Website builder, WordPress or custom: which to choose

Let's start with something agencies rarely say: sometimes a builder like Wix or Squarespace is completely fine. If you need a simple page with a few photos and a phone number, there's no point paying for development.

The trouble starts when the site has to do something: take bookings, sell, connect to your software or rank above competitors on Google. That's where the three options behave very differently.

Builders (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify)

You pay a monthly subscription and assemble the site yourself from ready-made blocks. It's quick and cheap to start.

• Good for: a simple business site, a portfolio, a small store with few products.
• Pros: fast start, no technical skills, hosting included.
• Cons: monthly fees grow with add-ons, the site isn't yours (you can't move it), speed and SEO are limited by the platform.

WordPress (and WooCommerce)

The most widely used system in the world. There's a theme and a plugin for almost everything, and the site is yours to move between hosts.

• Good for: a blog, a content site, a store with standard needs.
• Pros: huge choice of ready-made solutions, easy text editing.
• Cons: every plugin is more code to update, sites tend to slow down over time, and security depends on regular maintenance.

A custom website

The site is built for your business: only what you need, without unnecessary plugins. It costs more up front, but there are no monthly add-on fees and it does exactly what you want.

• Good for: bookings, a store with imports and invoicing, integrations with your software, platforms.
• Pros: speed, security, you own the code, everything works together.
• Cons: higher initial cost and you need a developer for big changes.

How to compare properly

• Add up every monthly fee: subscription, plugins, apps, percentage of sales.
• Multiply by 36 months and add the time you'll lose on manual work.
• Ask: can I take my site with me if I leave the platform?
• Check the speed of sites built on the same solution (for example with our free audit).