This decentralization allows WordPress tools to remain independent of any single company’s control—ensuring long-term stability for your website.
Even during conflicts like the WP Engine dispute, WordPress’s community proves it can step up, adapt, and deliver alternatives.
03. Flexibility and Ownership
Unlike platforms like Shopify, Wix, or Webflow, WordPress puts you in control. You own your website, down to the very last line of code.
Here’s why that matters:
- Portability: You can move your site to any hosting provider without starting over.
- Customizability: Add features, change functionality, and scale your site without hitting platform-imposed limits.
- Independence: You’re not locked into proprietary systems or forced to accept sudden changes in pricing or features.
Contrast this with platforms like Shopify, where you’re essentially “renting” your online presence. If you ever leave, you lose access to the backend, often requiring a complete rebuild.
When Google Domains recently sold its business to Squarespace, countless users were forced into a provider they didn’t choose. With WordPress, you avoid these situations entirely because you own your site outright.
04. Resilience in the Face of Drama
The WP Engine vs. Automattic feud demonstrates WordPress’s real strength: even when key players disagree, the platform remains functional and adaptable. WP Engine users who lost access to plugin updates have already seen independent solutions emerge, proving that WordPress’s ecosystem is more than capable of addressing challenges.
At WebPressPRO, I don’t rely on any single hosting provider like WP Engine. My clients’ sites are hosted with managed WordPress solutions designed for stability, speed, and security—regardless of what’s happening in the wider WordPress world.
05. Managed Support for Peace of Mind
For my clients, hosting is about more than just storage space. It’s the backbone of their website’s speed, security, and reliability. At WebPressPRO, I provide proactive hosting and maintenance, handling everything from plugin updates to troubleshooting.
If a hosting provider or plugin ever becomes an issue, I address it before it impacts performance. This hands-on approach ensures my clients can focus on growing their businesses, not managing their websites.
The Bottom Line: Why I Stand by WordPress
WordPress’s combination of flexibility, ownership, and community makes it the best platform for businesses looking for a long-term website solution. While other platforms lock you into their ecosystems, WordPress gives you freedom and control. Even with its occasional drama, WordPress remains unmatched in adaptability and independence.
Whether you’re a small business or an enterprise, a WordPress site ensures you’re never at the mercy of a single company’s decisions.