Next.js vs WordPress for a Business Website
By Karl Arriba, Founder at PASDEV · Updated June 2026
The right answer depends on who maintains the site and what it needs to do. Here's a direct comparison without the framework tribalism.
Use WordPress If...
- You or your team will update content frequently without developer help
- You need a blog or news section maintained in-house
- Budget is tight and you can't afford custom development
- Your developer has strong WordPress experience
- You want plugin-based features (forms, SEO, membership)
Use Next.js If...
- Performance and Core Web Vitals matter — Next.js scores 95+ on Lighthouse by default
- You need custom UI, animations, or interactive features
- Security is a concern — no plugin vulnerabilities, minimal attack surface
- Long-term maintenance costs matter — Next.js has fewer moving parts
- You want full control and a developer maintaining the site
Performance Reality
A Next.js site built with Tailwind CSS and deployed on Vercel scores 95+ on Core Web Vitals by default. The same site on WordPress with a general-purpose theme and 15 plugins rarely breaks 70 without significant optimization work. PASDEV's client sites — Kalex Construction, Tubs and Tails, and pasdev.co itself — are all React-based and load in under one second.
Cost Comparison
- Simple 4-page business site: WordPress $800–$2,500 · Next.js $1,500–$3,500
- Monthly maintenance: WordPress $100–$300 (security patches, updates) · Next.js $50–$150
- Annual hosting: WordPress $60–$1,200 · Next.js $0–$240 (Vercel free-pro)
Common Questions
- Is Next.js better than WordPress for SEO?
- For technical SEO, Next.js wins significantly. Static generation means fully pre-rendered HTML — no JavaScript required for content indexing. Core Web Vitals are substantially better on Next.js by default, which has been a ranking signal since 2021.
- Can a non-developer manage a Next.js website?
- Not without a headless CMS. Adding Sanity or Contentful allows non-developers to manage content at an additional $20–$100/month and 1–2 weeks of development time. WordPress is better if non-developer content management is your top priority.
- What about headless WordPress?
- Headless WordPress (WordPress as a CMS with a Next.js frontend) combines both — WordPress content editing with Next.js performance. It's a legitimate architecture but adds complexity. We use it when clients have strong WordPress content workflows and need custom frontend performance.
- Can I migrate from WordPress to Next.js later?
- Yes, but it's a rebuild, not a migration. Content can be exported and re-imported via a headless CMS. Plan for roughly 70–80% of the cost of a new build. The earlier you make the decision, the cheaper it is.
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