Head-to-head · October 2026
Headless Mode vs Publish to Netlify
Headless Mode comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Publish to Netlify.
Headless Mode
Headless mode sets up a redirect for all users trying to access the site. The only requests that are granted…
Publish to Netlify
Easily deploy static sites to Netlify using WordPress as backend. This plugin builds your static website…
| Metric | Headless Mode | Publish to Netlify |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 2K+ | 100+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 344 | 93 |
| Download trend | -11.3% | +17.7% |
| Rating | 5/5 | — |
| Reviews | 6 | 0 |
| Health score | 40/100 | 25/100 |
| Last updated | 2 years ago | 6 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.6.9 | WP 5.6.21 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.0+ |
| First released | Nov 2019 | Aug 2019 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Headless ModePublish to Netlify
Choose Headless Mode if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- No update in 2 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.6 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Publish to Netlify if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (100+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 5 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.6 (latest is 7.1)
FAQ
Headless Mode vs Publish to Netlify: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 3, 2026
Which is better, Headless Mode or Publish to Netlify?
Headless Mode comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Publish to Netlify. Choose Headless Mode if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Publish to Netlify if you care most about download trend.
Is Headless Mode more popular than Publish to Netlify?
Headless Mode is the more popular of the two with 2K+ active installs, compared with 100+ for Publish to Netlify.
Can I use Headless Mode and Publish to Netlify together?
Both plugins cover gatsby and headless, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are Headless Mode and Publish to Netlify free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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