The problem is that we can’t always remember what we did or why we did it. This is why documentation is so important. It’s a resource we can reference when jumping back in to add or fix something. Not to mention that it’s handy for clients and colleagues as well.

Documenting your projects has traditionally meant taking good notes. We add comments to our code, update readme files, and log what’s new in myriad other forms. Consistency is key, but difficult to achieve. After all, everyone gets busy and forgets to write something down.

Perhaps AI is just the tool we need to document projects without missing a beat. These models, along with the apps they connect with, can take notes for you. They’ll keep track of changes, explain what a feature does, and why it was built a specific way.

With that in mind, here are a few ideas for using AI to create and maintain your project documentation.

Use AI To Analyze and Remember Your Work

The popular AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini all have “memory” features. Set your preferred tool to remember what you’ve done, and the model will record it for future reference. This is a goldmine for documenting your WordPress projects.

Before you start, ensure that you understand how your chosen model remembers things. Some have a setting for this purpose. However, you might also directly instruct an AI agent within your chat session. There are different types of memory, so you’ll want to check to see what is (and isn’t) included.

It’s a must-have feature when vibe-coding plugins. Use AI to keep track of your project from the start. That way, you’ll prevent any knowledge from being lost along the way.

But what about existing projects? You’re covered – to a point. AI can analyze your files and note specific functions and features. It’s also a wonderful tool for troubleshooting an issue or inspecting code written by someone else.

As always, double-check the tool’s interpretation of your work for accuracy. You can even use multiple models to inspect the same thing. It’s better to find a mistake early than a year down the road when you really need to know something.

Decide What Project Information You’ll Need

AI can document what’s been done. However, you’ll still need to figure out what information you’ll need to keep.

Much depends on the type of project you have and with whom it needs to be shared. But it’s safe to say that a changelog makes sense for every use case. You’ll want to know what changed, when it was changed, and potentially why.

Custom plugins or theme features would also benefit from usage instructions. It’s easy to forget how something works. As such, a quick step-by-step guide is valuable. Bonus points if you can add screenshots or videos to the mix. It’s perfect for onboarding new team members.

You might even document client requests. This enables you to stay on top of busy collaborative projects. Use it to assess time and energy spent (and how it impacts your billing). This info could also help you build a project roadmap for future changes.

The idea is to keep track of what matters to you and anyone else who touches your project. AI makes it easy to generate.

Create a System for Documenting Your Projects

Next, you’ll need a place to access your documentation and a plan for maintaining it. This is a very personal decision that depends on your preferences. For example, you could generate a custom text file in each project’s folder and be done with it. But there are more in-depth possibilities.

We’re working with WordPress, so using it as a knowledge base is a natural fit. You could build a centralized resource categorized by client or project. There are even support plugins available to help you get started, and the WordPress Connectors API will connect the site to your chosen AI model.

Solo freelancers could get by with a local WordPress installation, while agencies might want to use an internal or external server. A project’s documentation may also live on your client’s site. It’s a convenient feature and a potential selling point.

A Git repository would be great for those who want to version control their documentation. From there, you can feed updated information to virtually anywhere you want. Using AI here also streamlines the workflow.

Then, as things change, AI can automatically write to the destination. Or, you can manually review it and publish when ready. This ensures that you’ll always have the latest data.

The Pain-Free Way To Document Your Projects

Writing documentation can be a tedious process. You complete a task and then have to remember to record it. The chore is even harder when you’re juggling multiple clients and websites. Even the best of us will forget something.

AI’s automation capabilities make it seamless. Tell your AI tool what to document, and it remembers to keep track so you don’t have to. Some models may let you create blanket rules that cover all of your current and future projects.

You also get to choose where to store this valuable knowledge. It’s something you can share with others or keep to yourself. Regardless, you’ll have access whenever you need it. That will serve you well when it’s time to dive into a theme you haven’t touched in years.

If you’ve avoided project documentation, there’s no better time than the present to get started. There’s also an opportunity to upgrade what you already have. So, pick your favorite AI tool and let it do the work!

here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.

Read more articles by Eric Karkovack

The post How AI Can Help You Document Your WordPress Projects appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.

That has led some seasoned (and not-so-seasoned) developers to go for the ultimate prize: replicating their favorite SaaS product. I admit to falling under the spell of such temptation.

It’s easy to see the potential benefits. SaaS subscriptions can be expensive, and the products may be more than what we need. Plus, there are always niche features that seem to be missing. Oh, and many are proprietary, raising data ownership concerns. Why not use AI to vibe code your own spinoff?

Can it really be that simple? Type a few prompts, and get a high-level tool to replace an enterprise app? As usual, it’s complicated.

Let’s take a hard look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of using AI to build a SaaS replica.

Taking Software Into Your Own Hands

My journey building a SaaS replica with AI began as I stood at a crossroads of sorts. I’m a longtime user of QuickBooks Desktop, which has served my accounting needs well over the years. However, the product I use was discontinued and moved online. Moving meant going from buying a license every few years to a monthly fee. I’m not keen on yet another subscription.

The desktop app is also starting to show its age. Some features are broken, and the interface is behind the times. Not to mention it’s a memory hog on my PC. This all coincides with some upcoming changes to my business that require a different approach.

So, I decided to take the plunge and build my own billing/customer relationship management (CRM) app as a WordPress plugin. I wanted something portable that would allow me (or others) to add features as needed. WordPress was the perfect fit.

The decision seemed like a no-brainer. I could use my existing skills to guide AI in the right direction. And I could leave out the things that weren’t necessary. I hoped to build a lean, functional plugin that streamlined my billing process.

This would also free me from the proprietary trap so many SaaS providers lock us into. I wouldn’t have to worry about higher rates, product limitations, or waiting for support tickets to be answered. Yes, this was exactly what I needed!

The only question was: Can I really build a suitable replacement?

The Challenge Is in the Details

The project started with a bang, as I used Claude to build a working prototype within an hour. Sure, there were some rough edges to be smoothed over. But the basic concept was coming together. Then, a bit of reality set in.

One of my goals was to create a tool that was close enough to what I’m accustomed to. The idea wasn’t to rebuild QuickBooks line by line, feature by feature. But I wanted something that provided a seamless transition.

My prototype allowed me to add customers, services, and invoices. I even built some import tools to bring my real-world data into the system. But I didn’t realize how many little details were missing until I used the plugin.

For example, I needed a way to share invoices with my clients. I also needed to distinguish between hourly-based and project-based services. Other needs seemed to pop up every few minutes:

• Custom reports for my business and individual customers.
• A way to email invoices to multiple contacts at the same company.
• A log to remind me whom I sent invoices to and when.
• Navigation to and from different areas of the plugin.
• User permissions for scenarios where you want to provide CRM access to a non-administrator.
• A front-end version of each relevant screen.

This was a different experience for someone who hadn’t taken a product from start to finish before. It felt more like being a product designer than a developer. That requires a different type of thinking.

AI proved capable of writing the code. However, I found myself having to provide extra context along the way. There was a lot of trial and error, and each new feature opened another set of decisions and potential.

There’s also danger in adding too many features. I didn’t want a bloated plugin that was difficult to use. As such, I had to practice restraint when considering my options.

It was a positive learning experience, for sure. But it also made me realize how much is involved in building a plugin that does more than merely function. Good things do indeed take time.

Questions To Ask Before You Build

The temptation to dive right in and generate code for the next HubSpot or Asana is understandable. AI makes relatively short work of complex coding tasks. These models can also advise you on how to replicate specific features.

It’s worth taking a step back and asking yourself a few key questions first, though. The answers will help you navigate the project or save you from making a massive mistake.

Are You Serious or Curious?

First, determine why you want to build this amazing new thing that’s based on an existing thing. Experimental side projects can be fun and a great way to learn. However, it’s different than a serious bid to create software that your entire company will use.

The former encourages you to be patient and test your ideas. The latter is often a mandate to increase efficiency while saving money. There’s an entirely different level of pressure in that scenario. You’ll also need to dedicate more resources toward the project.

It’s not necessarily a deal breaker either way, but a consideration nonetheless.

Do You Need Third-Party Integrations?

Integrating with other tools and services is a SaaS superpower. For example, adding Stripe to your CRM enables online payments, while Mailchimp adds email capabilities. AI tools can help you connect the various APIs out there.

The downside is the responsibility that comes with these integrations. APIs frequently change, and you need to stay ahead of them. Failing to keep up could lead to software that doesn’t work. Plus, there are security and privacy risks.

Remember: Once you build it, you’re responsible for it.

Do You Need Your App To Scale?

SaaS applications often require a robust infrastructure. That’s why AI companies are building data centers everywhere. This could be a concern if you’re expecting a stampede of users and use cases.

Smaller, more focused apps like my CRM plugin aren’t as big of a problem. A few users on a WordPress site won’t require a ton of memory or CPU cycles. But the calculus changes as your needs grow.

This is where a fun little project can turn into something more complex. That app you just vibe coded could turn you into a systems engineer. There’s also a cost to server space and other necessities. Are you prepared to go that far?

You Can Replicate a SaaS With AI, but Should You?

Using AI to generate code opens up a world of possibilities – and it’s only getting more powerful. New models continue to evolve to help us get things done faster. That leads to bigger and bolder ideas on our part.

Even so, it’s a good idea to think about the long-term consequences of what you build. It may be fun to try and replicate Gmail, but do you really want the responsibilities that go with it?

