Sanity + Next.js vs WordPress: Annual Running Costs Compared for Mid-Size Sites
A detailed cost breakdown compares the annual total cost of ownership for Sanity with Next.js against self-hosted WordPress, covering mid-size content sites with 20,000–50,000 monthly sessions and two to five editors. WordPress hosting on managed plans like WP Engine runs $600–$1,200 per year, while Sanity plus Vercel Pro comes in slightly lower at $660–$840 annually. Plugin licensing is where WordPress costs escalate sharply, with a typical production site spending $800–$1,400 per year on tools like caching, SEO, security, and forms, whereas Sanity and Next.js handle most of those functions natively at near-zero cost. Developer time spent on WordPress update cycles — estimated at 1.5 to 2 hours per month — adds a recurring hidden labour cost that spreadsheets often overlook. The analysis uses 2026 USD market rates and excludes one-time migration or design expenses.
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