Knowing how to find out who developed a website is a practical skill that goes far beyond curiosity. Whether you are a business owner, marketer, developer, or investor, identifying the person or company behind a website can help you make smarter decisions. I’ve personally needed to find out who developed a website for client audits, competitor analysis, and even during acquisition research—and the process is rarely as simple as people expect.
Many guides promise “easy tricks,” but the reality is this: there is no single guaranteed method. What works depends on how the site was built, who built it, and whether they wanted to be found.
This guide explains how to find out who developed a website using real-world methods that actually work, not recycled advice.
Why Learning How to Find Out Who Developed a Website Matters
People usually search for how to find out who developed a website for one of four reasons:
First, they admire the website and want to hire the same developer or agency. This is extremely common in competitive industries where design and performance matter.
Second, they want to analyze a competitor’s technical setup. Understanding who developed a website often reveals whether it was built in-house, outsourced, or handled by a specialized agency.
Third, there’s a trust or verification reason. Investors, buyers, and partners often want to know who built a website before committing money or resources.
Finally, there are maintenance or recovery cases. I’ve personally encountered situations where a website broke, documentation was missing, and the only solution was to trace who originally developed the website.
What “Developed a Website” Actually Means (Most People Get This Wrong)
Before learning how to find out who developed a website, you must understand what you’re looking for.
A website developer is not the same as:
- A designer
- A domain owner
- A platform provider like WordPress or Shopify
If a website runs on WordPress, WordPress did not develop it. WordPress is just the tool. The developer is the human or agency that assembled, customized, and deployed the site.
Confusing the platform with the developer is the biggest mistake people make—and it leads to wrong conclusions.
Method 1: Check the Website Itself First
The fastest way to find out who developed a website is to inspect the website directly.
Footer Credits
Scroll to the bottom of the site and look carefully. Many developers add subtle credits such as:
- “Website developed by…”
- “Designed & developed by…”
- “Built by…”
In my experience, freelancers and boutique agencies are more likely to leave credits than enterprise teams.
If you see a name or agency, click it. Often, this leads directly to the developer’s portfolio.
About and Contact Pages
If the footer doesn’t reveal anything, move to:
- About page
- Team page
- Contact page
- Legal or privacy pages
Some businesses acknowledge their web developer in these sections, especially nonprofits, startups, and creative brands.
Method 2: Inspect Website Files and Metadata
If the website itself doesn’t reveal the developer, the next step in how to find out who developed a website is inspecting public files.
Checking the humans.txt File
Try adding /humans.txt to the domain.
Example:
example.com/humans.txt
This file is designed specifically to credit the people behind a website. It’s not common, but when it exists, it often lists:
- Developer names
- Designers
- Agencies
- Technologies used
I’ve found developer names in humans.txt files more than once during audits.
Checking style.css (Especially for WordPress Sites)
For WordPress websites, the style.css file often contains theme metadata.
At the top of the file, you may see:
- Theme author
- Developer name
- Agency website
This does not always tell you who customized the site, but it can reveal who developed the theme used.
Viewing Source Code Comments
Right-click → View Page Source.
Search for terms like:
- developer
- author
- designed
- agency name
Some developers leave comments in HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. Most don’t—but when they do, it’s one of the clearest answers to how to find out who developed a website.
Method 3: Use Online Tools (But Don’t Trust Them Blindly)
Online tools can support your investigation, but they are not definitive.
Creator Detection Tools
Some tools attempt to identify website creators by scanning portfolios, backlinks, and metadata. These can provide leads, but I’ve seen false positives many times.
Treat these tools as starting points, not final proof.
Whois Lookup for Context
A Whois lookup can reveal who registered the domain.
While Whois does not directly show who developed a website, it helps you understand:
- Whether the domain is owned by an agency
- Whether development might have been internal
If a digital agency owns the domain, there’s a strong chance they developed the website.
Technology Stack Analysis
Tech stack tools show:
- CMS
- Frameworks
- Hosting
- Page builders
This helps infer developer skill level and whether the site was professionally developed or assembled using templates.
Method 4: Search Outside the Website
If internal checks fail, this is where most people stop—but they shouldn’t.
Search Engines and Case Studies
Search queries like:
"company name" website launch"example.com" case study"example.com" developed by
Agencies often publish case studies without linking back from the client site. I’ve personally identified developers this way when everything else failed.
Portfolios and Visual Matching
Developers reuse patterns—animations, layouts, navigation styles.
If you analyze enough sites, you start recognizing signatures. This is an underrated but effective way to find out who developed a website.
Social Media and Professional Platforms
Developers and agencies frequently announce launches on LinkedIn or Twitter. Founders often tag the developer when sharing their new site.
Platform-Specific Clues
Understanding the platform helps refine how to find out who developed a website.
- WordPress: Look for custom themes, plugins, and structure
- Webflow: Agencies often showcase projects publicly
- Squarespace: Harder to trace, but advanced custom code is a clue
Platforms don’t name developers—but they narrow your search.
When You Should Ask the Website Owner Directly
If you’ve exhausted your options, asking directly is often the cleanest solution.
Send a professional, specific message. Mention what you like about the site and why you’re asking.
In my experience, founders are surprisingly open when approached respectfully.
Why You Sometimes Can’t Find Who Developed a Website
Even if you follow every step on how to find out who developed a website, sometimes you won’t get an answer.
Common reasons:
- In-house development teams
- White-label agency work
- Intentional anonymity
- Multiple contributors over time
Knowing when to stop is part of doing this correctly.
FAQs: How to Find Out Who Developed a Website
How to find out who developed a website for free?
By checking footer credits, humans.txt, style.css, and using search engines. Most effective methods cost nothing.
Can I always find who developed a website?
No. Some websites intentionally hide this information.
Does using WordPress mean WordPress developed the site?
No. WordPress is only a platform, not the developer.
Is it legal to inspect website code?
Yes, viewing public source code and files is legal.
What is the most accurate method?
Direct confirmation from the website owner is the most reliable.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to find out who developed a website is about investigation, not shortcuts. There’s no single tool or trick that works every time. The real advantage comes from combining visible credits, technical inspection, external research, and direct communication.
If you approach this systematically—and avoid confusing platforms with people—you’ll get real answers while most others stay stuck guessing.
For More Visits: Peak Media Consulting
Also Read: How to Design a Social Media Website That People Actually Use
