When I first started building WordPress websites, tracking visitor data just meant installing Google Analytics and calling it a day.

But times have changed. With new privacy regulations, using cookies to collect personal information without user consent can lead to legal headaches and lost visitors.

I’ve helped several WordPress site owners transition to cookie-free analytics solutions that still provide powerful insights. After testing numerous options and implementing them across various types of websites, I’ve identified the most effective approaches.

In this guide, let me show you two ways to add analytics while respecting your visitors’ privacy. One uses a privacy-first setup for Google Analytics (which uses first-party cookies), and the other is a cookieless option.

Do I Really Need Cookieless Analytics?

You’ve probably heard a lot about cookies and privacy laws. But what does it all really mean for your WordPress website’s analytics? Let me break it down.

Cookies are small pieces of data that are stored on a user’s browser when they visit a website.

Traditional analytics tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4) use these cookies to track visitor behavior. This includes details like which pages they visit, how long they stay, and what actions they take.

All this data helps site owners better understand their audience and improve their websites.

🚨 Here’s the challenge: New privacy laws, like the GDPR, CCPA, and ePrivacy, require websites to ask for explicit user consent before tracking with cookies. Because of this, many website owners think they must switch to cookie-free analytics to stay compliant.

However, that’s not actually true!

You can still track important data with Google Analytics while staying compliant with privacy laws.

Why “Cookieless” Google Analytics 4 is the Best Option

When it comes to website analytics, Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is still the best and most powerful tool available – and that’s true for all types of websites. So, if you want accurate insights into your visitors’ behavior, GA4 is the way to go.

But before we start, let’s clear up a common misunderstanding: GA4 does not rely on third-party cookies. Instead, it uses first-party cookies, which are set by your own website to collect data about your visitors’ activity on your WordPress site only.

In contrast, third-party cookies are set by external services (like ad networks) and track users across multiple websites. Because of their broader tracking scope, they raise more privacy concerns and are being phased out by many browsers.

Now, you might be wondering: “Since GA4 still uses cookies – even if they’re first-party – can it be used in a way that complies with privacy laws?”

The answer is yes!

However, do note that Google Analytics itself isn’t automatically compliant or non-compliant. It’s your responsibility to use it in a way that follows the rules that apply to you.

Plus, whether you need cookie consent for Google Analytics depends on several factors. They can be where you and your visitors are located, and how you handle their data.

Since cookie consent laws differ by country (even within the EU), some websites must ask users to consent to specific cookies, while others need a banner for any cookie use.

To help with this, I’ll show you how to pair GA4 with:

✅ MonsterInsights with the EU Compliance addon – This helps ensure your data handling aligns with GDPR and other privacy regulations.

✅ WPConsent cookie banners – These help you request and manage user consent the right way.

With these tools in place, you can continue using GA4 in a way that supports compliance with privacy laws. This helps you gather valuable insights while reducing the risk of legal issues.

How to Add WordPress Analytics Without Cookies

Now that I’ve covered what cookieless tracking is and whether you really need it, let’s talk about how to set it up on your WordPress site.

There are 2 solid options to do this:

1. GA4 + MonsterInsights EU Compliance addon – Track user behavior with GA4 while staying compliant with privacy laws like GDPR. It uses first-party cookies and offers configurable settings for stronger privacy. Ideal for getting detailed insights with easy website integration.
2. Burst Statistics – Let’s you set up analytics without cookies. It stores data on your server and offers a hybrid mode with optional cookies.

I will cover both methods in our tutorial, along with some extra tips and FAQs about cookieless tracking.

Feel free to use the jump links below to go to your preferred method:

Ready? Let’s break it down.

Method 1: How to Set Up WordPress Cookieless Analytics (Keep Using GA4 for the Best Insights)

This method is for if you want access to powerful analytics while still respecting user privacy. I’ll be using MonsterInsights alongside WPConsent to set up cookieless tracking.

Step 1: Install MonsterInsights to Set Up Cookieless Analytics

MonsterInsights is the most popular Google Analytics plugin for WordPress, and for a good reason: it makes viewing your Google Analytics data in WordPress incredibly easy.

At WPBeginner, we use it to track traffic sources, visitor demographics, and conversion rates on our forms, buttons, referral links, and more. Check out our complete MonsterInsights review for a deeper look at its features.

So, let’s first install and activate the MonsterInsights plugin. For details, you can see this guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Connect MonsterInsights to Google WordPress Analytics

Once you have MonsterInsights up and running, it’s time to connect it to your site and your Google Analytics account.

You can click the ‘Insights’ tab in the left-hand menu of your WordPress dashboard.

Next, just click the ‘Launch the Wizard’ button to start the MonsterInsights setup process.

On the next screen, you’ll need to pick a category that best describes your website.

This can be a WordPress blog, business site, or online store.

Just hit ‘Save and Continue’ after you make your choice.

After that, you’ll need to connect MonsterInsights to your website’s Google Analytics account.

Simply click the ‘Connect MonsterInsights’ button to begin the process.

In the next steps, you’ll have to sign in to your Google Analytics account and select the website you want to track.

MonsterInsights will then install Google Analytics on your site – easy as that!

For details, you can see this guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.

Step 3: Install the MonsterInsights EU Compliance Addon

Since GA4 still uses first-party cookies, you need to make sure that your tracking complies with GDPR. The MonsterInsights EU Compliance addon makes this easier by automating key privacy settings in GA4.

Some of its essential features include:

• Anonymizing IP addresses to prevent personal data storage.
• Disabling the tracking of user demographics, interests, and User IDs.

To install the addon, you can navigate to Insights » Addons.

Here, go ahead and click the ‘Install & Activate’ button to install the EU Compliance addon.

After that, you can switch the toggle to activate the addon when it appears.

Upon activation, let’s go to the ‘Settings’ menu.

In the ‘Engagement’ tab, simply toggle the ‘Enable EU Compliance’ setting to turn it on.

We also recommend verifying the settings directly in GA4 to ensure your GA4 setup aligns with your MonsterInsights privacy settings.

For example, to make sure your GA4 doesn’t track demographics, you can navigate to your GA4 ‘Admin’ panel.​

Next up, you’ll want to locate the ‘Data collection and modification’ setting.

Then, simply click the ‘Data collection’ option.

Now, in the ‘Google signals data collection’ settings, you should make sure it’s disabled.

Why does this matter? Google Signals collects extra user data, including:

• Demographics & Interests – Age, gender, and hobbies.
• Location & Engagement – User locations (from Google accounts).
• Cross-Device Tracking – Identifies users as they switch between devices.
• Cross-Platform Reports – How users interact across devices.
• Ad Personalization Data – Connects with Google Ads for remarketing.

If it’s already off, then you should see the option to ‘Turn On’ like this:

You might also want to review your data retention settings.

Data retention controls how long GA4 stores user-level and event-level data before automatically deleting it. A shorter retention period can help with GDPR compliance and privacy regulations.

To do this, you can go to Data collection and modification » Data retention from the ‘Admin’ menu.

On the next screen, you’ll see options to set the event and user data retention period.

You can click the ‘Data retention’ dropdown menus for both event and user data. Then, for stricter compliance, simply choose the ‘2 months’ option.

Don’t forget to click ‘Save’ when you’re done adjusting.

To learn more about all things GA4, you can check out our beginner’s guide on how to use Google Analytics 4.

Step 4: Set Up the WPConsent Cookie Consent Plugin

Using Google Analytics 4 while complying with laws like GDPR and CCPA means you need to get user consent before tracking. And that responsibility falls on you.

Whether consent is required depends on where your business is based, where your users are located, what data you collect, and how it’s used. Plus, rules vary widely across countries, even within the EU, with some requiring consent for specific cookies and others for any type.

Instead of handling this manually yourself, you can use WPConsent to simplify compliance.

This powerful plugin lets you display a cookie consent banner, log user choices, and control when tools like GA4 are allowed to run — all within WordPress.

At WPBeginner (and some of our partner brands), we use WPConsent, and it’s been a reliable solution for managing privacy settings. Explore all of its features in our complete WPConsent review!

So, let’s start by installing the WPConsent plugin. If you need help, then you can see this beginner’s guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, let’s activate the license key.

To do this, you’ll need to go to WPConsent » Settings. After that, simply copy the license key from your WPConsent account and paste it into the ‘License Key’ field.

Then, go ahead and click the ‘Activate Key’ button.

With that done, let’s navigate to ‘Dashboard’ to go through the setup wizard.

Go ahead and click on the ‘Let’s Get Started’ button.

On the next screen, WPConsent will run a scan to see if your site is using cookies.

First, it will ask you to check your site’s email address.

If everything looks good already, then you can click ‘Scan Your Website.’

This will trigger the tool to start the cookie scan.

Once done, you’ll see a ‘Scan completed’ notification along with a short report on the tool’s findings. For example, here it says that WPConsent found 4 services on our site that have set cookies.

Let’s click on ‘OK’ to continue the process.

Next up, you’ll see your WordPress site’s scan results in more detail.

On my demo site, the services that use cookies are WordPress login (this might be because of the ‘Remember Me‘ option), WordPress Comments, Google Analytics, and Matomo.

Make sure that you select all the services. Then, you should also check the box that says ‘Prevent known scripts from adding cookies before consent is given.’

With that done, go ahead and click the ‘Auto-Configure selected’ button.

After that, WPConsent will prompt you to set up your cookie banner.

The process is super simple. You just need to choose a layout and pick a position.

Then, you can scroll down the page to preview your cookie consent banner.

If everything looks good to you, it’s time to click the ‘Save & Complete Setup’ button.

And you’re done!

Now, if you visit your website, you’ll see your cookie consent banner in action.

👉 Expert Tip: Adding a link to your privacy policy page in the cookie banner helps build trust with your visitors and align with legal requirements. If you don’t have one yet, then check out our tutorial on how to add a privacy policy page in WordPress.

After setting it up, you can embed the link into your cookie banner from the WPConsent editor.

Just navigate to WPConsent » Banner Design from your admin area. Then, you can edit the text in the ‘Message’ field to include the link to your Privacy Policy page.

Don’t forget to click the ‘Save’ button so you don’t lose your progress.

And here’s your cookie banner:

Step 5: Access Consent Logs to Verify Your Privacy Settings

WPConsent has a ‘Consent Logs’ section that provides a detailed record of how visitors interact with your site’s cookie consent popup.

To see your logs, go ahead and navigate to WPConsent » Consent Logs from your WordPress admin area.

Here, you’ll find a table with all your users’ consent details.

For example, I have a user who accepted all cookies – essential, statistics, and marketing.

And that’s it – you’ve successfully set up Google Analytics with enhanced privacy settings while still using cookies.

Method 2: How to Set Up WordPress Analytics Without Cookies (Free Option with Less Data Accuracy)

If you’re looking to track analytics without cookies, then Burst Statistics is a great option. This free plugin makes the process pretty simple.

Keep in mind that Burst Statistics uses a technique called fingerprinting. It’s a way to identify a computer or device based on its unique characteristics, like the browser, operating system, and installed fonts, even without using cookies.

While it’s generally considered less intrusive than cookies, it’s still a form of tracking, so it’s good to be aware of it.

Now, let’s take a look at how you can set it up on your WordPress site.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Burst Statistics Plugin on WordPress

To get started, you need to install and activate the free Burst Statistics plugin. Simply navigate to Plugins » Add New Plugin from your admin area.

After that, you’ll want to use the search feature to quickly find the plugin. Then, go ahead and click the ‘Install Now’ button.

Then, you should click once again on the ‘Activate’ button when it appears. If you need help, then you can check out this guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Configure Settings for Optimal Performance and Privacy

Upon plugin activation, you can enable analytics without cookies straight away.

All you have to do is navigate to Statistics » Settings from your WordPress admin area. Then, let’s make sure you’re in the ‘General’ tab.

From here, simply switch on the ‘Enable Cookieless tracking’ option like this:

And that’s it – you’ve successfully set up WordPress analytics without cookies on your website.

Step 3: Verify if Your Analytics Are Working Properly

Unlike the more traditional approach, analytics without cookies avoids storing personal data, like IP addresses or other user identifiers. Instead, it provides anonymized, aggregated data.

That said, it’s important to note that some methods still involve data collection. This may carry privacy implications depending on how they’re implemented.

To see if your analytics are working properly, you need to go to the ‘Statistics’ menu. On the next screen, you’ll immediately find your visitors and pageviews graph for the last seven days.

To see the statistics in detail, you can scroll down this page.

Here, you might notice that your sessions are counted differently.

In traditional analytics, cookies track when a visitor starts and ends a session. If the same person comes back within a certain time frame (usually 30 minutes), it’s counted as the same session.

In analytics without cookies, returning users cannot be recognized within that window. Instead, each visit is treated as a new session, even if it occurs shortly after the last one.

🤔 What does this mean for your reports? You may see a higher number of sessions than usual because visitors who leave and return within a short period won’t be grouped into a single session.

Further down the page, Burst Statistics provides a dedicated ‘Pages’ report that shows how pageviews are distributed across your site.

For example, if your ‘Compare’ report shows 9 pageviews, then you can see that 3 views came from the ‘Career’ page, 2 views from the ‘Login’ page, and so on.

FAQs About Cookieless WordPress Analytics

Still have questions? Let’s clear up some common concerns about tracking website data without cookies.

Why do websites need cookies?

Cookies store small amounts of data to remember user preferences, track user behavior, and improve the user experience. Many analytics tools use cookies to identify returning visitors and track interactions over time.

How can I add analytics to my WordPress site?

In short, you can add analytics to your WordPress site using tools like MonsterInsights, Matomo, or HubSpot.

I recommend MonsterInsights because it makes installing Google Analytics in WordPress easy. It gives you all your GA4 data in easy-to-understand reports directly in your WordPress dashboard.

For details, see this guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.

Do all websites with analytics need cookie warnings?

No. If your analytics solution doesn’t store personally identifiable information (PII) or track users across sessions using cookies, then you don’t need a cookie consent banner. This is why many site owners switch to analytics without cookies.

For example, Burst Statistics is a privacy-focused analytics tool that uses fingerprinting techniques. Instead of storing cookies, it analyzes non-personal browser and device data to differentiate visitors.

Keep in mind that while this approach is technically cookieless, it is still a form of data collection that may have privacy considerations.

Will cookieless analytics affect data accuracy?

It depends on the tool you use.

Cookieless tracking may not capture user journeys in as much detail, but it still provides accurate insights into overall traffic, page views, and engagement.

Many modern cookieless analytics tools use fingerprinting techniques or server-side tracking to improve accuracy. While these methods minimize cookie usage, they still collect data in other ways, which may raise concerns about privacy.

Can I switch back to traditional analytics if needed?

Yes, most analytics solutions allow you to switch between cookieless and traditional tracking. However, if you start using cookies again, then you may need to add a cookie consent banner to comply with privacy laws.

Further Reading 📚: More WordPress Analytics Guides

I hope this article has helped you learn how to add WordPress analytics without cookies.

Want to dive deeper into WordPress analytics? Check out these guides to track and understand your website’s performance more effectively:

• How to Set Up Google Analytics Goals
• How to See Search Analytics in WordPress
• How to Easily See Your Blog Stats
• How to Track Video Analytics in WordPress
• How to Set Up WordPress Form Tracking in Google Analytics
• How to Set Up Email Newsletter Tracking in Google Analytics
• How to Add Scroll Depth Tracking in WordPress with Google Analytics
• MonsterInsights vs Site Kit (Head-to-Head Comparison)
• Google Analytics vs Jetpack Stats (In-Depth Comparison)
• Best Analytics Solutions for WordPress Users

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

The post How to Add WordPress Analytics Without Cookies (2 Easy Methods) first appeared on WPBeginner.

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Last week, a friend who manages multiple WordPress sites called me in a panic. A routine plugin update had broken his client’s navigation menu, but he didn’t notice until customers started complaining.

This is a common problem I’ve seen countless times, and it’s exactly why visual regression testing is so important for WordPress website owners.

Visual regression testing might sound complicated. However, it’s actually a simple solution that can save you hours of manual checking and prevent embarrassing layout issues.

Typically, it works by automatically comparing before-and-after screenshots of your pages. This helps catch even the smallest visual changes that might break your site’s appearance. 🔍

In this guide, I’ll show you how to do visual regression testing on your WordPress site. After testing numerous tools and methods, I’ve found the most reliable solution that won’t require any coding knowledge or technical expertise.

