Comparison
WordPress or custom website — goal matters, not trend.
WordPress is the world's most popular CMS — for good reason. But when your site is a business tool, not just an online card, custom development can be the better long-term investment.
WordPress
Open-source CMS — themes, plugins, content management. 40% of the web runs on WP.
Pros
- Cheap start: free CMS + cheap theme + shared hosting.
- Huge ecosystem: 60,000+ plugins, any feature findable.
- Content management: blog, pages, media library — easy to update.
- Many developers: everyone knows it, easy to find support.
Cons
- Plugin dependency: 10–20 plugins = security and compatibility risk.
- Slow: PageSpeed often 30–60, plugins and theme load server.
- Security holes: most attacked CMS — missed updates = vulnerability.
- Custom feature limits: plugin or expensive custom PHP — half solutions.
Custom website (Next.js)
Modern custom-built site — fast, secure, SEO-optimized. No plugins, no template compromise.
Pros
- Fast: PageSpeed 90+, green Core Web Vitals — better Google ranking.
- Secure: minimal surface, no plugin chaos, no WP update cycle.
- Custom design: not a template — your brand, your UX.
- Anything implementable: calculator, booking, API — native, not plugin.
Cons
- Initial cost: €400–1,300 — pricier than dirt-cheap template sites, though comparable to a proper WP build.
- Content updates: need developer or headless CMS (but simpler than you think).
- No plugin market: every feature must be built (but only what you need).
- You rely on one developer: reliable partner matters.
Decision matrix
| Aspect | WordPress | Custom website (Next.js) |
|---|---|---|
| Startup cost | €400–€1,300 | €400–€1,300 |
| PageSpeed / Core Web Vitals | 30–60 (plugin-dependent) | 85–100 (optimized) |
| Security | Update-dependent, large surface | Minimal surface, low risk |
| Content updates | Easy (WP admin) | Headless CMS or developer |
| Custom features | Plugin or custom PHP | Native implementation |
| 3-year TCO | Hosting + plugin license + maintenance | One-time build + low maintenance |
Which to choose in your situation?
WordPress isn't bad — but not every site needs a CMS. Here are 4 typical situations.
Choose WordPress if you publish regularly
Blog or news site is main function, you update weekly, and you have a WP developer who maintains it.
Choose custom if speed and SEO are critical
Company site with 5–15 pages, rare updates, but speed and SEO are critical (e.g. service provider, consultant).
Choose WordPress if budget is tight
Limited budget and the site isn't primary sales channel — you just need online presence.
Choose custom if the site is a business tool
Site is business tool: online calculator, booking, client portal — what plugins only half-solve.
Verdict
For SMBs, WordPress is great when the site is mainly content (blog, news) and you have reliable maintenance. But when the site is your main sales channel, speed and Google ranking matter, and you need custom features — a custom Next.js site pays back within 2–3 years through better conversion and lower maintenance.
My recommendation: don't build WordPress because "everyone uses it". If you update content 1–2 times per year, a static or headless CMS custom site is cheaper, faster, and more secure. If you blog weekly and have no developer — stay on WP.