That may be an extreme example, but the theory also applies to smaller projects. The reality is that the best SaaS products are popular for a reason. They scale, have dedicated security teams, and professional product designers working to improve every aspect. Even the best AI models can’t match that quite yet.

So, have fun and experiment! Just know what you’re getting into before you begin.

here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.

Read more articles by Eric Karkovack

The post Can You Really Replicate Your Favorite SaaS With AI? appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.

There are also big differences between hosting providers. Some focus on low-cost shared hosting, while others offer managed WordPress hosting, cloud hosting, or plans built for businesses and agencies. The tools included with each plan can vary just as much. Backups, staging sites, caching, security, migrations, CDN access, and developer tools may be included, limited, or cost extra.

This comparison looks at six popular WordPress hosts: WordPress.com, Bluehost, Pressable, Cloudways, Kinsta, and SiteGround. Each provider has been tested and compared across the areas that matter when running a WordPress website.

The goal isn’t to name one host that works for everyone. A personal blog, WooCommerce store, client website, and busy online publication have very different hosting needs. Instead, the results should make it easier to see where each provider works well, where it falls short, and which type of WordPress website it suits best.

Best WordPress Hosting: Quick Recommendations

Not everyone needs to compare every plan and technical detail. These recommendations offer a quick starting point based on common WordPress projects. Each host has been selected for a different type of user, with performance, management tools, support, pricing, and the overall hosting experience taken into account.

Best Overall WordPress Host: WordPress.com

WordPress.com is our best overall host because it combines managed WordPress hosting with the flexibility and ease of use many websites need. It works well for blogs and business sites, with plans suitable for larger publications and WooCommerce stores.

Much of the technical work is handled for you, including caching, security, updates, SSL, and CDN access. All paid plans now support third-party plugins and custom theme uploads. Business adds daily backups, staging, SFTP, SSH, database access, WP-CLI, and other developer tools.

WordPress.com is run by Automattic, a company with deep ties to the WordPress open-source project and WordPress.org. That experience carries through to its managed hosting and support, which is useful when a problem involves both WordPress and the hosting platform.

There is less server maintenance to handle, while developers can choose Business when they need more advanced access. Those needing full server control may prefer cloud or VPS hosting.

Pricing varies between plans, so always compare promotional rates with the normal renewal price.

Further Information:

WordPress.com Plans & Pricing

• Personal: Supports third-party plugins and themes, custom CSS and code, along with security, support, and migration tools.
• Premium: Includes everything in Personal, with additional design, analytics, SEO, advertising, and monetization tools.
• Business: Adds daily backups, staging, SFTP, SSH, WP-CLI, database access, GitHub deployments, and other developer tools.
• Commerce: Includes the tools available with Business and adds WooCommerce and online selling tools.

All data correct as of August, 2026.

Best WordPress Managed Host: Kinsta

Kinsta is our choice for the best managed WordPress host. It is built for WordPress sites that need strong performance, reliable hosting, and useful management tools without the site owner having to manage the server.

Every WordPress site runs in its own isolated container, with access to Kinsta’s cloud infrastructure and a choice of 30 data center locations. Server caching, edge caching, a Cloudflare-powered CDN, security, daily backups, and performance monitoring are included.

Kinsta also provides a strong set of developer tools, including DevKinsta. SSH and SFTP are included with all WordPress hosting plans, WP-CLI is installed by default, and staging gives developers a separate platform to test changes. MyKinsta also offers database management, logs, analytics, and Kinsta’s APM performance tool.

The main drawback is price. Kinsta costs more than budget WordPress hosting, so it is harder to justify for a small personal site. But for businesses, busy publications, stores, and other sites where performance and support matter, the extra cost makes sense.

Further Information:

Kinsta Plans & Pricing

• Single Site Plans: Built for one WordPress website, with several levels based on traffic or bandwidth. All include CDN, edge caching, daily backups, staging, security, migrations, SSH, SFTP, and WP-CLI.
• Multiple Site Plans: Designed for users who manage several WordPress installations. These plans increase the number of sites and available resources while keeping them under one Kinsta account.
• Agency Plans: Made for agencies that manage larger collections of client sites. They provide higher limits and more capacity while retaining the same managed WordPress platform and development tools.
• Custom Plans: Available for WordPress projects that need more resources than the standard plans provide. These are better suited to very busy sites and projects with unusual hosting requirements.

All data correct as of August, 2026.

Best WordPress Blogger Host: Cloudways

Cloudways is our choice for the best WordPress blogger host, particularly for established blogs and publications that have grown beyond basic shared hosting. It provides managed cloud hosting while still giving site owners more control over server resources than most managed WordPress platforms.

With Cloudways Flexible, WordPress can run on cloud infrastructure from DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, or Google Cloud. You choose the provider, server size, and location, while Cloudways handles much of the server setup and management. Resources can also be increased as traffic grows.

WordPress tools include server caching, staging, cloning, automated backups, SSL, migrations, security tools, SSH, SFTP, Git, and WP-CLI. Multiple WordPress sites can also run on the same server, provided it has enough resources.

This flexibility is why Cloudways works well for established bloggers. A growing publication can increase its hosting resources without moving to another platform. The tradeoff is complexity. There are more server settings to understand than with WordPress.com or Kinsta. But for bloggers comfortable managing WordPress, that extra control can be useful.

Further Information:

Cloudways Plans & Pricing

• DigitalOcean: The most practical starting point for many WordPress blogs. Plans provide dedicated cloud resources, SSD or NVMe storage, vertical scaling, and a choice of server locations.
• Vultr: Offers a broad choice of data center locations and server configurations. It is useful when the main audience is closer to a Vultr location or a different server setup is required.
• Linode: Another option for blogs that want predictable cloud resources and a choice of server locations while keeping Cloudways responsible for much of the server management.
• AWS: Uses Amazon Web Services infrastructure and provides more server configuration choices. It is generally more expensive and is better suited to sites with requirements that justify the added cost.
• Google Cloud: Runs WordPress on Google Compute Engine through the Cloudways dashboard. Like AWS, it provides flexible server resources but usually costs more than the simpler cloud options.

All data correct as of August, 2026.

Best WordPress Developer Host: Pressable

Pressable is our choice for the best WordPress developer host. It is a fully managed WordPress platform from Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and WooCommerce, and runs on its WP Cloud infrastructure. That WordPress focus is one of the main reasons it works so well for development work.

Developers get staging and sandbox environments for every site, along with SSH, SFTP, WP-CLI, Git, database access, and other tools needed for building and maintaining WordPress sites. DupliKits can also be used to create reusable site templates, which can save time when several projects start with a similar setup.

Pressable handles much of the hosting work in the background. Hourly and daily backups, caching, security monitoring, automatic scaling, a global CDN, and site migrations are included. There is also 24/7 support from a team that works with WordPress every day.

Pricing is higher than budget hosting, but that is not really what Pressable is competing with. The value comes from reducing server maintenance while keeping the development tools needed for regular WordPress work. For freelance developers and teams managing several sites, that balance makes Pressable a strong choice.

Further Information:

Pressable Plans & Pricing

• Signature 1: Supports one WordPress site, 30,000 monthly visits, and 20GB of storage. Suitable for developers managing a single business or client site.
• Signature 2: Supports three WordPress sites, 50,000 monthly visits, and 30GB of storage. Useful for developers who manage a small collection of client sites.
• Signature 3: Supports five WordPress sites, 75,000 monthly visits, and 35GB of storage. Offers more room for freelancers maintaining several active WordPress projects.
• Signature 4: Supports ten WordPress sites, 150,000 monthly visits, and 50GB of storage. Excellent for developers and small teams that manage a larger group of websites.
• Signature 5 and Above: Plans increase from 20 to 100 WordPress installations, with higher traffic and storage limits. They are aimed at larger development teams and agencies with many sites.

All data correct as of August, 2026.

Best WordPress Agency Host: SiteGround

SiteGround is our choice for the best WordPress agency host. It combines managed WordPress hosting with tools for building, testing, managing, and handing client websites once a project is complete and launched. GrowBig and GoGeek also allow multiple websites under one account, which makes them better suited to agency work than the single site StartUp plan.

SiteGround handles many routine hosting jobs, including WordPress updates, daily backups, caching, CDN access, SSL, security, and server maintenance. GrowBig and GoGeek also include WordPress staging, while developers have access to SSH, SFTP, WP-CLI, databases, and other common development tools.

The agency tools are the main reason for choosing SiteGround here. Team members can be added as collaborators without sharing the main account login. Finished websites can also be transferred to clients while the agency remains attached as a collaborator. GoGeek adds white label client access, so clients using Site Tools do not see SiteGround branding.

The main drawback is renewal pricing. SiteGround offers large discounts for the first year, but regular rates are much higher. Agencies should use those renewal prices when calculating the long-term cost of hosting client websites.

Further Information:

SiteGround Plans & Pricing

• StartUp: Supports one website, around 10,000 monthly visits, and 10GB of storage. It includes managed WordPress tools, daily backups, caching, CDN access, SSL, and email. The single site limit makes it less useful for agency hosting.
• GrowBig: Supports unlimited websites within its resource limits, around 100,000 monthly visits, and 50GB of storage. It adds more server resources, WordPress staging, on-demand backups, and collaboration tools. This is a good starting point for smaller agencies.
• GoGeek: Supports unlimited websites within its resource limits, around 400,000 monthly visits, and 100GB of storage. It provides more server resources and adds white-label client access, making it the strongest shared hosting plan for agencies managing client websites.

