Creating a website that people trust starts with protecting their personal information.
Privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA are designed to help with that, but they can feel confusing when you’re just trying to do the right thing.
Many of these rules ask you to add a ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page to your site, and it’s not always clear where to start. I’ve been there myself.
After trying several different approaches, I found a step-by-step method that actually works for beginners.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact process I use to build a professional ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page in WordPress. I’ll also show you how to handle incoming requests, so you can protect your visitors’ privacy and stay compliant with international data laws.
⚠️ The term ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ comes directly from the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
Adding this page to your site also helps you follow Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This is because you’re giving visitors a way to stop their personal data from being processed, which meets the GDPR’s Right to Object requirement.
However, the GDPR does not specifically say you must add a ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page to WordPress.
Why Do You Need a ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ Page?
A ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page gives your visitors a clear way to say they don’t want their personal data shared or sold to outside companies. In many cases, this is required by law, and it’s also a great way to build trust with your audience.
People care more about privacy than ever, especially when visiting blogs, websites, and online businesses.
As a website owner, it’s important to follow these laws and give your visitors real control over their data. While each regulation is different, most require you to let users opt out of having their personal information shared or sold to third parties.
This type of page is a specific requirement under the CCPA. Even though the GDPR doesn’t mention it by name, adding this page can help meet its requirement to give users control over how their data is used.
If you skip this step, you could end up violating privacy laws—even ones that don’t mention this page directly. That can lead to legal trouble, fines, or damage to your website’s reputation.
But this isn’t just about legal compliance.
By giving people an easy way to share their preferences, you’re also showing respect and building trust.
When visitors see that you take privacy seriously, they’re more likely to stick around, sign up for your email newsletter, make a purchase from your online store, or take other actions that grow your site.
In short, a ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page helps you meet privacy expectations and makes your website more trustworthy in the process.
How to Create a Do Not Sell My Info Page in WordPress
With privacy regulations getting stricter all the time, creating a ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page is no longer just a good idea. It’s often also a legal requirement.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of creating a ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page on your WordPress website step-by-step. I’ll also show you how to manage user requests effectively, so you stay on the right side of the law.
Step 1. Set Up WPConsent
The easiest way to add a Do Not Sell My Info page in WordPress is by using WPConsent. This is the best privacy compliance plugin that helps you meet key privacy standards by giving users more control over their personal data.
WPConsent includes helpful features like cookie banners, privacy policy generators, and a consent log to track user permissions, which are all useful if you’re ever audited.
It also offers a Do Not Track addon, which lets you create a dedicated form page in just a few clicks. Visitors can fill out this form to tell you not to sell their personal information.
These requests are stored locally in a custom table on your site, so you can review and respond to them right away.
⭐ We use WPConsent to manage user consent and display cookie banners across all our websites, including WPBeginner. This firsthand experience has shown us how effective and straightforward WPConsent is to use.
Want to learn more about our direct experiences with WPConsent? Then be sure to check out our in-depth WPConsent review.
If you’re working with a limited budget, there’s also a free version of WPConsent available on WordPress.org.
It includes many essential features to help you comply with laws like the GDPR.
To use the Do Not Track addon, you’ll need the premium version. If you need help upgrading, take a look at our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Once the plugin is active, you’ll see a quick onboarding wizard that walks you through setup, usually in under five minutes.
When you’re ready, click the ‘Let’s Get Started’ button to begin.
This setup wizard will guide you through several important tasks, such as scanning your site for third-party scripts and creating a cookie popup.
Completing these steps will help you comply with crucial privacy laws like the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), so I encourage you to go through the entire onboarding process.
After you’ve finished the setup, WPConsent will take you back to the WordPress dashboard.
Step 2: Create a WordPress Page
WPConsent lets you add a Do Not Sell My Info form to any page or post on your WordPress site. However, to keep things simple, I suggest creating a new page especially for this important form.
In your WordPress dashboard, head over to Pages » Add Page.
You can now give this page a clear title, something like ‘Do Not Sell My Info.’ You can also add any other information you think is important, such as an introduction explaining what the form is for and why someone might want to use it.
When you’re happy with how the page looks, save it as a draft for now.
Step 3: Install the Do Not Track Addon
WPConsent includes tools to help you follow major privacy laws right away. But if you want to add a Do Not Sell My Info page, then you’ll need to install an extra addon.
In your WordPress dashboard, go to WPConsent » Do Not Track. When that screen loads, just click the ‘Install Do Not Track Addon’ button.
After a moment, WPConsent will automatically install and activate the addon for you.
Step 4: Create the ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ Form
Next, you need to head over to WPConsent » Do Not Track, and open the ‘Configuration’ tab.
Here, you’ll be able to choose where the form should appear.
