We compare the two most popular options for building business websites: performance, SEO, cost and when to use each.
WordPress powers 43% of the entire web. It is the most widely used system for building sites, managing blogs and launching stores. It is also, by far, the most hacked, the worst performing by default, and the most maintenance-heavy. The paradox has a name.
Next.js goes the other direction. Companies like Netflix, TikTok and Twitch use it for their interfaces. And since the ecosystem democratised, we use it in projects for SMEs too.
WordPress: where it makes sense
The ecosystem is huge: 60,000 plugins, millions of themes, documentation for almost any problem. If you have a blog with 500 historical posts or a team that already manages it without issues, it makes complete sense to stick with it.
WordPress: the real problem
It loaded well in 2010. In 2026, with current speed expectations and the JavaScript weight from plugins, it is hard to hit green on Core Web Vitals without serious, ongoing optimisation work. And 97% of hacks on small and medium websites target WordPress — not because WordPress is insecure by design, but because the attack surface is huge and many sites are not kept updated.
Next.js: what changes
The LCP of a Next.js website on Vercel typically sits below 1 second. Not magic — the architecture is right from the start: no exposed database, no plugins adding 300ms each, with server-side rendering or static generation depending on what each page needs.
The downside is real: you need developers who know what they are doing. There are no €30 templates that work well. The entry cost is higher.
The numbers from a real migration
In WordPress → Next.js migrations we have done this year: LCP from 5-8s to under 1.2s, Lighthouse from 40-55 to 95+, hosting cost reduced. Not isolated cases — it is the usual pattern when the source site has the typical WordPress problem (heavy plugins, unoptimised images, slow hosting).
When to use each
WordPress makes sense if you have been using it for years, have a blog with lots of historical content, or need something very specific from the WP ecosystem. Next.js makes sense if SEO and conversion are critical, you are going to scale the project, or you want a website that does not give you problems in 5 years.
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