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Technology Nov 24, 2024 • 6 min read

The hidden cost of WordPress

Plugins, security patches, and slow databases. Why moving to a static site saved our client $12k/year.

The hidden cost of WordPress

WordPress powers over 40% of the web. It's popular, accessible, and dangerous. For businesses that value security and performance, the "free" CMS often comes with a hefty price tag.

The Security Nightmare

Because of its ubiquity, WordPress is the primary target for web attacks. Statistics show that 97% of WordPress vulnerabilities originate from plugins, not the core software. In 2023 alone, 4,200 new vulnerabilities were discovered.

A staggering 53.3% of these vulnerabilities were Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, allowing hackers to inject malicious scripts into your site. With roughly 90,000 attacks happening per minute on WordPress sites globally, relying on a patchwork of plugins is a gamble.

The Maintenance Tax

The average cost of maintaining a business-grade WordPress site is often underestimated. While the software is free, the ecosystem is not. Between premium hosting, security plugins (like Sucuri or Wordfence), backup solutions, and developer hours for updates, costs quickly mount.

For a standard small-to-medium business site, maintenance plans typically range from $300 to $1,000+ per month. That's $3,600 to $12,000 a year just to keep the status quo—money that isn't buying new features or growth, just safety.

The Static Alternative

By moving to a modern, static architecture (like the one we build), you eliminate the database and the plugins. The attack surface drops to near zero, and maintenance costs vanish. You own your code, not a subscription to security patches.

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