Popular websites built with WordPress

In the world of e-commerce, you’ll often see confident proclamations that “WordPress is dead” or “WooCommerce will sink your store”, usually from those who haven’t mastered its potential. They paint a one-sided picture: too many plugins means too many problems, performance grinds to a halt, and you’ll spend more time updating than selling.

But that’s like criticizing the chef’s knife because a novice chef cut themselves once. Yes, Shopify’s peeling simplicity is attractive, but a professional cook knows that a sharp knife in skilled hands can do so much more than just peel. It can slice, dice, fillet, and fabricate an entire meal.

Similarly, WordPress, when wielded by an experienced team and backed by solid hosting, becomes a powerhouse platform: supremely flexible, infinitely extensible, and capable of serving millions of customers without missing a beat.

Before you dismiss WordPress as bloated or slow, remember that any tool can look bad if misused. The question isn’t “Is WooCommerce perfect for everyone?” but rather “Do you have the expertise and infrastructure to unlock its full power?”

In the right hands, WordPress isn’t just “good enough”, it’s the secret weapon behind some of the world’s most recognizable brands. Let’s explore how, and why so many industry leaders trust WordPress to fuel their high-traffic, high-stakes e-commerce operations.

Why WordPress Dominates the Web

Market Leadership and Statistics

WordPress holds an impressive 43.3% share of all websites globally, with a commanding 64.3% share of the CMS market. This dominance isn’t accidental, it’s built on several key advantages:

Scalability and Performance:

WordPress can handle everything from personal blogs to enterprise-level websites receiving millions of visitors monthly. Companies like The New York Times, which receives over 224 million visits per month, trust WordPress for their digital operations.

Extensive Plugin Ecosystem:

With over 59,000 plugins available, WordPress offers unmatched functionality. From SEO optimization with Yoast to e-commerce capabilities with WooCommerce, there’s a plugin for virtually every need.

SEO-Friendly Architecture:

WordPress is built with search engine optimization in mind, featuring clean code structure, customizable permalinks, and excellent integration with SEO plugins. This makes it easier for businesses to rank well in search results.

Security and Regular Updates:

Despite being a frequent target due to its popularity, WordPress maintains robust security through regular updates and best practices. When properly configured, WordPress sites can be highly secure.

Cost-Effectiveness:

Being open-source, WordPress eliminates licensing costs, making it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes. Even Fortune 500 companies appreciate the cost savings without compromising on functionality.

Inspiring Real‑World Examples

With so many strengths it’s no wonder WordPress powers some of the world’s most recognizable brands, institutions, and creative projects. But perhaps the best way to appreciate its real-world impact is to see WordPress in action.

Below, you’ll find a diverse selection of standout WordPress websites across different industries. From global newsrooms and prestigious universities to pioneering e-commerce ventures and celebrity personal brands, these examples illustrate what’s possible when WordPress is used by skilled hands and smart teams.

E-commerce & WooCommerce Leaders

Porter & York

Porter & York is a direct-to-consumer butcher shop delivering restaurant-quality meats straight to your doorstep. Their e-commerce platform offers a curated selection of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and seafood—sourced from trusted farms and cut to order by expert butchers. With a focus on transparency and quality.

Porter & York provides detailed product information, including breed, farm origin, and recommended cooking methods. Customers can choose one-time purchases or subscribe for regular deliveries, customize their cuts, and enjoy nationwide shipping in temperature-controlled packaging to ensure peak freshness.

Root Science

This Nordic-inspired skincare brand leverages WordPress and WooCommerce to deliver a sophisticated shopping experience that matches their science-backed formulations. Since 2012, they’ve served over 10,000 customers through their small-batch, made-to-order business model. The platform handles complex product customization, subscription services, and detailed ingredient sourcing information—proving that even the most premium beauty brands can thrive on WordPress architecture.

Caesarstone

As a pioneer in engineered quartz surfaces since 1987, Caesarstone operates a complex B2B and B2C WordPress platform that receives over 88,000 monthly visits. Their site manages an extensive catalog of over 50 quartz and porcelain designs, handles dealer localization, supports augmented reality room visualization, and processes both consumer inquiries and commercial orders across multiple product lines and thickness specifications.

Airstream

The iconic “silver bullet” trailer manufacturer, in business since 1931, uses WordPress to manage their premium recreational vehicle sales operation attracting 285,000 monthly visits. Their platform handles complex product configurations, dealer networks, financing options, and a thriving community section. Each Airstream takes 350 hours and 3,000 rivets to build—and their WordPress site reflects that same attention to craftsmanship and detail.

