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Comparison · WordPress vs Next.js · 2026

WordPress vs Next.js 2026.
An honest answer.

We stopped taking WordPress projects in 2023. That makes us biased — so let's be explicit about it and work through where WordPress still wins, where it doesn't, and how to decide.

§ 01 · The quick verdict
Use WordPress if

You need a blog or WooCommerce store, you want to manage it yourself without any developer contact, and performance isn't a primary concern.

Use Next.js if

You need speed, security, a site that won't degrade over time, custom integrations, or maximum Core Web Vitals scores.

§ 02 · Where WordPress wins

WordPress still has real advantages.
We're not pretending otherwise.

  • 01Plugin ecosystem is unmatched — if you need a specific integration and you need it this week, there's probably a plugin.
  • 02Self-managed content: if your client insists on maintaining their own site without any developer contact, WordPress CMS is genuinely easier for non-technical users than most alternatives.
  • 03WooCommerce: for straightforward e-commerce without complex requirements, WooCommerce is mature and cost-effective to set up.
  • 04Hosting options: every shared host runs WordPress. It's cheap to host and easy to hand off.
  • 05Familiarity: a large portion of web designers and developers know it, so you have more hiring options if you grow a team.
  • 06Learning resources: the documentation, tutorials, and community support are enormous.
§ 03 · Where Next.js wins

The meaningful differences.

  • →Performance: a well-built Next.js site will outperform WordPress on Core Web Vitals in virtually every comparison. The gap isn't small.
  • →Security: WordPress's plugin ecosystem is also its attack surface. Plugin vulnerabilities are the most common vector for site compromise. Next.js sites have a dramatically smaller attack surface.
  • →Maintainability: WordPress sites accumulate technical debt — outdated plugins, theme conflicts, PHP version constraints. Next.js sites are code you control.
  • →No plugin hell: WordPress plugins conflict with each other. Updates break things. Plugins get abandoned. This is a maintenance burden that compounds over time.
  • →Performance ceiling: WordPress can be heavily optimised, but the ceiling is lower than a server-rendered React app. For Core Web Vitals, the gap matters for SEO.
  • →Developer experience: modern tooling, TypeScript, component architecture, edge deployment — the experience of building on Next.js is significantly better for anyone building serious software.
§ 04 · Performance comparison
WordPress typical LCP
3–8s

Without aggressive optimisation. Worse on shared hosting.

Next.js target LCP
< 1.2s

What we aim for on every build. King Double Glazing hit 1.2s.

Real-world result
99

King Double Glazing: rebuilt from a 13.1s LCP to a Lighthouse score of 99.

The King Double Glazing rebuild: moved from a WordPress-adjacent setup with a 13.1-second LCP to a Next.js site scoring 99 on Lighthouse. The Instant Estimate Tool was added at the same time. Read the case study →

§ 05 · Who should use which
You need a blog and want to manage it yourself, no developer.
WordPress
WordPress CMS is genuinely better for DIY content management.
You're building a WooCommerce store with standard requirements.
WordPress
WooCommerce is mature and cost-effective for straightforward e-commerce.
You need maximum performance and Core Web Vitals matter.
Next.js
The gap in LCP and CLS is real and measurable.
You've been hacked before or security is a concern.
Next.js
WordPress is the most targeted CMS on the internet. This isn't an opinion.
You want a site that won't degrade over 3 years without maintenance.
Next.js
WordPress sites require active maintenance. Next.js sites are more stable.
You need complex custom logic or integrations.
Next.js
WordPress plugins rarely cover custom requirements cleanly.
§ 06 · FAQ

Common questions.
Answered plainly.

Why did you stop taking WordPress projects?＋

In 2023 we made a deliberate call: the maintenance burden of WordPress projects was costing our clients more in the long run than the lower upfront cost justified. Plugin conflicts, security patches, PHP updates, theme breakages — we were spending billable hours on problems that wouldn't exist on a modern stack. We'd rather build something that runs clean for five years.

Can't you just optimise WordPress with a caching plugin?＋

You can improve WordPress performance significantly with caching, a CDN, and image optimisation. But you're fighting the architecture, not working with it. King Double Glazing was rebuilt from a heavily-cached WordPress-adjacent setup with a 13.1-second LCP. After the rebuild on Next.js, it scored 99 on Lighthouse. Caching helps; it doesn't fix fundamentals.

What's the actual cost difference?＋

WordPress is cheaper to start: low monthly hosting, an inexpensive theme, and plugins that vary. But factor in a few hours of maintenance per month (security updates, plugin checks, backups), the occasional emergency (a plugin breaks something after an update), and the cost of a developer when things go wrong — and the 3-year cost is often comparable to a well-built Next.js site. Over 5 years, custom is usually cheaper.

Do you ever recommend WordPress?＋

Yes. For a client who needs to manage their own content daily and doesn't want any developer involvement, WordPress CMS is genuinely better for them. For WooCommerce stores with standard product catalogues, it makes sense. We're not ideological about it — we just don't build it anymore because we're better at the alternative.

Is Next.js harder to update content in?＋

Not with a headless CMS. We use TinaCMS or Sanity depending on the project. Editors get a clean interface scoped to what they actually need to update. It's not as raw-access as WordPress, which for most clients is a feature, not a bug.

Related comparisons
Webflow vs Next.js →Squarespace vs custom →Our web service →
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