The Great CMS Debate: Next.js vs WordPress in 2026
WordPress powers 43% of the web. Next.js is the fastest-growing frontend framework. When a client asks us which to use, our answer is always the same: it depends. Here's our honest breakdown after building 150+ projects across both platforms.
When WordPress Wins
WordPress is still the right choice when: your team needs to manage content without developer help, you need a plugin ecosystem for specific functionality, your budget is under $5,000, or you need to launch quickly with proven patterns. The WordPress ecosystem is massive, mature, and well-understood.
When Next.js Wins
Next.js (with a headless CMS like Sanity) is better when: performance is critical to your business, you need custom interactive features, your site is a key part of your brand experience, you want server-side rendering for SEO, or you're building something that goes beyond a standard content site.
Performance Comparison
In our benchmarks, Next.js sites consistently score 90–100 on Lighthouse, while WordPress sites average 50–70 without significant optimization work. For businesses where page speed directly impacts revenue (e-commerce, SaaS, media), this difference matters.
Cost Comparison
WordPress has lower initial development costs but higher ongoing maintenance costs (updates, security patches, plugin conflicts). Next.js has higher upfront development costs but near-zero maintenance costs — and hosting on Vercel is often free for most traffic levels.
Our Recommendation
For content-heavy sites with non-technical teams, WordPress with a premium theme and careful plugin selection is still excellent. For premium brand experiences, SaaS marketing sites, and high-performance e-commerce, headless Next.js with Sanity CMS is our default recommendation. The best choice is the one that fits your specific needs, budget, and team capabilities.