The Honest Answer
I get asked this a lot: “Should I use Laravel or WordPress?”
The short answer: it depends. The longer answer: I use both, for different things, and the choice matters less than you think.
When I Use WordPress
For content-heavy sites where the client needs to update things themselves. Blogs. Brochure sites. Simple business pages.
WordPress with a good theme and a page builder can get a business online in a day. The client can manage it after I’m done. That’s the killer feature — not the tech, but the handoff.
I use it for client projects where the budget is tight and the requirements are standard. Prakriti Premi runs on WordPress. So does this site.
When I Use Laravel
When I need custom functionality that WordPress plugins can’t handle cleanly. When I’m building a product, not a website. When I need full control over the database, the logic, and the user experience.
FlowDesk runs on Laravel because it’s a product with custom business logic — not a content site. Langtang Gear’s store runs on Laravel (built through The High Road) because I wanted tight integration with local payment gateways and order management that a generic WooCommerce setup couldn’t provide.
When I Use Next.js
For modern front-end projects where I want a better developer experience and performance. Next.js is what I reach for when the front-end needs to feel fast and dynamic, and I don’t want to fight with WordPress theme limitations.
My Rule of Thumb
Use the simplest tool that solves the problem.
If a client needs a blog, don’t build it in Laravel. If you’re building a custom product, don’t fight WordPress to act like something it’s not. Pick the tool that fits the job, not the one that’s trending.
Nepali businesses don’t need the trendiest stack. They need something that works, stays up, and doesn’t cost a fortune to maintain. That’s what I deliver through The High Road.
