sandywp / plugins / simply-static

Simply Static

The Static Site Generator

4.5 out of 5 stars. 4.5 194 reviews

Convert WordPress to static HTML. Boost performance 3-5x. Eliminate security vulnerabilities. Deploy anywhere.

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v3.8.12 30,000+ installs WP 6.2+ PHP 7.4+

your-sandbox.sandywp.com/wp-admin
Simply Static – The Static Site Generator running inside a SandyWP sandbox

What you get inside

3 screens

About this plugin

Simply Static turns your WordPress site into secure, lightning-fast static HTML files.

Stop worrying about WordPress security patches, performance plugins, and expensive hosting.

Simply Static converts your entire WordPress site into static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that load instantly and can’t be hacked.

Perfect for blogs, marketing sites, documentation, portfolios, and any content-driven WordPress site.

Why Go Static?

⚡ Blazing Fast Performance
Static sites load 3-5x faster than traditional WordPress. No database queries. No server-side processing. Just instant page loads from a global CDN.

🔒 Unhackable Security
No database. No login page. No PHP vulnerabilities. Static HTML can’t be hacked the way traditional WordPress can.

💰 Dramatically Lower Hosting Costs
Host your static site for free on platforms like Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, or GitHub Pages. Or deploy to any server for pennies per month.

🎯 Zero Maintenance
No more WordPress updates. No plugin conflicts. No security patches. Focus on content, not server management.

How Simply Static Works

  • Generate: Click one button to convert your entire WordPress site to static HTML
  • Export: Download as ZIP or deploy to a local directory
  • Deploy: Upload to any hosting provider, CDN, or static hosting platform

Your WordPress site stays private and secure. Your static site is what visitors see.

What You Can Do with the Free Version

  • One-click static site generation
  • Export as ZIP file
  • Deploy to local directory
  • Replace URLs (absolute, relative, or offline use)
  • Works with any WordPress theme
  • Compatible with popular page builders (Elementor, Bricks, Gutenberg)
  • SEO plugin support (Yoast, Rank Math, AIOSEO)

Ready for More?

The free version is perfect for simple static exports, but if you need advanced deployment, automation, and powerful features, check out our premium solutions.

Simply Static Pro – For Developers & Agencies

$99/year per site
Deploy to any platform. Automate everything. Keep 100% of your profit margins.

  • Deploy to GitHub, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, AWS S3, BunnyCDN, SFTP
  • Incremental exports (update only changed pages)
  • Single-page exports (instant publishing)
  • WP-CLI support for complete automation
  • Forms integration (Contact Form 7, Gravity Forms, WPForms, Fluent Forms)
  • Static-friendly search (Fuse.js or Algolia)
  • Multilingual support (WPML, Polylang, TranslatePress)
  • Performance optimization (minification, image optimization)
  • Comments integration
  • Email support

Perfect for developers self-hosting client sites, agencies managing infrastructure, and technical users who want complete control.

Get Simply Static Pro

Simply Static Studio – For Businesses & Content Creators

$19/month per site
All-in-one managed WordPress hosting. Zero maintenance. Maximum security.

  • Fully managed WordPress hosting
  • Static site hosting on global CDN (120+ locations)
  • Automated backups & SSL certificates
  • One-click WordPress login
  • Free white-glove migration
  • Team management & access control
  • Everything from Pro, pre-configured
  • Priority support

Perfect for businesses running 1-5 websites, content creators who want simplicity, and anyone who values convenience over control.

Try Studio Free for 14 Days

Trusted by 40,000+ Users Worldwide

  • 1,400,000+ plugin downloads
  • 4.5/5 star rating
  • Active development & support
  • Used by Microsoft, HP, Postman, UNICEF

Learning Resources

Documentation
Comprehensive guides covering every aspect of Simply Static.

Video Course
Watch our free YouTube course covering static WordPress from basics to advanced.

Weekly Tutorials
New tutorials published every other week on our blog.

Community Support
Get help from the community in the WordPress.org forums.

Use Cases

Perfect For:

  • Blogs & content sites
  • Marketing websites & landing pages
  • Documentation sites
  • Portfolio sites
  • Company websites
  • Product launch pages
  • Event sites

Not Suitable For:

  • E-commerce sites
  • Membership sites
  • Sites requiring user logins
  • Real-time data updates
  • Heavy AJAX functionality

Note: Forms, search, and comments ARE possible with Simply Static Pro or Studio.

Plugins & Features That Don’t Work with Static Sites

Static sites are perfect for public content, but some WordPress plugins require server-side processing and won’t work on static sites:

E-commerce:

  • WooCommerce
  • Easy Digital Downloads
  • Other shopping cart plugins

Static sites can’t process payments or manage user accounts. Consider headless WordPress solutions for e-commerce.

Membership & Authentication:

  • MemberPress
  • Restrict Content Pro
  • User registration plugins
  • Login-required content

Static sites don’t support user authentication or member-only areas.

Real-Time Dynamic Content:

  • Forum plugins (bbPress, BuddyPress)
  • Live chat widgets (unless using external services)
  • Real-time data feeds
  • Heavy AJAX functionality

What DOES Work (with Pro/Studio):

  • Forms (Contact Form 7, Gravity Forms, WPForms, Fluent Forms)
  • Search functionality (Fuse.js or Algolia)
  • Comments (special integration)
  • Newsletter signups (via external services)

If your site relies heavily on the plugins listed above, Simply Static may not be the right solution. For questions about specific plugin compatibility, check our compatibility database or ask in our support forum.

Questions

Is Simply Static really free?

Yes! The core plugin is 100% free and open source. It provides everything you need for basic static site generation and ZIP export.
Simply Static Pro and Studio are optional premium products for advanced features like automated deployment, forms, search, and managed hosting.

What’s the difference between the free plugin, Pro, and Studio?

Free: Generate static sites, export as ZIP or to local directory. Perfect for testing and simple exports.
Pro ($99/year per site): Advanced deployment, automation, forms, search, WP-CLI. For developers and agencies self-hosting.
Studio ($19/month per site): All-in-one managed hosting. We handle WordPress, static hosting, backups, SSL, everything. For businesses who want zero maintenance.
See detailed comparison

Can I use the free version for production sites?

Yes, but you’ll need to manually upload the ZIP file to your hosting provider each time you update your site.
For production sites with frequent updates, we recommend Pro (automated deployments) or Studio (fully managed).

Will my site look different after going static?

No. Simply Static creates an exact copy of your WordPress site. Same HTML, same CSS, same JavaScript. The only difference is it loads faster and is more secure.

Do I need to know how to code?

No. Simply Static works through a simple WordPress admin interface. Click a button, get your static site.
Developers can extend Simply Static with 100+ hooks and filters, but coding knowledge is not required for basic use.

Can I still use WordPress after generating a static site?

Yes! Your WordPress site remains fully functional. You use WordPress to manage content, then generate a new static version when you’re ready to publish updates.

What happens to forms, search, and comments on my static site?

With the free version, these features won’t work on your static site (they require server-side processing).
Simply Static Pro and Studio add working forms, search, and comments to your static site using smart integrations.

Can I host my static site for free?

Yes! Deploy your static site to:

Cloudflare Pages (free)
GitHub Pages (free)
Netlify (free tier)
Vercel (free tier)

Or host on any traditional web host or CDN for very low cost.

4.5

194 reviews

  • 5 ★ 160
  • 4 ★ 8
  • 3 ★ 5
  • 2 ★ 3
  • 1 ★ 18

Ratings come from WordPress.org. SandyWP does not collect its own reviews.

sandywp / also on the shelf

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