WordPress vs Next.js Website: Which is Better for Your Business in Bali?

One of the most common dilemmas business owners in Indonesia face when building a website is: WordPress or a custom website like Next.js? This choice isn’t as simple as it looks, and the wrong decision can significantly affect your digital performance for years to come.

As a Bali-based software house that has built dozens of websites for various businesses — from luxury villas in Seminyak to trendy restaurants in Ubud — Dewata Tech has hands-on experience with both platforms. In this article, we’ll give you an honest comparison between WordPress vs custom website (Next.js) so you can make the best decision for your business.

What Is WordPress?

WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) first launched in 2003. Today, WordPress powers more than 43% of all websites in the world — an impressive number.

Pros of WordPress:

• Easy to use: The intuitive admin interface allows anyone — even without a technical background — to manage website content.
• Rich plugin ecosystem: There are more than 59,000 free and paid plugins that can add almost any functionality you need.
• Many themes available: Thousands of themes (design templates) are available, both free and premium.
• Large community: Plenty of tutorials, forums, and developers familiar with WordPress.
• Lower initial cost: WordPress development is generally cheaper because many features are already available as plugins.

Cons of WordPress:

• Slower performance: WordPress can become slow if there are too many plugins or if it’s not properly optimized.
• Security: Because it’s so popular, WordPress is a frequent target for hackers.
• Requires regular maintenance: WordPress core, themes, and plugins must be updated regularly.
• Customization limits: There are certain limits in terms of design and functionality customization.
• Plugin dependencies: Heavy reliance on third-party plugins whose quality can vary.

What Is Next.js / Custom Website?

Next.js is a modern JavaScript framework built on top of React. Developed by Vercel, Next.js is a top choice for modern developers to build highly performant websites and web applications.