WordPress vs React/Next.js Comparison Table
| Critère | WordPress | React / Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| Average Lighthouse score | 60-75/100 | 95-100/100 |
| Loading time | 2-5 seconds | < 1 second |
| Native security | Low (plugins) | High |
| Native SEO | Plugins required | Built-in (SSR/SSG) |
| Maintenance | Frequent | Minimal |
| Customization | Limited (themes) | Unlimited |
| Initial cost | Low | Medium |
| Total cost 3 years | High | Moderate |
| Scalability | Limited | Excellent |
Introduction
In 2025, choosing between WordPress and a modern framework like React/Next.js is a crucial decision. WordPress still dominates with 43% of global websites, but JavaScript frameworks are rapidly gaining ground.
In this comparison, we objectively analyze both approaches based on the most important criteria for your business: performance, security, SEO, maintenance and total cost of ownership.
Performance & speed
### WordPress
WordPress generates pages dynamically with each request. Even with caching, average response time remains between 2 and 5 seconds. Plugins significantly slow down the site.
### React/Next.js
Next.js pre-generates pages at build time (SSG) or renders them server-side (SSR). The result: loading times under 1 second and Lighthouse scores close to 100/100.
Verdict: React/Next.js offers significantly superior performance.
Security
### WordPress
WordPress is the #1 target for hackers due to its popularity. Vulnerabilities mainly come from third-party plugins and unmaintained themes. Constant maintenance is required.
### React/Next.js
A React/Next.js site has no exposed database by default. The architecture is more secure natively, with less attack surface and easily configurable security headers.
Verdict: React/Next.js is significantly more secure.
SEO & search ranking
### WordPress
WordPress requires plugins (Yoast, RankMath) for proper SEO. Client-side rendering can cause indexing issues, and slowness impacts Core Web Vitals.
### React/Next.js
Next.js offers native SSR/SSG perfect for SEO. Metadata, sitemap, structured data and rendering are handled natively. Excellent performance directly improves rankings.
Verdict: React/Next.js has the advantage thanks to SSR and performance.
Maintenance & updates
### WordPress
Frequent updates of core, plugins and themes. Risk of plugin conflicts and breakage after updates. Requires constant monitoring.
### React/Next.js
Fewer dependencies, controlled updates. No risky third-party plugins. Code is versioned with Git and deployed via CI/CD for risk-free production releases.
Verdict: React/Next.js requires less operational maintenance.
Total cost of ownership
### WordPress
- Initial cost: Low (themes at €50-100, free or ~€50/year plugins)
- Recurring cost: Hosting (~€20-50/month), maintenance (~€100-200/month), plugin updates
- 3-year cost: €5,000 - €12,000
### React/Next.js
- Initial cost: Medium (custom development)
- Recurring cost: Hosting (free on Vercel or ~€20/month), minimal maintenance
- 3-year cost: €3,000 - €8,000
Verdict: React/Next.js is more cost-effective in the long term.
Our verdict
WordPress remains relevant for simple blogs or projects with a very small initial budget.
React/Next.js is the optimal choice for businesses that want:
- Maximum performance (SEO, UX, conversion)
- Robust security without heavy maintenance
- A profitable investment in the long term
- Scalability to support their growth
At Levago, we develop exclusively with React/Next.js to guarantee our clients the best performance on the market.