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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →WordPress is not owned by one person or company. The open-source WordPress software is released under the GPLv2-or-later license, while the WordPress Foundation owns the WordPress trademark. WordPress.com is a separate, paid hosting service operated by Automattic. Fees paid for WordPress.com hosting or upgrades are Automattic service revenue—not royalties collected by the free WordPress project.
Who owns WordPress?
It depends on which meaning of “WordPress” you intend. The name is used for the open-source publishing software distributed through WordPress.org and for the hosted WordPress.com service. Those are related, but they are not the same product or legal entity.
WordPress began in 2003 as a fork of b2/cafelog. The project is licensed under GPLv2 or any later version. WordPress.org’s official documentation describes it plainly: “WordPress is the free, Open Source web publishing software project, owned by no one individual or company.” That wording was current in the documentation last updated October 5, 2024.
| Entity | What it is | Ownership or control | How it relates to money |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress (the software) | Free, open-source publishing software distributed through WordPress.org | Not owned by one individual or company; developed under the GPL | The software itself is free; hosting, products and services around it may be paid |
| WordPress Foundation | Nonprofit organization supporting the project’s continued access | Holds and protects the WordPress trademark | Trademark ownership is not ownership of all WordPress code or commercial services |
| WordPress.com | Hosted WordPress service | Operated by Automattic, a for-profit company | Charges for hosting and feature upgrades are Automattic service revenue |
| Automattic | Technology company that runs WordPress.com and contributes to WordPress | Separate from the open-source project | Earns money from its commercial services and products, including WordPress.com offerings |
Does Automattic own WordPress?
No. Automattic is a major contributor and operates WordPress.com, but official WordPress documentation cautions that WordPress is not Automattic’s product. Automattic’s employees contribute code and time to the broader project alongside contributors from elsewhere.
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Automattic’s connection is also why the trademark can be confusing. In 2010, Automattic transferred the WordPress trademarks to the WordPress Foundation. Automattic retained permission to use the name for WordPress.com. The Foundation’s trademark ownership does not turn Automattic into the owner of the open-source code, and it does not make the Foundation the owner of every company or service using WordPress software.
Does the WordPress Foundation own WordPress?
The Foundation owns the WordPress trademark, not the entire open-source codebase as a conventional company-owned product. Its role is to hold and protect the mark and support continued access to the project.
Code released under the GPL is governed by license rights rather than by exclusive ownership of the type associated with proprietary software. The Foundation can protect how the WordPress name is used while developers and users retain the freedoms granted by the software license.
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What does the GPL license allow?
WordPress’s GPLv2-or-later license is the legal reason the software can be used broadly without a purchase price. In practical terms, the license gives users these freedoms:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- Run the program for any purpose.
- Study how it works and change it.
- Redistribute the original software.
- Distribute modified versions under the applicable license terms.
Those freedoms do not mean that every service connected to WordPress must be free. A business can charge for hosting, support, development, storage, managed updates, extensions or other services while using or building on open-source software.
Is WordPress.org the same as WordPress.com?
No. WordPress.org is the distribution and community home for the open-source software. You download or obtain the software and install it with a hosting provider that you choose. You, your team or your host are responsible for the server environment and, depending on the arrangement, updates, backups, security and maintenance.
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WordPress.com is a hosted service operated by Automattic. Automattic supplies the hosting layer and packages WordPress with service features. The exact capabilities, limits and prices depend on the current plan, so they should be checked on WordPress.com before subscribing.
| Question | Self-hosted WordPress from WordPress.org | WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides hosting? | The site owner selects a hosting provider | Automattic operates the hosted service |
| Who handles maintenance? | The owner, administrator or contracted host handles the relevant maintenance | Automattic manages the service infrastructure; responsibilities vary by plan |
| How much control is available? | Generally broader control over hosting, files, code and configuration, subject to the chosen host | Control and available features depend on the WordPress.com plan |
| What do you pay for? | Potential hosting, domain, premium theme, plugin, support and development costs | Optional paid hosting and feature plans, with current terms set by Automattic |
How does WordPress make money if it is free?
The free WordPress software does not need to sell licenses to fund every use. Money enters the surrounding ecosystem through paid services and products built around that software.
WordPress.com hosting and upgrades
WordPress.com sells hosted service. Official WordPress training material cites paid feature upgrades—such as using a custom domain—and hosting large WordPress installations as examples of its business activity. When a customer pays for one of those WordPress.com offerings, the payment is for Automattic’s hosted service or feature package, not a royalty paid to the open-source project.
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- Income And Expense Log Book: This Income and Expense Record Book（8.5" x 10.5"） is a necessary item for any small business owner or entrepreneur. It is an essential part of any business - helping you understand your overall earnings to determine if you are profitable.
- Daily Tracking and Weekly Overview: let our log tell you if you are profitable today! There are two pages per week to help you you track your income and expenses. At the end of each day or week, you can note whether you made a profit or a loss for the day.
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The available official material does not provide a current Automattic revenue total, a WordPress.com revenue figure or an audited percentage split. It is therefore not possible to state responsibly how much of Automattic’s income comes from WordPress.com.
Commercial services around self-hosted sites
People who install WordPress themselves may separately purchase hosting, domains, managed maintenance, security, backups, themes, plugins, consulting or development. Those payments go to the respective providers. They are part of the wider WordPress economy, not evidence that the WordPress core project charges a software fee.
WooCommerce and paid ecommerce products
WooCommerce is an open-source ecommerce platform developed and supported by Automattic. Its ecosystem includes optional WooCommerce.com subscriptions, purchased products, updates and support. These are commercial offerings around an open-source project; they should not be counted as revenue earned by WordPress core.
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Not in the proprietary-software sense. WordPress is distributed under the GPL, so users do not pay a license royalty merely for installing the software. A host, developer or service company may charge for labor or infrastructure, and Automattic may charge for WordPress.com features, but those are separate commercial transactions.
How large is WordPress?
WordPress.org’s current About/Features material says that WordPress powers “over 43%” of sites across the web. The material does not attach a publication year to that figure, so it should be read as the wording currently presented on that page—not as a year-specific, independently verified market-share estimate.
What should you check before paying?
- Identify the product. Confirm whether you are buying WordPress.com hosting, a domain, a plugin, a theme, WooCommerce services or general hosting for a WordPress.org installation.
- Check the provider. A WordPress.com checkout is an Automattic service; a separate host or developer is a different business.
- Review current plan terms. Features, storage, support, domain rules and pricing can vary by plan and change over time.
- Separate software from services. The WordPress download can be free even when the hosting, maintenance or add-ons required for your site are not.
The bottom line on ownership and revenue
“WordPress” names an open-source project and, in common usage, a commercial hosted service. No single company owns the open-source software. The WordPress Foundation owns the trademark, while Automattic operates WordPress.com and earns service revenue from it. The software remains free under the GPL; the paid businesses are the hosting, upgrades, support and products built around it.
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