WordPress vs Laravel – Which Is Better? (Expert Comparison)

If you’re trying to choose between WordPress and Laravel for your next website, you’re not the only one.

Both platforms are popular, but they serve very different purposes. WordPress is beginner-friendly and great for getting a site online quickly. On the other hand, Laravel offers more customization and control, but only if you’re comfortable writing code.

Having worked with both platforms, I’ve found that the right choice really depends on your project and how comfortable you are with code.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the key differences between WordPress and Laravel to help you figure out which one fits your needs best.

WordPress vs. Laravel: A Brief Overview

Choosing between WordPress and Laravel is one of the first decisions you’ll need to make when building a website. You can use both platforms to create websites, but they are designed for different tasks.

I’ve put together this simple table that compares the key features of WordPress and Laravel side by side.

Feature	WordPress	Laravel
🎯 Main Use	Blogs, websites for everyone	Custom web apps, complex websites
⚙️ Technology	Content management system	Web application framework
🤹 Ease of Use	Very easy, good for beginners	Harder to learn, for developers
🔧 Customization	Themes, plugins	Code it yourself
🔒 Security	Needs optimization	Strong foundation that requires secure coding
📈 Scalability	Needs optimization	Out of the box
👥 Community	Huge, lots of help for all users	Small, developer-focused
👤 Best For	Building websites quickly	Coding custom sites

Next, I’ll walk you through each of these points in more detail to help you decide which platform is the right choice for your project.

Note: This comparison is between Laravel and self-hosted WordPress.org (not WordPress.com). See our guide on the differences between self-hosted WordPress.org and WordPress.com for more information.

How I Compared WordPress vs. Laravel

To give you a real-world comparison of WordPress and Laravel, I drew on my experience using both platforms for actual website projects.

I focused on the key areas that matter most when building a website with either platform:

• 🛠️ Real Projects: I’ve used WordPress for everything from blogs to online stores, and I’ve explored Laravel for building fully custom websites.
• 📋 Everyday Tasks: I compared how both platforms handle things like setting up pages, managing content, and adding features.
• ⚙️ Customization & Features: I looked at what each platform is designed for, how easy it is to customize, and how they handle security and performance.
• 🎯 Best Use Cases: I considered different types of websites and which platform fits best for each.
• ⏱️ Time and Effort: I factored in the learning curve, development time, and ongoing maintenance needs, including things like keeping your site updated and running smoothly.
• 📈 Growth Potential: I looked at how well each platform supports websites as they grow and become more complex.

I’ll use this approach to walk you through the key differences and help you choose the right platform for your site.

Why Trust WPBeginner?

I know that picking the right platform for your website is an important decision. You need information you can rely on to help you choose well.

That’s why I put together this comparison of WordPress and Laravel to provide clear, useful advice.

While WordPress is the main platform for our projects, we always test and look into other web technologies, like Laravel. This helps us understand different tools so we can give you the best advice for your website needs.

For more information, take a look at our detailed editorial guidelines.

This is a detailed comparison of WordPress vs. Laravel. You can use the links below to quickly navigate through the article:

1. WordPress vs. Laravel: Why Choosing the Right Platform Matters
2. Ease of Use: Beginner-Friendly vs. Developer-Focused
3. Making It Your Own: Customization in WordPress vs. Laravel
4. Content Management: WordPress vs. Laravel
5. eCommerce: WordPress vs. Laravel
6. SEO: WordPress vs. Laravel – Getting Found Online
7. Speed Matters: Performance in WordPress vs. Laravel
8. Growing Your Site: WordPress vs. Laravel Scalability
9. Safeguarding Your Site: WordPress vs. Laravel Security
10. Community and Resources: WordPress vs. Laravel
11. Cost Comparison: WordPress vs. Laravel
12. The Verdict: Choosing Between WordPress vs Laravel
13. Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress vs. Laravel

WordPress vs. Laravel: Why Choosing the Right Platform Matters

Choosing the right platform to build your website is a big decision. Selecting the wrong one can lead to unexpected costs, technical limitations, and frustration as your site grows, which is why it’s crucial to choose correctly from the start.

Ultimately, the best choice comes down to your budget, technical comfort level, and what you want your website to do in the long run.

Now, let’s take a look at both WordPress and Laravel.

What Is WordPress?

WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world. Because it is open-source, it’s free to use and easy to customize with themes and plugins.

It’s designed to be user-friendly, allowing people of all skill levels to build and manage a website without needing to know how to code. It’s supported by a large global community that creates themes and plugins, and helps other users solve problems.

What Is Laravel?

Laravel is not a website builder like WordPress. Instead, it’s a PHP framework that gives developers a toolbox for building custom web applications from the ground up.

Like WordPress, Laravel is open-source and free, but it’s built for professional developers. You’ll need strong coding skills to use it, which gives you the power to create complex, highly customized websites and applications.

Ease of Use: Beginner-Friendly vs. Developer-Focused

When it comes to ease of use, WordPress and Laravel are built for completely different people.

WordPress is famous for its beginner-friendly approach that lets anyone build a site without code. In contrast, Laravel is a powerful tool designed for developers who are comfortable with a more technical setup.

WordPress Ease of Use: Setting Up a Basic Site

While there is a small learning curve, WordPress is designed to be easy to pick up, even for absolute beginners. You can follow our guide on how to learn WordPress for free in a week.

Getting started is quick and simple. Most web hosts offer one-click WordPress installation, so getting started is quick and simple. Hosts like Bluehost and Hostinger include this by default.

Our complete guide on how to make a WordPress website will walk you through the entire process step by step.

After WordPress is installed, you can log in to your dashboard. From here, you can create content using the built-in block editor, which lets you arrange your page using visual building blocks for text, images, and more.

To make building your site even easier, you can use a drag-and-drop page builder plugin. I recommend SeedProd because it lets you create completely custom layouts without any code. It even comes with an AI website builder that can generate a unique site for you in minutes.

💡 Don’t have time to build a website? Our expert team can build a custom WordPress site for you at an affordable price. See our Website Design Services for more details!