What Is Visual Regression Testing, and Why Is It Important? 🤔

Every time you update your site — whether it’s a WordPress core update, a new plugin, a theme change, or just a minor code tweak — there’s a chance that something on the front end might shift out of place.

For example, a button could disappear, your layout might break, or a product image could stop loading properly.

The problem? These visual bugs often go unnoticed until a visitor points them out through a contact form or design feedback survey.

By then, the damage to your site’s user experience might already be done.

That’s where visual regression testing comes in.

The process is simple: take snapshots of your pages before and after an update, then compare them to spot anything that’s changed.

And if you’re testing on a staging site (which we recommend), you can safely make updates and run comparisons to catch visual issues before anything goes live.

The good news? You don’t have to do it manually.

With visual regression testing tools like VRTs, Percy, or BackstopJS, you can automate screenshot comparisons and check how your site looks across different screen sizes — helping you catch layout issues on desktop, tablet, and mobile.

Why is this important for WordPress users?

If you’re managing a WordPress website, visual regression testing is a time-saving safety net. Instead of clicking through every page after an update, this tool gives you a visual report of what changed — and whether it’s something you need to fix.

It’s especially helpful in many scenarios, such as agencies running updates across multiple WordPress sites, freelancers managing client websites, or online store owners who want to make sure the product and checkout pages stay intact.

In short, visual regression testing helps you avoid frustrating surprises, save time, and keep your WordPress site running smoothly.

With that said, I’ll share how to easily do visual regression testing in WordPress. Here’s a quick overview of all the steps I’ll cover in this guide:

Step 1: Install and Activate the Visual Regression Testing Plugin

In this tutorial, I’ll use the VRTs plugin because it’s beginner-friendly and super easy to use for visual regression testing. Whether that is a shifted layout, a missing button, or a broken element after an update, VRTs helps you spot it early.

Here’s how it works: The plugin takes screenshots of the pages you select. You can then trigger comparisons manually or schedule them to run automatically after making changes to your site, such as updating a plugin or tweaking your theme.

The plugin then compares the ‘before’ and ‘after’ screenshots side-by-side and highlights any visual differences.

So, instead of manually checking every page, you get a quick visual report showing what changed, and whether anything looks off.

To install the plugin, you first need to visit the VRTs website and sign up for a plan by clicking on the ‘Get started for free’ button.

You can then choose one of the plans. The free plan will allow you to test up to 3 pages per day on one domain and schedule daily tests.

On the other hand, paid plans will allow you to test a higher number of pages, run manual tests, and automatically run visual regression tests after WordPress core, plugin, and theme updates.

Simply click on ‘Buy now’ or ‘Install now’ underneath the plan you want to use.

Then, follow the instructions to sign up for an account on the VRTs website and add your payment details.

Once you have completed the payment, you will land on your VRTs dashboard, where you can download the plugin as a .zip file.

Then, simply head to Plugins » Add Plugin and click on the ‘Upload Plugin’ button. From here, you can choose the VRTs plugin .zip file that you just downloaded.

Make sure to activate the plugin once it has been installed. For full details, you can see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Configure the VRTs Plugin Settings

Once you’ve activated the plugin, it’s time to set up when your visual regression tests should run.

Head over to VRTs » Settings in your WordPress admin menu.

Once inside, you can scroll down to the ‘Triggers’ section — this is where you tell the plugin when to automatically take and compare snapshots.

Here are the available options:

• Run Tests every 24 hours (Free) – This is the default setting. VRTs will automatically check your selected posts or pages once per day for visual changes.
• Run Tests after WordPress and plugin updates (Pro) – Great for catching layout issues caused by updates, right when they happen.
• Run Tests with your favorite apps (Pro) – Connect VRTs with external tools or workflows using webhooks.
• Run Tests on demand (Pro) – Manually trigger tests whenever you need them, directly from your WordPress dashboard.

Once you’ve selected the trigger that fits your workflow (or your license), simply click the ‘Save Changes’ button at the bottom of the page.

Step 3: Add New Pages or Posts to Test

Once you’ve configured the plugin settings, it’s time to choose which pages or posts you’d like to include in your visual regression tests.

Let’s now switch to the ‘Tests’ tab, which is where you’ll manage and run your visual tests.

From here, you can click the ‘Add New’ button. This will let you choose posts or pages to test.

In the popup that appears, you need to choose the pages or posts you want to perform the visual regression testing on.

Then, click ‘Add New Test’ to confirm your selections.

The VRTs plugin will take an initial snapshot of each selected page. This acts as your baseline — basically a “before” version of how your posts or pages look right now.

After setting up your test, you’ll see an instruction to refresh the page to load the initial snapshot. Go ahead and do just that.

With that done, you’ll find a link to the page or post snapshot you added for testing.

You will also see that the ‘Test Status’ is automatically set to ‘Scheduled’ for the next day. This is because the free version of VRTs runs tests on a 24-hour schedule.

You can click the ‘View Snapshot’ link to check the initial screenshot.

It will open in a new tab like this:

Now, you can make any changes you need to your site. Then, come back tomorrow to review the comparison and spot any unexpected visual issues.

Step 4: Check for Visual Differences

Once the test is complete and any visual bugs are detected, you should see a notification alert in the VRTs » Runs tab.

Once inside, you can hover over the run with changes detected.

Then, click the ‘Show Details’ link when it appears.

On the next screen, you’ll see a side-by-side comparison of your page, showing the before and after versions.

The plugin automatically highlights visual differences, so you can quickly spot:

• Layout Shifts and Misaligned Elements: If your design changes after a plugin update or theme change, like buttons moving out of place or text jumping around, VRTs will flag it.
• Missing or Broken Elements: Whether it’s a missing image, CTA button, or embedded form, VRTs make it easy to spot anything that disappears unexpectedly, which is especially useful for eCommerce or landing pages.
• Unexpected Content Changes: The plugin will also alert you to changes in text, links, or images, so you can catch unauthorized edits or publishing errors before users do.

You can use the drag handle in the center of the screen to slide between the old and new versions and visually confirm the exact changes.

Step 5: Review and Take Action

After running a visual regression test, you can take action based on the results. Here’s what you can do next:

• Manually edit the page: If the changes are small, you can fix the issues directly by editing the page, such as adjusting the layout, moving elements, or adding back missing features.
• Revert to a backup: If the changes are bigger or harder to fix, you can restore the page to a previous version using your website backup or version history. This helps avoid leaving issues on your site.

FAQs for Running Visual Regression Testing in WordPress

If you’re just getting started with visual regression testing, you’re not alone. Here are some quick answers to common questions I often hear from WordPress users and developers.

What is the difference between snapshot testing and visual regression testing?

Snapshot testing checks if your website’s code or content stays the same, kind of like saving a backup of how things are supposed to be.

Visual regression testing, on the other hand, focuses on the appearance of your site. It compares screenshots before and after updates to catch layout changes, missing elements, or visual bugs you might not notice right away.

What is the best tool for visual regression testing in WordPress?

The easiest option is the VRTs – Visual Regression Tests plugin. It’s beginner-friendly, doesn’t require any coding, and runs directly from your dashboard. Plus, it has a free version that’s super easy to use.

How can I do regression testing manually?

Manual regression testing means going through your site and checking key pages after you make changes, like installing a new plugin or updating your theme.

You’ll want to visit your homepage, contact page, checkout process (if you have one), and any custom layouts to make sure everything still looks and works as it should. It works, but it can be time-consuming if you manage a large or busy site.

How do you speed up regression testing?

The best way to save time is to automate it. Using a plugin like VRTs – Visual Regression Tests lets you create snapshots of your important pages and quickly compare them after an update.

No need to manually click through every page — the plugin does the visual check for you.

You can also test updates on a staging site first, so you’re not fixing issues on a live site.

What are the best ways to test WordPress website design?

Here are a few tips to test your WordPress design:

• Use a visual regression tool like VRTs – Visual Regression Tests to spot design changes.
• Preview your theme and plugin updates on a staging site.
• Test on multiple screen sizes (desktop, tablet, and mobile).
• Use browser dev tools to check how your site looks in different viewports.
• Ask for feedback from users or clients — they often notice things you might miss.

I hope this article has helped you learn how to do visual regression testing in WordPress. Next, you might want to check our article on creating chat rooms in WordPress for your users and the best user experience feedback questions to ask site visitors.

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

The post How to Easily Do Visual Regression Testing in WordPress first appeared on WPBeginner.

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“How do I make this page private for members only?” That’s one of the most common questions I get asked by my friends who use WordPress. I remember asking the same question myself when we were building our video membership site at WPBeginner.

Luckily, it’s surprisingly easy to restrict page access to logged-in users in WordPress. You don’t need to hire a developer or learn complex coding. As long as you have the right plugin, you can set it all up in almost no time.

After helping different website owners solve this exact problem, I’ve narrowed it down to 2 foolproof methods that work for any WordPress site. Let me show you how to make WordPress login required to view a page or even your entire website.

When Should You Require Users to Log In to View a Page?

Not every page on your website needs to be locked, but in some cases, requiring users to log in is the best way to protect your content.

Here are a few situations where requiring user login is a good idea:

• ✅ Membership Sites & Online Courses – If you offer exclusive content, tutorials, or training materials, then requiring a login ensures only paying members can access your premium content.
• ✅ Private Client Portals – If you are sharing confidential documents, project updates, or invoices in client portals, then restricting access keeps sensitive information secure.
• ✅ Exclusive Blog Content – Some websites offer premium articles, guides, or research reports to registered users or subscribers only. This can help grow your email list and boost engagement.
• ✅ Community Forums & Discussion Boards – If you run a members-only forum, then requiring login helps keep the conversation private and relevant to your audience.
• ✅ Company Intranet & Team Resources – Businesses often use WordPress to share internal documents, training materials, or announcements with employees. Requiring login for access keeps this information secure.

If any of these apply to your site, then setting up a login requirement is a smart move.

Now, let’s take a look at 2 easy ways to require login to view a page in WordPress. I’ll show you how to do this with both specific pages and all pages.

You can use the quick links below to jump to the method you want to use:

Method 1: Require Login to View a Page in WordPress With MemberPress (For Specific Pages & Posts)

If you’re looking for an easy and powerful way to restrict access to specific pages or posts, then MemberPress is a great choice.

With MemberPress, you can easily control who gets access to your content, whether it’s for members, subscribers, or paying customers. It allows you to create a powerful membership website that fits your specific needs.

In my opinion, it’s the best content protection plugin for WordPress. It makes it super simple to require users to log in before viewing a page.

At WPBeginner, we used MemberPress to create our free video membership website where only subscribers can access the lessons. For details, see this guide on how WPBeginner uses a free video membership site to grow our email list.

Now, to get started, you’ll need to install and activate the MemberPress plugin. For step-by-step instructions, see our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once you’ve activated the plugin, head over to the MemberPress » Settings page to enter your license key. You can get this information in your account area on the MemberPress website.

Then, you need to switch to the ‘Payments’ tab to add a payment gateway. The plugin comes with built-in support for PayPal and Stripe.

Go ahead and click the ‘+ Add Payment Method’ button and choose the gateway of your choice. If you need step-by-step instructions, see this tutorial on how to accept Stripe payments in WordPress.

Once you have set up your payment methods, you will need to create different membership levels. With each membership, you can specify the level of access a user has for viewing restricted content.

To get started, go to the MemberPress » Memberships page from the WordPress admin panel and click the ‘Add New’ button.

This will open the membership editor, where you’ll need to add a name and description for your membership.

Then, set the price and expiration for your membership plan. For instance, you can select the billing type as recurring or one-time and choose the interval to be yearly, monthly, weekly, or custom.

If you are new to using MemberPress, then you can check out WPBeginner’s ultimate guide to creating a membership website for more instructions.

After you’re happy with your membership plan, click the ‘Publish’ button to store your settings. You can now repeat the process to add as many membership levels as you like.

Next, you have to restrict access to your content so that only logged-in users can view it. To do this, head over to the MemberPress » Rules page from the WordPress dashboard.

Here, click on the ‘Add New’ button at the top.

This will take you to a new screen, where you must choose the ‘A Single Page’ option from the ‘Protected Content’ dropdown menu.

Next, enter the slug (URL) of the page where you want to require users to log in before being able to view the content.

Note: Although using MemberPress is ideal for having granular control over restricted content, you can also choose the ‘All Pages’ option from the dropdown menu to require WordPress login for all pages on your site.

Now, you need to set a condition for the kind of members who can view this page.

To do this, select ‘Member’ from the dropdown menu and type ‘logged in’ in the field next to it. This means that anyone with the Member user role can access this content once they log in.

After that, scroll down to the ‘Unauthorized Access’ section and choose the ‘Show’ option for the login form from the dropdown.

Then, click the ‘Save Rule’ and ‘Publish’ buttons at the top.

At this point, you’ll need to create the login page that users will see when they try to access your restricted content.

To do this, head over to Pages » Add New Page from the WordPress admin sidebar.

This will open the block editor, where you can customize the page. Once here, I recommend giving the page a descriptive title, like ‘Unauthorized’ or ‘Login Here,’ to make it clear to users why they are seeing the page.

Below the title, you might also want to add a simple message like “You cannot view this page because you haven’t logged in.”

Next, click the ‘Add Block’ (+) button and choose the ‘Login Form’ block.

Wondering where this handy block came from? MemberPress creates it automatically, so you don’t have to. This is just another perk of using the plugin.

Adding the login form here allows users to sign in quickly so they can view your exclusive page.

Once you’ve added the login block to your page, I highly recommend including a link to your main signup or pricing page using the link icon in the toolbar. This gives visitors a clear next step if they’re not members yet.

You can add a short, friendly message along with the link to encourage signups — something like: “New here? Visit our Sign Up Page to choose your membership plan.”

Make sure your message is clear, inviting, and matches the tone of the site. If you’re not sure how to insert a link, see our step-by-step tutorial on how to add a link in WordPress.

When you’re done with your changes, click the ‘Publish’ button in the top right corner of your editor to make your login page live.

Now, copy the URL of your new login page. You’ll need it in a moment.

Visit MemberPress » Settings » Pages from your admin sidebar and scroll down to the ‘Unauthorized Access’ section.

Now, simply check the ‘Redirect unauthorized visitors to a specific URL’ option.

Then, add the URL for the published page that you copied earlier and click the ‘Update Options’ button to save your changes.

Now, when users try to visit your page with exclusive content without logging in, they will be automatically redirected to the ‘Unauthorized’ page.

Here, they can log in to view the locked content on this page.

If a new visitor lands on this page, they can simply click the signup link to be taken directly to your registration or membership plans page.

Now that your ‘Unauthorized’ page is set up with clear login and signup links, it’s easy for visitors to take action — whether they are returning users or new to your site.

But what if you want to go a step further and give new visitors a glimpse of what they’re missing if they don’t sign up? That’s where MemberPress really shines.

It lets you go beyond simply locking pages. You can actually show a snippet or preview of your content using the Excerpts feature.

This is perfect for teasing blog posts, lessons, or gated resources.

For example, you might display the first few paragraphs of an article to everyone, but then prompt them to register or upgrade their plan to continue reading.

This approach not only improves user experience but can also boost your conversions since visitors get to see the value of your content before signing up.

For more information about this feature, see our guide on how to create paywall options in WordPress (with preview options).

Method 2: Require Login to View All Pages in WordPress With My Private Site (For All Pages & Posts)

If you are looking for a free and simple way to restrict access to your entire website, then using My Private Site is a great option.

This free plugin locks down your WordPress site, requiring users to log in before they can view any page. However, keep in mind that it doesn’t allow you to choose which pages you want to make private, so it won’t be suitable unless you want to require login for your entire website.

First, you need to install and activate the My Private Site plugin. For details, see this tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After you activate the plugin, you need to head over to the My Private Site » Site Privacy page from the WordPress dashboard and check the ‘Enable login privacy’ box.

Then, click the ‘Save Privacy Status’ button to store your changes. Now, users will need to log in to view any page on your website.

Next, go to the ‘Landing Page’ section. This is where you decide where users should be redirected after they log in.

You can choose to return them to the same URL, so they land back on the page they were trying to access. Alternatively, you can redirect them to the home page. You can also send users to the WordPress dashboard after they log in.

