PLATFORM COMPARISON
WordPress vs Next.js:
Complete Comparison 2025
An honest, data-driven comparison to help you choose the right platform for your business website.
| Feature | WordPress | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| Load Time | 5-8 seconds | 0.8-1.5 seconds |
| Lighthouse Score | 40-60/100 | 90-100/100 |
| Initial Cost | R8k - R15k | R15k - R35k |
| 3-Year Total Cost | R73k - R150k | R49k - R99k |
| Monthly Fees | R500+ (plugins/hosting) | R150-300 (hosting only) |
| Security Updates | Manual (risky) | Automatic |
| Hack Risk | High (every 39 sec) | Very Low |
| SEO Performance | Moderate | Excellent |
| Mobile Performance | Poor-Fair | Excellent |
| Scalability | Limited | Unlimited |
Performance: The Clear Winner
WordPress Performance
- • Average 5-8 second load times
- • Lighthouse scores 40-60/100
- • Heavy plugin overhead
- • Database queries slow down site
- • Poor Core Web Vitals
Next.js Performance
- • Sub-2 second load times
- • Lighthouse scores 90-100/100
- • Zero plugin dependencies
- • Static generation = instant loads
- • Perfect Core Web Vitals
Total Cost of Ownership (3 Years)
WordPress
Initial DevelopmentR8k - R15k
Premium ThemeR1.5k - R3k
Plugins (3 years)R9k - R18k
Hosting (3 years)R7k - R18k
Maintenance (3 years)R54k - R108k
Total 3-Year CostR73k - R150k
Next.js
Initial DevelopmentR15k - R35k
Themes/PluginsR0
Extra FeaturesR0
Hosting (3 years)R5k - R10k
Maintenance (3 years)R28k - R54k
Total 3-Year CostR49k - R99k
Save R24k - R50k over 3 years with Next.js
When to Choose Each Platform
Choose WordPress If...
- • Budget is under R10,000
- • You only need a simple blog
- • You're comfortable with constant maintenance
- • Performance isn't critical
- • You need specific WordPress plugins
Choose Next.js If...
- • You want a fast, modern website
- • SEO and rankings matter to you
- • You want lower long-term costs
- • Security is a priority
- • You need scalability
- • You're building a business, not just a blog
Ready to Make the Switch?
We offer free migration from WordPress to Next.js with zero downtime and SEO preservation.