Right now, people all over the world are comparing WordPress and JAMStack. However, when it actually comes down to it, it is important to know that it really isn't an apples-to-apples comparison. It is far more complicated than that.
While WordPress is a platform for building, JAMStack is an architecture for building websites. JAMStack combines multiple services and platforms in order to create faster, more secure, and far better websites and website applications.
With that information in mind, it is easy to understand why one may be more favorable than the other.
JAMStack and WordPress Are Not the Same Things
As said above, JAMStack and WordPress are not the same things architecturally and pragmatically. This can easily cause confusion when it comes to building websites, especially if you're used to doing it the old way. JAMStack is considered a development philosophy.
It is essentially a design architecture that aims to create a secure, fast, and easy-to-scale developer experience. JAMStack started gaining significant popularity as a new-age way to build the web sometime in 2015. It was in 2016 that the term JAMStack itself was coined to better reflect the not-so-static way it works when compared to other, more modern tooling.
JAMStack is modular and it only needs a CDN to serve static files by design. WordPress on the other hand, is an entire software platform. However, as opposed to JAMStack, it isn't going anywhere fast. It has been a popular all-in-one solution to build websites as early as 2003.
However, it hasn't really changed much since then. At the very core of WordPress, it is a CMS. Though, with its huge system of plugins as well as its thriving community, it seems to be much more than that.
In fact, studies currently show that roughly 35% of all websites are powered by WordPress. While WordPress and JAMStack can be used for similar purposes, you're probably wondering which one you should choose.
In simple terms, JAMStack is far more favourable. Now, let us show you why.
Cost-Effectiveness
WordPress only began as a simple blogging platform. To this day, it remains as such and is a perfect way to set up a basic website. Unfortunately, that is where the cost-effectiveness of WordPress goes to die.
As you add more features and functions to your site, the costs begin to quickly add up due to WordPress's very poor ability to scale. This is quite infuriating for some people as these costs aren't very openly advertised upfront. Once you have already created your account is when you begin to notice these costs.
The initial start-up costs for JAMStack are higher than WordPress. However, this is due to the fact that JAMStack is an architecture and requires some work to set up all of the configuration, Frontend, and CMS. Regardless of this, JAMStack remains as a more cost-effective option in the long run.
This is because of the fact that new features take far less time to implement after the initial setup. In short, JAMStack is far more cost-effective than WordPress.
Content Management
When it comes to content management, both of these platforms differ greatly. In WordPress, content management is very well built into the platform and combines the content and presentation layer. While it may sound like an all-in-one salutation at first, it is actually problematic as it becomes far harder to manage and use the same content across multiple media channels.
WordPress started out as a blogging platform, and for this reason, it is a very poor choice if you're looking for a serious content management tool for obvious reasons. With JAMStack, however, Headless CMSs are used to manage and create content models.
This is done to decouple the content from the presentation, also known as the Frontend. This allows your organization to reap countless fantastic benefits.
JAMStack or WordPress: Which One Is Best for Your Organization?
At the end of the day, the choice really comes down to the developer's ability and individual budget. Most developers looking to create websites have learned via WordPress. However, they become content with the ease of use and forget about leveling up and creating something different.
WordPress sites are chosen due to the fact that they are less expensive because of the many readily available themes and layout buildings. These both help to speed up the development process. However, as time goes on, people are realizing more and more that WordPress is not usually the best route.
After app, websites are not a one-size-fits-all thing. JAMStack very obviously has far better performance and a much cheaper infrastructure.
When JAMStack Is A Better Fit
JAMStack is a better fit for your needs if:
- Your organization is already familiar with and using third-party services
- You have specific and specialized needs that JAMStack architecture can meet
- You need accessibility within a content management system
- Your organization values environmental sustainability
When WordPress Is A Better Fit
WordPress is a better fit for your needs if:
- You prefer an easy and all-in-one approach
- Your team is already using or comfortable with WordPress
- You don't need anything but the simplest tools
JAMStack Is the Way to Go If You're Ready
The demand for JAMStack is at an all-time high and it really isn't hard to see why at all. At this point, everyone is confident that the demand will remain. JAMStack sites are expected to grow as organizations begin to openly look for novel ways to reduce their environmental impact and push page performance.
On the other hand, WordPress will not be going away anytime soon. However, JAMStack is a far more popular and reliable option.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that WordPress began as a simple blogging platform. While it still remains as such, it has tried to evolve over the years to something it should never have been. In turn, this has caused the platform to develop many problems with software development, performance, security, and scalability.
Essentially, WordPress is an outdated way to build websites. WordPress contains very little, if any, structure. JAMStack is an architectural program specifically designed to combat all of the problem's users experience with WordPress. It is clear to see that JAMStack is the winner here.
Nikita Verkhoshintcev
Salesforce Consultant
Senior Salesforce and full-stack web developer. I design and build modern Salesforce, React, and Angular applications for enterprises. Usually, companies hire me when complex implementation, custom development and UI is required.