Laravel Ease of Use: Setting Up a Basic Application

Setting up a Laravel project involves a more technical process. To get started, you’ll need to install Composer, which is a tool that manages the PHP packages your project depends on.

Once Composer is installed, you can use the command line to create a new Laravel project. This is a big shift from WordPress, where most hosting providers handle installation through a graphical control panel.

You’ll also need a local development environment like XAMPP or MAMP to run your Laravel project on your computer.

While you can add a CMS to Laravel using tools like October CMS, it still requires technical knowledge to manage.

🏅 Winner for User-Friendliness: WordPress

I recommend WordPress for non-programmers. It’s made for people of all skill levels, especially those who want to build and manage websites without coding.

Laravel, on the other hand, is made for developers. It’s powerful and gives you a lot of control for building complex web apps, but it is difficult to learn and requires coding knowledge.

Making It Your Own: Customization in WordPress vs. Laravel

Now, let’s look at how WordPress and Laravel handle customization.

WordPress: The Theme & Plugin Powerhouse

One of the biggest advantages of WordPress is how easy it is to customize your website’s design and features, even if you’ve never written a line of code. This is all thanks to its huge ecosystem of themes and plugins.

Plugins are like apps for your website that add new functionality. For example, with plugins you can add a contact form, launch a full online store, build a membership community, or improve your website’s SEO.

With tens of thousands of free and premium options, there is a plugin for almost anything you can imagine. To see what’s possible, you can check out our expert pick of the must-have WordPress plugins we recommend for all business websites.

Alternatively, you can always hire a developer to add custom code to your WordPress site.

The main difference is that WordPress is a complete system designed for content, which you can then extend. For projects with highly complex or unusual requirements that need to be built from scratch, Laravel can sometimes be a more direct starting point.

Laravel: The Code-Savvy Customizer

Laravel takes a more technical approach to customization. It’s a framework, which means it provides a toolbox for developers to build a custom website or web application from scratch.

This gives you full control over every aspect of your project, but you’ll need to be comfortable with coding in PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to use it effectively. Unlike WordPress, where you start with a pre-built system, Laravel starts you with a clean slate.

This makes it ideal for complex projects with unique requirements. For instance, if you were building a custom booking system, a SaaS (Software as a Service) application, or an internal business tool, Laravel provides the flexibility to build every feature exactly as you need it.

The trade-off is that you have to build many features that WordPress provides by default, like a content editor or user management system. This is why Laravel projects almost always require hiring a developer and take more time to build.

In short, here are the main points about customizing with Laravel:

• ✅ It offers unlimited flexibility because you can custom code everything.
• ✅ It’s ideal for building web applications with unique and complex features.
• ❗ You must have development expertise or hire a developer to use it.

🏅 Winner for Customization Options: WordPress (for most people)

If you want to customize your website without writing code, WordPress is the clear winner. Its library of themes and plugins lets you personalize your site easily, no technical knowledge required.

Laravel is better suited for developers who need full control and want to build highly customized applications.

For example, if you’re creating a blog or business website, WordPress will likely meet your needs. But if you’re building a web app with unique features, Laravel gives you the tools to go beyond what themes and plugins can offer.

Content Management: WordPress vs. Laravel

If your website is focused on content—like blog posts, news, or tutorials—then having a strong content management system (CMS) is essential.

A good CMS saves you time, reduces errors, and makes it easier to manage your content. Let’s look at how WordPress and Laravel compare when it comes to content management.

WordPress: Excels at Content Management

WordPress was built for content management. It started as a blogging platform, and today it’s a full CMS that makes it easy to create, organize, and manage all kinds of digital content.

It comes with powerful built-in tools to keep everything in order. You can sort your posts with categories and tags, manage all your files in the media library, and even create different content structures using custom post types.

If you work with a team, the built-in user management system is incredibly helpful.

You can assign different roles like Author, Editor, and Administrator, giving each person the right level of access to create and manage content.

And if you need more advanced management tools, you can use plugins to add features like an editorial calendar, custom approval workflows, or content restriction for membership sites.

Laravel: The Flexible Framework (But Not a CMS)

Laravel is not a content management system. Instead, it’s a framework designed for building web applications. That means it doesn’t include built-in tools for managing content like WordPress does.

If you want to manage content with Laravel, there are two common approaches:

• Build your own CMS: If you’re comfortable with PHP and Laravel, you can build a custom CMS from scratch. This gives you full control over your content structure and features, but it requires significant development time.
• Use a Laravel-based CMS: Some tools, like October CMS and Statamic, are built on Laravel. These platforms add content management features on top of Laravel but still require some technical knowledge to use effectively.

Here’s what the content editor looks like in October CMS:

As you can see, Laravel doesn’t offer the out-of-the-box content tools that come standard with WordPress.

🏅 Winner for Content Management Features: WordPress

If you need a complete, beginner-friendly CMS, then WordPress is the better option. It’s great for bloggers, businesses, and anyone who wants to manage content without writing code.

Laravel, on the other hand, gives developers full control. You can build a custom content system from the ground up, but it takes time and technical skill.

For example, if you’re building a site with very specific content workflows, you might choose Laravel to match your exact requirements. But for most websites, WordPress is a faster and more practical choice.

eCommerce: WordPress vs. Laravel

Selling products or services online? Then you’ll want to look at how each platform handles eCommerce. The right setup can make managing your store much easier.

WordPress: The eCommerce Powerhouse

One of the biggest strengths of WordPress is its flexibility for selling online. You can use it to build anything from a simple donation button to a massive online marketplace.

If you want to build a full online store, you can follow our complete guide on how to start an online store. The most popular way to do this is with a free plugin like WooCommerce, which adds all the features you need, like product pages, a shopping cart, and payment gateways.

But WordPress isn’t just for large stores. You can also:

• Accept simple payments or donations with a form builder like WPForms.
• Sell digital products like ebooks or courses with Easy Digital Downloads.
• Create a paid membership site to sell exclusive content with a plugin like MemberPress.

This flexibility makes WordPress a powerful choice that can grow with your business, no matter how you plan to sell online.

