Tracking your WordPress blog stats doesn’t have to feel like a chore. It can be an exciting way to uncover what your audience loves most about your content.
WordPress post analytics can show you which posts are driving traffic, the topics that resonate with readers, and how visitors are finding your site. This can help you improve your content strategies and boost traffic to your website. 🚀
The best part? You don’t need to be a tech wizard to get started.
For example, we love using beginner-friendly plugins like MonsterInsights to get the power of Google Analytics directly in the WordPress dashboard. We also use All in One SEO every day to check if our blog posts are ranking.
In this article, we’ll show you how to easily see your WordPress blog stats with tools we use and love. That way, you can get the insights and SEO edge you need to grow your blog.
What Is WordPress Post Analytics, and Why Should You Care?
When we talk about WordPress post analytics, we mean the data and reports that show you what’s happening on your blog posts.
For example, here are some key metrics that you probably want to learn:
Pageviews: How many times has a specific blog post been viewed? This can show you the overall popularity of your content.
Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who leave without visiting more than one page. A high bounce rate can mean your content isn’t grabbing people’s attention.
Time on Page: How long do readers spend on your posts? Longer times usually mean they’re more engaged.
Traffic Sources: Where your readers are coming from – social media, search engines, or other websites. This can help you see where you should focus your efforts for content marketing.
SEO Statistics: Impressions and clicks can show you how many people are viewing your content in the search engines and actually visiting it. Checking your keyword rankings can also help you see how well your content is performing.
When you keep an eye on analytics, you can spot trends, identify popular topics, and see where improvements are needed.
Whether you’re blogging for personal reasons or managing a business website, these insights are key to growing your audience and achieving your goals.
You can see what topics resonate most, improve posts that aren’t performing well, and make informed decisions about the content strategy for your WordPress blog.
How to Easily See Your Blog Stats in WordPress
Tracking your blog stats in WordPress is simpler than you might think. Depending on your needs, there are tools for quick website traffic updates, demographic insights, or even monitoring if your WordPress posts are suffering from ‘content decay.’
In this guide, we’ll walk you through a couple of different methods to check your blog stats. Feel free to use the quick jump links below to go to your preferred method:
Method 1: See Your Individual Blog Post Stats and Analytics (Recommended)
Many marketers will tell you that you need to use Google Analytics to learn about user activity on your WordPress blog.
Tracking your blog stats with Google Analytics is super powerful, but it can be a bit overwhelming if you’re just getting started. Luckily, you can simplify Google’s data using MonsterInsights.
It’s the best WordPress analytics plugin for connecting Google Analytics to your site. It makes everything easy to manage directly from your WordPress dashboard, so you won’t have to waste time dealing with complicated settings.
Plus, it allows you to see the performance of individual blog posts.
At WPBeginner, we use MonsterInsights for many tracking tasks. These include conversion tracking for our forms, buttons, and marketing campaigns. It also helps us track referral links and collect general website statistics, such as the most visited posts/pages.
On top of all that, MonsterInsights lets you track things like eCommerce sales, form submissions, video views, and even file downloads. That way, you get a clear picture of how your site is performing.
👉 Note: You can get the free version of MonsterInsights for basic blog stats. However, to track how your posts are performing, you’ll need the Page Insights Addon, which comes with the Plus level or higher. Upgrading to the paid version also unlocks more in-depth tracking features for media, events, and even Google AMP tracking.
Once the plugin is installed, you can connect your Google Analytics account.
Then, to track your blog post stats, you’ll need the Page Insights Addon.
It lets you see the stats for each individual blog post or page directly within your WordPress dashboard. This way, you don’t have to leave your site to track how each one is performing.
To enable Page Insights, go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Insights » Addons, and then locate the ‘Page Insights’ add-on.
Once you find it, you can click on the ‘Download & Activate’ button. Then, toggle the switch to activate it.
After activating the Page Insights addon, you can access stats for each blog post from your WordPress dashboard.
To check the stats for your individual posts, just go to Posts » All Posts from your dashboard.
You’ll now notice a new ‘Insights’ column added to your WordPress posts list. This is where you can see how many people visited the page, how long they stayed, and other key metrics.
Simply click the ‘Insights’ icon next to any post to see its stats.
This will open a popup window.
Here, you can see the post’s insights, which include ‘Entrances,’ ‘Page Views,’ ‘Time on Page,’ and ‘Exits.’ By default, you’ll see data for the ‘Last 30 Days’, but you can adjust this in the dropdown menu.
You can also view stats from the front end of your site.
Simply visit any post while logged in and click the ‘Insights’ link in the admin bar.
This will expand the view.
Once it appears, you’ll be able to view the number of page views, entrances, and total users that page has had in the last 30 days.
Lastly, you can also check your WordPress blog stats right from the content editor screen.
Make sure the ‘Post’ tab is selected in your right-hand menu. Then, scroll down to the ‘MonsterInsights’ section in the sidebar and click to expand it.
After that, simply click the ‘Show Page Insights’ button.
This will open your page’s performance overview without leaving the editor.
Here, you can see your blog post’s time on page, entrances, page views, and exits for the last 30 days or the previous day.
If you’d like to explore all the other reports that come with the MonsterInsights plugin, simply head to Insights » Reports.
This is where you’ll find a complete overview of all available reports.
From there, you can easily navigate through different data sets and gain deeper insights into your website’s performance.
You can also read our complete MonsterInsights review to learn about all the different kinds of analytics and reports it lets you see.
Expert Tip: Looking for an easier way to see your Google Analytics 4 data? OnePageGA provides a simple, one-page dashboard with all your essential blog stats. Just read our OnePageGA review for more details!
Method 2: See Your Blog Content Rankings and Decay Stats
You might also be wondering how well your content is ranking and whether you need to update it soon. If you’re worried about WordPress post analytics from an SEO perspective, then this method is for you.
