This dilemma comes up with almost every client. Here is an honest comparison.
WordPress
WordPress is a content management system. A large share of the sites on the internet run on it.
Pros: you edit texts and images yourself, there is a huge choice of templates and plugins, and it is easy to find someone who knows how to maintain it.
Cons: plugins slow the site down, it needs regular security updates, and templates often look alike.
Custom website
The site is written from scratch for your business, with no unnecessary code.
Pros: very fast, a unique design, minimal risk of being hacked, and perfectly adapted to your processes (for example booking).
Cons: changes are usually made by a developer, and the starting price is higher than with a ready-made template.
Comparison
- Speed: custom is usually faster.
- Security: custom is less exposed to attacks, since it doesn’t have dozens of plugins.
- Editing it yourself: WordPress is more convenient.
- Unique look: custom.
- Upfront cost: WordPress is usually cheaper.
- Long-term cost: often about equal, because WordPress needs maintenance.
How to decide
Choose WordPress if you publish new articles every week, have a large blog or a shop with hundreds of products.
Choose a custom website if you run a service business (a clinic, restaurant, school or trade) whose content doesn’t change often, and you want the site to be fast, secure and stand out from the competition.
For most small businesses a custom website is the more sensible choice, and that is exactly the kind of site I build.