Is this too good to be true … anyone tried these plugin sites

I’ve been searching for plugins for my personal website and came across thewordpresssshop.com and WordPressit.com. The prices for their bundles seem really good compared to buying directly from the developers. Has anyone here used these sites? Are they legit?

These are just shady GPL resellers selling licensed themes and plugins. Also, the WordPress Foundation, which owns the WordPress trademark, says you can’t use the word ‘WordPress’ in your business name or trademark. Here’s the link to their policy: Trademark Policy – WordPress Foundation.

@Denver
Here’s an example from the policy: A company can say ‘123 Web Services, offering WordPress consulting for small businesses,’ but it can’t call itself ‘The WordPress Consulting Company.’ Similarly, a theme business can say ‘XYZ Themes, the world’s best WordPress themes,’ but not ‘The WordPress Theme Portal.’

@Denver
:joy:

Just looking at the design of those websites, you can tell they’re scams.

Yes, it’s too good to be true. They’re likely breaking trademark rules and selling plugins without support, which could leave your site vulnerable. It’s much safer to buy plugins directly from the developers.

@Noa
My issue is that many plugins hide their limitations in their ads, and you only find out after buying the premium version that it doesn’t do what you need. With WordPressit, you can test multiple plugins quickly to see which one works before buying the official version. Sure, you can email developers or ask for refunds, but WordPressit is faster.

@Dezi
Faster at potentially bringing malware to your site.

It’s too good to be true, and they should be reported for using the WordPress brand without permission.

Cory said:
It’s too good to be true, and they should be reported for using the WordPress brand without permission.

They’re still ranking first in search results because of paid ads. It’s hard to understand how this is even legal.

Stay away! Using these sites could get your site hacked, and fixing it will cost you a lot of time.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. These sites are mostly scammy. While it’s okay to use plugins you didn’t buy a license for, you need to be careful about where you get them and how you maintain them. Some developers are worth supporting, but others fill their free plugins with ads and notifications. If you want to try plugins without buying, consider a group buy with others. It’s cheaper, and you can still get support if you don’t spam the developers.

@Blair
Thanks for the advice!

Are both links you shared down?

Dean said:
Are both links you shared down?

Here are the correct links: https://thewordpressshop.com/ and https://worldpressit.com/.

I’ve been using WordPressit for a week now. It’s great for testing premium plugins and learning how they work. But if I were to launch a live project, I’d buy the official versions. Buying all the plugins I like would cost thousands per year, so I’m using this for practice. I’ll let you know if I go live with it, but there are risks without official support.

@Blake
Thanks for sharing your experience!

Using GPL plugins is legal and ethical. GPL licensing is part of WordPress’s ethos. Some developers support it because they believe in their product and know you’ll support them when you can. I use a service that includes many GPL plugins, and it’s saved me from buying plugins that didn’t meet my needs. As long as you trust the source and have good security, you’ll be fine. GPL gets hate from people who don’t understand the financial challenges of starting a business. You’re okay to use GPL plugins.

@Daryl
While that’s true, many of these sites add their own code or malware. I’d rather pay developers for their work.

@Daryl
I agree. I’d never use them for client sites, but I see your point about using them for testing. How do you make sure they’re free from viruses?