Automattic overview
Automattic builds commercial products around WordPress, the open-source publishing software that W3Techs found on 40.2 percent of all websites in September 2026. It runs WordPress.com, a hosted version of the software, develops the WooCommerce e-commerce plugin and owns the blogging and social platform Tumblr. Its other brands include the WordPress VIP enterprise hosting service, the Jetpack plugin, the Akismet spam filter, the Gravatar profile service, the Pocket Casts podcast app, the Day One journal and the Beeper messaging app.
Matt Mullenweg co-created WordPress with Mike Little in 2003 and founded Automattic in 2005 to build a business around it, beginning with WordPress.com. Toni Schneider served as chief executive from 2006 until Mullenweg took the role in 2014, and he returned as interim CEO during Mullenweg’s sabbatical in 2024. The company works without a central office: it closed its San Francisco workspace in 2017, and in 2025 its staff lived in about 90 countries. Investors valued Automattic at $3 billion in 2019, when Salesforce Ventures led a $300 million round, and at $7.5 billion in 2021. Its acquisitions include WooThemes, the maker of WooCommerce, in 2015, Tumblr from Verizon in 2019 for a price reported at about $3 million, and Beeper in 2024 for a reported $125 million.
In September 2024 Mullenweg publicly attacked WP Engine, a large WordPress hosting company backed by the private equity firm Silver Lake, accusing it of profiting from WordPress without contributing enough back and of misusing the WordPress trademarks. WordPress.org, the project website that Mullenweg runs personally, then cut off WP Engine’s access to its plugin directory. WP Engine sued Automattic and Mullenweg in federal court in October 2024, a judge ordered its access restored that December, and Automattic filed counterclaims in October 2025; as of September 2026 the case was scheduled for a jury trial in 2027. The dispute also divided Automattic’s staff: 159 employees accepted a buyout Mullenweg offered to those who disagreed with his direction, and in April 2025 the company laid off about 16 percent of its workforce.
Leadership turmoil followed in September 2026, when Automattic’s board voted to place Mullenweg on paid leave and named chief financial officer Mark Davies interim CEO. About 33 hours later Mullenweg told employees he was back in control, and the company confirmed him as chairman and CEO with the support of the board. TechCrunch reported that the directors who had voted for his leave departed and that Mullenweg dismissed Davies on his return.
Software by Automattic
3 products profiled, from WordPress (2003) to WooCommerce (2011).
- WordPressOpen-source software for building blogs, websites and online stores Browsers & Web Publishing 2003 Free and open source
- WooCommerceThe open-source e-commerce plugin that turns WordPress sites into stores Browsers & Web Publishing 2011 Free and open source
- TumblrA microblogging and social platform known for fandoms, art and reblogs Communication & Community 2007 Freemium
Automattic history and milestones
- 2005
Matt Mullenweg founds Automattic and launches WordPress.com, a hosted version of WordPress.
- 2006
Toni Schneider becomes Automattic’s first CEO, and the company raises its first venture funding.
- 2010
Automattic transfers the WordPress trademark to the newly created WordPress Foundation.
- 2014
Mullenweg becomes CEO, and a $160 million funding round values Automattic at more than $1 billion.
- 2015
Automattic acquires WooThemes, the company behind the WooCommerce e-commerce plugin.
- 2019
Automattic buys Tumblr from Verizon and raises $300 million in a round led by Salesforce Ventures.
- 2021
A $288 million funding round values Automattic at $7.5 billion, and it acquires Day One and Pocket Casts.
- 2024
Automattic buys Beeper, and Mullenweg’s clash with WP Engine leads to a federal lawsuit.
- 2025
Automattic lays off about 16 percent of its staff and puts Tumblr’s move to WordPress on hold.
- 2026
The board briefly places Mullenweg on leave in September before he returns as chairman and CEO.
Who founded Automattic?
Matt Mullenweg
Founder, chairman and CEO; co-creator of WordPress
Matt Mullenweg was born in Houston, Texas, in 1984 and was a student at the University of Houston when he and English developer Mike Little started WordPress in 2003 as a fork of b2/cafelog, a blogging tool whose author had stopped maintaining it. He left college, moved to San Francisco to work for CNET Networks and in 2005 left CNET to concentrate on Automattic.
Mullenweg has been Automattic’s CEO since 2014. He also leads the WordPress open-source project, controls the WordPress.org website and created the non-profit WordPress Foundation in 2010, and he invests in startups through his firm Audrey Capital. His 2024 conflict with WP Engine drew both support and sharp criticism within the WordPress community, and in September 2026 he regained control of Automattic within two days of a board vote that had placed him on leave.