Here, we’ll use All in One SEO for WordPress (AIOSEO) to track your blog post performance. First, we’ll be looking at content decay.
‘Content decay’ is when a piece of content starts losing its traffic and search rankings over time. After you publish content on your WordPress site, search engines may initially send traffic your way. But over time, that traffic may drop, even if you haven’t changed the content.
This decaying process happens gradually, so it’s easy to miss. But it’s important to catch it early before it impacts your search rankings too much.
A great way to spot content decay is by using the All in One SEO for WordPress (AIOSEO) plugin. This powerful WordPress SEO plugin helps you track how your content is performing in Google search and shows you which posts have lost the most traffic over time.
We’re big fans of AIOSEO ourselves. On our site, we use it for generating XML sitemaps, optimizing on-page SEO, adding schema markup, and configuring OpenGraph settings for Facebook and X.
To learn more about our experience with it, see our AIOSEO review.
To get started, you’ll need to install AIOSEO and connect it to your Google Search Console account. For details, you can go through our guide on how to properly set up AIOSEO.
After that, head over to All in One SEO » Search Statistics in your dashboard to view your site’s performance.
Then, you can switch to the ‘Content Rankings’ tab to see how each piece of content ranks. You can sort by ‘Loss’ and ‘Drop’ to find the most decayed content.
Once you find your decayed content, you can update it with fresh information or optimize it using All in One SEO’s recommendations. This can help bring your rankings and traffic stats back up.
Plus, the ‘Diff’ column shows if your content has moved up or down in search rankings. That way, you can spot any changes in performance and make improvements.
If you jump across to the ‘Keyword Rank Tracker’ tab, you’ll be able to see the specific keywords that you’re ranking for, as well as their clicks, click-through rate, impressions, and position.
There’s even a detailed list of all the keywords that you’re ranking for.
Just scroll through to see how your content is performing.
If you notice any drops in rankings or poorly-performing blog posts, then it might be time to improve your content. For details on how to do this, you can see our ultimate WordPress SEO guide and our guide on how to write a great blog post.
Bonus Tip: How to Track User Engagement in WordPress
So, you’ve just learned how to monitor traffic and page views for your WordPress blog. But what’s next?
To take your website to the next level, you may want to start tracking user engagement. This is about more than just how many people visit your site – it’s about what they do once they get there.
When you track user engagement, you learn about visitors’ actions on your WordPress site.
Do they spend time reading your blog posts and clicking on product links, or are they leaving your pages quickly? These actions tell you what’s working and where you can improve.
For example, you might find that visitors scroll further down a specific page, which could mean they’re more engaged with the content.
This can give you valuable insights into which parts of your page are holding attention. As a result, you can optimize other pages similarly to increase user engagement and conversions.
Similarly, tracking engagement helps you see which affiliate links or ads get the most clicks. This way, you can fine-tune your content for better results.
Now that you know how to track your WordPress blog stats, let’s clear up some common questions about analytics.
Does WordPress tell you who visited your blog?
No, WordPress doesn’t share personal details about visitors for privacy reasons. However, you can access general statistics, such as visitor counts, locations, and other anonymous data, through tools like Google Analytics.
What tool can I use to track specific blog post traffic?
Google Analytics is a popular choice, but plugins like MonsterInsights simplify tracking blog post performance directly in WordPress.
What’s the best alternative to GA4 for tracking blog analytics?
MonsterInsights is a fantastic alternative if you want an easier way to track analytics. It brings Google Analytics data right into your WordPress dashboard and simplifies reports for beginners.
If you’re setting up an online store with WordPress, then choosing between Stripe and PayPal can be a struggle. With all those confusing transaction fee tables and long lists of payment methods – how are you supposed to make sense of it all?
Plus, it can feel like a massive decision when you hear scary stories about customers abandoning their carts just because the checkout process isn’t right. Every lost sale hurts when you’re building a business.
But we’re here with some good news – you don’t have to stress about this decision!
We use both Stripe and PayPal in our own stores, serving plenty of happy customers. This experience has taught us exactly what each payment processor does best.
Just think of us as your payment processing guides!
We’ve done all the research for you – comparing fees, testing features, and learning why customers prefer one platform over the other.
And in this guide, we’ll help you pick the perfect payment solution for your WordPress store.
Overview of Stripe vs. PayPal: Which Is Better for Your Site?
If you are in a hurry, then just take a quick look at our comparison table for Stripe vs. PayPal:
Site owners who need a scalable, customizable, and developer-friendly option
Beginners who want a globally trusted and easy-to-use solution
Ease of Use
Intuitive dashboard with many guides and resources
Beginner-friendly with a simple dashboard
Transaction Fees
2.9% + $0.30 with some additional costs
2.9% + $0.30 with additional costs
Invoice & Billing Fees
A standard fee of 3.49% + $0.49 applies for each invoice
Standard fee of 3.49% + $0.49 applies for each invoice
Global Reach
Available in 46 countries and supports 135 currencies
Available in 200 countries and supports 25 currencies
Accepted Payment Options
Accepts credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and international payment methods
Accepts payments in PayPal balances, credit and debit cards, and linked bank accounts
Integration With WordPress
Easy integration with WordPress
Easy integration with WordPress
Security
Top-notch security features, including an AI-powered fraud detection system
Powerful security features, including buyer and seller protections
An Introduction to Stripe vs. PayPal
Stripe is a super flexible payment processor currently running on over 1.5 million websites.
It is perfect if you want to offer a bunch of different payment methods to your customers. Stripe accepts credit cards, digital wallets, and recurring payments, making it a great option for subscription services or eCommerce stores.
That’s why we use it to accept payments on several of our eCommerce sites built with WordPress.
We really love how the platform makes it easy to go global. However, its high number of customization options might feel a little overwhelming if you are just starting out.