Laravel: The Custom eCommerce Builder

Laravel doesn’t come with built-in eCommerce features. But because it’s a flexible framework, developers can use it to build a fully custom eCommerce solution tailored to specific needs.

This lets you design features that may not be possible with WordPress. However, it requires advanced development skills and more time to set up and maintain.

Laravel is better suited for large businesses that need specialized functionality and have the technical resources to support a custom platform.

🏅 Winner for eCommerce Capabilities: WordPress (for most people)

For most small to medium-sized stores, WordPress with a plugin like WooCommerce is the easiest and most affordable choice. If you need a standard online store, this approach is plug-and-play and gives you everything you need to start selling without hiring a developer.

Laravel is a better fit when you need a large, custom eCommerce system. It is the best choice if you are building a bespoke platform with unique inventory, shipping, or recommendation features and have the budget for custom development.

SEO: WordPress vs. Laravel – Getting Found Online

If you want people to discover your website through search engines, then you need to think about search engine optimization (SEO). Your choice of platform can make a big difference in how easy that is to do.

WordPress: The SEO-Friendly CMS

WordPress is well-known for being SEO-friendly right out of the box. It supports key features like SEO-friendly URLs, categories and tags for organizing content, and alt text for images—all built into the platform.

WordPress makes SEO easy, especially with plugins like All in One SEO (AIOSEO). These tools help you add meta tags, create sitemaps, and optimize your content, all without needing to code.

With tools like this, you can follow most SEO best practices without needing to write any code.

If you’re serious about SEO, I recommend pairing your plugin with a fast-loading theme and a caching plugin to boost your site’s speed—a key ranking factor.

Laravel: The SEO Toolkit for Developers

Laravel doesn’t offer built-in SEO tools. Instead, it gives developers full control to add SEO features through code.

While you can build everything from the ground up, developers can also use pre-built Laravel SEO packages to handle tasks like creating sitemaps or managing metadata.

Popular Laravel SEO packages include ‘artesaos/seotools’, which can help handle meta tags, Open Graph, and more.

However, this still requires manual setup and coding knowledge to implement.

This flexibility is useful if you’re building a custom web application and need specific SEO structures. However, it’s a lot more technical and time-consuming.

If you’re not familiar with coding, then managing SEO in Laravel can be a real challenge.

🏅 Winner for SEO: WordPress

For most websites, WordPress is the easier and more beginner-friendly option for SEO. Its built-in features and powerful plugins make it simple to improve your search rankings without technical skills.

Laravel is best for developers working on advanced projects with very specific SEO needs. But you’ll need to be comfortable coding and managing those features manually.

Speed Matters: Performance in WordPress vs. Laravel

Website speed is important because a slow-loading website can frustrate visitors and negatively impact your search engine rankings.

Let’s take a closer look at how WordPress and Laravel compare when it comes to performance.

WordPress: Performance Requires Optimization

WordPress makes it easy to build a site, but that convenience can lead to slower load times if you’re not careful.

It’s important to know that the core WordPress software is actually very fast. But performance can slow down if you use a poorly coded theme, install too many or poorly coded plugins, or upload large, unoptimized images.

This is why it’s important to optimize your WordPress website to keep it running fast.

To boost WordPress performance, you can use caching plugins like WP Rocket, optimize your images, choose a lightweight theme, and select a quality hosting provider.

For step-by-step advice, see our ultimate guide to boosting WordPress speed and performance.

Laravel: Built for Speed

Laravel is built for speed because it starts as a lean, lightweight foundation. Developers only add the specific code and features needed for the project, so there’s no extra bloat to slow the site down.

That said, performance still depends on how well the code is written. A poorly optimized Laravel project can run into the same issues as any other framework.

But when set up properly, Laravel offers a strong foundation for high-performance websites and applications.

🏅 Winner for Performance: Laravel

If speed and performance are top concerns, especially for custom applications or high-traffic projects, then Laravel is the better fit. It’s well-suited for advanced performance needs and offers more precise control.

Still, WordPress can deliver excellent performance too. With the right hosting and optimization strategies, it can support fast load times even during high-traffic events. It just requires more setup and ongoing maintenance.

Growing Your Site: WordPress vs. Laravel Scalability

Scalability is your website’s ability to handle growth in traffic without slowing down.

Both WordPress and Laravel are excellent for this, but they use very different approaches.

WordPress: Scaling with the Right Infrastructure

WordPress can be scaled to handle massive amounts of traffic. In fact, many high-traffic websites, including major news outlets and enterprise companies, run on WordPress.

However, the scalability of a WordPress site depends less on the core software and more on its hosting environment and setup. To handle growth, you will need to invest in better infrastructure.

This usually involves:

• Upgrading Your Hosting: Moving from a basic shared hosting plan to a more powerful VPS or a high-performance managed WordPress hosting provider is the most important step.
• Using a CDN: A Content Delivery Network (CDN) helps distribute your website’s files across servers worldwide, reducing the load on your main server and speeding up load times for visitors.
• Optimizing Your Site: Using a caching plugin, optimizing images, and choosing well-coded plugins and themes are important for maintaining performance as you grow.

Laravel: Scaling with Custom Architecture

Laravel is designed for scalability from the ground up. Because it’s a framework, developers have complete control over the application’s architecture, allowing them to build systems specifically for high-traffic and complex tasks.

It comes with built-in features that make scaling easier for developers. These include support for distributed caching systems, background job queues to handle intensive tasks, and a structure that works well with modern, scalable server setups like load balancers.

This level of control is powerful, but it requires significant technical expertise. Scaling a Laravel application is not about clicking a few buttons. Instead, it requires careful architectural planning and server management by a skilled development team.

🏅 Winner for Scalability: WordPress for Most Websites, Laravel for Custom Applications

For most businesses, blogs, and online stores, WordPress is the more practical choice for scaling. You can easily handle growth by upgrading your hosting plan and using optimization tools without needing to rebuild your site’s foundation.

