Over the years I’ve built somewhere between 20 and 50 websites using WordPress. It’s been my go-to CMS for blogs, client sites, and side projects. And to be fair, WordPress is powerful. But for my personal site, I wanted something different.
I wanted to learn a new platform, one that was lightweight, fast, and low-maintenance. I’d tried Ghost (great platform, very modern) and considered Astro (innovative but with more moving parts than I wanted to deal with).
In the end, I chose Hugo, a static site generator written in Go — and honestly, it’s been the most enjoyable web development experience I’ve had in years.
In this post, I’ll break down:
- What Hugo is (and how it differs from WordPress and Ghost).
- Why I personally switched.
- The theme I chose (Blowfish by Nuno C).
- How Hugo compares to WordPress, Ghost, and Astro.
- Downsides and trade-offs to keep in mind.
- FAQs for anyone considering Hugo.
Choosing the Right Platform Matters#
I’ve learned the hard way that the platform you choose can make or break a project.
- If your site is slow, people leave.
- If it’s bloated, you spend more time maintaining plugins than creating content.
- If it’s insecure, you’re constantly worried about updates and vulnerabilities.
That’s why for my personal website — something I wanted to enjoy maintaining — I took the time to think carefully. I wanted something:
- Fast (for SEO and personal satisfaction).
- Simple (no plugin rabbit holes).
- Future-proof (no lock-in).
Hugo ticked all those boxes.
What is Hugo?#
Hugo is an open-source static site generator (SSG) built in Go. Instead of relying on a database like WordPress or Ghost, Hugo takes your Markdown files and templates and compiles them into a static website — plain HTML, CSS, and JS.
That means:
- No databases to manage.
- Ultra-fast build times.
- Easy hosting anywhere (Netlify, Vercel, Cloudflare Pages, GitHub Pages, even a basic VPS).
- Low maintenance because there are fewer moving parts.
If WordPress is like running a restaurant with a full staff (servers, chefs, cleaners, managers), Hugo is like cooking a meal yourself in a clean kitchen — it’s just simpler.
Why I Chose Hugo for My Personal Website#
Here’s what really sealed the deal for me.
Speed and Performance#
Hugo is ridiculously fast. I mean, millisecond build times fast.
For someone who’s dealt with WordPress caching plugins, database optimizations, and CDN setups, it felt like magic. With Hugo, the site is static from the start. No need to patch performance later — it’s already blazing fast.
Simplicity and Low Maintenance#
With WordPress, I’d spend hours keeping plugins updated, troubleshooting theme conflicts, and worrying about security.
With Hugo, I don’t need to:
- Update plugins every week.
- Worry about database backups.
- Stress about PHP vulnerabilities.
It’s just content + templates.
Flexibility and Customisation#
Hugo is perfect if you want control without bloat.
- Markdown content keeps writing clean.
- Hugo shortcodes make it easy to add media, buttons, or custom blocks.
- Themes give you a starting point, but you can tweak layouts easily.
I went with the Blowfish theme by Nuno C. It’s modern, lightweight, and incredibly well-built. The demo sold me immediately — clean typography, great use of white space, and enough flexibility for blogging and more.
Cost-Effectiveness#
Hugo generates static files, so I can host my site for free on Cloudflare Pages or GitHub Pages. Compare that to paying $10–30/month for managed WordPress hosting, and the savings add up.
For a personal website, low cost + high performance = win.
Portability and Future-Proofing#
My content lives in Markdown files. No proprietary database. No risk of getting locked into a platform.
If I ever want to switch, I can take my content anywhere. That’s peace of mind.
Hugo vs Other Popular Platforms#
I didn’t pick Hugo in a vacuum. I weighed it against WordPress, Ghost, and Astro. Here’s how I see it:
Hugo vs WordPress#
- WordPress: Fantastic for clients, businesses, and sites that need dynamic functionality (eCommerce, memberships).
- Hugo: Perfect for personal websites, blogs, and portfolios where speed and simplicity matter.
After building 20–50 WordPress sites, I know its strengths — but for me, the constant plugin updates and maintenance were a deal-breaker for a personal project.