All data correct as of August, 2026.

WordPress.com is our choice for the best WooCommerce host. WooCommerce can now be installed on any paid WordPress.com plan, giving store owners more choice over how much hosting and how many store tools they actually need.

The close connection with WooCommerce is a major advantage. WordPress.com and WooCommerce are both part of Automattic, so the hosting platform is built and supported by people with a deep understanding of WordPress and WooCommerce. This becomes useful when a problem involves the store, WordPress, and the hosting environment.

For larger stores, the Commerce plan includes everything in Business, along with WooCommerce and additional selling tools. This includes real-time backups, staging, SFTP, SSH, database access, payment tools, shipping integrations, automated taxes, product recommendations, and other WooCommerce extensions.

WordPress.com also handles much of the hosting work, including caching, security, updates, SSL, and server management. Store owners can concentrate on products, orders, customers, and sales rather than maintaining the server. It may cost more than basic WooCommerce hosting, but the managed setup makes more sense as a store becomes busier.

Further Information:

WordPress.com Commerce Plans & Pricing

• Personal: WooCommerce can be installed alongside third-party plugins and themes. It provides a low-cost starting point for a very small store, but it does not include the advanced backups, staging, and developer tools available on higher plans.
• Premium: Includes everything in Personal, along with additional design, analytics, SEO, advertising, and monetization tools. WooCommerce can be installed, although growing stores may benefit from the stronger hosting tools available with Business.
• Business: Adds real-time backups, staging, SFTP, SSH, database access, WP-CLI, and other developer tools. WooCommerce can be installed normally, making Business a good choice for store owners who want to build their own WooCommerce setup.
• Commerce: Includes everything in Business and adds WooCommerce with a collection of store tools and extensions. It supports unlimited products and orders, payments, shipping integrations, automated taxes, product recommendations, abandoned cart emails, and other selling tools.

All data correct as of August, 2026.

Best Budget WordPress Host: Bluehost

Bluehost is our choice for the best budget WordPress host. Its lower-priced plans provide the tools needed to run a blog, portfolio, small business site, or other WordPress project without paying the higher monthly cost of premium managed hosting.

WordPress hosting includes managed updates, SSL, CDN access, malware scanning, backups, migration tools, and a domain for the first year. Bluehost also provides a 99.99% uptime SLA and several server locations. WordPress setup and site management are handled through a dashboard aimed at users who may not have much hosting experience.

Starter is the obvious choice for smaller sites, while Business provides more storage, supports more websites, and adds further security and backup tools. Higher performance plans are available when a site needs more resources, so there is room to move beyond the entry-level packages.

The main issue is renewal pricing. Bluehost offers large discounts for the initial term, but the regular price is considerably higher. That needs to be included when comparing it with other budget hosts. For a smaller WordPress site where keeping the initial cost low matters, Bluehost still provides a strong set of hosting tools for the money.

Further Information:

Bluehost Plans & Pricing

• Starter: Supports up to ten websites with 10GB of NVMe storage. It includes managed WordPress updates, CDN access, SSL, malware scanning, weekly backups, migration tools, and a domain for the first year. It is the best fit for blogs and smaller WordPress sites.
• Business: Supports up to 50 websites with 50GB of NVMe storage. It provides more room for growing sites and is better suited to users managing several WordPress installations or a busier business website.

All data correct as of August, 2026.

Most WordPress hosts include more than just server space. Backups, staging sites, caching, CDN access, SSL, security, and migration tools reduce the amount of work needed to maintain a site. A host may advertise backups but run them only weekly, or offer staging only on its more expensive plans.

There is also a difference between a tool being included and it being well connected to the hosting platform. The right setup depends on whether the project needs simple management or greater control.

Developer requirements can be very different from those of someone running a single blog. Staging sites, SSH, SFTP, WP-CLI, Git, database access, logs, and local development tools will save a lot of time. They are also useful when testing updates or tracking down a problem without making changes directly on a live site.

Cloudways provides the greatest server control of the hosts compared here, while Kinsta and Pressable combine strong development tools with a more managed setup. WordPress.com also provides many common development tools on suitable plans. SiteGround covers most everyday development needs, while Bluehost provides enough access for many smaller projects.

The main question is how much control is actually required. More server access is useful for some developers, but it also means taking responsibility for more of the hosting setup.

AI tools are starting to appear in WordPress hosting platforms. Many providers now use it to help monitor websites, detect security threats, improve performance, and simplify routine management tasks. Some platforms also include AI assistants that can answer questions, troubleshoot common issues, or help configure hosting settings.

While these tools can save time, they shouldn’t be the main reason for choosing a host. Performance, reliability, support, and security still matter more. AI is best viewed as a useful addition rather than a replacement for a well-managed hosting platform.

The table below shows how the six hosts in this comparison currently approach AI.

All data correct as of August, 2026.

WordPress.com currently has the most complete AI setup of the hosts compared here. Its AI website builder can create a new WordPress site, while WordPress Agent continues working inside the site after it has been built. It can help with content, layouts, images, pages, and other editing jobs.

The more interesting addition for developers is MCP support. WordPress.com can connect with outside AI agents such as ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and other compatible tools. These agents can read site information and, with permission, carry out tasks such as creating posts, managing content, working with media, and changing site settings. MCP is available across paid WordPress.com plans.

Other hosts are using AI in narrower ways, often concentrating on initial site creation, content generation, or hosting support. Those tools can still be useful, but they should not be a major reason to choose a host on their own. Hosting performance, support, backups, security, development tools, and long-term cost still matter much more.

How to Choose a WordPress Host

Choosing a WordPress host is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make for your website. Your hosting provider affects performance, reliability, security, and how easy your site is to manage. The right host will keep your website running smoothly and give you access to support when you need it.

No hosting plan suits every website. A personal blog has different needs than an online store or an agency managing client sites. Knowing what your website requires before comparing providers will help you narrow your options and avoid paying for services you won’t use.

When comparing hosts, look at uptime, page speed, server locations, backups, staging sites, security, support, and renewal pricing. These factors often matter just as much as the monthly cost.

The articles below cover the main topics involved in choosing a WordPress host. Whether you’re building your first website or moving to a new provider, they’ll help you compare your options and make a confident choice.

WordPress Hosting for Different Needs

Choosing a hosting plan that matches your needs can improve performance, make your website easier to manage, and help you avoid paying for resources you won’t use. As your website grows, you can move to a plan with more storage, power, and management tools.

Whether you’re building your first WordPress website, running an online store, or managing client sites, understanding the strengths of each hosting option will make it easier to choose the right provider.

WordPress Performance & Security

A good hosting provider gives your WordPress website a solid foundation, but hosting is only part of the picture. Your website’s setup, the tools you use, and your security practices all affect performance, reliability, and keeping your visitors safe.

Many WordPress hosts include caching, content delivery networks (CDNs), backups, malware scanning, and SSL certificates. Knowing how these features work will help you get more from your hosting plan. Regular maintenance also helps keep your website running well. Updating WordPress, plugins, and themes, monitoring performance, and following good security practices can prevent many common problems.

The articles below cover the tools and techniques that can improve website speed, strengthen security, and simplify day-to-day management.

Managing Your WordPress Hosting

Launching a WordPress website is only the start. Regular maintenance helps keep your website secure, reliable, and running smoothly. Many hosting providers include tools that simplify routine tasks, but it still helps to understand how they work.

Common tasks include migrating websites, installing SSL certificates, updating PHP, managing domains, restoring backups, and monitoring uptime. Learning these skills will help you solve problems more quickly and get more from your hosting provider.

Whether you’re looking after one website or several client projects, a regular maintenance routine can reduce downtime and keep your websites in good shape.

The articles below cover the most common hosting management tasks and show you how to handle them with confidence.

• When Your WordPress Website Has Outgrown its Hosting

  How do you know when a hosting change is needed? Here are a few things to consider.

• Hosting Your Client’s WordPress Website

  Learn how to avoid common hosting mistakes when hosting WordPress sites for clients.

• Understanding Your Web Host

  Your host may not cover all your needs. Take these steps to ensure your website runs smoothly.

• Building a Performant WordPress Website

  Learn how to boost performance with better hosting, lighter themes, and smart optimzation strategies.

• What To Know About Your Client’s WordPress Website

  We cover what to check first, including themes, plugins, custom code, hosting, and unused tools.

• Add an SSL Certificate to Your WordPress Website

  A quick SSL certificate setup can mean big benefits for your site and visitors.

• WordPress Website Email Issues

  Learn how to test sending, check logs, change the from address, set up SMTP, or use a mail delivery service.

Final Verdict: Which WordPress Host Should You Choose?

WordPress.com is our best overall choice because it works for a broad range of WordPress projects while handling much of the hosting management. It is suitable for blogs, business websites, larger publications, and WooCommerce stores, with access to plugins, themes, staging, backups, security, caching, and development tools on suitable plans.

Kinsta is the better choice for users who want premium managed WordPress hosting and are willing to pay more for it. Cloudways suits established bloggers and publications that want greater control over server resources. Pressable is our choice for developers because its managed platform includes a strong set of WordPress development tools.

SiteGround makes sense for agencies managing several client websites, particularly when collaboration and site management tools are needed. And Bluehost remains the budget choice for smaller WordPress sites where keeping the hosting bill low matters more than having advanced management tools.

