Between the rise of AI, shifts in how people build websites, and new tools popping up every week, it’s getting harder to know what’s actually worth learning. With WordPress (and tech in general) evolving so rapidly, staying current isn’t always straightforward.
As a marketer, I don’t actively build WordPress sites, so I reached out to the experts to learn what tools real agencies and site builders are using, what’s working, and what trends they’re keeping an eye on for the year ahead.
Keep reading for a clearer picture of where WordPress is heading and how you can stay ahead of the curve.
WordPress experts share their tech stacks
Agency owner and digital educator, Mark Szymanski, recommends starting new builds from a blueprint of core plugins, thereby saving time and ensuring consistency across projects.
My current stack includes Cloudflare for domains (with Namecheap for client domains), GridPane for hosting, Fortress for security, Backblaze for backups, and SendGrid for SMTP. For site building, I use Bricks Builder with its child theme, enhanced by Advanced Themer and Automatic.CSS for styling efficiency.
For analytics and management, I rely on Conversion Bridge, Frames for patterns, and MainWP for multi-site management. JetEngine handles dynamic data, while RankMath manages SEO. For forms and e-commerce, WS Form Pro and SureCart provide robust solutions without unnecessary bloat. This stack prioritizes performance, security, and developer efficiency while maintaining flexibility for different project needs.
Mark Szymanski
Agency owner and digital educator
With over 25 years of experience in web development, Philip Levine brings deep insight into what it takes to build websites that are both efficient and scalable. Since founding South Florida Web Advisors in 2014, he has grown the business to manage more than 150 direct clients and now provides tier 2 support to agencies responsible for over 400 additional websites.
In several projects, I needed to create a staff directory with both an archive-style listing view and individual detail pages for each staff member. Instead of using Custom Post Types with a plugin like PODs, I opted to use Gravity Forms and GravityView.
This approach gave me far greater flexibility in designing the form, managing the data, and building the layout—without the overhead of custom templates or extra HTML/PHP coding typically required with CPTs. It streamlined both development and maintenance.
In my opinion, nothing compares to what GravityKit offers when it comes to extending the power of Gravity Forms. I install it on most of my sites by default. I’ve found that even if I do not need it from the start I will eventually. For example, I often start with GravityImport and GravityExport—then I may add GravityActions and then eventually GravityView.
Philip Levine
Agency owner and veteran web developer
Agency owner, Ryan Logan, keeps an up-to-date list of tools in his tech stack for clients and prospects to reference. As the founder of InfluenceWP.com, he makes a point to stay impartial—avoiding labels like “the best,” since what works well can be subjective and context-dependent. Below, Ryan shares his full tech stack, based around lean, secure, and proven tools that reduce complexity, minimize plugin bloat, and prioritize scalability.
Every site runs on Cloudflare (free) for security and speed, hosted with Kinsta for reliable performance and support. We install Two-Factor for admin protection and use Simple Cloudflare Turnstile for spam prevention. Perfmatters handles site optimization early in the build, ShortPixel ensures image compression when needed, and WPCodeBox manages custom code efficiently.
For eCommerce, we use WooCommerce with key extensions, paired with MailPoet for email. SEOPress handles SEO, supported by Permalink Manager, RightBlogger for AI content, and SEO PowerSuite for audits. Termageddon covers legal policies, while WP Umbrella provides centralized site management.
Ryan Logan
Agency owner and founder of InfluenceWP
I think there’s an important takeway here: Don’t priortize technologies based on fleeting popularity or what’s trending in the moment. Ultimately, the most important technologies to learn are those that provide the features you need while working reliably for you and your clients.
Preparing for the future: Gutenberg and Full Site Editing
It’s clear that WordPress is moving steadily toward a future built around Full Site Editing (FSE). As the block editor continues to evolve and gain traction, mastering it isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about preparing for a more flexible, intuitive, and streamlined way of building WordPress sites.
Full site editing has come a long way since its release in WordPress 5.9, providing the ability to edit all aspects of a site using blocks (provided you’re using a compatible block theme).
FSE adds greater flexibility to WordPress, making it easier to create consistent designs without needing a lot of code. In fact, Rocket.net cite block themes as a major theme development trend for 2025!
Here at GravityKit, we recently surveyed over 100 WordPress users—including agency owners, developers, freelancers, hobbyists, and site managers—about their most used page builders. The results, shown in the chart below, show the popularity of Gutenberg, with a sizeable number of users naming it as their go-to page builder.
While block editor use appears to be gowing, traditional page builders aren’t going away any time soon—they power a huge number of sites and remain the go-to for many users who value their versatility, visual control, and mature ecosystems.
What page builders do WordPress builders use?
Live chart pulling data from a Gravity Forms survey form. Created with GravityCharts.
There’s no doubt about it: FSE and Guteberg as key to the future trajectory of WordPress, and users have realized that. Just take a look at the comments on this Reddit thread about what WordPress tools to learn in 2025:
“I think in 2025, Gutenberg with Full Site Editing is a solid choice for lightweight sites.”
“I tried to fight gutenberg for as long as i could but there is no denying that along with FSE its the future of WordPress now.“
“I’d say, if you want to stay close to WP’s future roadmap, go for Gutenberg and FSE. You might have some fun developing custom, or your own, gutenberg blocks.“
Embracing FSE now means positioning yourself and your clients for long-term success in the WordPress ecosystem.
Final thoughts
As WordPress continues to evolve—shaped by AI, Full Site Editing, and an ever-growing ecosystem of tools—there’s no single “correct” stack to master. What matters most is choosing technologies that align with your goals, your workflows, and, most importantly, the needs of you and your clients.
Whether you’re experimenting with AI, going deep into into Gutenberg, or assembling a new plugin stack, the key is to stay curious, adaptable, and focused on delivering value. The future of WordPress isn’t about chasing trends, it’s about building with intention.
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