Laravel is the winner for custom web applications (like a SaaS platform) where complex scalability needs are known from the start. It offers a more robust foundation for developers who need to design a highly specific, scalable architecture from scratch.

Safeguarding Your Site: WordPress vs. Laravel Security

Both WordPress and Laravel can be very secure, but you’ll approach security differently depending on which one you choose.

Let’s take a look.

WordPress Security: A Shared Responsibility

WordPress itself is secure, but its popularity makes it a common target for hackers. The real risks often come from outdated plugins or poorly coded themes.

Because you can add so many different plugins, your site has a larger ‘attack surface,’ meaning more potential entry points for hackers if things aren’t kept up-to-date.

The good news is that regular updates and careful plugin choices can go a long way in keeping your site safe.

To stay secure, I always recommend you use reputable plugins from trusted sources, keep everything updated, and follow best practices like strong passwords and two-factor authentication.

Beyond your own efforts, your web host plays a huge role in keeping your site secure. Choosing a quality managed WordPress hosting provider adds a powerful layer of protection, as they often include security features like firewalls, malware scanning, and automatic updates.

For extra security, I recommend using a security plugin. We currently use Cloudflare on WPBeginner, and we’ve also had success with Sucuri. Cloudflare is ideal for larger sites, while Sucuri offers solid protection for all types of websites.

Check out our guide to the best WordPress security plugins for more recommendations.

Laravel Security: Built-in Protection and Encryption

Laravel includes built-in security features like CSRF protection and input validation that make it easier to build secure apps without needing extra tools.

It also uses encryption by default for sensitive data. For example, Laravel hashes passwords using bcrypt, helping keep login credentials secure even if the database is compromised. WordPress has also used password hashing for a long time and added support for bcrypt in version 6.8.

Laravel also encrypts cookies and sessions, which helps protect user data and prevent session hijacking.

That said, Laravel security depends heavily on the developer. Misconfigurations or insecure code can still create vulnerabilities. That’s why following secure coding practices and conducting regular security audits are essential.

🏅 Winner for Security: Laravel

Laravel provides a stronger security foundation out of the box, especially for developers who want built-in tools. But both platforms can be secure when used properly.

WordPress requires more ongoing maintenance, like updating plugins and using security tools, but it’s very secure when you follow best practices.

To learn more, see our ultimate WordPress security guide.

Community and Resources: WordPress vs. Laravel

When you run into an issue or want to add new features, having a strong support community and plenty of resources is a huge advantage.

This is a key area where WordPress and Laravel are very different, and it can make a big impact on your final choice.

WordPress: A Thriving Community

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, and this enormous market share supports a global community of users, developers, and designers.

Whether you need help troubleshooting an issue, selecting a plugin, or learning a new feature, there’s likely someone who has already encountered the same problem and shared the solution online.

In addition to community forums, you’ll find official resources like Learn WordPress and Make WordPress, which offer structured courses, lessons, and documentation to help users at all levels.

At WPBeginner, we also offer a wide range of free resources, including step-by-step tutorials, a newsletter, video guides, a helpful Facebook group, and more.

To get started, see our guide on how to make the most out of WPBeginner’s free resources.

And because of WordPress’s popularity, the theme and plugin marketplace is massive, giving you endless customization options without writing any code.

Laravel: A Developer’s Hub

Laravel has a smaller but highly focused community made up of developers and technical users. It emphasizes clean code, reusable packages, and advanced development practices.

Although the Laravel ecosystem is more niche, it’s very active and supportive. I’ve found the official documentation to be excellent, and there are plenty of places to ask questions or share solutions.

Top Laravel learning resources include Laracasts (a premium tutorial site), community forums like the Laracasts forum and Laravel.io, and the Laravel subreddit.

Unlike WordPress, Laravel doesn’t offer a marketplace of themes and plugins. It’s designed for building things from scratch, so you’ll be writing more code, but you’ll also have full control over the final product.

Fortunately, Laravel developers are in high demand, and finding skilled professionals is generally not difficult.

🏅 Winner for Community and Resources: WordPress

While both platforms have strong communities, WordPress has a much larger and more beginner-friendly ecosystem. Here’s why:

• The WordPress community welcomes users at every skill level. There are countless forums, tutorials, and support groups where you can find quick help.
• Most common issues already have documented solutions you can find with a simple web search.
• Its huge marketplace makes it easy to add new features or design updates with minimal effort.

Laravel offers an excellent support network for developers, but if you’re not comfortable with code, WordPress is the more accessible and community-rich option.

Related: For a deeper dive into WordPress market share and trends, check out our detailed WordPress Market Share Report.

Cost Comparison: WordPress vs. Laravel

I know from experience that budget is a major factor when choosing a platform. While both WordPress and Laravel are open-source (meaning the software itself is free), there are other costs to consider.

WordPress: Budgeting for Your Site

WordPress is usually more affordable at the start. With free themes, plugins, and budget-friendly hosting (as low as a few dollars per month), you can launch a site cheaply. Just remember that premium themes, plugins, or hiring a developer will add to the cost.

Here’s what you’ll need to budget for:

• A domain name (like wpbeginner.com) costs around $10-15 per year, but you may be able to get the first year for free.
• Web hosting (where your website files and database are stored) costs $2-25 per month. I recommend Bluehost for beginners because they have affordable plans and great support.
• You can choose a free theme or purchase a premium theme for $30-200 to get more design options and features.
• You can also use free plugins, though premium plugins can add powerful features. I recommend checking out our list of the must-have WordPress plugins.
• If you need custom work, then you will need to hire a developer or designer. This can be the biggest expense, though most WordPress websites won’t need it.

We have a detailed guide on WordPress website costs if you want more information.

Laravel: Investing in Development

Laravel projects typically cost more because they require custom development. You’ll likely need to hire a developer or a team, which makes sense for larger or more complex projects.

Here’s a breakdown of the typical costs you can expect with Laravel:

• Domain name: Around $10–15 per year, just like with WordPress.
• Web hosting: Typically $15–100+ per month. Laravel apps often require more robust infrastructure, such as cloud hosting or a VPS for better performance.
• Developer fees: This is usually the largest cost. If you’re building something custom, hiring a Laravel developer is essential, and rates can vary widely depending on the complexity of your project.

