One of the most common questions I get: "Should I use WordPress or get a custom website?" The answer isn't as simple as most developers make it seem. Both have real advantages and real disadvantages — and the right choice depends entirely on your situation.
Let me break this down honestly, without the bias you'll get from someone who only offers one option.
Understanding WordPress
WordPress powers about 43% of all websites on the internet. That's everything from personal blogs to major news sites to e-commerce stores. It's incredibly versatile, which is both its strength and weakness.
WordPress Pros
- Easy content management — Anyone can update text, add blog posts, or swap images without coding knowledge
- Massive plugin ecosystem — Over 60,000 plugins for almost any functionality you need
- Lower initial cost — Themes and plugins can save development time
- Large community — Tons of tutorials, forums, and developers who can help
- Built-in blogging — WordPress was born as a blogging platform, so content management is excellent
- Familiar interface — If you've used WordPress before, it's easy to pick up again
WordPress Cons
- Security vulnerabilities — WordPress is the #1 target for hackers. Over 90,000 attacks per minute target WordPress sites
- Plugin conflicts — The more plugins you add, the more likely something breaks
- Speed issues — WordPress sites are often slow due to bloated themes and excessive plugins
- Constant updates required — WordPress core, themes, and plugins need regular updates or you're vulnerable
- Template limitations — Themes give you a starting point, but customizing beyond the theme's options often requires a developer anyway
- Hosting complexity — WordPress needs specific hosting that handles PHP and MySQL
Understanding Custom Websites
A custom website is built from scratch — every line of code written specifically for your business needs. This is what I specialize in.
Custom Website Pros
- Blazing fast performance — No bloated code, no unnecessary features, just lean, optimized code
- Maximum security — No known vulnerabilities, no public attack vectors
- Complete design freedom — Literally anything is possible, no template limitations
- Better SEO — Clean code, fast loading, and proper structure give you an edge in Google
- No plugin dependency — Everything is built-in, nothing to break or become outdated
- Scales with your business — Custom functionality can be added exactly when and how you need it
Custom Website Cons
- Higher initial investment — Custom development takes more time upfront
- Need a developer for changes — Unless an admin panel is built (which I always include)
- Longer initial build time — Building from scratch takes longer than customizing a template
When to Choose WordPress
WordPress is the right choice when:
- You need a blog-heavy site and will publish content frequently
- You have a very tight budget and need to get online fast
- You want to make frequent content updates yourself
- You need specific plugin functionality (like WooCommerce for complex e-commerce)
- You plan to hire different developers over time and want platform familiarity
When to Choose Custom
A custom website is the right choice when:
- Speed and performance are critical (they always should be, but especially for e-commerce)
- Security is a top concern (healthcare, finance, legal industries)
- You want to stand out from competitors who all use the same templates
- You need specific functionality that plugins can't provide
- You're building a long-term brand and want a foundation that grows with you
- You're tired of WordPress maintenance headaches
My Recommendation
For most small businesses, I recommend a custom-built website. Here's why: the perceived savings of WordPress usually evaporate once you factor in premium themes, plugin licenses, security plugins, hosting upgrades, and the time you spend managing updates.
With a custom site, you pay once and get something that's fast, secure, and uniquely yours. I build admin panels into every custom site so you can still update your own content — you get the best of both worlds.
Not Sure Which Is Right for You?
Let's talk about it. I'll give you my honest recommendation based on your specific needs — even if that means suggesting WordPress instead of my custom services.