PayPal, on the other hand, is a household name that customers often feel comfortable using. In fact, it leads the payment processing market share (25.8%), followed closely by Stripe (23.4%).
We also offer PayPal as a payment option on our eCommerce websites for this reason.
The payment processor makes it easy to accept payments from credit cards and PayPal accounts.
In our opinion, PayPal’s biggest strength lies in its simplicity and ease of use. It’s a great choice for anyone who wants to get started selling online without dealing with too many settings.
Still, some businesses might find their transaction fees a bit high compared to other options.
Overall, Stripe and PayPal both have a lot to offer, and both work well with WordPress, so the best choice will depend on your needs.
To help you decide, we have compared Stripe vs. PayPal in depth to see which one comes out on top. During our research and evaluation, we considered the following criteria:
You can use the links above to skip to any section.
📣 Why Trust WPBeginner?
At WPBeginner, we’re a team of experts with experience in WordPress, eCommerce, SEO, online marketing, web hosting, and more.
In terms of payment processors, we have used both Stripe and PayPal to securely accept payments from customers around the world.
Over time, we have thoroughly tested both platforms for ease of use, their ability to handle global transactions, the variety of payment options they support, and their transaction fees.
By using these processors ourselves, we’ve been able to see firsthand how they simplify the checkout process. To learn more, just see our editorial process.
Are you ready? Let’s go!
Ease of Use
An easy-to-use payment processor can help your business run smoothly, and an intuitive platform allows you to set up and manage payments without technical knowledge. That way, you can focus on growing your business.
With that in mind, here’s how Stripe and PayPal compare in terms of ease of use.
Ease of Use – PayPal
PayPal is one of the easiest payment processors to set up and use, which is why it is so popular among beginners and small business owners.
You can create an account, link your bank or credit card, and start accepting online payments right away.
Plus, since most people are already familiar with PayPal, your customers won’t need much convincing to use it, which can help boost sales.
During our testing, we also found PayPal’s dashboard to be super user-friendly. It’s clean, simple, and easy to navigate, even if you’re not tech-savvy.
From the dashboard, you can manage all your payments in one place, view transactions, send invoices, issue refunds, and even handle disputes.
Additionally, you can see helpful insights, like a breakdown of your recent sales and payment activity. This makes it easy to keep track of your business performance without needing extra tools.
Overall, PayPal is a great choice for beginners because using it to accept payments doesn’t require any technical skills.
Ease of Use – Stripe
Even though Stripe is known for its advanced features and customizations, in our experience, it is surprisingly easy to use.
All you have to do is create an account and add your business and banking details. Then, you’re ready to start accepting payments.
Plus, Stripe’s documentation offers plenty of tutorials and guides to help you get started.
The Stripe dashboard is designed to give you complete control over your payments while keeping things simple and user-friendly.
When you log in, you will notice a clean, modern interface that provides an overview of your recent transactions, revenue, and payment trends.
The dashboard’s navigation is intuitive, so you can easily find what you need, whether it’s processing refunds or managing customer subscriptions.
It also has detailed reporting tools. You can view in-depth analytics on your sales performance, track customer payment behaviors, and even monitor payouts to your bank account.
For subscription-based businesses, the Stripe dashboard allows you to manage plans, set pricing tiers, and view metrics like churn rate and recurring revenue.
You can set up automated email receipts, manage saved customer payment methods, and create custom invoices directly from the dashboard.
We also love its built-in tools for detecting and preventing fraud, which add an extra layer of security for your business.
Whether you are new to managing online payments or a seasoned business owner, Stripe gives you all the essentials, as well as advanced tools that anyone can use.
Winner – Tie
When it comes to ease of use, both PayPal and Stripe shine in their own ways, so we’ve decided that this category is a tie.
PayPal has a straightforward dashboard design, which makes it super beginner-friendly. You can easily navigate through basic features like viewing transactions, sending invoices, and issuing refunds without feeling overwhelmed.
On the other hand, Stripe caters to users who are willing to explore its powerful features. While its dashboard may seem more complex due to its advanced tools, Stripe makes up for it with detailed tutorials, guides, and FAQs.
Transaction Fees
Transaction fees can be the most confusing part when choosing a payment processor. In the next section, we’ll help clarify them for both Stripe and PayPal.
Transaction Fees – PayPal
While comparing transaction fees, we noticed that PayPal is a bit on the pricey side.
What’s more, the platform’s fees vary depending on several factors, which means the cost of using PayPal isn’t always straightforward.
For starters, the standard domestic transaction fee in the United States is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. It is the same for merchants and individuals.
But this amount can increase if you are dealing with international payments or currency conversions.
If you are selling to customers in other countries, then PayPal charges an additional fee of around 1.5% on top of the standard transaction rate.
Plus, if there’s any currency conversion involved, PayPal adds a hefty conversion fee, which can range from 2.5% to 4%.
These extra charges can really add up, especially for businesses that deal with international customers.
Here is a clear breakdown of PayPal’s transaction fees to help you see exactly what you’ll pay:
Standard domestic transaction fee (U.S.): 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (for merchants and individuals)
International payments: Additional 1.5% fee
Currency conversions: Additional 2.5% to 4% fee
Now that you know all of PayPal’s transaction fees, let’s see how Stripe compares.
Transaction Fees – Stripe
Stripe offers the same rate as PayPal for online card payments at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. This is the cost for merchants as well as the personal transaction fee.
However, many businesses find Stripe more cost-effective because of its lower fees for currency conversions and additional payment methods.
Unlike PayPal, which adds hefty costs for international transactions, currency conversion, or even refunds, Stripe has lower fees.
Plus, it doesn’t charge setup fees, monthly fees, or additional fees on refunds, so you only pay when you process a payment.