Simply open the ‘Do Not Track Page’ dropdown and select the page you created earlier. This will automatically add a basic form to that page.
By default, the form includes a few essential fields:
First Name
Last Name
Email
These are needed to identify the visitor, so WPConsent won’t let you remove them.
That said, you can update the labels if you want to use different wording—just change the text in the ‘Field Label’ box.
If you need more details from your users, you can also enable extra fields like:
Address
ZIP Code
City State
Country
Phone
To include one, just check the box that says ‘Enable this field.’
These extra fields are optional by default.
But if there’s something you want to make mandatory, you can check the ‘Make this field required’ box.
Just like before, you’re free to update any of the field labels to match your site’s tone.
Once everything looks the way you want, scroll to the bottom and click the ‘Save Changes’ button.
Step 5: Adding the Form to Your Page
Now, you’re ready to add this form to the page you created earlier. In your WordPress dashboard, open that page for editing.
Find the spot where you want to add the form and click the + icon.
In the box that appears, start typing ‘Shortcode’ to find the right block.
When the shortcode block appears, click on it to add it to the page.
You can now paste the following shortcode into the block:
[wpconsent_do_not_track_form]
With that done, simply publish the page as you normally would.
You can now visit your WordPress blog or website to see the ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page in action.
Step 6: Add Links to Key Areas
Now that you’ve created a ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page, it’s important to make it easy for visitors to find.
One way to do this is by adding a link to your site’s Privacy Policy. You might also consider placing it in a prominent spot like your navigation menu or your cookie policy.
These small steps can go a long way in building trust. When visitors see that you’re open about your data practices, they’re more likely to feel confident browsing your site.
Step 7: Manage Incoming Requests
Now that everything is set up, WPConsent will automatically log each request and display it in your WordPress dashboard. This makes it easier to stay on top of privacy requests as they come in.
To check your current requests, go to WPConsent » Do Not Track and make sure the ‘Requests’ tab is selected. You’ll see a list of all submissions along with key details for each one.
How you respond depends on how you manage customer information. For example, you might add a note to your CRM tool to mark the user as opted out.
You can also export your list of requests as a CSV file. This can be helpful for recordkeeping or auditing.
To do that, just open the ‘Export’ tab under WPConsent » Do Not Track.
First, click the ‘From’ field and choose a start date.
Then, select the end date by clicking the ‘To’ field.
By default, WPConsent includes all requests, both processed and unprocessed.
If you only want to see requests that still need attention, it’s a good idea to check the box that says ‘Export only “not processed” entries.’
Planning to act on those requests right away?
You might also want to check the box that says ‘Mark exported data as processed.’ That way, WPConsent will automatically update the status in your dashboard.
If you do that, make sure to follow through and complete each request. That helps keep your dashboard accurate.
Once everything’s ready, simply click the ‘Export’ button to download your CSV file.
If you didn’t mark them as processed automatically, you’ll need to close each one manually. To do that, hover over the request in your dashboard and click the ‘Mark as processed’ link.
Processed requests will be clearly labeled, so you can quickly see which ones are still open.
Proving Your Data Compliance
It’s not enough to simply follow privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA. You also need to be able to prove that you’re compliant.
With that in mind, if you’re ever audited, then you’ll need to show that you’re honoring any Do Not Sell requests you receive. Fortunately, you can use WPConsent’s Export tool to create a complete record of all processed requests.
To do this, simply head over to WPConsent » Do Not Track, and select the ‘Export’ tab.
You can now enter a From and To date for the export, following the instructions I shared in the previous step. Once you’ve set the dates, make sure the ‘Export only “not processed” entries’ box has not been selected.
Then, go ahead and click the ‘Export’ button.
This will create a record where all completed requests are clearly marked as ‘Processed.’
While auditors may request additional proof that you have actually completed these requests, this provides a strong starting point for showing that you honor ‘Do Not Sell’ requests.
Do Not Sell My Info Pages: FAQs
Data compliance is a serious topic, so it’s understandable if you still have some questions.
To help you out, I’ve collected all the most frequently asked questions about setting up a ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page in WordPress.
What is WPConsent, and why should I use it?
WPConsent is a comprehensive plugin designed to help WordPress website owners comply with various privacy regulations, such as the Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD), CCPA, and GDPR.
WPConsent makes it easier to create and manage essential privacy pages and features on your site, allowing you to meet legal requirements and build trust with your audience.
How does a ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page differ from other privacy pages?
A ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page serves a specific purpose: it lets users opt out of the sale of their personal data. This is required by various privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
Typically, your website will have other privacy-related pages, but they won’t offer this particular function.
Can I use other privacy plugins alongside WPConsent for enhanced compliance?
