Around 810 million websites use WordPress, with about 20% (approximately 163.5 million) being eCommerce stores built using WooCommerce. WordPress and Next.js are two popular options for creating websites, but they cater to very different needs.
WordPress is a user-friendly CMS ideal for blogs, small sites, or users without coding skills. Next.js, a React-based framework, offers superior performance and scalability, perfect for custom web apps or high-traffic sites.
This blog will help you figure out which platform suits your goals by comparing key factors like ease of use, flexibility, performance, SEO, scalability, and cost.
Checklist
What Is WordPress?
WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that powers over 40% of all websites. It’s simple and approachable, even for beginners. The dashboard is easy to use, letting you update content, manage pages, and customize your site without needing to know how to code.
A big part of its appeal is the vast collection of plugins and themes. Plugins add features like contact forms, SEO tools, or e-commerce functionality with just a few clicks. Themes allow you to change your site’s look and feel effortlessly.
WordPress works well for small businesses, writers, and anyone focused on creating and managing content. For advanced users, WordPress is also highly adaptable. You can tweak its functionality using custom code or integrate it with other tools to expand its capabilities. This mix of simplicity and flexibility makes it a solid choice for both beginners and experienced users.
What Is Next.js?
Next.js is a React-based framework used to build fast, modern websites with ease. It’s especially popular for its focus on speed, scalability, and customization. With Next.js, you get advanced features like server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG) out of the box. These features make your website load quicker by generating pages on the server or pre-building them in advance.
Developers love Next.js because it offers the flexibility to create fully custom websites or apps. It doesn’t rely on pre-made templates or plugins, so you can craft a tailored solution that truly meets your needs. This framework is built for performance from the ground up, which is critical for delivering a great user experience. It also supports features like API routes and built-in image optimization.
If you’re comfortable with coding and want unmatched flexibility and speed for your project, Next.js is a powerful choice. It’s perfect for developers creating scalable web apps, intricate user interfaces, or sites with demanding performance requirements.
WordPress vs. Next.js
Choosing the right platform for your website depends on your goals, skills, and resources. This section breaks down the key differences between WordPress and Next.js across the critical factors. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of what each platform offers and which one aligns best with your needs.
Ease of Use
WordPress is designed for non-technical users. It comes with an intuitive dashboard and features that make setup simple, such as pre-built templates. You don’t need coding skills to get started, which makes it perfect for beginners or small business owners.
Next.js, on the other hand, requires programming expertise, especially in JavaScript and React. While it offers much greater control, its flexibility comes with a steeper learning curve, so it’s better suited for developers.
Flexibility
With WordPress, you can customize your site using a vast library of plugins and themes. These make it easy to add features like contact forms, image galleries, or SEO tools. However, you’re limited by what plugins offer, and creating custom functionality may not always be straightforward.
Next.js, in contrast, allows for full customization through coding. You can build just about any type of website from scratch, whether it’s an interactive app or a highly tailored site. This flexibility opens up endless possibilities but also requires time and expertise.
Performance
Performance can be an issue for WordPress sites, especially if you use too many plugins or opt for shared hosting. While you can improve load times through tools like caching plugins, optimization efforts may take extra work.
Next.js delivers superior performance by default. Features like server-side rendering and static generation make websites fast and efficient right out of the box.
Let’s compare two of our clients, Shanta Equity (built on Next.js) and NuMi Aesthetic (built on WordPress) here.
When comparing their websites, the WordPress site scored 64% on desktop but only 51% on mobile. The drop in mobile performance was due to issues like poor image optimization, unused JavaScript, and CSS.
On the other hand, the Next.js site performed consistently well, scoring 92% on desktop and an impressive 94% on mobile. The improvement in mobile performance was a standout advantage compared to the WordPress site.
SEO
WordPress makes SEO simple, thanks to plugins like Yoast, Rankmath, or All in One SEO plugin. These tools guide you through optimizing metadata, keywords, and readability, giving newcomers everything they need for good rankings.
Next.js also excels in SEO. Its built-in features allow you to optimize dynamically generated meta tags, structured data, and URLs with advanced precision—perfect for developers who want granular control.