This is a huge advantage for businesses that want to expand globally. 🌎
On top of that, it supports ACH Direct Debit with a fee of just 0.8%, capped at $5, which is perfect for larger transactions and high-ticket items.
That said, here’s a clearer cost breakdown for Stripe’s fees:
Online card payments: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (for merchants and individuals)
International transaction fee: 1.5%
Currency conversions: 1%
ACH Direct Debit: 0.8% fee (capped at $5)
Winner – Stripe
Stripe is the clear winner for transaction fees. It offers a simple fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. On the surface, these fees look the same as PayPal’s.
But it charges less for currency conversions and doesn’t charge for refunds, which makes it significantly cheaper than PayPal.
The way each payment processor handles invoicing, recurring payments, and associated costs can impact your overall expenses. Here’s our assessment of Stripe vs. PayPal in this important category:
Invoice & Billing Fees – PayPal
PayPal makes it easy to send invoices, but there are fees to keep in mind. Creating and sending an invoice is free, but once it is paid, PayPal treats it as a commercial transaction.
For regular online payments through your store, the platform charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the U.S. However, for invoices, the fee is higher at 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction.
While sending the invoice doesn’t cost anything, you will pay this higher merchant fee when the payment comes through.
If you are dealing with international clients, additional fees for cross-border transactions and currency conversions can make invoicing even more expensive.
That said, one upside is that PayPayl’s invoicing tool is super easy to use.
You can create professional invoices, set due dates, and even allow partial payments, all from the dashboard.
Still, for businesses that send a high volume of invoices, the transaction fees can add up quickly, making PayPal a pricey option for billing.
So, to summarize it, here are PayPal’s invoicing fees:
Creating invoices: Free
Sending invoices: 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction
Additional fees for cross-border transactions and currency conversions
Invoice & Billing Fees – Stripe
Stripe Invoicing provides flexible options with two plans: Starter and Plus.
The Starter plan includes 25 free invoices each month, with a 0.4% fee for every paid invoice after that.
On the other hand, the Plus plan comes with more advanced features and charges 0.5% per paid invoice. This makes it a great choice if you want more control over your billing process.
For businesses managing recurring charges, Stripe Billing is a fantastic feature. Its standard plan offers a 0.5% fee per recurring charge, with a Scale plan available at 0.8%.
The Scale option integrates with tools like NetSuite and provides customers with upfront quotes before subscriptions begin. For high-volume businesses, Stripe also offers custom pricing, which can help reduce costs further.
Whether you need simple invoicing or advanced subscription management, Stripe’s pricing structure and custom pricing make it a great option for efficient billing.
After careful evaluation, we believe that Stripe is clearly the better option when it comes to billing and invoicing fees.
With its Starter plan offering 25 free invoices per month and a low 0.4% fee for each paid invoice afterward, it’s more budget-friendly than PayPal, which charges a percentage of the payment plus a fixed fee per transaction.
Global Reach and Supported Currencies
A payment processor’s global reach and support for multiple currencies can make a huge difference in your store’s success. Let’s see how PayPal and Stripe compare when it comes to worldwide availability.
Global Reach and Supported Currencies – PayPal
PayPal has impressive global coverage, making it a popular choice for businesses that want to reach customers worldwide.
It is available in over 200 countries and supports 25 currencies, making it easy to send and receive payments across borders.
Plus, we think that one of PayPal’s biggest advantages is its familiarity. Millions of people already trust and use PayPal, which can make customers more comfortable completing transactions.
However, while PayPal supports many countries, its currency options are limited compared to some competitors. If your business operates in a region with less common currencies, you might face restrictions or need to rely on currency conversions, which can add extra fees.
Global Reach and Supported Currencies – Stripe
Stripe is another excellent option for businesses with a global audience. It’s available in over 46 countries and supports payments in more than 135 currencies.
This wide currency support makes it easier for businesses to accept payments from customers around the world in their local currencies, providing a smoother checkout experience.
What’s great about Stripe is how it automatically handles currency conversion. If you sell globally, this can save you time and effort while keeping things simple for your customers.
Stripe also allows you to display prices in local currencies, which can build trust and make customers more likely to complete their purchases.
For businesses in supported countries, Stripe’s extensive currency options and seamless international payment tools make it a fantastic choice for selling to a global audience.
Winner – Tie
In this category, we’ve decided it’s a tie between PayPal and Stripe.
This is because PayPal takes the lead in availability, operating in over 200 countries, but it only supports 25 currencies, limiting flexibility for businesses.
On the other hand, Stripe supports over 135 currencies, giving businesses the ability to accept payments in nearly any local currency. However, it is only available in 40+ countries, so its reach is more limited compared to PayPal.
Ultimately, the best option depends on your business needs. If you are prioritizing widespread availability, PayPal is the better choice. But if handling diverse currencies is more important to you, then Stripe has the edge.
Accepted Payment Options
Offering a variety of payment options is important for meeting customer expectations and boosting conversions. Here’s how Stripe and PayPal compare in this category:
Accepted Payment Options – PayPal
PayPal offers a solid range of payment options that make it a trusted choice for businesses.
Customers can pay using PayPal balances, credit and debit cards, and even linked bank accounts. It also supports popular digital wallets like PayPal Credit and Venmo (in the U.S.), which adds flexibility for customers.
However, PayPal doesn’t go as far as Stripe in terms of variety. For example, it doesn’t support some alternative payment methods like Google Pay or Apple Pay in all regions.
This can be a drawback if your business operates where these payment methods are popular.
Accepted Payment Options – Stripe
Stripe stands out when it comes to offering a wide variety of payment options. In addition to accepting all major credit and debit cards, Stripe supports digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Microsoft Pay.
It also integrates with popular international payment methods, including Alipay, Cash App, Bancontact, and Klarna, making it ideal for businesses that sell globally.