All in all, Laravel gives you complete freedom to build exactly what you need, but that flexibility comes with a bigger investment in both time and money.

For example, you might launch a simple WordPress site for under $100, but a custom Laravel project could easily start in the thousands depending on its features.

🏅 Winner for Affordability: WordPress (for most people)

For most people, especially beginners and small businesses, WordPress is the more cost-effective option. You can launch a full-featured website without hiring a developer, and many themes and plugins are available for free.

Laravel is best suited for complex projects with unique functionality, where you have the budget to invest in custom development. It’s a powerful solution, but not the cheapest one.

The Verdict: Choosing Between WordPress vs Laravel

So, which platform is right for you? It all depends on what you need from your website.

Use WordPress if you want to build a website quickly, manage content easily, and benefit from thousands of ready-made themes and plugins. It’s perfect for blogs, business sites, portfolios, and online stores without breaking the bank.

Use Laravel if you’re a developer (or working with one) building a custom web application with unique features, advanced functionality, or a need for serious scalability and control. Laravel is more powerful under the hood, but it requires coding expertise to unlock its full potential.

To help you decide, here’s a simple breakdown of who each platform is best suited for:

	WordPress	Laravel
Typical Users	Bloggers, small business owners, content creators, non-developers	Developers, startups, enterprises building custom apps
Primary Use Cases	Blogs, business websites, portfolios, eCommerce stores (with plugins)	Custom web apps, SaaS platforms, internal tools, complex eCommerce

Before choosing a platform, consider your goals, technical skills, and budget.

If you want to build something quickly and easily, WordPress is likely the way to go. But if you need full control and are building something more advanced, Laravel might be a better fit.

I hope this guide helped you get a clearer picture of whether WordPress or Laravel is right for your next project. Ready to build your site? If you’re leaning toward WordPress, check out our guide on how to start a website step-by-step.

☝ Pro Tip: Are you overwhelmed by building a professional website? Let our expert WordPress designers create a stunning site for you, easily and affordably. See our Stress-Free WordPress Design Services page for details and pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress vs. Laravel

Now that you’ve read our comparison of WordPress vs. Laravel, you might still have some questions. Here are some quick answers to frequently asked questions.

Is WordPress or Laravel easier to use for beginners?

For someone just starting out with website building, WordPress is easier to learn and use. It is designed with user-friendliness in mind, even if you have no coding experience. You can get a website up and running quickly, often with just a few clicks.

Laravel, on the other hand, has a steeper learning curve. It’s a framework built for developers, so it assumes you have coding knowledge or are willing to learn.

Do I need to know coding to use WordPress or Laravel?

With WordPress, you can build and manage a website without writing any code at all. You can use themes to control the design and plugins to add features, all without needing to write code. If you want to make very advanced customizations, then some coding knowledge can be helpful.

Laravel is different. To use Laravel effectively, you need coding skills, specifically in PHP. Building a website or web application with Laravel involves writing code to create features, customize functionality, and manage your site.

Which is better for SEO: WordPress or Laravel?

Both WordPress and Laravel can be excellent for SEO, but they approach it in different ways. WordPress is naturally quite SEO-friendly right out of the box, and you can use plugins like All in One SEO to optimize your site for search.

Laravel gives developers more direct, technical control over SEO. With Laravel, you can fine-tune every aspect of your website’s code and structure for optimal SEO performance. But this isn’t a one-click solution because it takes a lot of coding.

Is WordPress or Laravel more secure?

Both WordPress and Laravel can be secure platforms, but security needs to be approached differently for each. WordPress is actively maintained for security, and you need to keep it updated. You also need to use security best practices and plugins for the best protection.

Laravel is more secure from a technical standpoint. It has many security features by default and encourages secure coding practices. However, just like any platform, Laravel’s security still depends on developers writing secure code and properly configuring their applications.

When should I choose WordPress over Laravel?

I recommend WordPress for most websites. It’s easy to set up and manage, especially if you’re not a coder. It’s ideal for blogs, small business websites, portfolios, and online stores. It lets you get a website online quickly and cost-effectively.

When should I choose Laravel over WordPress?

In most cases, it’s best to choose Laravel when you need to build a custom web application or a website with very specific and complex features. You will need development expertise or a development team, but you can build something truly unique from the ground up.

We hope this tutorial helped you compare WordPress vs. Laravel and their pros and cons. You may also want to see our guide on how to choose the best website builder or our expert pick of popular sites using WordPress as a CMS.

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Beginner’s Guide to PDPL Compliance for WordPress Websites

I’ve helped WordPress users navigate a lot of different privacy laws, but Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) still surprises many website owners.

If your site collects personal information from people in Saudi Arabia (and it probably does), then PDPL compliance isn’t optional.

Contact forms, newsletter signups, user accounts, blog comments — all of these fall under the law’s requirements, even if you don’t live in Saudi Arabia.

I hear from readers all the time who didn’t realize this until they were at risk of penalties.

The good news? Getting compliant doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

I’ve spent months researching the PDPL and testing WordPress tools to make this guide as beginner-friendly as possible. I’ll show you exactly how to protect your business, stay on the right side of the law, and earn your audience’s trust.

⚠️ We are not lawyers. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We highly recommend consulting with a qualified legal professional to ensure your business is fully compliant with the PDPL and other privacy regulations.

What Is the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL)?

Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) is a privacy law that protects the personal information of people living in Saudi Arabia. It sets clear rules for how businesses collect, use, and store that data.

Like other privacy laws — including the GDPR — the PDPL doesn’t just apply to local businesses. It can affect websites, blogs, and online stores around the world.

The key factor is whether your site handles data from people in Saudi Arabia. If your audience is global, then there’s a good chance the PDPL applies to you.

That’s why it’s important to understand what this law covers and what steps you can take to stay compliant.

Why WordPress Users Should Care About PDPL Compliance

Not following the PDPL can lead to serious consequences. Fines can reach up to SAR 5 million (about $1.3 million USD) per violation. That amount can double for repeat offenses.