If none of those options work for you, then you can set a custom URL instead. This way, you can redirect users to a specific page, like a welcome page or members-only content area.

Make sure to click the ‘Save Landing Page’ button to store your changes.

After that, switch to the ‘Home Page’ tab.

Here, you can check the ‘Allow site home page to remain accessible without requiring login’ box if you want the home page to remain accessible to everyone.

Then, click the ‘Make Page Public’ button.

Now, when you visit your website, your home page will be visible to everyone.

However, when users try to access any other page without logging in, they will be taken to the default WordPress login page, where they can add their details.

Related Guides for Membership Sites & User Login

Looking for more tips and tricks to manage your membership site or user login pages? Check out these useful guides below:

• How to Create a Client Portal in WordPress (Easy Way)
• How to Add a Custom Login URL in WordPress (Step by Step)
• How to Customize the WordPress Reset Password Page
• How to Restrict Content to Registered Users in WordPress
• How and Why You Should Limit Login Attempts in WordPress
• How to Add a Login Form in Your WordPress Sidebar

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

The post How to Require Login to View a Page in WordPress (2 Easy Ways) first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I first tried to add podcast episodes to my WordPress website, I quickly realized that embedding them from Apple Podcasts wasn’t as straightforward as I’d hoped. Like many of you, I wanted a simple solution that wouldn’t require coding knowledge.

Through trial and error (and plenty of coffee), I discovered several different methods for embedding Apple Podcasts in WordPress. And by testing them all out, I found the best solutions for podcasters and other WordPress users.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact steps you need to embed Apple Podcasts in WordPress, ensuring your audio content looks great and works perfectly on any device.

Whether you’re sharing your own show or featuring episodes from others, these methods make it easy to display an attractive, functional podcast player.

Why Embed Apple Podcasts in WordPress?

Apple Podcasts is one of the top platforms for discovering and listening to podcasts on iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices.

If you have an audio show on Apple Podcasts, then embedding episodes on your WordPress site is a great way to promote your production and grow your audience.

Instead of linking out or using a generic player, you can display your episodes right on your podcast website, where listeners can instantly hit play.

When you embed your show:

• 🎧 Visitors can listen without leaving your site.
• 📈 You increase time on site and boost engagement.
• 🌟 Your podcast stays on-brand by living alongside your other content.
• ☑ Your podcast website becomes a central hub to promote your show, share bonus content, and grow your audience on your own terms.

Perhaps most importantly, any first-time website visitors who discover your brand or business will immediately know about your podcast. This can help you gain tons of new listeners.

Even if you’re not embedding your own show, featuring Apple Podcasts on your website is a great way to share your favorite podcast episodes or curate recommendations.

For example, if you’re a blogger, then you might include relevant episodes to enrich your articles or support key points. Meanwhile, businesses and authors can feature podcast appearances as social proof.

Additionally, online course creators could use embedded interviews or discussions as bonus material for students.

How to Embed Apple Podcasts in WordPress

Now that you know why embedding Apple Podcasts in WordPress is a smart move, I’ll walk you through 2 easy ways to do it – no technical skills required.

You can use the quick link below to jump to the different methods:

Ready? Let’s get started.

Method 1: Embed Apple Podcasts in WordPress Using the Custom HTML Block

This method works well if you’re using the WordPress block editor and want a quick, free way to embed an Apple Podcasts episode.

You don’t need to install any plugins – just copy the embed code from Apple Podcasts and paste it into a ‘Custom HTML’ block.

That said, please note that some themes may style the embedded podcast player differently. So be sure to preview how it looks on mobile and desktop.

Step 1: Copying the Apple Podcast Embed Code

First, let’s head over to the Apple Podcasts site. You can do this on any browser — no need to use iTunes or the Apple Podcasts app.

Next, use the ‘Search’ bar in the left-hand panel to look for the podcast you want to feature. You can search by podcast title, episode name, and host name.

For example, I looked for a show called ‘The Climate Question.’

Once you find what you’re looking for, click on the relevant search result to open the show or episode.

On the podcast page, click the three-dot menu next to the ‘+ Follow’ button.

From the dropdown, go ahead and select ‘Copy Embed.’

Apple Podcasts will automatically copy the show’s embed code to your clipboard.

If you want to embed a specific episode, then you can scroll down the show page to the ‘Episodes’ list.

Give the three-dot menu in the episode section a click. Then, hit the ‘Copy Embed Code’ button.

Alternatively, you can click on a specific episode title.

This will take you to the episode’s page, where you can see a brief description of what the episode is about. You’ll also find links to social media pages, an email address for inquiries, the episode’s content rating (like Clean or Explicit), and details about the host.

Once there, just click the three-dot menu next to the ‘Play’ button and select ‘Copy Embed’ from the dropdown.

With that done, you have the episode’s embed code copied to your clipboard.

Step 2: Add the Apple Podcast Embed Code to WordPress

Now that you have the Apple Podcasts embed code, it’s time to add it to your WordPress website.

You can embed the player on any post or page. For this tutorial, I’ll show you how to embed it in a blog post using the block editor.

From your WordPress admin area, go to Posts » Add New or open an existing post where you want to add the podcast.

In the block editor, click the ‘+’ button to add a block.

Then, type ‘Custom HTML’ into the search bar and select the ‘Custom HTML’ block.

Paste the Apple Podcasts embed code you copied earlier into the block.

It should look something like this:

If you want to see how the Apple Podcasts player will look on the front end, select the HTML block and click the ‘Preview’ tab in the toolbar.

This will load the front-end preview of the player in the content editor.

If the embedded player looks good, go ahead and click ‘Publish’ (or ‘Update’ if you’re editing an existing post).

Now, your visitors can listen to Apple Podcasts directly from your site.

It’s that simple!

Method 2: Embed Apple Podcasts in WordPress Using EmbedPress

The Custom HTML block is a great free option, but it can feel a bit clunky, especially if you’re not comfortable working with code.

On the other hand, EmbedPress offers more streamlined embedding experience. With EmbedPress, you just need to paste the Apple Podcasts URL into the EmbedPress block, and it instantly shows a mobile-friendly player in your content.

Step 1: Get the EmbedPress Pro Plugin

To embed Apple Podcasts using EmbedPress, you’ll need the Pro version of the plugin.

You can visit the WPDeveloper website and sign up for a Pro account. Then, choose a plan based on how many sites you want to use it on.

After signing up, you’ll be redirected to your EmbedPress dashboard, where you’ll find:

• A download link for the EmbedPress Pro .zip file.
• Your license key for activating the plugin.

You can download the .zip file and keep the tab open, as you’ll need the license key in the next step.

Step 2: Install EmbedPress Pro and Activate the License Key

Once you’ve downloaded the EmbedPress Pro .zip file from your account dashboard, it’s time to install it on your WordPress site.

In your WordPress admin area, go to Plugins » Add New.

Then, you can click the ‘Upload Plugin’ button at the top.

Choose the .zip file you downloaded from EmbedPress.

Then, click the ‘Install Now’ button followed by ‘Activate.’ For more detailed instructions, you can go to our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

The next step is to activate the premium plugin using your license key. To do this, go to EmbedPress » License in your WordPress dashboard.

Here, you will need to paste your license key (which you can find in your WPDeveloper dashboard) and click ‘Activate License.’

At this point, a verification code will be sent to the email address you used to purchase EmbedPress Pro.

Simply open the email, copy the verification code, and then return to this page to enter it in the new box that appears below the license key box. Then, hit ‘Verify.’

Once you activate the plugin, you’ll unlock support for premium platforms, including Apple Podcasts, and gain access to extra customization features.

Step 3: Copy the Apple Podcast URL

To embed Apple Podcasts into WordPress using EmbedPress, you’ll need the correct URL for the entire show or a specific episode.

Let’s say you want to copy a show link.

To do this, go to Apple Podcasts and use the search bar to find the show or episode you want to feature.

For example, I searched for ‘The Psychology of Your 20s.’

In the search results, click on the podcast name to open the show’s main page.

Then, click the three-dot button next to the ‘+ Follow’ button to expand the menu.

Now, go ahead and click the ‘Copy Link’ button to get the link for the show.

Apple Podcasts will then automatically copy the link to your clipboard.

Now, to copy a single episode link, scroll through the list of available episodes in the Apple Podcasts show.

Once you find what you’re looking for, click on the episode’s three-dot button and click the ‘Copy Link’ button.

Want to see more details about the episode?

Just click on the episode section to open its page. There, you’ll find a short description of the episode, links to social media pages, an email address for inquiries, the content rating (like Clean or Explicit), and information about the host.

From the episode’s individual page, click the three-dot button next to ‘Play.’

Then, select ‘Copy Link’ to get the episode’s link.

Alternatively, you can copy the show’s or episode’s URL directly from your browser’s address bar.

This saves you from having to find the three-dot menu and click the ‘Copy Link’ button.

Just make sure you’re right where you want to be: a show or a specific episode.

Step 4: Add the Apple Podcast URL to WordPress Using the EmbedPress Block

Next, it’s time to embed your podcast using the EmbedPress plugin.

You can add it to any page or post, but in this example, I’ll show you how to do it in a WordPress blog post.

From your WordPress dashboard, go to Posts » Add New or open an existing post.

In the block editor, you can click the ‘+’ button.

Then, search for the EmbedPress block.

Just select the block when it appears, and WordPress will add it to your content editor.

Next, simply paste the URL you copied before into the EmbedPress block.

Don’t forget to click the ‘Embed’ button or press ‘Enter.’

EmbedPress will instantly fetch and display the Apple Podcasts player right inside your editor.

You can adjust the player’s appearance right inside the ‘Block’ tab.

In the ‘General’ section, just set the width and height to control the size of the embedded player.

You can also toggle ‘Social Share’ to add social share buttons for Facebook, X (Twitter), and more to your Apple Podcasts embed.

This lets visitors easily share the episode on their social media accounts.

In addition, EmbedPress Pro includes monetization and content protection tools. You can find them in the ‘Ads Settings’ and ‘Content Protection’ sections in the ‘Block’ tab:

• Ads Settings: This allows you to add video or image ads to your embeds, with control over size, timing, and skip options.

• Content Protection: Allows you to restrict access by user role or password to keep your embedded content secure.

You can configure these settings as needed.

Once you’re happy with how the Apple Podcasts embed looks, just click ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ to make it live.

Your visitors can now listen to the show directly from your site — and even share it on social media with a single click.

Bonus Tips and Ideas to Grow Your Podcast

Embedding your Apple Podcasts in WordPress is just the beginning.

Here are some easy ways to grow your podcast audience and keep listeners coming back:

• Run a giveaway. Want more subscribers or podcast reviews? With RafflePress, you can create giveaways that reward people for actions like subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing an episode on social media. See our guide on how to run a giveaway for more details.
• Invite guest speakers. Featuring creators or experts in your podcast niche can bring fresh insights and help you reach new listeners.
• Add show notes and transcripts. These can help improve SEO, make your episodes easier to skim, and enhance accessibility for users who prefer reading. See our pick of the best transcription services for more details.
• Grow your email list. This will allow you to contact listeners to let them know about new episodes, promotions, and any other information. You can display a newsletter signup form below your podcast player or in popups on your podcast website. For details, see our guide on how to grow your email list.
• Create a membership site around your podcast. You can use MemberPress to offer exclusive content like bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, or downloadable resources. For details, see our guide on how to create a membership website.

These small touches can go a long way in building a loyal podcast community. 🌐

FAQs About Embedding Apple Podcasts in WordPress

Still have questions? Here are some common questions I get from readers looking to feature Apple Podcasts on their WordPress sites:

Can you embed a podcast into a WordPress website?

Yes, you can! WordPress supports both HTML embed codes and direct URLs for many podcast platforms. That means you can easily display podcast episodes using built-in blocks or plugins – no coding required.

How do you embed Apple Podcasts into a website?

The easiest way is to copy the embed code directly from Apple Podcasts and paste it into a Custom HTML block in WordPress.

Alternatively, you can use a plugin like EmbedPress, which lets you embed Apple Podcasts by simply pasting the episode URL.

Do I need a website for my podcast?

While it’s not required, having your own website gives you more control over your content, branding, and audience. You can promote episodes, collect emails, add show notes, and even improve SEO to reach more listeners. For details, see our guide on how to create a podcast.

Is WordPress a good option for a podcast website?

Yes, WordPress is a highly adaptable, beginner-friendly platform that supports a wide range of podcast plugins and themes. WordPress makes it easy to manage and promote your podcast in one place, whether you’re just starting out or growing your show.

I hope this guide has helped you learn how to embed Apple Podcasts in WordPress. Next up, you can check out our guide on how to start a podcast or our expert picks of the best podcast hosting.

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

The post How to Embed Apple Podcasts in WordPress (2 Easy Methods) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Many business owners feel stuck with HubSpot because they worry about losing their content, breaking their SEO rankings, or disrupting their email marketing. These are valid concerns – I had the same worries when I decided to migrate one of my HubSpot sites to WordPress.

The good news is that moving from HubSpot to WordPress is completely doable with the right approach. All you need is to follow the right steps in the right order.

Let me show you exactly how to move your site from HubSpot to WordPress while protecting your content, preserving your SEO rankings, and keeping your sanity intact.

Why Move Your Blog From HubSpot to WordPress?

Most people start using HubSpot because it is a powerful customer relationship manager (CRM) with marketing automation.

They tend to be really happy with it as a CRM, which doesn’t surprise me, as I love it myself. I even recommend it! See my detailed HubSpot review for more information.

However, what often happens is people start using the default blogging feature in HubSpot simply because it’s convenient. Then, they end up feeling limited.

I’ve worked with clients who started blogging on HubSpot and eventually felt the same way.

Now, I’ll be honest. HubSpot’s content management system is useful for landing pages and integrated marketing campaigns. But for blogging specifically? WordPress comes out on top.

Just making a simple design tweak or changing the layout of a post on HubSpot can feel like navigating a maze.

WordPress, on the other hand, is built for content. It started as a blogging platform and evolved into a powerhouse.

So, if blogging is a core part of your strategy, and you’re feeling a bit constrained by HubSpot, then WordPress can be super refreshing. You’ll get greater simplicity but more flexibility, more design control, and a whole lot more options to grow your blog the way you want.

Worried you won’t get to keep using all of HubSpot’s other powerful CRM features? The good news is that WordPress integrates seamlessly with the platform, so that won’t be an issue.

What to Expect When Migrating From HubSpot to WordPress

With any significant change, it’s helpful to know what lies ahead. Here is a brief roadmap of the journey we will take together:

• First, we’ll get prepared. Imagine it as the preparation phase when you export your content from HubSpot and set up your new WordPress environment.

• Then comes the actual migration. We’ll guide you through moving your valuable blog posts and important pages, and all the images that make your blog visually engaging.

• Next, we’ll focus on maintaining your SEO. This is like making sure your mail is properly forwarded when you move. We’ll help you set up permalinks and redirects to avoid broken links and maintain your search engine rankings.

• Finally, we’ll cover post-migration tasks. Think of this as settling into your new WordPress home. We’ll recommend some essential plugins and learning resources to help you get the most from WordPress.

All that said, you’re probably ready to move your site from HubSpot to WordPress! Here’s how you can do it step by step:

I’ll walk you through the entire process so you’ll be able to follow along even if you’re a beginner. But, if you change your mind at any time, you can always jump to the alternative option – which is getting help from the professionals.

Step 1. Export Your HubSpot Blog Content

Before you even think about touching anything in HubSpot, the first thing you’ll need to do is export your essential content. Later in this tutorial, you will import this content into WordPress.

It’s also wise to back up the link structure of your website. I’ll show you how to do both.

Exporting Your HubSpot Blog Content

The most important step in your WordPress migration is exporting your HubSpot blog content. Luckily, HubSpot makes it pretty easy to export your blog posts in a way you can import into WordPress.

Simply go to your HubSpot account and find your blog content at Content » Blog.

Now look for the ‘Export blog posts’ option on the ‘Actions’ drop-down menu.

This option will let you export your posts as a .CSV or Excel (XLS or XLSX) file. I personally like using the .CSV option because it can be easily imported into WordPress.

Once your blog has been exported, you will receive a link to the .CSV file in your email. You will have 90 days to download the file before it expires.

Exporting your blog posts like this is a great starting point because you can easily import them into your new WordPress website.

