WordPress, website builder or a hand-built website?

There are three common ways to get a website. Each has its place. Here is the comparison without the sales talk.

Website builders (Wix, Jimdo, Squarespace)

You put the site together yourself by clicking. Advantage: it is there immediately and you need no technician. Disadvantage: monthly costs forever, the site only runs with that provider, moving it is practically impossible, and load times are often weak because a lot of code is loaded that you do not need. For a simple digital business card that you will switch off again next year, it can be enough.

WordPress

The most widely used system in the world, and most agencies build with it. Advantage: a huge selection of themes and plugins, and many service providers know it. Disadvantage: exactly those plugins. A typical WordPress site has 15 to 30 of them, each needs updates, and outdated plugins are a common reason for hacked websites. Without a maintenance plan or your own discipline, the site deteriorates. A maintenance plan costs from around 29 euros per month with most providers.

Hand-built

The site is written directly as code, without a content management system in the background or with a very small, custom admin area. Advantage: very fast, because only what is needed is included. Hardly any attack surface, because there are no plugins. The code belongs to you and runs on any server. Disadvantage: structural changes are made by a developer, not by you. With a good setup, you can still update texts and images yourself.

What I recommend

• You just want to get something online quickly and spend no money: a website builder.
• You need a shop with hundreds of products or a large blog with many authors: WordPress or a shop system.
• You want a fast, secure business site with five to ten pages that belongs to you and brings in enquiries: hand-built.

I build the third option. If a website builder is enough for your case, I will tell you in our conversation.

Costs over three years

Always calculate over a longer period. A builder at 25 euros per month costs 900 euros over three years, and you own nothing at the end. A WordPress site for 1,500 euros plus maintenance at 29 euros per month comes to around 2,500 euros. A hand-built site for 499 euros plus hosting at 39.99 euros per year comes to about 620 euros. Changes are agreed separately, and the code belongs to you.

Frequently asked questions

Can I maintain a hand-built site myself?

Texts, prices, photos and opening hours yes, through a small admin area. New page types or features are built by a developer. For most businesses that is exactly the right split.

What happens if my developer is no longer available?

With a hand-built site you have the complete code and all logins. Any other developer can continue working with it. With a website builder you do not have that option.

Is WordPress insecure?

WordPress itself is well maintained. The problems almost always come from outdated plugins and themes. If you update regularly, you are reasonably safe. If you do not, you will end up with a hacked site at some point.