{"id":13193,"date":"2022-02-11T15:36:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T15:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/?p=13193"},"modified":"2024-04-12T22:54:38","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T22:54:38","slug":"common-myths-about-traditional-wordpress-vs-headless-wordpress-debunked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/common-myths-about-traditional-wordpress-vs-headless-wordpress-debunked.html","title":{"rendered":"5 Common Myths About Traditional WordPress vs. Headless WordPress Debunked"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The world of online marketing is constantly changing and evolving, meaning that your website has to adapt as well. With the introduction of new Google\u2019s Core Web Vitals<\/a>, when UX officially became one of the ranking factors, a lot of WordPress users started to notice that it\u2019s almost impossible to bring their websites into a green zone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, anyone who is thriving for better search engine visibility has to prioritize their website\u2019s performance and user experience. This, in addition to some other well-known pain points of WordPress, made a lot of users wonder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should they stay loyal to the traditional WordPress system or is it time for a change? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if it\u2019s time to move on, what can effectively replace a WordPress-based website? One of the options WordPress owners hear about the most is the headless CMS based on WordPress. It\u2019s well-known as a flexible, fast, and versatile system, so people tend to assume that headless solutions are always better than WordPress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s true in some cases, the reality is way more complex than that. Of course, a lot depends on your unique needs but we hope that this article will help you make the right choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Headless CMS vs Traditional CMS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Before we dive in, let\u2019s define what a headless CMS is and isn\u2019t. Also known as Headless WordPress, this type of CMS became increasingly popular when React first appeared. When you are using headless, you can use the CMS as a generic content management system and use any other technology to build the front-end (with React and Angular being the most popular choices). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, you use the API to connect these two pieces of the puzzle. WordPress has a powerful REST (representational state transfer) API meaning it returns data in JSON format which is used by a large number of web technologies. What is JSON? To put it simply, it\u2019s a text-based representation of JavaScript objects that store data as neatly organized key-value pairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t worry if it doesn\u2019t make a lot of sense – all you need to know is that headless allows you to build any kind of website and then manage it in WordPress by leveraging an API. A lot of WordPress users consider this option because they don\u2019t have to move the data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All they need is a new front-end that points to the right routes on their old website. This approach has its advantages but also a few disadvantages to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth #1: Headless Solutions Are Cheap and Easy to Develop<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a headless CMS vs traditional CMS \u201cdebate\u201d, a lot of people frequently forget to mention the cost of building a website\u2019s front-end from scratch. An experienced web developer can charge anywhere from $50 an hour and even if he works full-time, the development of the website may take weeks or even months. As you can see, it\u2019s neither \u201ccheap\u201d nor \u201ceasy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A headless approach gives you the flexibility to build whatever you want and the freedom to integrate only those features that you really need. However, this flexibility comes at a cost. Think about all additional features and requests you might have in the future – with WordPress, you could just install a plugin or find a code snippet online. With a headless system, you will need to ask a professional web developer for help every time you need to change or add something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are an advanced WordPress user, you might know some PHP already or have an in-house PHP developer. If you decide to switch to a headless system, you might need someone who is experienced in JavaScript and APIs, which is a completely different skill set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth #2: Headless CMS Is Generally Better in Terms of Performance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Indeed, headless WordPress solutions<\/a> are faster and lighter, but it doesn\u2019t mean that you can\u2019t get your WordPress website into Core Web Vitals’ green zone. The benefit of a headless CMS is that it eliminates the need to have a pile of files and out-of-the-box features you don\u2019t even use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, consider the amount of time and money needed to develop and support a headless solution before making the move. Most of the time, it\u2019s just not worth the effort. Almost any WordPress site can be brought to the green zone with the right hosting, CDN, optimized images, and a powerful optimization plugin like WP rocket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth #3: WordPress Websites Are Not as Secure as Headless CMS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A headless CMS is an API-based website that doesn\u2019t have a database. It means there are no database vulnerabilities and no gateway that a hacker could exploit. This factor alone makes a headless CMS a secure option but is it always more secure than a regular WordPress website? Not necessarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A hacker can still query the service endpoints that deliver content if they are not properly secured. In the end, it all depends on a setup. You can always add additional layers of security to a regular WordPress website by using advanced security plugins and hiding sensitive information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth #4: Headless CMS Is More Cost-Effective<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Again, a traditional CMS requires less time and money to set up. It\u2019s also an ideal choice for you if you already have a team of PHP experts or you are an advanced WordPress user yourself. If all you need is one stand-alone website that is not connected to other third-party resources, it\u2019s actually more cost-effective to choose WordPress with all its built-in functionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you