WordPress vs Wix vs Custom Website: Which Is Right for Your Business?

WordPress: The Flexible Standard

WordPress powers roughly 43% of all websites on the internet. It's a free, open-source content management system that you install on your own hosting. You can use it for anything from a simple blog to a complex e-commerce store.

The main strength of WordPress is flexibility. With over 60,000 plugins, you can add almost any functionality, booking systems, e-commerce, membership areas, forums, LMS platforms. You own your website outright, and you're not locked into any one company.

But that flexibility comes with complexity. WordPress requires maintenance, plugin updates, security patches, backups. A poorly managed WordPress site is a security risk. And while the platform itself is free, a professionally built WordPress site costs £1,500-£5,000 once you factor in design, development, premium plugins and hosting.

• Best for: Businesses that need flexibility, want to own their website, and plan to grow their online presence over time.
• Upfront cost: £1,500-£5,000 (professionally built) or free (DIY, if you have the skills).
• Monthly cost: £25-£75 (hosting, maintenance, premium plugins).
• Pros: Total ownership, unlimited flexibility, SEO-friendly, huge ecosystem of plugins and themes.
• Cons: Requires maintenance, can be slow if not optimised, security needs managing, steeper learning curve.

Wix (and Squarespace): The Easy Start

Wix and Squarespace are all-in-one website builders. You pay a monthly subscription, use their drag-and-drop editor to build your site, and they handle hosting, security and updates. No technical skills required.

The main strength is simplicity. You can build a basic website in an afternoon, and you don't need to worry about maintenance, security or hosting. The templates look modern and professional, and the drag-and-drop editor is genuinely intuitive.

The trade-off is control. You don't own your website, you're renting it. If Wix raises their prices or changes their platform, you're stuck. Moving away from Wix means rebuilding from scratch. The SEO capabilities are limited compared to WordPress, and the design flexibility is constrained by their templates.

• Best for: Small businesses, freelancers and hobbyists who want a simple online presence fast.
• Upfront cost: £0 (subscription model).
• Monthly cost: £15-£35/month.
• Pros: Easy to use, no maintenance required, all-in-one solution, nice templates.
• Cons: You don't own the website, limited SEO, hard to move away from, monthly cost adds up, limited customisation.

Custom-Built Website: The Bespoke Option

A custom-built website is coded specifically for your business, no templates, no plugins, no platform constraints. It's built using modern web technologies (React, Next.js, or similar) and designed to do exactly what your business needs.

The main strength is performance and differentiation. A custom site can be faster, more secure and more precisely tailored to your business than any template-based platform. You get exactly the features you need, nothing more, nothing less, and the design is entirely unique to your brand.

The trade-off is cost and development time. A custom build costs £3,000-£15,000+ and takes 3-6 weeks. Content updates typically require developer time (unless a CMS is built in), and you need reliable hosting and maintenance.

• Best for: Businesses that need unique functionality, prioritise performance, or want a website that's a genuine differentiator.
• Upfront cost: £3,000-£15,000+.
• Monthly cost: £25-£75 (hosting and maintenance).
• Pros: Total control, unique design, best performance, exactly the features you need, no platform lock-in.
• Cons: Higher upfront cost, content updates may need developer time, takes longer to build.

The Two-Year Cost Comparison

Here's what each option actually costs over two years, including ongoing fees:

• Wix/Squarespace: £0 upfront + £25/month × 24 = £600 total. But you don't own the website.
• WordPress (agency-built): £2,500 upfront + £50/month × 24 = £3,700 total. You own it outright.
• Custom-built: £4,995 upfront + £50/month × 24 = £6,195 total. You own it outright, unique design.
• Note: These are typical costs for a small business website. E-commerce or complex functionality increases all figures.

Our Recommendation by Business Type

There's no single right answer, it depends on your business, budget and goals. Here's our guidance:

• New business / testing an idea: Start with a LaunchPad website (£300) or Wix if you want to DIY. Don't invest heavily until you've validated your business model.
• Established small business (1-10 staff): A professionally built website on WordPress or a modern platform like Base44. Budget £1,500-£3,000. You need it to look professional and generate enquiries, and you need to own it.
• Growing business (10-50 staff): A custom-designed website with a CMS, built on a modern platform. Budget £3,000-£7,000. You need flexibility, performance and features that give you a competitive edge.
• E-commerce: Shopify for most businesses (purpose-built for e-commerce) or WooCommerce (WordPress) for maximum control. Custom-built only if you have unique requirements.
• Enterprise / SaaS: Custom-built. The flexibility, performance and differentiation are worth the investment.

Frequently asked questions