Caddisfly vs WordPress.
Both build real websites — but one you maintain, and one that maintains itself. The honest side-by-side.
| Caddisfly | WordPress | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Describe your business — a complete site is live in minutes | Buy hosting, install WordPress, then pick and configure a theme + plugins |
| Hosting & maintenance | Fully managed — nothing to install, update or back up | You manage hosting, updates, backups and uptime |
| Plugins | Store, bookings, blog, CRM, members and more built in | Add and maintain separate plugins — each a cost + a security surface |
| Security & updates | Handled for you — no core/plugin patches to chase | Ongoing core + plugin updates; a frequent target for hacks |
| Performance | Pure static HTML on a global edge — see the numbers | Depends on your host, theme and plugin bloat; often needs caching plugins |
| Redesign an existing site | Paste your URL and AI rebuilds it — AI redesign | Rebuild manually or hire a developer |
| Payments | Your own Stripe account — payouts go straight to you | Via WooCommerce / plugins you install and maintain |
| Best for | Small businesses who want a professional site without the upkeep | Developers/agencies who want full control and will maintain it |
See also: Wix·Squarespace·GoDaddy·Hostinger
How fast are Caddisfly sites? See the numbers →Sources & fine print
- WordPress is open-source software (wordpress.org); “WordPress” is a trademark of the WordPress Foundation. Caddisfly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the WordPress project.
- This reflects our good-faith reading of how a typical self-hosted WordPress site is set up and run; specifics vary with host and plugins.
- Store payments on Caddisfly run on your own Stripe account; Stripe’s standard processing fees apply (Caddisfly adds no transaction fee).