Yes, you can use WPConsent with other privacy and security tools. For example, you might use WPConsent to manage your ‘Do Not Sell’ requests. At the same time, you might use a plugin like Sucuri to check your site for security weaknesses that could cause a data breach.
What should I do when a user sends me a ‘do not sell’ request?
Once you receive a request, you need to make sure you honor it properly. This means updating your internal data handling practices in order to reflect the user’s wishes.
For example, you might need to:
Update your records: Mark the user’s profile in your database or CRM system. For example, you could add a ‘Do Not Sell’ tag to their contact record in your CRM software. This makes it clear to your team that their data should not be sold.
Notify relevant teams: Ensure everyone involved in data processing knows about the request. After that, they can avoid any actions that would violate the user’s preferences.
Review data flows: If you share data with third parties, then confirm this user’s data is no longer included in those transfers.
Document the action: Keep a clear record of when you received the request and how it was processed. This documentation will also help you demonstrate compliance if you’re ever audited. The good news is that some tools log all user requests automatically, such as WPConsent.
If you don’t honor these requests, then you could face legal penalties, including significant fines and serious damage to your website’s reputation.
With that in mind, it’s essential that you take immediate action every time you get a ‘Do Not Sell’ request.
Is it important to regularly update the ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page?
Absolutely. Regular updates are vital to ensure you’re complying with the latest legal requirements.
Privacy laws can evolve over time, and new regulations might come into effect. By keeping your page up-to-date, you can avoid potential penalties and other legal issues.
You also need to ensure your compliance reflects any changes you make in how you handle data. For example, if you start collecting new types of data or partnering with new third parties, then your ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page should reflect those changes.
When it comes to reviewing and updating your ‘Do Not Sell My Info’ page, I recommend adding this task to your website maintenance checklist.
Additional Resources for Privacy Compliance
Navigating data privacy can be complex, but having the right resources to hand makes things much easier.
With that said, here’s a list of extra articles and guides to help you continue your compliance journey:
If you’re trying to choose between WordPress and Laravel for your next website, you’re not the only one.
Both platforms are popular, but they serve very different purposes. WordPress is beginner-friendly and great for getting a site online quickly. On the other hand, Laravel offers more customization and control, but only if you’re comfortable writing code.
Having worked with both platforms, I’ve found that the right choice really depends on your project and how comfortable you are with code.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the key differences between WordPress and Laravel to help you figure out which one fits your needs best.
WordPress vs. Laravel: A Brief Overview
Choosing between WordPress and Laravel is one of the first decisions you’ll need to make when building a website. You can use both platforms to create websites, but they are designed for different tasks.
I’ve put together this simple table that compares the key features of WordPress and Laravel side by side.
Feature
WordPress
Laravel
🎯 Main Use
Blogs, websites for everyone
Custom web apps, complex websites
⚙️ Technology
Content management system
Web application framework
🤹 Ease of Use
Very easy, good for beginners
Harder to learn, for developers
🔧 Customization
Themes, plugins
Code it yourself
🔒 Security
Needs optimization
Strong foundation that requires secure coding
📈 Scalability
Needs optimization
Out of the box
👥 Community
Huge, lots of help for all users
Small, developer-focused
👤 Best For
Building websites quickly
Coding custom sites
Next, I’ll walk you through each of these points in more detail to help you decide which platform is the right choice for your project.
Note: This comparison is between Laravel and self-hosted WordPress.org (not WordPress.com). See our guide on the differences between self-hosted WordPress.org and WordPress.com for more information.
How I Compared WordPress vs. Laravel
To give you a real-world comparison of WordPress and Laravel, I drew on my experience using both platforms for actual website projects.
I focused on the key areas that matter most when building a website with either platform:
📋 Everyday Tasks: I compared how both platforms handle things like setting up pages, managing content, and adding features.
⚙️ Customization & Features: I looked at what each platform is designed for, how easy it is to customize, and how they handle security and performance.
🎯 Best Use Cases: I considered different types of websites and which platform fits best for each.
⏱️ Time and Effort: I factored in the learning curve, development time, and ongoing maintenance needs, including things like keeping your site updated and running smoothly.
📈 Growth Potential: I looked at how well each platform supports websites as they grow and become more complex.
I’ll use this approach to walk you through the key differences and help you choose the right platform for your site.
Why Trust WPBeginner?
I know that picking the right platform for your website is an important decision. You need information you can rely on to help you choose well.
That’s why I put together this comparison of WordPress and Laravel to provide clear, useful advice.
While WordPress is the main platform for our projects, we always test and look into other web technologies, like Laravel. This helps us understand different tools so we can give you the best advice for your website needs.
