Custom website or WordPress: the honest comparison
WordPress powers 43% of all websites worldwide. It's free, there are thousands of plugins, and everyone knows it. So why would you ever choose custom?
Because free isn't always cheap. And popular isn't always the best choice.
WordPress: the advantages
Let's be fair, WordPress has real advantages:
- Free software: the core costs nothing
- Huge ecosystem: thousands of themes and plugins
- Well-known: many developers know it
- Content management: the editor works well for blogs
If you only need a blog or simple brochure site and have a limited budget, WordPress is a valid choice.
WordPress: the downsides nobody mentions
Security
WordPress is the most attacked CMS in the world. Not because it's poorly built, but because it's so popular. Every plugin is a potential security vulnerability. And with 20-30 plugins on an average site, that's a real risk.
You need to constantly update, install security plugins, and hope none of your plugins have vulnerabilities.
Performance
A fresh WordPress installation is fast enough. But after adding a theme, 20 plugins, tracking scripts, and a page builder? Load times of 3-5 seconds are the rule, not the exception.
Compare that with a custom site on modern technology: sub-second load times, proven in projects like Opairly.
The real costs
WordPress is free. Everything else isn't:
| Cost item | Per year |
|---|---|
| Hosting (managed) | €120 - €360 |
| Premium theme | €50 - €200 |
| Premium plugins (5-10) | €200 - €600 |
| Security plugin | €100 - €300 |
| Maintenance and updates | €200 - €500 |
| Total | €670 - €1,960 |
After 2 years, you pay more than a custom website at Codavo (from €2,500 one-time).
Plugin dependency
Every feature requires a plugin. Contact form? Plugin. SEO? Plugin. Caching? Plugin. Security? Plugin.
The problem: plugins sometimes stop being maintained, conflict with each other, or get acquired and filled with ads. Your entire site runs on third-party software you don't control.
With custom work, every feature is part of your site. No third-party dependencies.
The comparison
| WordPress | Custom (Codavo) | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | €0 (+ hosting, theme, plugins) | From €2,500 |
| Annual cost | €670 - €1,960 | €60 - €240 (hosting) |
| Performance | 3-5 sec load time | <1 sec load time |
| Security | Constant maintenance needed | Secure by default |
| Ownership | Dependent on plugins/themes | 100% yours |
| Scalability | Limited by plugins | Unlimited |
| SEO | Via plugins (Yoast/RankMath) | Built-in |
When to choose WordPress
WordPress is a good choice if:
- You only need a blog
- Your budget is extremely limited (< €500)
- You want to do everything yourself
- You already have a WordPress site that works well
When to choose custom
Custom is the better choice if:
- Speed and SEO matter for your business
- You don't want to spend time on updates and maintenance
- You need specific functionality
- You want your website to grow with your business
- You want a professional look that matches your brand
Next step
Unsure between WordPress and custom? Book a free call and I'll give you honest advice, even if WordPress is the better choice for your situation.
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