WordPress, Shopify or Next.js: which platform should you pick?

BuildKitly themes are available for WordPress, Shopify and Next.js. There is no best platform in the abstract. There is the right one for the person who will run the site.

WordPress

Best for: content-led sites, service businesses, portfolios, blogs and small shops where you want control and a large choice of plugins.

• You host the site yourself (or with a host that manages WordPress for you).
• Editing is visual with a page builder such as Elementor.
• Updates, backups and security are your responsibility, so keep them on a routine.
• Selling products is possible with a shop plugin, but it is one more thing to maintain.

Shopify

Best for: stores whose main job is selling products.

• Hosting, checkout, payments and security are handled for you as part of the subscription.
• The theme editor lets you arrange pages with sections. Look for themes built for Online Store 2.0.
• Less freedom at the code level than WordPress, in exchange for less to maintain.
• Ongoing platform fees apply, so compare against what you would pay for hosting and plugins elsewhere.

Next.js

Best for: teams with a developer, or sites where performance and full control of the code matter most.

• You work with code, a Git repository and a host such as Vercel or Netlify. See our deployment walkthrough.
• Content usually lives in files or a headless CMS. Non-developers need a plan for how they will edit it.
• Excellent control over speed and behaviour, but no visual page builder out of the box.

Questions that decide it

1. Who will edit the site every week? A non-technical owner points to WordPress or Shopify. A developer can use any of them.
2. Is selling the main goal? Shopify is the focused choice. WordPress works if you accept the extra upkeep.
3. How much upkeep can you take on? Shopify minimises it. WordPress needs routine maintenance. Next.js needs a developer on call.
4. Do you need custom behaviour? All three can be extended. Next.js gives the most freedom, Shopify the most guardrails.

A note on buying

A theme is bought per platform, so the files you receive match the platform you choose at checkout. Another platform is a separate purchase. Each theme page shows which platforms are available and how files are delivered.

Still unsure?

Start from your industry and see what themes exist for businesses like yours. Our theme browser filters by builder, and you can write to us through the support page if you want a recommendation for your project.