Installing WordPress sounds technical, but in 2026 it is one of the easiest parts of starting a website. Most hosting companies will do it for you with a single click, and the whole process takes about five minutes.
This guide walks you through every way to install WordPress, from the one-click method most beginners should use to the manual install for people who want full control. By the end, you will know exactly which method fits your situation.
What you need before you install WordPress
You only need two things:
- A domain name — your website’s address (like yoursite.com). Most hosting companies give you one free for the first year.
- A WordPress hosting account — the server space where your site lives. Plans start around $3 per month on the cheapest intro pricing.
If you do not have these yet, see our guide to the best WordPress hosting for beginners. You will also need an SSL certificate (the thing that puts the padlock in the browser), but every reputable host includes one for free now.
WordPress itself is free and open source. You never pay for the software — you pay for the hosting it runs on.
The 4 ways to install WordPress (which one is for you?)
| Method | Time | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-click install (hosting panel) | 2–5 minutes | Beginner | Almost everyone starting out |
| Pre-installed (managed hosting) | 0 minutes | Beginner | People who want zero technical work |
| Manual install (FTP) | 15–30 minutes | Intermediate | Full control, or hosts without an installer |
| Local install (your computer) | 10–15 minutes | Beginner | Practicing and testing for free |
If you are starting your first website, use method 1. It is fast, free with your hosting, and hard to get wrong.
Method 1: One-click install (recommended for beginners)
Nearly every beginner-friendly host includes a one-click WordPress installer in the control panel. Here is what the process looks like at Bluehost, which we recommend for first-timers:
- Sign up for a hosting plan. The Basic plan starts around $2.95 per month on intro pricing and includes a free domain for the first year.
- Pick your domain name. Enter the domain you want during signup (or choose “I’ll create my domain later” if you are not sure yet).
- Run the setup wizard. After signup, Bluehost asks a few questions about your site and installs WordPress for you automatically.
- Log in to your site. Go to
yoursite.com/wp-adminand log in with the credentials you created. You are done.
That is genuinely the whole process. The host handles the database setup, file placement, and configuration behind the scenes.
SiteGround works the same way: its control panel has a WordPress installer that sets everything up in a few clicks, with plans starting around $2.99 per month on intro pricing.
A note on pricing: intro prices like $2.95 per month usually require paying for 12 to 36 months up front, and the renewal rate is higher (often $9 to $12 per month). That is standard across the industry, not a trick — just know the renewal price before you commit.
Method 2: WordPress already installed (managed hosting)
Managed WordPress hosts like WP Engine and Kinsta install WordPress for you before you ever log in. You sign up, and your login details arrive by email.
Pros:
- Zero install work — you skip straight to building
- Servers are tuned for WordPress, so sites run faster
- Daily backups and staging sites included
Cons:
- More expensive: around $25 to $30 per month to start
- Some hosts restrict which plugins you can install
This method is ideal if you are building a business site and would rather pay than click through installers. It is overkill for a first personal blog.
Method 3: Manual install (the famous “5-minute install”)
If your host does not have a one-click installer, or you want to understand how WordPress actually works under the hood, you can install it manually. WordPress calls this the “5-minute install” — the first time, give yourself 20 to 30 minutes.
What you will need: your hosting control panel login (usually cPanel), and optionally a free FTP program like FileZilla.
- Download WordPress. Go to wordpress.org/download and download the latest version (as of this writing, WordPress 7.1.2) as a .zip file. Unzip it on your computer.
- Create a database. In cPanel, open “MySQL Databases.” Create a new database, create a new database user, then add that user to the database with all privileges. Write down the database name, username, and password.
- Upload the files. Using FileZilla or your host’s built-in File Manager, upload all the unzipped WordPress files to your site’s root folder (usually called
public_html). - Run the installer. Visit your domain in a browser. WordPress detects that nothing is configured and opens a setup wizard. Enter your database name, username, and password when it asks.
- Create your admin account. Enter a site title, an admin username, a strong password, and your email. Do NOT use “admin” as your username — it is the first thing attackers try. When WordPress generates a password for you, use it or pick something equally long.
- Finish and log in. Click “Install WordPress,” then log in at
yoursite.com/wp-admin.
Leave the “discourage search engines” checkbox unticked unless you want your site hidden from Google while you build it. You will need PHP 8.3 or newer and MySQL 8.0 (or MariaDB 10.11) on your server — any decent host already meets this.
Method 4: Install WordPress on your own computer (free practice)
Not ready to pay for hosting? You can run WordPress on your own computer for free. Nobody else can see the site, so it is perfect for learning, testing themes, and breaking things without consequences.
The easiest tool is Local by WP Engine (free, works on Windows, Mac, and Linux):
- Download and install Local from the official site.
- Click the plus button to add a new site and give it a name.
- Choose the default environment settings — they are fine for beginners.
- Set a username, password, and email for the admin account.
- Click finish. Open your site and dashboard with one click.
When you are ready to go live, you will need hosting and a domain, and you can migrate the local site there with a migration plugin or your host’s free migration service. See our guide to moving a WordPress site to a new host.
6 things to do right after installing WordPress
Installing WordPress is step one. Do these six things before you start publishing:
- Check your SSL. Visit your site with
https://in front. If the browser shows a padlock, SSL is working. If not, turn it on in your hosting panel. - Set your permalinks. Go to Settings > Permalinks and choose “Post name.” This gives your pages clean URLs like
yoursite.com/aboutinstead ofyoursite.com/?p=123. It is better for SEO too. - Install two plugins to start. A backup plugin (so you never lose your work) and a security plugin (to block the basics). See our essential WordPress plugins guide for our picks.
- Write your first post. Go to Posts > Add New and publish something short. Getting the first post live makes everything else feel real.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install WordPress?
The software is free. You pay for hosting (around $3 per month on intro pricing) and the domain (often free for the first year with hosting). That is the entire cost.
How long does it take to install WordPress?
Two to five minutes with a one-click installer, 15 to 30 minutes with a manual install. Add another 30 minutes for the after-install setup above and you are fully live.
Can I install WordPress without knowing how to code?
Yes. The one-click and managed methods involve no code at all. Even the manual method only asks you to copy database details into a form.
What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
WordPress.org is the free software you install on your own hosting (what this guide covers). WordPress.com is a hosted service that runs it for you. We compared WordPress.com vs WordPress.org for beginners if you are deciding.
Can I move my site to a different host later?
Yes. Nothing about the install locks you in. Our migration guide shows how to move a WordPress site to a new host without downtime.
What username should I avoid?
Do not use “admin,” “administrator,” or your site name as the admin username. Bots try these first. Pick something unique and use a long password.
WordPress powers more than 40% of all websites, and now you know why it caught on: getting started is genuinely easy. Pick the one-click method, follow the six after-install steps, and your site will be live before your coffee cools.
Next steps: learn how to start a WordPress blog, speed up your WordPress site, or lock down security with our beginner security guide.
