In 2020, if you wanted a business website, the answer was WordPress. It was easy, cheap to host, and had plugins for everything.
In 2025, that's changed. Next.js has become the default choice for new business websites — especially among developers who care about speed, SEO, and mobile performance.
Here's why, and when WordPress still makes sense.
The Speed Gap
WordPress sites load in 4-7 seconds on mobile (average). Google PageSpeed scores: 30-55.
Next.js sites load in 0.8-2 seconds. Google PageSpeed scores: 85-98.
That difference isn't cosmetic. Google confirmed in 2024 that page speed is a direct ranking factor. Slow sites rank lower, even with identical content.
Why WordPress Is Slow
WordPress loads everything on every page:
- Theme CSS (often 200kb+)
- 10-30 plugins
- jQuery and other legacy JavaScript
- Unoptimized images
- Database queries that could be cached
Most WordPress sites we audit make 80-120 server requests per page load. That's unnecessary overhead.
Why Next.js Is Fast
Next.js pre-renders pages at build time. When a visitor loads your site, they get pure HTML — no database queries, no plugin loading, minimal JavaScript.
Images are automatically optimized and lazy-loaded. CSS is minified and split per page. Result: under 1 second load time on mobile.
The SEO Reality
Both can rank well in Google. But Next.js makes it easier.
WordPress SEO Challenges
To rank a WordPress site, you need:
- Yoast or RankMath plugin
- Caching plugin (WP Rocket or similar)
- Image optimization plugin
- Schema markup plugin
- AMP plugin for mobile
- Security plugin to prevent hacks affecting SEO
Each plugin adds load time. Each update risks breaking something. Maintenance is constant.
Next.js SEO Advantages
Built-in:
- Automatic sitemap generation
- Schema markup in code (full control)
- Image optimization
- Fast mobile performance
- Structured data without plugins
You write the SEO rules once, they work forever. No plugin conflicts, no updates breaking features.
Security & Maintenance
WordPress Security Issues
WordPress sites are hacked constantly — not because WordPress is bad, but because it's popular. Hackers target WordPress because 43% of websites use it.
Common attacks:
- Plugin vulnerabilities
- Theme exploits
- Brute force login attempts
- Database injections
You need security plugins, regular updates, and constant monitoring. Miss an update and your site could be hacked within days.
Next.js Security
Next.js sites are static HTML files. There's no admin panel to hack, no database to inject SQL into, no plugin vulnerabilities.
Hosting on Vercel or Netlify includes automatic HTTPS, DDoS protection, and edge caching. Security is built-in, not bolted on.
Content Management
This is where WordPress still has an advantage — if you need it.
WordPress CMS
WordPress has the best content editor. Anyone can log in, create pages, edit content, upload images, and publish — no technical knowledge required.
If you need to update content weekly, train staff to manage the site, or run a blog with multiple authors, WordPress makes sense.
Next.js Content Management
Next.js doesn't have a built-in CMS. You have three options:
- No CMS: Developer edits content in code files (fastest, but requires developer)
- Headless CMS: Use Sanity, Contentful, or similar (adds complexity)
- Markdown files: Store blog posts as files (simple, but less user-friendly)
For most small business websites, option 1 works fine. Content doesn't change often enough to justify the overhead of a CMS.
Cost Comparison
WordPress Costs (Annual)
- Hosting: £60-180/year
- Premium theme: £30-60 (one-time or annual)
- Essential plugins: £50-150/year
- Security/backups: £40-100/year
- Maintenance/updates: £100-300/year (or DIY)
Total: £280-790/year
Next.js Costs (Annual)
- Hosting (Vercel/Netlify): £0-50/year for small sites
- Domain: £10-15/year
- Developer updates: £50-150/year (or DIY if technical)
Total: £60-215/year
Next.js is 60-75% cheaper to run long-term.
When WordPress Still Makes Sense
WordPress isn't dead. It's still the right choice for:
- E-commerce with 100+ products: WooCommerce is mature and well-supported
- Multi-author blogs: WordPress's editor and user system are unmatched
- Non-technical clients who need daily control: If you update content multiple times per week and can't hire a developer
- Complex member areas: Membership plugins like MemberPress are hard to replicate
For those use cases, WordPress is still excellent.
When Next.js Is Better
Next.js is the better choice for:
- Business landing pages: 1-5 pages, rarely updated
- Speed-critical sites: When Google ranking depends on mobile performance
- Lead generation sites: Contact forms, service pages, simple content
- Professional portfolios: Fast, clean, image-heavy sites
- Long-term cost reduction: Lower hosting and maintenance costs
That describes 70-80% of small business websites.
Performance Test: Same Business, Two Stacks
We built the same electrician website twice — once in WordPress, once in Next.js.
WordPress version:
- Theme: Astra Pro
- Plugins: Yoast, WP Rocket, Elementor
- Load time: 4.8 seconds (mobile)
- PageSpeed score: 42
- Hosting: £120/year
Next.js version:
- Framework: Next.js 14
- Styling: Tailwind CSS
- Load time: 1.2 seconds (mobile)
- PageSpeed score: 94
- Hosting: £0/year (Vercel free tier)
After 90 days:
- WordPress site: 120 visitors, 8 contact form submissions
- Next.js site: 280 visitors (better ranking), 19 contact form submissions
The Next.js version generated 2.4× more leads and cost less to run.
The Honest Recommendation
Choose WordPress if:
- You need to update content daily/weekly
- You're non-technical and can't hire a developer
- You're running e-commerce with 100+ products
- You need membership or complex user features
Choose Next.js if:
- Speed and SEO are priorities
- Content changes monthly or less
- You want lower hosting costs
- Mobile performance affects your business
For most small business websites — especially trades, professional services, and local businesses — Next.js is the better choice in 2025.