How Automattic makes money
Automattic gives away much of its software and charges for services built around it. WordPress.com sells hosting plans that range from a free tier to business and commerce plans, along with domain names, and WordPress VIP hosts sites for large publishers and enterprises. Jetpack and Akismet sell subscriptions for backups, security, performance and spam filtering. Automattic also holds an exclusive commercial license from the WordPress Foundation to use the WordPress trademark.
The WooCommerce plugin is free, but Automattic earns money from paid extensions and themes in the WooCommerce Marketplace and from WooPayments, a payment service that charges fees on transactions. Tumblr sells advertising, Tumblr Premium subscriptions and Blaze post promotions, although Mullenweg said in 2025 that the service was not profitable. Consumer apps such as Pocket Casts, Day One and Beeper offer paid upgrades. As a private company, Automattic does not publish its financial results.
Who owns and runs Automattic?
Matt Mullenweg, who founded Automattic in 2005, is its chairman and CEO; he became CEO in 2014, succeeding its first chief executive, Toni Schneider, who also stood in as interim CEO during Mullenweg’s 2024 sabbatical. On September 9, 2026, the board voted to put Mullenweg on paid leave and made chief financial officer Mark Davies interim CEO, but Mullenweg regained control about 33 hours later, and Automattic confirmed him as chairman and CEO with the board’s support. TechCrunch later reported that the directors who had backed the leave were no longer on the board. Automattic is privately held by its founder, employees and venture investors.
- Matt MullenwegFounder, chairman and CEO (CEO since 2014)
- Toni SchneiderFirst CEO (2006 to 2014); interim CEO during Mullenweg’s 2024 sabbatical
Automattic: frequently asked questions
Who founded Automattic?
Automattic was founded in 2005 by Matt Mullenweg, who had co-created the open-source WordPress software with Mike Little in 2003. Mullenweg started the company to run WordPress.com, a hosted version of WordPress. Toni Schneider was its first CEO, from 2006 to 2014, and Mullenweg has held the role since then, apart from a 2024 sabbatical during which Schneider served as interim CEO.
Who owns Automattic?
Automattic is a privately held company owned by founder Matt Mullenweg, its employees and investors. It has raised venture funding from firms including Salesforce Ventures, which led a $300 million round in 2019, and a 2021 funding round valued the company at $7.5 billion. Its shares are not publicly traded.
Who is the CEO of Automattic?
Matt Mullenweg is the chairman and CEO of Automattic. He founded the company in 2005 and became CEO in 2014. In September 2026 the board briefly placed him on paid leave and named CFO Mark Davies interim CEO, but Mullenweg returned about 33 hours later and the company confirmed him in both roles.
Where is Automattic headquartered?
Automattic is headquartered in San Francisco, California, but it operates as a fully distributed company without a central office. It closed its San Francisco workspace in 2017, and its employees work remotely; when it announced layoffs in 2025, its staff was spread across about 90 countries.
What software does Automattic make?
Automattic runs WordPress.com and the WordPress VIP enterprise platform, develops the WooCommerce e-commerce plugin and Jetpack, and owns Tumblr, Akismet, Gravatar, Pocket Casts, Day One and the Beeper messaging app. It is also the largest corporate contributor to the open-source WordPress software, whose trademark is held by the WordPress Foundation.
Is Automattic the same as WordPress?
No. WordPress is free, open-source software built by a community of contributors, and its trademark belongs to the non-profit WordPress Foundation. Automattic is a private company that sells WordPress-based services such as WordPress.com hosting. Its founder, Matt Mullenweg, co-created WordPress and also runs the WordPress.org project website.
What is the WP Engine lawsuit about?
WP Engine, a WordPress hosting company, sued Automattic and Matt Mullenweg in October 2024 after Mullenweg accused it of misusing WordPress trademarks and WordPress.org blocked its access. WP Engine’s claims include interference with its business and defamation, while Automattic has counterclaimed that WP Engine infringed its trademarks. As of September 2026 the case was unresolved, with a jury trial scheduled for 2027.
Sources
- An Automattic Timeline timeline.automattic.com
- Automattic confirms Mullenweg has returned as CEO after attempted ouster by board, TechCrunch techcrunch.com
- Automattic’s interim CEO and legal chief signed reciprocal severance deals during Mullenweg’s brief ouster, TechCrunch techcrunch.com
- Automattic files counterclaims against WP Engine in WordPress lawsuit, TechCrunch techcrunch.com
- WordPress maker Automattic lays off 16% of staff, TechCrunch techcrunch.com
- Automattic, Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
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