WordPress vs. Laravel: Why Choosing the Right Platform Matters
Choosing the right platform to build your website is a big decision. Selecting the wrong one can lead to unexpected costs, technical limitations, and frustration as your site grows, which is why it’s crucial to choose correctly from the start.
Ultimately, the best choice comes down to your budget, technical comfort level, and what you want your website to do in the long run.
Now, let’s take a look at both WordPress and Laravel.
What Is WordPress?
WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world. Because it is open-source, it’s free to use and easy to customize with themes and plugins.
It’s designed to be user-friendly, allowing people of all skill levels to build and manage a website without needing to know how to code. It’s supported by a large global community that creates themes and plugins, and helps other users solve problems.
What Is Laravel?
Laravel is not a website builder like WordPress. Instead, it’s a PHP framework that gives developers a toolbox for building custom web applications from the ground up.
Like WordPress, Laravel is open-source and free, but it’s built for professional developers. You’ll need strong coding skills to use it, which gives you the power to create complex, highly customized websites and applications.
Ease of Use: Beginner-Friendly vs. Developer-Focused
When it comes to ease of use, WordPress and Laravel are built for completely different people.
WordPress is famous for its beginner-friendly approach that lets anyone build a site without code. In contrast, Laravel is a powerful tool designed for developers who are comfortable with a more technical setup.
WordPress Ease of Use: Setting Up a Basic Site
While there is a small learning curve, WordPress is designed to be easy to pick up, even for absolute beginners. You can follow our guide on how to learn WordPress for free in a week.
Getting started is quick and simple. Most web hosts offer one-click WordPress installation, so getting started is quick and simple. Hosts like Bluehost and Hostinger include this by default.
After WordPress is installed, you can log in to your dashboard. From here, you can create content using the built-in block editor, which lets you arrange your page using visual building blocks for text, images, and more.
To make building your site even easier, you can use a drag-and-drop page builder plugin. I recommend SeedProd because it lets you create completely custom layouts without any code. It even comes with an AI website builder that can generate a unique site for you in minutes.
💡 Don’t have time to build a website? Our expert team can build a custom WordPress site for you at an affordable price. See our Website Design Services for more details!
Laravel Ease of Use: Setting Up a Basic Application
Setting up a Laravel project involves a more technical process. To get started, you’ll need to install Composer, which is a tool that manages the PHP packages your project depends on.
Once Composer is installed, you can use the command line to create a new Laravel project. This is a big shift from WordPress, where most hosting providers handle installation through a graphical control panel.
You’ll also need a local development environment like XAMPP or MAMP to run your Laravel project on your computer.
While you can add a CMS to Laravel using tools like October CMS, it still requires technical knowledge to manage.
🏅 Winner for User-Friendliness: WordPress
I recommend WordPress for non-programmers. It’s made for people of all skill levels, especially those who want to build and manage websites without coding.
Laravel, on the other hand, is made for developers. It’s powerful and gives you a lot of control for building complex web apps, but it is difficult to learn and requires coding knowledge.
Making It Your Own: Customization in WordPress vs. Laravel
Now, let’s look at how WordPress and Laravel handle customization.
WordPress: The Theme & Plugin Powerhouse
One of the biggest advantages of WordPress is how easy it is to customize your website’s design and features, even if you’ve never written a line of code. This is all thanks to its huge ecosystem of themes and plugins.
Plugins are like apps for your website that add new functionality. For example, with plugins you can add a contact form, launch a full online store, build a membership community, or improve your website’s SEO.
With tens of thousands of free and premium options, there is a plugin for almost anything you can imagine. To see what’s possible, you can check out our expert pick of the must-have WordPress plugins we recommend for all business websites.
Alternatively, you can always hire a developer to add custom code to your WordPress site.
The main difference is that WordPress is a complete system designed for content, which you can then extend. For projects with highly complex or unusual requirements that need to be built from scratch, Laravel can sometimes be a more direct starting point.
Laravel: The Code-Savvy Customizer
Laravel takes a more technical approach to customization. It’s a framework, which means it provides a toolbox for developers to build a custom website or web application from scratch.
This gives you full control over every aspect of your project, but you’ll need to be comfortable with coding in PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to use it effectively. Unlike WordPress, where you start with a pre-built system, Laravel starts you with a clean slate.
This makes it ideal for complex projects with unique requirements. For instance, if you were building a custom booking system, a SaaS (Software as a Service) application, or an internal business tool, Laravel provides the flexibility to build every feature exactly as you need it.
The trade-off is that you have to build many features that WordPress provides by default, like a content editor or user management system. This is why Laravel projects almost always require hiring a developer and take more time to build.
In short, here are the main points about customizing with Laravel:
✅ It offers unlimited flexibility because you can custom code everything.
✅ It’s ideal for building web applications with unique and complex features.