No host wins every category because WordPress websites have different requirements. The best option is the provider that has enough performance and resources for the site, includes the tools that will actually be used, and remains affordable after introductory pricing ends. For most WordPress users looking for a balance across those areas, WordPress.com gets our overall recommendation.

WordPress Hosting FAQs

WordPress hosting can look more complicated than it needs to be. Hosting companies use different plan names, prices, limits, and technical terms, even when the services are similar. These answers cover some of the most common questions about choosing and using WordPress hosting.

• What is the best hosting for WordPress?
  WordPress.com is our best overall WordPress host because it combines managed hosting with good performance, security, backups, CDN access, and WordPress support. Kinsta is our choice for managed hosting, Cloudways for bloggers, Pressable for developers, SiteGround for agencies, and Bluehost for smaller budgets.
• How much should WordPress hosting cost?
  Basic WordPress hosting can cost only a few dollars per month, while managed hosting may cost $20 to $50 per month or more. Larger sites and stores can cost considerably more. Always check the regular renewal price because introductory rates can make the first term look much cheaper.
• Do I need managed WordPress hosting?
  No. Smaller blogs, portfolios, and business sites can run well on lower-cost hosting. Managed WordPress hosting becomes more useful for busy sites, stores, and businesses that benefit from automatic backups, security, caching, staging, and WordPress-focused support.
• Can I change WordPress hosts later?
  Yes. WordPress sites can be moved between hosting providers. Many hosts provide migration tools or will move the site for you. Keep the old hosting active until the new site has been checked and the domain is pointing to the new server.
• Does better hosting make WordPress faster?
  Better hosting can improve WordPress performance by providing faster servers, more resources, caching, and CDN access. But hosting cannot fix every problem. Large images, heavy themes, slow plugins, external scripts, and database problems can still make a site slow.
• Is WordPress hosting different from regular web hosting?
  WordPress hosting is web hosting set up with WordPress in mind. It may include WordPress updates, caching, backups, security, staging, WP-CLI, and specialist support. WordPress can also run on regular hosting as long as the server meets its requirements.
• Do I need separate hosting for WooCommerce?
  No. WooCommerce runs on WordPress and does not require a separate type of hosting. But stores can need more server resources because carts, checkout pages, customer accounts, orders, and stock changes create more database activity than a typical WordPress site.
• How much traffic can WordPress hosting handle?
  There is no single number. A cached blog and a busy WooCommerce store can use very different resources even with the same number of visitors. Check the host’s traffic, bandwidth, storage, CPU, memory, and other resource limits before choosing a plan.

Read more articles by Paul Andrew

The post The Best WordPress Hosting in 2026 appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.

Designers, photographers, illustrators, and other creative professionals also have practical requirements. Staging makes it possible to test layout changes privately. Automatic backups protect client work, while collaboration tools can help freelancers and agencies manage several websites. Good support is also valuable when a technical problem interrupts a project or affects a live site.

This collection compares WordPress hosts based on the features that matter most to creatives. These include performance, media handling, storage, theme and plugin support, staging, backups, client management, and long term cost.

Some options are suited to a single portfolio, while others provide the tools needed to manage client websites or run a creative agency. The best choice depends on the type of work being presented and how much control the website owner needs.

Quick Recommendations

Each of these hosts suits a different type of creative website. WordPress.com offers the simplest overall package, while Kinsta and Pressable provide stronger tools for studios and client work. Cloudways gives experienced users more control, and Rocket.net is a good match for image heavy portfolios.

WordPress.com is the best choice for creatives who want managed hosting with little technical maintenance. Kinsta is better suited to established studios that place greater value on performance, staging, and developer tools. Pressable is worth considering when several client websites need to be built, tested, and managed from one account.

Cloudways offers more flexibility but requires greater technical confidence. Rocket.net offers managed performance and a built in CDN for visual websites with an international audience. SiteGround and Hostinger cost less at the start, although their renewal prices are considerably higher.

Prices shown are monthly equivalents based on the billing terms displayed by each provider.

What Creatives Should Look for in WordPress Hosting

Creative websites often contain large images, complex layouts, video, animation, and interactive features. These elements can place more pressure on hosting than a basic blog or small business website.

• Image and media performance: Look for server caching, CDN access, and enough storage for a growing media library. Image compression and support for WebP or AVIF can also help portfolio pages load faster.
• Theme and design tool support: The host should support custom themes and third party plugins. Designers using page builders, animation plugins, or Advanced Custom Fields may also benefit from higher PHP memory and stronger server resources.
• Staging and development tools: Staging allows design changes, theme updates, and new layouts to be tested privately. SFTP, SSH, WP CLI, Git, database access, and PHP controls are also useful for custom and client websites.
• Client and team management: Freelancers and agencies may need collaborator accounts, separate permissions, site cloning, and a central dashboard for managing several projects. Site transfer and billing handover tools can also simplify client delivery.
• Backups and site recovery: Automatic backups provide protection when an update, code change, or plugin conflict causes a problem. Check how often backups are created, how long they are stored, and whether the website can be restored with a single click.
• Pricing and renewal costs: Check the regular renewal rate rather than relying on the introductory price. Storage, traffic, staging, backups, email, and additional websites may depend on the plan, so the cheapest option is not always the best value.

Top WordPress Hosts for Designers & Creatives

1. Best Overall for Creatives: WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a good choice for creatives who want managed hosting without spending much time on server maintenance. Updates, security, backups, caching, and performance tools are handled for you, leaving designers to manage their website through a familiar WordPress dashboard.

The Business plan is the best fit for a professional portfolio or creative business. It includes 50GB of storage, a global CDN, staging, real time backups, and 250GB of separate VideoPress storage. Custom themes and third party plugins are supported, so designers are not limited to the themes and tools supplied. SFTP, SSH, WP CLI, Git commands, and GitHub deployments are also available for more advanced projects.

The main drawback is cost. Each website requires its own plan, which may not suit freelancers or agencies managing a large number of client sites. However, it remains a practical option for individual designers, photographers, illustrators, and creative businesses that want strong performance without dealing with the technical side of hosting.

• Recommended plan: Business.
• Best for: Professional portfolios and creative business websites.
• Key strength: Managed hosting with strong media and development tools.
• Main drawback: A separate plan is required for each website.

Read moreThe joy of art

Further Information:

2. Best for Creative Studios: Kinsta

Kinsta is well suited to established designers and creative studios that need dependable managed hosting for a professional portfolio, company website, or online store. Its platform handles caching, security, backups, and server maintenance, while the MyKinsta dashboard provides access to staging, analytics, redirects, and other WordPress tools.

Every plan includes a global CDN, automatic daily backups, free migrations, application performance monitoring, and malware removal. Designers can create a staging copy before changing a layout, installing a new plugin, or updating a custom theme. Site transfer and user access controls are also useful when a studio works with outside developers or needs to hand a project over to a client.

The main limitation for visual websites is storage. The entry plan includes 10GB, which may be restrictive for a large photography or video portfolio. Visitor, bandwidth, storage, and CDN limits can also lead to additional charges. Kinsta costs more than shared hosting, but its performance and management tools make it a strong option when the website supports an established creative business.

• Recommended plan: Single 20GB
• Best for: Established creative studios and professional portfolios
• Key strength: Managed performance and development tools
• Main drawback: Limited storage on the entry plan

Further Information:

3. Best for Freelance Designers: Cloudways

Cloudways is a good option for freelance designers who want more control than a typical managed WordPress plan provides. Websites run on cloud servers, with Cloudways supplying the dashboard, security tools, caching, backups, staging, and technical support.

The Flexible Micro plan includes 2GB of RAM, one virtual CPU, 50GB of storage, and 2TB of transfer bandwidth. It can host multiple WordPress installations, although every site shares the same server resources. Designers can create staging sites, clone existing projects, change the PHP version, and access files through SFTP or SSH. Monthly and hourly billing also make it possible to increase server resources as client work grows.

Cloudways requires more technical knowledge than WordPress.com or Kinsta. The dashboard includes server settings that may be unfamiliar to less experienced users. Cloudflare Enterprise is a paid addition on Flexible plans, while offsite backup storage is charged separately. Business email is not included. These extra costs need to be considered, but the flexible setup remains useful for freelancers managing several client websites.

• Recommended plan: Flexible Micro
• Best for: Freelance designers managing several websites
• Key strength: Flexible cloud resources and server controls
• Main drawback: More technical than fully managed alternatives

Further Information:

4. Best for Managing Client Websites: Pressable

Pressable is designed for WordPress professionals who build and maintain websites for clients. Its dashboard provides access to production, staging, and sandbox environments, giving designers separate spaces for development, testing, and client review.

The Signature plans include automatic backups, a global CDN, edge caching, free migrations, malware monitoring, and WordPress support. Granular collaborator permissions allow developers, designers, and clients to receive different levels of access. Pressable also provides site templates through DupliKits, which can save time when several projects use the same plugins, theme, or starting configuration.

The Signature 1 plan is suitable for a single client website, while higher plans support several installations. Storage and monthly visits are limited, and additional usage can result in extra charges. Pressable is also more expensive than placing several sites on one shared hosting account. However, its staging, sandbox, cloning, and collaboration tools make it a practical choice for designers who include hosting and maintenance in their client services.

