Gatsby vs Next.js for WordPress Migration: Which Should You Choose?

You've decided to migrate away from WordPress to a React-based framework. Great decision. But now you face another choice: Gatsby or Next.js?

Both are excellent React frameworks. Both can handle WordPress migrations. But they approach the problem differently, and choosing the wrong one can cost you significant development time.

Let's break down everything you need to know.

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The Fundamental Difference

Before diving into features, understand the core philosophy:

Gatsby is a static site generator (SSG) first. Everything is pre-built at build time. Data comes from various sources through a unified GraphQL layer.

Next.js is a hybrid framework. It supports static generation, server-side rendering, and dynamic routes. Data fetching is more flexible and direct.

This fundamental difference affects everything else.

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Build Time Comparison

This is where WordPress migrations get interesting. A typical WordPress site might have:

• 500 blog posts

• 50 pages

• 1,000 images

• Multiple taxonomies

Gatsby Build Times

Gatsby builds every page at build time:

Content Volume

Build Time

100 pages

1-2 minutes

500 pages

3-5 minutes

1,000 pages

8-15 minutes

5,000 pages

30-60 minutes

10,000+ pages

Hours

The GraphQL layer adds overhead. Image processing (gatsby-plugin-image) adds more. Large sites become painful.

Gatsby tried to fix this with Incremental Builds, but it requires Gatsby Cloud and doesn't solve all cases.

Next.js Build Times

Next.js with static generation is faster because:

• No GraphQL layer processing

• More efficient image optimization

• Better incremental static regeneration (ISR)

Content Volume

Build Time

100 pages

30-60 seconds

500 pages

1-3 minutes

1,000 pages

2-5 minutes

5,000 pages

5-15 minutes

10,000+ pages

Can use ISR

Key advantage: Next.js's ISR lets you generate pages on-demand. You don't have to build all 10,000 pages upfront.

Winner: Next.js – significantly faster builds, especially for large sites.

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Data Fetching

How you get WordPress content into your framework matters.

Gatsby Approach

Everything goes through GraphQL:

// gatsby-node.js
exports.createPages = async ({ graphql, actions }) => {
  const result = await graphql(

    query {
      allWpPost {
        nodes {
          slug
          title
          content
        }
      }
    }
  )
  
  result.data.allWpPost.nodes.forEach(post => {
    actions.createPage({
      path: /blog/${post.slug},
      component: path.resolve('./src/templates/post.js'),
      context: { slug: post.slug },
    })
  })
}

Requires gatsby-source-wordpress plugin which:

• Queries WordPress WPGraphQL endpoint

• Caches data in Gatsby's GraphQL layer

• Rebuilds entire graph on changes

Pros:

• Unified data layer across sources

• Type-safe queries

• Good for complex data relationships

Cons:

• Plugin learning curve

• Build performance overhead

• Plugin version conflicts common

Next.js Approach

Direct data fetching in pages:

// app/blog/[slug]/page.tsx
async function getPost(slug: string) {
  const res = await fetch(
    https://mysite.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts?slug=${slug}
  )
  return res.json()
}

export default async function Post({ params }) {
  const posts = await getPost(params.slug)
  const post = posts[0]
  
  return (
    

      
{post.title.rendered}

      

    

  )
}

Pros:

• Simple, direct fetching

• Use any data source with any method

• No GraphQL required

• Flexible caching strategies

Cons:

• No unified data layer

• Manual type definitions

Winner: Next.js – simpler, faster, more flexible for most WordPress migrations.

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Image Handling

Images are often the biggest challenge in WordPress migrations.

Gatsby Image

Gatsby's image plugin (gatsby-plugin-image) is powerful:

• Generates multiple sizes at build time

• Creates blur placeholders

• Handles lazy loading

But:

• Significantly increases build time

• Complex configuration

• Images must be known at build time

Next.js Image

Next.js Image component (next/image):

• On-demand image optimization

• Automatic format conversion (WebP, AVIF)

• Responsive sizes

• Blur placeholders (with configuration)

Key difference: Next.js optimizes images on-demand (or at request time), not build time.

Scenario

Gatsby

Next.js

1,000 images

Processed in build (slow)

Processed on first request

New image added

Requires rebuild

Auto-optimized

Image quality

Excellent

Excellent

Configuration

Complex

Simple

Winner: Next.js – on-demand optimization is a game-changer for large sites.

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Developer Experience

This is subjective, but there are measurable differences.

Gatsby DX

Good:

• GraphQL playground for exploring data

• Extensive plugin ecosystem

• Detailed documentation

Frustrating:

• Frequent plugin conflicts

• Cache issues requiring gatsby clean

• Opinionated structure can feel restrictive

• GraphQL learning curve

Next.js DX

Good:

• Minimal configuration to start

• Familiar file-based routing

• Great TypeScript support

• Fast refresh works reliably

• App Router is intuitive

Frustrating:

• Less "magical" – you write more yourself

• Fewer plugins means more DIY

• Two routing systems (pages vs app) can confuse

Community & Jobs

React framework popularity (2026):

Framework

npm weekly downloads

Job postings

Next.js

6M+

Growing fast

Gatsby

400K

Declining

Next.js has won the mindshare battle. Gatsby isn't dead, but growth has stalled.