If you unlawfully share sensitive data, especially with the intent to harm someone, the penalties are even more severe. You could face up to two years in prison and fines of SAR 3 million (around $800,000 USD).

But PDPL compliance isn’t just about avoiding legal trouble — it’s also about trust.

When you give visitors more control over their personal data, you show that your site respects their privacy. Over time, building trust can get you more signups, conversions, and sales, helping to grow your online business.

By contrast, failing to comply with PDPL can really damage your reputation.

And remember, the PDPL might apply to you even if you don’t live in Saudi Arabia. Just like GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), it’s based on whose data you collect, not where you’re located.

With all that said, I feel pretty confident in saying that almost all WordPress users should care about PDPL compliance.

How PDPL Affects Your WordPress Site

The first step to PDPL compliance is understanding what counts as personal data.

That includes anything that can identify someone, such as their name, email address, IP address, physical address, or even their browsing history through cookies.

As a WordPress site owner, here are some of the key rights and responsibilities you need to know:

• Right to Be Informed: You must clearly tell visitors what data you collect, how you use it, and whether you share it with third parties. This info should be easy to find — don’t make people dig through your site to locate it.
• Right to Access: Users can request a copy of the personal information you’ve collected about them.
• Right to Correction: If someone’s data is inaccurate or incomplete, they have the right to ask you to update it.
• Right to Delete: People can ask you to delete their personal data.
• Right to Object: Users can say no to how you’re using their personal information.
• Right to Data Portability: Individuals can request their data in a machine-readable format and transfer it to another service.

Throughout this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to support these rights using simple tools and beginner-friendly tips.

Beginner’s Guide to PDPL Compliance for WordPress Websites

Navigating compliance can feel overwhelming, especially when the stakes include damaged reputations, steep fines, or even jail time.

But at its core, the PDPL is about being clear and transparent with your users. It’s all about giving people control over how you collect and use their personal information.

With that in mind, let’s walk through the steps you can take to meet the PDPL’s requirements.

• Perform Regular Data Audits
• Collect Less Data
• Create a Privacy Policy
• Add a Cookie Popup
• Create a Dedicated Cookie Policy
• Block Third-Party Scripts
• Track and Log Visitor Consent
• Allow Users to Withdraw Consent
• Support the ‘Right to Delete’
• Handle Data Access Requests Efficiently
• Support the ‘Right to Correction’
• WordPress and PDPL Compliance: FAQs
• Additional Resources

Perform Regular Data Audits

The first step to PDPL compliance is knowing what personal data you collect and how you handle it. That means doing a full data audit of your WordPress site.

A good audit shows whether your current practices match PDPL rules — and where you may need to make changes.

To help you get started, here are some key questions to ask:

• What personal data do I collect? This could include names, email addresses, IP addresses, payment details, and more.
• How do I use this data? Look at how you process information, whether you share it with team members or third-party tools like ad networks or email services.
• Do I really need this data? If you’re collecting something you don’t actually use, then it’s better to stop.
• How secure is it? Review your WordPress security, check who has access, and consider using security plugins to add extra protection.

After the audit, be sure to write down your findings. Keep a record of what you collect, how you use it, and what steps you’ve taken to stay compliant.

This documentation helps prove you’re serious about privacy, which is important if you’re ever audited or asked to explain your practices.

As a general rule, it’s smart to do a new audit at least once a year. You should also review your data handling anytime you change how your site collects or uses personal information.

And since privacy laws can change, it’s a good idea to re-check everything whenever the PDPL is updated.

Collect Less Data 

Once you’ve reviewed the data you collect, the next step is to ask: Do I really need all of it?

The PDPL says you should only collect data that’s relevant, necessary, and tied to a specific purpose. That means no gathering extra information just in case you might need it later.

If something isn’t essential, then you should stop collecting it.

This principle is called data minimization, and it’s not just about compliance. It also makes your life easier.

When you collect less data, it’s simpler to stay organized and respond to user requests. For example, if someone asks you to delete their data or send them a copy, you’ll have less to dig through.

So, as you go through your forms and plugins, look for anything you can remove or simplify.

Create a Privacy Policy 

Your privacy policy is where you explain what personal data you collect, how you use it, and who you share it with. Think of it as your website’s promise to be transparent with visitors.

Under the PDPL, having a clear and accessible privacy policy isn’t optional — it’s required.

The good news is that WordPress comes with a built-in privacy policy generator. You can use it as a starting point and customize it for your site.

You can also check out the WPBeginner privacy policy as an example.

If you use our template, make sure to replace all mentions of WPBeginner with your own blog or business website.

We also have a complete step-by-step guide on how to add a privacy policy in WordPress if you need help getting started.

If you already have a privacy policy, now’s the time to update it. Make sure it includes your users’ PDPL rights, like the Right to Be Informed and Right to Access, along with clear instructions for how they can exercise those rights.

For example, you could link to a form where users can request a copy of their data, or show them how to ask for deletion.

And don’t forget to review your privacy policy regularly to keep it accurate as your site grows and evolves.

Add a Cookie Popup

Under the PDPL, you must get explicit consent before placing cookies that collect personal data, except for cookies that are strictly necessary.

This means you need to let visitors know about your cookie practices and get their clear consent before using non-essential cookies.

The best way to do this is by adding a cookie popup to your WordPress website.

A well-designed popup helps you support key PDPL rights, starting with the Right to Be Informed. It clearly tells users what types of cookies you use, what data those cookies collect, and why you’re collecting it.

Your popup can also support the Right to Object. Users can simply click ‘Reject’ to refuse non-essential cookies without digging through settings.

There are lots of cookie banner plugins out there, but I recommend using WPConsent. It’s a powerful WordPress privacy plugin built to help you meet PDPL, GDPR, and similar privacy standards.

In fact, we use WPConsent on all our websites, including WPBeginner. It’s easy to set up and handles cookie banners, consent logs, and more.

💡 Want a deep dive into WPConsent? Check out our full WPConsent review, where we share our hands-on experience.