• Recommended plan: Signature 1
• Best for: Designers building and maintaining client websites
• Key strength: Staging, sandbox, and collaboration tools
• Main drawback: Additional charges for storage and visitor overages

Further Information:

5. Best for Small Creative Studios: SiteGround

SiteGround is a practical choice for designers and small creative studios that need to host several websites without paying for each installation separately. Its custom Site Tools dashboard provides access to domains, email, backups, caching, security, and development tools.

The GrowBig plan supports unlimited websites and includes 50GB of storage, a CDN, daily backups, on demand backups, collaborators, and WordPress staging. Designers can test theme and layout changes before publishing them, while collaborator accounts allow clients or team members to access individual websites. Email hosting is included, which can reduce the need for another paid service.

The introductory price is low, but the renewal rate is much higher. SiteGround also uses shared hosting, so demanding WooCommerce sites or portfolios with heavy media libraries may require a more powerful plan. Even so, GrowBig offers a useful balance of storage, development tools, and multiple site support for small studios. Agencies needing Git, white label access, and priority support should consider the GoGeek plan.

• Recommended plan: GrowBig
• Best for: Small creative studios hosting several websites
• Key strength: Multiple websites with staging and collaboration tools
• Main drawback: A large price increase at renewal

Further Information:

6. Best for Portfolio Performance: Rocket.net

Rocket.net is a managed WordPress host built around Cloudflare Enterprise. Its global CDN caches website content closer to visitors, which can improve the delivery of portfolio images, fonts, scripts, and other visual assets to an international audience.

The Starter plan includes one WordPress website, unmetered visitors, 10GB of storage, 50GB of bandwidth, unlimited PHP workers, and a 99.99% uptime guarantee. Security features include a web application firewall, malware protection, and automatic updates. Daily backups are retained for 30 days, while free migrations are available for existing websites.

The 10GB storage allowance is the main concern for photographers and other creatives with large media libraries. Storage overages cost $2 per GB, so images should be resized and compressed before being uploaded. Video should usually be hosted through a separate video platform. Rocket.net is not the cheapest option for a single website, but its CDN, managed security, and straightforward pricing make it a strong choice when portfolio performance matters more than storage capacity.

• Recommended plan: Starter
• Best for: Portfolios serving visitors in several countries
• Key strength: Cloudflare Enterprise CDN included with every plan
• Main drawback: Only 10GB of storage on the Starter plan

Further Information:

7. Best Budget Option: Hostinger

Hostinger offers low cost managed WordPress hosting for designers creating a first portfolio, personal website, or small creative business site. Its custom dashboard handles WordPress installation, updates, backups, domains, email, and other common hosting tasks.

The Unlimited plan is the better choice for creative work. It includes 50GB of NVMe storage, daily backups, a CDN, and support for unlimited websites. One click staging allows designers to test theme updates and layout changes before publishing them. Email accounts, ecommerce support, and AI tools are also included, although some features are only available during the initial contract period.

The advertised monthly price requires payment for 48 months in advance. The plan renews at a much higher rate, so the full contract cost should be considered before signing up. Unlimited website claims are also governed by a fair usage policy, which means the account still has resource limits. Hostinger does not provide the same level of server control or advanced management tools found as other hosts, but it offers useful features for creatives working with a smaller budget.

• Recommended plan: Unlimited
• Best for: New portfolios and budget conscious creative businesses
• Key strength: Generous storage and multiple website support
• Main drawback: The lowest price requires a four year commitment

Further Information:

Performance Tips for Creative WordPress Websites

Good hosting can only do so much if images, video, fonts, and animation are not properly managed. The following steps can help keep a visual WordPress website responsive.

• Resize images to match the largest dimensions at which they will be displayed.
• Use WebP or AVIF files where browser support and image quality allow.
• Compress portfolio images before uploading them to WordPress.
• Use lazy loading so images outside the visible area are not loaded immediately.
• Serve images, scripts, and stylesheets through a CDN.
• Host long or high resolution videos through a dedicated video platform.
• Limit unnecessary font files, background videos, and complex animations.
• Test important portfolio pages on mobile devices and slower connections.
• Monitor storage and bandwidth use as the media library grows.

How the Hosts Were Assessed

Each host was assessed using its published plan details, feature documentation, pricing, and suitability for creative WordPress websites. The recommendations place particular weight on the following factors:

• Performance when serving images and other visual content.
• Storage, bandwidth, and visitor limits.
• Support for custom themes, plugins, and design tools.
• Staging, backups, site cloning, and recovery options.
• Developer access through SFTP, SSH, WP CLI, or Git.
• Tools for managing team members and client websites.
• Introductory pricing, renewal rates, and additional charges.

The final rankings reflect how useful each hosting service is for designers, photographers, freelancers, and creative studios. Pricing and plan limits were checked against the information published by each provider while this article was being prepared.

Final Verdict

WordPress.com is the best overall choice for designers and creatives who want managed hosting with strong media support. The Business plan includes 50GB of storage, separate VideoPress storage, staging, backups, a CDN, and developer tools. It is particularly well suited to professional portfolios and creative business websites.

Kinsta is a stronger option for established studios that value managed performance and detailed site controls. Pressable provides useful staging, sandbox, cloning, and collaboration features for designers maintaining client websites. Cloudways offers more server control and flexible resources, although it requires greater technical confidence.

SiteGround works well for small studios that want to host several websites from one account. Rocket.net is suited to portfolios with an international audience, but its storage limits need careful management. Hostinger is the most affordable option at the start and provides enough storage for a new portfolio, though its long contract and higher renewal rate should be considered.

Read more articles by Paul Andrew

The post Best WordPress Hosts for Designers & Creatives in 2026 appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.

The WordPress project is slowly but surely inching toward responsive block settings. Version 6.9 introduced the Block Visibility feature, allowing you to temporarily disable a block without deleting it from a post. WordPress 7.0 took it a step further by adding options to hide a block based on device.

Perhaps it’s a niche feature. But it’s also quite handy for targeting mobile or desktop users with specific blocks. And it’s also a gateway to more responsive controls landing in WordPress 7.1.

Today’s tip will show you how easy it is to show or hide a block based on a user’s device. Here we go!

Sample Project: Simplify a Hero Area for Mobile Users

Here’s a common scenario: Your website has a large hero area, complete with a high-resolution image, text, and a call to action (CTA). It looks great on a desktop device but is clunky on a phone. The image is too big, and there’s too much text for users to digest. What to do?

The responsive Block Visibility controls will make this a piece of cake. We’ll create two hero areas – one for desktop and another optimized for mobile. The result will be a better user experience for everyone.

Step 1: Create Desktop and Mobile Hero Areas

The first step is to create the two hero areas for our page. We’ll grab one from the WordPress Block Pattern library and see what we can do with it.

Our desktop hero area is beautiful on the big screen! It should also work well on tablets, such as an iPad. However, it may be overwhelming for mobile users.

Let’s simplify. We duplicated the desktop hero and made a few changes:

• We replaced the image with a cropped version that is optimized for smaller screens.
• We centered the text and CTA.
• We replaced the three columns of text with one, shorter passage.
• Finally, we tightened up the spacing to reduce scrolling.

The mobile hero offers the same immersive look without the extra bulk.

Step 2: Assign Hero Areas to Their Respective Devices

As of now, our page has two hero areas, each contained within a Group block. The next step is to set one of them to display on desktop/tablet devices, and the other on mobile. We’ll use the Block Visibility feature to make it happen.

Desktop/Tablet Devices:

• Click on the Desktop Hero block we created.
• Click on the Options menu (⋮) and select Hide Block.
• Choose the Hide on Mobile option.
• Click the Apply button and save the page.

Mobile Devices:

• Click on the Mobile Hero block we created.
• Click on the Options menu (⋮) and select Hide Block.
• We’ll choose two options this time: Hide on Desktop, Hide on Tablet
• Click the Apply button and save the page.

You may notice that the mobile hero no longer displays on the Block Editor canvas. That’s the desired result, as it won’t be in the way when working in Desktop preview mode.

Switch to Mobile preview mode, and you’ll see the opposite effect. The desktop hero is hidden, allowing the mobile version to take over. You can edit these blocks when in the appropriate preview mode.

Note that you can also view and edit these blocks using the Document Overview (List View) feature (Shift+Alt+O). Select the block, click on the Options menu (⋮), and select Show from the menu. You can hide it again once you’re finished editing.

Oh, and be sure to test on different devices! It’s not enough to shrink your desktop’s browser window. You can use your browser’s dev tools to emulate a mobile device if you don’t have one handy.

Use Different WordPress Blocks on Different Devices

It’s often the little extras that make the biggest difference. Targeting different devices via the Block Visibility feature is a prime example. Its release didn’t draw much fanfare. However, it makes WordPress more flexible for designers.

Before WordPress 7.0, we’d have to work around this limitation. That could mean installing a specialized plugin or writing custom CSS rules in a theme. Now, we’re only a few clicks away from choosing which blocks display on a given device.

The feature saves us time, improves the user experience, and won’t hog server resources. Most of all, it’s a sign of things to come for WordPress.

here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.

Read more articles by Eric Karkovack

The post How to Hide WordPress Blocks Based on Device appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.

Much of the excitement around this development surrounds AI’s potential to transform WordPress. It opens the door to easier site management and (hopefully) a better onboarding experience for new users. We’re only beginning to see what this technology can do when combined with the content management system (CMS).