Winner: Next.js – better trajectorygreater ecosystem momentum.

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Hosting & Deployment

Gatsby Hosting

Gatsby Cloud was the premium option but was discontinued. Options now:

• Netlify (good integration)

• Vercel (works fine)

• Any static host (CloudFlare Pages, AWS S3)

Next.js Hosting

Vercel (the company behind Next.js) offers the best Next.js hosting. But Next.js also works on:

• Netlify

• AWS (Amplify, Lambda@Edge)

• Cloudflare Pages

• Self-hosted Node.js

Caveat: Full Next.js features (ISR, middleware, edge functions) work best on Vercel. Other hosts have varying support.

Winner: Tie – both deploy easily, but Next.js on Vercel has an edge for advanced features.

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When to Choose Gatsby

Despite everything above, Gatsby is still right for some projects:

✅ Multiple Data Sources

If you're combining WordPress + Contentful + Shopify + Markdown, Gatsby's unified GraphQL layer shines. Everything becomes queryable through one interface.

✅ Existing Gatsby Investment

If you have Gatsby plugins and patterns you've refined, the migration cost might not be worth it.

✅ Pure Static Requirement

If you explicitly need every page pre-rendered with no server whatsoever, Gatsby guarantees this.

✅ Small Sites (<100 pages)

Build time differences become negligible. Choose based on preference.

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When to Choose Next.js

For most WordPress migrations, Next.js is the better choice:

✅ Large Content Volume

Thousands of posts? Next.js handles this gracefully with ISR and on-demand generation.

✅ Dynamic Features Needed

User accounts, search, e-commerce, personalization – Next.js handles server-side logic natively.

✅ Starting Fresh

New project? Next.js has more momentum, more learning resources, and more job market demand.

✅ Simpler is Better

Just want to render WordPress content fast? Next.js's straightforward data fetching is easier to reason about.

✅ SEO Focus

While both are good for SEO, Next.js's simpler setup means fewer things to get wrong.

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Performance Comparison

Both produce fast sites, but there are differences:

Metric

Gatsby

Next.js

Time to First Byte

Instant (static)

Instant (static) or fast (SSR)

Largest Contentful Paint

Excellent

Excellent

JavaScript bundle size

Can be large

Generally smaller

Core Web Vitals

Good

Good

Modern Gatsby and Next.js both produce performant sites. The difference is usually in how much effort it takes to achieve that performance.

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Migration Path Comparison

WordPress to Gatsby

1. Install gatsby-source-wordpress

2. Configure WPGraphQL on WordPress

3. Write GraphQL queries for your templates

4. Handle image transformation

5. Manage build times as content grows

Complexity: Medium-High

WordPress to Next.js

1. Fetch from WordPress REST API (or WPGraphQL)

2. Create page templates with data fetching

3. Use next/image for images

4. Configure ISR for large content sets

Complexity: Medium

Or, bypass headless entirely:

WordPress to Next.js (Full Migration)

1. Export WordPress content

2. Convert to MDX files

3. Build Next.js site with local content

4. Delete WordPress

Complexity: Low (with migration tools)

Try our free WordPress to Next.js migration →

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Our Recommendation

For 90% of WordPress migrations in 2026: Choose Next.js.

Reasons:

• Faster builds

• Simpler data fetching

• Better image handling

• Stronger ecosystem momentum

• More job market demand

• Vercel's investment in the framework

Choose Gatsby only if:

• You have significant existing Gatsby investment

• You're combining many different data sources

• You specifically need pure static generation

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Making the Switch

If you're ready to leave WordPress:

1. Assess your content volume – over 1,000 pages? Next.js's ISR is valuable

2. Note your dynamic needs – need forms, search, auth? Next.js handles this natively

3. Consider your team – GraphQL experience makes Gatsby easier; REST API familiarity favors Next.js

4. Think future – where do you want to be in 2 years?

Start your free migration to Next.js →

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FAQ

Q: Can I migrate from Gatsby to Next.js later?

Yes, but it's work. React components often transfer, but data fetching needs rewriting. Better to choose correctly upfront.

Q: Is Gatsby dying?

Not dying, but growth has stalled significantly. Netlify acquired Gatsby in 2023, but development pace has slowed. Next.js has won the React framework competition.

Q: Which is faster for the end user?

Nearly identical when properly configured. Both produce static HTML with optimized JavaScript. See our performance comparison →

Q: Can I use Gatsby or Next.js with WordPress as headless CMS?

Yes, both work excellently as WordPress frontends. But for a clean break, consider migrating content entirely. Learn about headless WordPress →

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Conclusion

The Gatsby vs Next.js debate has a clear answer in 2026: Next.js wins for most use cases, especially WordPress migrations.

Gatsby remains excellent software, but its moment has passed. Next.js has broader adoption, faster development, and better suited to the full range of web applications.

Choose Next.js unless you have specific reasons to choose Gatsby.

Related guides:

• WordPress to Next.js Complete Migration Guide

• Astro vs Next.js Comparison

• Best WordPress Alternatives for 2026

Migrate to Next.js for Free →