Introduction
Did you know that WordPress powers over 43.5% of websites? That’s 61.7% of the CMS market share. Around 513.58 million websites are built on WordPress. One of the most common questions I get asked is how to tell if a website is built on WordPress or not. Even my clients ask the same question. With that said, it can be very crucial to know how to identify a WordPress site. In this article, I will show you how to determine whether a website is built on WordPress, Shopify, or custom-built. There are many ways to do this, such as using browser inspect mode, a CMS detector, etc. It is almost impossible to tell just by looking at a website, as the design doesn’t provide clues about the CMS being used. However, professional WordPress developers can often guess without using any tools. Today, we will discuss four common methods to identify the CMS a website is using.
Method 4: Typing /wp-admin after the domain
This is a useful method, but I don’t use it much.
- Open your browser and visit the website you want to check.
- After the domain name, add /wp-admin/ or /wp-login.php (e.g., webwishcreation.com/wp-admin/).
- Press Enter.
If it takes you to the WordPress login page, then the website is built with WordPress. However, if it redirects you to a 404 error page, then it may not be a WordPress site.
Note: Many websites hide their login area for security reasons, so this method is not always reliable.
Method 3: Typing /license.txt after the domain
This is another good method, but it may not work on every website.
- Open the website.
- After the domain name, type /license.txt (e.g., webwishcreation.com/license.txt). (Do not add an extra / after it.)
- Press Enter.
If you see the WordPress license page, then the website is built with WordPress. If not, then it may not be a WordPress site.
Note: This method does not work on all websites, as many site owners remove the license file.
Method 2: Using Browser Inspect Mode
Using browser inspect mode is one of the most reliable ways to check if a website is built with WordPress. This method allows you to verify it quickly.
- Open your browser and visit the website.
- Right-click on the page and select Inspect (on Google Chrome) or press F12 to open the Developer Tools. (On some laptops, you may need to hold FN and press F12.)
- Click on the Sources tab in the top-right corner.
- Expand the top dropdown, then expand the domain dropdown.
If you see wp-content, wp-includes, and similar folders, the website is built with WordPress. If you don’t see any WordPress-related prefixes, then it may not be a WordPress site.
Note: This method is not available on mobile devices or some older browsers.
Method 1: Using a CMS Detector
There are many websites that can detect a CMS. WhatCMS.org is one of the most popular tools for this purpose. It can identify the CMS, backend language, database language, hosting service, and more. Best of all, you don’t even need to sign up. I really, really like this tool—and no, this is not a sponsored recommendation!
- Open WhatCMS.org.
- Enter the website URL in the input field (without https:// or / at the end—just the domain name).
- Click Detect CMS.
As you can see from the screenshot, the CMS has been detected. This method is efficient and reliable.
FAQs
You can identify a WordPress website by checking for common URL patterns, using the browser’s inspect mode, or employing a CMS detector tool. For example, visiting URLs like /wp-admin or /license.txt may reveal WordPress login or license pages, while inspecting the page source for directories such as wp-content and wp-includes confirms the use of WordPress.
A simple way to detect WordPress is by adding specific paths to the domain name. Try appending /wp-admin or /wp-login.php to see if the login page appears. Additionally, typing /license.txt may show the WordPress license file. These URL-based techniques are quick checks, though they might not work on every website due to security measures.
Browser inspect mode is a reliable method to verify if a site uses WordPress. By right-clicking the webpage and selecting “Inspect” (or pressing F12), you can view the source code. Look for WordPress-specific folders like wp-content, wp-includes, or unique file references. If these elements are present, the site is likely built on WordPress.
WhatCMS.org is a popular online tool that identifies the content management system behind a website. Simply enter the domain (without extra URL parts), and the tool scans the site to reveal if it uses WordPress, Shopify, or another CMS. It also provides insights into the backend language and hosting service, making it a valuable resource for quick CMS detection.
Many website owners hide common WordPress indicators, such as login URLs and visible CMS directories, for security reasons. Even if these elements are obscured, you can still use methods like browser inspect mode or a CMS detector tool to check for hidden clues in the code. Combining multiple techniques increases your chances of accurately identifying the CMS used.
Conclusion
Identifying whether a website is built on WordPress or another CMS doesn’t have to be a guessing game. By using practical methods such as typing specific URLs, leveraging browser inspect mode, or utilizing reliable CMS detectors, you can quickly determine the platform behind any website. While some techniques may not work on every site, combining these approaches will improve accuracy and confidence. My recommendation is to use WhatCMS.org. So, the next time you’re curious about a website’s CMS, try these methods and uncover the mystery with ease!