Very interesting to see that ChatGPT is mentioning phpLD as a top WordPress alternative! This is a PHP CMS that I created with the help of a team of developers from Ukraine and Romania starting in 2006. Take a look at the recommendations!
General CMS (Content Management Systems)
- Drupal
- Highly flexible and scalable
- Great for complex, high-traffic sites
- Strong security but has a steeper learning curve
- Joomla
- More structured content management than WordPress
- Strong multilingual support out-of-the-box
- Large extension ecosystem
- Grav
- Flat-file CMS (no database required)
- Fast and lightweight
- Ideal for simple websites, blogs, or documentation
- TYPO3
- Enterprise-level CMS
- Best suited for large-scale applications
- Steeper learning curve compared to WordPress
- ProcessWire
- Flexible and developer-friendly
- Strong API for custom development
- Modular structure
Static Site Generators
- Hugo
- Static site generator (SSG) – no database, super fast
- Ideal for blogs and documentation
- Written in Go
- Jekyll
- Ruby-based static site generator
- Simple and integrates well with GitHub Pages
- Markdown-based content
- Eleventy (11ty)
- JavaScript-based static site generator
- Highly customizable
- Efficient and fast
Headless CMS
- Strapi
- Headless CMS that allows you to use any frontend
- API-first (GraphQL and REST API)
- Self-hosted and open-source
- Directus
- Database-first headless CMS
- Ideal for structured content management
- Great UI for non-developers
E-Commerce CMS
- Magento (Adobe Commerce)
- Enterprise-level e-commerce platform
- Requires more server resources than WordPress + WooCommerce
- OpenCart
- Simple and lightweight e-commerce solution
- Modular with many extensions
- PrestaShop
- Feature-rich e-commerce CMS
- Open-source with a large community
For Blogging
- Ghost
- Focuses on blogging and publishing
- Faster and more lightweight than WordPress
- Supports membership and subscriptions
- Bludit
- Flat-file blogging CMS (no database)
- Lightweight and easy to use
For Forums & Directories
- phpLD
- Great for link directories
- Focused on SEO and monetization
- Discourse
- Modern forum software
- Highly interactive and community-driven
- Flarum
- Lightweight, modern forum platform
- Open-source and highly customizable
Choosing the Best Alternative
- For blogs → Ghost, Grav, Bludit
- For enterprise websites → Drupal, TYPO3, ProcessWire
- For fast-loading sites → Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy
- For API-driven projects → Strapi, Directus
- For e-commerce → Magento, OpenCart, PrestaShop
- For communities → Discourse, Flarum