If Not WordPress, Then Who?

The WordPress ecosystem has long been the backbone of countless websites, from personal blogs to major businesses. However, recent turmoil surrounding WordPress and its largest hosting partner, WP Engine, has sent shockwaves through the community. Developers and site owners alike are starting to ask whether the time has come to explore alternative platforms that offer more stability, innovation, and flexibility.

What’s Going On with WordPress and WP Engine?

The current drama largely stems from WP Engine’s pricing changes and aggressive push toward its proprietary Gutenberg-optimized hosting and caching technology. Many users feel locked into an ecosystem where control over their sites is slipping. WP Engine’s move to tighten its grip on the infrastructure has rubbed developers and companies the wrong way, as flexibility — one of WordPress’s biggest selling points — feels increasingly limited.

The Gutenberg block-based editor, while designed to modernize content creation, has polarized users. Though it offers powerful new tools for design, many preferred the classic editor and found the transition too disruptive. With WordPress still boasting customizability through themes and plugins, these changes are prompting users to look for alternatives.

The Incumbents: Squarespace, Shopify, Wix, Webflow, and Others

In light of this situation, businesses and developers are casting their nets wider, considering other CMS and e-commerce platforms. Here’s a look at some major incumbents benefiting from WordPress’s current issues:

1. Squarespace

Squarespace offers an all-in-one solution for businesses that prioritize aesthetics and ease of use. Known for its sleek templates and drag-and-drop interface, it’s perfect for those who don’t want to deal with the complexities of backend management or extensive customization. Squarespace shines for small businesses and freelancers but may fall short for highly customized or developer-driven sites.

2. Shopify

For e-commerce, Shopify continues to be the go-to platform, especially for small to medium businesses looking to scale. Its robust app ecosystem, ease of use, and tight integration with payment gateways make it attractive for merchants. However, Shopify’s limitations in customization may be a sticking point for those who need unique website experiences.

3. Wix

Wix is a popular option for non-technical users looking to get a site up and running quickly. Its drag-and-drop editor and range of templates make it accessible to freelancers, artists, and small businesses. However, Wix’s proprietary system limits how much control developers have over customization and scaling, which can become a limitation for larger projects.

4. Webflow

Webflow occupies a unique space in the market as a no-code platform that bridges the gap between designers and developers. It allows designers to create visually stunning websites without writing code, while still offering more control and flexibility than platforms like Squarespace or Wix. Webflow’s CMS is powerful, and it’s often preferred by creative professionals who want the ability to deliver a custom experience without relying on developers. Additionally, its hosting is built-in, which reduces the need for external hosting services.

Webflow is particularly attractive to agencies and designers, offering flexibility while maintaining a polished user experience. For those who want the control of a custom-built site without the complexity of managing codebases, Webflow is a top contender.

Exploring Modern Alternatives: The Headless Revolution

As the CMS landscape continues to evolve, headless platforms have gained traction, offering a more flexible way to manage content. These platforms decouple the backend CMS from the front-end display, allowing developers full control over how content is delivered to websites, apps, or any other digital platform.

Here’s a look at some of the headless CMS platforms that are rising to the occasion:

1. Contentful

Contentful is a robust, API-first CMS that allows developers to build and deliver content across a variety of platforms, from websites to mobile apps. It’s ideal for businesses that need to scale content operations without being tied to specific front-end frameworks.

2. Strapi

Strapi is an open-source headless CMS, giving developers complete control over how they structure and serve content. It’s highly customizable and integrates well with popular front-end frameworks like React, making it a great option for businesses that need tailored content solutions.

3. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is perfect for merchants who want a headless e-commerce experience. It decouples the front-end from the commerce backend, allowing developers to create custom user experiences while keeping a powerful e-commerce engine on the backend.

4. Prismic

Prismic takes a component-based approach to content management, allowing teams to create reusable components across multiple channels. It integrates well with static site generators, making it popular with developers focused on performance and user experience.

The Traditionalists: ClassicPress and Statamic

If you’re still looking for something that feels closer to WordPress’s roots without the Gutenberg controversy or WP Engine entanglement, here are a couple of options:

1. ClassicPress

ClassicPress is a fork of WordPress 4.9, aimed at users who prefer the “classic” editor over Gutenberg. It retains compatibility with most WordPress plugins but offers a cleaner, more streamlined experience.

2. Statamic

Built on Laravel, Statamic is a flat-first CMS that doesn’t rely on databases unless needed. It’s Git-powered and designed for developers who prefer working with static sites while retaining some dynamic functionality of a CMS.

A Fragmented, Yet Promising Future

The WordPress and WP Engine drama has opened the door for competitors to step up and present their case to disgruntled users. Platforms like Squarespace, Shopify, Wix, and Webflow are stepping in to provide turn-key solutions for those who don’t need or want full control over their websites. On the other end of the spectrum, headless platforms like Contentful, Strapi, and BigCommerce are gaining favor among developers who want the ultimate flexibility in building multi-platform experiences.

For those caught between these two extremes, ClassicPress and Statamic offer familiar, yet modernized alternatives that retain the WordPress spirit while addressing many of the issues that led to the current drama.

As the CMS landscape continues to fragment and evolve, users now have more choices than ever. Depending on the level of control, customization, and scalability required, there’s likely a better option than WordPress waiting to be discovered.

This updated version incorporates Webflow as a strong option, particularly for designers and creatives looking for a flexible, no-code platform that delivers visually striking websites.

For the most part, we enjoy Contentful. Check out Cause of a Kind CTO, Michael Rispoli and his kickstart training for Contentful.