WordPress runs 39.4% of all websites, which is 58.1% of every site built on a content management system we can identify (W3Techs, November 2026). Next.js is much newer and runs about 3.8% of websites (W3Techs, November 2026). Yet developers often suggest it for new custom builds, so many business owners now hear both names.
So which one should your business use? The honest answer depends less on the technology and more on two questions: who will update the site, and what it needs to do.
This guide explains the difference in plain English, compares the two on cost, editing, speed, security and SEO, and shows where Wix, Squarespace and Shopify fit. We build on both, so we'll tell you where each one falls short too.
Key takeaways
- WordPress is the safe default for most small businesses. It runs 39.4% of all websites and 58.1% of sites on a known content management system (W3Techs, November 2026), so help, plugins and developers are easy to find.
- Next.js suits custom builds with a developer on hand. It's "a React framework for building full-stack web applications" (Next.js). Without extra setup, changing the content means changing the code.
- Neither is automatically faster. In September 2026, 48.3% of WordPress sites and 35.7% of Next.js sites passed Google's Core Web Vitals on mobile (HTTP Archive). How a site is built matters more than what it's built on.
- WordPress needs regular updates. In 2025, 91% of new WordPress security flaws were found in plugins (Patchstack), so someone has to keep them updated.
- No platform ranks you on its own. Google's own guide says "There are no secrets here that'll automatically rank your site first in Google" (Google Search Central). Content, speed and setup do the work.
What's the difference between WordPress and Next.js?
WordPress is a content management system that runs 39.4% of all websites (W3Techs, November 2026). You log in, edit a page and press Update. Next.js is a developer framework: "a React framework for building full-stack web applications" (Next.js). A developer writes the site as code.
That's the real difference. WordPress gives you an editing screen out of the box. Next.js gives a developer a set of building blocks, and they decide how the site is edited.
WordPress is free, open source software (WordPress.org). You pay for hosting, a domain and whoever builds it. Its plugin directory lists over 78,000 free plugins (WordPress.org), covering contact forms, bookings, online shops and almost anything else. WooCommerce turns it into a full online store.
Next.js is also free and open source. It's built on React, the JavaScript library behind many modern web apps. A Next.js site can be exported as plain files, with "an HTML file per route" (Next.js), or run with a server for logins, dashboards and live data. If you want an editing screen, the developer connects a separate content system, often called a headless CMS.
How do they compare side by side?
| Feature | WordPress | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Content management system | Developer framework (React) |
| Who edits content | You, in the WordPress dashboard | A developer, or you through a connected CMS |
| Adding features | Install a plugin | A developer builds or connects it |
| Online shop | WooCommerce plugin | Custom build or a connected shop platform |
| Developers available | Very many | Fewer, and usually more specialised |
| Upkeep | Core, plugin and theme updates | Framework and package updates by a developer |
| Best fit | Brochure sites, blogs, small shops | Custom, app-like sites and portals |
Is Next.js faster than WordPress?
Not automatically. In September 2026, 48.3% of WordPress sites passed Google's Core Web Vitals on mobile, compared with 35.7% of Next.js sites (HTTP Archive). On desktop, Next.js was slightly ahead at 56.9% against 53.7%. Both can be fast, and both can be slow.
Here's how the main platforms compared on mobile that month:
- Wix80.9%
- Shopify76.2%
- Squarespace71%
- WordPress48.3%
- Next.js35.7%
Source: HTTP Archive Tech Report, Sept 2026
And on mobile and desktop side by side:
| Platform | Mobile pass rate | Desktop pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Wix | 80.9% | 87.1% |
| Shopify | 76.2% | 79.5% |
| Squarespace | 71.0% | 76.1% |
| WordPress | 48.3% | 53.7% |
| Next.js | 35.7% | 56.9% |
Why would a modern framework score lower? Because the numbers measure real sites, not the tools. Hosted builders like Wix and Shopify control the code and hosting for every site, so results stay consistent. WordPress and Next.js hand that control to whoever builds the site. The Web Almanac says results for self-hosted systems are "influenced by themes, plugins, and third-party integrations" (HTTP Archive Web Almanac 2025).
