I'm a web developer who got my start in the late 90s and DIY-ed everything with HTML and CSS. These days, I focus mostly on design and consulting. Many small businesses and non-profits I work with want the ability to edit their own websites due to budget constraints, and typically only need design updates every year or two. I've been using WordPress with the Divi theme, but my clients find it too complicated to manage and I'm overwhelmed with maintaining security and updates. I've heard about headless CMS options and platforms like Framer and Wix Studio, but I want something more cost-effective that I can host on a VPS or through a reseller account. Most of my sites aren't high traffic, and I'm also looking for solutions that comply with U.S. web accessibility standards to avoid legal issues. I checked out Hostinger's website builder, but it doesn't appear to meet accessibility needs. Are there better options out there? Any resources or guides on modern CMS solutions would also be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
You might want to check out Statamic. It's built on Laravel and could be a good fit for you. It's user-friendly and offers enough flexibility for both small sites and bigger projects. If you’re worried about your clients managing WordPress, this could be a solid alternative!
Honestly, I’d stick with WordPress if you can. Teach your clients to update once a month or charge a small fee for maintenance. I know it feels like a hassle, but switching everything over to a new system may create bigger headaches. Plus, automatic updates can be set up, but be cautious with plugins breaking things! Just don’t go with Hostinger, their customer support seriously lacks quality.
I had a similar experience with Hostinger’s support! Just a headache trying to get answers, so definitely look for alternatives if you're considering affordable hosting.
You could explore options like Hugo or Netlify CMS if you're looking to reduce costs. They're quite friendly for static sites and don't require extensive management, but you'll need to be comfortable setting them up to keep everything running smoothly.
For lower traffic sites, managing your own server could save you money. Using something like AWS with a simple HTTP server can keep costs under control, as long as you're okay handling some of the technical setup. Just be mindful of SSL and DNS management when going that route!
Have you considered using Payload or Sanity? I think they’re really solid choices for headless CMS options. Sanity even has a free tier that works well for static sites, but you’ll need to set it up for your clients since they only allow one user on the free plan.
Sanity's free tier is pretty generous for smaller projects! Just make sure your clients have their own accounts so you can hand them over access after building their sites.
Totally agree! Statamic's been great for me too, especially if you're looking for something lightweight and easy to maintain.