Next.js vs WordPress.
The most used CMS on the web against a React framework: how each is edited, secured, hosted and paid for.
Next.js
WordPressFeature by feature.
Content & Editing
| Feature | Next.js | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | Your choice of CMS | Block editor |
| Themes | Built in code | Thousands of free themes |
| Plugins | Built by your developers | Over 78,000 free plugins |
| Headless use | Can read WordPress content | REST API for other apps |
| XML sitemap | File convention | Built in since version 5.5 |
Hosting & Security
| Feature | Next.js | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Server needs | Node.js, Docker or static files | PHP 8.3+ and MySQL or MariaDB |
| Security updates | Scheduled monthly releases | Newest release line only |
| Where it runs | Any Node.js host, or static | Any PHP host |
Cost & Versions
| Feature | Next.js | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | MIT | GPLv2 or later |
| Software cost | Both Free | |
| Managed option | Vercel Pro $20/month | WordPress.com from $4/month billed yearly |
| Current version | Next.js 16 | WordPress 7.1 |
Plans & pricing.
| Plan | Next.js | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Free (MIT) | Free (GPLv2 or later) |
| Managed hosting | Vercel: Hobby $0 (personal use), Pro $20/month | WordPress.com: Personal $4/month billed yearly |
| Business tier | Vercel Enterprise: custom | WordPress.com Business: $25/month billed yearly |
US dollars as of November 2026, from vercel.com/pricing and wordpress.com/pricing. Self-hosted WordPress costs whatever your host charges, plus any paid themes or plugins.
Our conclusion.
Pick WordPress when non-developers run a content site and want themes and plugins to add features. Pick Next.js when you need a custom product or a fast, tightly controlled site and have developers; it can still use WordPress for its content.
WordPress is free software that runs about 39% of all websites, with a block editor, more than 78,000 free plugins and thousands of free themes. Plugins are also where most of its security problems sit: Patchstack counted 11,334 new WordPress vulnerabilities in 2025, about 91% of them in plugins.
Next.js has no editor of its own. Your developers build the site in React and connect a CMS, which can be WordPress itself through its REST API. If you are moving off WordPress, we plan the move so your content and redirects come with you.
Other comparisons.
Astro vs Next.js
Compare Astro and Next.js for marketing sites, content, SEO, hosting and app features.
See Astro vs Next.jsWebflow vs Next.js
Compare Webflow and Next.js on editing, SEO, hosting, cost and code ownership.
Compare With Next.jsNext.js vs Remix
Compare Next.js and Remix, now React Router, on rendering, data, hosting and backing.
See Next.js vs RemixShopify vs Next.js
Compare a Shopify theme store and a Next.js storefront on cost, checkout, launch time and control.
See Shopify vs Next.js
Astro
Webflow
Remix
ShopifyFAQ
Questions,
answered.
The software is free under GPLv2 or later. You pay for hosting, which needs PHP 8.3 or later and MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.11 or later, plus any paid themes or plugins.
Yes. The WordPress REST API lets a separate app, such as a Next.js site, read your WordPress content, so editors keep WordPress and visitors get the Next.js front end.
Both need regular updates. Patchstack counted 11,334 new WordPress vulnerabilities in 2025, about 91% in plugins and 9% in themes. Next.js publishes scheduled security releases about once a month.
No. WordPress.org is the free software you host yourself. WordPress.com is paid hosting for it, from $4 a month billed yearly, and its free plan cannot install plugins.
W3Techs reports WordPress on 39.3% of all websites in November 2026, which is 58% of the sites whose CMS it can detect.
Yes. Since version 5.5 WordPress publishes /wp-sitemap.xml and lists it in robots.txt.