One of Stripe’s most impressive features is its ability to handle bank-based payment options like ACH transfers, SEPA Direct Debit, and even buy now, pay later (BNPL) services.
This level of flexibility allows your business to cater to a diverse audience, whether you prefer traditional payment methods or popular regional options.
Winner – Stripe
Stripe is the obvious winner for payment options.
While PayPal offers the basics like credit cards, PayPal Credit, and Venmo, Stripe goes above and beyond with support for Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH transfers, BNPL, and even international options like Alipay and Klarna.
Integration With WordPress
If you are deciding between Stripe and PayPal for your WordPress site, then seamless integration between your payment processor and website is a must.
In this next section, we’ll talk about how PayPal and Stripe compare when it comes to integrating with WordPress.
Integration With WordPress – PayPal
PayPal integrates easily with WordPress, thanks to its compatibility with popular plugins like WPForms, Easy Digital Downloads, and WooCommerce.
Many of these plugins come with built-in PayPal support, allowing you to set up payment options quickly without any extra hassle.
For example, WPForms lets you add PayPal as a payment option for donation or order forms, while WooCommerce allows you to accept PayPal payments during checkout.
We’ve used PayPal on our WordPress sites to accept payments, and the integration process has always been smooth.
Its ease of use makes it a convenient choice for WordPress users who want a simple, reliable payment solution. For details, see our tutorial on how to add PayPal payment forms in WordPress.
Integration With WordPress – Stripe
Stripe also integrates seamlessly with WordPress, which is a huge plus.
It comes with built-in integration for WPForms, Easy Digital Downloads (EDD), and WooCommerce, so you can accept payments effortlessly.
We use EDD on several of our WordPress sites and have integrated it with Stripe. The process was quick, hassle-free, and works perfectly for selling digital products.
We also recommend checking out WP Simple Pay if you want to accept Stripe payments using WordPress payment forms.
This powerful Stripe plugin helps you quickly create payment forms and gives you access to a variety of payment options, including Klarna, Alipay, and SEPA Direct Debit.
This makes it an excellent choice for businesses that want to offer more payment methods without extra plugins or coding.
Whether you are running a small online store or a subscription service, Stripe’s compatibility with WordPress plugins ensures easy integration and a smooth payment experience.
PayPal and Stripe offer seamless integration with WordPress and its plugins.
For example, popular WordPress eCommerce solutions like WooCommerce, WPForms, and Easy Digital Downloads all support PayPal and Stripe, allowing you to add these payment processors to your WordPress site with minimal setup.
Security
When it comes to handling payments online, security is a top priority. You’ll need to protect your customers’ sensitive information throughout the transaction process.
Now, let’s explore PayPal vs. Stripe in terms of security features.
Security – PayPal
PayPal is known for its strong security features, which make it a trusted payment processor for many businesses. It uses advanced encryption technologies, including SSL, to protect sensitive customer data during transactions.
Additionally, it offers fraud protection tools, such as 24/7 monitoring, to detect and prevent unauthorized transactions.
PayPal’s Seller Protection is also pretty impressive. It helps cover eligible transactions in case of disputes or chargebacks. This can give you peace of mind, especially when dealing with international customers or high-value transactions.
Overall, PayPal’s security measures are reliable, making it a solid choice for businesses looking to protect both themselves and their customers.
Security – Stripe
On the other hand, Stripe also offers top-notch security features, ensuring both merchants and customers are well protected.
It uses advanced encryption protocols and complies with the highest security standards, including PCI-DSS Level 1. This means that sensitive customer information, like credit card details, is securely handled at all times.
We also really like Stripe’s built-in machine learning tools (aka computer programs), which can spot and stop fake payments in real time.
It also offers advanced features like tokenization. We know this sounds fancy (and it is).
But it also just means it replaces sensitive card details with secure ‘tokens’, so customer data is never saved on your servers.
Additionally, it comes with two-factor authentication (2FA) and regular security updates to keep your account safe from potential threats.
All in all, Stripe provides a secure environment that helps protect both businesses and customers from fraud and data breaches.
Winner – Tie
Both Stripe and PayPal are highly secure payment options, giving businesses and their customers peace of mind. They follow strict industry standards like PCI-DSS compliance to protect sensitive payment information.
Each platform has unique features. PayPal offers built-in buyer and seller protections, which are great for resolving disputes. Meanwhile, Stripe excels with its AI-powered fraud detection system, Stripe Radar, which stops suspicious activity.
No matter which platform you choose, both Stripe and PayPal prioritize security at every step, making them trusted solutions for businesses of all sizes.
Stripe vs. PayPal: Which Is Better for Your WordPress Site?
In our opinion, Stripe is the better payment option for your WordPress site. It offers lower transaction fees, supports a wider variety of payment options, and integrates seamlessly with plugins like WP Simple Pay to add payment methods such as Klarna and SEPA.
Plus, Stripe’s powerful security features and detailed analytics make it a favorite for businesses looking for scalability and customization.
That said, PayPal is still a solid option. It is a great choice if your audience prefers using PayPal accounts for payments, especially since it’s widely recognized and trusted globally.
It’s also an ideal fit for businesses that rely on PayPal’s built-in invoicing tools or frequently handle dispute resolution.
Ultimately, Stripe is ideal for businesses looking for flexibility, lower fees, and advanced features, while PayPal shines for its simplicity and global familiarity.
Plus, you don’t have to just choose one or the other. Many online stores offer both Stripe and PayPal payments, which is worth considering. Offering more payment methods can help you appeal to more customers and increase your sales.
💡 Expert Tip: Running a global online store? A fast, optimized site is key to keeping customers happy and boosting sales. Our Site Speed Optimization Services can help improve your store’s performance for shoppers around the world. To learn more, see our WPBeginner Pro Services page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stripe vs. PayPal
Here are some questions that are frequently asked by our readers about Stripe and PayPal.
