Rising Frustration Evident in WordPress User Survey

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WordPress has released the findings from its annual user and developer survey, revealing a mixed sentiment regarding the direction of the software and a growing sense of unease within the WordPress community.

The survey highlighted concerns about the Gutenberg Editor, a modernized version of the default site editor introduced to the WordPress core. While third-party visual WordPress editors have simplified website creation, the perception of Gutenberg among users has been less favorable, despite its increasing adoption rate.

The survey showed a steady rise in the percentage of users utilizing Gutenberg, reaching 60% in 2023. However, when asked whether WordPress meets their needs, only 45% of users agreed, with 29% expressing disagreement.

Additionally, there was a decline in the number of users who believed WordPress was as good as or better than other site builders and content management systems. While 68% agreed in 2022, this dropped to 63% in 2023, with an increase in those who disagreed.

Key areas of frustration for WordPress users included the abundance of plugins, site editing experience, security, and performance. Despite improvements in some areas, such as the ease of learning site editing, there remains a call for attention to performance, security, developer resources, design/UI, and core functionality/stability.

WordPress faces challenges from competitors such as Wix and Duda, which offer better performance scores and easier website building experiences. To address user concerns and retain its market share, WordPress must prioritize enhancements in performance, security, and user experience, while acknowledging the diverse needs of its user base, including content publishers, affiliate marketers, and local businesses.