❗ You must have development expertise or hire a developer to use it.
🏅 Winner for Customization Options: WordPress (for most people)
If you want to customize your website without writing code, WordPress is the clear winner. Its library of themes and plugins lets you personalize your site easily, no technical knowledge required.
Laravel is better suited for developers who need full control and want to build highly customized applications.
For example, if you’re creating a blog or business website, WordPress will likely meet your needs. But if you’re building a web app with unique features, Laravel gives you the tools to go beyond what themes and plugins can offer.
Content Management: WordPress vs. Laravel
If your website is focused on content—like blog posts, news, or tutorials—then having a strong content management system (CMS) is essential.
A good CMS saves you time, reduces errors, and makes it easier to manage your content. Let’s look at how WordPress and Laravel compare when it comes to content management.
WordPress: Excels at Content Management
WordPress was built for content management. It started as a blogging platform, and today it’s a full CMS that makes it easy to create, organize, and manage all kinds of digital content.
It comes with powerful built-in tools to keep everything in order. You can sort your posts with categories and tags, manage all your files in the media library, and even create different content structures using custom post types.
You can assign different roles like Author, Editor, and Administrator, giving each person the right level of access to create and manage content.
And if you need more advanced management tools, you can use plugins to add features like an editorial calendar, custom approval workflows, or content restriction for membership sites.
Laravel: The Flexible Framework (But Not a CMS)
Laravel is not a content management system. Instead, it’s a framework designed for building web applications. That means it doesn’t include built-in tools for managing content like WordPress does.
If you want to manage content with Laravel, there are two common approaches:
Build your own CMS: If you’re comfortable with PHP and Laravel, you can build a custom CMS from scratch. This gives you full control over your content structure and features, but it requires significant development time.
Use a Laravel-based CMS: Some tools, like October CMS and Statamic, are built on Laravel. These platforms add content management features on top of Laravel but still require some technical knowledge to use effectively.
Here’s what the content editor looks like in October CMS:
As you can see, Laravel doesn’t offer the out-of-the-box content tools that come standard with WordPress.
🏅 Winner for Content Management Features: WordPress
If you need a complete, beginner-friendly CMS, then WordPress is the better option. It’s great for bloggers, businesses, and anyone who wants to manage content without writing code.
Laravel, on the other hand, gives developers full control. You can build a custom content system from the ground up, but it takes time and technical skill.
For example, if you’re building a site with very specific content workflows, you might choose Laravel to match your exact requirements. But for most websites, WordPress is a faster and more practical choice.
eCommerce: WordPress vs. Laravel
Selling products or services online? Then you’ll want to look at how each platform handles eCommerce. The right setup can make managing your store much easier.
WordPress: The eCommerce Powerhouse
One of the biggest strengths of WordPress is its flexibility for selling online. You can use it to build anything from a simple donation button to a massive online marketplace.
If you want to build a full online store, you can follow our complete guide on how to start an online store. The most popular way to do this is with a free plugin like WooCommerce, which adds all the features you need, like product pages, a shopping cart, and payment gateways.
But WordPress isn’t just for large stores. You can also:
This flexibility makes WordPress a powerful choice that can grow with your business, no matter how you plan to sell online.
Laravel: The Custom eCommerce Builder
Laravel doesn’t come with built-in eCommerce features. But because it’s a flexible framework, developers can use it to build a fully custom eCommerce solution tailored to specific needs.
This lets you design features that may not be possible with WordPress. However, it requires advanced development skills and more time to set up and maintain.
Laravel is better suited for large businesses that need specialized functionality and have the technical resources to support a custom platform.
🏅 Winner for eCommerce Capabilities: WordPress (for most people)
For most small to medium-sized stores, WordPress with a plugin like WooCommerce is the easiest and most affordable choice. If you need a standard online store, this approach is plug-and-play and gives you everything you need to start selling without hiring a developer.
Laravel is a better fit when you need a large, custom eCommerce system. It is the best choice if you are building a bespoke platform with unique inventory, shipping, or recommendation features and have the budget for custom development.
SEO: WordPress vs. Laravel – Getting Found Online
If you want people to discover your website through search engines, then you need to think about search engine optimization (SEO). Your choice of platform can make a big difference in how easy that is to do.
WordPress: The SEO-Friendly CMS
WordPress is well-known for being SEO-friendly right out of the box. It supports key features like SEO-friendly URLs, categories and tags for organizing content, and alt text for images—all built into the platform.
WordPress makes SEO easy, especially with plugins like All in One SEO (AIOSEO). These tools help you add meta tags, create sitemaps, and optimize your content, all without needing to code.
With tools like this, you can follow most SEO best practices without needing to write any code.
