What Next.js gets you
Next.js is a React framework — you're writing real code, not configuring a builder. That gets you fast page loads, full control over structure and metadata, and the ability to build actual product features (auth, dashboards, API integrations) alongside the marketing site. See our website development pricing. The tradeoff: content changes need a developer, or a CMS wired up specifically for your editors.
What WordPress gets you
WordPress runs a huge share of the web for a reason — a massive plugin ecosystem and a content editing experience built for non-technical users. It's a strong choice for content-heavy sites (blogs, publications, resource libraries) where the team publishing content isn't the team that built the site. The tradeoff: performance and security depend heavily on which plugins you install, and custom functionality often means fighting the platform rather than building freely.
What Webflow gets you
Webflow is a visual builder — no code required to launch a polished site fast. It's the right call when you need something live quickly and don't have custom backend needs. The tradeoff: once you need functionality beyond what the builder supports — real auth, a database, complex integrations — you hit a wall that usually means a rebuild elsewhere.
A decision checklist
- Who edits content after launch? Non-technical team → WordPress or Webflow. Developer-maintained → Next.js.
- Do you need custom functionality? Auth, dashboards, integrations → Next.js.
- How fast do you need to launch? Webflow is usually fastest for a simple site.
- How much does performance matter? Next.js gives you the most direct control.