{
  "intro": "Select the platform to compare lazysite with - one or several at once.",
  "lazysite_key": "lazysite",
  "groups": [
    "Architecture",
    "Capabilities",
    "Design & experience",
    "Hosting & operations"
  ],
  "systems": [
    {
      "key": "lazysite",
      "name": "lazysite",
      "tagline": "Markdown files served and cached on the fly by a small CGI script - no build, no database.",
      "best_for": "Content-led and documentation sites, AI-assisted publishing, and anyone who wants a fast, low-maintenance site they fully own - with dynamic features and paid pages when they are needed.",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/features"
    },
    {
      "key": "wordpress",
      "name": "WordPress",
      "tagline": "A mature PHP CMS with a database, a full admin UI and a vast plugin ecosystem.",
      "best_for": "Sites that need a point-and-click admin for non-technical editors, off-the-shelf plugins (e-commerce, membership, SEO), and a large pool of developers and agencies.",
      "source": "https://wordpress.org",
      "guide": "/comparison/wordpress"
    },
    {
      "key": "hugo",
      "name": "Hugo",
      "tagline": "A very fast static-site generator that compiles Markdown to static files with Go templates.",
      "best_for": "Large, purely static sites maintained by developers who want a build pipeline, version-controlled deploys and a big theme ecosystem.",
      "source": "https://gohugo.io",
      "guide": "/comparison/hugo"
    },
    {
      "key": "ghost",
      "name": "Ghost",
      "tagline": "A modern publishing platform built around posts, paid memberships and email newsletters.",
      "best_for": "Professional publishers who want memberships, subscriptions and newsletters out of the box, on a Node and database stack.",
      "source": "https://ghost.org",
      "guide": "/comparison/ghost"
    },
    {
      "key": "squarespace",
      "name": "Squarespace",
      "tagline": "A hosted, all-in-one website builder with drag-and-drop design and a monthly subscription.",
      "best_for": "Non-technical owners who want a fully managed, no-code builder and are happy to rent the platform.",
      "source": "https://www.squarespace.com",
      "guide": "/comparison/squarespace"
    },
    {
      "key": "wix",
      "name": "Wix",
      "source": "https://www.wix.com",
      "guide": "/comparison/wix",
      "tagline": "A hosted, all-in-one website builder with drag-and-drop design, a big template and app library, and a free ad-supported tier.",
      "best_for": "Non-technical owners who want the widest drag-and-drop template and app selection in one fully hosted place."
    },
    {
      "key": "substack",
      "name": "Substack",
      "source": "https://substack.com",
      "guide": "/comparison/substack",
      "tagline": "A hosted publishing and newsletter platform built around posts, email subscriptions and paid memberships.",
      "best_for": "Writers who want a free, zero-setup newsletter with built-in discovery and paid subscriptions, and do not mind the platform cut and fixed layout."
    }
  ],
  "items": [
    {
      "label": "Content format",
      "group": "Architecture",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/authoring",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Plain Markdown files you own",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/authoring"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Rich content in a database (block editor)",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Markdown, compiled to static files",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "Rich posts in a database (web editor)",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Visual blocks in their editor",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Visual drag-and-drop editor",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Posts in the Substack editor",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Build step",
      "group": "Architecture",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/features",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "None - renders on request, caches the result",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/features"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "None - generated dynamically by PHP",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Yes - rebuild the whole site on every change",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "None - a dynamic Node application",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "None - fully hosted",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "None - fully hosted",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "None - fully hosted",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Database",
      "group": "Architecture",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/features",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "None - files only",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/features"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Required (MySQL / MariaDB)",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "None - files only",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "Required (MySQL, or SQLite for small installs)",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Managed for you (hidden)",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Managed for you (hidden)",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Managed for you (hidden)",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Footprint",
      "group": "Architecture",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/install",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Tiny - one CGI script plus Perl modules from your distro",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/install"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Heavy - PHP plus a MySQL/MariaDB database",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Small - a single Go binary; static output",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "Heavy - a Node.js application plus a database",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Fully hosted by Squarespace",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Fully hosted by Wix",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Fully hosted by Substack",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Dynamic content",
      "group": "Capabilities",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/features/authoring/tt-variables",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Server-side templating, remote data, query parameters",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/features/authoring/tt-variables"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Yes - PHP and plugins",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Static only - needs external JavaScript services",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "Yes, within its publishing model",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Built-in platform features",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Built-in platform features",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Posts, email, subscriptions",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Built-in forms, auth & payments",
      "group": "Capabilities",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/features/authoring/forms",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "All built in (forms, sign-in, x402 pay-per-read)",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/features/authoring/forms"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Added through plugins",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "External services only",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "Memberships built in; forms via integrations",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Yes - forms, member areas, commerce",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Yes - forms, member areas, commerce",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Subscriptions and payments (Substack takes a cut)",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "AI-first management",