Which is more secure?
Neither is secure by default; both need updates. Patchstack found 11,334 new vulnerabilities in the WordPress ecosystem in 2025, and 91% of them were in plugins (Patchstack). Only 6 were in WordPress core itself. The risk sits in what you add, not the core software.
Patchstack also found that 46% of those vulnerabilities had no fix from the developer when they were made public. So a plugin that hasn't been updated in years is a real risk. WordPress installs minor core updates by default (WordPress Developer Resources), but plugins and themes aren't updated automatically unless someone turns that on.
Next.js has a smaller attack surface for a simple site, especially a static export with no login or database. It still gets security releases, though, and Next.js published them monthly through 2026 (Next.js blog). Someone needs to apply them.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre's advice applies to both. It says "Websites are a common target for cyber attacks", and tells small businesses to "keep content management systems and plug-ins up to date" and back up their website regularly (ACSC).
Which is better for SEO?
Neither platform ranks you on its own. Google says plainly: "There are no secrets here that'll automatically rank your site first in Google (sorry!)" (Google Search Central). Both can produce clean pages with proper titles, headings and descriptions.
WordPress makes the basics easy for non-developers. SEO plugins let you edit titles and descriptions on each page. With Next.js, a developer sets this up in code, and once it's done it works well.
One technical point matters for Next.js. Google "runs JavaScript with an evergreen version of Chromium", but it also says "server-side or pre-rendering is still a great idea" because "not all bots can run JavaScript" (Google Search Central). Next.js does pre-render pages, so this is rarely a problem if the developer uses it properly. AI tools that read websites benefit from the same thing.
What does each cost?
WordPress itself is free. In Brisbane, a small business site usually costs a few thousand dollars to build, plus A$10 to A$40 a month for hosting. We break down every cost in our guide to what a small business website costs in Australia.
A Next.js site usually costs more to build, because a developer writes more of it from scratch and fewer developers work with it. Hosting can be cheap for a static site, or cost more if the site needs a server. The bigger cost is ongoing: most changes need a developer unless a CMS is connected.
When should a business choose WordPress?
Choose WordPress when you want to update the site yourself and add features without a developer. It runs 58.1% of sites built on a known content management system (W3Techs, November 2026), so you'll never struggle to find help, plugins or someone to take over the site.
WordPress is usually the right call if:
- You'll edit pages, post news or write a blog yourself. The editor is familiar to most people who've used Word.
- You need common features. Bookings, contact forms, galleries and email sign-ups are mostly a plugin away.
- You want to sell online on a small or medium scale. WooCommerce handles products, payments and shipping.
- You want choice. If your developer moves on, thousands of others can pick up a WordPress site.
- Your budget is limited. Less custom code usually means a lower build cost.
The trade-off is upkeep. Every plugin you add is something else to update, and 91% of WordPress security flaws found in 2025 were in plugins (Patchstack). Keep the plugin list short, remove anything you don't use, and make sure someone applies updates every month.
When should a business choose Next.js?
Choose Next.js when the site works more like an app than a brochure, and you have a developer for the long term. It runs about 3.8% of websites (W3Techs, November 2026), but it's common for custom builds where design, speed control and features matter more than self-editing.
Next.js is usually the right call if:
- The site needs custom features. Client logins, dashboards, calculators, quote tools or connections to your own systems.
- You want full control of the design and code. There's no theme to work around.
- Content changes are rare, or a developer makes them. Or you're happy to pay for a headless CMS so staff can edit.
- You expect the site to grow into a web app. Next.js can serve pages and run app features from one codebase.
- You have ongoing developer support. Framework updates and new features need someone who knows React.
The trade-off is dependence on a developer. Without a connected CMS, a simple text change can mean a code change. Next.js does support editing workflows, such as Draft Mode, which lets "editors … preview unpublished content from a headless CMS" (Next.js). That setup adds to the build cost, though.