Hugo vs Ghost#
I’ve tried Ghost, and it’s honestly great. Clean editor, modern features, and built-in newsletters. But:
- It requires a Node.js backend.
- It’s heavier than Hugo.
- Hosting isn’t as simple or cheap as static files.
Ghost is fantastic if you want a content-first platform with built-in monetization. But I wanted something lighter, faster, and easier to host.
Hugo vs Astro#
I seriously considered Astro. It’s powerful and modern, with a component-driven approach. But:
- It requires more maintenance than Hugo.
- It’s more complex to configure.
- For a simple personal site, it felt like overkill.
Astro is amazing if you want to build a hybrid static/dynamic app. But for my personal blog? Hugo just made more sense.
Quick Comparison Table#
| Feature | Hugo | WordPress | Ghost | Astro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Extremely fast | Slower (PHP + DB) | Moderate | Fast, but heavier |
| Hosting | Free/static | Paid hosting needed | Paid or self-host | Static/dynamic mix |
| Maintenance | Low | High (plugins, DB) | Medium | Medium-High |
| Best For | Blogs, personal sites | Businesses, eCommerce | Blogs, newsletters | Modern apps/sites |
How Hugo Fits My Workflow#
My workflow with Hugo feels natural:
- I write in Markdown, which keeps me focused on content.
- I use Git for version control (safe, trackable).
- Deployments are automated with Cloudflare Pages.
- Changes go live instantly with zero hassle.
Compared to fiddling with plugin settings in WordPress, it’s a breath of fresh air.
Downsides of Hugo (and How I Manage Them)#
It’s not all sunshine. Hugo has trade-offs.
- Learning curve: If you’re not familiar with Markdown or Git, there’s a bit to learn.
- Themes: Fewer out-of-the-box features compared to WordPress plugins.
- No built-in editor: Everything is code/content-based — not WYSIWYG.
How I handle it:
- I leaned on the Blowfish theme to jumpstart the design.
- I embrace Markdown — it’s simple once you get used to it.
- I treat the learning curve as part of the fun (after all, I wanted to learn something new).
Getting Started with Hugo#
If you’re curious, here’s a quick roadmap to setting up your first Hugo site:
Installation Basics#
- Install Hugo on your machine.
- Run
hugo new site mysite. - Add a theme (I recommend Blowfish).
- Start writing in Markdown.
Hosting Options#
- Netlify – easy CI/CD and free hosting.
- Vercel – great performance.
- Cloudflare Pages – my pick for speed and reliability.
- GitHub Pages – classic free option.
Adding Features#
- Forms: Netlify Forms, Formspree.
- Analytics: Plausible (privacy-friendly) or Google Analytics.
- Comments: Utterances or Giscus (GitHub-based).
Final Verdict – Is Hugo the Right Choice for You?#
For me, the answer is a clear yes.
After building dozens of WordPress sites, dabbling with Ghost, and even considering Astro, Hugo was exactly what I wanted:
- Fast
- Simple
- Low-maintenance
- Future-proof
And with the Blowfish theme, my site looks modern and clean right out of the box.
If you’re tired of the WordPress grind and want something lighter, Hugo is absolutely worth trying for your personal site.
FAQs About Hugo#
Is Hugo better than WordPress for personal websites?
If you want low maintenance and speed, Hugo is better. If you need dynamic features like memberships or eCommerce, WordPress is stronger.
Is Hugo free to use?
Yes, Hugo is open-source and completely free.
What language is Hugo written in?
Hugo is written in Go, but you don’t need to know Go to use it.
Can I use Hugo without coding skills?
Basic comfort with Markdown and file management is needed, but you don’t need to be a programmer.
What is the difference between Hugo and Jekyll?
Both are static site generators, but Hugo is much faster and written in Go (not Ruby).
Is Hugo good for SEO?
Yes. Static sites are naturally fast, which helps rankings. You can add meta tags, schema, and sitemaps easily.
Can I host a Hugo site on GitHub Pages?
Yes, Hugo works perfectly with GitHub Pages and other free hosts.
How do I add a blog to Hugo?
Blogging is built-in. Just create Markdown files in the content folder and Hugo handles the rest.