Why Storyblok is a Better CMS Alternative to WordPress For Visual Editing

Moving to a new content management system (CMS) is daunting for many businesses. You might be comfortable with what you know, even if it's inefficient. But here’s the reality: if you’re using a WordPress site with the Classic Editor or an ACF-based page builder, you’re already facing a big shift. The WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) has radically changed the website-building experience, making it more unfamiliar.

Instead of worrying about adopting something new, you should ask Which CMS will actually be easier to use. The answer is clear: Storyblok.

The Problem With Gutenberg: It's Not the WordPress You Knew, Explore WordPress Alternatives

When WordPress introduced the Gutenberg Block Editor, it completely changed the way users handle content creation. If you’ve been using traditional CMS platforms, here’s why Gutenberg is likely to cause headaches:

1. It’s Like Other Website Builders, But More Complicated—The new Block Editor forces you to build layouts from scratch, much like Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, or other WordPress drag-and-drop builders. Even if a developer sets up blocks, they can still break unexpectedly, leading to frustrating editing experiences.
2. It’s Not a User-Friendly Interface – Many long-time website owners find Gutenberg confusing and cumbersome. You’re learning a brand-new system rather than getting a natural evolution of the Classic Editor.
3. It Breaks Customization Options – Websites built with ACF or extensive customization options often need significant overhauls to work with Gutenberg, making it less suitable for complex websites. Instead of improving workflows, it disrupts them.

Introduction to Content Management Systems

What is a Content Management System (CMS)?

A Content Management System (CMS) is a software application designed to help users create, manage, and modify digital content on a website without needing extensive technical knowledge. Think of it as the backbone of your website, providing a user-friendly interface that allows non-technical users to handle content management tasks efficiently. Whether updating text, adding images, or publishing new blog posts, a CMS simplifies these processes, making it an essential tool for anyone looking to establish or maintain an online presence. With a CMS, you don’t need to be a coding expert to keep your website fresh and engaging.

Importance of Choosing the Right CMS

Selecting the right CMS is a critical decision that can significantly impact your website’s success. A well-chosen CMS can enhance your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts, driving more traffic to your site and improving your online visibility. It also allows for easy content management, enabling you to update and customize your website’s design and layout effortlessly. The right CMS provides a scalable and flexible solution, accommodating the growth of your business and adapting to changing needs. By integrating various features and tools, a good CMS ensures that your website remains functional, user-friendly, and competitive in the digital landscape.

The Evolution of WordPress

From Humble Beginnings to a Leading CMS Platform

WordPress has undergone a remarkable transformation since its inception. Developed initially as a simple blogging platform, it has become one of the most popular and versatile CMS platforms available today. Its user-friendly interface and extensive library of plugins and themes have made it a favorite among millions of website owners worldwide. WordPress’s flexibility and scalability allow users to create anything from personal blogs to complex business websites. The platform’s large community of users and developers continuously contributes to its growth, offering support and creating new features that enhance its functionality. Despite its evolution, WordPress remains true to its roots, providing a powerful yet accessible tool for anyone looking to build a strong online presence.

The Pain of Transitioning to Gutenberg

The irony here is that if you're already using WordPress and are hesitant about switching to a new CMS platform, Gutenberg is essentially forcing you to adapt to a new system anyway. In fact, it can be more complex to navigate than other options, such as Storyblok.

WordPress Isn't WordPress Anymore

A recent article by Hendrik Luehrsen, 'WordPress isn’t WordPress anymore,' highlights how the introduction of the Block Editor has fundamentally changed WordPress from what it used to be. He speaks about the ongoing contributor churn WordPress is experiencing. With its block editor, WordPress has introduced features almost no one uses, such as the Duotone feature.

"While these features have merits for specific use cases, their inclusion in the core raises serious questions about WordPress’s evolving identity and direction." - Hendrik Luehrsen

WordPress has shifted towards an opt-out model for features rather than an opt-in approach, burdening users to disable unwanted functionalities. This change often forces WordPress developers to work around default features that hinder customization. On a typical WordPress site, developers must install additional plugins to remove or modify certain built-in elements, adding unnecessary complexity. In essence, users must add more to simplify, creating a paradox where maintaining control over the website demands even more effort. 

"WordPress’s strength has always been its ability to serve a vast and diverse audience without dictating how it should be used."

Why Storyblok is Easier and More Powerful

Structured Data: The Foundation of Modern Websites

Structured data is essential for helping search engines understand and categorize website content, improving SEO performance and user experience. With WordPress, structured data implementation often requires additional plugins, adding more complexity, maintenance, and configuration.

Storyblok, on the other hand, naturally supports structured content with its component-based architecture, allowing developers and content editors to maintain a clean and organized content structure. This ensures that your business websites, ecommerce stores, and blogging platforms are optimized for better indexing and performance without needing excessive third-party tools.

