You don't need a stack of WordPress plugins to build membership sites, online stores, booking systems, or any other feature. Modern tools do it faster, cheaper, and without the maintenance headaches.
Learn how to build a membership site with gated content, recurring payments, and member management using modern tools instead of bloated WordPress plugins.
WP way: MemberPress ($359/year) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Stripe + NextAuth.js (or Clerk)
Build a fast, conversion-optimized online store using modern headless commerce tools instead of WooCommerce and its plugin ecosystem.
WP way: WooCommerce (free but needs paid extensions) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Shopify Storefront API (or Medusa/Saleor)
Build a booking and appointment system with real-time availability, calendar sync, and payment collection using modern tools instead of WordPress booking plugins.
WP way: Amelia ($76-240/year) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Cal.com (or Calendly API) + Stripe
Build a job board with search, filtering, employer dashboards, and paid listings using modern tools instead of WordPress job board plugins.
WP way: WP Job Manager (free + paid addons $29-129 each) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Payload CMS + Algolia + Stripe
Build a directory website with listings, search, maps, and user submissions using modern tools instead of WordPress directory plugins.
WP way: GeoDirectory ($199-399/year) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Payload CMS + Algolia + Mapbox
Build a community forum with discussions, user profiles, and moderation using modern tools instead of WordPress forum plugins.
WP way: bbPress (free) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Payload CMS + real-time subscriptions (or Discourse)
Build a learning management system with courses, progress tracking, quizzes, and certificates using modern tools instead of WordPress LMS plugins.
WP way: LearnDash ($199/year) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Payload CMS + Mux + Stripe
Build a real estate listing website with property search, map integration, and agent profiles using modern tools instead of WordPress real estate plugins.
WP way: HivePress + RealHomes Theme ($79 one-time) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Payload CMS + Algolia + Mapbox
Build a podcast website with episode pages, an audio player, show notes, and RSS feed using modern tools instead of WordPress podcast plugins.
WP way: Seriously Simple Podcasting (free/$99/year) +4 more
Modern: Astro (or Next.js) + podcast hosting API + MDX for show notes
Build an event or conference website with schedules, speaker profiles, ticketing, and live updates using modern tools instead of WordPress event plugins.
WP way: The Events Calendar ($99-299/year) +4 more
Modern: Next.js (or Astro) + headless CMS + Tito/Luma + Vercel
Build a restaurant online ordering system with menus, cart, checkout, and kitchen notifications using modern tools instead of WordPress restaurant plugins.
WP way: RestroPress ($149-299/year) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Supabase + Stripe + real-time notifications
Build a SaaS dashboard with authentication, data visualization, team management, and billing using modern tools instead of WordPress admin panel hacks.
WP way: WP ERP ($129-599/year) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Supabase (or Payload) + Stripe + chart library
Build a client portal with project dashboards, file sharing, invoicing, and messaging using modern tools instead of WordPress client portal plugins.
WP way: SuiteDash ($19-99/month) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Supabase + Stripe Invoicing + Uploadthing
Build a multi-vendor marketplace with seller dashboards, split payments, and product management using modern tools instead of WooCommerce marketplace plugins.
WP way: Dokan ($499/year) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Payload CMS + Stripe Connect + Algolia
Build a knowledge base or help center with search, categories, and feedback tracking using modern tools instead of WordPress wiki and KB plugins.
WP way: BetterDocs ($59-149/year) +4 more
Modern: Astro Starlight (or Next.js + Fumadocs) + search engine
Build a review and rating site with user submissions, star ratings, comparison features, and schema markup using modern tools instead of WordPress review plugins.
WP way: WP Product Review ($79/year) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Payload CMS + Supabase + Algolia
Build a niche social network with user profiles, feeds, messaging, and groups using modern tools instead of WordPress social networking plugins.
WP way: BuddyPress (free) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Supabase + real-time subscriptions + Uploadthing
Build an auction site with real-time bidding, countdown timers, and payment processing using modern tools instead of WordPress auction plugins.
WP way: Ultimate WooCommerce Auction ($39/year) +3 more
Modern: Next.js + Supabase + Stripe + real-time bidding engine
Build a crowdfunding platform with campaigns, reward tiers, progress tracking, and payment processing using modern tools instead of WordPress crowdfunding plugins.
WP way: WP Crowdfunding ($199/year) +2 more
Modern: Next.js + Supabase + Stripe (payment intents) + Resend
Build an appointment scheduling website with availability management, calendar sync, reminders, and payment collection using modern tools instead of WordPress scheduling plugins.
WP way: Amelia ($76-240/year) +4 more
Modern: Next.js + Cal.com + Stripe + Twilio
Build a wiki or internal knowledge base with collaborative editing, version history, and cross-referencing using modern tools instead of WordPress wiki plugins.
WP way: BetterDocs ($59-149/year) +4 more
Modern: Astro Starlight (or Next.js + MDX) + Git-based workflow
Build a recipe blog with structured recipe data, nutrition info, print-friendly layouts, and Google recipe rich results using modern tools instead of WordPress recipe plugins.
WP way: WP Recipe Maker ($49-149/year) +4 more
Modern: Astro (or Next.js) + MDX + Recipe schema + print CSS
Build a fitness tracking web app with workout logging, progress charts, and goal tracking using modern tools instead of trying to hack WordPress into a fitness platform.
WP way: WP User Frontend Pro ($149/year) +3 more
Modern: Next.js (PWA) + Supabase + Recharts
Build a project management tool with tasks, boards, timelines, and team collaboration using modern tools instead of WordPress project management plugins.
WP way: WP Project Manager by weDevs ($79-249/year) +3 more
Modern: Next.js + Supabase + @hello-pangea/dnd + Recharts
Migrate your existing content to a modern stack for free with LeaveWP.