After building hundreds of WordPress sites for clients—many of them news platforms—I started looking for a better way. WordPress is powerful, but it's also bloated. A simple install with a few basic plugins can easily chew up 120–150MB of disk space. On top of that, it's a resource hog when it comes to CPU and memory. For high-traffic sites, that means heavier hosting costs. For small projects, it means overkill.
I run a digital agency, and I wanted a CMS that was lighter, faster, and didn’t force me to wrangle with unnecessary complexity. That search led me to Bludit.
From WordPress Fatigue to Simpler Alternatives
Like many developers, I first looked into Grav. I liked that it didn’t need a database and kept things file-based. The backend is clean, and the overall design is decent. But the file structure? Confusing. Too many moving parts. I even paid close to \$100 for a Fiverr gig to get a few key things working right. That was my red flag—if I can’t comfortably maintain a CMS myself, it’s not the right tool for me or my clients.
That’s when I found Bludit.
Why Bludit Works
Bludit is also a flat-file CMS—no database required. But the user experience is a major upgrade compared to Grav. It’s simple to install, intuitive to use, and surprisingly feature-rich right out of the box.
Some highlights:
- Built-in Plugins: Everything you need to run a personal blog or news site is already there. SEO, Markdown support, content scheduling, featured images via URL—no need to go plugin hunting.
- Speed and Size: A full Bludit site with core features weighs in at around 19MB. That’s about 10% the size of a barebones WordPress install.
- Free and Open: All essential plugins are included and free. You can build something real without spending a dime.
Some Bludit website samples:
The yellow outline shows the size of a Bludit website, comparing to other heavy wordpress websites. The 1st site is a Grav site, still takes more memory than Bludit
Tradeoffs to Keep in Mind
Of course, Bludit isn’t perfect. The biggest limitation is its theme selection—it’s nowhere near WordPress in that department. And if your project needs complex features, custom fields, or advanced user roles, WordPress still wins.
But for personal blogs, simple info sites, or lightweight news platforms, Bludit nails it. It’s clean, fast, and doesn’t waste your time.
Final Thought
If you're a developer tired of WordPress bloat—or just someone who wants a CMS that stays out of your way—Bludit is worth a serious look. It's not trying to be everything. It's just trying to be simple, fast, and effective.
And in my experience? It delivers exactly that.
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