Now that AI integration is available to the masses, the question is: What tasks is AI best-suited for?

You can theoretically use it for everything from changing a post title to generating new plugins on the fly. That’s great, but there are a few considerations.

The first is practicality. We likely don’t need AI to check a box on a settings page for us. Seriously, you could do it yourself in the time it takes to write a prompt. But there are also complex tasks that would be too dangerous or inefficient to perform on a production website.

Then there is the cost of using AI tokens. Connecting your website to for-profit models like Anthropic or OpenAI means paying for every prompt or automation. Thus, using AI for everything isn’t for the budget-conscious among us.

Developers and website owners must decide how to get the most value from AI. Here are a few questions to ask yourself or your client before taking the plunge.

Can AI Do It Better or More Efficiently?

The overlap of what humans and AI can do inside WordPress depends on your experience. A professional who has used the software for years will have more capabilities than a beginner. The longer you use WordPress, the more likely you’ll understand its features and quirks.

So, the trick is to identify what AI can do better or more efficiently than you. Relatively small tasks like inserting an image or formatting text are probably best left to humans. There isn’t much time to be saved unless you’re struggling with the basics.

Advanced jobs, such as creating page layouts in the Block Editor, are where things get murky. Here’s where experience really matters. A web designer may have no problem building layouts, while a novice may become stuck. Therefore, the decision comes down to your comfort level.

On the other hand, AI’s potential to perform tasks at scale is where it shines. For example, maybe you want to find every image on your site without an ALT attribute and implement descriptive text. That could take hours for a human. Meanwhile, you can use AI to search for and identify such images. From there, you can manually write the text or ask for help.

It’s also worth noting that using AI isn’t a replacement for learning. In fact, you can use it to guide you through various tools and processes. You may find that you no longer need AI to do something after it shows you how. That’s a powerful and perhaps underrated use case.

How Often Will I Need the Task?

The frequency of a given task is also a consideration. A one-off task, such as a deep code analysis, could be a wise use of AI. Spending a few tokens may be well worth the time saved when compared to other methods.

Automation is another great example, as it’s available any time you need it. You can run a task in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning – it doesn’t care or complain. AI models can schedule and perform such jobs. There is also the potential for it to recognize changing needs and adjust accordingly.

Perhaps the best measure of value is how much time a task takes a human. Consider creating custom data reports, for example. It can be extremely complicated, depending on the data you need. You can use plain language to describe what you need, and AI will do the rest.

This approach also works at scale. Agencies and freelancers managing dozens or even hundreds of websites can use AI as an extra set of eyes. Even something like troubleshooting a buggy plugin could be performed in the background while you tend to other things.

Is There a Suitable Non-AI Solution?

Here’s the elephant in the room: we don’t need AI to do most things inside of WordPress. As such, the technology may be overkill for some tasks.

There are plugins for virtually every need. They can manage automations, data exports, and everything else under the sun. This is how we got by for the 20-odd years before AI came along.

A non-AI plugin is still a viable option. You’re likely to get the functionality you need, along with cost certainty. There is also a human ready to support you if you run into problems.

However, plugins can’t cover every niche, and they aren’t always easy to use. Some require coding skills to get the most out of them. Using AI makes perfect sense in these scenarios.

The benefits of AI include speed and a seamless experience. But in many cases, a plugin will suffice. It’s a matter of looking at your needs and determining the best fit.

AI in WordPress Is Helpful, but Not Always Necessary

The most interesting part of WordPress AI integration may be in how people decide to use it. The CMS powers all types of websites, from small bespoke blogs to corporate multisite installations. There is a nearly endless supply of use cases.

And using AI in the dashboard could benefit users of all skill levels. The challenge is in finding the tasks that make the most sense for you. It’s a more personal decision than you might think.

Our advice? Experiment with this new tool and think of ways it can help you get more done. Keep track of token usage and determine what’s most valuable to your workflow.

You might find that you’re more productive than ever, or that you can safely hold off on using AI for all the things. It’s your choice!

here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.

Read more articles by Eric Karkovack

The post AI in the WordPress Dashboard: Which Tasks Are Worth It? appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.

There are also plenty of nuances that can impact maintenance. The original developer may have used methods you aren’t familiar with, or that go against best practices. Not to mention that you may be the latest in a long line of others to work on the site. If you’re lucky, you’ll find documentation that explains who did what. Short of that, you’re on your own.

That being said, it’s important to know what you’re working with. That’s the key to bringing the site up to snuff with regards to performance and security. Plus, avoiding breakage is crucial to building strong client relationships.

So, what should you know before you start work? We have a checklist of items to look for. Some are obvious, others obscure, but all will give you a better understanding of what makes your client’s WordPress website tick.

1. The Site’s Active Theme and Plugins

This may seem obvious, but it’s important to know what third-party software is installed on your client’s website. This includes the site’s active theme and plugins. But you’ll want to go deeper than knowing their names.

Take note of each item’s version number and when it was last updated. You may find software that’s outdated or even abandoned by its author. It’s a potentially dangerous situation, as there could be unpatched vulnerabilities lurking beneath the surface. There may be compatibility concerns as WordPress and other dependencies evolve.

You may also identify plugins that are installed but not being used. These items waste resources while also increasing security risks. If you’re unsure of a plugin’s purpose, ask your client.

As for the site’s theme, make a point to inspect its template structure. For example, is it a block or a classic theme? Is a child theme in use? Review the template’s code and determine if there are any areas of concern.

2. Custom Code

Adding custom code can enhance a website’s functionality. The problem is that there are multiple ways to implement it, and there’s no guarantee of quality. And it’s not always apparent when or how it’s being used.

This is critical information to know, as the site may depend on custom snippets for e-commerce features or other key functions. As such, switching themes or deactivating a plugin could cause problems.

The first place to look for custom code is the theme’s functions.php file. It often serves as a catch-all for random snippets. You never know what you might find!

Custom plugins are also a popular spot for such code. If you don’t recognize a plugin by name and it’s not listed in the official repository, there’s a good chance it’s a bespoke project. Also, be sure to look for any must-use plugins in the /wp-content/mu-plugins/ folder.

Once you identify any custom code, you’ll want to inspect it. Your favorite AI model can help you learn more about what it does and help you spot any potential issues.

3.  Web Hosting Provider and Configuration

Web hosting is an important piece of the puzzle, as it impacts site performance, security, and stability. Find out who hosts your client’s website, the hosting package they use, and the server’s configuration.

Pay special attention to the account’s available resources. A hosting package with insufficient memory or CPU cycles will result in slowness or downtime. Shared accounts can also be problematic regarding the spread of malware.

Also, be sure to note which PHP version is running. Old versions are less performant and no longer receive security patches. You’ll want to upgrade, provided the site’s theme and plugins are compatible.

Lastly, ask your client for access to their account, as you’ll need it to manage the server’s configuration and contact technical support. Some hosts provide developer accounts that allow access to technical features only – a good solution for clients who don’t want to share their billing information.

4. Third-Party APIs and Connections

Modern websites often rely on connections to third-party APIs and SaSS providers. It could be something simple, like an analytics suite, social media feed widgets, or a mailing list service. There are also complex integrations with automation tools, payment gateways (particularly on WooCommerce sites), and content delivery networks (CDNs).

Similar to custom code, these connections can be implemented in myriad ways. Some have official plugins, while others may be added via a bespoke web application or directly applied to a theme. In some cases, you may not see any trace of them inside the WordPress admin.

Keep track of every third-party connection you can find, because they may play a critical role in the site’s functionality. At the very least, they impact privacy laws such as GDPR.

Unsure of what outside services the site connects to? Your browser tools’ Network tab will display each call. Privacy scanning tools like Blacklight can also help with spotting tracking scripts, cookies, and related items.

5. Who Manages Their Domain’s DNS

Sometimes, inheriting a WordPress site means moving to a new web host. That usually requires a change to their domain’s DNS configuration. So does connecting to CDNs, mail delivery apps, and services that require domain ownership verification.

It’s good to know where your client’s DNS is hosted and who manages it. For some clients, their internal IT department will handle these tasks. But a small organization may ask you to take charge.

Keep this information on record – you never know when you’ll need it.

The More You Know (About Your Client’s Website)

The beauty of WordPress is that you can build a site any way you see fit. There are very few limits when it comes to code and design. But that knowledge doesn’t always transfer to the next developer in line. Such unfamiliarity makes maintenance harder. You also risk missing something important during a redesign.

So, take some time and dig into the site’s inner workings. Find out where it’s hosted and what services it connects to. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure of something.

The more you know, the better service you can provide. It could save you from a few headaches and help you build trust with your clients.

here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.

Read more articles by Eric Karkovack

The post 5 Things To Know About Your Client’s WordPress Website appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.

It’s risky to apply these features to a production website without proper testing. As such, a staging site is crucial to ensure everything works. This enables you to catch bugs before they impact users. It also allows you to experiment with new features.

What is a staging site? It’s a copy of your production website that lives elsewhere. Common examples include a separate install on your web host or a local installation. The content doesn’t necessarily have to match. However, the site’s theme and plugins should be included to ensure an apples-to-apples comparison.

This guide will introduce you to how staging sites work, ways to implement them, and tools for building them. Soon, you’ll have everything you need to set up the perfect testing environment.

backup plugin to copy your production site and import it locally.

