Hiring guide
How to hire a WordPress developer
Last reviewed , published by Gjethe
The short answer
To hire a WordPress developer, decide whether you need a theme set-up, a custom theme, plugin development or rescue work on an existing site; check live sites for speed and ease of editing; ask how they choose plugins, handle security and updates, and build the editing experience; and make sure hosting and admin accounts stay in your name.
WordPress powers a huge share of the web, which means there are many developers, and very different levels of quality. Some sites are fast, secure and easy to edit; others are slow tangles of plugins that break with every update. This guide helps you tell the difference before you hire.
Types of WordPress work
| Work | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Theme set-up | Configuring a commercial theme with your content |
| Custom theme | A theme built for your design, often with blocks |
| Plugin development | Custom features not available off the shelf |
| WooCommerce | Online stores built on WordPress |
| Rescue and speed work | Fixing slow, hacked or broken sites |
| Headless WordPress | WordPress as a CMS behind a custom front end |
Signs of a good WordPress developer
- Live sites that load quickly on mobile
- Few, well-chosen plugins
- A clear approach to updates and backups
- Editing experience designed for your team
- Security basics: strong logins, updates, least privilege
- Comfort with both the block editor and custom code
Questions to ask
| Question | Why |
|---|---|
| Which plugins will you use and why? | Fewer plugins means fewer conflicts and risks |
| How will we edit pages? | You should be able to update content safely |
| Who handles updates after launch? | Unmaintained WordPress sites are common hacking targets |
| Where will it be hosted? | Hosting strongly affects speed and security |
| Will we own all licences? | Premium plugins and themes should be in your name |
Page builders: convenient but heavy
Visual page builders let non-developers design pages, but they often add heavy code that slows sites down and can lock content into one tool. The block editor and well-built custom blocks offer a lighter alternative that's still easy to edit.
Ask any developer how they'll balance editing flexibility with performance, and look at the speed of their existing sites.
Red flags
Be cautious about developers who install dozens of plugins for simple features, use nulled (pirated) premium plugins, keep admin access for themselves only or offer no plan for updates.
Pirated plugins in particular are a common source of malware and should never be used.
When WordPress isn't the best fit
WordPress is excellent for content-heavy sites, blogs and many business websites. For highly custom web applications, very high performance requirements or design-led sites with little content, other approaches such as Next.js or Webflow may suit better.
A good developer will tell you if another platform fits your goals better rather than defaulting to what they always use.
Hosting matters as much as the developer
Even well-built WordPress sites suffer on cheap, overloaded hosting. Good managed WordPress hosting provides speed, backups, staging environments and security monitoring. Ask your developer which hosting they recommend and why.
Keep the hosting account in your name and give the developer access, not the other way around.
Questions to check plugin choices
| Question | What a good answer shows |
|---|---|
| Is this plugin actively maintained? | Lower risk of security issues |
| Could this be done without a plugin? | Lighter, faster site |
| What happens if the plugin is abandoned? | A plan for replacement |
| Does it load scripts on every page? | Awareness of performance |
| Is the licence in our name? | You keep updates and support |
Editing experience for your team
Ask to see how editors will add pages, update content and manage media. A good set-up uses reusable blocks or patterns so your team can create new pages that stay on-brand.
A short training session and written guide at launch prevent many support requests later.
Security practices to ask about
Ask how the developer secures WordPress: strong admin logins with two-factor authentication, limited user roles, regular updates, a web application firewall where appropriate, backups stored off-site and removal of unused themes and plugins.
Security should be part of the build, not an afterthought.
Migrations and redesigns
If you're moving to WordPress or redesigning an existing WordPress site, ask how content, media and URLs will be migrated and redirected. Losing old URLs without redirects is a common cause of traffic drops.
A redirect map and post-launch monitoring protect your search visibility.
Freelancer or agency for WordPress
Freelancers suit small sites and updates; agencies suit larger sites that need design, development, content, SEO and ongoing maintenance together. For business-critical sites, continuity and security support matter as much as the initial build.
Ask who will maintain the site after launch before choosing.
Documentation at handover
Ask for a short handover document: hosting details, plugins and why they're used, custom code locations, how to update content and who to contact for help.
It saves time for anyone who works on the site later.
Frequently asked questions
Is WordPress still a good choice?
For many content-led websites, yes. It's flexible, widely supported and easy to edit when built well.
How many plugins are too many?
There's no fixed number, but every plugin should have a clear purpose. Fewer, well-maintained plugins are safer.
Can you fix our slow WordPress site?
Usually. Speed work often involves hosting, images, caching and removing heavy plugins or builders.
Do I need maintenance?
Yes. WordPress core, themes and plugins need regular updates for security.
Should I use a page builder?
It depends on how often you build new layouts. Custom blocks often give enough flexibility with better performance.
Can WordPress be used headless?
Yes, as a content backend for a Next.js front end, combining familiar editing with modern performance.
Who should own the hosting account?
You. Developers can be given access.
What if my site was hacked?
A developer can clean it, restore backups, patch the cause and harden security.
Should I use a premium theme?
A good theme can save time, but heavy multipurpose themes often slow sites down. A lean theme or custom theme usually performs better.
Can a WordPress developer improve our existing site rather than rebuild?
Often, yes. Speed, security and editing improvements can extend the life of a site.
Can you build custom Gutenberg blocks?
Yes. Custom blocks give editors flexible, on-brand building blocks without heavy page builders.
Can you add WooCommerce to our existing site?
Yes, if the site is in good condition. We review performance and hosting first, since stores need more resources.
Do you build multilingual WordPress sites?
Yes, with established multilingual plugins and proper hreflang set-up.
Can WordPress handle a lot of traffic?
Yes, with good hosting, caching and a lean set of plugins.
Do you use staging sites?
Yes. Changes are tested on a staging copy before going live.
Related services
WordPress Development
Custom themes, plugins and WooCommerce without bloat.
Website Development
Custom business websites on Next.js, React or WordPress.
Website Maintenance & Support
Updates, backups, monitoring and fixes every month.
Website Speed Optimization
Faster pages and better Core Web Vitals.
Website Security
Hardening, malware clean-up and security reviews.
Keep reading
Talk it through with us.
Tell us what you need. You get an honest assessment, a clear plan and a written quote. The first consultation is always free.
- What happens next
- 1You tell us what you need
- 2We aim to reply within 24 hours with questions
- 3You get a written quote for your project