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GitHub Pages vs WordPress: What are the differences?
Comparing GitHub Pages and WordPress
GitHub Pages and WordPress are both widely used platforms for creating websites, but they have some key differences that set them apart. Let's explore these differences:
Hosting: GitHub Pages is primarily a hosting platform for static websites, while WordPress is a content management system that allows for both static and dynamic content. GitHub Pages is best suited for simple websites or portfolios, while WordPress offers more flexibility for complex sites with dynamic content.
Ease of Use: GitHub Pages requires some technical knowledge and familiarity with Git and Markdown, as it uses these technologies for website creation and updates. WordPress, on the other hand, provides a user-friendly interface and a visual editor, making it more accessible to non-technical users.
Customization: GitHub Pages offers limited customization options compared to WordPress. While it allows users to create custom themes and templates using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, WordPress provides a wide range of themes, plugins, and widgets that can be easily installed and customized to change the look and functionality of a website.
Maintenance: GitHub Pages takes care of website hosting and security, so users don't have to worry about server maintenance. WordPress, being a self-hosted platform, requires users to manage their own web hosting and security updates. This additional responsibility can be a drawback for some users who prefer a hassle-free experience.
Extensibility: GitHub Pages is a standalone platform and doesn't have a built-in system for extending website functionality. WordPress, on the other hand, has a vast library of plugins and extensions that can be installed to add various features like e-commerce, membership management, SEO optimization, and more.
Online Community: GitHub Pages has a dedicated developer community, but it is more focused on code collaboration and open-source projects. WordPress, on the other hand, has a massive online community of developers, designers, and users who actively contribute to the platform's growth. This active community ensures a wealth of resources and support for WordPress users.
In Summary, GitHub Pages is ideal for simple static websites with minimal maintenance, while WordPress offers more versatility, user-friendliness, extensibility, and a larger community for creating and managing websites.
We use Netlify to host static websites.
The reasons for choosing Netlify over GitHub Pages are as follows:
- Netfily can bind multiple domain names, while GitHub Pages can only bind one domain name
- With Netfily, the original repository can be private, while GitHub Pages free tier requires the original repository to be public
In addition, in order to use CDN, we use Netlify DNS.
So many choices for CMSs these days. So then what do you choose if speed, security and customization are key? Headless for one. Consuming your own APIs for content is absolute key. It makes designing pages in the front-end a breeze. Leaving Ghost and Cockpit. If I then looked at the footprint and impact on server load, Cockpit definitely wins that battle.
10 Years ago I have started to check more about the online sphere and I have decided to make a website. There were a few CMS available at that time like WordPress or Joomla that you can use to have your website. At that point, I have decided to use WordPress as it was the easiest and I am glad I have made a good decision. Now WordPress is the most used CMS. Later I have created also a site about WordPress: https://www.wpdoze.com
Pros of GitHub Pages
- Free290
- Right out of github217
- Quick to set up185
- Instant108
- Easy to learn107
- Great way of setting up your project's website58
- Widely used47
- Quick and easy41
- Great documentation37
- Super easy4
- Easy setup3
- Instant and fast Jekyll builds2
- Great customer support2
- Great integration2
Pros of WordPress
- Customizable416
- Easy to manage367
- Plugins & themes354
- Non-tech colleagues can update website content258
- Really powerful247
- Rapid website development145
- Best documentation78
- Codex51
- Product feature set44
- Custom/internal social network35
- Open source18
- Great for all types of websites8
- Huge install and user base7
- I like it like I like a kick in the groin5
- It's simple and easy to use by any novice5
- Perfect example of user collaboration5
- Open Source Community5
- Most websites make use of it5
- Best5
- API-based CMS4
- Community4
- Easy To use3
- <a href="https://secure.wphackedhel">Easy Beginner</a>2
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Cons of GitHub Pages
- Not possible to perform HTTP redirects4
- Supports only Jekyll3
- Limited Jekyll plugins3
- Jekyll is bloated1
Cons of WordPress
- Hard to keep up-to-date if you customize things13
- Plugins are of mixed quality13
- Not best backend UI10
- Complex Organization2
- Do not cover all the basics in the core1
- Great Security1