Scalability
Scaling a WordPress site is possible, but it often requires robust hosting and careful optimization. Larger sites with heavy traffic can encounter performance issues if not properly managed.
Next.js is designed for scalability, making it an excellent choice for projects that anticipate growing traffic or complex functionality. Its modern architecture allows it to scale easily without compromising speed or performance.
Cost
WordPress is free to use, but you’ll need to pay for hosting, premium themes, plugins, and ongoing maintenance. For many small businesses, these WordPress development costs are manageable.
Next.js is also free to use, but development costs can add up. If you’re not a developer, hiring one to create and maintain your site will significantly increase expenses.
Pros and Cons
Every platform has its strengths and limitations, and understanding them is key to making the right choice. This section outlines the pros and cons of WordPress and Next.js, helping you weigh their benefits and challenges.
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Use Cases
Building a website is a big decision. Picking the right platform to meet your needs is key. Two popular choices are WordPress and Next.js. Each has its strengths, depending on your goals and resources.
Here’s a clear guide to help you decide.
When to Use WordPress?
WordPress is a versatile platform. It’s perfect for creating content-focused sites quickly and easily. Here’s when you should go with WordPress:
- For Blogs, News Sites, or E-Commerce Stores: WordPress excels at managing text, images, and videos. It’s ideal for blogs and articles. If you’re starting an online store, there are plugins like WooCommerce for that too. You can achieve all this without custom coding.
- For Small-to-Medium Businesses: If you’re running a small biz and need a functional site fast, WordPress works great. It’s affordable, quick to set up, and has plenty of templates to fit your brand. You don’t need to spend months or lots of money hiring developers.
- For Those Without Any Coding Skills: Don’t know how to code? No problem. WordPress is beginner-friendly. The user interface is simple, and tutorials are all over the internet. You can update your site without constant help.
When to Use Next.js?
Next.js is a development framework that offers speed and customization. It’s for those aiming to build powerful, high-performing web applications.
Here’s when you should choose it:
- For Websites That Need to Handle Many Users: If you’re planning a site with a lot of traffic, Next.js is ready for the job. It serves pages quickly and scales easily as your audience grows. This makes it a solid choice for growing businesses.
- For Unique, Custom Applications: Need something special that’s not typical? Next.js is like a blank canvas. You (or your developer) can create custom features and layouts from scratch. It’s perfect for projects that need more than a plug-and-play design.
- If You Have Developer Support: Next.js isn’t as beginner-friendly as WordPress. You’ll need coding skills or a team to handle development. If you have access to developers, though, it unlocks endless possibilities for your site.
Your decision comes down to your needs and skills—or who you can hire. For simple, content-driven sites, WordPress is a no-brainer. But if you need a custom, powerful platform, Next.js is the way to go.
Other Factors to Consider
When choosing between WordPress and Next.js, think about hosting, support, and maintenance. These factors can impact costs and how easy the site is to manage. WordPress uses shared or dedicated hosting. This is easy to find and often affordable.
However, as your site grows, hosting expenses may rise. On the other hand, Next.js works best with modern hosting platforms like Vercel or AWS. These services are built for speed and scalability but usually cost more than basic hosting.
Community support is another key factor. WordPress has a huge user base and plenty of free resources, tutorials, and plugins. If you run into issues, answers are easy to find. With Next.js, support is more developer-focused. While it has an active community, you might need coding skills to fully understand the solutions provided.
Finally, think about how quickly you need your site ready. WordPress makes it simple to get a site up and running in a short time. Its themes and plugins allow for a quick setup with minimal effort. Next.js, however, requires coding and development time. It’s great for custom projects, but it will take longer to launch.
These factors will help you weigh the pros and cons of each option and choose the one that fits your goals.
Final Thoughts
WordPress and Next.js each have their strengths, but they’re built for different goals. WordPress is great for simple, content-focused sites, especially if you don’t know how to code. Next.js is better for fast, scalable, and custom projects, as long as you have development support.
The best choice depends on your needs, budget, and skills. Think about what you want to achieve, then pick the platform that fits. Start by defining your goals today and take the first step toward building your site!
