How to Tell if a Website is WordPress
Have you ever come across a website and wondered whether it was built with WordPress? You're not alone! WordPress powers over 40% of the web, meaning there's a high chance that the site you're visiting is running on this popular CMS.
In this guide, we'll walk you through how to tell if a website is WordPress using various methods, from simple visual clues to more advanced techniques.
Why Does It Matter?
Understanding whether a site is built with WordPress can be useful for various reasons:
Security research – If you’re concerned about vulnerabilities, knowing the CMS is crucial.
Competitor analysis – Want to know what your competitors are using?
Website development – If you’re hiring a developer, you may want to check if they specialize in WordPress.
Purchasing themes or plugins – If you like a website’s design, knowing it runs on WordPress can help you replicate its style.
Step-by-Step Guide to Identify a WordPress Website
1. Check the Page Source Code
One of the easiest ways to check if a site is built with WordPress is by viewing its page source code.
How to do it:
Right-click on the webpage and select View Page Source (or press
Ctrl + Uon Windows /Cmd + Option + Uon Mac).Look for terms like wp-content, wp-includes, or wp-admin. These are clear indicators that the website is using WordPress.
Example snippet from a WordPress site’s source code:
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://example.com/wp-content/themes/twentytwenty/style.css">
If you see wp-content in the URL, it’s almost certainly a WordPress website.
2. Use Online Tools to Detect WordPress
If manually checking the code sounds complicated, don't worry! There are free online tools that can help:
IsItWP – Enter a website URL, and it will tell you if the site is built with WordPress.
BuiltWith – A more advanced tool that also provides details about plugins and themes.
Wappalyzer – A browser extension that detects the technologies used on a site.
3. Check the Login URL
Most WordPress websites have a standard login URL:
https://example.com/wp-admin/ or https://example.com/wp-login.php
How to check:
Type
yourwebsite.com/wp-adminin the address bar.If it redirects to a login page with a WordPress logo, it's definitely a WordPress site!
⚠️ Some site owners change this URL for security reasons, so if it doesn’t work, don’t assume it’s not a WordPress site.
4. Look for WordPress-Specific Files
Every WordPress website has certain files that other CMS platforms don’t use.
Try visiting these URLs:
yourwebsite.com/readme.html– If the site is running WordPress, it may show a version-specific readme file.yourwebsite.com/license.txt– This file contains WordPress’s open-source licensing agreement.
If these files exist, then the site is likely built with WordPress.
5. Inspect the Website’s Theme
Most WordPress sites use themes, which you can identify by checking the source code.
How to check:
View Page Source (Right-click > View Page Source).
Search for
/wp-content/themes/.The theme name will be visible in the URL.
For example:
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://example.com/wp-content/themes/astra/style.css">
This tells us that the website is using the Astra theme on WordPress.
6. Check for WordPress-Specific Plugins
Most WordPress websites rely on plugins to extend functionality. You can check if a site is using WordPress by searching for plugin-related files.
Look for:
/wp-content/plugins/ in the page source.
Elements like
wp-jsonin network requests, which is specific to WordPress’s REST API.
7. Ask the Website Owner!
Sometimes, the simplest way to find out is to just ask! Many website owners are open about using WordPress, especially if they run a blog or business site.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is every website with wp-content using WordPress?
Yes, wp-content is a unique directory that only exists in WordPress installations.
Can a WordPress website hide its identity?
Yes, some site owners use security plugins to remove WordPress traces, making detection harder.
What if the website doesn’t have a wp-admin page?
It might be hidden for security reasons, or the site may be using a WordPress-based static site generator.
Do all WordPress sites look the same?
No! WordPress is highly customizable, so websites can look completely unique despite using the same platform.
How do I know what theme a WordPress site is using?
You can check the page source for /wp-content/themes/ or use tools like What WordPress Theme Is That?.
Now that you know how to tell if a website is WordPress, you can apply these techniques whenever you're curious. If you're considering building your own site, knowing what’s possible with WordPress might just convince you to start using it!
Need help getting started with WordPress? Check out Bluehost or SiteGround for reliable hosting options!