To get started, install and activate the WPConsent plugin like you would with any WordPress plugin.

WPConsent will automatically scan your site and list all the cookies it finds.

From there, the setup wizard helps you customize your popup. As you make changes, you’ll see a live preview so you know exactly how it will look on your site.

You can adjust the layout, position, font size, button style, colors, and even add your own logo.

Once you’re happy with the design, just save your changes. The cookie banner will now appear on your site and begin collecting consent from your visitors.

Create a Dedicated Cookie Policy 

In addition to using a cookie popup, I also recommend creating a separate cookie policy page. This gives you a clear place to explain exactly how your site uses cookies and what kind of data you collect through them.

By writing a dedicated policy, you’re supporting the PDPL’s Right to Be Informed and building trust with your visitors.

Your cookie policy should list the different types of cookies your site uses, such as essential, analytics, or marketing cookies. You can also describe what these cookies do, like tracking your visitors or showing personalized ads.

I also suggest explaining what kind of personal information these cookies collect. That could include IP addresses, browsing behavior, or referral URLs.

Try to avoid technical jargon. Instead, use simple, clear language so anyone can understand your policy.

If you’re using WPConsent, you’re in luck. The plugin can automatically generate a detailed cookie policy for you. Just go to WPConsent » Settings and choose the page where you want the policy to appear.

WPConsent will create the content for you, based on the cookies it found during the scan.

You can then display this content using a shortcode on your selected page.

Once the policy is live, make sure visitors can find it. I recommend adding a link in your website footer or right inside your privacy policy.

You can also include a link in your cookie popup so that people can read the full policy before choosing their cookie preferences.

If you created your popup with WPConsent, the link is already built in. When someone clicks the ‘Preferences’ button, they’ll see a link to your cookie policy.

Then, they’ll need to select the ‘Cookie Policy’ link. 

And that’s it! WPConsent will take them straight to the right page.

Block Third-Party Scripts 

One of the trickiest parts of PDPL compliance is dealing with third-party tracking tools. I’m talking about services like Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel.

These tools often collect personal data, such as IP addresses, location info, or behavior across pages. That means they fall under the PDPL, and you need to get consent before loading their scripts.

That’s why I recommend setting up automatic script blocking. This keeps those scripts from running until a visitor has clearly opted in.

If you’re using WPConsent, then you’re already covered. It comes with automatic script blocking built right in.

Behind the scenes, it detects and pauses common tracking scripts like Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Facebook Pixel — without breaking your website.

Track and Log Visitor Consent

Even if you follow the PDPL carefully, there’s still a chance your data practices could be reviewed — or even audited.

That’s why it’s important to keep a clear log showing that you’re honoring user consent.

This protects your business, helps build trust with your visitors, and also provides solid evidence that you’re complying with the PDPL.

If you’re using WPConsent, the plugin takes care of this for you. It automatically logs each consent event along with key details like the visitor’s IP address, what they agreed to, and the date and time.

You can see all this information right in your WordPress dashboard. Just go to WPConsent » Consent Logs.

Then, if you ever need to share the log with a legal team or an auditor, you can export the data directly from your dashboard.

Allow Users to Withdraw Consent 

The PDPL states that people have the right to change their minds and withdraw consent at any time. To stay compliant, you need to give your visitors a simple and visible way to do that on your website.

I recommend using WPConsent’s Do Not Track add-on. It lets you create a dedicated ‘Do Not Track’ page in just a few clicks.

Once you install the add-on, just go to WPConsent » Do Not Track » Configuration to set up your form.

Visitors can then go to this page and fill out a short form to withdraw their consent.
It’s quick, user-friendly, and shows that you respect their privacy choices.

After setup, you can choose the page where this form appears, and WPConsent will handle the rest behind the scenes.

WPConsent also stores all these requests directly in your WordPress database. That means you stay in control of the data and don’t have to rely on third-party services to track user consent changes.

Plus, the plugin logs every request automatically. So if you’re ever audited, you’ll have clear documentation showing that you honored your visitors’ decisions.

Support the ‘Right to Delete’

I’ve talked about how the PDPL empowers users, and a big part of that power is the right to request their personal data be deleted. This isn’t just a legal obligation; it’s a chance to build real trust with your audience by showing that you respect their choices.

So, how do you make this process smooth for both you and your users?

While there are a few ways to handle deletion requests, the easiest method is to add a ‘data deletion’ form directly to your website. And guess what? This is incredibly easy with a powerful form builder like WPForms.

In fact, WPForms comes with a dedicated ‘Right to Erasure Request Form’ template. This template gives you a solid foundation, so you can add this crucial form to your site quickly and easily. This directly addresses the ‘Right to Delete’ I mentioned earlier.

You can customize this template in WPForms’ drag-and-drop editor, which makes it easy to add, remove, and edit fields.

When you’re happy with the form, you can add it to your site using either a shortcode or the WPForms block.

🌟 Here at WPBeginner, we’re not just recommending WPForms – we built all our own forms with it! That’s right, from our contact pages to our surveys, it’s all powered by WPForms. We’ve put it to the test daily, and that’s why we’re so confident in telling you it’s the real deal. 

Ready to see why it’s our go-to? Dive into our detailed WPForms review.

After adding the form to your site, you need to make it easy for visitors to find. For example, you can link to the form from your privacy policy page, or even embed it directly there.

You can also put a link in your website’s footer or main navigation menu. The goal is simple: don’t make people search for this important form.

Next, you will need to review any user requests for data deletion.

Luckily, WPForms isn’t just a form builder. It also comes with a powerful entry management system that makes it easy to track form submissions.

To review your entries, simply head over to WPForms » Entries. Here, you’ll see a list of all the forms across your WordPress website.

Simply find your data erasure form and click it.

You’ll now see all your ‘delete data’ requests.

So, what happens when you spot a new deletion request?

The good news is that WordPress itself comes with a built-in Erase Personal Data tool. This tool lets you erase all the user’s personal information, so you don’t need to install any extra WordPress plugins.