Wienerschnitzel

America’s largest hot dog chain, operating over 320 locations across 11 states since 1961, runs their digital operations on WordPress. Despite the ironic name (they don’t actually serve schnitzel), their platform efficiently manages franchise locations, online ordering systems, loyalty programs, and promotional campaigns—proving that WordPress can handle the operational complexity of major fast-food franchises.

Technology Giants Using WordPress

The Webby Awards

Since 1996, The Webby Awards have honored excellence on the internet, and their own WordPress-powered platform exemplifies digital innovation. The site manages complex award categories, judging workflows, voting systems, and multimedia showcases for thousands of entries annually. Their collaboration with WP Engine on “Crafted with Code” and partnership with LinkedIn for “Best in Business” demonstrates how WordPress can handle high-profile industry partnerships while maintaining the prestige expected of the internet’s highest honor.

Plesk

As a leading server management platform trusted by web professionals globally, Plesk runs their own operations on WordPress, receiving over 171,000 monthly visits. Their site manages complex software documentation, partner integrations, customer dashboards, and technical support systems. The irony isn’t lost—a company that helps others manage WordPress sites uses WordPress to manage their own sophisticated business operations, demonstrating the platform’s enterprise-grade capabilities.

cPanel

As the hosting industry’s most trusted control panel, powering millions of websites worldwide, cPanel runs their own corporate platform on WordPress. Their site manages complex product documentation, partner ecosystems, developer resources, and customer support systems while receiving substantial monthly traffic from hosting professionals globally. The company that provides the foundational infrastructure for countless WordPress sites choosing WordPress for their own mission-critical business operations demonstrates the platform’s enterprise reliability and scalability at the highest levels.

Entertainment Industry Leaders

Sony Music Entertainment

One of the world’s largest music companies uses WordPress to manage their corporate communications, artist announcements, and industry news. Their platform handles complex content management for global music releases, educational programs like the Global Scholars Program, acquisitions across international markets, and multimedia content including podcasts and documentaries. The site seamlessly integrates with their vast catalog of artists and labels, demonstrating how WordPress can scale to support multinational entertainment conglomerates with diverse content needs.

PlayStation Blog

PlayStation Blog (blog.playstation.com)Sony Interactive Entertainment’s official gaming blog leverages WordPress to connect with millions of PlayStation fans worldwide. The platform manages weekly content updates, exclusive game previews, developer interviews, and community engagement features like the “Share of the Week” showcases. From major game announcements to intimate developer stories, the blog demonstrates WordPress’s capability to handle high-traffic gaming content while maintaining the sleek, modern aesthetic that PlayStation fans expect.

The Walt Disney Company

The world’s premier entertainment company trusts WordPress for their corporate communications, receiving approximately 5 million monthly visits. Their platform manages complex stakeholder communications, investor relations, career opportunities, and social responsibility initiatives across their global operations. The site handles everything from quarterly earnings reports to sustainability updates, proving that even companies with unlimited technical resources choose WordPress for its reliability and flexibility.

James Bond 007

The official website of cinema’s most iconic spy franchise uses WordPress to manage a sophisticated multimedia empire. The platform handles everything from film announcements and merchandise launches to detailed archival content spanning decades of Bond history. With complex product integrations, collector item releases, and multimedia galleries, the site proves WordPress can deliver the premium experience expected by one of entertainment’s most prestigious brands.

The Rolling Stones

“The world’s greatest rock and roll band” uses WordPress to manage their legendary digital presence, featuring tour dates, exclusive content, and their extensive audiovisual archive. The platform handles complex merchandise integration, fan community features, and historical content spanning over six decades of rock history. Their sophisticated implementation shows how WordPress can honor a storied legacy while delivering modern digital experiences.

Sylvester Stallone

The Hollywood legend behind Rocky and Rambo uses WordPress for his official website, managing career updates, film projects, and fan communications. The platform seamlessly integrates with his business ventures, merchandise operations, and media appearances while maintaining the authoritative presence expected of one of cinema’s biggest stars. It demonstrates how WordPress can serve as the digital hub for multifaceted entertainment careers.

News & Media WordPress Powerhouses

New York Post

America's oldest continuously published daily newspaper, founded in 1801, delivers breaking news and sharp commentary to millions each day. Their WordPress-powered platform handles high-velocity news publishing, multimedia content, subscription services, and archives spanning two centuries.

