"Should we use WordPress or something custom?" is the most common question we get before a build, and it's usually asked as if one answer is universally right. It isn't. WordPress and Next.js solve overlapping problems with completely different trade-offs, and the honest answer depends on who edits the site, what it has to do, and how much performance and security actually matter to your revenue. Here's the decision without the tribalism.
What each one actually is
They aren't the same category of thing, which is half the confusion.
- WordPress is a content management system — a ready-made application (PHP + a database) that powers a large share of the web (often cited around 40%). You install it, pick a theme, add plugins, and edit content in a familiar dashboard. Its whole premise is that non-developers can run a site.
- Next.js is a React framework — a toolkit developers use to build a custom site or app from the ground up, rendered as fast static pages where possible. There's no dashboard out of the box; there's the site your team builds and the exact behaviour you specify.
So the real trade is convenience-and-ecosystem (WordPress) versus performance-and-control (Next.js). Neither is free.
Head to head
Choose WordPress when…
- A non-technical team needs to publish and edit content every day without calling a developer.
- You're content-first — a blog, a news site, a large library of articles — and an existing plugin does exactly what you need.
- Budget is tight now and a polished template gets you 80% of the way.
Choose Next.js when…
- Speed is tied to money — a landing page, an e-commerce store, or a marketing site where a slow load is a lost sale.
- You need custom functionality (bookings, accounts, a product tool, an app-like experience) rather than a stack of plugins.
- Security and reliability matter, and you'd rather not patch plugins forever.
- You want to own clean code you can take anywhere, with no platform lock-in.
The honest middle option: headless
You don't always have to choose. "Headless" keeps WordPress as the editing dashboard your team already likes, and renders the actual site with Next.js for speed and control. You get familiar content editing and a fast, secure front end. The catch is that it's the most complex setup of the three, so it's worth it mainly when you genuinely need both easy editing and top-tier performance.
What we build on, and why
We build on Next.js with TypeScript and Tailwind, deployed to Vercel — every site ships with 95+ PageSpeed, SEO and schema baked in, and the full code repository handed over in your name with zero vendor lock-in. We chose it because most of our clients' sites are conversion surfaces where speed is revenue, and because we'd rather hand you an asset you own than rent you a platform. That said, if you're a content-first team that lives in an editor all day, we'll tell you WordPress (or headless) is the better fit — recommending the wrong stack to win a project is how you lose a client.
The right answer is the one that matches how your site earns its keep. Name what the site has to do and who maintains it, and the platform choice mostly makes itself.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Next.js better than WordPress?
- Neither is universally better — they trade differently. Next.js wins on performance, security, and custom functionality; WordPress wins on easy day-to-day content editing, speed of initial setup, and its plugin ecosystem. The right choice depends on who edits the site, what it must do, and how much speed affects your revenue.
- Is WordPress cheaper than a custom Next.js site?
- Cheaper to start, not always cheaper over time. WordPress has a low upfront cost but accrues plugin licences, updates, security, and maintenance. A Next.js site costs more to build but is cheap and low-maintenance to run. Compare total cost over two years, not just the build price.
- Is Next.js more secure than WordPress?
- Generally yes, because it has a smaller attack surface — no large plugin ecosystem and often no live database on the rendered page. Most WordPress hacks come from outdated plugins or themes. WordPress can be secured well, but it takes ongoing vigilance.
- Can I still edit content easily on a Next.js site?
- Yes, by pairing it with a headless CMS or a 'headless WordPress' setup, so your team edits in a familiar dashboard while the site renders with Next.js for speed. Out of the box, Next.js has no editor — that's added based on how often you publish.