However, the export only includes your blog content, and not other pages like landing pages or sales pages. Later in this article, I’ll show you how to recreate those pages manually.

Backing Up Your Link Structure

Backing up your blog’s link structure is super important for SEO.

For this, you’ll need to gather a list of all the web addresses (URLs) from your HubSpot blog. This is important because we’ll use this list to create redirects. Redirects help maintain the SEO benefits you’ve built up over time, even after moving to WordPress.

For this, I like using a browser extension called Link Klipper, because it’s super handy. It’s also free and works with Chrome and compatible browsers.

To get started, install Link Klipper. Then, go to your HubSpot blog homepage. Click the Link Klipper icon in your browser toolbar and choose ‘Extract All Links.’

This will quickly grab all the links on that page and download them as a .CSV file. When you open this file in Excel or Google Sheets, you will see a list of your blog URLs.

Now, I recommend using Link Klipper as a quick and easy way to grab URLs. However, you can also use an online sitemap generator like XML-Sitemaps.com. This tool crawls your website and creates a list of URLs, which you can then export.

Sitemap generators can sometimes find more URLs than Link Klipper, as they crawl your entire site structure. XML-Sitemaps will generate the usual XML sitemaps, but also create a text file called urllist.txt containing all the URLs that you can easily use when creating redirects.

With your blog content, pages, and URLs exported, you’ve done a great job! You have a safety net and a set of files that can be imported into WordPress.

Step 2. Installing and Setting Up WordPress

You need hosting to run a WordPress website. It’s non-negotiable since it provides your site with the resources it needs to be online.

A good hosting provider is like a reliable landlord – you want them to be dependable and keep things running smoothly.

In short, WordPress hosting is where all your WordPress content and files will live. It’s what makes your blog accessible to the world.

Now, you might be thinking, ‘Can’t I just install WordPress on my current HubSpot hosting?’ Unfortunately, no. HubSpot is a closed platform. You can’t install WordPress on HubSpot.

So, you’ll need to get new hosting specifically for your WordPress blog. If you’re new to WordPress or just want a straightforward experience, I recommend Bluehost.

Right now, they’re offering a deal for WPBeginner readers that includes a free domain name and a huge discount on hosting. You can get started for just $1.99 a month.

For this guide, just to show you the general process, I’ll use screenshots from Bluehost. But honestly, the steps for most good WordPress hosts are pretty similar.

You can get started by visiting the Bluehost website and clicking the ‘Get Started Now’ button.

You’ll land on a page showing different hosting plans. For a new blog, especially when you’re just migrating over, the Basic plan is usually perfectly fine.

Choose a plan that fits your needs by clicking the ‘Select’ button.

Next up, you’ll need to set up a domain name. This is your blog’s web address, like www.yourblogname.com.

Now, you probably want to keep using the same domain name you were using with your HubSpot blog, right?

The good news is that you can! Just choose the option that says ‘Use a domain you own’ and type in your current domain name.

Or, if you’re starting fresh with a new domain name, then you can choose to register a new one. This will be free for the first year.

Now, follow the steps to enter your account details and payment info and complete the purchase.

After you sign up, Bluehost (and most WordPress hosting providers) will send you a welcome email with your login details. Keep this email safe! You’ll need it to access your hosting account.

Now, here’s where picking a good WordPress hosting provider pays off.

When you log in to your Bluehost account for the first time, they will automatically install WordPress for you. I love how this streamlines setting up new WordPress websites.

From your Bluehost account page, go to ‘Websites’ then click ‘Edit Site.’

That should take you right into your brand-new WordPress dashboard.

Want a more thorough walkthrough of installing WordPress? My team has created a super detailed WordPress installation tutorial if you’re curious.

Step 3. Setting Up WordPress Theme

Alright, WordPress is installed. Now for the fun part: making it look like your website. That’s where themes come in.

WordPress themes are ready-made design blueprints for your blog. They control everything visual, like the colors, the fonts, and how your blog posts are laid out. It’s like choosing the style of your new house.

WordPress has a huge collection of themes. Seriously, thousands upon thousands. Free themes, paid themes, themes for every niche imaginable.

The WordPress Theme Directory is a good place to start exploring free themes.

But having too many choices can be a bit paralyzing. To help you narrow down the options, my team has created a helpful guide on selecting the perfect WordPress theme.

In my experience, clean, uncluttered designs tend to work best. They look professional, they’re easy for readers to navigate, and they put the focus on your content – which is the most important thing.

Once you’ve chosen and installed a theme, you’ll be ready for the next big step: actually moving your content from HubSpot into WordPress.

Step 4. Importing Your HubSpot Blog Content

This step is like unpacking your moving boxes and arranging your furniture in your new WordPress home. It’s where your blog really starts to take shape.

At this point, you’re going to take the HubSpot content you exported earlier and import it into WordPress. To do that, I’m going to use a plugin called Import any XML, CSV or Excel File to WordPress.

First, you need to install and activate the plugin in your WordPress dashboard. If you need help, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once the plugin is activated, navigate to the All Import » New Import page in your WordPress dashboard. Once there, you should click the ‘Upload a file’ button.

Now, you’ll be asked to choose your import file. Remember the .CSV file you exported from HubSpot in step 1? You need to select it now and then click the ‘Import’ button.

The plugin will automatically detect the type of content you’re importing (usually “Posts” for blog posts). It’s pretty smart like that.

Next, click the ‘Continue to Step 2’ button. You will be shown a preview of the import file and can browse through a spreadsheet view of your posts, one at a time.

Once done, click ‘Continue to Step 3’ at the top or bottom of the page.

Now comes the important part: mapping fields. This is where you tell the plugin how the columns in your .CSV file correspond to fields in WordPress. Don’t worry, you only need to do this step once, not for each post.

For example, you’ll want to drag the column from your import file that contains your blog post titles to the Title field in WordPress.

You can do the same for the post content, tags, and any other data you exported from HubSpot. It’s like matching up labels on boxes when you’re unpacking – you want to put everything in the right place.

Once you’ve mapped all the fields, click ‘Continue to Step 4’ at the bottom of the page.

Next, you’ll be asked to set a unique identifier for your posts. This is used internally by WordPress to keep track of your imported content.

Just click the ‘Auto-detect’ button and the plugin will handle this for you.

Finally, click ‘Confirm & Run Import.’

The plugin will now start importing your content. The time it takes will depend on how much content you’re importing. For a large blog, it might take a few minutes.

Once it’s done, the plugin will show you an ‘Import Complete!’ message.

Now, you can navigate to Posts » All Posts in your WordPress dashboard. You should see your HubSpot blog posts there! Check them out to make sure all your blog posts are imported correctly.

Step 5. Recreating HubSpot Landing Pages in WordPress

Let’s talk about those special pages you might have built in HubSpot – landing pages, sales pages, or other custom pages.

Unfortunately, these often don’t transfer perfectly with a simple import like blog posts do. HubSpot’s page structure and design elements are quite different from WordPress.

So, the best approach for these pages is to recreate them in WordPress. It might sound like extra work, but it gives you the most control over the final result and makes sure everything looks right.

Now, while you could try to rebuild these pages using the standard WordPress block editor, it’s worth considering a dedicated page builder for landing pages.

The block editor is great for creating regular content pages and blog posts. It uses a system of blocks that you can easily add and arrange to build your page. However, for more complex layouts, a page builder plugin like SeedProd offers more advanced features and flexibility.

SeedProd is a drag-and-drop page builder specifically designed for creating landing pages, sales pages, and other marketing-focused pages. It offers a more visual and intuitive way to design intricate layouts without needing to write code.

Whenever I’ve used SeedProd, I’ve found it to be very user-friendly, even if you’re not a design expert. It has a visual interface, tons of pre-designed templates, and all sorts of elements you can just drag and drop onto your page.

The first step, of course, is to install and activate the SeedProd plugin. For details, see our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once SeedProd is active, you can go to SeedProd » Landing Pages in your WordPress menu and then click ‘Add New Landing Page.’

SeedProd will then show you a library of templates.

Browse through them and pick a template that looks similar to the HubSpot landing page you want to recreate.

Don’t worry about getting it exactly the same at this stage, you can customize everything later.

Next, give your new page a name and set the URL slug.

Click the ‘Save and Start Editing the Page’ button to open the SeedProd page builder.

Here’s where the fun begins! You’ll see a visual drag-and-drop interface. You can click on any element on the template and edit it – change text, images, colors, fonts, everything.

On the left-hand side, you’ll find a panel with all sorts of elements you can add to your page – headings, text blocks, images, videos, buttons, forms, and much more. Just drag and drop them onto your page to build your layout.

Take your original HubSpot landing page as a reference. Section by section, element by element, recreate it in SeedProd.

For more details, see our tutorial on how to create a landing page in WordPress.

Want to explore other page builder options? Thrive Architect is another excellent page builder plugin for WordPress, and it’s also very visual and drag-and-drop based.

Thrive Architect is particularly strong if you are heavily focused on marketing and sales pages. It’s built by the team behind Thrive Themes, which is known for its conversion-focused tools. It excels at creating high-converting sales pages, opt-in pages, and webinar registration pages.

If your primary goal is to build pages specifically designed to drive conversions and sales, Thrive Architect is a powerful alternative to consider.

Yes, recreating your HubSpot landing pages in WordPress takes a bit of hands-on work. However, it’s the most reliable way to bring those important pages over properly.

And the great news is, using a page builder like SeedProd makes the process much smoother and allows you to build even more powerful and customized landing pages in WordPress.

Step 6. Importing Your HubSpot Images to WordPress

You might notice that after importing your content, your images are still being hosted on HubSpot’s servers. You’ve copied the text over, but the images are still living at their old address.

We need to bring those images into your WordPress Media Library. Why? Because it’s much better to host your images directly within your WordPress website. It’s more reliable, often faster, and gives you more control.

Imagine if HubSpot changed its image hosting structure or, worse case, you decided to close your HubSpot account completely down the line. Your images could disappear!

You’re able to import your images using a fantastic little plugin called Auto Upload Images. Please refer to our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin if you need help.

Note: You may notice that this plugin is outdated, but I tested it for this tutorial, and it was working fine. For details, see this guide on whether you should use outdated plugins.

Once activated, you need to trigger the bulk image import using the WordPress bulk edit feature. Don’t worry, you’re not actually editing anything, but just using the bulk edit to tell WordPress to re-process your posts and pages.

Head over to Posts » All Posts in your WordPress dashboard. Select all the posts where you imported content from HubSpot. You can usually do this by checking the checkbox at the very top of the post list.

Then, in the ‘Bulk actions’ dropdown menu, choose ‘Edit’ and click the ‘Apply’ button.

A bunch of bulk edit options will appear. Don’t panic! You don’t need to change anything here. Just click the blue ‘Update’ button at the bottom.

What this does is tell WordPress to re-save all the selected posts. And that action triggers the Auto Upload Images plugin to kick in.

The plugin will scan the content of each post, look for external image URLs (pointing to HubSpot), and then automatically download each image and import it into your WordPress Media Library.

It will then update the image URLs in your posts to point to the newly imported images in your Media Library.

Next, you need to repeat this exact same process for your Pages. Simply go to Pages » All Pages, select all your pages, choose ‘Edit’ in bulk actions, apply, and then just click ‘Update’.

If you need detailed instructions, then see my tutorial on how to easily import external images in WordPress.

After you’ve done this bulk update for both your posts and pages, go to Media » Library in your WordPress dashboard. You should see all those images from your HubSpot blog and pages in your WordPress Media Library!

Step 7. Pointing Your Domain Name to Your New WordPress Website

If you were already using a custom domain name for your HubSpot blog (like yourblogname.com), then you definitely want to keep using that same domain for your WordPress blog.

Why? Branding, for starters. You want people to find you at the same address. But also, and maybe even more importantly, for SEO.

Search engines have already associated your domain name with your content and authority. Keeping the same domain helps you maintain your search engine rankings.

To make this happen, you need to adjust your domain name settings. Specifically, you’re going to change something called nameservers.

Nameservers are like the internet’s phonebook for domain names. When someone types your domain name into their browser, the nameservers tell the internet where your website is hosted.

Right now, your domain name is likely pointing to HubSpot’s servers, where your HubSpot blog was hosted. We need to update it to point to your new WordPress hosting account.

Your WordPress hosting provider (like Bluehost, Hostinger, or SiteGround) will give you the nameserver information you need. It usually looks like a pair of addresses, something like:

ns1.yourhostingprovider.com
ns2.yourhostingprovider.com

Your hosting provider will have the exact nameservers you need to use.

I usually find this information in my hosting account dashboard, but you can also check the welcome email they sent you when you signed up. If you’re not sure, then their support team can help you out. See the tips in my guide on how to contact WordPress support.

Okay, so where do you actually change these nameserver settings? That’s at your domain name registrar. This is the company where you registered your domain name in the first place.

Sometimes, your domain registrar is the same company as your hosting provider. But often, they are separate. Common domain registrars include companies like Domain.com, Network Solutions, or Namecheap.

You’ll need to log in to your account at your domain registrar. Find the settings for your domain name. Look for something like ‘DNS Settings’, ‘Nameservers’, or ‘Domain Management’.

For example, if your domain is registered with Bluehost, then the nameserver settings in their domain management area will look something like this:

The exact steps vary depending on your domain registrar. But the general idea is always the same: you need to replace the old nameservers (the ones pointing to HubSpot) with the new nameservers provided by your WordPress hosting company.

Our team has written a handy guide on how to easily change domain nameservers at many popular domain registrars if you need more detailed instructions.

Once you’ve updated your nameservers, it takes a little while for these changes to spread across the internet. This is called DNS propagation.

DNS propagation can take anywhere from a few hours to, in rare cases, up to 48 hours. During this time, some people might still see your old HubSpot blog, while others might start seeing your new WordPress blog. This is totally normal, don’t worry!

After DNS propagation is complete, when users enter your domain name into their browsers, they will be automatically directed to your WordPress site at its new hosting location.

Step 8. Setting Up Permalinks and Redirects

You’re in the home stretch now! You’ve moved your content and images and pointed your domain to your new WordPress blog. But there’s another really important step for a smooth migration: setting up permalinks and redirects.

Your HubSpot blog probably had its own way of creating URLs. WordPress, naturally, has its own system too, called permalinks.

And here’s the thing. It’s highly likely that your old HubSpot URLs are different from how WordPress creates URLs by default.

Without proper URL redirection from your old HubSpot blog to your new WordPress site, visitors following the old blog post URLs will encounter 404 errors. These broken links not only frustrate users but also negatively impact your search engine rankings since Google penalizes sites with too many broken links.

To fix this issue, you need to do two key things:

• Set up SEO-friendly permalinks in WordPress so your new URLs are clean and readable.
• Set up redirects to automatically send visitors from your old HubSpot URLs to the correct pages on your new WordPress site. It’s like setting up a forwarding address when you move house.

Let’s start with permalinks.

Setting Up WordPress Permalinks

WordPress gives you control over how your website addresses (URLs) are structured. This is managed through permalink settings.

While you can choose any permalink structure, for the sake of this example, let’s choose ‘Post name’.

‘Post name’ permalinks create clean, easy-to-understand URLs that clearly include the title of your page or blog post. It incorporates keywords from your title, providing an additional SEO advantage and making it readable for people.

For example, instead of a URL that looks like this, which gives no context at all

yourblog.com/?p=123

You get something much nicer and more informative, like:

yourblog.com/your-blog-post-title

See the difference? The second option is much clearer.

Setting this up is quick and easy. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings » Permalinks.

You’ll see a section called ‘Common Settings.’ Find the option labeled ‘Post name’ and select it.

Then, just scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

Done! Permalinks are set up. From now on, WordPress will use the post name structure for all your new blog posts and pages.

Setting Up Redirects From Your Old HubSpot URLs

Now for the redirects, which are extremely important for a smooth migration. Remember that list of old HubSpot URLs you grabbed using Link Klipper way back in the export step? We’re going to put it to good use.

To set up redirects in WordPress without pulling your hair out, I recommend the Redirection plugin. It’s free, it’s powerful, and it makes setting up redirects straightforward.

The first step is to install and activate the Redirection plugin. If you need help, then see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once activated, you’ll find the Redirection plugin settings under Tools » Redirection.

In the Redirection plugin interface, you’ll see fields for Source URL and Target URL.

