Why we no longer recommend WordPress in 2026
Why we no longer recommend WordPress in 2026
WordPress powers 43% of the internet. If it's so popular, why don't we recommend it?
Popularity doesn't mean it's the right choice for you. Here are the real reasons.
1. Security — problem number one
WordPress is the target of over 90% of attacks on CMS platforms worldwide. Why? Because it's everywhere and full of third-party plugins, each with potential vulnerabilities.
Real statistics from 2025:
- 97% of WordPress attacks come through plugins
- A WordPress site has on average 22 installed plugins
- 52% of WordPress vulnerabilities are abandoned plugins
A custom-coded website doesn't have these problems. There are no third-party plugins, no themes with hidden code, and no exposed WordPress databases.
2. Speed — Google penalizes slow websites
Google has used speed as a ranking factor since 2021. A typical WordPress site with plugins has a PageSpeed score of 40–65 out of 100. A custom-coded Next.js site usually scores 90–100 out of 100.
What does this mean in practice? Fewer bounced visitors, more time spent on your site, and better Google rankings — without doing anything else.
3. Hidden costs
WordPress seems free. But the costs add up quickly:
- Premium theme: 50–100 EUR (one-time)
- Premium plugins: 100–300 EUR/year
- Decent hosting: 10–30 EUR/month
- Developer for fixes: 50–150 EUR/incident
- Real total per year: 400–800 EUR minimum
A custom-coded website has transparent costs from the start. You pay once for development, then simple hosting with no surprises.
4. Customization limits
Have a specific design idea? With WordPress, you're limited by what your theme allows. Changing the structure often means replacing the whole theme and losing previous customizations.
With custom code, the website is built exactly as you need it — every pixel, every animation, every feature.
5. Ongoing maintenance
A WordPress site requires frequent updates — core, themes, plugins. If you don't update, you risk security. If you update and something breaks, you have a problem.
A custom-coded website runs stably without constant updates. If you're not adding new features, there's no reason to touch it.
When WordPress still makes sense
Let's be fair: WordPress makes sense for personal blogs with massive content, websites that need a complex editorial system with many authors, or projects with very small budgets where launch speed matters more than quality.
For any serious business that wants performance, security, and scalability, we recommend Next.js with custom code.
What we use at Synq
At Synq we build with Next.js, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS — the technology stack used by Vercel, Linear, Stripe, and other top companies. Websites that load in under 1 second, with PageSpeed scores above 95, and zero dependency on WordPress.
Have questions about your project?