Do I need coding experience to migrate WordPress to Next.js?

Not for the migration itself — LeaveWP handles everything automatically. Customizing your Next.js site afterward benefits from JavaScript/React knowledge, but the generated code is well-structured and documented.

Can I keep WordPress as a headless CMS?

Yes — you can use WordPress as a content backend with the REST API or WPGraphQL and render the frontend with Next.js. However, for most blogs, MDX files are simpler, faster, and eliminate the need for a running WordPress server.

WordPress → Next.js

Migrate WordPress to Next.js

Convert your WordPress posts, pages, and media to clean MDX files for your Next.js site. SEO metadata preserved, 301 redirects generated, completely free.

5-15 minutes

Easy

100% Free

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TL;DR

WordPress powers 43% of the web but its PHP rendering, plugin vulnerabilities, and database dependency create performance and security bottlenecks. Next.js replaces that with static MDX files served from a global CDN — no server, no database, no PHP. LeaveWP exports your WordPress content (posts, pages, categories, tags, authors, featured images, SEO metadata) into a ready-to-deploy Next.js project in under 15 minutes. No API keys, no coding, no cost.

Official docs: WordPress REST API · Next.js Documentation

Not sure yet? Read our WordPress vs Next.js comparison first.

Why Teams Leave WordPress

WordPress is a PHP-based CMS powering 43% of the web. It excels for content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full control, but these architectural limitations push performance-focused teams toward static alternatives.

PHP rendering is slow compared to static HTML

Every WordPress page request triggers PHP execution and database queries. Next.js pre-renders pages to static HTML at build time, eliminating server-side processing entirely.

Constant security patches and plugin updates

WordPress sites need regular updates to PHP, core, themes, and plugins. A single outdated plugin can expose your entire site. Static files have no server-side code to exploit.

Database-driven architecture limits scalability

Under traffic spikes, WordPress hits MySQL bottlenecks. Next.js static files are served from a CDN edge — the same file serves 10 visitors or 10 million.

Plugin conflicts can break your site after updates

With 59,000+ plugins interacting unpredictably, updates are risky. Next.js dependencies are managed via npm with lockfiles, making builds deterministic and reproducible.

What Next.js Brings to the Table

React framework for production with SSR, SSG, and API routes. Built with JavaScript/TypeScript, it's best for production web apps and content sites needing flexible rendering strategies.

Static-First Performance

Hybrid rendering — SSG, SSR, ISR, and client-side in one app. Pre-rendered pages load instantly with no database queries. Most WordPress-to-Next.js migrations see dramatic Lighthouse score improvements.

Zero Attack Surface

No PHP, no MySQL, no WordPress admin to compromise. Static files served from a CDN edge have no server-side code to exploit. You eliminate an entire category of vulnerabilities.

Near-Zero Hosting Cost

Deploy to Vercel (100GB free), Netlify (100GB free), or Cloudflare Pages (unlimited bandwidth). Most WordPress blogs migrate to Next.js and pay nothing for hosting.

Next.js is open-source and free to use. You own your code and data with no vendor lock-in. Deploy to any host that supports Node.js, or use managed platforms like Vercel and Netlify for zero-config deployments. The massive React ecosystem means you'll find a library for virtually any need.

WordPress vs Next.js at a Glance

Side-by-side comparison based on real platform characteristics

Metric	WordPress	Next.js
Ease of Use	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5	⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
Performance	⭐⭐ 2/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Flexibility	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Cost	⭐⭐⭐ 3/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Scalability	⭐⭐⭐ 3/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Ecosystem	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Language	PHP	JavaScript/TypeScript (React)
Pricing	Free (self-hosted) + hosting costs	Free (open-source)
Open Source	Yes	Yes

Ratings based on publicly available data, documentation, and community consensus as of 2026.

