Upgrade from WordPress to Strapi - the leading open-source headless CMS. Modern, flexible, and API-first.
You can migrate from WordPress to Strapi for free using LeaveWP. Enter your site URL, choose Strapi 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: 20-40 minutes.
Official docs: WordPress REST API Docs · Strapi 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. Strapi eliminates this issue entirely.
Requires constant security patches and plugin updates
With Strapi, fully open-source — self-host with no vendor lock-in.
Database-driven architecture limits scalability under load
Modern architectures like Strapi 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 — Strapi takes a fundamentally different approach.
Open-source headless CMS built with Node.js. Built with Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript), it's developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless cms with full control.
Fully open-source — self-host with no vendor lock-in
Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs from your content types
Intuitive admin panel with customizable content modeling
Active open-source community with frequent updates
Strapi is open-source and free to use. You own your code and data with no vendor lock-in. Deploy to any host that supports Node.js, or use managed platforms like Vercel and Netlify for zero-config deployments.
Side-by-side comparison based on real platform characteristics
| Metric | WordPress | Strapi |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 |
| Performance | ⭐⭐ 2/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 |
| Flexibility | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 |
| Cost | ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 |
| Scalability | ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 |
| Ecosystem | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 | ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 |
| Language | PHP | Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript) |
| Pricing | Free (self-hosted) + hosting costs | Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud) |
| 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 Strapi
What may need manual attention
Custom server-side logic, third-party integrations, and platform-specific plugins will need equivalent solutions in Strapi. The core content (text, images, metadata) transfers cleanly.
Migrate your content in three simple steps
Enter your WordPress site URL — LeaveWP connects automatically.
Select Strapi as destination and choose content options.
Download your migrated content or preview it in your browser.
Migrating from WordPress to Strapi makes the most sense if you're experiencing php rendering is slow compared to static html or outgrowing WordPress's architecture. Strapi is best for developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless cms with full control.
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 headless architecture.
You might want to stay if: your WordPress site benefits from massive plugin ecosystem with 59,000+ plugins and you don't have the resources to learn a new platform. WordPress is genuinely easy to use, and that simplicity has value.
The migration itself is straightforward with LeaveWP — enter your WordPress URL, select Strapi, and download your content. The more important question is whether Strapi's architecture fits your team's skills and your project's long-term needs.
Explore more migration paths from WordPress or to Strapi
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