Next.js vs WordPress for a small business website
, 6 min read
An honest comparison of speed, SEO, cost and ease of editing, from a team that builds with both.
We build with both WordPress and Next.js, so we don’t have a reason to push one. Here’s how they compare for a typical small business.
Speed
Next.js serves pre-built pages from a global network, so they usually load faster, especially on mobile data. WordPress can be fast too, but heavy themes and plugins often slow it down.
SEO
Both can rank well. WordPress relies on SEO plugins; Next.js has metadata, sitemaps and image optimisation built in. Speed is a ranking factor, which gives Next.js a small edge.
Editing
WordPress is familiar to many people. With Next.js we connect Sanity CMS, a clean dashboard where editors fill in fields and can’t accidentally break the design.
Security and maintenance
Most hacked websites are outdated WordPress installs. A Next.js site has no public admin login and no plugins to update.
Cost
- WordPress: cheaper to build, but hosting, premium plugins and maintenance add yearly costs.
- Next.js: costs more upfront, but hosting is often free for small sites and maintenance is minimal.
Our recommendation
Choose WordPress for a simple site on a tight budget, or if your team already knows it. Choose Next.js + Sanity if speed, Google rankings and long-term costs matter, or if you publish content often.
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