Can I use both Stripe and PayPal on my WordPress site?
Yes, many businesses use both Stripe and PayPal on their WordPress sites to provide customers with more payment options.
Both payment processors integrate seamlessly with popular eCommerce plugins, ensuring secure and convenient transactions.
Offering multiple payment methods can also help reduce cart abandonment rates. If customers can’t pay using their preferred method, they may leave without completing their purchase.
By providing both Stripe and PayPal, you eliminate that friction and improve conversion rates.
That is why we use both Stripe and PayPal across several of our partner brands, including All in One SEO and MonsterInsights.
Between Stripe and PayPal, which one supports more payment options?
Stripe supports a wider range of payment options, including credit cards, ACH payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and even digital wallets like Alipay.
PayPal primarily supports payments through PayPal accounts and credit cards, but Stripe offers more flexibility, especially for global transactions.
Is PayPal better for international payments?
While PayPal is available in over 200 countries and supports 25+ currencies, Stripe operates in 45+ countries and supports over 135 currencies.
Stripe may be the better choice for businesses with a large international customer base because of its competitive transaction fees and global support for different currencies.
Is Stripe or PayPal safer for handling payments?
Both payment processors are very secure, offering top-notch protection against fraud.
PayPal has powerful buyer and seller protections, while Stripe uses AI-powered fraud detection and tokenization to ensure secure transactions.
Either option provides strong security for your WordPress site, so you don’t need to worry about customer data breaches.
When we started our video membership website, we had a simple goal — helping people learn WordPress through beginner-friendly video guides. But we dealt with the same challenge you’re facing now: creating an online learning platform that actually works.
Maybe you’re a teacher looking to reach more students or an expert wanting to share your knowledge online. Whatever your goal, creating an eLearning website is simpler than you might think.
We’ve seen everyone, from cooking instructors to tech trainers, successfully build their teaching platforms using WordPress.
The best part? You don’t need to be super tech-savvy or have a huge budget. We’ve discovered some really practical ways to set everything up using WordPress and a few carefully chosen tools.
In this guide, we’ll share the exact steps we used (and still use) to build successful eLearning websites. We’ll walk you through everything – no confusing tech talk, just clear, practical steps to get your courses online.
Why Should You Create an eLearning Website?
Creating an eLearning website opens up endless opportunities to share knowledge, reach a wider audience, and even make money online. Whether you’re a teacher, business owner, or content creator, an online learning platform lets you connect with learners from anywhere around the world.
It’s also a cost-effective way to provide valuable resources. Instead of renting classroom space or printing materials, you can create online courses that are accessible 24/7.
Plus, you’ll have complete control over the design, branding, and content of your learning hub, making it easy to build a website that reflects your vision.
💡 Get a stunning, high-performance eLearning website without lifting a finger! Our WordPress design experts will bring your ideas to life with a dedicated project manager, custom designs, and fast delivery. Check out our WordPress design plans today!
How to Create an eLearning Website Using WordPress
You might feel tempted to offer your online courses on a third-party platform like Teachable or Skillshare. But we highly recommend using WordPress instead.
WordPress is a popular website builder that makes it super easy to create your own eLearning platform. It allows you to have full control over your earnings and ownership of your content.
Plus, you don’t need to be a tech whiz to use WordPress. It gives you all the tools you need to build a website without learning how to code.
Now, keep in mind that when we refer to WordPress, we’re talking about WordPress.org. It’s an open-source platform that gives you full control over your website, allowing you to customize and extend its features however you like.
A domain name is your website’s unique address on the Internet, such as learnsphere.com or growacademy.com. It’s what your customers will type into their browsers to find your site.
Web hosting is the online storage space where your website lives. For an eLearning platform, you’ll need to make sure that your web hosting provider can support the tools you’ll need for your platform. These might include webinar hosting, secure logins, and scalability to accommodate growing numbers of students.
While WordPress itself is free, the cost of a domain name and hosting can add up. A domain name usually costs around $14.99 per year, and hosting starts at $7.99 per month. This is a big investment.
Thankfully, Bluehost has an excellent offer for our readers. As one of the world’s largest hosting providers and a WordPress-recommended hosting partner, it is a super reliable choice.
In addition to excellent web hosting services, you’ll get a free domain name and SSL certificate for just $1.99 per month.
An SSL certificate keeps your eLearning website secure by encrypting the data shared between your site and its visitors. It’s especially important if you’re accepting payments or handling sensitive information, like login details.
When you purchase a Bluehost plan, the setup wizard will guide you through the checkout process. It includes choosing a domain name, creating account details, and adding package extras (if you want them).
In the next sections, we’ll show you how to create a fully functional eLearning website using WordPress. Here’s a quick overview of all the steps we’re going to cover:
The first step is to install WordPress so that you can create an eLearning website. Most of the process should be automatic, though it depends on your web host.
For example, after you sign up for a web hosting plan with Bluehost, you’ll be taken to the control panel, where WordPress is automatically installed on your domain name.
For step-by-step instructions, you can check out our comprehensive guide on how to install WordPress. It includes detailed installation steps for some of the most popular WordPress hosting providers, including Bluehost.
Step 2. Find a Good eLearning Website Theme
Website themes, sometimes called layouts or templates, control the look and feel of your site. Your eLearning website needs a WordPress theme that not only looks great but also supports the functionality you need for courses, lessons, and student engagement.
Here’s how you can find the perfect theme for your site.
Explore the WordPress Theme Directory
The WordPress theme directory is a great place to start if you’re on a budget. It’s packed with free themes that are easy to install directly from your WordPress dashboard.
Simply go to Appearance » Themes and then click ‘Add New.’ From here, you can use the ‘Search Themes’ feature to look for themes with a professional design and features tailored to educational sites.
