WordPress launches private, browser-based publishing service

WordPress has introduced my.WordPress.net, a new service that allows its publishing software to run entirely within a web browser. Announced on Wednesday, the service lets users set up a site and begin publishing without signing up, setting up a hosting plan, or registering a domain. Instead of relying on traditional web hosting, the solution leverages browser-based technology to create a permanent, personal publishing platform. However, a key distinction of this setup is that sites created on my.WordPress.net are private by default and are not accessible from the public internet.

The new service is powered by WordPress Playground, an open-source technology that enables WordPress to run directly in a web browser. Because the sites are bound to the user’s browser, the data is saved in local browser storage, meaning the site cannot be accessed from another device. Users can, however, move their site to a dedicated WordPress host if they choose to make it public. Storage for the service starts at roughly 100MB, making it suitable for smaller, personal applications and use cases. If a user wants to clear their work, they can reset the site with a button, or set up temporary instances that reset when the browser is refreshed.

The platform is positioned as a personal workspace for activities like private writing, journaling, drafting, research, or building tools for personal use. To support this, my.WordPress.net includes an App Catalog, which is a feature offering tools built with WordPress plug-ins, such as a Personal CRM, a Personal RSS Reader, a bookmarking tool, and an AI Workspace. The underlying WordPress Playground technology integrates with OpenAI and command-line interface (CLI) applications, allowing users to use an AI assistant to modify the site, tweak plug-ins, or build new ones. The assistant can also remember and recall data stored in WordPress, turning the site into a personal knowledge base accessed by AI.

As a blog post introducing the new service explains, “They aren’t optimized for traffic, discovery, or presentation, and they don’t need to be. Instead, WordPress becomes a personal environment where ideas can exist before they are ready to be shared, or where they may never be shared at all.”

The launch of my.WordPress.net follows the formation of a WordPress AI team last year, which focuses on launching new AI products for the developer community. This new private, browser-bound service is distinct from WordPress.com, the commercial hosting platform, which also launched an AI website builder last year that allows users to design sites using an AI chatbot-style interface.

Why it matters

This launch shifts WordPress from a public-facing publishing platform to a personal, private workspace. By enabling users to draft, research, and build tools locally without the overhead of traditional hosting, the platform expands its utility from public publishing to private utility and local development.