With WordPress, You Start with a Blog—Whether You Need It or Not

By default, WordPress treats every site as a blog, forcing users to configure settings and install plugins to transform it into something more suited for business websites, ecommerce capabilities, or static websites. This outdated approach leads to unnecessary complexity.

Storyblok, being a modern headless CMS, allows users to start with exactly what they need—whether it's a structured ecommerce platform, a corporate website, or a custom web app—without unnecessary overhead.

WordPress Requires Plugins for Everything

One of the most significant drawbacks of WordPress is its heavy reliance on plugins and themes. Whether it’s SEO tools, e-commerce features, or security enhancements, users must install and manage multiple plugins, each of which introduces potential security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues, unlike Storyblok, which offers built-in SEO features.

Storyblok eliminates this hassle by offering built-in security features, multilingual support, and advanced SEO tools without additional configurations. This results in a streamlined workflow with fewer maintenance concerns.

If you’re worried about learning something new, here’s why Storyblok is a better choice than struggling with Gutenberg:

1. A Visual Editor That Accurately Displays A Preview of Your Website

Unlike Gutenberg, which requires piecing together blocks and hoping the layout holds up, Storyblok gives you a more accurate visual editor. What you see while editing is exactly what your visitors will see—no surprises. This makes it an excellent fit for business websites, creative agencies, small businesses, and marketing websites looking for an all-in-one solution.

Structured Content Management System for Maximum Flexibility

Storyblok’s component-based content structure separates dynamic content from the layout, allowing for extensive customization and content management. Unlike WordPress, where plugins and themes can conflict, Storyblok ensures a smooth workflow.

3. No More Plugin Chaos

WordPress competitors require a constant battle with third-party integrations, premium themes, and e-commerce tools. Many of these plugins introduce security vulnerabilities, require frequent updates, and can conflict with each other. With Storyblok, everything you need is built in.

SEO Tools and Marketing Tools That Work

Unlike WordPress, where SEO features depend on plugins, Storyblok has built-in SEO tools, including customizable meta tags, structured data, and Google Analytics integration. Additionally, Storyblok integrates customer relationship management tools to enhance your marketing efforts. This ensures that search engines properly index your content without extra configuration. It’s one of the best CMS platforms for modern websites and provides advanced SEO tools.

5. A Secure Alternative to WordPress

Unlike WordPress, which frequently faces security vulnerabilities, Storyblok is one of the most secure CMS solutions. Since it’s a hosted solution, it significantly separates content management from the website’s front end, reducing the attack surface. If you’re looking for the fastest CMS for website performance, Storyblok is a strong choice.

6. Headless CMS vs. WordPress: Which is Better?

Storyblok is a headless CMS that offers flexibility for web development and seamless third-party integrations. While WordPress is an open-source CMS, Storyblok offers the flexibility and control of a headless CMS. It is often considered the best headless CMS in 2025, offering complete control over how content is displayed across different platforms.

WordPress: A Security Nightmare

One of WordPress’s most significant flaws is its massive security risk. It's a prime target for hackers because it powers over 40% of the internet. Common vulnerabilities include:

• Form Spam – Constant bot attacks on contact forms, even with anti-spam measures.
• Plugin Exploits – Third-party integrations often introduce security holes, leaving your site, including your online store, vulnerable.
• Frequent Hacks – Outdated WordPress sites are common attack vectors, and even up-to-date sites aren’t immune.

The 2024 WordPress Drama: Automattic vs. WP Engine

The WordPress ecosystem is also experiencing internal turmoil, with Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com) and WP Engine (a leading managed WordPress hosting provider) at odds over control, features, and the future of WordPress site development. Recently, 159 employees have left Automattic as tensions between the companies escalated, raising serious concerns about WordPress’s long-term stability and leadership direction (TechCrunch). This exodus highlights deeper struggles within the platform, further complicating its evolution. To make matters worse, Matt Mullenweg has stated that ongoing lawsuits could potentially end WordPress altogether, casting even more uncertainty over the platform’s future (Search Engine Journal). Adding to this instability, many long-time contributors have decided to stop supporting the WordPress project, which is especially concerning since WordPress relies heavily on its open-source community. Without continued contributions, the platform’s development could slow, leaving businesses and developers with fewer reasons to stay invested (Megabyte Rose). This infighting and legal turmoil create uncertainty about the future of WordPress, making it even more critical for businesses to look at better WordPress alternatives like Storyblok.

The Future of Web Development: Storyblok Is the Clear Choice

If you’re already facing a learning curve with WordPress’s Block Editor, why not take the opportunity to move to something truly better? Storyblok offers a more intuitive, flexible, and secure experience for both developers and website owners. Storyblok also supports the creation of multilingual websites, making it easier to reach a global audience.

Instead of clinging to a CMS platform that’s changing for the worse, embrace one designed for the future. Storyblok isn’t just an alternative to WordPress—it’s a more innovative way to manage your content.