• Source URL is where you enter your old HubSpot URL. But here’s a little trick: you only need to enter the part of the URL after your domain name. For example, if your old HubSpot blog post URL was https://your-hubspot-blog.com/blog/my-awesome-post, then you’d just enter /blog/my-awesome-post.

• Target URL is where you enter the new WordPress URL for the same content. Again, just the part after your domain name. So, if your new WordPress URL for that post is https://your-wordpress-blog.com/my-awesome-post/, then you’d enter /my-awesome-post/.

Make sure the ‘301 – Moved Permanently’ option is selected for the Redirect Type. Using a 301 redirect is important for search engine optimization, or SEO. It signals to search engines that your content has moved permanently to a new address, and it helps you preserve link equity.

Link equity is the SEO ‘value’ or authority your old pages have built up over time, and 301 redirects help transfer that valuable equity to your new WordPress pages, maintaining your search engine ranking.

Finally, click the ‘Add Redirect’ button to save your redirect.

Now, you need to go through your entire list of old HubSpot URLs and repeat these steps for each one. Yes, it can take a bit of time, especially if you have a lot of blog posts. But it’s essential for a smooth transition.

Once you’ve added all your redirects, test them! Type your old HubSpot URLs into your browser and make sure they correctly redirect you to the right pages on your new WordPress site.

Alternative: Using All in One SEO (AIOSEO) for Redirects

Now, if you’re thinking about SEO seriously (and you should!), you might want to consider All in One SEO (AIOSEO). I use this plugin on my own websites, and it’s fantastic.

Yes, it’s a premium plugin, but it’s packed with SEO features to help your blog rank higher – and it includes a really handy Redirection Manager that lets you set up full site redirects.

What I really appreciate is that AIOSEO is an all-in-one SEO powerhouse. Instead of juggling separate plugins for redirects, sitemaps, schema, and everything else SEO-related, AIOSEO puts it all in one place.

Plus, its Redirection Manager is quite powerful and makes setting up even complex redirects straightforward. It’s a real time-saver and keeps my SEO workflow streamlined.

Step 9. Add Your HubSpot CRM to WordPress

Now, if you’re like many HubSpot users, then you’re probably using HubSpot CRM to manage your leads and customer interactions. Good news! You can easily connect your new WordPress blog to your existing HubSpot CRM.

Think of it as keeping the best of both worlds – the flexibility of WordPress for your blog and the robust CRM capabilities of HubSpot.

The official HubSpot plugin lets you connect your WordPress site to your HubSpot account and unlock a bunch of useful features right within your WordPress dashboard.

With the HubSpot plugin, you can:

• Capture leads from your WordPress site: Easily add HubSpot forms to your WordPress pages and blog posts to capture contact information.
• Track website visitors: The plugin adds HubSpot tracking code to your WordPress site, showing how visitors interact with your content and identifying potential leads.
• Access HubSpot CRM tools from WordPress: Get quick access to your HubSpot contacts, deals, and tasks directly from your WordPress admin area.
• Use live chat: Embed your HubSpot live chat widget on your WordPress site to engage with visitors in real time.
• Analyze your marketing performance: View HubSpot analytics dashboards within WordPress to monitor your blog’s performance and lead generation efforts.

Simply install and activate the HubSpot plugin. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once activated, the plugin will add a new HubSpot menu to your WordPress admin sidebar. This will take you to the setup wizard, where you can click the ‘Sign in here’ link at the top.

Once you have signed in, simply follow the prompts to connect the plugin to your existing HubSpot account.

After connecting, you can explore the HubSpot plugin settings to customize features like form embedding, live chat, and tracking options.

And that’s it! You’ve now integrated your WordPress blog with HubSpot CRM. You can now manage your blog content in WordPress while still making the most of HubSpot’s powerful CRM and marketing tools.

If you’d like a more detailed walkthrough of setting up HubSpot on your WordPress site, then see our guide on how to add a CRM on your WordPress site.

Step 10. Install Essential WordPress Plugins

One of the best things about using WordPress is that you can easily extend your site’s features with plugins.

There are thousands of WordPress plugins available, both free and paid.

At WPBeginner, we put together a guide on how to pick the best plugins for your website. It’s worth a read to learn how to evaluate plugins and pick the right ones for your specific needs.

But to get you off to a flying start, here are a few top plugins we often recommend for almost every new WordPress blog:

• WPForms is a fantastic plugin for creating all sorts of forms – contact forms, surveys, order forms, and more. I use WPForms on my own websites and love how user-friendly it is.
• SeedProd is a drag-and-drop website builder that makes customizing your design a breeze. You can create custom page layouts beyond your theme’s standard options.
• AIOSEO (All in One SEO) is one of the most popular and powerful SEO plugins for WordPress. It helps you optimize your blog for better search engine rankings.
• MonsterInsights makes it easy to understand your blog traffic and visitor behavior. It connects WordPress to Google Analytics and shows you key stats in your dashboard.
• OptinMonster is a powerful toolkit for growing your email list and boosting conversions. It helps you create popups, slide-in forms, and other opt-in forms to capture email addresses.

For even more plugin ideas and recommendations, be sure to check out our comprehensive list of essential WordPress plugins. It’s packed with plugins we use and trust.

Alternative: Get Professional Help to Migrate Your HubSpot Website

Okay, I’ve walked through all the steps to migrate your blog from HubSpot to WordPress. And you know what? For many of you, following these steps will be totally doable!

But let’s be real. Even with a detailed guide, moving a website from HubSpot to WordPress is still quite a technical project. And time-consuming.

Perhaps you’re not super comfortable with the website side of things. Or maybe you’re already juggling a million tasks and just want this migration done quickly, correctly, without headaches.

If that sounds like you, then WPBeginner can help. Our WordPress Website Design service team can design and build you a brand-new, custom WordPress website that’s perfectly tailored to your needs. They can handle the migration of your content from HubSpot, too.

If you’re curious to learn more about these services, or if you just have some questions, then you can easily chat with our support team on our Website Design Services page. They can give you all the details and help you figure out if professional migration help is the right path for you.

Bonus: Learning WordPress

You’ve made the move from HubSpot to the wonderful world of WordPress!

Now, you might be looking at your new WordPress dashboard and thinking, ‘Okay, this is different!’ And you’d be right. WordPress works in its own way, and it has a lot of features and options that might be new to you if you’re coming from HubSpot.

Luckily, I can recommend tons of completely free resources to help you become a WordPress pro in no time. Here are just a few that I think you’ll find super helpful:

• WPBeginner Blog: This is the heart of WPBeginner. Think of it as your go-to library for everything WordPress. You’ll find thousands of easy-to-follow tutorials, guides, and articles.
• WPBeginner Dictionary: WordPress has its own vocabulary! Our dictionary helps you understand all the WordPress terms and jargon.
• WPBeginner Videos: Prefer to learn by watching? Our video tutorials walk you through common WordPress tasks step-by-step, visually.
• WPBeginner YouTube Channel: Even more video help! Our YouTube channel is packed with WordPress tips, tutorials, and how-tos.
• WPBeginner Blueprint: Curious about the tools and plugins we use here at WPBeginner? The Blueprint gives you a peek behind the scenes.
• WPBeginner Deals: Who doesn’t love a good deal? In our Deals section, we gather exclusive discounts and coupons on WordPress themes, plugins, hosting, and more.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by learning WordPress. With WPBeginner as your guide, you have all the resources you need right at your fingertips. Dive in, explore, and start enjoying the power and flexibility of WordPress!

I hope this tutorial helped you move your site from HubSpot to WordPress. You may also want to see my ultimate WordPress SEO migration checklist for beginners or my expert pick of the best WordPress migration services.

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

The post How to Move Your Site From HubSpot to WordPress (Step by Step) first appeared on WPBeginner.

WordPress 6.8 is finally here 🥳, and we’ve been testing it since the early beta. It’s the first major release of 2025 with several important changes.

You’ll notice speed improvements after the update, thanks to the new speculative loading feature that makes pages feel like they load before you click them.

This update also introduces better design tools, stronger password protection, and a more polished site editor.

We’ve explored all the new features, and in this guide, we’ll walk you through what’s changed, with examples and screenshots along the way.

ℹ️Important: As always, please don’t forget to create a complete WordPress backup before updating to the new release.

Here is a quick list of what’s new in WordPress 6.8:

Speed Boost with Speculative Loading 🚀

WordPress 6.8 now includes speculative loading, a clever technique that helps your site feel faster for visitors.

It works by quietly loading pages in the background before someone clicks a link. This way, the next page opens almost instantly.

Think of it like setting the table before your guest even walks into the room. By the time they sit down, everything’s already ready.

This is powered by the Speculation Rules API. WordPress watches for signs like hovering over a link and starts preloading that page just in case.

Developers can fine-tune how this works by setting rules, such as choosing which links get preloaded and when.

Style Book Now Works with Classic Themes 🎨

In WordPress 6.8, the Style Book is now available for classic themes that support the Full Site Editor.

Previously, this feature was limited to block themes only. Now more users can access it, even if they haven’t switched to a block-based design.

The Style Book gives you a visual overview of how your blocks look, including buttons, headings, forms, and more, all in one place.

You’ll find it by going to Appearance » Design » Styles when using a compatible classic theme. This makes it easier to preview and manage styles without needing to edit templates.

WordPress has also moved site patterns to Appearance » Design » Patterns. Grouping these settings together helps keep your workflow organized.

It’s a welcome upgrade if you’re using a classic theme but still want access to modern styling tools.

New Design and Editing Features in WordPress 6.8 🖌️

WordPress 6.8 introduces several updates that make customizing your site faster and more intuitive. Whether you’re adjusting global styles or editing individual blocks, these new features help you work more efficiently.

Set Any Image Block as a Featured Image

With just one click, you can now turn any image block into a featured image.

This makes the process quicker and avoids the need to go into post settings. And don’t worry — deleting the image block won’t remove the featured image from your post.

Switch Section Styles from the Toolbar

In zoomed-out mode, the toolbar now lets you switch between different section styles on the fly.

This is great for experimenting with layouts without hunting through menus or sidebars.

Global Styles Panel in the Site Editor

The Styles panel inside the Site Editor sidebar now makes it easier to manage your site’s look and feel.

You can adjust fonts, colors, spacing, and layout all in one place. This is a big time-saver when you want to update your site’s design without digging through settings.

Image Editing Now Includes an Undo Option

After editing an image, like cropping or rotating, you’ll see a success notice with an undo link.

This makes it easier to roll back edits if something doesn’t look right.

New Query Total Block

A new block called Query Total lets you display the total number of posts shown in a Query Loop.

It’s useful for archive pages, category filters, or search results where users want to know how many posts are being shown.

Quickly Set a Posts Page from the Page List

In the Site Editor, you can now assign any page as your blog’s posts page directly from the page list view.

This small improvement makes setting up your site’s structure much more straightforward.

New Option to Ignore Sticky Posts in Query Loops ♾️

If you’ve ever been frustrated by sticky posts always showing at the top of a query loop, then WordPress 6.8 has a fix.

You can now choose to ignore sticky posts when creating a custom post layout using the Query Loop block.

This gives you better control over the order of your posts, which is especially useful for category pages, blog archives, or custom layouts.

It’s a small checkbox, but it can make a big difference in how your content is displayed.

More Control Over Data Views 🪟

WordPress 6.8 brings helpful improvements to Data Views, making it easier to manage content in the admin area.

Now, layouts behave more consistently across post types. For example, you can choose to show content previews in the grid view for pages.

You can also change the density of tables in list views.

Depending on your preference, this helps you see more content at once or keep things more spacious.

These changes don’t jump out at first, but they really smooth out the experience of managing your site.

Stronger Password Security with bcrypt 🔒

WordPress password security has been due for an upgrade, and it finally arrived in 6.8.

WordPress now uses bcrypt for hashing passwords. It’s much harder to crack and is widely trusted by developers for good reason.

Before this, WordPress used a system called phpass that relied on MD5 hashing. It worked, but it’s outdated, and a sophisticated attack could compromise it.

Bcrypt adds what’s called a “work factor.” That means it takes longer to process each guess, which slows down attacks and keeps your WordPress account safe.

If you’re running a site, you don’t have to change anything. WordPress will handle it for you quietly in the background.

It’s one of those updates you won’t notice day to day, but we’re glad it’s finally here.

Miscellaneous Enhancements in WordPress 6.8

Alongside the big features, WordPress 6.8 includes several smaller improvements that help polish the overall experience:

• Labels across WordPress now consistently say “Add Item” instead of “Add New Item” when you’re adding something new. This small detail helps create a more predictable editing experience. [#61219]
• The date format settings screen now includes two extra options to choose from. These presets save time if you’re not comfortable creating custom date formats. [#55685]
• You can now embed Canva designs directly into your posts using the oEmbed block. This makes it easier to share visuals without needing extra steps. [#58840]
• Focus styles have been refined, link text is now clearer, and form controls are easier for screen reader users to navigate. [Accessibility Overview]

Under the Hood Changes in WordPress 6.8

WordPress 6.8 also brings several behind-the-scenes improvements that developers and power users will appreciate. These changes improve performance, consistency, and flexibility under the hood:

• A new function called wp_register_block_types_from_metadata_collection() allows multiple block types to be registered with a single call. This helps plugin developers streamline their code. [Read more]
• The Interactivity API now has official best practices to guide developers building dynamic block experiences. These recommendations help keep frontend code clean and predictable. [Read more]
• A new REST API filter makes it possible to expose menus publicly. This makes it easier to pull navigation data into headless or frontend apps. [Read more]
• WordPress now properly localizes PHPMailer error messages and ensures plugin update emails match the administrator’s language. These changes improve the international user experience. [Read more]
• Redundant title attributes have been removed across core to improve accessibility. This benefits screen reader users and makes interfaces cleaner. [#24766]
• Block Hooks now work with synced patterns. This creates consistent block behavior across templates, post content, and navigation areas. [#62704]
• Site owners can now remove the “Disable the visual editor” checkbox from user profiles. This is helpful when you want to simplify the editing experience or enforce block editing. [#34681]
• New contextual classes have been added to the body tag. They make it easier to style different parts of a website with custom CSS. [#19736]

Final Thoughts on WordPress 6.8

We’ve been following WordPress 6.8 development from planning to the release, and it’s great to see so many thoughtful improvements packed into this update.

The new design tools make it easier to build beautiful websites. Performance updates like speculative loading help your site feel faster without extra effort.

Even behind the scenes, changes like bcrypt password hashing and better accessibility make a real impact, especially if you’re running a busy or growing site.

If you haven’t updated yet, then we recommend doing so after backing up your site. And once you’re in, take a few minutes to explore the new features — they’re easy to miss but fun to use.

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

The post What’s New in WordPress 6.8? (Features and Screenshots) first appeared on WPBeginner.

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Do you remember when sharing music on a website meant uploading MP3 files and dealing with clunky audio players? I sure do.

Thankfully, many streaming services have made it easier to share music online, and Spotify is leading the way. As one of the world’s largest music platforms, it offers straightforward embedding options that work well with WordPress.

As a music lover and WordPress user, I decided to look for the most reliable methods for adding Spotify content to WordPress sites. Whether you’re a music reviewer, podcast creator, or just want to share your favorite playlist, I will show you how to embed audio content without touching a single line of code.

In this guide, I’ll show you 2 easy methods to embed Spotify in WordPress. These are great options for sharing a single track, a full album, a podcast episode, or an entire playlist. 🎶

Why Embed Spotify in WordPress?

If you’re a musician or podcaster, then embedding Spotify content on your WordPress website is a powerful way to promote your work and connect with your audience.

Instead of sending visitors away to your Spotify profile, you can feature your music or episodes right where your fans already are – like on your podcasting website or the professional hub for your music.

That said, even if you’re not sharing your own content, adding Spotify embeds can still make your site more engaging. Whether you’re writing music reviews or curating playlists, embedding audio tracks can take your content to the next level.

And here are the types of Spotify content you can embed:

• Single tracks – Perfect for promoting your own music or highlighting a specific song.
• Albums – Great for showcasing full releases, especially for artists or music reviewers.
• Playlists – Share your favorite collections or set the mood with themed playlists.
• Podcasts – Ideal if you host a podcast and want to share episodes on your site.
• Artist profiles – Highlight your own Spotify artist page or feature others you support.

The best part? Spotify comes with easy embed links that you can use in WordPress.

