WordPress vs Statamic: Five Tasks for Your Content Team

1. Update a landing page

Ask an editor to change a heading, replace an image, update a button and add an approved section. Then preview the page on a narrow screen.

WordPress's block editor lets editors work with content blocks. The theme, patterns and restrictions determine the choices they see.

Statamic's blueprints define the fields in its editing screens. Developers can provide fixed fields, reusable content blocks or a combination.

Check whether the available layouts cover your team's needs. Too few choices can make routine work depend on a developer; too many can leave editors managing spacing and styling on every page.

Try the same component on two pages. In WordPress, a synced pattern updates wherever it is used; overrides let specified content differ while the design stays shared. Change one headline, then the central design, and check both pages. WordPress demonstrates the distinction here.

2. Publish a resource

Use a realistic resource with a title, summary, topic, audience, document and review date.

Ask the editor to publish it, find it in the public listing and replace the document. Check what happens to existing download links.

In WordPress, ask which content types, fields and plugins support this. In Statamic, look at the collection, blueprint and taxonomy setup.

For example, this site's Statamic blog blueprint offers three article tracks and separate pickers for related services, platforms and integrations, each limited to three entries. Editors select existing records; the template builds the cards. That is the sort of specific setup to compare in a demonstration.

Try leaving out a required document or topic. Does the editor receive a clear message before publishing an incomplete resource?

3. Change navigation

Move a page in the menu, change its label and remove a link while keeping the page.

Check:

• Whether moving a menu item also changes its URL.
• Whether the menu label can differ from the page title.
• Who may change top-level navigation.
• How the change appears on mobile.

Follow the resulting links on the website. Ask the supplier to explain when a navigation change also needs a redirect.

4. Draft, review and publish

Use ordinary staff accounts. Ask one person to prepare a change, another to review it and the authorised person to publish.

WordPress has documented roles and capabilities. Statamic also supports roles and permissions. More involved approval processes may need additional configuration, licensing or extensions.

Test a change to an already published page, too. Can the editor save proposed wording while the current page stays live? A new unpublished draft does not demonstrate that workflow. With Statamic Revisions enabled, edits to a published entry are saved as a working copy until publication.

Test the limits: can a contributor accidentally publish, or can an editor change a section they should not control?

Write down the permissions your team needs before accepting the setup.

5. Recover a mistake

Change a paragraph, save it and restore the previous version. Repeat with a shared content item or document if those are important to your site.

WordPress includes a revision system; check which fields and content types the implementation retains.

Statamic revisions require Pro and must be enabled for the relevant collections.

Ask the supplier to show the editor's recovery process and explain which problems require a backup restore or developer support.

Compare support and ongoing costs

Once editors have tried the tasks, compare hosting, licences, extensions, updates, backups and support. Name who handles each responsibility and how you get help.

Our WorkUP Queensland project used a custom WordPress theme with styled blocks, patterns and staff training. The Brisbane South PHN refresh, delivered with Malu Creative, used Statamic.

We develop with both WordPress and Statamic. If you need help choosing, our website development team can work through your content and editing requirements.