WordPress
Next.js
Should you use WordPress or Next.js? Compare features, performance, costs, and find out which is right for your project.
Start MigrationDepends on use case. Choose WordPress if you need a quick, no-code solution for a simple site, or if your team is non-technical and needs a familiar editing experience. Choose Next.js if you want top performance, have development resources, and want to build a modern, scalable web application.
Official docs: WordPress REST API Docs · Next.js Documentation
| Feature | WordPress | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Security | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Customization | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
SEO | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Hosting Cost | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Developer Experience | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Content Editing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Detail | WordPress | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
Language / Stack | PHP | JavaScript/TypeScript (React) |
Type | traditional cms | framework |
Pricing | Free (self-hosted) + hosting costs | Free (open-source) |
Open Source | Yes | Yes |
Best For | Content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full control | Production web apps and content sites needing flexible rendering strategies |
Export Method | REST API or WP All Export plugin | N/A (destination framework) |
The right choice between WordPress and Next.js depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.
These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. WordPress is a traditional cms built with PHP, while Next.js is a framework built with JavaScript/TypeScript (React). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. If your team includes non-developers who need to publish content frequently, WordPress's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.
From a cost perspective, both platforms are open-source, so the real cost difference is hosting and operational overhead. Factor in plugin or extension costs, developer rates for each tech stack, and whether you need managed hosting or can self-host.
Whichever you choose, migrating between them is straightforward. LeaveWP offers a free WordPress → Next.js migration tool that preserves your URLs, metadata, and content structure.
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