Still Using ExpressionEngine? Now’s the Time to Switch (And It’s Not as Painful as You Think)

The Rise and Fall of ExpressionEngine

In its heyday, ExpressionEngine (EE) was a powerhouse CMS, celebrated for its flexibility and extensibility. Developers adored its clean templating system, businesses valued its reliability, and a thriving community of users offered abundant support. Some truly exceptional websites were built on EE, including:

• WBUR (Boston’s NPR News Station)
• Travis CI (a popular continuous integration service)
• Mozilla’s Add-Ons Site
• Designer Brands like A Book Apart

EE was an innovator, offering features like robust custom fields and modular add-ons before many other platforms. However, despite its initial dominance, EE’s star has faded.

Why ExpressionEngine No Longer Fits the Bill

EE’s decline isn’t just an industry trend—it’s a practical problem for site owners:

1. Declining Usage
   EE’s once-thriving community has diminished, and fewer developers actively work with it. This translates to limited resources, fewer plug-ins, and reduced innovation.
2. Sparse Support
   Finding expertise to maintain or update an EE site has become increasingly difficult. The remaining talent pool is smaller and more expensive, with most professionals shifting focus to other platforms like WordPress.
3. Cumbersome Updates
   Updating EE sites is far from seamless, often requiring manual intervention and substantial testing. If your site uses customizations or older add-ons, upgrading can become a serious headache.
4. Security Risks
   Older EE installations are particularly vulnerable to hacking. Without proper maintenance, your website might fall prey to vulnerabilities in outdated versions.

These challenges make EE an untenable option for many organizations—but there’s hope.

Why We Recommend WordPress

WordPress (WP) has become the go-to CMS for good reason. It solves all the problems associated with EE, offering an ecosystem built for modern needs:

1. Widespread Usage and Support
   WordPress powers over 40% of the internet, meaning there’s a vast community of developers, designers, and users ready to offer support. Whether you’re troubleshooting a plugin or building a custom feature, help is easy to find.
2. Ease of Updates
   WordPress’s built-in update tools make it simple to stay secure and up-to-date. Core updates, themes, and plugins can be managed through a user-friendly dashboard.
3. Security
   WordPress takes security seriously, with regular updates and a massive ecosystem of plugins like Wordfence and Sucuri for added protection. For larger enterprises, managed hosting solutions provide enterprise-grade security.
4. Scalability and Customization
   Whether you’re running a small business or a high-traffic site, WordPress scales effortlessly. Its library of over 60,000 plugins ensures you’ll find solutions for almost any need.
5. Cost-Effective Development
   With so many developers specializing in WordPress, the cost of building and maintaining a WP site is significantly lower compared to EE.

The Migration Process: What to Expect

Migrating from EE to WP is a detailed process, but one that delivers long-term benefits. Here’s a high-level overview:

1. Content Inventory
   Before migrating, audit your EE site. What content needs to move? What can be archived?
2. Data Export and Mapping
   EE’s database structure is different from WP’s, so data must be exported and mapped to fit WP’s taxonomy and custom post types.
3. Theme Development
   A custom WP theme can replicate your existing design or improve upon it. Modern tools like the block editor or page builders (e.g., Elementor) allow for incredible flexibility.
4. Plugin Selection
   Identify plugins to replicate EE’s functionality. For example, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) is an excellent match for EE’s custom fields.
5. Testing and Launch
   Thorough testing ensures your WP site is fully functional, responsive, and optimized for search engines before launch.

This might sound like a lot, but it’s not as bad as you think. If your EE site is up and running, we can leverage the existing system to seamlessly move your content and functionality to WordPress.

Let’s Talk About Your Site—Free Consultation Available!

ExpressionEngine had its moment, but it’s time to move on. WordPress offers a modern, flexible, and secure solution to keep your website thriving in today’s digital landscape. Ready to make the switch?

Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your site’s needs and how we can help you transition smoothly to WordPress.