If you’re serious about SEO, I recommend pairing your plugin with a fast-loading theme and a caching plugin to boost your site’s speed—a key ranking factor.
Laravel: The SEO Toolkit for Developers
Laravel doesn’t offer built-in SEO tools. Instead, it gives developers full control to add SEO features through code.
While you can build everything from the ground up, developers can also use pre-built Laravel SEO packages to handle tasks like creating sitemaps or managing metadata.
Popular Laravel SEO packages include ‘artesaos/seotools’, which can help handle meta tags, Open Graph, and more.
However, this still requires manual setup and coding knowledge to implement.
This flexibility is useful if you’re building a custom web application and need specific SEO structures. However, it’s a lot more technical and time-consuming.
If you’re not familiar with coding, then managing SEO in Laravel can be a real challenge.
🏅 Winner for SEO: WordPress
For most websites, WordPress is the easier and more beginner-friendly option for SEO. Its built-in features and powerful plugins make it simple to improve your search rankings without technical skills.
Laravel is best for developers working on advanced projects with very specific SEO needs. But you’ll need to be comfortable coding and managing those features manually.
Speed Matters: Performance in WordPress vs. Laravel
Website speed is important because a slow-loading website can frustrate visitors and negatively impact your search engine rankings.
Let’s take a closer look at how WordPress and Laravel compare when it comes to performance.
WordPress: Performance Requires Optimization
WordPress makes it easy to build a site, but that convenience can lead to slower load times if you’re not careful.
It’s important to know that the core WordPress software is actually very fast. But performance can slow down if you use a poorly coded theme, install too many or poorly coded plugins, or upload large, unoptimized images.
This is why it’s important to optimize your WordPress website to keep it running fast.
To boost WordPress performance, you can use caching plugins like WP Rocket, optimize your images, choose a lightweight theme, and select a quality hosting provider.
Laravel is built for speed because it starts as a lean, lightweight foundation. Developers only add the specific code and features needed for the project, so there’s no extra bloat to slow the site down.
That said, performance still depends on how well the code is written. A poorly optimized Laravel project can run into the same issues as any other framework.
But when set up properly, Laravel offers a strong foundation for high-performance websites and applications.
🏅 Winner for Performance: Laravel
If speed and performance are top concerns, especially for custom applications or high-traffic projects, then Laravel is the better fit. It’s well-suited for advanced performance needs and offers more precise control.
Still, WordPress can deliver excellent performance too. With the right hosting and optimization strategies, it can support fast load times even during high-traffic events. It just requires more setup and ongoing maintenance.
Growing Your Site: WordPress vs. Laravel Scalability
Scalability is your website’s ability to handle growth in traffic without slowing down.
Both WordPress and Laravel are excellent for this, but they use very different approaches.
WordPress: Scaling with the Right Infrastructure
WordPress can be scaled to handle massive amounts of traffic. In fact, many high-traffic websites, including major news outlets and enterprise companies, run on WordPress.
However, the scalability of a WordPress site depends less on the core software and more on its hosting environment and setup. To handle growth, you will need to invest in better infrastructure.
This usually involves:
Upgrading Your Hosting: Moving from a basic shared hosting plan to a more powerful VPS or a high-performance managed WordPress hosting provider is the most important step.
Using a CDN: A Content Delivery Network (CDN) helps distribute your website’s files across servers worldwide, reducing the load on your main server and speeding up load times for visitors.
Laravel is designed for scalability from the ground up. Because it’s a framework, developers have complete control over the application’s architecture, allowing them to build systems specifically for high-traffic and complex tasks.
It comes with built-in features that make scaling easier for developers. These include support for distributed caching systems, background job queues to handle intensive tasks, and a structure that works well with modern, scalable server setups like load balancers.
This level of control is powerful, but it requires significant technical expertise. Scaling a Laravel application is not about clicking a few buttons. Instead, it requires careful architectural planning and server management by a skilled development team.
🏅 Winner for Scalability: WordPress for Most Websites, Laravel for Custom Applications
For most businesses, blogs, and online stores, WordPress is the more practical choice for scaling. You can easily handle growth by upgrading your hosting plan and using optimization tools without needing to rebuild your site’s foundation.
Laravel is the winner for custom web applications (like a SaaS platform) where complex scalability needs are known from the start. It offers a more robust foundation for developers who need to design a highly specific, scalable architecture from scratch.
Safeguarding Your Site: WordPress vs. Laravel Security
Both WordPress and Laravel can be very secure, but you’ll approach security differently depending on which one you choose.
Let’s take a look.
WordPress Security: A Shared Responsibility
WordPress itself is secure, but its popularity makes it a common target for hackers. The real risks often come from outdated plugins or poorly coded themes.
Because you can add so many different plugins, your site has a larger ‘attack surface,’ meaning more potential entry points for hackers if things aren’t kept up-to-date.