What Gets Migrated

A detailed breakdown of how your WordPress content maps to Next.js

WordPress Content Types

Posts → MDX files with frontmatter
Pages → MDX files with layout metadata
Categories → taxonomy data in frontmatter
Tags → taxonomy data in frontmatter
Authors → author data files
Featured images → preserved URLs / downloadable
Custom post types → mapped to MDX collections
Menus → JSON navigation data

Technical Details

Export Method: WordPress REST API (no plugins needed)
Output Format: MDX files with YAML frontmatter, organized by content type
URL Handling: 301 redirect map generated automatically to preserve SEO equity
SEO Metadata: Titles, descriptions, OG tags, and canonical URLs all preserved in frontmatter

What needs manual attention

WordPress plugin functionality (contact forms, WooCommerce, membership systems) needs modern equivalents: Formspree or Resend for forms, Snipcart or Lemon Squeezy for payments, and NextAuth.js for authentication. Visual page builder layouts (Elementor, Divi) are not transferred — the content is extracted but the design needs to be rebuilt in React components.

How It Works

Migrate your content in three simple steps

Connect

Enter your WordPress site URL — LeaveWP connects via the public REST API automatically. No passwords, API keys, or plugins to install.

Configure

Select Next.js / MDX as destination. Choose which content types to migrate — posts, pages, categories, tags, authors, and media.

Export

Click migrate and download a ZIP with clean MDX files, organized by content type. Deploy to Vercel, Netlify, or any host with one click.

Is WordPress to Next.js the Right Move for You?

Migrating from WordPress to Next.js makes the most sense if you're experiencing slow page loads, security concerns from constant plugin updates, or hosting costs that don't match your traffic. Next.js eliminates all three by pre-rendering your content to static HTML served from a global CDN.

You should migrate if: your WordPress site scores poorly on Core Web Vitals, you're tired of managing PHP hosting and MySQL databases, you want to use React for your frontend, or you want to deploy to free-tier platforms like Vercel or Netlify.

You might want to stay if: your WordPress site relies heavily on real-time plugin functionality (WooCommerce, LMS, membership portals), your content team is non-technical and depends on Gutenberg or page builders, or you don't have JavaScript/React developers on your team. WordPress is genuinely easy to use, and that simplicity has value.

The migration itself is straightforward with LeaveWP — enter your WordPress URL, select Next.js, and download your content. The more important question is whether your team can maintain a React-based site long-term and whether the performance gains justify the switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my SEO rankings when migrating?

No. LeaveWP preserves all your URLs, meta titles, descriptions, and generates a 301 redirect map. Next.js static pages typically improve Core Web Vitals, which can positively impact rankings over time.

Do I need coding experience?

Not for the migration — LeaveWP generates a complete, ready-to-deploy Next.js project. Customizing your site afterward benefits from JavaScript/React knowledge, but the generated code is well-structured and documented.

What about my WordPress plugins?

Most plugin functionality has modern equivalents. SEO is built into Next.js via metadata API. Contact forms use Formspree or Resend. Analytics via Vercel Analytics or Plausible. Comments via Giscus (GitHub-based, free).

Can I still use WordPress as a headless CMS?

Yes — keep WordPress as a content backend and use Next.js for the frontend via REST API or WPGraphQL. However, for most blogs MDX files are simpler, faster, and eliminate the need to keep a WordPress server running.

How much does it cost to host a Next.js site?

Static Next.js sites can be hosted for free on Vercel (100GB bandwidth/month), Netlify (100GB free), or Cloudflare Pages (unlimited bandwidth). Most WordPress blogs migrate to Next.js and pay nothing for hosting.

What if my WordPress site has custom fields (ACF, Meta Box)?

Custom fields are mapped to frontmatter in your MDX files. If you use Advanced Custom Fields or Meta Box, the field values transfer — you may need to adjust your Next.js components to render them based on your desired layout.

WordPress to Next.js Guides

In-depth guides and tutorials to help with your migration

tutorial

Ready to Make the Switch?

Start your free migration from WordPress to Next.js today. No API keys, no coding, no cost.

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