For most small businesses, WordPress is the right choice, because it is cheaper, quicker to launch and easy to edit yourself. Next.js is the better choice when you need an app-like product, such as a client portal, a dashboard or a tool with logins, or a very custom build. Both can rank well on Google. The right answer depends on what your website has to do, who will edit it and what you want to spend.
Rusted Web builds both, so this comparison is honest rather than a sales pitch. Here is how they differ and who each one suits.
What is the difference between WordPress and Next.js?
WordPress is a content management system. You log in, edit pages in a visual editor and publish, and the software handles the rest. Thousands of plugins add features such as forms, bookings and online stores. It powers a large share of the web, and it suits businesses that want to manage their own content.
Next.js is a framework built on React, a JavaScript library for building interfaces. Developers write the site as code, and it is deployed to a platform such as Vercel. Nothing is installed by default, so everything you need is built to order. Next.js renders each page on the server, which means Google and AI crawlers receive finished pages instead of an empty shell that fills in later.
How do WordPress and Next.js compare?
| WordPress | Next.js | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical build price in South Africa | From R5 900 (Rusted Web Starter), up to R25 000 or more for larger sites | From R16 500 for a website, from R45 000 for a web app (Rusted Web) |
| Time to launch | 1 to 8 weeks | 3 to 12 weeks |
| Editing content yourself | Very easy, built-in editor | Needs a CMS or admin screens built for you |
| Speed | Fast with a lean custom theme, slower with heavy plugins and builders | Very fast by default, with pages pre-built and served from a global network |
| SEO | Excellent, with mature tools and full control | Excellent, but every SEO feature must be built in |
| Running costs | Hosting from R199 a month | Hosting from R750 a month, plus about US$45 in platform fees if you use Vercel Pro and Supabase Pro |
| Logins, portals and dashboards | Possible with plugins, but can get clumsy | A natural fit |
| Maintenance | Regular WordPress and plugin updates | Dependency updates and monitoring |
| Best for | Brochure sites, blogs, online stores, most small businesses | Web apps, client portals, very custom or high-traffic builds |
Platform fees are in US dollars. We assume roughly R18.50 to the dollar, so Vercel Pro (about US$20 per developer seat) and Supabase Pro (about US$25) come to about R830 a month.
Which one is cheaper?
WordPress is cheaper to build and cheaper to run for most businesses. A Starter WordPress site of up to 3 pages starts at R5 900 and hosting from R199 a month. A Next.js site costs more to build because every part is written as code, and it has higher running costs because the database and hosting platforms bill in dollars. Next.js can still be the cheaper option for a complex app, where a WordPress build would need many plugins and workarounds. For a breakdown of typical prices, read how much a website costs in South Africa.
Which one is easier to edit?
WordPress is much easier to edit. Anyone can change text, swap photos and publish a blog post in the standard editor within minutes, with no developer involved. A Next.js site can offer the same experience, but only if we connect it to a content management system or build admin screens, which adds to the cost. If your team will update the site every week, that is a strong reason to pick WordPress.
Which one is faster and better for SEO?
Both can be fast and both can rank well, so the winner depends on how they are built. A lean custom WordPress theme loads quickly and has excellent SEO tools. Next.js pre-builds pages and serves them from servers close to the visitor, so it is fast by default. The key for Next.js is server rendering. A plain client-side React app can be hard for search engines and AI crawlers to read, because the content only appears after JavaScript runs. Next.js avoids that problem. If you want to improve a slow site, our speed optimisation service works on WordPress sites.
What does hosting look like for each?
WordPress needs a PHP and database server, and Rusted Web WordPress hosting costs from R199 a month with SSL, daily backups and monthly SEO checks. Next.js usually runs on Vercel, with a database and sign-in on Supabase. Both bill in US dollars, so your costs move slightly with the exchange rate. We manage this for you through Next.js and app hosting from R750 a month, and the platform accounts stay in your name.
Who should choose WordPress?
Choose WordPress if you fit one of these descriptions:
- You want a professional brochure site, a blog or an online store with a clear budget.
- You or your staff want to edit pages and publish posts without calling a developer.
- You need to sell with PayFast, Yoco or Ozow using WooCommerce.
- You want the lowest build and running cost, and a launch within a few weeks.
Rusted Web builds custom WordPress websites from R5 900, each on a lean theme written for your business.
Who should choose Next.js?
Choose Next.js if you fit one of these descriptions:
- You need a client portal, member area, booking tool or dashboard with user accounts.
- Your site needs very custom behaviour that plugins cannot deliver cleanly.
- You expect high traffic and want pages served from a global network.
- You already have a WordPress editor your team loves and want a faster front end, which is called headless WordPress.
Rusted Web builds React and Next.js websites in-house from R16 500, with Supabase for the database and sign-in and Vercel for deployment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start on WordPress and move to Next.js later?
Yes. Many businesses launch on WordPress and add a Next.js app later, such as a customer portal, or switch to headless WordPress for the front end. Your content, domain and Google rankings can be kept with correct redirects.
Is Next.js better for SEO than WordPress?
Not automatically. Both can rank equally well when built properly. WordPress gives you SEO tools out of the box, while Next.js gives you full control but needs each feature built in. Content quality and links matter more than the platform.
Do I pay for Vercel and Supabase myself?
Yes, the platforms bill you directly on accounts in your name. Our monthly fee covers management, monitoring and support. We explain the expected platform costs in rand before you commit.
Which should I choose if I am unsure?
Choose WordPress. It is the simpler, cheaper option for most businesses, and you can add a Next.js app later if you need one.
Not sure which fits your project? Get a quote and we will recommend the simpler option, even if that means a smaller job for us.