With bold headlines and rapid-fire updates, the Post demonstrates how WordPress can meet the demanding needs of major metropolitan journalism.

Harvard Gazette

Harvard University’s official news source leverages WordPress to share groundbreaking research and academic achievements worldwide. The platform manages complex content categorization across disciplines—from scientific discoveries to policy analysis and cultural commentary.

As the voice of America’s oldest institution of higher learning, the Gazette showcases WordPress’s ability to serve prestigious academic institutions with sophisticated content management and archival capabilities.

Observer

Observer uses WordPress to publish in-depth arts, culture, and lifestyle content across verticals like art market analysis, luxury travel, and culinary criticism. Their platform supports multimedia galleries, market reports, restaurant reviews, and theatrical critiques while maintaining an elegant editorial design.

Observer’s sophisticated implementation highlights WordPress’s capacity to power high-end publishing with diverse content types and refined aesthetics.

Reader’s Digest

Reader’s Digest, trusted since 1922, uses WordPress to manage their digital transformation from print to multi-platform content delivery. The site features product recommendations, health advice, lifestyle articles, and their signature humor pieces.

By combining heritage editorial standards with modern shopping guides, Reader’s Digest proves WordPress can help legacy brands innovate while preserving long-standing trust.

TED Blog

The official TED Blog, powered by WordPress, extends the organization’s mission of spreading ideas worth sharing. The platform covers speaker insights, event recaps—like the Countdown Summit in Nairobi—and behind-the-scenes stories from global conferences.

Managing massive multimedia content and community engagement, the TED Blog demonstrates WordPress’s scalability for organizations with worldwide reach.

Yelp Blog

Yelp’s corporate blog uses WordPress to announce AI-powered discovery features, product updates, and business insights for both consumers and merchants. The platform manages technical documentation, feature guides, and community posts while serving a global audience.

Yelp’s choice of WordPress for their content strategy underscores the platform’s reliability for major tech companies.

Education Sector WordPress Implementation

Harvard University

Harvard University’s flagship site uses WordPress to showcase its academic excellence and research breakthroughs. The platform manages complex content across courses, news, and mentorship programs—featuring in-depth articles on public health, STEM initiatives, and arts collaborations. With dedicated sections for alumni, student life, and faculty insights, Harvard’s site delivers rich, dynamic content while maintaining the prestige of the world’s oldest higher education institution.

Park University

Park University leverages WordPress to provide a flexible learning portal for students nationwide. Their site offers detailed program information for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, along with streamlined admissions, financial aid resources, and campus locations. By integrating online and on-campus options, Park’s platform ensures prospective students can easily explore flexible scheduling, support services, and career pathways—demonstrating WordPress’s adaptability for educational institutions of all sizes.

Sports Websites

Dallas Mavericks

The official site of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks uses WordPress to engage fans and manage team operations. The platform features dynamic game schedules, ticketing and deposit systems, an online team yearbook, and a full merchandise store. Integrated news feeds deliver real-time updates on player injuries, trades, and game highlights—demonstrating WordPress’s ability to power high-traffic sports franchise sites with robust e-commerce and content management.

Rafael Nadal

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal’s official website, built on WordPress, offers fans an immersive experience with day-to-day updates, curated quotes, and multimedia galleries. The platform includes a global shop for branded merchandise, integrated social feeds for Twitter and Instagram, and multilingual support. Nadal’s site exemplifies how WordPress can serve as a personalized digital hub for world-class athletes with diverse content needs.

Usain Bolt

The official site of Olympic icon Usain Bolt uses WordPress to celebrate his legacy and ongoing projects. Featuring embedded social media updates, music releases, and lifestyle content, the platform handles rich multimedia and fan engagement tools. Bolt’s site showcases how WordPress can adapt to dynamic personal brands, enabling seamless integration of blog posts, video interviews, and event announcements.

Conclusion

This curated selection represents just a small fraction of the extraordinary websites powered by WordPress. From cutting-edge news outlets and global nonprofits to Fortune 500 enterprises and lifestyle brands, WordPress demonstrates limitless adaptability and scalability.

Whether you’re launching a simple brochure site, a high-traffic blog, or a complex eCommerce platform, WordPress provides the tools and ecosystem to bring any vision to life. In the right hands with the expertise to optimize performance, ensure security, and craft elegant user experiences, WordPress becomes more than a CMS: it becomes a powerhouse for digital innovation.