3 WordPress trends to harness in 2025

At Human Made, we’re always looking ahead, ensuring we’re at the forefront of what’s next in the WordPress ecosystem.

As 2025 is well underway, WordPress continues to evolve, solidifying its position as the most dominant CMS on the web. While proprietary platforms struggle to balance innovation with operational efficiency, WordPress is charging forward with transformative advancements. 

This year, three key trends are emerging that every enterprise and content creator should be paying close attention to: the maturity of the Block Editor, the rise of the hybrid headless CMS, and the integration of AI within open-source ecosystems. 

In this post, we’ll examine how these emerging trends are shaping WordPress and what they mean for enterprise sites, along with advice on the next steps to take in 2025.

1. The Block Editor: The Most Advanced No-Code Editor Yet

WordPress’ Block Editor (formerly known as Gutenberg) has undergone significant development, with over 34,000 code commits—more than many entire CMS projects. This unprecedented level of development has resulted in an editor that not only leads the market in no-code capabilities but also provides an extensible foundation for the future.

For enterprises, this means the ability to fully leverage Full-Site Editing (FSE). No longer limited to pre-defined templates or relying on developers for customisation, teams can now design and manage every aspect of their website – including headers, menus, footers, and templates – directly within the Block Editor. This evolution drastically reduces development costs and enhances marketing agility, allowing businesses to iterate and deploy faster than ever before.

What enterprises should do in 2025: If you haven’t already, convert your WordPress theme into a Block Theme, integrate Full-Site Editing to maximise flexibility and efficiency in content creation and site management.

2. The Rise of Hybrid Headless CMS

Headless CMS solutions have been touted as the future of digital experiences for years, but in 2025, the industry is undergoing a shift. Traditional headless platforms are struggling with adoption barriers, high costs, and limited extensibility. Meanwhile, WordPress is pioneering a new path with a hybrid approach offering the best of both worlds: the flexibility of headless architecture combined with the ease of use and extensive plugin ecosystem of WordPress.

This hybrid model allows enterprises to decouple their front-end while still leveraging WordPress’ robust backend capabilities. The result? A more efficient, scalable, and cost-effective solution that empowers developers and content teams alike. In a landscape where enterprises need agility, WordPress’ hybrid headless approach is poised to outpace traditional headless CMS competitors.

What enterprises should do in 2025: Consider adopting a hybrid approach to headless architecture with WordPress, balancing flexibility with ease of use to future-proof your digital experience.

3. AI and the Rebirth of WordPress

AI is no longer just a buzzword – it’s fundamentally reshaping how content is created, managed, and optimised. While proprietary platforms scramble to integrate AI-powered features for short-term gains, WordPress is leveraging its open-source nature to build something much more powerful: an intelligent content operating system.

Imagine an ecosystem where every plugin can be augmented by AI agents, seamlessly orchestrated to enhance workflows. Need a contact page with file upload capabilities? AI within WordPress could automatically assemble the necessary components – pages, blocks, forms, SEO optimisations, and more – without manual configuration. This vision, powered by the collaborative nature of open-source development, has the potential to redefine how businesses interact with their CMS.

What enterprises should do in 2025: Stay ahead of the curve by exploring AI-powered WordPress plugins and integrations that enhance automation, personalisation, and content optimisation.

Embracing the future of WordPress

WordPress is more than just a CMS; it’s an innovation powerhouse. The Block Editor’s evolution, the hybrid headless shift, and the rise of AI-driven open-source solutions mark a new era for content management. Enterprises that embrace these advancements in 2025 will gain a significant competitive edge, while those who ignore them may find themselves playing catch-up.