I’ve been building websites with WordPress for over a decade now and really enjoy working with it. But lately I’m starting to think about whether I should learn a different technology stack for my client work.
I’m not interested in drag and drop builders like Wix or Squarespace. Those just don’t appeal to me at all. I’ve also looked at Webflow but it’s not really my thing.
I’m curious if anyone here has made the jump from WordPress development to learning Next.js? My background is mainly front-end focused with solid HTML and CSS skills. I typically use Elementor for page building and I’m definitely willing to dive deeper into coding if needed.
The main thing that keeps me tied to WordPress is how easy it is for clients to manage their content compared to sites that are purely code-based. What are your thoughts on this? Has anyone dealt with similar concerns when making this kind of transition?
totally get that! Next.js has a learning curve, especially for clients who just want to update their stuff easily. maybe start with a mixed app that uses wp for backend but still leverages next.js for the frontend. that way, you keep the best of both worlds.
That’s a valid concern, but here’s the thing - most clients actually prefer simpler editing once they try it. WordPress overwhelms non-technical clients with all those plugins and options. When I switched to Next.js with Contentful, my clients found it way more straightforward. The real win is on the dev side though. Your sites will be much faster and more secure without WordPress bloat. Since you’ve got solid HTML/CSS skills, the learning curve isn’t that bad. You’ll just need to wrap your head around React and deployment workflows. I’d build your own portfolio in Next.js first to learn the ropes before taking on client work.
Made this exact switch two years ago - the client content management thing is definitely real. I solved it by pairing headless CMS like Strapi or Sanity with Next.js. Clients get a clean admin interface that’s actually better than WordPress, and you get Next.js performance plus way better dev experience. Setup takes longer upfront, but deployment and maintenance are so much smoother after. Your HTML/CSS background will help tons. I’d test it on one smaller client project first before going all-in. There’s a learning curve, but if you’re solid with front-end already, you’ll be fine.