Simply Static Alternative: When the Plugin Is Enough, and When to Leave WordPress
Simply Static is the most popular plugin that turns a WordPress site into static files. It is a good tool — and for some sites it is the right answer. This page explains what it does, where people hit its limits, and three ways forward, including keeping the plugin.
TL;DR
- • Simply Static: WordPress stays as your editor and a static copy is published. Free version outputs a ZIP or a local folder; direct deploys are paid.
- • ZeroPress: a one-time migration that removes WordPress and hands you a repo you own.
- • The real question: do you want to keep running WordPress somewhere, or stop?
What Simply Static actually does
Free
Exports your site as a ZIP file or to a local directory. You then upload those files to a host yourself.
Pro — $99/year
Direct deployment to GitHub, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, AWS S3, BunnyCDN or SFTP, plus incremental exports, forms, static-friendly search, multilingual support and comments integration.
Studio — $19/month
Managed WordPress hosting with a global CDN, backups and SSL: they host the WordPress backend and publish the static site for you.
Source: the plugin's page on wordpress.org (about 30,000 active installations), checked on 2026-10-04. Plans and prices can change — check the plugin page before deciding.
Where people hit the limits
Deploying is the paid part
The free version gives you files, not a live site. Publishing straight to GitHub or Cloudflare Pages needs the Pro plan; otherwise you upload by hand each time.
WordPress is still running
The plugin lives inside WordPress, so WordPress, PHP and every other plugin still need a server and updates — or you run it privately on your own machine and export from there.
Dynamic features need extras
Forms, search and comments are possible with Pro or Studio. The plugin says it is not suitable for e-commerce, membership sites or logins.
ZeroPress vs Simply Static
| ZeroPress | Simply Static | |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | Leave WordPress | Keep WordPress, publish a static copy |
| Cost | €299 one-time (free trial: 4 posts) | Free (ZIP) · $99/year Pro · $19/month Studio |
| WordPress after the switch | Gone: nothing to update or patch | Still needed to edit and re-publish |
| Where the site lives | A repo on your GitHub account; host it where you like | Your own host, or Studio's managed hosting |
| Editing content | Sveltia CMS (visual, git-based; requires a GitHub login) | The WordPress editor you already know |
| Plugins and themes you rely on | Rebuilt as a static theme; some features need a replacement | Kept as they are |
| Search | Included in Pro migration | Pro or Studio |
| Comments | Migration in progress — not available yet | Pro or Studio |
| E-commerce, memberships, logins | Not a fit | Not a fit |
Simply Static information from its wordpress.org page (2026-10-04). We build a competing service, so check the facts on their page.
Keep Simply Static if…
- • You and your team like editing in WordPress and don't want to change that.
- • You can run WordPress privately (locally or on a protected staging site) and only the static copy is public.
- • Your site depends on specific WordPress plugins or a page builder.
- • You would rather pay monthly for a managed setup (Studio) than handle hosting.
Pick ZeroPress if…
- ✓ You want to stop maintaining WordPress, PHP and plugins altogether.
- ✓ You prefer one payment over a recurring one and want a repo that is yours.
- ✓ Your site is a blog, portfolio or business site without checkout or logins.
- ✓ You are comfortable editing through a git-based editor, or we help you set it up.
Three ways forward
There is no single right answer. Pick the one that matches how you work.
1. Keep the plugin
Export with the free version and upload the files to a free host such as GitHub Pages or Cloudflare Pages, or pay for Pro to automate it. Best if you want to keep WordPress as your editor.
2. Let someone host WordPress for you
A managed option such as Simply Static Studio keeps WordPress running and publishes the static site. Best if you want the WordPress workflow without the server work.
3. Leave WordPress
ZeroPress migrates your content once and gives you the repo. Best if the goal is to have nothing left to patch.
Not sure which fits? Run the free check: it tells you whether your site can go static at all, and what each plugin on it would become. Also comparing exporters? See Static Site Export.
Know your options before you choose.
Run the free check to see if your WordPress site can go static. If it can, try a free 4-post migration before deciding anything.