How to Embed Spotify in WordPress

WordPress makes it easy to embed Spotify content right out of the box. You can simply paste a Spotify link into the content editor. WordPress will then automatically turn it into an embedded player within a Spotify block.

In this guide, I’ll cover 2 easy ways to embed Spotify in WordPress:

Both methods let you embed songs, albums, playlists, podcasts, or artist profiles without writing a single line of code!

Method 1: Embed Spotify Using the Spotify Block in WordPress (No Plugin Needed)

This is the easiest method because you just need to add a block in the WordPress block editor. It’s great for adding tracks, playlists, or podcast episodes directly to your posts or pages – no extra plugins needed.

Step 1: Find the Spotify Content Link

First, let’s get the Spotify content link.

You can start by opening the Spotify web player or desktop application to access its content (logging in is optional).

From the ‘Home’ screen, you need to use the ‘Search’ feature to find the content you want to embed. You can search by song title, album title, or artist name.

For example, I looked for Dream, Ivory’s artist page.

Just click on the relevant search result when it appears.

Once inside, you can click the three-dot button next to the ‘Follow’ button on the artist’s profile.

Next, hover over the ‘Share’ option and then click ‘Copy link to artist.’

If you want to embed a single track, then you can click on the three-dot button for a track.

Then, simply hover over the ‘Share’ option and click the ‘Copy Song Link’ button.

To embed a full album, scroll down the artist page to the ‘Discography’ section.

After that, just click on the album you want to share to open it.

You’ll see a three-dot button below the album name; go ahead and click it.

From here, you can hover over ‘Share’ and click ‘Copy Album Link.’

The process is pretty much the same for playlists and podcasts.

Just make sure you’re clicking the right three-dot button depending on whether you’re on a song, album, playlist, show, or artist page.

Step 2: Embed the Spotify Content into WordPress

Now, let’s add the link to your WordPress website.

You can embed Spotify content into any post or page. For this tutorial, I’ll show you how to do it inside a blog post using the WordPress block editor.

From your WordPress dashboard, let’s go to Posts » Add New Post or edit an existing post where you want the Spotify player to appear.

You can just paste the Spotify link straight into the editor. But I will also show you how to add the dedicated Spotify block.

In the editor, click the ‘+’ button to add a block.

Then, simply search for ‘Spotify Embed.’

Once you’ve found the ‘Spotify Embed’ block, give it a click to add it to the editor.

Now, you can paste the Spotify link you copied earlier into the block.

You can then click the ‘Embed’ button or press ‘Enter.’

WordPress will automatically fetch and display a live preview of the embedded player.

Before publishing, you might want to adjust the ‘Media settings.’ You can find this slider in the ‘Block’ tab on the right.

Turning on this setting helps the Spotify player look good on all screen sizes, which can help with mobile-friendly design.

When you’re happy with how the Spotify player looks, you can go ahead and click ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ to make it live.

Now, when visitors view your post, they’ll see a fully interactive Spotify player they can use to listen to the audio content directly.

Method 2: Embed Spotify Using the EmbedPress Plugin (More Customizable)

This method is ideal if you want more flexibility when embedding Spotify content. The EmbedPress plugin lets you customize how your music, playlists, or podcasts appear on your site without using any code.

You can control the size of the audio player and even make the content shareable on social networks. It’s also suitable if you’re using the classic editor because it doesn’t rely on blocks.

Step 1: Install the EmbedPress Plugin

To get started, you’ll need to install and activate the free EmbedPress plugin.

So, let’s log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins » Add New Plugin.

In the search bar, type ‘EmbedPress,’ then click ‘Install Now’ and ‘Activate’ when it appears.

Need help installing a plugin? Check out this step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 3: Copy the Spotify Content URL

For this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to find Spotify playlist and podcast links.

Let’s start by going to the Spotify web player or desktop application. You don’t need to be logged in to your account for this step.

Once inside, you can use the search bar at the top to find the Spotify playlist or podcast you want to embed.

On the results page, scroll down to the ‘Playlist’ section.

After that, go ahead and click on the playlist that you want to embed.

From here, you can click the three-dot button under the playlist name or near the ‘+’ button.

This will expand the menu where you can hover over ‘Share’ and click ‘Copy link to playlist.’

You can also go to an artist page, as they usually have a curated playlist.

For example, I went to Nina Simone’s artist page and scrolled down to find her ‘Artist pick’ playlist.

Once you’ve opened the playlist, just click the three-dot button near the title or the ‘+’ icon.

Then, hover over ‘Share’ and choose ‘Copy link to playlist.’

When it comes to podcasts, the process is pretty similar. Simply start by using the ‘Search’ feature to go to the podcast.

Once inside, you can click the three-dot button, hover over ‘Share,’ and click ‘Copy Show Link.’

If you want to share an episode instead, then you can scroll down the podcast page.

Then, click the ‘Share’ icon next to the episode you want to embed and copy the link.

The process is pretty much the same for songs, albums, and artist pages.

Just make sure you’re clicking the right three-dot button.

Step 4: Add the Spotify URL to WordPress Using the EmbedPress Block

Once you get your link, you can embed Spotify content into any WordPress post or page using the EmbedPress block.

To get started, you can create a new post by navigating to Posts » Add New Post. Alternatively, you can open the post where you want to embed the track, playlist, or podcast.

In the editor, let’s click the ‘+’ icon.

Then, you can go ahead and search for the EmbedPress block.

Once you’ve found the block, simply click on it to add it to the editor.

After that, paste your Spotify link into the block.

Don’t forget to click the ‘Embed’ button or press ‘Enter.’

EmbedPress will then instantly fetch the preview and display it right inside the editor.

Now, you will have access to extra controls for the audio player.

In the right panel, you can find the option to resize the player by adjusting its width and height.

Plus, you can enable social sharing to make your content more discoverable.

With this setting, you can choose whether to show the icons at the top, left, right, or bottom of the Spotify player.

EmbedPress Pro also allows you to change the color of the audio player and add a ‘Follow’ button. This can help you get more Spotify followers directly from your WordPress website.

When you’re done customizing, just click ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ to make it live.

That’s it! Your Spotify content is now fully ready to go on your WordPress website. 🎧

💡 Note: If you’re using the old Classic Editor, then you can simply paste the Spotify link into the Visual editor.

The EmbedPress plugin will automatically detect the URL and convert it into an embed.

Take It Further: Sell Your Tracks, Albums, or Sample Packs 💿

Embedding your tracks on your website is just one way to get more listeners.

If you’re a musician, then you can also sell your songs directly from your WordPress site — no middlemen, no platform fees. It’s a smart way to keep full control over your music, grow your fanbase, and earn more from every download.

The easiest way to do this is by using a plugin called Easy Digital Downloads.

Unlike general eCommerce plugins, Easy Digital Downloads is built specifically for selling digital products like MP3s. That means no extra setup for shipping or inventory — just the tools you actually need.

You can sell singles, full albums, or even sample packs with features like secure file delivery, discount codes, and customer management built right in.

For detailed instructions, you can see this guide on how to sell music online in WordPress.

Alternatively, if you want to sell physical music, like vinyl or CDs, then you’ll need a full store with shipping, tax, and inventory support. I recommend using WooCommerce because it’s the most popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress and makes it super easy to sell products online.

You can follow this step-by-step guide on how to start an online store to get started.

FAQs Around How to Embed Spotify in WordPress

If you’re just getting started or still have questions about embedding Spotify links, you’re not alone. Here are some common questions I often hear from WordPress users:

How do I embed a Spotify playlist into WordPress?

You can copy the Spotify playlist link and paste it into a Spotify block in the WordPress editor. WordPress will automatically convert it into an embedded player. Alternatively, a premium plugin like EmbedPress gives you more control over the audio player’s look and branding.

How do I add a Spotify podcast to my WordPress site?

You can copy the podcast episode or show link from Spotify and paste it into the Spotify block in the WordPress block editor. It will instantly turn into a playable embed. Using a plugin like EmbedPress will also allow you to control how the audio player looks and get more followers directly from your website.

How do I play background music on a WordPress site?

Most modern browsers limit autoplaying background music to protect the user experience, especially on mobile devices, where unexpected sounds can be intrusive. Similarly, WordPress also doesn’t support autoplay out of the box.

That said, there are more user-friendly ways to share background music:

• Use a plugin with a custom play button – Plugins like HTML5 Audio Player let you add a small play/pause button. You can place it in a header, footer, or floating sidebar so that visitors can choose to start the music.
• Embed Spotify or other music players – Instead of true background music, you can embed a playlist or single track using Spotify or another streaming service. Visitors can click play whenever they’re ready to listen.

I hope this article has helped you learn how to embed Spotify in WordPress and make your music website more interesting. Next, you can check out our guides on how to add MP3 audio files in WordPress or our expert picks of the best WordPress plugins for podcasters.

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

The post How to Embed Spotify in WordPress (2 Easy Methods) first appeared on WPBeginner.

I’ve learned that the easier you make it for users to log in to your website, the more likely they are to become active members and engage with your content.

That’s where OAuth login comes in – it lets people sign in to your WordPress website with just one click using their existing social accounts like Google, Facebook, or X.

But here’s the thing: while OAuth login sounds simple in theory, setting it up correctly can be tricky. I’ve tested various plugins and methods on real WordPress websites to find the most reliable solution.

Today, I’m sharing my proven method for adding OAuth login to WordPress. I’ll show you how to set it up correctly, avoid common pitfalls, and get it working smoothly on your site.

The Benefits of Adding OAuth Login to WordPress

With traditional logins, weak passwords and forgotten credentials are common problems.

Users often struggle to remember their login details, leading to frustration and frequent password resets. This can create security risks and make the login process feel like a hassle.

OAuth helps prevent these issues by using secure authentication methods from major providers. Instead of creating new usernames and passwords, visitors can log in with accounts they already trust, like Google, Facebook, or GitHub.

Many of these providers also offer two-factor authentication, adding an extra layer of security.

This streamlined login process leads to faster access and fewer abandoned registrations. Users are more likely to complete the process when signing up is as easy as clicking a button.

OAuth also adds an extra layer of security that can reduce spam registrations and fake accounts. Since users log in through verified third-party accounts, it becomes harder for bots and spammers to create fake profiles.

Overall, adding OAuth login to your website creates a smoother, more secure experience for your users. Now, I will show you how to set it up in WordPress.

How to Add OAuth Login in WordPress

Setting up OAuth login in WordPress is easier than you might think. With the right plugin, you can allow users to sign in with their existing social accounts in just a few clicks.

I recommend using Nextend Social Login. It is a popular social media plugin that supports login through third-party providers like Google, Facebook, and Twitter.

Once set up, users will see social login buttons on your login and registration pages, making it simple for them to access your site without creating a new account.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Nextend Social Login Plugin

First, you need to install and activate the Nextend Social Login plugin. For details, see this tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, head over to the Settings » Nextend Social Login page from the WordPress dashboard.

For this tutorial, I will show you how to add OAuth login with Google. Nextend Social Login also offers login via Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and more. The process may be slightly different depending on the provider you choose.

Step 2: Create a Google App

Here, you need to click the ‘Getting Started’ button in the Google section.

This will take you to a new page, where you will see onscreen instructions to create your Google app that will allow OAuth login with your Google account.

Once you read this content, simply click on the provided Google Search Console link.

This will take you to a new screen, where you can add your Google account credentials to log in.

Then, click on the button at the top to open a popup and click the ‘New project’ button.

Next, you need to add a name for the project that you are creating.

You can also add a location and organization. After that, click the ‘Create’ button.

Once you add a project, you will end up back in the dashboard. From here, switch to the ‘OAuth consent screen’ tab from the left column.

Go ahead and click the ‘Get Started’ button.

Now, you have to add a name for your app. This name will be shown when asking for consent.

Then, add your business email address in the ‘User support email’ field so users can contact you with questions about their consent. Then, click the ‘Next’ button.

Next, you have to select an audience for your OAuth login in WordPress.

You can choose the ‘Internal’ option if your app is meant for private use within a Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) organization. This means only users within your company’s domain will be able to log in.

On the other hand, the ‘External’ option is best if your app or website is intended for public use. This allows anyone with a Google account to log in.

However, when you first set it up, the app will be in testing mode, meaning that only users you manually add as test users can access it.

Once you’re ready to go live, you may need to submit your app for Google’s verification process to remove restrictions.

After that, add your email address again.

This will be the email where Google will notify you about any changes to your project. You can also add multiple email addresses.

In the end, simply agree to the Google API services policy.

Finally, click the ‘Create’ button.

Once the process is complete, you will be taken to the ‘OAuth Overview’ page.

From here, click the ‘Create OAuth Client’ button.

On the next screen, you will need to create an OAuth Client ID.

Choose the ‘Web application’ option under the Application type dropdown menu.

Then, add a name for your client ID.

After that, scroll down to the ‘Authorized redirect URIs’ section and click the ‘+ Add URL’ button to enter the redirect URL.

Here, you need to add the link provided by the Nextend Social Login plugin. This URL ensures that users are correctly redirected back to your WordPress website after logging in with Google.

Then, click the ‘Create’ button.

You can find the URL Nextend has created for your website by heading back to your WordPress dashboard.

Here, check the on-screen instructions given by the plugin where the required redirect URL is mentioned.

Once the OAuth client ID is created, a popup will appear on your screen listing your credentials.

Simply copy your Client ID and the Client Secret from here and store them somewhere safe.

Then, head over to the ‘OAuth Consent Screen’ page from the menu on the left.

Here, switch to the ‘Audience’ tab and click the ‘Publish App’ button to allow this app for any user with a Google Account.

This will open a popup, where you can click the ‘Confirm’ button. Now, Google will verify and publish your app. This process can take 15-20 minutes.

Step 3: Verify Your Google Configuration

Now, head back to your WordPress dashboard and switch to the ‘Settings’ tab for Google from the top.

After that, add the Client ID and Client Secret that you copied earlier and click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

Once you do that, Nextend Social Login will show a popup asking you to verify your configuration. Go ahead and click the ‘Verify Settings’ button.

Keep in mind that if you skip this step, the Google OAuth sign-in option will not appear on your screen.

Next, switch to the ‘Buttons’ section from the top.

Here, you can choose a button style for your Google OAuth login. You can also create a custom button with custom code if you like.

Once you are done, just click the ‘Save Changes’ button to store your changes.

Now, you need to switch to the Global Settings » Login Form tab from the top.

Here, check the ‘Show login buttons’ box for the ‘Login Form’ option so that users can easily opt for the OAuth sign-in option from here.

You can also configure the rest of the settings according to your liking.

Next, click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

Then, you have to head back to the Settings » Nextend Social Login page from the WordPress dashboard.

Finally, click the ‘Enable’ button under the ‘Google’ option. You can now repeat this entire process with different third-party apps to add OAuth login for them.

Once you are done, simply visit your WordPress site to see the OAuth login in action.

Bonus: Add Passwordless Login in WordPress with Login Links

While OAuth login removes the need to create new passwords, users will still need to rely on credentials from third-party accounts like Google or Facebook.

If you want to go completely password-free, then login links offer another secure login method. It lets users bypass the WordPress login credentials and simply click on a link to log in to their accounts.

With the Magic Login plugin, users simply need to enter their email address, and a one-time login link is sent to their inbox. Clicking the link grants instant access, with no passwords required.

This reduces login friction while keeping accounts secure. It’s especially useful for websites where you want to minimize barriers to entry and improve the user experience.

Plus, since these login links are time-sensitive and unique, they provide an extra layer of security against brute-force attacks and credential leaks.

To get started, see our tutorial on how to add passwordless login in WordPress.

I hope this article helped you learn how to add OAuth login in WordPress. You may also want to see our beginner’s guide on how to add one-click Google login in WordPress and our tutorial on adding CAPTCHA in WordPress login and registration form.

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

The post How to Add OAuth Login in WordPress (Step by Step) first appeared on WPBeginner.

The Themes and Hosting teams has unveiled their representatives for 2025. 

Themes Team Reps 

In November, the Themes Team announced their search for community members familiar with WordPress theme development to serve as representatives for 2025. The call for nominations was open to everyone, allowing individuals to nominate themselves or others.

