Pagecord Is a Thoughtfully Simple Blogging Platform

This probably isn’t a surprise for longtime Opus readers, but I’m something of a CMS junkie. I’m forever fascinated by the many tools and platforms used to publish content on the web. Some of this is due to my own work as a UI/UX developer for a CMS; I find it both interesting and inspiring to see how others approach the various facets of content management. But some of it’s also due to my experience as a blogger, and as someone who firmly believes that the more options people have for creating their own online platforms independent of the social media giants, the better.

Back in 2024, I wrote about several excellent alternatives to WordPress, arguably the world’s most popular blogging tool, albeit one that’s steadily moved away from its blogging roots. At the time, I was completely unaware of Olly Headey’s Pagecord, which he had just launched a few months beforehand. Indeed, I didn’t discover Pagecord until earlier this year, after Headey released v3.0 of his platform, and it’s clearly come a long way.

I get the same vibe from Pagecord that I get from Pika. Both are “simple” blogging platforms, not in the sense that they lack features, but that they strip away a lot of cruft in order to create a pleasant blogging experience that’s powerful enough for “pro” bloggers without being intimidating for newbies. It’s a fine line, but I think Headey does a good job of walking it.

Upon logging into your Pagecord admin area, you’ll see options to manage your posts and pages, as well your blog’s settings. Creating posts and pages is done via a straightforward WYSIWYG editor. When editing a post, you can schedule it and assign tags, just as you’d expect from a modern blogging tool. However, you don’t have to use Pagecord’s web editor if you don’t want to; you can publish posts via email, instead.

Settings-wise, you can customize your blog’s appearance (e.g., colors, fonts, layout), navigation, basic SEO, etc. But if you want more customization options, you can subscribe to Pagecord’s “Premium” tier for just $39/year. Premium users get access to custom CSS, unlimited image and media uploads, and a custom domain, as well as analytics and the ability to send out email newsletters. Premium users can also publish to their blog via desktop apps like iA Writer and Obsidian or, if they’re feeling super geeky, via computer terminal.

Headey has packed a lot into Pagecord, though it might not seem like it at first blush. And reading through Pagecord’s homepage, I have to say that I really like Headey’s principled approach to blogging, web design, and site ownership (e.g., embracing “boring” web standards, offering easy exports). What’s more, Pagecord’s software is open source, meaning you can install and host it on your own server if you’re feeling particularly ambitious.

I also appreciate Headey’s own enthusiasm for his platform (almost as much as his taste in music). Headey sends out email updates on a regular basis that chronicle Pagecord’s development, as well as the process behind his decisions. It’s readily apparent that a lot of thought and consideration has gone into every facet of Pagecord, and that Headey is committed to the platform for the long haul — all of which bodes well for those seeking a solid, easy-to-use platform that’ll help them carve out their own little corner of the web.