VeloCMS vs WordPress

WordPress is slow
because it has to be.

Every WordPress page load bootstraps PHP, queries MySQL, and runs 20 or more plugins before it sends a single byte of HTML. VeloCMS ships pre-rendered HTML from a global edge cache. The median LCP difference is around 2 seconds — which is the difference between a reader staying and hitting back.

Switch from WordPressSee full comparison

The plugin stack is the problem

WordPress's CVE count isn't a freak accident — it's what happens when 60,000 third-party plugins share an authentication layer and a global namespace. The platform itself is reasonably maintained. The plugins aren't. WP Scan's database lists over 50,000 known vulnerabilities, most of them in plugins that millions of sites still run today. VeloCMS has no plugin system. There is no surface to exploit. Your AI editor, your paywall, your image gallery — they are all first-party code that ships with the platform and gets security patches without a plugin update cycle.

Static delivery, not a cache layer on top of PHP

WordPress's recommended performance answer is to add WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache — a plugin on top of a plugin stack. It helps, but you're still paying the cost of cache misses and admin flushes. VeloCMS generates HTML at build time (or via on-demand ISR after a post publish) and puts that HTML on Cloudflare's edge globally. There is no PHP process to wake up, no MySQL query to run, no plugin to initialise. Lighthouse CI on velocms.org measures a median LCP of 618ms. A WordPress install on the same hosting tier measured 2.8s in WP Engine's 2025 performance report.

AI editing and native commerce, out of the box

Getting AI writing assistance in WordPress means installing a plugin, authenticating an API key, hoping the plugin author keeps it compatible with the latest Gutenberg version. VeloCMS ships a TipTap editor with Gemini-powered slash commands built in — no extra cost, no plugin, no API key unless you bring your own for BYOK. Same story for membership paywalls: WordPress routes you to WooCommerce Memberships ($199/year) before you can gate a single post. VeloCMS has a native paywall, a Stripe BYOK integration, and magic-link reader auth that takes about 10 minutes to configure.

VeloCMS vs WordPress — feature by feature

FeatureVeloCMSWordPress
Page load (LCP, Lighthouse CI)< 700ms2–5s avg
Plugin / extension attack surfaceNone (zero plugins)50+ default plugins
AI-first editingYesPlugin-dependent
Native membership paywallYesWooCommerce add-on
Custom domainYesYes
Multi-tenancyBuilt-inMultisite (complex)
Monthly cost (managed)From $9/moHosting + plugins $30–100+
Data portabilityFull JSON + media exportWXR export
Automatic security patchesYesManual plugin updates
Zero-config CDN edge servingYesRequires plugin + CDN setup

Already on WordPress? Migrate in 3 steps.

  1. 1
    Export your content. Go to WordPress Admin → Tools → Export → All content. Download the WXR file.
  2. 2
    Import to VeloCMS. Sign up for a VeloCMS account, go to Admin → Tools → Import, and upload the WXR. Slugs, categories, tags, and images are preserved automatically.
  3. 3
    Point your domain. Update your DNS CNAME to VeloCMS. Set up 301 redirects for any changed URLs. Sitemap and canonicals are auto-generated.
Full WordPress migration guideWXR import step-by-step

Sub-1s LCP, globally

Pre-rendered HTML served from Cloudflare's edge. No PHP bootstrap, no plugin chain. Lighthouse CI median: 618ms LCP on the landing page (2026-04-25 baseline).

Zero plugin CVEs

VeloCMS has no plugin system. No third-party code runs at runtime. Every feature — SEO, forms, e-commerce, AI editor — is first-party and receives security patches as part of the platform.

Fixed pricing, not a plugin bill

A typical WordPress site costs $30–100/month: hosting, premium theme, SEO plugin, caching plugin, backup plugin, membership plugin. VeloCMS starts at $9/month, all-in.

AI editor included

TipTap editor with Gemini slash commands out of the box. No AI plugin to install, no API key billed separately unless you bring your own.

Custom domain on every plan

Custom domains on VeloCMS are not a paid upgrade — they are on every plan including free self-hosted. Cloudflare for SaaS handles TLS provisioning automatically.

Full data export anytime

Export all posts, members, media, and settings as JSON or CSV at any time from the admin panel. No lock-in, no export fee, no support ticket required.

What WordPress migrants say

“Real customer quote coming soon. Migrated from WordPress and saw immediate performance improvements.”

— Beta user, 2026

“Real customer quote coming soon. Migrated from WordPress and saw immediate performance improvements.”

— Beta user, 2026

“Real customer quote coming soon. Migrated from WordPress and saw immediate performance improvements.”

— Beta user, 2026

Frequently asked questions

Is VeloCMS free?
VeloCMS is open-source (MIT licence). The self-hosted version is free forever — run it on your own server with no usage fees. The managed SaaS plan starts at $9/month and includes hosting, automatic updates, and support.
Can I import my WordPress posts into VeloCMS?
Yes. VeloCMS imports WXR export files and preserves post slugs, categories, tags, and images. The migration tool runs from the admin panel — no command-line work required. See the WordPress migration guide for step-by-step instructions.
Does VeloCMS support WordPress plugins?
WordPress plugins do not run in VeloCMS. Instead, VeloCMS ships first-party equivalents covering the top use cases: SEO, contact forms, image galleries, e-commerce, membership paywalls, and analytics. No third-party plugin to audit, patch, or pay for.
How much faster is VeloCMS than WordPress?
In Lighthouse CI measurements (2026-04-25), VeloCMS landing pages score a median LCP of 618ms. Comparable WordPress installs on managed hosting average 2–3s LCP because every request bootstraps PHP, MySQL, and the active plugin stack before sending HTML. VeloCMS pre-renders HTML at build time and serves from a global edge cache.
What happens to my WordPress SEO if I migrate to VeloCMS?
VeloCMS preserves your existing URL slugs by default. For any URL that must change, 301 redirects are configurable in the admin panel. Canonical tags and XML sitemaps are generated automatically. Google Search Console will reindex the migrated site within days of the redirect map going live.

Leave the plugin stack behind.

14-day free trial. Import your WordPress content on day one. Cancel anytime.

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