If you want more advanced features and unique designs, premium theme marketplaces like ThemeIsle or Themify offer a wide range of options.
These themes usually include extras like better customization, advanced support, and pre-built layouts specifically for eLearning websites.
Use SeedProd for Total Customization
If you want ultimate flexibility when designing your web pages, then we recommend using SeedProd.
It is a drag-and-drop website builder that lets you design your site from scratch or use ready-made templates. You can customize everything, from fonts to layouts, without writing a single line of code.
Several of our partner brands have used this page builder to create entire websites that sell their software, and they’ve had excellent experiences with it. Our readers frequently ask us about using SeedProd, so we regularly test it ourselves as well. For more information, see our SeedProd review.
Plus, SeedProd works seamlessly with WordPress, so adding features like course registration or payment forms is a breeze.
However, in our opinion, the best part is that you can use SeedProd’s AI Theme Builder to generate entire websites in less than 60 seconds.
Each option has its perks. Free themes are perfect for a quick start, premium themes offer polished designs, and SeedProd lets you build something truly unique.
Just remember, you can completely change your WordPress theme at any point, so you’re not locked into your site’s original design.
Step 3. Create Your eLearning Home Page
Once you’ve installed your chosen theme, you’re ready to create a home page for your eLearning website.
You can do this using the WordPress block editor. You may want to start building your homepage by adding the page title and a tagline. Simply click on the relevant blocks and type them in.
Then, you might want to add a hero image.
A hero image is the big, eye-catching image you see at the top of a homepage. It’s one of the first things people notice when they visit your WordPress site, so it’s a great spot to show off what it’s all about.
For an online course site, the hero image could show students learning, working together, or engaging with content.
Tip: A hero image is often paired with a headline that tells visitors what your site offers and a call-to-action button that encourages them to take action. For instance, you could tell people to check out your courses. So, adding a hero image makes your site more inviting and encourages people to get involved right away.
For a detailed guide on adding and customizing hero images, you can check out our article on how to add a hero image.
Then, you’ll need to add text elements. Here are some of the essential eLearning homepage elements you may want to include:
Course Highlights: Feature your top or most popular courses with images, descriptions, and buttons to enroll.
About Section: Share a brief introduction about yourself or your eLearning platform. That way, visitors know why they can trust you.
Testimonials: Showcasing student reviews and feedback helps build trust and enhance your brand’s credibility with potential learners. You can check out our guide on how to add rotating testimonials for details.
A quote from an influential figure is a fun element to add, too. It can inspire or motivate your visitors, connecting with them on an emotional level.
When you’re satisfied with the layout, you can just click the ‘Publish’ button in the block editor.
Soon, you’ll be ready to start creating your educational content. But first, you’ll need to set up a Learning Management System (LMS). That way, you can offer exclusive lessons or courses behind a membership paywall, turning your knowledge into a source of income.
A membership site also helps build a community where users can interact, ask questions, and share ideas. This can boost everyone’s learning experience.
Out of all the LMS plugins we’ve tested, MemberPress stands out for its Classroom Mode. The plugin also offers helpful add-ons like course assignments, grade books, and quizzes. Plus, you can track student progress directly from your WordPress dashboard.
We know all of this sounds impressive, but you might wonder if it’s complicated to set up. Here’s the thing: it’s simpler than it looks. We’ve worked on plenty of projects like this ourselves, including building a free membership website to offer our WordPress courses.
MemberPress makes it easy to create a smooth learning experience. Feel free to check out our comprehensive MemberPress review for more details.
After activation, you’ll see the MemberPress menu in your dashboard. Go ahead and click on it, and you’ll be guided through a series of setup steps.
Then, you’ll need to configure your payment methods. To do this, let’s navigate to MemberPress » Settings and switch to the ‘Payments’ tab.
After that, you can click on the ‘+ Add Payment Method’ button and start setting up your payment gateways.
Once you’ve entered all the payment details, you should be ready to create your first online courses.
Before we move on, it’s important to note that while MemberPress is an excellent choice for creating eLearning websites, there are some other plugins that can serve as alternatives:
Thrive Apprentice is a great option for course creators who need to focus on detailed reporting and personalized content. For more information about the tool, read our Thrive Themes Suite review.
WishList Member offers a great way to improve course engagement with gamification features. For more details about our experience testing it, you can see our WishList Member review.
AccessAlly allows you to build powerful online courses and members-only content, including WordPress group learning, online learning communities, and more.
Courses for MemberMouse is great for teachers who need an all-in-one membership and course solution. You can get more information about the platform in our MemberMouse review.
Step 5. Build Your First Online Learning Materials
Now, it’s time to start creating your online learning materials. With MemberPress, you have all the tools you need to make your courses stand out.
You can easily create lessons, add quizzes, and even award your students with certificates. Every feature you need is already available, so you can focus on teaching instead of getting stuck at setup.
To get started, you’ll need to activate the MemberPress Courses add-on. Just go to the MemberPress » Courses page, and you’ll find a button to install and activate the add-on.
Upon activation, you’ll see a new menu item called ‘MP Courses’ in your WordPress dashboard.
You can go ahead and click the ‘Add New Course’ button.
This will open the MemberPress course builder.
You might notice that the MemberPress course builder uses the default WordPress block editor. With its drag-and-drop interface, you can easily add and customize blocks to create engaging course layouts without needing any coding skills.
If you’re offering online coaching, then you might want to use the CoachKit™ addon instead.
CoachKit lets you create as many coaching programs as you want. It also allows you to set milestones to keep clients motivated and sync your website with Calendly to schedule in-person coaching sessions.
To start, you can install and activate it by navigating to MemberPress » CoachKit™.
This will create an ‘MP CoachKit™’ menu in your WordPress dashboard. But before creating any program, you’ll need to configure some settings.