Interestingly, several comments on the announcement post suggested re-nominating the 2024 representatives. After consulting with current and former team representatives, the Themes Team decided to retain the existing team reps for another term:

• Alexandru Cosmin from Romania is sponsored by Extend Themes as a part-time reviewer. He released his first WordPress theme in 2008, and since then, has played diverse roles—serving as a reviewer, developer, and team representative.
• Ganga Kafle from Nepal is a full-time WordPress contributor sponsored by Rank Math. Active in the community since 2012, he is an organizer for WordCamp Asia 2025 and a moderator for WordPress-related podcasts like Go With WP.
• Shiva Shanker Bhatta from Nepal is the founder/CEO of AF Themes. With over a decade of experience in WordPress, he focuses on themes, plugins, and community contributions.

In 2024, the Themes Team closed a total of 39,796 tickets, with Alexandru Cosmin, Ganga Kafle, and Shiva Shanker Bhatta collectively handling 1,708 reviews. Ganga Kafle and Alexandru Cosmin were the top reviewers last year.

Hosting Team Reps

After a Call for Nominations, four candidates were proposed for the Hosting Team Rep positions: Matthias Pfefferle, Javier Casares, Zunaid Amin, and Lucas Radke. However, Matthias and Javier declined the opportunity. Following an anonymous survey, the team announced the following representatives for 2025:

• Zunaid Amin from Bangladesh is joining as a new Hosting Team Rep. He is a WordPress Engineer at Rocket.Net.
• Lucas Radke from Germany is the Product Manager at WordPress VIP. He is continuing as Hosting Team Rep.

Automattician Alex Shiels of the Meta team has announced the resumption of WordPress.org services after the holiday break of two weeks. Users can now register new accounts, submit plugins, themes, and photos, and review plugins once again.

Last month, Matt Mullenweg declared WordPress.org’s first-ever holiday break. He said, “In order to give myself and the many tired volunteers around WordPress.org a break for the holidays, we’re going to be pausing a few of the free services currently offered.” 

Initially, WP Engine was the sole exception, retaining full access to WordPress.org. Later, user registrations were reopened to support WordCamps following a ticket raised by Joost de Valk of Emilia Capital on WordPress GitHub. The ticket highlighted that a WP.org account is required to purchase WordCamp tickets.

Matt did not share a specific date for resuming the services, stating, “I hope to find the time, energy, and money to reopen all of this sometime in the new year.”

To create a new account, users must provide their email address and a username. The registration form includes three checkboxes: confirming acceptance of the Privacy Policy (mandatory), subscribing to the WordPress Announcements mailing list, and the infamous pineapple pizza. Only accepting the Privacy Policy is required to proceed.

The Training Team has launched a new course on Learn WordPress specifically for designers: Beginner WordPress Designer. This learning pathway is crafted to help designers new to WordPress gain the skills needed to create professional websites.

The course covers essential topics such as building a style guide, understanding block themes, and adopting a block-first approach to design. It also teaches best practices in web design, theme customization, layout composition, and working with media blocks.

This learning pathway is free and open to everyone and consists of 24 lessons organized into 6 sections, requiring approximately 4 hours to complete:

• Introduction to designing with WordPress
• Getting to know WordPress
• Web design best practices
• Customizing themes and templates
• Layout composition
• Working with media blocks

Lesley Sim, Co-founder of Newsletter Glue tweeted, “This looks so good and so useful.”

Learn WordPress is an educational initiative by the Training team aimed at helping users of all levels improve their WordPress skills.

On Christmas Eve, WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg took to Reddit, causing quite a stir by asking what kind of drama he should create in 2025. He posted, “What drama should I create in 2025? I’m very open to suggestions. Should we stop naming releases after jazz musicians and name them after Drake lyrics? Eliminate all dashboard notices? Take over any plugins into core? Change from blue to purple? I think we can brainstorm together and come up with way better things than I could on my own. Also, Merry Christmas! ”

The post quickly amassed over 500 comments. However, the community was far from being amused, and a good portion of the replies urged him to stop posting, step down, seek professional help, or take a break and avoid creating any drama. “For someone in your position, creating extraneous drama for these people is not only disrespectful, it’s outright psychopathic to the extent that it affects their ability to work and be productive.”, read one comment from Stubby_Shillelagh.

Redditor WillmanRacing referenced a Sherman Act violation, suggesting sarcastically, “I have a fantastic idea for some drama we can get up to. Why don’t we create a charitable foundation governing our open source software product, instead of our for-profit company. Why don’t we also operate our main website as its own separate entity, with employees and volunteers provided by yet another entity. Then, why dont we have all of these entities take action against one of our competitors and their entire customer base, refusing to do business with any customers until they stop working with our competitor. Why don’t we ban ALL of those people from our services, and try to compel them to use our service instead?” 

Many expressed frustration and hoped for a return to normalcy. One Redditor shared, “I’ve been a huge fan of WordPress for the longest time, and I hate to see all this drama happening. Learning WordPress is actually how I landed my first official programming job. I really hope everything will get back to normal soon.”

Responding to calls for taking a break, Matt quoted Shakespeare’s Macbeth: “Life’s but a walking shadow, A poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Matt also hinted that some exciting things are on the way. He said, “I’m really excited for people to experience Phase 3 of Gutenberg, things like real-time co-editing done completely peer-to-peer with WebRTC.” 

Another person chimed in, “Matt is doing to WordPress.org what broadcom is doing to VMware. WordPress used to be such a happy place with a rich thriving developer community, but now everyone is scared shitless that Matt will do a rug pull because he feels like it.”

It (WordPress) has a very special place in my heart, as well. I think WordPress’ brightest days are ahead of it.

– Matt Mullenweg

Matt was also criticized for not grasping the gravity of the situation. One Redditor said, “How can you write such a post in a time like this? The WordPress community needs stability and a leadership to trust again. It doesn’t matter if you want to be funny, this is not the right time. Do you think people see this post and think, “yeah, that’s a project I want to contribute to?” Contributors are leaving, even getting banned. Clients are worried. Users looking for alternatives. A court is involved. But your actions don’t really look like you get the seriousness of this. It’s really sad to watch.”

Another Redditor too shared this opinion and Matt replied, “I hope you see how much this is unique to WPE and not something that has happened before or since with others. Silver Lake holds things for 4-6 years and then flips and moves on. Myself and many others are in this for decades. We have seen their type come and go in the past.”

When a Redditor asked about choosing Shopify or sticking with WordPress, Matt recommended, “Use WordPress if you value freedom, autonomy, and want to be in complete control of your digital future. Shopify can be expensive but a good proprietary solution if you want to do exactly what they offer and not color outside the lines too much.” Most of Matt’s comments in Reddit were downvoted. 

Some supported Matt’s recent actions. “Thanks for your “drama”. Had it been successful, this would have set the best precedent ever for the all the hyper-capitalist leeches leeching off the free work of others. But everyone is selfish, and short-sighted. They should have taken the opportunity to back you, and dealt with you later, but alas. All fools.”, read one comment.

Another one said, “If you want to make the change you claim you want to see and Matt take a more ethical stance on his business practices, then maybe give WordPress back to the people for free as it was intended. Until then we should appreciate the guy who brought us to the dance. Does not mean we need to like him, more successful people are not liked, something very sad about watching a group of people attack a man who gave 50% of the net to the world for free.”

The community also offered Matt various suggestions, both serious and playful:

• Provide steady leadership.
• Listen to the community.
• Show restraint and consider how his actions affect the rest of the community.
• Publicly promise that no plugins from the Repo will be taken over.
• Endorse a successor to WordPress
• Federate the Repos and take the hosting costs off Automattic.
• Introduce a built-in way to create a simple contact form 
• Hand over WordPress.org to a community-run group.
• Make Gutenberg absolutely awesome.
• Offer WordPress with three options right out of the box: Classic only, Gutenberg only, or both.
• Name WordPress releases after meteors/poets/songwriters.
• Charge $.05 per request to anything at WordPress.org

Regarding the ongoing drama, Matt said, “We’ll look back on the WPE drama next year as something that seemed like a big deal at the time but isn’t that notable in the grand arc of history.”

 He signed off, saying, “I really do enjoy talking with people on the internet, even if we don’t always agree, and I appreciate everyone taking the time to share their perspective. Forums like this is how I got my start as a teenager. If you think Reddit is spicy, you should have seen Usenet and IRC back in the day! I hope you all have an amazing Christmas and very happy new year.”

The discussion spilled over to Twitter, too. Ryan Duff dubbed it “Just another day of very unhealthy and toxic behavior from WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg.”

Takis Bouyouris tweeted, “Either Matt has crossed some sort of personal Rubicon, or it is hard to imagine how such pettiness could have been the attribute of one who lead the project for so many years. Being lonely at the top, detached from reality and without healthy consult is a sign of a fading ruler. The Autumn of the Patriarch, by Gabriel García Márquez is a great novel on the topic.” 

Duane Storey tweeted, “Matt looking down at the #WordPress community on Reddit this Christmas eve, wondering why we are all still singing and enjoying ourselves without our WordPress.org toys.”

Kellie Peterson exclaimed, “What fresh hell? This is what Matt Mullenweg is doing on Christmas Eve. He could be spending it with his alleged many godchildren, his mother, and his sister but instead he’s sowing chaos.”

Joost de Valk, co-founder of the Yoast SEO plugin has called for Breaking the Status Quo of the WordPress world. This comes in the wake of Matt Mullenweg’s announcement of a holiday break for WordPress.org and the ongoing Automattic-WP Engine legal dispute.

de Valk said, “We, the WordPress community, need to decide if we’re ok being led by a single person who controls everything, and might do things we disagree with, or if we want something else. For a project whose tagline is “Democratizing publishing”, we’ve been very low on exactly that: democracy.”

Referring to Mullenweg as a BDFL (Benevolent Dictator For Life), de Valk argued that Matt is “no longer Benevolent, and because of that, speaking up in public is a risk.” 

de Valk acknowledged that due to Yoast’s contributions to WordPresss, he “did get some say in where WordPress went, though never officially, and never when it went in directions that Matt disagreed with. Over time, that influence became less as Matt tightened his grip on the project. I think that tightening was in part a cramp. Wanting to control more what people were working on, because the project wasn’t progressing fast enough in the direction he wanted it to go in.”

I think it’s time to let go of the cult and change project leadership. I’ve said it before: we need a “board”. We can’t wait with doing that for the years it will take for Automattic and WP Engine to fight out this lawsuit.

– Joost de Valk

He said, “I’m still, to this day, very thankful for what Matt has created. I would love to work with him to fix all this. But it’s clear now, that we can no longer have him be our sole leader, although I’d love it if we could get him to be among the leaders.”

He put forward 5 steps that must be taken fast: 

• A WordPress foundation-like entity consisting of a board with people from diverse backgrounds leads the project.
• WordPress.org and key community assets are transferred to the foundation.
• The WordPress trademark is made public domain or managed for free use.
• Companies and individuals can sponsor the foundation, receiving perks like listings on a hosting page.
• Small teams are formed for Architecture, Product, Events, etc., with proper governance.

He also suggested “Federated and Independent Repositories” to decentralize the official WordPress repository. He said, “Matt might not agree to my first five points above. However, we can still work on the Federated and Independent Repositories without his permission because, frankly, we don’t need it.”

He revealed that he’s already in talks with other community figures like Karim Marucchi, CEO of Crowd Favorite. He is also willing to take up the mantle of the movement if needed. 

He said, “I’m here, and willing to lead through this transition. I do have the time, the energy and the money needed to fund myself doing it. I’ve worked in this industry and this community for close to 20 years and it’s very dear to me. Thanks in large part to the WordPress project, I have the privileged position to be able to drop and/or delegate some of the stuff I’m working on and start working on this.”

Karim Marucchi’s Vision For a New WordPress Business Roadmap

Karim Marucchi of Crowd Favorite backed Joost de Valk. He said, “the current situation has jeopardized the very fabric of this ecosystem.”

We need to prevent a single entity from doing to WordPress what befell other open-source projects that shrank or died while protecting one party’s market position.

– Karim Marucchi

He proposed five essential critical paths to concentrate on:

• Securing the supply chain & start modernization 
• Convening, defining & creating the Commons 
• Defining the roadmap as “the” Open-Web’s Operating System.
• Open Source as a hub for innovation
• Focusing on leading data ownership, privacy, and accessibility

de Valk and Marucchi will get together with other community leaders in January 2025 to decide the way forward. 

Response From Matt

Matt commented under de Valk’s blog post: “I think this is a great idea for you to lead and do under a name other than WordPress. There’s really no way to accomplish everything you want without starting with a fresh slate from a trademark, branding, and people point of view.”

Response From the Community 

Joost de Valk found support from other community leaders too. 

Brian Gardner of WP Engine supported de Valk, tweeting, “Cosign. (My personal op and b/c I WordPress.)”

WP Engine also came out in support. 

Michele Butcher-Jones of Can’t Speak Geek also shared her thoughts:

Katie Keith of Barn2Plugins shared, “Wow, I never expected someone as high profile as  @jdevalk to speak out so openly against the current leadership of WordPress. However, I completely agree with his analysis of the situation and his proposed solutions.”

WordPress Core Committer Tonya Mork said, “I’ve been mostly quiet, other than publicly pausing my WordPress Core contributions. That ends today. I stand with  @jdevalk and @karimmarucchi for the “hold this community together” effort. Publicly sharing my support.”

Taco Verdo of Emilia Capital had this to say:

Daniel Schutzsmith, Jon Brown, Karissa Skirmont, Blake Whittle, Duane Storey, Vova Feldman and Takis Bouyouris also came out in support of de Valk.  

Andrei Lupu was, however, against the development. He said, “Let me nuke my WP career with an honest question: why would we follow a board of people who sold their products when they peaked? No one is perfect and I’m not sure if switching from one person’s vision to multiple people fighting for influence of a “board” is a good thing.”

@ViaEth also supports Matt. “All of this started after WPE couldn’t continue to leech off the #WordPress branding. All of these blog posts and whining just proves @photomatt right. Companies want to suck WP dry if this was purely about altruistic reason they would just fork the codebase and fuck off.”

Jesse Nickles, an SEO enthusiast, also does not believe in de Valk. He said, “Despite my desire to want to give you another chance as a “thought leader” or whatever else, 2 things are seared into my memory… first, the fact that Yoast SEO was always, and still is, one of the most dishonest and tricky plugins in WordPress history.”

Morten Rand-Hendriksen published After WordPress. According to him, there are two paths forward for the WordPress community:

• Mullenweg releases his iron grip on the project, brings in proper governance, creates a more equitable ecosystem economy, and steps into a role of visionary leader instead of micromanager. 
• The community organizes, takes every lesson learned over the past 20+ years, combines with a vision for what the world will need going into the next 10 years, and builds a new platform to stand on.

For the first time, Matt Mullenweg has announced a holiday break for WordPress.org services. In his blog post, he said, “In order to give myself and the many tired volunteers around WordPress.org a break for the holidays, we’re going to be pausing a few of the free services currently offered.”

The paused services include new account registrations on WordPress.org, plugin reviews, and new submissions to the plugin, theme, and photo directories.

During this time, WP Engine will retain full access to WordPress.org. Matt explained, “As you may have heard, I’m legally compelled to provide free labor and services to WP Engine thanks to the success of their expensive lawyers, so in order to avoid bothering the court I will say that none of the above applies to WP Engine, so if they need to bypass any of the above please just have your high-priced attorneys talk to my high-priced attorneys and we’ll arrange access, or just reach out directly to me on Slack and I’ll fix things for you.”

Matt has not provided a specific date for resuming these services, stating, “I hope to find the time, energy, and money to reopen all of this sometime in the new year. Right now much of the time I would spend making WordPress better is being taken up defending against WP Engine’s legal attacks. Their attacks are against Automattic, but also me individually as the owner of WordPress.org, which means if they win I can be personally liable for millions of dollars of damages.”

He concluded the blog post by saying, “If you would like to fund legal attacks against me, I would encourage you to sign up for WP Engine services, they have great plans and pricing starting at $50/mo and scaling all the way up to $2,000/mo. If not, you can use literally any other web host in the world that isn’t suing me and is offering promotions and discounts for switching away from WP Engine.”

The official WordPress Twitter account echoed the announcement: “In order to give tired volunteers around WordPress.org a break for the holidays, we’re going to be pausing a few of the free services currently offered…And to be super clear for the court so we’re not held in contempt, none of this applies to @wpengine.”

Some have applauded the much-needed break for volunteers, while others expressed concern over the indefinite suspension of services. 

