For most small businesses, WordPress is a good choice: it is quick to build, easy for staff to update, and almost any developer can work on it later. A custom-coded website is better when speed, unusual design or special features matter more than easy self-editing, or when the site is really an application. The right answer depends on who will update the site and what it needs to do.
The two options compared
| WordPress | Custom-coded | |
|---|---|---|
| Build time | Shorter | Longer |
| Editing by your staff | Easy, through an admin panel | Needs a developer, unless an editor is built in |
| Design freedom | High, with good themes and blocks | Complete |
| Speed | Good, if kept lean | Excellent, when built well |
| Security upkeep | Regular updates of core, theme and plugins | Fewer moving parts |
| Finding another developer | Easy | Depends on the technology |
| Special features | Through plugins | Built exactly to need |
When WordPress is the right choice
- You want to add news, events, blog posts or photos yourself.
- The site is mainly pages, galleries and forms.
- You want the option to change developers easily.
- Your budget favours a faster build.
When custom is the better choice
- The site must load extremely fast on slow connections.
- The design uses heavy animation or interaction.
- The site includes logins, calculations, bookings or dashboards that plugins can’t handle well.
- You will rarely change the content.
The middle path
Many sites use WordPress for content, with a custom-coded section for the special feature, such as a fee calculator or a booking tool. Another option is a fast static front end with content edited through a simple editor.
WordPress done badly
Most WordPress problems come from how it was built, not from WordPress:
- Too many plugins, which slows the site and adds security risk.
- A heavy theme loading features you don’t use.
- No updates for months.
- No backups.
Ask any WordPress developer how many plugins they plan to install, and who will update them.
Questions to decide
- Who will update the site, and how often?
- Does the site need features beyond pages and forms?
- How important is speed for your visitors?
- Who will maintain it after launch?
- Will you want to change developers one day?
How Ameya Artha helps
We build both, and recommend the one that fits how you will use your website, not the one that is easiest for us. See our website services