Convert WordPress to a Static Site

Transform your dynamic WordPress site into a lightning-fast, secure, and cost-effective static website.

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Why Convert WordPress to Static?

WordPress powers about 40% of all websites, but converting it to a static site offers significant benefits in speed, security, and cost. Static sites are pre-rendered HTML files that don't require a database or server-side processing, making them incredibly fast and secure.

Top Tools for Converting WordPress to Static

Simply Static

WordPress plugin that generates static HTML files from your WordPress site and deploys them to a directory or ZIP file.

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WP2Static

Advanced static site generator with various deployment options and a strong focus on performance optimization.

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StaticPress

Lightweight WordPress plugin that generates a complete static version of your site while maintaining its original structure.

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Gatsby + WordPress

Headless WordPress setup where Gatsby pulls content from WordPress API to generate a blazing-fast static site.

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Jekyll Exporter

Export WordPress content to Jekyll, a popular static site generator that works with GitHub Pages.

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Netlify + WordPress

Use Netlify to deploy a static version of your WordPress site with continuous deployment workflows.

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Advantages of Static WordPress Sites

Advantages

  • Lightning-fast loading times - Pre-rendered HTML files load instantly
  • Improved security - No database or PHP vulnerabilities to exploit
  • Lower hosting costs - Can be hosted on GitHub Pages, Netlify, or other free CDN services
  • Better SEO - Faster sites rank higher in search results
  • Enhanced reliability - No server-side code to fail or crash

Considerations

  • No dynamic features - Comments, forms need third-party solutions
  • Learning curve - May require new workflows and technical knowledge
  • Content updates - Need to regenerate the site when content changes
  • Plugin limitations - Not all WordPress plugins work with static sites

Step-by-Step Guide to Converting WordPress

Before converting your WordPress site to static, always create a complete backup:

  • Export your database
  • Copy all WordPress files
  • Use a backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy

This ensures you can restore your site if anything goes wrong during the conversion process.

Select the best tool for your needs:

  • Simply Static or WP2Static - For straightforward WordPress to static HTML conversion
  • Gatsby/Next.js + WordPress API - For more modern, feature-rich static sites
  • Jekyll Exporter - If you want to use GitHub Pages

Consider your technical skills, hosting preferences, and future maintenance needs when choosing.

For WordPress plugins (Simply Static, WP2Static):

  1. Install the plugin from the WordPress repository
  2. Configure URL settings, delivery method, and exclusions
  3. Run a test generation to identify any issues

For headless approaches (Gatsby, Next.js):

  1. Set up WordPress REST API or GraphQL
  2. Install and configure the static site generator
  3. Create templates and connect to WordPress data

Replace dynamic WordPress features with static alternatives:

  • Comments - Implement Disqus, Commento, or Utterances
  • Forms - Use Netlify Forms, Formspree, or Google Forms
  • Search - Add Algolia, Lunr.js, or simple client-side search
  • E-commerce - Integrate Snipcart, Shopify Buy Button, or similar

These third-party services provide the dynamic functionality that's lost when converting to static.

Choose a hosting platform for your static site:

  • Netlify - Easy deployment with continuous integration
  • Vercel - Perfect for Next.js-based static sites
  • GitHub Pages - Free hosting for simple static sites
  • AWS S3 + CloudFront - Scalable and cost-effective for high-traffic sites
  • Cloudflare Pages - Fast global CDN deployment

Set up a deployment workflow to automatically update your static site when content changes.