AstroPaper vs AstroWind: blog theme or website with a blog?

Choose AstroPaper as a candidate when publishing articles is the main task. Choose AstroWind as a candidate when the site needs page sections alongside a blog. This preference follows their documented scope. Check the selected revision before you decide.

HTMLPick publishes this comparison. On 3 October 2026, we read the README and licence files at the revisions below. We did not install, render, or benchmark either project. Documented features remain author statements until your own checks confirm the required behavior.

Which source revisions did we review?

The links below use those revisions. A later release can change the content locations, configuration, or included features. Review the current author instructions before a new installation.

Compare the documented structure

The AstroPaper README describes a blog theme with MDX and Pagefind search. It identifies the post directory and configuration file shown below.

The AstroWind README describes reusable page sections and a blog. It identifies Markdown or MDX posts, RSS, categories, and tags.

The last row is our recommended review order. It is not a measured result.

Use a blog task to compare the candidates

Prepare one article with your own title, description, text, and image. Include a long heading and an ordinary internal link.

1. Find the documented post directory.
2. Read the required metadata for a new post.
3. Add the article in your review copy.
4. Identify the article URL and archive entry.
5. Follow the documented build procedure.
6. Check the article with the controls and devices your readers use.
7. Record the steps that need further documentation.

Use the same article in both candidates. This gives you a practical editing comparison. It avoids treating a selected demo post as your own content evidence.

The blog content guide explains archive, article, and related-reading requirements. The real-content checklist provides difficult samples for a review.

Add a website task when the project needs more pages

For a business or product site, prepare a service or product page as a second task. Include a heading, a clear explanation, and an action with its destination.

In AstroWind, inspect the documented section components in src/components/widgets/. In AstroPaper, inspect how you would add the required page and shared layout. Record any new component that the project needs.

This task can change your preference. A publication may need little beyond article pages. A broader website may need repeated sections across several pages.

Do not assign a time saving without measuring the same work under stated conditions. A documented component list does not establish your implementation time.

Review the actual licence files

Both reviewed repositories contain MIT licence files: AstroPaper and AstroWind. Read the full files and any separate asset terms for the version you use.

Keep a source record for demo images, fonts, icons, and added packages. The repository licence label alone does not document each external asset. Our licence checklist explains the records to collect.

What does this comparison leave open?

We did not measure speed, accessibility conformance, deployment cost, or support response. The reviewed documents do not establish those outcomes for your finished site.

Use the accessibility checklist and launch checklist for your release review. Inspect required services before you choose hosting.

Continue with a focused shortlist

Browse Astro blog templates for more candidates. Browse all Astro templates when the site needs other page types.

Keep the review method consistent across candidates. Select the project whose documented structure and observed editing process fit your requirements.