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Reasons To Use WordPress

Weighing The Reasons To Use WordPress Instead Of HubSpot CMS

If you're comparing CMS platforms, the reasons to use WordPress often come down to freedom, flexibility, and cost control. While HubSpot CMS is built for ease and integration, WordPress offers open-source access that gives you full control over everything, from server settings to page design to backend logic.

Depending on your team structure, site goals, and technical needs, those advantages can be critical. But they can also introduce tradeoffs that aren’t always obvious at first.

What Are the Core Reasons to Use WordPress Instead of HubSpot?

WordPress gives you complete ownership of your website environment. That includes hosting, plugins, security, and the full codebase—none of which are accessible in a platform like HubSpot.

For teams with developers or advanced infrastructure needs, this level of control can unlock custom functionality, complex integrations, and a fully bespoke site architecture. You’re not locked into one provider’s roadmap or limited by built-in tools.

That’s one of the clearest reasons to use WordPress: it’s yours, front to back.

Why Do Some Teams Still Prefer WordPress Over Modern CMS Platforms?

Some teams choose WordPress not because they want complexity, but because they need flexibility. If your site serves multiple business units, relies on layered permissions, or powers a content product with non-marketing logic, WordPress gives you more control than CMS platforms built purely for marketers.

Use cases that make WordPress the better option:

  • Custom content structures that go beyond drag-and-drop
  • Integrated tools that aren’t available in HubSpot’s ecosystem
  • Publishing workflows that need role-based controls or editorial logic

WordPress isn’t always easier, but it’s often more adaptable.

Are Plugin Options A Strong Reason to Use WordPress?

Yes. WordPress’s plugin ecosystem is one of the strongest in the world. There are thousands of vetted tools available for SEO, ecommerce, security, performance, and more: many of which offer functionality that would require custom development elsewhere.

That flexibility can accelerate your launch timeline. But it also adds responsibility. Every plugin introduces potential risk, whether it’s security vulnerabilities, site slowdowns, or compatibility issues after updates.

The plugin ecosystem is one of the most compelling reasons to use WordPress, but only if your team has the technical maturity to manage it.

Are SEO Tools A Reason to Use WordPress?

Absolutely. Many teams cite SEO capabilities as one of the top reasons to use WordPress.

With plugins like Yoast, RankMath, and Schema Pro, you can control metadata, generate sitemaps, manage redirects, and fine-tune page-level SEO without needing deep technical help. You can also configure robots.txt, install performance tools like WP Rocket, and make real improvements to site speed.

The open-source structure also gives development teams full access to technical optimizations that platforms like HubSpot limit. For SEO-heavy sites, WordPress often offers a more customizable toolkit.

What Are the Most Common Reasons to Use WordPress for Custom Development?

If your project needs to break outside the box, WordPress is often the better choice. Custom themes, tailored plugins, API integrations, and unique user flows are all easier to build on WordPress because you have direct access to every part of the stack.

Teams often choose WordPress when they’re building:

  • Hybrid sites that mix marketing, editorial, and product logic
  • Multi-site structures that share assets across brands
  • Custom dashboards or member areas gated by logic beyond HubSpot’s capabilities

In these cases, control over theme structure, PHP templates, and plugin APIs makes a measurable difference.

Is Scalability A Reason to Use WordPress?

Yes—especially if you're planning for multi-brand expansion or high-volume content operations. WordPress supports multisite configurations, which let you manage multiple websites from a single dashboard.

This can be useful if your organization runs:

  • Regional sites under one parent brand
  • Franchise or location-based microsites
  • A network of content-driven domains with shared assets

WordPress also performs well at scale with the right infrastructure. You’re not locked into predefined hosting or bandwidth limitations.

Is Cost A Legitimate Reason to Use WordPress?

For many teams, yes. WordPress itself is free and open source. Hosting, plugins, and development still carry a cost—but there are no recurring platform licensing fees like there are in HubSpot CMS Enterprise.

If your organization has in-house developers or already uses dev retainer hours, WordPress can feel like a more efficient spend. But if your team lacks technical support, you may end up paying more in maintenance or bug resolution.

Choosing WordPress because it’s “cheaper” only works when you understand what you’re taking on.

Does Being Open-Source Make WordPress A Better Choice?

It can—especially if you value full control and long-term flexibility.

One of the core reasons to use WordPress is that it’s not proprietary. You own your code, your database, and your entire deployment. You can switch hosts, export content freely, or rebuild your theme logic however you want.

Open-source platforms give technical teams the ability to future-proof their sites without relying on vendor support or feature releases.

Is Content Portability A Reason to Use WordPress?

Yes. WordPress gives you full access to your content, files, and database. You can back up your site, migrate it to a new host, or export specific content types easily without vendor involvement.

In contrast, many SaaS platforms make it harder to pull content out cleanly. For businesses that want long-term ownership of their site data, this is a major reason to use WordPress.

Can You Migrate From WordPress to HubSpot CMS Later?

You can—but it takes careful planning. WordPress sites built with clean templates and reusable content blocks tend to migrate more easily. But heavily customized sites, hardcoded templates, or plugin-dependent content may need to be rebuilt from scratch in HubSpot.

If you're starting on WordPress but think you might switch to HubSpot down the road, structure your content and design elements for portability. Keep theme logic clean, avoid over-customization, and make sure content lives in modular fields instead of hardcoded blocks.

Should You Choose WordPress Over HubSpot CMS for Your Next Site?

It depends on your team, your goals, and how you work.

You might choose WordPress if:

  • You need complete control over the site’s architecture and backend logic
  • Your brand’s design system doesn’t map easily to drag-and-drop platforms
  • You have experienced developers managing infrastructure and plugin updates
  • Your marketing site is only one part of your broader web ecosystem

You might not choose WordPress if:

  • You want non-technical teammates to manage site content easily
  • Your team prefers visual editing over code-based customization
  • You need CRM integration, email marketing, and automation tools built in
  • You value support and guardrails more than full control

Both platforms work. But the right choice depends on how your team works best.

More Reasons to Use WordPress

The reasons to use WordPress usually come down to control, flexibility, and freedom. For teams that need to scale beyond standard CMS features or build something deeply custom, it’s a strong foundation. But it also comes with added responsibility—ranging from security to maintenance to plugin management.

A couple of final thoughts:

  • For fast-moving marketing teams, HubSpot often wins on speed and usability
  • For developer-led builds or highly customized publishing, WordPress is often the better fit

Either way, clarity is key. Know what you need and choose the CMS that supports it.

Need Help Comparing CMS Options or Scoping Your Next Website Build?

FMK helps growing teams weigh the tradeoffs between WordPress, HubSpot, and other CMS platforms, so you can build something that actually works for your structure, your timeline, and your long-term growth.

Reach out if you want support making the right move.