Discover why WordPress may no longer be the best choice for 2026.
For a long time, WordPress was the go-to answer for almost every website. It’s free, easy to install, and has thousands of plugins that promise to do just about anything. That reputation built its dominance. Today though, many organisations are quietly asking a very different question: is WordPress really the best option anymore?
The problem with plugins
One of the biggest issues comes from plugins. Most WordPress websites rely on a stack of them for forms, galleries, SEO tools, caching, payments, security, and even basic page design. The problem is that each one needs updating, and not all of them play nicely together. If something breaks, you’re left scrambling to find out which plugin caused the error. For smaller businesses without in-house IT, that’s a costly distraction.
Security concerns
Because WordPress is so widely used, it’s a huge target for hackers. The platform itself issues frequent patches, but the real weak point tends to be outdated plugins or themes. If updates are missed, or if a plugin is abandoned by its developer, your website can quickly become vulnerable. Clients often tell us they spend more time worrying about updates than they do on their content.
Performance and SEO impact
Performance matters more now than ever. Search engines reward websites that are fast and efficient. Bloated code and plugin-heavy sites are harder to optimise, often scoring poorly on Google’s Core Web Vitals. The result is slower pages, reduced search visibility, and higher bounce rates.
Why bespoke platforms are gaining ground
This is where bespoke platforms have an edge. At Blue Level, we’ve built our own CMS which removes the reliance on third-party plugins. Everything is developed with accessibility, performance, and security built in from the start. Updates are handled centrally, so clients don’t need to spend time guessing which plugin needs fixing next.
A better choice for growing organisations
For organisations like schools, councils, and SMEs, the benefits are clear. They want reliability, control, and support from a team they can actually speak to. WordPress can still be useful for smaller blogs or side projects, but for business-critical websites, the cracks are showing.
If you’re planning a new website for 2026, it’s worth rethinking the “default” choice. Instead of asking “how many plugins can I install?”, the better question is “what platform will still work for me in five years?”.
Get in touch to have a friendly chat with the team.