REHub theme vs a lean theme + dedicated plugins

REHub theme vs a lean theme + dedicated plugins

The classic 'one mega-theme vs assembled stack' fork for review sites.

REHub (affiliate/comparison mega-theme)
Pros:
— Comparison tables, price feeds, user reviews, deal layouts all built in
— Launch a full affiliate aggregator fast
Cons:
— Heavy; loads features you'll never use, fights your Core Web Vitals
— Deep theme lock-in: your tables/boxes are theme functions, not portable

Lean theme (GeneratePress/Kadence) + plugins
Pros:
— You load only what you need; lighter, faster, swappable parts
— No catastrophic lock-in; change one plugin, not the whole site
Cons:
— More setup and integration work upfront
— You're the integrator when two plugins clash

For: REHub if you want a turnkey comparison/aggregator and accept the lock-in for speed-to-market. Lean+plugins if you value performance, portability, and control.

Gotcha nobody mentions: Migrating off a mega-theme is a rebuild, not a switch. Every comparison block is a theme shortcode that vanishes when you deactivate, leaving raw shortcode text across hundreds of posts.

Bottom line: Fast turnkey aggregator → REHub, eyes open on lock-in. Long-term flexible site → lean + plugins.