WordPress powers roughly 40% of the internet. That is not an argument for using it. Most WordPress sites were built when there was no serious alternative for a marketing team; there are several now, and Sanity is one of the good ones.
Here is the honest comparison, from an agency that ships both when the project calls for it.
The philosophy gap
WordPress is a monolithic CMS. The backend (PHP), the database (MySQL), and the front end (a theme) are one system, all running on the same server. You install plugins to add capability.
Sanity is a headless CMS. The content backend is separate from the front end. Your website (built in Next.js, say) fetches content from Sanity's API.
Everything else follows from that.
Editor experience
WordPress uses the Block Editor (Gutenberg). It has improved dramatically since 2018 but still feels like editing a page, not editing content. Editors often need training to avoid breaking the page layout.
Sanity Studio separates content from layout. Editors write structured content; the layout is handled by the front end. There is no way to "break the design" by editing text. The Studio UI is configurable to your team's workflow.
Verdict: For teams that publish weekly and value editor safety, Sanity is materially better.
Performance
WordPress, out of the box, is slow. Fast WordPress exists (managed hosting, aggressive caching, minimal plugins) but it takes work.
Sanity + Next.js, out of the box, is fast. Static generation, edge caching, and no plugin bloat. Core Web Vitals scores are consistently higher.
Verdict: Sanity plus Next.js wins on performance without effort.
Developer experience
WordPress: PHP, theme files, hooks, filters, and a plugin ecosystem where quality varies wildly. Modern developers rarely reach for it as a first choice.
Sanity + Next.js: TypeScript, React, GROQ queries, generated types, git-versioned schemas. Familiar to any developer working in modern web stacks.
Verdict: For anyone hiring engineers, Sanity is the stack developers actually want to work in.
Security
WordPress is the largest attack surface on the internet. Plugins introduce vulnerabilities. Sites need active patching. Managed hosts (WP Engine, Kinsta) mitigate but do not eliminate this.
Sanity + Next.js has a much smaller attack surface. The front end is static or serverless. The CMS is hosted by Sanity, patched by them. Custom code you write is where risk sits, and it is contained.
Verdict: Sanity is materially safer for a business that cannot afford a breach.
Cost
WordPress is nominally free. Real cost is hosting (Kinsta, WP Engine, ~$30-$300/month), premium plugins (~$500-$2000/year), and maintenance retainer.
Sanity + Next.js: Sanity Growth ~$99/project/month. Vercel hosting starts at $20/month for Pro. No plugin licences.
Verdict: Total cost of ownership is roughly the same at small scale. Sanity wins at higher scale because there is no plugin licence sprawl.
When WordPress is still the right choice
Three scenarios:
You need WooCommerce. WordPress plus WooCommerce is still the cheapest way to run a small ecommerce site. Sanity plus Next.js plus Shopify or Stripe is usually better above a certain scale, but for a first store, WordPress is a legitimate choice.
You have a specific plugin dependency. Some niche functionality (LMS, membership sites, specific integrations) has a WordPress plugin and no equivalent elsewhere.
The team already runs WordPress and rebuilding is more expensive than living with it. Sunk cost is real. Sometimes the answer is to stay.
When to migrate to Sanity
Your WordPress site is slow and you have tried the usual fixes
Editors are afraid of breaking the layout
You are hiring engineers who don't want to touch WordPress
Security has been a problem
The plugin sprawl has become unmaintainable
Marketing wants to move faster than WordPress lets them
What a migration actually looks like
A typical WordPress-to-Sanity migration for a growing UK business:
Content model design in Sanity based on the WordPress content
Content migration script from WP REST API to Sanity
Front-end rebuild in Next.js using the existing design or a refresh
Redirect map from old URLs to new (SEO preservation is critical)
Editor training on Sanity Studio
Cutover with monitoring
Typical timeline: 6-10 weeks depending on content volume and design decisions.
Need a team to build or rebuild your Sanity site? Read our guide to choosing a Sanity CMS development company.
Next step
If Contentful is also on your list, see Contentful vs Sanity. Weighing more options? Sanity CMS alternatives covers the full shortlist.
If you're weighing WordPress against Sanity for a new build or a migration off an existing WordPress site, talk to Goodspeed Studio. We'll tell you where WordPress is genuinely the right answer and where Sanity is, before you commit to either.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sanity better than WordPress?
Should I migrate from WordPress to Sanity?
Can Sanity replace WordPress?
Is Sanity faster than WordPress?
Is Sanity more secure than WordPress?
What does WordPress do that Sanity doesn't?
How much does a WordPress to Sanity migration cost?
Does Sanity have plugins like WordPress?
Harish Malhi
Founder of Goodspeed
Harish Malhi is the founder of Goodspeed. He left Google in 2019 to build his own product, and started Goodspeed to give other founders the same head start. Today the studio designs and builds websites and the whole digital experience around them for funded tech companies, at the moments that matter: a raise, a launch, a press cycle. Goodspeed is a Framer Enterprise Expert, was Bubble’s Agency of the Year in 2024, and has shipped 300+ products, including launch pages for an NVIDIA-backed AI lab and a Webby-nominated site for a Boeing-backed aviation company. It holds a 5.0 rating from 46 reviews on Clutch.