Just head over to Tools » Erase Personal Data to access this tool.

In the ‘Username or email address’ field, you need to type in the user’s information you want to remove.

This tool even has a handy ‘Send personal data erasure confirmation email’ setting. This will automatically let the user know that you’ve completed their request, keeping them informed and building more trust.

Handle Data Access Requests Efficiently

Under the PDPL, visitors have the right to ask for a copy of all the personal information you’ve collected about them. Thankfully, you can handle these ‘data access requests’ in pretty much the same way as the ‘data deletion’ requests we just explored.

The easiest way to support this is by adding a request form to your site. I recommend using WPForms, which includes a ready-made Data Request template.

Just select the template and customize it in the drag-and-drop editor. You can easily adjust the fields as needed to collect the information you need to fulfill each request.

Once the form is live, WPForms will log each submission inside your WordPress dashboard. That way, you can respond quickly when a new request comes in.

To view entries, go to WPForms » Entries and select your data request form.

You’ll now see all the entries submitted through this form.

When you get a new request, you can fulfill it using WordPress’ built-in Export Personal Data tool. This lets you export all the known data for any user, packaged conveniently in a .zip file.

To create this .zip, just head over to Tools » Export Personal Data.

Just enter the user’s email or username, and WordPress will generate a downloadable file with all the personal data you’ve collected.

Once it’s ready, you can send the zip file directly to the person who requested it.

Support the ‘Right to Correction’

The PDPL also gives users the right to ask you to fix or update their personal information if something is wrong or incomplete.

This might happen after someone reviews their data and spots a mistake. Or maybe they’ve moved or changed their phone number and want you to update their profile.

Once again, the easiest way to accept these requests is by adding a dedicated form to your site.

I use WPForms for this, too. It includes a Personal Information Form template that works great for correction requests.

This form comes with many essential fields already built in, such as legal name, preferred nickname, email address, home phone, and cell phone. 

The template even includes an “Update Existing Record” checkbox, so users can let you know they’re submitting a change to their existing profile.

However, every website stores different information, so you may want to customize the form to collect other details. In that case, simply open the template in the WPForms editor and then add more fields to the form using drag and drop.

You can then fine-tune these fields using the left-hand panel. Just repeat these steps until the form collects all the information users might want to edit.

Once you’re done, go ahead and publish the form on your site like you would with any other form.

Make sure users can find this form easily. I usually link to it from the privacy policy or place it in the footer so it’s always accessible.

As always, WPForms displays all submitted form entries directly in your WordPress dashboard. This makes it easy to spot data correction requests as soon as they arrive, so you can act on them quickly.

How you update this information may vary depending on the tools you’re using. For example, you might need to update a record in your customer relationship management (CRM) app or email management software.

If the information is stored directly in WordPress, then you may just need to go to Users » All Users in your WordPress dashboard.

Here, find the user profile you need to update and click its ‘Edit’ link.

You’ll now see all the essential information WordPress has stored for that user.

From here, you can make any necessary changes and save the user’s updated profile.

WordPress and PDPL Compliance: FAQs

Understanding online privacy can be a big challenge. So, you might still have some questions about how the PDPL affects your WordPress website.

But don’t worry! At WPBeginner, we’re here to help you understand this important privacy law.

In this section, I’ll cover the most common questions we get asked about PDPL compliance, so  you can get the answers you need.

What happens if my website is not PDPL compliant?

If your website doesn’t comply with the PDPL, you could face serious consequences. That includes large fines, which may reach millions of Saudi Riyals. In severe cases, criminal charges like imprisonment may also apply.

Beyond the legal and financial risks, breaching the PDPL can seriously harm your organization’s reputation. If you don’t seem to care about user privacy, then your audience will quickly notice. When that happens, they will stop trusting you and will almost certainly take their business or readership elsewhere.

Does the PDPL only apply to businesses in Saudi Arabia?

No, the PDPL doesn’t just apply to Saudi-based businesses. If your website collects personal data from someone living in Saudi Arabia, then you’re required to follow the PDPL, even if your business is located elsewhere.

How can I balance user experience with PDPL compliance?

Following the PDPL doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the user experience. In fact, giving visitors control over their data is a key part of good UX.

Here’s how I recommend balancing both:

• Show a clear cookie popup that explains how you use cookies in simple terms.
• Write a privacy policy that’s easy to read and free of legal jargon.
• Add forms that let users request their data or ask for it to be deleted, so they feel respected and in control.

Are there any exemptions to the PDPL for small websites?

The PDPL generally applies to any website that collects or processes personal data from users in Saudi Arabia, no matter the size. That means most WordPress site owners need to follow it.

There may be exceptions in very specific cases, but these aren’t always clear. If you’re unsure whether the PDPL applies to you, I recommend talking to a legal expert.

What are the key steps I should take to comply with the PDPL?

Every site is different, but here are the basics I always recommend:

• Create clear privacy and cookie policies that explain your practices in plain, user-friendly language.
• Run regular data audits to understand what personal data you collect, where it’s stored, and who can access it.
• Ask for clear, explicit consent before collecting data, and give users a way to withdraw it. A cookie popup can help with this.

By putting these measures into practice, your website will be much closer to meeting the PDPL’s core requirements. 

Additional Resources

Keeping your WordPress site perfectly aligned with the PDPL isn’t a one-time task. In fact, it’s something that needs your ongoing attention. 

To help you continue on this journey, here are some helpful resources you can check out:

• Saudi Arabia’s National Data Management Office – Get the latest information and updates about the PDPL.
• How to Know if Your WordPress Website Uses Cookies
• How to Keep Personally Identifiable Info Out of Google Analytics
• How to Make Google Fonts Privacy Friendly
• How to Stop Storing IP Addresses in WordPress Comments

I hope this beginner’s guide to PDPL compliance for WordPress websites has helped you understand this important privacy law. Next, you may want to see our expert picks for the best GDPR plugins to improve compliance or our guide on how to perform a security audit.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post Beginner’s Guide to PDPL Compliance for WordPress Websites first appeared on WPBeginner.

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