Here are a few tools that you can use to build a local staging environment:

Studio

Studio is a free and open-source local development environment from WordPress.com (a sponsor of Speckyboy). The app uses WordPress Playground to help you create new sites on demand with no dependencies. If you use WordPress.com or Pressable for hosting, you can also sync your local sites.

Local

Local offers one-click WordPress installations and a host of other goodies. You can use SSH or WP-CLI to manage your sites via the command line, create live links to share with others, and hot-swap PHP versions for testing. The app also syncs with sites hosted on Flywheel and WP Engine.

MAMP and XAMPP

We’ll lump these two apps together, as they are similar in scope. Both are local server environments that work on multiple operating systems. XAMPP will install an Apache/MariaDB/PHP/Perl stack. MAMP lets you choose from Apache or NGINX, along with a MySQL/PHP/Perl/Python/Ruby stack. Consider them both a bit more hands-on than the other local apps in this roundup.

WordPress Staging Plugins

Finally, we’ll introduce you to some plugins that will help you create a staging environment. Some will create a separate WordPress install on your existing host, while others connect to third-party services. You’ll also find plugins that pack up your site so that you can upload it elsewhere.

WP STAGING

WP Staging provides flexibility for how and where to create a staging environment. The plugin will clone your site to a subdirectory on your existing host. But you can also download a package to use locally or remotely. It also doubles as a daily backup plugin.

WPvivid

Create a custom site backup with WPvivid and migrate it to a subdirectory on your web host or other remote server. You can even send your site’s files to cloud services like Amazon S3, DigitalOcean Spaces, Dropbox, and Google Drive. There’s also a 1-click restore feature for rolling your site back to a previous version.

InstaWP Connect

InstaWP is a WordPress cloud service for rapid site building and deployment. You can use the InstaWP Connect plugin to copy your production website to the platform. From there, you can sync content between environments – perfect for testing new items before launch. Note that you’ll need an InstaWP account to use their service.

BlogVault

You can use BlogVault to create a staging backup to their cloud service. Make changes on staging and merge them back to your production site. The plugin also supports migrating your site to another host and will create incremental backups as you make changes. Note that BlogVault offers a 7-day free trial – you’ll need to pay for long-term access.

A Better Way To Test WordPress

A staging environment is a must-have for any mission-critical WordPress website. It’s a safe place for testing, troubleshooting, and experimenting. In addition, it provides peace of mind in knowing your work won’t negatively impact users.

The tools above will give you a great start, but some go the extra mile. Features such as site syncing and backup restoration make your job that much easier. The more automation you can bring to the process, the better.

Don’t take chances with your live website! Staging environments have never been easier to build and use. Find the tool that fits your needs and create your own personal safety net.

here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.

Read more articles by Eric Karkovack

The post Best WordPress Staging Site Tools & Resources in 2026 appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.

There is one valuable thing that WordPress blocks left behind, however: code commenting. They’re common when building custom PHP templates and writing CSS. We use them to provide context for what a code snippet does or why it was implemented.

There are times when that extra context is useful in the Block Editor. For example, you might want to share information about a block with clients or colleagues. Perhaps it’s locked or requires a specific setting to display correctly. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves why we did something.

That’s where the WordPress Notes feature comes in handy. Use it to add notes to specific blocks and even keep a threaded conversation. It’s another way to improve your editorial workflow and provide a quick reference for users.

Here’s a look at how the feature works. We’ll show you how to add and retrieve notes to any block on your site. In addition, we’ll share a few tips and hidden gems worth knowing about.

Sample Project: Let’s Collaborate With Blocks

The WordPress Notes feature is part of the larger Gutenberg Collaboration phase. At the very least, it’s a way to add reminders or have an asynchronous discussion with other site users. That second part is what we’ll focus on here.

We’ll simulate a discussion of colleagues regarding a Group block. We promise it will be quick and easy!

Step 1: Choose a Block

The first step is to open a page or post in the Block Editor and select a block. We’ll choose a Group block at the top of the page. We want to discuss its styling with a colleague.

Step 2: Add a Note

Now that we know which block we want to discuss, it’s time to add a note.

1. Click on the Options menu (⋮) and select Add note.
2. A note dialog appears on the right side of the screen. We can add our note in this space.
3. Click the Add note button to save the note.

For reference, we asked if our Group block should have a background color to stand out from the rest of the content.

Next, we’ll wait for our colleague to reply to our note. When they click the block in question, they’ll see a user avatar that indicates a note is available.

Step 3: Our Colleague Replies

Here’s a handy feature: WordPress will send you an email when someone replies to your note (it’s based on the existing comment system). As such, we don’t have to keep checking our page for the latest news.

Our colleague replied to our note and acted on our design suggestion. When we visit the page, we notice that their avatar has also been added to the block’s note notification.

Step 4: Reply and Resolve

We love what our colleague did to dress up the Group block on the page. The last steps are to reply and mark the note as resolved.

To resolve the note, we’ll click the checkmark on the upper right of the dialog. Keep in mind that the note will stay in place unless we manually delete it from the block.

An Easy Way To Collaborate in WordPress

The WordPress Notes feature is a great way to relay information to others or remind yourself of something important. And it will continue to be enhanced as more collaborative features are added to the content management system (CMS).

Even better, you don’t need a plugin to get started – it’s already built into WordPress. That being the case, there are ways to customize the experience. We recommend checking out this guide to tapping into that potential.

Whether you’re part of a team or working solo, give WordPress Notes a try. You may wonder how you lived without it!

here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.

Read more articles by Eric Karkovack

The post Quick Tip: How To Use WordPress Block Notes appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.

Sure, building a custom plugin has always been an option. That’s fine for scenarios that require a code snippet. However, complex tasks were reserved for highly-skilled developers. This meant that most of us had to settle for whatever was available on the market.

AI has swooped in to change that calculus. Advanced models like Claude Code enable even novice developers to build powerful, multi-layered projects. These days, it’s more about knowing what to ask for than understanding every line of code. We now have a tool that does the heavy lifting for us.

This technological shift gives new life to an old question: Should you use an existing plugin or build one yourself? AI certainly expands the potential scope of what’s possible, thus calling into question the need for third-party tools.

But don’t go on a vibe-coding rampage just yet! There are some important considerations when making this decision. Let’s talk about them.

Which Approach Best Fits Your Needs?

There are tens of thousands of WordPress plugins on the market. Some utility-based options are very niche, but most plugins are built to serve a broad range of use cases. Product makers must account for the many ways people use WordPress.

The downside of that approach is that a plugin might be more than what you need, or fall short in some areas. The old “too much or not enough” conundrum has long been a part of the plugin experience.

Building a plugin with AI, on the other hand, lets you narrow the focus. You can include only the features and functionality your project needs.

For example, let’s say you need a feature that only applies to one WooCommerce product. There is probably a third-party extension to fit this purpose. But a single-purpose plugin could do the same thing without the overhead or the cost of a yearly renewal. AI makes the process quick and easy.

On the other hand, needs evolve during a project’s lifecycle. Perhaps your client will need similar functionality on more products down the line. A vibe-coded solution may not be quite as flexible in that case. You may need to refactor the plugin to meet new requirements.

As such, it’s important to consider your current and future needs. If scope creep is a concern, a third-party plugin may be a better choice.

Do You Want the Maintenance Responsibilities?

An existing WordPress plugin may not solve your every need. However, it takes you off the hook regarding future maintenance. It’s the plugin author’s responsibility to fix bugs and build new features.

Naturally, that’s a double-edged sword. Some product makers are more responsive to issues than others. In addition, more than a few plugins have been abandoned over the years. And sometimes a product goes in a direction you don’t support. You don’t want to be left to pick up the pieces or placate clients when there’s a problem.

It’s all about control and responsibility. If your project (or personality) requires absolute control, then building it yourself makes sense. That way, you know what’s going on every step of the way. You don’t have to wait for someone else to take action.

Still, we should note that vibe coding plugins result in a higher level of responsibility. It means checking for security holes, compatibility testing, and acting as your own technical support staff. The practice puts everything back into your capable hands.

Kudos to you if this fits with your philosophy! To be safe, we also suggest thinking about how these responsibilities scale. Maintaining a single plugin for a client is one thing. The upkeep of dozens of plugins spread over dozens of websites is another. Make sure you have processes in place to keep things running smoothly.

Can You Build It Better?

The final consideration on our list is simple. The idea is that just because you can build something with AI, it doesn’t mean you should do so. Sometimes, there are established products that do the job well enough. Why reinvent the wheel?

The scope and depth of a plugin play a role here. Consider a popular plugin like Jetpack. It does a lot of things and has been around for a long time. Sure, you could vibe code your own suite of similar functions. However, ask yourself if you want to take on a project of that magnitude, or if it’s even worth the effort. The same could be said for Yoast SEO, Gravity Forms, and other flagship products.

That being said, you could reasonably use AI to recreate specific aspects of a plugin. For example, building a social sharing plugin that includes a few of the missing features you want. Smaller and more focused projects are better in most cases. And there’s also an opportunity to build your own extensions of an existing plugin.

There are also scenarios when your needs are very specific, and there aren’t any great options available. It’s here where vibe coding really begins to shine. You can take your idea to your favorite AI model and build it from scratch. It’s empowering for those working with clients!

The bottom line is to use AI when it’s beneficial. You might be able to build the next WooCommerce, but what’s the payoff? Instead, look for opportunities that help you level up.