WordPress User Registration Reopened to Support WordCamps 

Since a WordPress.org account is mandatory to buy WordCamp tickets, the temporary suspension of new user registrations had raised concerns, as it restricted new users from buying tickets for upcoming WordCamps, including major events like WordCamp Europe, Asia, Pune, Kolhapur, and Ahmedabad, where tickets are already on sale.

Jeff Chandler commented on the issue, saying, “If the requirement is not removed, at the very least, for WordCamp sites with events coming up and they suffer because of it, that’s going to be such a huge blow to current and future event organizers and to the community itself.”

Joost de Valk of Emilia Capital raised the issue in WordPress GitHub and Dion Hulse reenabled the registration if the referrer is WordCamp. “Login: Enable user account creations when the referer is WordCamp. This allows for WordCamps tickets to continue to be bought. Per Matt.”, reads the Trac message. 

Dion Hulse then enabled user registrations for upcoming ‘nextgen events’.

Discussions are continuing in Reddit too.

The controversial mandatory pineapple pizza checkbox on WordPress.org’s login form has been made optional. This decision follows a Twitter poll conducted by WordPress.org, in which 81.2% of respondents voted against making the checkbox mandatory. Additionally, 58.3% of respondents declared that pineapple on pizza is not delicious.

The checkbox initially replaced one from October, which required users to confirm, “I am not affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise,” before accessing their accounts. This earlier requirement was removed following a court ruling.

Former WordPress Plugin Review Team representative Mika Epstein advocated for the change by opening a Trac ticket to make the “Pineapple is Delicious” checkbox optional. The proposal quickly gained traction, with Matt Mullenweg expressing his support, stating, “I’m supportive of this change.”

Earlier, Matt had expressed his willingness to meet with people to discuss specific proposals and changes, responding to calls for reforms in the governance of the open-source project. The Repository had published an open letter written by a group of WordPress professionals urging Matt to work with the community instead of continuing to act unilaterally.

In response to the change, Jeff Chandler tweeted, “The stupid Pineapple checkbox when logging into WordPress.org is now optional.” CEO of ClikIT Blake Whittle remarked, “Not of any community doing. Only because Matt is supportive of the change on his personal website.” Accessibility Expert Alex Stine added, “Matt said yes, change goes live.”

One Reddit user humorously quipped, “The Pineapple is dead! Long live the Pineapple!”

Earlier, Patricia BT had suggested an alternative in the Make WordPress #community-team Slack channel. She said, “Could the .org login box be changed to something a bit more serious? Maybe something like “I adhere to the Community Code of Conduct” so everyone is following the code. I understand the pizza joke and I am relieved that the legal implications of the previous one are gone (see my concerns about legal implications on my blog), but the WordPress community must look a bit more serious and not have newcomers scratching their heads… We are the community and people (meetup attendees, end-users, customers, etc) ask us (who are more involved here) about what is happening and they need trust.”

Dion Hulse of Automattic also chimed in. He said, “Rather than having a checkbox that must be checked every time without thought, it’s probably better to figure out if the policies are in a format that can be linked to / agreed to, and enable that functionality.”

Looking to boost your online store’s conversion rates? You’re not alone. When we first started selling products online, we noticed that many visitors would abandon their carts right at checkout.

The reason? They weren’t sure if they could trust our website with their payment information.

That’s when we discovered the power of trust badges. After adding them to our checkout pages, we saw an immediate improvement in sales. These small but powerful symbols help reassure customers that their transactions are secure and legitimate.

And fortunately, adding trust badges to your WordPress checkout pages isn’t complicated at all. Whether you’re selling physical products or digital downloads, this step-by-step guide will show you how to set up trust seals in WordPress.

You’ll learn which badges work best and where to place them for maximum impact. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have everything you need to boost your store’s credibility and increase your sales.

Before we dive into the beginner’s guide, here are some quick links to help you navigate to the sections that you’re interested in:

What Are Trust Badges?

Trust badges are visual elements or icons designed to reassure visitors that your website or online store is secure, reliable, and credible. You have probably seen them on checkout pages, product pages, or even website footers.

They often include badges like ‘Secure Checkout,’ ‘Money-Back Guarantee,’ ‘Verified Seller,’ or ‘Free Shipping.’ These symbols act as subtle but powerful signals that help customers feel safe making a purchase from your store.

Trust badges are especially important for online stores because customers are sharing sensitive information like credit card details.

A well-placed trust badge, such as one showing your site uses SSL encryption or is backed by a reputable payment processor, can ease concerns and help to reduce cart abandonment.

Even small design choices, like adding a PayPal or Stripe logo, can have a big impact on customer confidence.

WordPress makes it easy to add trust badges using plugins, widgets, or even custom code.

Whether you run a WooCommerce store or sell digital products with Easy Digital Downloads, adding trust badges is a simple step that can directly affect your sales.

The Benefits of Using Trust Seals in Your Online Store

Adding trust badges to your WordPress site is about more than looking professional. It also gives your customers the confidence to take the next step.

When visitors trust your site, they are more likely to stick around, make a purchase, and even return for more.

Here are some key benefits of using trust badges on your site:

• ✔️Reduce Cart Abandonment: One of the biggest reasons customers abandon their carts is fear of fraud or security concerns. Displaying trust badges like ‘Secure Checkout’ or ‘SSL Secured’ reassures them that their information is safe.
• ✔️Boost Conversions: Trust badges directly impact your sales. When customers see that your store is verified or offers guarantees, they feel more confident buying from you. In fact, a study found that adding trust badges to checkout pages increased conversions by up to 42%.
• ✔️Build Credibility: Badges like ‘Verified Seller’ or those from well-known payment processors (like PayPal or Stripe) make your site look more credible.
• ✔️Encourage Repeat Purchases: When customers have a positive, trustworthy experience, they are more likely to come back. Badges like ‘Money-Back Guarantee’ or ‘100% Satisfaction Guaranteed’ tell buyers that you stand by your products and can build long-term loyalty.
• ✔️Improve Perceived Value: Trust badges also improve how customers view your products and services. A badge like ‘Free Shipping‘ has a psychological boost because users love the idea of getting more value without additional cost.

Types of Trust Badges That You Can Use

You must keep in mind that not all trust badges are created the same, and each serves a specific purpose to address different customer concerns. From security to shipping guarantees, the type of trust badge you use can make a big difference in how customers perceive your store.

Here are some of the most common types of trust badges used on WordPress sites.

Secure Checkout Badges

One of the biggest concerns for customers when it comes to online shopping is whether their personal and payment information is safe. This is where secure checkout badges come into play.

These badges, often displayed as a padlock icon or labeled with ‘SSL Secured,’ let shoppers know your site is using SSL encryption to protect sensitive data.

In WordPress, secure checkout badges can be automatically added if you are using a reliable SSL certificate.

Many hosting providers even include SSL for free.

Pairing this with a visible badge on your checkout page makes it clear to customers that their payment details are safe from hackers or breaches.

Payment Processor Badges

Another layer of reassurance comes from using payment processor badges. Logos from trusted payment providers like PayPal or Stripe tell customers that their transactions are being handled by well-known and secure systems.

For instance, we use a ‘PayPal Verified’ logo on the MonsterInsights checkout page. This immediately ensures customers that they have the option to pay securely through a trusted platform.

This simple addition can make all the difference when a hesitant shopper is deciding whether or not to complete their purchase.

Credit Card Logo Badges

Another idea for trust badges is to display credit card logo badges on your checkout page. These badges, like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and others, let customers know that they can securely make payments using their preferred card.

It helps visitors feel more confident about sharing their payment information since they recognize these major payment brands. It is a simple way to show that your website supports safe and secure transactions.

We recommend placing these card logos where they are easy to spot, like near the payment options or checkout button.

Customer Satisfaction Badges

Customer satisfaction badges are a great way to boost confidence and encourage people to make a purchase. These badges signal to potential buyers that your store values their experience and offers reliable services.

For instance, Money-Back Guarantee is a customer satisfaction badge that reassures customers that if they are not happy with their purchase, they can get their money back.

Similarly, a Free Shipping Badge can instantly make your store more appealing. It is an easy way to increase conversions by highlighting a benefit that many customers look for when shopping online.

You can also add a Verified Seller Badge if you have a store on a platform like Etsy. This will allow you to show that your store is credible and trustworthy.

Client and Partner Logo Badges

Displaying your clients’ logos on your website is a powerful way to build credibility and trust.

When potential customers see that well-known brands or companies work with you or are using your product, it gives your business a stamp of approval.

For example, at OptinMonster, we show a list of logos of all the famous brands that are using our product.

Third-Party Endorsement Badges

Third-party endorsement badges are another tool for improving your credibility. They show that your business has been recognized or approved by an external organization or expert.

These badges act as independent validation that your products or services meet certain standards, making potential customers feel more confident about their purchase decisions.

For instance, seals from trusted organizations, like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or security certification seals (like Norton or McAfee), can go a long way in reassuring customers that your site is safe.

If your business has won any industry awards or been featured in top publications, then you can also show these badges. They will serve as proof that experts or influencers in your field recognize your business’s quality and success.

Method 1: How to Add Custom Trust Badges to Checkout Pages in WooCommerce (Custom Code)

If you’ve already designed your WooCommerce checkout page and want to add trust badges to it, then this is the method for you. It’s also a free method if you don’t want to invest in a dedicated WooCommerce plugin like FunnelKit (Method 2).

We’re going to be working with custom code here, which can be a bit risky and even break your website. That’s why we’re going to use WPCode.

It is the best WordPress code snippets plugin on the market. After thorough testing, we have concluded that it is the easiest and safest way to add custom code. To learn more, see our WPCode review.

Note: Keep in mind that you will also need to add your own trust seal images to the WordPress media library. For details, see our guide on how to properly add images in WordPress.

First, you need to install and activate the WPCode plugin. For step by step instructions, see our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, head over to the Code Snippets » + Add Snippet page from the WordPress dashboard.

Here, click the ‘Use Snippet’ button under the ‘Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)’ option.

You will now be directed to a new screen where you must add a code snippet name. This name will only be for your identification and will not be shown to any users.

Then, choose ‘HTML Snippet’ as the ‘Code Type’ from the popup.

Go ahead and add the following custom code into the ‘Code Preview’ box:

<div class="wpcode-trust-badge" style="text-align: center;">
	<img src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/trust-badge.png" width="100" alt="Trusted" />
</div>

After that, be sure to replace the placeholder image URL with the URL of your trust badge image to display it correctly on the checkout page.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to upload the trust badge image to your WooCommerce store and retrieve its URL from the WordPress media library. If you’re unsure how to do this, check out our tutorial on how to get the URL of images you upload in WordPress.

You can add as many trust badge images as you like.

Now, scroll down to the ‘Insertion’ section and choose the ‘Shortcode’ option.

Then, toggle the ‘Inactive’ switch to ‘Active’ and click the ‘Save Snippet’ button.

Once you do that, WPCode will generate a shortcode that you will be adding to your WooCommerce checkout page.

Simply click the ‘Copy’ button and store the shortcode somewhere safe.

Now, open your store’s checkout page in the WordPress block editor.

Here, you need to choose a suitable place within the checkout block to display your trust badge, ensuring it’s highly visible to customers.

While the ‘Shortcode’ block isn’t available in this section, the trust badge shortcode will still work correctly when placed inside a ‘Paragraph’ block.

Finally, click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button to store your changes.

Now, visit your WooCommerce store to see the trust badges in action.

Method 2: How to Add Trust Badges to WooCommerce Checkout Pages (Plugin Method)

If you want to add trust badges to your WooCommerce checkout page without using custom code, then FunnelKit Funnel Builder is a great option.

It comes with professionally designed checkout templates that already include trust badges, helping you create a high-converting checkout experience with minimal effort.

Keep in mind that this version will involve creating an entirely custom WooCommerce checkout page. So, if you just want to add trust badges to your existing checkout page, then please go to Method 1.

We’ve tested FunnelKit a lot over the years, and it’s a great tool for improving your WooCommerce store. For details, see our complete FunnelKit review.

First, you need to install and activate the FunnelKit Funnel Builder plugin. For details, see our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once you’ve activated the plugin, you need to go to the FunnelKit » Store Checkout page and click the ‘Create Store Checkout’ button.

You can now choose from any of FunnelKit’s professionally designed checkout page templates.

To take a closer look at the trust badges for each template, simply click the ‘Preview’ button.

We’re using the Hific template, which has multiple trust badges related to security.

When you find a template you want to use, go ahead and click on the ‘Import This Funnel’ button.

Doing this will show a prompt on the screen.

Go ahead and click the ‘Activate’ button. Once you do that, type in the name for your store’s checkout page.

You will now be able to edit the checkout page according to your liking.

For step-by-step instructions, see our guide on how to customize checkout pages in WooCommerce.

Once you are done, head back to the Store Checkout page and click on the ‘Draft’ button.

Then, choose the ‘Publish’ option from the dropdown menu.

Now, visit your WooCommerce store to see the custom checkout page.

Here, you will see the trust seals at the bottom.

For more details on getting the most out of FunnelKit, see our guide on how to make a high-converting sales funnel in WordPress.

Method 3: How to Add Trust Badges to Checkout Pages for Digital Products

If you sell digital goods with Easy Digital Downloads (EDD), then it’s actually super easy to add trust badges to your checkout pages. You’ll just need to make sure that you first have a functional store for selling digital downloads in WordPress.

You’ll also need the WPCode plugin because it comes with built-in EDD locations that make it even easier to add trust badges to your store.

Important: Keep in mind that you will also need to add your own trust seal images to the WordPress media library. For details, see our guide on how to properly add images in WordPress.

First, you will need to install and activate the WPCode plugin. For details, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, visit the Code Snippets » + Add Snippet page and choose the ‘Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)’ option.

Then, select ‘HTML Snippet’ as the code type.

Now, simply add the following custom code into the ‘Code Preview’ box:

<div class="wpcode-trust-badge" style="text-align: center;">
	<img src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/trust-badge.png" width="100" alt="Trusted" />
</div>

Once you do that, make sure to add the URL of your trust badge image from the media library. If you’re not sure where to find it, then please see our guide on how to get the URL of images you upload in WordPress.

Then, scroll down to the ‘Insertion’ section and choose the ‘Auto Insert’ mode.

After that, you need to expand the ‘Location’ section and switch to the ‘eCommerce’ tab.

Next, scroll down to the ‘Easy Digital Downloads’ section and select the ‘After the Checkout Cart’ option. Now, your trust badges will automatically be added to your EDD checkout page.

If you’re using the free version of WPCode, then you’ll need to copy the WPCode shortcode and paste it into your checkout page. For details, see our guide on how to add shortcodes in WordPress.

Go ahead and toggle the ‘Inactive’ switch to ‘Active’ from the top.

Then, click the ‘Save Snippet’ button to store your settings.

Now, visit the checkout page in your digital downloads store.

Here, you will notice that the trust badges are showing in your chosen location.

Bonus Tips for Using Social Proof in Your Online Store

Using random icons on your checkout page won’t automatically boost conversions. Instead, you need the right trust signals in the right places.

Here are a few tips to get the most out of social proof in your WordPress store:

• 🎨Match the Badges to Your Store’s Design: Trust badges should stand out just enough to grab attention without clashing with your design. Avoid oversized, pixelated, or mismatched badges that make your checkout page look cluttered.
• 🔥Test and See What Works Best: Not all badges work the same for every store. Try different placements, designs, and messaging to see what resonates with your customers. A/B testing can help you find the perfect combination.
• ⭐Show more social proof with customer reviews. Showing positive reviews from happy customers can also convince shoppers to complete their purchases. For details, see our guide on how to show Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews in WordPress.
• 💰Show real-time purchase notifications. Showing users that other customers are buying your products can convince them to do the same. Learn how to do this in our guide on how to create a live sale notification in WooCommerce.

Related Guides for Boosting Sales in WordPress

• How to Reduce Stripe Transaction Fees in WordPress (Expert Tips)
• How to Create a Services Section in WordPress (Easy Ways)
• Important Online Payment Statistics, Data, and Trends
• How to Make Money Using AI (Easy Ideas)
• Best Homemade Things to Make and Sell Online (Expert Pick)
• WordPress Payment Processing: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners

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The post How to Add Trust Badges to Checkout Pages in WordPress (& Boost Sales) first appeared on WPBeginner.