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WordPress

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Gatsby

WordPress vs Gatsby

WordPress vs Gatsby: which is right for your project? WordPress is php-based cms powering 43% of the web. Gatsby is react-based ssg with graphql data layer. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

It depends — WordPress and Gatsby serve different use cases well. Choose WordPress for Content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full control. Choose Gatsby for Content-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via GraphQL.

Official docs: WordPress REST API Docs · Gatsby Documentation

Migrate WordPress → Gatsby

Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature	WordPress	Gatsby
Ease of Use	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Performance	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flexibility	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost Value	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scalability	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐

Pros & Cons

WordPress

Pros

Massive plugin ecosystem with 59,000+ plugins
Huge community — easy to find developers and tutorials
Visual block editor (Gutenberg) for non-technical users
Works for any site type from blogs to e-commerce

Cons

PHP rendering is slow compared to static HTML
Requires constant security patches and plugin updates
Database-driven architecture limits scalability under load
Plugin conflicts can break your site after updates

Gatsby

Pros

Rich plugin ecosystem for data sources (CMS, APIs, databases)
Unified GraphQL data layer pulls from any source
Excellent image optimization with gatsby-plugin-image
Pre-renders pages for fast initial load and good SEO

Cons

Build times scale poorly with page count (minutes for 10K+ pages)
Gatsby Cloud was shut down — hosting is now DIY
GraphQL data layer adds complexity to simple projects
Declining community momentum — many projects migrating to Astro or Next.js

Platform Details

Detail	WordPress	Gatsby
Language / Stack	PHP	JavaScript/TypeScript (React)
Type	traditional cms	ssg
Pricing	Free (self-hosted) + hosting costs	Free (open-source)
Open Source	Yes	Yes
Best For	Content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full control	Content-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via GraphQL
Export Method	REST API or WP All Export plugin	N/A (destination framework)

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose WordPress if…

You need content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full control
Your team is comfortable with PHP
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members

Choose Gatsby if…

You need content-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via graphql
Your team is comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript (React)
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
Budget is a top priority — free (open-source)
You want maximum performance with static or server-rendered pages

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between WordPress and Gatsby depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. WordPress is a traditional cms built with PHP, while Gatsby is a ssg built with JavaScript/TypeScript (React). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. If your team includes non-developers who need to publish content frequently, WordPress's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.

From a cost perspective, both platforms are open-source, so the real cost difference is hosting and operational overhead. Factor in plugin or extension costs, developer rates for each tech stack, and whether you need managed hosting or can self-host.

Whichever you choose, migrating between them is straightforward. LeaveWP offers a free WordPress → Gatsby migration tool that preserves your URLs, metadata, and content structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WordPress better than Gatsby?

They're closely matched (22/30 vs 22/30). WordPress is best for Content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full control, while Gatsby excels for Content-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via GraphQL. Your choice should depend on your team's skills and project requirements.

Can I migrate from WordPress to Gatsby?

Yes. Export your WordPress content via REST API or WP All Export plugin, then convert it to Markdown or import into a headless CMS. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.

What are the main differences between WordPress and Gatsby?

WordPress is php-based cms powering 43% of the web, while Gatsby is react-based ssg with graphql data layer. Key differences: ease of use (WordPress: 4/5, Gatsby: 3/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) + hosting costs vs Free (open-source)), and ecosystem size (WordPress: 5/5, Gatsby: 3/5).

How much does WordPress cost compared to Gatsby?

WordPress: Free (self-hosted) + hosting costs. Gatsby: Free (open-source). Both are open-source, so the main cost difference is hosting and infrastructure.

Which is easier to learn, WordPress or Gatsby?

WordPress is easier to pick up (4/5 vs 3/5). Massive plugin ecosystem with 59,000+ plugins. Gatsby has a steeper learning curve, especially for teams new to JavaScript/TypeScript (React).

Which performs better, WordPress or Gatsby?

Gatsby has the performance edge (4/5 vs 2/5). As a static site generator, Gatsby pre-renders pages for near-instant load times. WordPress PHP rendering is slow compared to static HTML.

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