We already compared WordPress and Next.js on speed. Here is the other, harder-hitting reason, with real numbers on security.
The problem is almost never WordPress itself
WordPress runs a large share of websites worldwide, and the core software itself is reasonably well watched and patched by its team. The real risk comes from somewhere else: security researchers who track publicly disclosed WordPress vulnerabilities regularly find that around 96% of them come from plugins, not WordPress's core.
That distinction matters. A well-kept WordPress site, with few plugins and all of them current, does not carry the same risk as a site with fifteen plugins installed over the years, some of them forgotten.
Why plugins are the real weak point
The WordPress plugin ecosystem has tens of thousands of options, built by very different teams: some serious and well maintained, others abandoned years ago. A good share of the flaws found can be used without even having an account on the target site, which makes them especially easy to exploit at scale, across thousands of sites at once, not just one specifically targeted site.
The problem grows over time: the longer a site runs, the more plugins it accumulates, and the harder it gets to know which ones are still genuinely needed and current.
The real cost of a hack
A simple hacked-site cleanup can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on how bad the infection is. But the real cost usually goes past the cleanup itself: the downtime during which no customer can find you, the lost Google traffic if the site got penalized, and the time spent putting everything back in order. Counting all of that, industry estimates for a full recovery often run from $2,500 to more than $8,000.
And that's before counting the trust lost if a customer lands on your site while it's showing a suspicious redirect or an error message.
This is not a reason to panic, but to know what you're running
The point here is not to scare anyone. WordPress remains a good tool, and plenty of WordPress sites run for years without ever getting hacked. The real question to ask is simple: does anyone actually know what's installed on the site, and is someone keeping it current?
A site left alone for years, with plugins nobody maintains anymore, is a real risk. A site checked on regularly is a lot less of one.
If you already have a WordPress site
- Keep the plugin count to a minimum: every extra plugin is one more door.
- Update WordPress, the theme, and every plugin as soon as an update is out, not just once a year.
- Fully remove plugins and themes you no longer use, don't just leave them deactivated.
- Use a unique, strong password for admin access, never one reused anywhere else.
How we choose technology for a new site
We already covered this in our WordPress vs Next.js comparison: WordPress stays a good choice for some projects, and we build with it too when it fits. But for most sites we deliver, we build on Next.js, partly for speed, and partly for this security reason: fewer third-party plugins to watch means fewer doors left open over time.
This isn't about following a trend. It's about how much time someone has to spend, every month, watching what runs on your site so nothing turns into a real risk.
How SimplerWebs can help
- Website maintenance: we keep your site current and watch for real warning signs, before they turn into a hack.
- Website redesign: if your WordPress site has piled up years of forgotten plugins, we can look at what's actually worth keeping.
- Custom website: for a new project, we build a solid base from day one, made to last without becoming a burden to watch.
In short
The WordPress security risk almost never comes from WordPress itself, but from the plugins installed on it, and it grows over time if nobody watches what's running. Fixing a hacked site usually costs more, in money and time, than simply maintaining it would have.
Not sure where your current site stands? We can look at that with you, honestly.
Frequently asked questions
Is WordPress dangerous by itself?
No. The core software is reasonably well tracked. The real risk almost always comes from the plugins installed on it, not WordPress itself.
How many plugins is too many?
There's no magic number, but every extra plugin is one more door to watch. The real question is whether each one is still genuinely useful and current.
Do I need to drop WordPress to be safe?
Not necessarily. A well-kept WordPress site, with few current plugins, remains reasonable. We recommend Next.js for most of our new projects, but it's not the only viable option.
How do I know if my WordPress site is at risk?
Check how many plugins are installed, whether they're current, and whether you still recognize what each one is for. Our SEO audit also looks at this kind of technical signal.
What do I do if my site is already hacked?
Act fast: the longer a site stays infected, the more the repair and the lost customer trust end up costing. We can point you in the right direction, even if we didn't originally build the site.