The Big Question
Should you build your website with WordPress (the world's most popular CMS) or Next.js (modern React framework)? The answer depends on your needs.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | WordPress | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Speed | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customization | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Cost | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| SEO | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a Content Management System (CMS) powering over 40% of all websites.
WordPress Pros
- ✅ Non-technical users can manage content
- ✅ Quick and cheap to set up
- ✅ Thousands of themes available
- ✅ E-commerce ready (WooCommerce)
- ✅ Great for blogs and content sites
WordPress Cons
- ❌ Can be slow without optimization
- ❌ Security vulnerabilities (due to popularity)
- ❌ Plugin conflicts common
- ❌ Customization limited by themes
What is Next.js?
Next.js is a React framework for building modern web applications with server-side rendering and static site generation.
Next.js Pros
- ✅ Extremely fast (sub-second load times)
- ✅ Excellent SEO capabilities
- ✅ Highly secure
- ✅ Unlimited customization
- ✅ Scales infinitely
Next.js Cons
- ❌ Requires developer to manage
- ❌ Higher initial development cost
- ❌ Content editing needs custom solution
- ❌ No plugin ecosystem
Performance Comparison
We built identical landing pages with both:
| Metric | WordPress | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| First Contentful Paint | 1.8s | 0.3s |
| Time to Interactive | 3.2s | 0.5s |
| PageSpeed Score | 68 | 99 |
| Lighthouse Performance | 72 | 100 |
Winner: Next.js (6x faster)
When to Choose WordPress
- ✅ Limited budget - Need something quick and cheap
- ✅ Non-technical team - Staff needs to edit content easily
- ✅ Standard features - Blog, portfolio, basic e-commerce
- ✅ Quick launch - Need to go live ASAP
When to Choose Next.js
- ✅ Performance critical - Speed directly impacts revenue
- ✅ High traffic - Expecting thousands of visitors
- ✅ Custom functionality - Unique features needed
- ✅ Enterprise security - Can't risk vulnerabilities
- ✅ Long-term investment - Building for years ahead
The Best of Both: Headless WordPress
Why not both? Headless WordPress gives you:
- WordPress backend (easy content editing)
- Next.js frontend (blazing speed)
- Security of decoupled architecture
- Flexibility of both platforms
Our Recommendation
| Business Type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Solo entrepreneur, tight budget | WordPress |
| SME, needs content management | Headless WordPress |
| Enterprise, maximum performance | Next.js |
| E-commerce, high volume | WooCommerce or Next.js |
Need Help Deciding?
Get a free consultation and we'll recommend the best technology for your specific needs.