Why I Built WPBay – A New Marketplace for WordPress Developers Who’ve Had Enough

I’ve been building WordPress plugins for over a decade. I’ve published dozens of them, supported thousands of customers, and lived through everything from 5-star praise to 1-star support nightmares. And like many of you reading this, I’ve had to rely on marketplaces like Envato or Freemius to get my work in front of buyers.

At first, those platforms seemed like the easiest path. You get exposure, you make a few sales, you feel like things are working. But over time, I started noticing a pattern – one that frustrated me more and more.

The truth is, these platforms are built around their own interests, not ours. They take high commissions. They dictate how we price and present our work. They limit our control over how we support customers or grow our product line. And worst of all, they treat developers like interchangeable parts in a machine, not as independent creators.

That’s what pushed me to build WPBay.

A Marketplace I Actually Believe In

WPBay is something I’ve been thinking about for years. The idea really solidified during moments when I felt stuck trying to push a good plugin through a platform that didn’t care whether it succeeded or failed.

I wanted to build a marketplace that puts developers first – because I am a developer, and I know what we need.

WPBay is where you can sell your plugins and themes on your terms. You’re in control of how you price, how you update, how you support, and how you grow. Whether you want to sell one-time licenses, offer subscriptions, or provide multiple plans for different user types, you can do it here without jumping through hoops.

Everything is built on WordPress and WooCommerce, which means it plays nicely with the tools most of us already use. If you’ve ever felt like you needed to hack your way into a simple upgrade path or licensing model on other marketplaces, WPBay will feel like a relief.

I’m Not Doing This Alone

WPBay isn’t just my personal project – it’s quickly becoming a community. There are already other developers uploading products, giving feedback, and helping shape what this platform is becoming. If you’re reading this and you’ve built something for WordPress, I want you to be a part of it.

I’m also building WPBay to be more than just a place to sell things. There’s a full API for license validation. Sellers will be able to create their own support systems inside the platform. There’s a referral program in the works, and yes – you’ll get rewarded for bringing other sellers on board. I’m adding tiered incentives, early access to features, and real tools to help the best work rise to the top.

This isn’t just a business model shift – it’s a mindset shift. WPBay is about treating developers like partners, not just vendors.

For Buyers Too – We Deserve Better Products

And for those of you who buy plugins and themes, WPBay is going to be a better experience for you too. I’ve seen the kind of rushed, buggy products that flood other marketplaces just to chase trends. WPBay is going to focus on quality. Every product is reviewed, versioned, and documented. You’ll know who you’re buying from, and you’ll be able to contact them directly if you need help.

I’m also working on bringing seamless in-dashboard upgrades, so you can try a free version and unlock the full version without ever leaving your WordPress admin panel. Because honestly, that’s how it should work in 2025.

WPBay Is Live – And This Is Just the Beginning

This isn’t a vaporware announcement. WPBay is live. You can visit wpbay.com, explore the first wave of products, and even apply to sell your own. I’ve built tools to make uploads and version management easy. You can define your own plans and licensing limits. You can connect subscriptions. And all of it is still evolving.

I’m writing this here on coderevolution.ro because many of you have followed my work for years. You’ve supported my plugins, given me feedback, and pushed me to improve. WPBay is, in many ways, built for people like us – the indie developers, the freelancers, the creators who want more control, more fairness, and more room to grow.

So if you’ve got a plugin or theme sitting on your hard drive or tangled up in marketplace red tape, give WPBay a look. This is your invite to join something new – and something I truly believe in.

Let’s build the future of WordPress the way it should’ve been all along – open, fair, and led by the people who make it all work.