Astro vs WordPress

The modern static-site framework versus the CMS that powers over 40% of the web. Which approach is right for your next website?

Quick verdict: Choose Astro for blazing-fast, maintenance-free sites when you have developer resources. Choose WordPress when non-technical team members need to manage content independently using a visual editor.

Feature Comparison

Feature Astro WordPress
Architecture Static HTML / optional SSR Dynamic PHP + MySQL database
Page Load Speed Sub-second (static HTML from CDN) 1-4s typical (server-rendered)
Security No server or database to attack Frequent patches needed; plugin vulnerabilities common
Maintenance Near-zero (static files on CDN) Ongoing: core, theme, and plugin updates
Content Editing Markdown, MDX, or headless CMS Built-in WYSIWYG block editor
Plugin Ecosystem Growing; Astro integrations + npm 60,000+ plugins
SEO Excellent -- fast static HTML, full control Good with plugins (Yoast, RankMath)
Hosting Cost Free on many CDNs $5-50+/month for managed hosting
Technical Skill Required Developer needed (HTML, JS, Git) Low (visual editor, drag-and-drop builders)
Market Share Growing rapidly (modern sites) 43%+ of all websites

Performance

Astro

  • ✓Pre-built HTML served directly from a CDN with no server processing
  • ✓Zero JavaScript shipped unless you explicitly add interactive components
  • ✓Built-in image optimization with automatic WebP/AVIF conversion
  • ✓No database queries on every page view -- content is compiled at build time
  • ✓Perfect Core Web Vitals scores are the norm, not the exception

WordPress

  • ●Every page request runs PHP and queries the MySQL database
  • ●Caching plugins (WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache) can improve speed but add complexity
  • ●Plugins often inject additional CSS and JavaScript on every page
  • ●Performance degrades as you add more plugins and content
  • ●Managed WordPress hosts (WP Engine, Kinsta) can improve baseline speed

Developer Experience

Astro

Astro provides a modern developer workflow: component-based architecture, TypeScript support, hot module replacement, and version control through Git. Content lives in Markdown or MDX files that can be managed alongside code.

You need a developer to set up and maintain the site. For content teams, pairing Astro with a headless CMS (Sanity, Contentful, Strapi) provides a user-friendly editing experience while keeping the performance benefits of static output.

WordPress

WordPress is the most widely understood CMS in the world. Millions of developers know PHP and the WordPress theme/plugin system. Finding WordPress talent is straightforward and affordable.

Non-technical users can publish content, install plugins, and make design changes through the admin dashboard without touching code. The block editor (Gutenberg) provides a modern visual editing experience out of the box.

Pricing and Total Cost

Astro

The framework is free and open source. Static hosting on Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, or Vercel is free for most sites. Domain registration is the only recurring cost (about $10-15/year).

The main investment is developer time for setup and content updates (unless you add a headless CMS). Over a 3-year period, total cost of ownership is often significantly lower than WordPress because there are no hosting fees, security plugins, or maintenance overhead.

WordPress

WordPress itself is free, but running it is not. Managed hosting runs $5-50/month. Premium themes cost $30-80. Premium plugins (forms, SEO, security, backup) can add $100-500/year. SSL, email, and CDN services may add more.

Ongoing maintenance -- updating WordPress core, themes, and plugins, plus security monitoring -- is a hidden cost. Many businesses pay $50-200/month for WordPress maintenance services to keep their site secure and running.

Best Use Cases

Choose Astro for

  • →Performance-critical business websites
  • →Marketing sites where Core Web Vitals matter for SEO
  • →Sites with developer resources available for updates
  • →Projects where you want zero maintenance overhead
  • →Headless CMS setups with Sanity, Contentful, or similar

Choose WordPress for

  • →Teams without developers who need to manage content
  • →Sites requiring frequent content updates by non-technical staff
  • →Projects needing plugin functionality (membership, LMS, forums)
  • →Small businesses wanting a quick, affordable launch
  • →E-commerce with WooCommerce when budget is limited

Our Verdict

WordPress earned its dominance for good reason: it democratized web publishing and made it possible for anyone to create a website. For teams without technical resources who need a visual content editor and access to thousands of ready-made plugins, WordPress remains a practical choice.

Astro represents the next generation of web development. Static-by-default sites load faster, cost less to host, require no security patches, and score higher on Core Web Vitals -- which directly impacts Google search rankings. When you have developer resources to build and maintain the site, Astro delivers a superior end result for your visitors.

For businesses that want the best performance and lowest maintenance burden, Astro paired with a headless CMS gives you the best of both worlds: a fast, secure frontend with a user-friendly content editing experience.

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