already have one or more websites built on a specific modern tech stack that need to be integrated with a new website, building a headless CMS can be more cost-effective in a long run. You also don’t have to build everything from scratch – almost every modern service has a REST API you can leverage to extend the functionality of your headless CMS. If you know that this website is just one out of many, using a headless approach can significantly streamline the development cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth #5: Headless Provides a Better User Experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The headless CMS can help you deliver a better user experience because you are in full control over where and how your content gets displayed. With a headless website, you don\u2019t have to hide or redesign the default WordPress pages and features, you simply create your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, a simple WordPress website can be user-friendly too. In fact, with the right tools and plugins, it’s not that hard to improve the user experience on any WordPress-based site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For years, WordPress was one of the best platforms for effective yet affordable content management. However, it was founded all the way back in 2003; a lot of alternatives appeared on the market since then, including some new technologies and platforms. Thus, it\u2019s always a good idea to look around and reevaluate your options from time to time. More often than not, a few simple changes and updates are all you need to keep up with the times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Top-Quality WordPress Development Services from GetDevDone <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you see, the choice of the Headless WordPress or Traditional WordPress approach depends on many variables. Conventional WordPress can be as cost-effective, performant, and secure as Headless WordPress when things are done right<\/strong>. With traditional WP, you get a ready-made, well-tested platform that you can use straight away. That will save you money and time down the road.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, don’t just get carried away by the hype. Evaluate your budget, human resources availability, time constraints, and project specifics. If you are still undecided which method will be the best fit for you, ask our expert WordPress development<\/a> experts. With 16+ years of industry experience and thousands of successfully completed WP projects, we know everything about the world’s most popular CMS.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reach out to <\/a>us with any WordPress-related request, from building a stunning custom theme or modifying your current one to meet your business needs to Core Web Vitals optimization and making your website secure and hack-proof. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is a headless CMS better than traditional WordPress? It all depends on what you are looking for. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":13347,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[746,752],"tags":[855,774,807,777,764,772,814],"class_list":["post-13193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insights","category-wordpress-development","tag-architecture","tag-cms-development","tag-headless-cms","tag-headless-development","tag-performance-optimization","tag-security","tag-wordpress"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"author_meta":{"display_name":"Valerie Muradian","author_link":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/author\/valeri"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/newblog.psd2html.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/10153125\/Intro-preview-2-300x300.png","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Insights<\/a>","WordPress development<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Insights<\/span>","WordPress development<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["Architecture<\/a>","CMS development<\/a>","Headless CMS<\/a>","Headless development<\/a>","Performance optimization<\/a>","Security<\/a>","WordPress<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Architecture<\/span>","CMS development<\/span>","Headless CMS<\/span>","Headless development<\/span>","Performance optimization<\/span>","Security<\/span>","WordPress<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 4 years ago","modified":"Updated 2 years ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on February 11, 2022","modified":"Updated on April 12, 2024"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on February 11, 2022 3:36 pm","modified":"Updated on April 12, 2024 10:54 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","featured_image_urls":{"thumbnail_723x315":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/newblog.psd2html.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/10153125\/Intro-preview-2-400x315.png","thumbnail_723x315-2x":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/newblog.psd2html.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/10153125\/Intro-preview-2.png","thumbnail_723x315-3x":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/newblog.psd2html.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/10153125\/Intro-preview-2.png","thumbnail_770x510":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/newblog.psd2html.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/10153125\/Intro-preview-2.png","thumbnail_770x510-2x":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/newblog.psd2html.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/10153125\/Intro-preview-2.png","thumbnail_770x510-3x":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/newblog.psd2html.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/10153125\/Intro-preview-2.png"},"featured_post_color":"#e88080","author_avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5beb6f0817cc101d7122d201f933d94a4c68077bd00f26e4a1771c421a6b2fab?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_position":"Web Developer & Content Writer","reading_time":"<\/span> 5<\/span> min read<\/span><\/span>","prev_post":{"slug":"7-reasons-why-a-custom-wordpress-theme-is-better-for-your-business","name":"7 Reasons Why a Custom WordPress Theme Is Better for Your Business"},"next_post":{"slug":"easy-ways-to-change-wordpress-upload-limit","name":"Easy Ways to Change the WordPress Upload Limit"},"related_posts":["hiring-wordpress-website-development-company","10-websites-with-slick-video-backgrounds","signs-agency-needs-white-label-wordpress-development-partner"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13193"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24610,"href":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13193\/revisions\/24610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getdevdone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}