What about Wix, Squarespace or Shopify?
Hosted website builders are a third option, and they score well on speed. In September 2026, 80.9% of Wix sites and 76.2% of Shopify sites passed Core Web Vitals on mobile, well ahead of WordPress at 48.3% (HTTP Archive). The builder company runs the hosting, security and updates for you.
They suit businesses that want a simple site, launched quickly, with no upkeep. Shopify in particular is strong for online stores that sell a lot of products. Squarespace suits portfolios and service businesses that want a polished look with little effort.
The limits show up later. You rent the platform, so you pay a monthly fee for as long as the site exists. Custom features are harder to add. And moving to another platform usually means rebuilding the site. Our small business website cost guide compares builder fees with a custom build.
Quick guide: which platform fits?
| Your situation | Usually the best fit |
|---|---|
| Service business, you want to edit pages and blog yourself | WordPress |
| Small online shop with custom rules | WordPress with WooCommerce |
| Large product catalogue, selling is the main job | Shopify |
| Simple site, launched fast, no upkeep wanted | Wix or Squarespace |
| Client portal, dashboard or app-like features | Next.js |
| Custom design with a developer on hand long term | Next.js |
What should you ask before choosing a platform?
Ask who will edit the site and who will keep it updated, before you ask about technology. The ACSC tells small businesses to "turn on automatic updates so security fixes are applied as soon as they are available" (ACSC). Whichever platform you choose, someone has to own that job.
Take these questions to any developer or agency you're talking to:
- Who will update the content, and how? Ask them to show you the editing screen you'll actually use.
- Who applies security updates, and how often? Get it in writing, with the monthly cost.
- What happens if we part ways? Can another developer take over, and do you own the code, content and domain?
- Can you show Core Web Vitals for sites you've built? Real results beat promises about any platform.
- How many plugins or outside services will the site rely on? Fewer moving parts means less to break.
- Will the site meet accessibility standards? WCAG 2.2 is the current W3C standard (W3C), and both platforms can meet it if built with care.
- What will it cost to run each year, not just to build? Hosting, domain, updates, licences and support.
A good developer will answer these clearly, whatever they build with. If the only answer to every question is the platform's name, keep looking.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, for most small business sites. WordPress runs 39.4% of all websites (W3Techs, November 2026), it's free, and it has over 78,000 free plugins. It suits sites you want to edit yourself. The catch is upkeep: plugins need regular updates to stay secure.
Yes, when it's built properly. Next.js pre-renders pages as HTML, which Google recommends because not all bots can run JavaScript. Titles, descriptions and structured data are set up in code. Like any platform, rankings still depend on content and site quality.
Only if your developer connects a content management system. On its own, Next.js content lives in code, so changes need a developer. With a headless CMS, you get an editing screen, and Next.js Draft Mode lets editors preview unpublished content. That setup adds to the build cost.
Not inherently. Only 6 vulnerabilities were reported in WordPress core in 2025, while 91% of the 11,334 found in its ecosystem were in plugins (Patchstack). A WordPress site with few, well-maintained plugins and regular updates is low risk. A neglected site on any platform isn't.
Only if WordPress is stopping you from doing something your business needs, such as a client portal or custom tool. Speed alone isn't a good reason: 48.3% of WordPress sites passed mobile Core Web Vitals in September 2026, ahead of Next.js at 35.7% (HTTP Archive). Fixing hosting, theme and plugins is usually cheaper.
Which should you choose?
For most small businesses, WordPress is the practical choice: it runs 39.4% of all websites, you can edit it yourself, and help is easy to find (W3Techs, November 2026). Next.js earns its place when you need custom, app-like features and have a developer for the long term.
Whatever you pick, the build and the upkeep decide how fast, secure and visible your site is. Not the logo on the platform.
We build on both WordPress and Next.js, so we can recommend the one that suits your business rather than the one we happen to use. See how we approach website design and development, or tell us what your site needs to do. Talk to us about your project.
