👋 Welcome back, Wowchemy users

Wowchemy is now
HugoBlox

Same trusted platform. Better name. Everything you love about Wowchemy—now faster, more modern, and easier to use.

Browse Templates Install Studio Extension

No credit card required · Open source · Free forever

2016

Trusted since

150K+

Researchers

4.9/5

User rating

10K+

GitHub stars

Trusted by teams at

NVIDIA Research MIT Stanford King's College London Meta

You asked, we listened

A name change you requested

Our community asked for a more professional name that better reflects what we've built. HugoBlox honors the Hugo foundation while emphasizing our modular, block-based approach.

🏗️

Same Foundation

Built on Hugo, the world's fastest static site generator

👥

Same Team

The creators you trust, committed since 2016

🎯

Same Mission

Helping researchers share their work with the world

What's improved

More than just a name change—a complete modernization for 2026 and beyond.

Modern 2026 Design System

Migrated from Bootstrap to a best-practice CSS system. Ultra-fast loading, beautiful by default, and Google Lighthouse 100 scores.

Up to 3x faster page loads

HugoBlox Studio for VS Code

Visual editing right in your editor. Drag-and-drop blocks, point-and-click configuration, and live preview. No YAML wrestling required.

5-star rated on VS Code Marketplace

CLI & Automatic Upgrader

Keep your site current with the HugoBlox CLI and our GitHub Action that automatically upgrades your site—no manual work required.

View upgrade guide

HugoBlox AI Assistant New

Get instant answers to any HugoBlox question. Built into Studio, our AI is trained on all documentation and can help with migrations, customization, and troubleshooting.

Available in HugoBlox Studio

The fastest path forward

For old Wowchemy sites, we recommend starting fresh to get the most value, fastest.

Start Fresh

Pick a modern template that matches your needs. Deploy in one click.

Configure in Studio

Use the visual editor to customize colors, fonts, and sections—no code required.

Import Your Content

Gradually move your publications, projects, and posts. AI can help migrate.

Browse Templates

Why researchers choose Hugo over JavaScript

Your time is too valuable for dependency hell and constant breaking changes.

~70%

Fewer Breaking Changes

Hugo is stable and mature. No surprise package updates breaking your site.

npm Dependency Hell

No JavaScript bundler conflicts. No node_modules nightmares.

100

Lighthouse Scores

Ultra-fast loading. Perfect SEO. Accessibility built-in.

∞

Portability

Markdown content works anywhere. No vendor lock-in, ever.

Competitors using Next.js, Gatsby, or Astro require constant updates and npm dependency management.
HugoBlox gives you a stable, future-proof foundation with minimal maintenance.

5★ on G2 by Labs/Startups Featured by GitHub Release Radar

4,000+

Discord community members ready to help

10,000+

GitHub stars and growing

4.9/5

User satisfaction rating (official survey)

Common questions

Is my existing Wowchemy site still supported?

The Bootstrap-styled Wowchemy framework is open source and free forever. Your existing site will continue to work as long as you keep your dependencies (such as Hugo) pinned to the same versions. However, for the best experience and latest features, we recommend migrating to a fresh template and using the new design system.

How do I upgrade my old site?

We recommend starting fresh with a modern template for the fastest results. Use the HugoBlox CLI and Upgrader GitHub Action to stay current. For step-by-step guidance, visit our upgrade documentation.

What about my custom code and modifications?

Your custom Hugo templates and shortcodes will still work. The new design system uses modern CSS instead of Bootstrap, so custom styles may need updating. The HugoBlox AI in Studio can help you migrate your customizations.

Why did you change the name?

Our community asked for a more professional name that better reflects the platform's capabilities. "HugoBlox" emphasizes the modular block-based approach while honoring the Hugo foundation. Same team, same mission, better name.

Is HugoBlox still free and open source?

Absolutely! The core framework remains MIT-licensed and free forever. HugoBlox Studio adds optional Pro features for power users, but everything you need to build a beautiful site is free.

Still have questions?

Ask on Discord Read the docs

Ready to experience the new HugoBlox?

Everything you loved about Wowchemy, now better than ever. Start fresh with a modern template or install Studio to upgrade your existing site.