Web design with EmDash: a CMS on Astro, with no PHP or WordPress plugins
It is not a builder or a WordPress plugin. It is a CMS for sites built with Astro, and it is what we use for our own blog. We tell you when leaving WordPress pays off and when it does not.
When EmDash makes sense
EmDash makes sense for a content site built with Astro, if editors need a panel and someone technical handles the rest. If you need WordPress plugins or a WooCommerce shop, it is not for you.
We would choose it if…
- Your site is content-led and will be built with Astro.
- Editors need a panel, without touching files.
- A technical team looks after the database, media and backups.
We would look elsewhere if…
- You depend on WordPress plugins: EmDash does not run them.
- You want a visual builder to design with: it is not one.
- Nobody will take care of updates and backups.
EmDash at a glance
- What it is
- A CMS for Astro: the panel and the site are the same application.
- Where it runs
- Cloudflare Workers with D1 and R2, or Node.js with SQLite, libSQL or PostgreSQL.
- WordPress
- It imports content, but does not run PHP, themes or plugins.
- Our use
- This site’s blog runs on EmDash on Cloudflare Workers, D1 and R2.
Checked in October 2026 on the official sites. This can change, so check it before deciding: Why EmDash · Migrate from WordPress.
How we use it on this site
This site is built with Astro, and the blog runs on EmDash on Cloudflare Workers, with D1 for content and R2 for media. We write from its panel, and the Spanish and English versions are handled as translations.
The shop and customer accounts stay on WordPress and WooCommerce. Not everything has to live in the same tool: we choose what fits each part best.
What you can bring over from WordPress
EmDash imports posts, pages, content types, categories, tags and media. With its exporter plugin, it also brings custom fields, ACF, SEO and featured images.
The design and plugins are not imported: they have to be rebuilt for Astro and EmDash. Blocks that depend on the server, such as plugin blocks, arrive with no content, and drafts and scheduled dates need reviewing. A Cloudflare challenge can also block the exporter’s requests.
If the goal is only to change hosting or domain, none of this is needed: a WordPress migration is enough.
What you take on when leaving WordPress
You get a custom site without the usual upkeep of WordPress plugins. In exchange, EmDash’s documentation makes it clear that your team is responsible for the database, media, backups, upgrades and the application.
There are also fewer professionals who know the tool. If you have nobody technical nearby, a well-maintained WordPress site is usually the more sensible choice.
If it does not fit, compare it with these
Elementor
Elementor makes sense when editing visually on your own matters more than every kilobyte. If speed comes first, or the site will have a lot of custom logic, there are better options.
See ElementorBricks
Bricks makes sense when you want control over the result and someone with technical judgement will maintain the site. If you will edit everything yourself with no technical knowledge, another editor is usually more comfortable.
See BricksOxygen
Oxygen makes sense if someone who knows layout will run it and you prefer a one-off payment. If you will edit the design without that background, it is not the most comfortable option.
See OxygenEtch
Etch makes sense if you want to avoid depending on a builder and there is a technical profile behind the site. It is newer than the other options, so there are fewer professionals and extensions.
See EtchBreakdance
Breakdance makes sense if you want a visual editor and to design WooCommerce shop pages without much code. If what matters most is finding plenty of professionals who know it, Elementor has the edge.
See BreakdanceThe tool is only part of it. See how we work and what it costs in WordPress web design.
Who does the work
We are a studio from Oleiros (A Coruña, Spain) with 8 years of hands-on WordPress experience, working freelance since February 2018. You talk to the person who does the work, not to a go-between. Meetings are by video call and, if you are in the city of Barcelona, we can also meet in person.
EmDash: frequently asked questions
Is EmDash compatible with WordPress plugins?
No. According to its documentation, it does not run PHP, WordPress themes or plugins. It can import the content, but what those plugins did has to be implemented another way.
Is it suitable for an online shop?
If you need WooCommerce, no. We keep our own shop on WordPress and use EmDash for the blog.
Is EmDash a visual builder?
No. Its documentation is clear: it manages structured content, and Astro components control the HTML and design. Design changes are made by a developer.
Do I have to use Cloudflare?
No. It runs on Cloudflare Workers or Node.js, with SQLite, libSQL or PostgreSQL, and media on disk or an S3-compatible service.
Can I edit content without knowing how to code?
Yes. Editors work in a panel, with forms based on the defined fields: drafts, publishing, media, menus and taxonomies, depending on their permissions.
Tell us what website you need
If EmDash is not the right tool for you, we will tell you. We reply within 48 working hours, after looking into it, with a fixed quote in writing.
Your first consultation is free. We look at what you tell us and reply within 48 business hours.