WordPress

The WordPress performance problem

WordPress generates pages dynamically on each request, querying a MySQL database and executing PHP code before sending HTML to visitors. This architecture made sense in 2003, but creates significant performance overhead today.

Every page load requires database connections, theme processing, and plugin execution. Popular plugins add their own CSS and JavaScript files, often loading resources on every page whether needed or not. The result: typical WordPress sites deliver load times of 3-5 seconds—far slower than modern expectations.

Security and maintenance burden

WordPress's popularity makes it a target for automated attacks. Core updates, plugin vulnerabilities, and theme security issues require constant monitoring. Most WordPress sites need weekly updates just to stay secure.

Plugin conflicts, breaking changes, and compatibility issues mean updates carry risk. Many site owners delay critical security patches, leaving vulnerabilities exposed. The maintenance burden is real and ongoing.

When WordPress makes sense

WordPress excels for complex content workflows with multiple editors, extensive custom post types, and sophisticated publishing requirements. News sites, large blogs with frequent updates, and organisations with established WordPress expertise benefit from its mature ecosystem.

For marketing sites, landing pages, and SMB websites—where content changes infrequently and performance matters—modern static frameworks like Astro deliver better results with less complexity.

Migrating away from WordPress

We help businesses migrate from WordPress to Astro, preserving design and content while eliminating maintenance overhead. Sites typically achieve 10x faster load times, improved SEO performance, and zero security concerns—while optionally keeping familiar CMS editing with Fernside CMS.