By default, MemberPress will create a ‘Coaching’ page for you to manage your clients and track their progress. You can check it out by heading over to MemberPress » Settings and switch to the ‘Pages’ tab.
In the ‘MemberPress Coaching Page*’ field, you’ll see ‘Auto Create New Page’ selected from the dropdown menu.
The next step is to move to the ‘CoachKit™’ tab.
We recommend enabling the live chat ‘Messaging’ feature on your eLearning site so that you can talk directly with your clients.
With that done, you can start creating your first online coaching program.
Let’s navigate to ‘MP CoachKit™’ and click the ‘Add New Program’ button.
Once you’ve set up your courses, it’s time to create rules that control who can access your educational content. This is where MemberPress really shines.
The plugin lets you set up different user membership levels and then restrict access to certain lessons or materials based on these levels. You can also restrict access to specific categories, tags, or even individual lessons.
Creating Membership Levels
To get started, you’ll first need to create your membership levels. Simply go to the MemberPress » Memberships page and click the ‘Add New’ button.
This will open an editor where you can choose all the essential settings for your membership.
For example, you’ll be able to pick the name, add a description, and configure membership terms like price and billing intervals.
When you’re finished, you can hit the ‘Publish’ button to save your new membership plan. Then, you can repeat the process to create as many membership levels as you need.
Adding Membership Rules
After that, head over to MemberPress » Rules. Then, click the ‘Add New’ button.
On the next screen, you can choose the content you want to protect in the ‘Protected Content’ section. Then, you can configure the access condition.
For instance, we have set posts categorized as premium content to be available for elite subscribers only.
Don’t forget to click the ‘Save Rule’ button to store your settings.
Creating User Login Forms
Once your memberships and rules are set up, you’ll need to provide a way for students to log in and out of your portal.
To do this, you can simply use MemberPress’ pre-made shortcode, which generates a login form with all the essential elements.
You’ll need to create a new page with the block editor or open the existing one where you want to add your login form.
Then, scroll down to the ‘MemberPress Settings’ area at the bottom of the editor.
Here, you can check the box next to ‘Manually place the login form on the page.’ This will then reveal the login shortcode.
Now, all you have to do is copy the shortcode and paste it into the editor above.
Here’s an example of what a MemberPress login page will look like on a live site:
Having a ‘Contact Us’ form on your eLearning website is super important. It gives your visitors an easy way to reach out if they have questions, feedback, or need support. So, we recommend adding one as the next step.
The good news is that creating a contact form is simple and doesn’t require any coding skills. The best tool to use for this is WPForms. It’s easy to use, even for beginners, and offers lots of helpful features like spam protection and the ability to customize your form fields.
We have lots of firsthand experience with WPForms, and it’s become one of our favorite tools. We use it for our contact forms, website migration forms, and annual user surveys. You can learn more about it in our complete WPForms review.
With WPForms, you can create a contact form in just a few minutes, and your potential students or clients will have a direct way to reach you for any inquiries.
Note: You can create a simple contact form using the WPForms free version. That said, upgrading to the WPForms premium version will unlock more advanced features, including smart conditional logic.
Step 8. Add and Adjust the Navigation Menu
Now, you’re very close to finalizing your eLearning website.
In this final step, you’ll set up an easy-to-follow navigation menu to help visitors find their way around your platform. Plus, if you created a custom homepage, then you might not have a navigation bar yet.
A clear and simple menu helps your visitors find what they’re looking for, be it your online courses, coaching programs, or contact page.
Luckily, WordPress makes it easy to create menus and sub-menus no matter what theme you’re using.
Building your eLearning website is just the first step. Now, it’s time to attract students and grow your online presence. Here are some practical tips to help you get started:
Start Blogging About Your Niche: Writing blog posts about topics relevant to your eLearning niche can improve your authority. Blogging helps you connect with your audience and boosts your website’s visibility in search engines. Not sure where to start? Check out our guide on how to start a blog.
Optimize Your Site for SEO: To attract organic traffic, make sure your website is optimized for search engines. Tools like All in One SEO can make this super easy. Plus, our ultimate WordPress SEO guide has everything you need to know on how to get started with SEO, even if you’re a beginner.
Share eBooks to Grow Your Email List: Offering free lead magnets like eBooks is a smart way to generate leads. You can then create popups or forms that encourage visitors to download your eBook in exchange for email addresses. You may also wish to see our guide on how to sell eBooks if you wish to make money from them.
Start Email Marketing: On top of all that, you’ll want to stay connected with your audience through email marketing. Sending newsletters, course updates, and exclusive offers is a great way to keep your students engaged. Don’t miss our guide on email marketing 101 for step-by-step instructions.
When you follow these tips, you can grow your eLearning website and create a loyal audience that keeps coming back for more.
How to Create an eLearning Website FAQs
Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about how to create an eLearning website to help you get started.
Is creating an online course easy?
Creating an online course can be straightforward, but it depends on your content and goals. With the right tools and platform, you can build an engaging and educational course. One of the best options is MemberPress with its Courses and CoachKit™ add-ons.
Which are the best platforms for building an eLearning portal?
Some of the best platforms for building an eLearning portal include WordPress with an LMS plugin like MemberPress, AccessAlly, or LearnDash. These platforms provide various features to help you create and manage your courses.
Can I create a Learning management system using Wix?
Wix is mainly a website builder, so you might find a template kit for creating a basic eLearning site. However, if you need more advanced features for your online courses, platforms like WordPress integrated with MemberPress Courses and CoachKit™ might be a better choice.
How much does it cost to create an eLearning website?
The cost of creating an eLearning website can vary. For basic setups, you may only need to cover platform fees, which can start at $0-$50/month. For more advanced features, you can expect to spend on hosting, premium plugins, and course development, potentially totaling $200-$500+ per year.