The good news is that regular updates and careful plugin choices can go a long way in keeping your site safe.
To stay secure, I always recommend you use reputable plugins from trusted sources, keep everything updated, and follow best practices like strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
Beyond your own efforts, your web host plays a huge role in keeping your site secure. Choosing a quality managed WordPress hosting provider adds a powerful layer of protection, as they often include security features like firewalls, malware scanning, and automatic updates.
For extra security, I recommend using a security plugin. We currently use Cloudflare on WPBeginner, and we’ve also had success with Sucuri. Cloudflare is ideal for larger sites, while Sucuri offers solid protection for all types of websites.
Laravel Security: Built-in Protection and Encryption
Laravel includes built-in security features like CSRF protection and input validation that make it easier to build secure apps without needing extra tools.
It also uses encryption by default for sensitive data. For example, Laravel hashes passwords using bcrypt, helping keep login credentials secure even if the database is compromised. WordPress has also used password hashing for a long time and added support for bcrypt in version 6.8.
Laravel also encrypts cookies and sessions, which helps protect user data and prevent session hijacking.
That said, Laravel security depends heavily on the developer. Misconfigurations or insecure code can still create vulnerabilities. That’s why following secure coding practices and conducting regular security audits are essential.
🏅 Winner for Security: Laravel
Laravel provides a stronger security foundation out of the box, especially for developers who want built-in tools. But both platforms can be secure when used properly.
WordPress requires more ongoing maintenance, like updating plugins and using security tools, but it’s very secure when you follow best practices.
When you run into an issue or want to add new features, having a strong support community and plenty of resources is a huge advantage.
This is a key area where WordPress and Laravel are very different, and it can make a big impact on your final choice.
WordPress: A Thriving Community
WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, and this enormous market share supports a global community of users, developers, and designers.
Whether you need help troubleshooting an issue, selecting a plugin, or learning a new feature, there’s likely someone who has already encountered the same problem and shared the solution online.
In addition to community forums, you’ll find official resources like Learn WordPress and Make WordPress, which offer structured courses, lessons, and documentation to help users at all levels.
At WPBeginner, we also offer a wide range of free resources, including step-by-step tutorials, a newsletter, video guides, a helpful Facebook group, and more.
And because of WordPress’s popularity, the theme and plugin marketplace is massive, giving you endless customization options without writing any code.
Laravel: A Developer’s Hub
Laravel has a smaller but highly focused community made up of developers and technical users. It emphasizes clean code, reusable packages, and advanced development practices.
Although the Laravel ecosystem is more niche, it’s very active and supportive. I’ve found the official documentation to be excellent, and there are plenty of places to ask questions or share solutions.
Unlike WordPress, Laravel doesn’t offer a marketplace of themes and plugins. It’s designed for building things from scratch, so you’ll be writing more code, but you’ll also have full control over the final product.
Fortunately, Laravel developers are in high demand, and finding skilled professionals is generally not difficult.
🏅 Winner for Community and Resources: WordPress
While both platforms have strong communities, WordPress has a much larger and more beginner-friendly ecosystem. Here’s why:
The WordPress community welcomes users at every skill level. There are countless forums, tutorials, and support groups where you can find quick help.
Most common issues already have documented solutions you can find with a simple web search.
Its huge marketplace makes it easy to add new features or design updates with minimal effort.
Laravel offers an excellent support network for developers, but if you’re not comfortable with code, WordPress is the more accessible and community-rich option.
Related: For a deeper dive into WordPress market share and trends, check out our detailed WordPress Market Share Report.
Cost Comparison: WordPress vs. Laravel
I know from experience that budget is a major factor when choosing a platform. While both WordPress and Laravel are open-source (meaning the software itself is free), there are other costs to consider.
WordPress: Budgeting for Your Site
WordPress is usually more affordable at the start. With free themes, plugins, and budget-friendly hosting (as low as a few dollars per month), you can launch a site cheaply. Just remember that premium themes, plugins, or hiring a developer will add to the cost.
Here’s what you’ll need to budget for:
A domain name (like wpbeginner.com) costs around $10-15 per year, but you may be able to get the first year for free.
Web hosting (where your website files and database are stored) costs $2-25 per month. I recommend Bluehost for beginners because they have affordable plans and great support.
You can choose a free theme or purchase a premium theme for $30-200 to get more design options and features.
You can also use free plugins, though premium plugins can add powerful features. I recommend checking out our list of the must-have WordPress plugins.
If you need custom work, then you will need to hire a developer or designer. This can be the biggest expense, though most WordPress websites won’t need it.
Laravel projects typically cost more because they require custom development. You’ll likely need to hire a developer or a team, which makes sense for larger or more complex projects.
