WordPress vs Next.js: Which is Better for Australian Businesses?
For most Australian small businesses in 2026, Next.js delivers faster websites, better SEO, and stronger security than WordPress. However, WordPress remains cheaper to maintain and has more plugins. Here is a complete comparison to help you choose.
Last Updated: February 2026
Quick Comparison
| Feature | WordPress | Next.js |
|---------|-----------|--------|
| Speed | 2-5 seconds load | Under 1 second load |
| SEO | Good with plugins | Excellent by default |
| Security | Frequent vulnerabilities | Very secure |
| Cost to build | $500-$3,000 | $1,200-$5,000 |
| Monthly maintenance | $50-$200 | $10-$50 |
| Plugins/Extensions | 60,000+ plugins | NPM ecosystem |
| Learning curve | Easy for content | Needs a developer |
| Hosting | Shared hosting OK | Vercel/cloud |
Speed and Performance
Next.js websites load in under 1 second because they pre-render pages as static HTML. WordPress generates pages on each visit, which is inherently slower.
For Australian businesses, speed matters because:
- Google uses page speed as a ranking factor
- 53% of mobile users leave if a page takes over 3 seconds
- Faster sites convert more visitors into customers
Winner: Next.js
SEO Capabilities
WordPress relies on plugins like Yoast SEO for basic optimisation. Next.js has SEO built into the framework — automatic meta tags, structured data, sitemaps, and server-side rendering.
For local Melbourne SEO, Next.js offers:
- Automatic schema markup generation
- Programmatic SEO (generate hundreds of location pages)
- Perfect Core Web Vitals scores
- Server-side rendering for instant content indexing
Winner: Next.js
Security
WordPress is the most hacked CMS in the world. In 2025, over 90% of hacked websites were WordPress. Every plugin is a potential vulnerability.
Next.js has no admin panel to hack, no database exposed to the internet (when using static generation), and no plugins with security holes.
Winner: Next.js
Cost Comparison
WordPress
- Theme: $0-$100
- Plugins: $0-$500/year
- Hosting: $10-$50/month
- Developer: $500-$3,000 to build
- Maintenance: $50-$200/month
- **Total Year 1: $1,200-$5,400**
Next.js
- Development: $1,200-$5,000
- Hosting (Vercel): $0-$20/month
- Domain: $15-$50/year
- Maintenance: $10-$50/month
- **Total Year 1: $1,335-$5,650**
Similar first-year costs, but Next.js is cheaper to maintain long-term.
Winner: Tie (depends on budget)
When to Choose WordPress
- You need to update content frequently without a developer
- You need specific plugins (WooCommerce, membership sites)
- Budget is under $1,000
- You want to manage everything yourself
When to Choose Next.js
- Speed and SEO are priorities
- You want a professional, custom design
- Security is important (healthcare, legal, finance)
- You plan to scale or add features later
- You want the best Google rankings possible
Our Recommendation for Melbourne Businesses
At CoreWebHub, we build with Next.js because our clients prioritise Google rankings and lead generation. The performance difference is measurable — our sites consistently score 90+ on Lighthouse while WordPress sites average 40-60.
For businesses that need frequent content updates, we build a simple CMS into the Next.js site so you get the best of both worlds.
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Need help choosing? Contact CoreWebHub for a free consultation. Call 0432 405 388.
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