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Ask HN: Is It Time for a WordPress Alternative?
Given the recent public dispute between WordPress.com and WP Engine over the ACF plugin, are you considering exploring alternative open-source platforms for pure blogging?
The controversy has highlighted potential tensions between the commercial and open-source sides of the WordPress ecosystem. This raises questions about the future direction of WordPress and the level of control individual users have over their websites.
If you're a blogger primarily focused on content creation and distribution, what features or characteristics are you looking for in a blogging platform?
1. Simplicity: A clean, intuitive interface with a focus on writing and publishing content.
2. Performance: Fast loading times and good SEO optimization.
3. Customization: The ability to customize the look and feel of your blog without extensive technical knowledge.
4. Community: A supportive community and active development.
5. Cost: A free or affordable option.
Share your thoughts.
- benjaminfh 2y agoDoes WP actually provide (1) any more? I built my first personal (photog) website on WP about 10 years ago and it was ideal. I went to do a simple website this year and WP is web builder framework inception - it’s web builders all the way down. You install a theme and it brings its own rat nest. So yes, I think it’s cooked but was before this spat. Webflow is simple. I assume there’s an OSS alternative by now(?)
- ms7892 2y agoI feel exactly the same way. WordPress used to be my go-to as well, and it was fantastic for simple sites about 10 years ago. But now? It feels like you’re stuck inside a never-ending loop of web builders stacked on top of each other. You install a theme, and suddenly you’re dealing with its own set of custom builders, page templates, and sometimes a whole new interface. What was once a straightforward blogging platform has become a full-on web-building labyrinth. I agree—WordPress feels over-engineered for something that should be simple. I’ve recently been experimenting with static site generators and Webflow as well. Webflow is intuitive, fast, and gets the job done without all the bloat. As for open-source alternatives, I’ve seen some buzz around platforms like Ghost or Hugo for those wanting something lightweight, but they don’t quite match the "everything in one" ecosystem WordPress used to offer.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- bromuro 2y agoRecently I tried to give Wordpress a chance, to help a friend setup his company’s website. I ended up using a static website generator. WP has been such awful experience - why is this tool still popular ?
- ms7892 2y agoI can totally relate to your frustration. I recently tried using WordPress to set up a company website for me, and it was honestly a pretty awful experience. Between the constant need for plugins, slow loading times, and dealing with themes that didn’t quite work out of the box, I felt like I was spending more time fixing things than actually building the site. In the end, I gave up and switched to a static site via simple html, bootstrap and js similar to your case, which was way smoother. Sure, WordPress has a massive ecosystem and is flexible, but when the core experience is this clunky, especially for someone who just wants to get content out there or set up a simple site, it really makes you question whether it’s still worth it. Given the recent issues like the ACF plugin dispute, I’m definitely leaning towards alternatives that are more lightweight and give me more control without the bloat. Anyone else finding WordPress more of a hassle than a help these days?
- bromuro 2y agoI also proposed using Bootstrap with https://www.11ty.dev https://www.11ty.dev for the templates. It's much easier to update a JSON file than to work with WordPress. By using relative paths for assets and loading Bootstrap from a CDN, I can zip the website and share it via email.
- Gooblebrai 2y agoGhost
- ms7892 2y agoWell yes! But it still don't have one click installation for shared hosting.
- constantinum 2y agoGhost