EmDash and LynxPress compared
EmDash is an open-source CMS that Cloudflare released in April 2026. Both are options for leaving WordPress, but EmDash is software you install and run yourself, while LynxPress is a service you can use as soon as you sign up.
LynxPress is not based on EmDash. It is developed and operated by LIFE SCAPE, K.K.
Getting started
EmDash
- Create a Cloudflare account
- Install EmDash
- Connect your domain
- Keep it updated
LynxPress
- Sign up
- Start writing
Why LynxPress
01
Start on your own with no setup fee
EmDash takes development skills to install. If you cannot do it yourself, you have to hire someone. With LynxPress you sign up and start the same day.
02
No maintenance cost
We run the servers and apply fixes when problems are found. No updates for you to do and no one to pay for them.
03
Just a monthly fee
Publishing on your own domain is Starter at $29/month, with hosting and maintenance included. Compare it with the cost of hiring someone for setup and upkeep.
04
Move from WordPress with the same look
Enter your site address to import posts, pages, images and the menu. For popular Japanese themes such as AFFINGER and Cocoon, the look carries over too.
05
AI writes your drafts
On Starter and up, LynxPress AI writes post drafts. You can also save posts written in your own ChatGPT or Claude.
At a glance
What it is
EmDash
Open-source software (MIT license)
LynxPress
A hosted service you can use as soon as you sign up
Setup and upkeep
EmDash
You install it on your Cloudflare account or a Node.js server. This takes development skills; otherwise you hire someone to do it
LynxPress
Sign up and start on your own the same day. No setup fee
Updates and security
EmDash
When a fix is released, you update it yourself. Cloudflare only looks after the underlying platform
LynxPress
We handle it. No work and no maintenance cost for you
Cost
EmDash
The software is free. Beyond Cloudflare's free tier (100,000 requests a day, 10 GB of images, etc.) you pay Cloudflare, or for your own server with Node.js. Hiring help for setup and upkeep costs extra
LynxPress
Free plan at no cost. Your own domain from Starter ($29/month). Hosting and maintenance are included
Design
EmDash
Themes built with Astro (blog, landing page and portfolio starters). Changing them takes development skills
LynxPress
Pick a theme and edit text and colors in the dashboard
Extending
EmDash
Plugins, each running in its own sandbox with only the permissions it declares
LynxPress
No plugins. The features you need are built in
Moving from WordPress
EmDash
Import posts, pages, media and taxonomies from a WXR export file or an exporter plugin. Themes do not carry over, so the design has to be rebuilt
LynxPress
Just enter your site address. For popular Japanese themes the look carries over too, and old URLs redirect to the new ones
AI
EmDash
An MCP server and a CLI for agents. You bring your own AI to write posts
LynxPress
LynxPress AI writes post drafts (Starter and up). You can also save posts written in ChatGPT or Claude as drafts, with images
Which one fits you
EmDash
- ・People who want to build their site themselves with TypeScript and Astro
- ・People who can manage their own server and updates
LynxPress
- ・People who do not want to manage servers or software updates
- ・People who want to move a WordPress or Ameba Ownd site as it is
- ・People who want to focus on writing
Try LynxPress
The Free plan costs nothing, and you can try importing your WordPress site.
Checked on November 8, 2026. EmDash details are based on the following public sources.
- ・Cloudflare announcement (April 1, 2026)
- ・EmDash on GitHub (README)
- ・InfoQ (April 9, 2026)
- ・Cloudflare Workers pricing
- ・Cloudflare R2 pricing
- ・Search Engine Journal (September 29, 2026)
EmDash is software published by Cloudflare, Inc.