Here’s a breakdown of the typical costs you can expect with Laravel:
Domain name: Around $10–15 per year, just like with WordPress.
Web hosting: Typically $15–100+ per month. Laravel apps often require more robust infrastructure, such as cloud hosting or a VPS for better performance.
Developer fees: This is usually the largest cost. If you’re building something custom, hiring a Laravel developer is essential, and rates can vary widely depending on the complexity of your project.
All in all, Laravel gives you complete freedom to build exactly what you need, but that flexibility comes with a bigger investment in both time and money.
For example, you might launch a simple WordPress site for under $100, but a custom Laravel project could easily start in the thousands depending on its features.
🏅 Winner for Affordability: WordPress (for most people)
For most people, especially beginners and small businesses, WordPress is the more cost-effective option. You can launch a full-featured website without hiring a developer, and many themes and plugins are available for free.
Laravel is best suited for complex projects with unique functionality, where you have the budget to invest in custom development. It’s a powerful solution, but not the cheapest one.
The Verdict: Choosing Between WordPress vs Laravel
So, which platform is right for you? It all depends on what you need from your website.
Use WordPress if you want to build a website quickly, manage content easily, and benefit from thousands of ready-made themes and plugins. It’s perfect for blogs, business sites, portfolios, and online stores without breaking the bank.
Use Laravel if you’re a developer (or working with one) building a custom web application with unique features, advanced functionality, or a need for serious scalability and control. Laravel is more powerful under the hood, but it requires coding expertise to unlock its full potential.
To help you decide, here’s a simple breakdown of who each platform is best suited for:
WordPress
Laravel
Typical Users
Bloggers, small business owners, content creators, non-developers
Developers, startups, enterprises building custom apps
Primary Use Cases
Blogs, business websites, portfolios, eCommerce stores (with plugins)
Custom web apps, SaaS platforms, internal tools, complex eCommerce
Before choosing a platform, consider your goals, technical skills, and budget.
If you want to build something quickly and easily, WordPress is likely the way to go. But if you need full control and are building something more advanced, Laravel might be a better fit.
I hope this guide helped you get a clearer picture of whether WordPress or Laravel is right for your next project. Ready to build your site? If you’re leaning toward WordPress, check out our guide on how to start a website step-by-step.
☝ Pro Tip: Are you overwhelmed by building a professional website? Let our expert WordPress designers create a stunning site for you, easily and affordably. See our Stress-Free WordPress Design Services page for details and pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress vs. Laravel
Now that you’ve read our comparison of WordPress vs. Laravel, you might still have some questions. Here are some quick answers to frequently asked questions.
Is WordPress or Laravel easier to use for beginners?
For someone just starting out with website building, WordPress is easier to learn and use. It is designed with user-friendliness in mind, even if you have no coding experience. You can get a website up and running quickly, often with just a few clicks.
Laravel, on the other hand, has a steeper learning curve. It’s a framework built for developers, so it assumes you have coding knowledge or are willing to learn.
Do I need to know coding to use WordPress or Laravel?
With WordPress, you can build and manage a website without writing any code at all. You can use themes to control the design and plugins to add features, all without needing to write code. If you want to make very advanced customizations, then some coding knowledge can be helpful.
Laravel is different. To use Laravel effectively, you need coding skills, specifically in PHP. Building a website or web application with Laravel involves writing code to create features, customize functionality, and manage your site.
Which is better for SEO: WordPress or Laravel?
Both WordPress and Laravel can be excellent for SEO, but they approach it in different ways. WordPress is naturally quite SEO-friendly right out of the box, and you can use plugins like All in One SEO to optimize your site for search.
Laravel gives developers more direct, technical control over SEO. With Laravel, you can fine-tune every aspect of your website’s code and structure for optimal SEO performance. But this isn’t a one-click solution because it takes a lot of coding.
Is WordPress or Laravel more secure?
Both WordPress and Laravel can be secure platforms, but security needs to be approached differently for each. WordPress is actively maintained for security, and you need to keep it updated. You also need to use security best practices and plugins for the best protection.
Laravel is more secure from a technical standpoint. It has many security features by default and encourages secure coding practices. However, just like any platform, Laravel’s security still depends on developers writing secure code and properly configuring their applications.
When should I choose WordPress over Laravel?
I recommend WordPress for most websites. It’s easy to set up and manage, especially if you’re not a coder. It’s ideal for blogs, small business websites, portfolios, and online stores. It lets you get a website online quickly and cost-effectively.
When should I choose Laravel over WordPress?
In most cases, it’s best to choose Laravel when you need to build a custom web application or a website with very specific and complex features. You will need development expertise or a development team, but you can build something truly unique from the ground up.
