# WordPress vs Universe Website Builder

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: WordPress at none against Universe Website Builder's 11. WordPress also leads on ads (none vs shown). Universe Website Builder's advantage is review sentiment (55% vs 37%) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universe Website Builder sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. WordPress asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for WordPress against 4.5 for Universe Website Builder. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22K and 9.8K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 37% of WordPress's written reviews are positive against 55% of Universe Website Builder's.

WordPress ships an update every 3 weeks, Universe Website Builder every 10 days. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | WordPress | Universe Website Builder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordpress-website-builder/id335703880/reviews)** | [4.5 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universe-website-builder/id1211437633/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 9.8K |
| Positive reviews | 36.8% of reviews | **54.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 248 MB | 291 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Universe Exploration Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/1012451110) |

## What reviewers say

### WordPress

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordpress-website-builder/id335703880)

Create and manage your WordPress blog or website directly from your iOS device. Easily edit posts and pages, upload media, track site statistics, and engage with your audience by replying to comments.

**Highlights:** Create and edit posts and pages, Upload photos and videos, View website statistics, Reply to comments, Manage WordPress.com and self-hosted sites

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for blogging on the go
- 🚀 Great for sharing content and experiences
- 🚀 Useful stats and analytics
- 🚀 Customizable and flexible

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🐛 Unreliable syncing between devices
- 🐛 Limited functionality compared to desktop version
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🤔 Confusing or unintuitive user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to upload photos properly
- Drafts disappearing without warning
- Formatting issues with text, lists, and media
- Inconsistent behavior across devices
- Login and authentication problems

**Requested features**

- Integrate Gutenberg editor
- Add option to adjust uploaded photo sizes
- Improve offline editing capabilities
- Enhance integration with other apps and services
- Provide more customization options


### Universe Website Builder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universe-website-builder/id1211437633)

Build a professional website or online store quickly and easily with a drag-and-drop interface. Publish to a custom domain and accept payments in minutes. Includes tools for design, commerce, audience management, and AI-powered content creation.

**Highlights:** Drag-and-drop Grid Editor, 100+ customizable templates, Integrated e-commerce tools, AI copy and image generation, Audience management and email marketing, Custom domain publishing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| .COM Domain | $2.99 | per month |
| Universe Pro for 1 Site | $5.99 | per month |
| Universe Pro for 1 Site | $9.99 | per month |
| Universe Pro for 1 Site | $9.99 | per month |
| Universe Pro for 1 Site | $24.99 | per month |
| Universe Pro for 1 site | $24.99 | per month |
| Universe Pro  for 1 Site | $119.99 | per year |
| Universe Pro for 1 site | $199.99 | per year |
| Universe Pro for 1 Site | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 🚀 Convenient mobile-first design
- 👍 Affordable pricing
- 👍 Responsive customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Concerns over domain ownership
- 💰 Expensive pro features
- 🔒 Limited customization options
- 🔒 Restricted free version

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to save progress
- Glitches with image/video embedding
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Issues with domain registration and transfer

**Requested features**

- Improved desktop responsiveness
- More design flexibility
- Ability to use own domain
- Expanded e-commerce features
- Better analytics and reporting


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WordPress free?

WordPress is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Universe Website Builder free?

Universe Website Builder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, WordPress or Universe Website Builder?

WordPress is rated higher. WordPress averages 4.6 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Universe Website Builder averages 4.5 from 9.8K ratings.

### Do WordPress or Universe Website Builder have ads?

Universe Website Builder shows ads; WordPress does not.

### Which is updated more often, WordPress or Universe Website Builder?

WordPress ships an update every 3 weeks, and Universe Website Builder every 10 days. Most recently, WordPress was updated on September 23, 2026 and Universe Website Builder on September 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*