Automattic

Dominant open-web CMS and publisher platform operator, powering over 43% of all websites globally through WordPress.com and the broader WordPress ecosystem

Automattic is a web technology company best known for operating WordPress.com and stewarding the open-source WordPress project, which powers approximately 43% of all websites on the internet. Founded in 2005 by Matt Mullenweg, the company has grown into a diversified platform business encompassing blogging, e-commerce (WooCommerce), newsletters (Beehiiv competitor Newspack), domain registration, and security products. Automattic operates as a fully distributed company with employees across more than 90 countries. In the AdTech and publisher ecosystem, Automattic is significant as a major content distribution and monetization platform. WordPress.com and Jetpack provide publishers with tools for audience growth, SEO, and advertising integrations, while WordAds (their native ad network) enables site owners to monetize content. Their acquisition of Tumblr in 2019 and investments in tools like Parse.ly (acquired 2021) for content analytics further cement their role in the publisher technology stack. Automattic's market position is unique: it sits at the intersection of CMS infrastructure, publisher monetization, and e-commerce, giving it unparalleled reach across the open web. While not a pure-play AdTech company, its platforms are deeply embedded in the digital publishing and content monetization ecosystem, making it a critical partner for advertisers, publishers, and content creators seeking scale and audience engagement.