      "group": "Capabilities",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/onboard-ai-agent",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Built for it - agents edit over WebDAV, an API or MCP",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/onboard-ai-agent"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Possible via the REST API or plugins",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Edit the source, then build and deploy",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "A content API exists; the product centres on its editor",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "No",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "No - AI generates a template, not agent publishing",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "No",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Memberships & paid content",
      "group": "Capabilities",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/features/configuration/payment",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Pay-per-read (x402) and per-user access",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/features/configuration/payment"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Via membership or e-commerce plugins",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "External services only",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "Built-in memberships and subscriptions (Stripe)",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Yes (higher plan tiers)",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Yes (member areas, paid plans)",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Yes - core feature (10% platform fee)",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Themes & customisation",
      "group": "Design & experience",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/features/configuration/themes",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Layout plus theme tokens - one file to re-skin",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/features/configuration/themes"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Thousands of themes; PHP and block templates",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Large theme ecosystem (Go templates)",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "Handlebars themes with a marketplace",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Templates + visual style editor",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Templates + drag-and-drop editor",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Minimal - fixed layout, limited branding",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Editing experience",
      "group": "Design & experience",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/authoring",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Markdown files, a simple manager, or an AI agent",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/authoring"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "A polished WYSIWYG admin",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Markdown files plus a build step",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "A polished web editor",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Drag-and-drop, no code",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Drag-and-drop, no code",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Simple post editor, no code",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Hosting",
      "group": "Hosting & operations",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/install",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Any CGI host, or its own built-in server",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/install"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "A managed WordPress host or a LAMP server",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Any static host or CDN",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "A Node host you manage, or paid Ghost(Pro)",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Included; you cannot self-host",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Included; you cannot self-host",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Included; you cannot self-host",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Performance",
      "group": "Hosting & operations",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/features/development/cache-management",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Cached static HTML after the first hit",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/docs/features/development/cache-management"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Dynamic; usually needs caching plugins or a CDN",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Pre-built static files",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "Dynamic; caching or a CDN recommended",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Managed CDN",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Managed CDN",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Managed",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Backup",
      "group": "Hosting & operations",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/features",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Copy the files - nothing else to dump",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/features"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Database plus files - usually a plugin",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Copy the source files - nothing else",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "Database plus files; export tools",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Limited export; no file-level backup",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "No file-level backup",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Posts and subscriber list exportable",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Migration & portability",
      "group": "Hosting & operations",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/features",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Move the folder anywhere - plain files",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/features"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Export/import the database and media; migration plugins",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Move the source folder - plain files",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "Export and import via Ghost's tools",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Hard - content tied to the platform",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Very hard - no export, locked to Wix",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Audience exports; the site itself does not",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Maintenance & security surface",
      "group": "Hosting & operations",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/features",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Small - static files, no database, a compact codebase",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/features"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Large - database, PHP and plugins; a frequent target",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Minimal at runtime - static output",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "A Node runtime and database to keep updated",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Fully managed by Squarespace",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Fully managed by Wix",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Fully managed by Substack",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Cost",
      "group": "Hosting & operations",
      "source": "https://lazysite.io/features",
      "values": {
        "lazysite": {
          "text": "Free, with minimal hosting",
          "source": "https://lazysite.io/features"
        },
        "wordpress": {
          "text": "Free core, but hosting and premium add-ons add up",
          "source": "https://wordpress.org"
        },
        "hugo": {
          "text": "Free; cheap static hosting",
          "source": "https://gohugo.io"
        },
        "ghost": {
          "text": "Free to self-host (you run it), or paid Ghost(Pro)",
          "source": "https://ghost.org"
        },
        "squarespace": {
          "text": "Monthly subscription",
          "source": "https://www.squarespace.com"
        },
        "wix": {
          "text": "Free tier with Wix ads; paid plans monthly",
          "source": "https://www.wix.com"
        },
        "substack": {
          "text": "Free to publish; 10% of paid subscriptions",
          "source": "https://substack.com"
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}