There Are Endless Plugin Options and Opportunities

The WordPress plugin ecosystem has an answer for many project requirements. It’s one reason why the content management system (CMS) has remained so popular. Adding more capabilities has always been a few clicks away.

The introduction of AI into the development process has expanded those possibilities even further. If an existing plugin doesn’t do everything you need, it’s easier than ever to build your own solution. In many cases, AI works quickly and is cost-effective. It helps us provide clients with more personalized functionality.

All of this makes deciding to go custom more compelling. AI lowers the bar for building complex features. Sometimes that means fewer advantages for existing products.

Still, vibe coding isn’t always the best option. It comes with a higher level of responsibility and adds to your long-term maintenance list. Plus, there are questions about code safety and stability. AI doesn’t necessarily reduce those risks.

The good news is that you have a world of choices. We hope the considerations above help you make the right one!

here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.

Read more articles by Eric Karkovack

The post A New Choice: Use an Existing Plugin or Vibe Code Your Own? appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.

WordPress Freelancers and agencies often do more than design and development. A full-service company may also maintain and host its clients’ websites.

Providing web hosting has several benefits for freelancers. First, it’s a vehicle to add recurring revenue to your business via reselling or an affiliate program from an established host. That steady flow of money can improve your financial health.

You’ll also have more control over each site’s environment. That helps ensure compatibility and keeps things running smoothly. Plus, you’ll know what to expect regarding performance, security, and support.

However, hosting client sites is also a serious responsibility. It puts you on the hook for technical difficulties. In addition, managing multiple WordPress websites is challenging. One false move could mean a string of crashed or hacked sites.

With that in mind, we have some tips for hosting your client’s WordPress websites. We’ll show you how to keep a watchful eye on each site without breaking your budget.

insanely cheap to, well, insanely expensive. It’s tempting to go the inexpensive route with a shared hosting account.

Hosts often allow multiple WordPress installs on an account. It makes sense from a business perspective. You pay for a couple of hosting packages and run all of your client sites on them.

This strategy has a couple of serious flaws. The first is that server downtime could impact every site you host. It’s bad enough when one site is down, let alone a few dozen.

Malware is the other major concern. Malicious code can easily spread from one site to another in a shared hosting environment. Once a site is compromised, it’s only a matter of time until the others are hit.

The lesson here is to keep each website on a separate hosting account. Make sure your host isolates sites via a container or other barrier. That will help prevent a security nightmare. Again, it’s easier to deal with one hacked site than having multiple infections.

And it doesn’t have to be inconvenient. Many hosts offer a centralized dashboard to access each site, and there are also third-party services that do the same.

Lock Down Your WordPress Installs

On many hosts, the famous “5-minute WordPress install” has been replaced with a one-click process. Still, older sites may have been installed manually via SFTP. Thus, it’s important to check each install to verify its integrity.

WordPress file permissions are an area of concern. For instance, allowing public access to the site’s wp-config.php file is an invitation to hackers. The file includes your database login and other sensitive information. A lot of damage can be done if it falls into the wrong hands.

The WordPress developer documentation has a handy guide for setting the correct file permissions. Follow its advice and ensure files only have the required permissions.

You might also want to disable file editing within the WordPress dashboard. That will prevent a malicious actor (or adventurous client) from editing theme or plugin files.

Add the following line to each site’s wp-config.php file: define( 'DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true );

Other ways to secure the sites you host:

The goal is to enhance each site’s security, which provides peace of mind for you and your clients.

Ensure You Have Enough Server Resources

Every website you host will have different needs. For example, a brochure site’s functionality isn’t as complex as a WooCommerce shop. Plus, some will inevitably receive more traffic.

That’s why hosting is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Hosts offer tiered services that account for storage and bandwidth. They may also limit the number of domains, dashboard users, or site visitors. Crossing these thresholds can be costly.

Also, pay attention to server resources like memory, CPU cycles, and PHP workers. Shared hosting environments don’t usually guarantee a minimum. More expensive accounts, such as VPS and dedicated servers, assign these resources to your account.

It pays to understand what your host offers and how it impacts your websites. A site with too few resources won’t perform well and may break. Meanwhile, hosting a small site on a higher tier could be wasteful.

You can avoid problems by assessing each site you host. Pay particular attention to the following factors:

• Monthly traffic (via Google Analytics or other apps);
• Security risks (online transactions, user accounts);
• The amount of content;
• Special functionality (shopping carts, members-only areas, resource-intensive plugins);

Site stability, performance, and security are vital to success. Using the right hosting will go a long way toward ensuring it.

Keep an Eye Out for Hosting Changes

We know that WordPress, themes, and plugins all require regular maintenance. That’s something we often manage for our clients. But hosts also maintain their infrastructure.

A host will apply new software versions and security patches to their servers. They’ll also upgrade hardware from time to time. You’ll want to know when this happens.

PHP upgrades are a prime example. An outdated theme or plugin could be incompatible with the latest version, which leads to a buggy or broken site.

Staying in the know can help prevent these types of issues. Web hosts often announce maintenance plans ahead of time. They may publish to a blog, add a dashboard alert, or send an email.

Make an effort to inform yourself of what’s happening. It can save you from a future headache or two.

Be a Good Host

Hosting your client’s WordPress websites keeps you in the loop. You’ll be able to watch over each site and ensure its health. It’s also a path to making some extra money.

When things run smoothly, the burden on your time should be minimal. Ensuring things stay that way is part of the job, though.

The first step is to choose your hosting provider wisely. Look for a host that follows best security practices and has a deep understanding of WordPress. They should also offer enough resources to run each site without issue.

From there, it’s all about being proactive with the sites in your portfolio. Keep them updated and take extra security measures. In other words: control the things you can.

Some things are beyond our control. We can’t predict downtime or a host being sold. However, we can put ourselves and our clients in a position to succeed. We hope the tips above will help you get there.

here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.

Read more articles by Eric Karkovack

The post Tips for Hosting Your Client’s WordPress Website appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.

Adopting this technology has significantly changed our role. It’s no longer about poring over each line of code. Now, we’re closer to a symphony conductor, orchestrating projects as a large language model (LLM) does the dirty work.

We can certainly appreciate the increase in productivity. Fewer moments spent knee-deep in documentation or support forums means more time to get things done.

This also makes it tempting to remove humans from the picture. Some agencies and development shops have cut staffing in favor of AI. It makes sense on a few levels. An AI tool is cheaper than an employee or freelancer. And the gains in efficiency mean one person can do the work of many.

But there’s a fine line between increasing output and relying too heavily on AI. Here’s why humans should still be a part of the process.

Knowledgeable Humans Are Essential for Quality Assurance

There’s something to be said for a well-trained eye. A seasoned developer can envision how an app should work. Their experience helps them effectively structure projects and avoid common pitfalls. They understand the importance of performance and security.

On the other hand, AI models are great at generating code, but they don’t think like a human. They may use techniques that aren’t as efficient for a particular purpose. They can also misinterpret what we’re asking them to do. Like their human counterparts, AI tools aren’t perfect.

Even the most advanced coding tools can make mistakes. It could be as simple as a syntax error. However, they may also produce work that doesn’t account for edge cases or future maintenance.

That’s why a human should carefully review all AI output. Generated code should be tested with a mix of manual observation and automated tools. It’s no different than a senior-level developer keeping a watchful eye on what their team is producing.

Remember, automation isn’t an excuse to lower your standards. If anything, it provides an opportunity to squash bugs and refine functionality. Building with AI works best when done in tandem with a knowledgeable person.

Developers Can Shift Their Focus to the Bigger Picture

Solo developers and teams alike have traditionally struggled with the little things. Tight deadlines and shoestring budgets make it hard to get the details right. So often, it’s a race to the finish line, rather than a quest to create the best possible result.

The details are often what make a WordPress plugin or theme great. This happens when we go beyond software that merely works and focus on things like the user experience. AI gives us a chance to take a larger view of our projects.

We no longer have to write code by hand. That may bring a tear to your eye (or make you leap for joy). The bright side is that you now have time to create a comprehensive plan for each project. You can define how it looks, how it works, and how it will adapt to future needs. Even if you were doing these things before, you’ll have a chance to think bigger and better.

All of a sudden, deadlines are a little less important. You’re free to explore options and test them. Most of all, you can afford to make a mistake or two along the way. Rewriting a code snippet isn’t a disaster that puts you behind. Rather, it was just a failed experiment you encountered along the way.

The additional room for creativity could be a difference-maker. We can go from “we’ll get to it later” to “let’s get it right from the start” – that’s powerful for developers of all stripes.

People and AI Are Better Together

Every WordPress developer should be exploring AI and how it can benefit their workflow. We’re well beyond the point where it’s just a curiosity. The future of our industry depends on how we use and adapt to this technology.

The sad truth is that AI will continue to cause some businesses to reduce their staff. It seems like an unavoidable consequence.

We must be careful, though. To borrow from WordPress terminology, this doesn’t mean we should cut people out of the loop. Humans are still integral to building great software. As such, we shouldn’t cede everything to the machines quite yet.

Things like quality control and holistic thinking are too important – and it’s what we do best. We should use AI as a vehicle to put those traits into action. Doing so will put us on a path to greater efficiency and better outcomes.

here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.

Read more articles by Eric Karkovack

The post Why Humans Should Still Be a Part of WordPress Development appeared first on The NOKIA Blog.