WordPress and React – flexibility and modernity

Who needs it? And why?

In the rapidly evolving world of web technologies, choosing the right architecture for your website is becoming increasingly important. We’re hearing more and more about the headless approach, especially in the context of integrating WordPress with frontend frameworks like React or Vue. So when is it worth going in that direction, and when is it overkill?

Advantages of the headless approach:

Technological flexibility: you can use any frontend framework you like, which enables the creation of highly interactive and responsive user interfaces
Better performance: separating frontend from backend allows each layer to be optimized independently, often resulting in faster page load times
Omnichannel: a single content base can serve multiple channels, such as mobile apps, websites, or IoT devices

According to WP Engine’s 2024 report, 73% of companies are now using headless architecture – a 14% increase compared to 2021.

Classic WordPress – simplicity and efficiency

Traditional WordPress, integrated with themes and plugins, remains a popular choice for many projects.

Advantages of the classic approach:

Fast implementation: pre-built themes and plugins allow you to launch a site quickly without advanced coding skills
Lower costs: you don’t need a dedicated frontend development team, which reduces implementation expenses
Rich ecosystem: thousands of available plugins and themes make it easy to tailor your website to specific needs

For many small and medium-sized businesses, classic WordPress is more than enough – and often more cost-effective.

Headless WordPress integration – compromise or golden middle ground?

Using WordPress as a backend with a React-based frontend may seem like the best of both worlds. But there are some challenges to consider:

Complexity: requires advanced technical knowledge and managing two separate environments
Cost: developing and maintaining both layers comes with higher financial overhead
Plugin limitations: not all WordPress plugins are compatible with a headless setup

So before you jump into headless architecture, it’s essential to analyze your project’s requirements and the resources you have available.

Summary

The choice between classic WordPress and a headless approach depends on your project’s specifics, budget, and expectations for functionality and performance. For simple informational websites or blogs, traditional WordPress is often enough. But for more advanced web applications that demand high interactivity and integration across various channels, headless architecture may be the better option.

Sources:

WP Engine: The State of Headless 2024
Cloudways: Headless WordPress: Benefits, Features, and How It Works
Hygraph: Headless CMS vs WordPress
New Target: Headless WordPress with React
WPZOOM: What Is Headless WordPress? Benefits & How It Works