If you are planning a new website, you will quickly run into three options: WordPress, Webflow, or a website built from scratch by a developer. Each has passionate fans, and each is the right answer for some businesses. This guide sets out the differences in plain terms so you can choose with your eyes open.
WordPress: flexible, popular, and high maintenance
WordPress powers a huge share of the web. You install it on hosting, pick a theme and add plugins for almost anything: forms, bookings, shops, galleries.
Where it shines:
- an enormous choice of themes and plugins;
- plenty of developers who know it;
- easy for staff to edit pages and write blog posts.
Where it holds you back:
- Maintenance. WordPress itself, the theme and every plugin need regular updates. Skip them and the site becomes an easy target; apply them carelessly and something breaks.
- Speed. Themes and plugins add code to every page. Many WordPress sites are slow on mobile without careful work.
- Plugin sprawl. Each plugin is written by a different developer. Some are abandoned, some clash with each other, and the more you add, the harder the site is to look after.
WordPress works best for content-heavy sites with someone who will keep it updated.
Webflow: designer-friendly and hosted for you
Webflow is a visual website builder aimed at designers. You design pages on a canvas, and Webflow hosts the result.
Where it shines:
- polished, custom-looking designs without writing code;
- hosting, security and updates are handled by Webflow;
- a tidy editor for changing text and images.
Where it holds you back:
- Ongoing platform fees. You pay Webflow every month or year, on top of anyone who builds or changes the site.
- Limits on custom features. Booking systems with payments, quote calculators or client areas usually need third-party tools bolted on, or are not possible at all.
- Lock-in. Your site lives on Webflow. Moving it elsewhere later generally means rebuilding it.
Webflow suits marketing sites where design matters most and the features are standard.
A custom website: built for your business
A custom website is designed and coded for your business from a blank page, using modern tools rather than a theme.
Where it shines:
- Speed. Pages contain only what they need, so they load quickly on phones.
- Features that fit. Bookings with payments, configurators, quizzes and integrations are built to work the way your business works.
- Security. Fewer moving parts and no plugin marketplace means far fewer ways in.
- Ownership. The code can be handed over and hosted anywhere.
Where it holds you back:
- Upfront cost, traditionally. A custom build used to mean a large bill before launch.
- Changes need a developer, unless a content editor is built in.
How the costs really compare
Comparing the price of a template with the price of a developer misses most of the picture. Over three years, think about:
- platform, hosting and plugin fees;
- the time you or your staff spend updating and fixing things;
- the enquiries a slow or awkward site loses;
- what it costs to rebuild when you outgrow the platform.
Where Wisecoda fits
We build custom websites, and we also work with Webflow and Shopify when they are the better fit for a client. Every custom build has a clear price, paid in stages, and our Care Plan then covers hosting, updates, security and changes for a monthly fee. Your site is fast, built for your business, and looked after without you having to think about plugins or updates.
Quick guide
- Blog-heavy site, someone in-house to maintain it: WordPress.
- Design-led marketing site with standard features: Webflow.
- A site that needs to bring in enquiries, take bookings or do something specific to your business: custom.
Still unsure? Our free website check shows how your current site performs, and a short call is usually enough to point you in the right direction.