Convert WordPress to Gatsby for a React-based static site with excellent plugin ecosystem.
You can migrate from WordPress to Gatsby for free using LeaveWP. Enter your site URL, choose Gatsby as the destination, and download your content — posts, pages, and media — in minutes. No API keys, passwords, or CLI tools required. Difficulty: Medium. Estimated time: 25-45 minutes.
Official docs: WordPress REST API Docs · Gatsby Documentation
PHP-based CMS powering 43% of the web. Content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full control, but these limitations push teams toward modern alternatives.
PHP rendering is slow compared to static HTML
This is the most common reason teams migrate away from WordPress. Gatsby eliminates this issue entirely.
Requires constant security patches and plugin updates
With Gatsby, rich plugin ecosystem for data sources (cms, apis, databases).
Database-driven architecture limits scalability under load
Modern architectures like Gatsby are designed to avoid this from the ground up.
Plugin conflicts can break your site after updates
After migrating, you'll no longer need to worry about this — Gatsby takes a fundamentally different approach.
React-based SSG with GraphQL data layer. Built with JavaScript/TypeScript (React), it's content-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via graphql.
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
Gatsby is open-source and free to use. You own your code and data with no vendor lock-in. Deploy to any host that supports JavaScript/TypeScript, or use managed platforms like Vercel and Netlify for zero-config deployments.
Side-by-side comparison based on real platform characteristics
| Metric | WordPress | Gatsby |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 | ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 |
| Performance | ⭐⭐ 2/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 |
| Flexibility | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 |
| Cost | ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 |
| Scalability | ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 | ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 |
| Ecosystem | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 | ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript/TypeScript (React) |
| Pricing | Free (self-hosted) + hosting costs | Free (open-source) |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes |
Ratings are based on publicly available data, documentation, and community consensus as of 2026. Individual experience may vary.
A detailed breakdown of how your WordPress content maps to Gatsby
What may need manual attention
Custom server-side logic, third-party integrations, and platform-specific plugins will need equivalent solutions in Gatsby. The core content (text, images, metadata) transfers cleanly.
Migrate your content in three simple steps
Enter your WordPress site URL — LeaveWP connects automatically.
Select Gatsby as destination and choose content options.
Download your migrated content or preview it in your browser.
Migrating from WordPress to Gatsby makes the most sense if you're experiencing php rendering is slow compared to static html or outgrowing WordPress's architecture. Gatsby is best for content-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via graphql.
You should migrate if: your WordPress site is slow, your hosting costs are climbing, you need developer flexibility, or you want to adopt a modern JAMstack architecture.
You might want to stay if: your WordPress site benefits from massive plugin ecosystem with 59,000+ plugins and you don't have JavaScript/TypeScript developers on your team. WordPress is genuinely easy to use, and that simplicity has value.
The migration itself is straightforward with LeaveWP — enter your WordPress URL, select Gatsby, and download your content. The more important question is whether Gatsby's architecture fits your team's skills and your project's long-term needs.
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