Next.js vs WordPress: Which choice for your project?

Key takeaway - WordPress dominates 43.5% of the global web thanks to its accessibility and plugin ecosystem, while Next.js is becoming the choice for demanding businesses with up to 10x better performance and a modern architecture suited for complex applications and technical SEO.

Introduction: Two Philosophies, Two Worlds

In 2025, WordPress still dominates the CMS market with 43.5% of all websites worldwide and 64.3% market share among known CMS platforms, according to W3Techs. However, a modern alternative is gaining ground: Next.js, the React framework used by Netflix, TikTok, Notion, and thousands of startups.

So, Next.js or WordPress? The answer depends on your project, ambitions, and resources. This comparison guide helps you make the right choice in 2025.

Overview of Both Technologies

WordPress: The Universal CMS

Launched in 2003, WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) based on PHP and MySQL. Its success is built on:

• Accessibility: intuitive interface, no technical skills required
• Massive ecosystem: 60,000+ plugins, 14,000+ free themes
• Community: millions of developers, tutorials, forums
• Flexibility: from personal blogs to e-commerce sites (WooCommerce)

Next.js: The Modern Framework

Created by Vercel in 2016, Next.js is a framework based on React (Meta's JavaScript library). It enables the creation of high-performance web applications with:

• Server-Side Rendering (SSR): server-side rendering for optimal SEO
• Static Site Generation (SSG): ultra-fast static page generation
• API Routes: integrated backend API creation
• App Router: modern and flexible routing (since Next.js 13+)

Performance Comparison: Next.js Crushes WordPress

Web performance is crucial for user experience and search engine rankings. Google uses Core Web Vitals as a ranking criterion.

Real-World Benchmarks

According to BK Themes, comparative tests show:

Result: Next.js is often up to 10x faster than WordPress, especially on mobile.

Why Is WordPress Slower?

• Plugins: each plugin adds JavaScript/CSS
• Database: MySQL queries on every page load
• Heavy themes: unoptimized code, unnecessary resources
• Shared hosting: limited performance

Why Is Next.js Faster?

• Pre-rendering: pages generated in advance (SSG) or server-side (SSR)
• Code splitting: only necessary JavaScript is loaded
• Image optimization: next/image component with automatic lazy loading
• Native CDN: deployment on edge network (Vercel, Cloudflare)

SEO Comparison: Next.js Wins, But WordPress Remains Accessible

SEO with WordPress

WordPress facilitates SEO through SEO plugins:

• Yoast SEO / RankMath: meta tag optimization, XML sitemap
• Visual interface: keyword suggestions, readability analysis
• Schema markup: structured data in just a few clicks

Advantage: accessible to non-technical users.

Disadvantage: plugins slow down the site, impacting Core Web Vitals.

SEO with Next.js

Next.js offers complete control over SEO:

• Native SSR: content immediately indexable by Google
• Dynamic meta tags: per-page customization via generateMetadata()
• Automatic sitemap: programmatic generation
• Core Web Vitals: optimal performance by default

Advantage: better technical SEO potential.

Disadvantage: requires developer skills.

SEO Verdict

Cost Comparison: Short Term vs Long Term

WordPress Costs

Next.js Costs

Analysis

• WordPress: low entry cost, but recurring expenses (plugins, maintenance, security)
• Next.js: high initial investment, but minimal recurring costs

Over 5 years, a well-designed Next.js site can be cheaper than WordPress with premium plugins and regular maintenance.

Security and Maintenance

WordPress: Hackers' Favorite Target

WordPress powers 43% of the web, making it the #1 target for cyberattacks:

• Vulnerable plugins: frequent security flaws
• Critical updates: WordPress, themes, plugins need constant maintenance
• Brute force: attacks on /wp-admin and xmlrpc.php
• Spam: comments, forms

Required maintenance: weekly updates, backups, monitoring.

Next.js: Security by Design

A static Next.js site has a minimal attack surface:

• No exposed database: pre-generated content
• No admin panel: no /wp-admin to attack
• Immutable deployments: instant rollback if issues occur
• HTTPS by default: automatic certificates on Vercel/Netlify

Required maintenance: npm dependency updates (monthly).

Flexibility and Scalability

WordPress

• Strengths: e-commerce (WooCommerce), multisite, multilingual (WPML)
• Limitations: complex scalability, degraded performance with traffic

Next.js

• Strengths: modern architecture, integrated APIs, headless CMS compatible
• Limitations: requires external CMS for content management (Strapi, Sanity, Contentful)

The Headless Approach: Best of Both Worlds

A 2025 trend: using WordPress as a headless CMS + Next.js as frontend. You keep the WordPress editing interface while benefiting from Next.js performance.

Summary Table

When to Choose WordPress?

WordPress is ideal if:

• You have a limited budget (< €3,000)
• You want to manage content yourself without a developer
• You're launching a blog or simple showcase site
• You need quick e-commerce (WooCommerce)
• You don't have a technical team in-house

Examples: company blog, SMB showcase site, beginner online store.

When to Choose Next.js?

Next.js is ideal if:

• Performance is critical for your business
• You're targeting competitive SEO on competitive keywords
• You need custom features
• You expect high traffic growth
• You have access to React developers
• Security is a priority (sensitive data)

Examples: SaaS, business platform, ambitious corporate site, web application.

FAQ

Can You Migrate from WordPress to Next.js?

Yes, it's a common migration. WordPress content can be exported and restructured. Allow 2 to 8 weeks depending on complexity. Performance gains are often spectacular: one study shows a jump from 63 to 91 in mobile Lighthouse score.

Is Next.js Suitable for Multilingual Sites?

Absolutely. Next.js natively supports internationalization (i18n) with locale-based routing. Libraries like next-intl make translation management easy.

Can WordPress Be as Fast as Next.js?

With extensive optimizations (cache, CDN, premium hosting, lightweight plugins), WordPress can approach Next.js performance. But this requires constant effort and compromises on features.

Which Is Best for E-commerce?

• Small e-commerce (< 500 products): WooCommerce (WordPress)
• Ambitious e-commerce: Next.js + Shopify Storefront API or Medusa

Conclusion: Performance and Custom Solutions with Next.js

In 2025, WordPress remains relevant for simple projects, tight budgets, and non-technical teams. Its ecosystem and ease of use make it a safe choice for getting started.

However, if you're aiming for excellence in performance, SEO, and security, Next.js is the modern choice. The biggest tech companies have adopted it for a reason: it enables exceptional web experiences.

Need a Custom Next.js Website?

At Neodigit, we specialize in developing modern web applications with Next.js and React. Our team in Dijon, France supports companies that want:

• An ultra-high-performance site (Lighthouse score 90+)
• A scalable architecture that grows with your business
• Impeccable technical SEO from launch
• Enhanced security without WordPress hassles

We use Next.js daily - the site you're reading is actually built with it.

Ready to switch to Next.js? Let's discuss your project or request a custom quote.