WordPress or a custom website? How to choose well
· 4 min read · CLICKO
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What you gain and what you give up with WordPress, when a site in custom code such as Next.js is worth it, and the questions to ask before you decide.
What WordPress is
WordPress is a free, open source content management system. According to W3Techs, about 39.5% of all websites use it, and 58.3% of those with a known content management system (October 2026). That means a huge community, thousands of themes and plugins, and plenty of people who know how to work with it.
Its strength is also its weakness: every plugin is somebody else's code, which has to be kept updated and has to get along with everything else.
Source: W3Techs, October 2026
What a custom site is
By custom we mean a site written in code for one business, usually with a modern framework such as Next.js or Astro, hosted on platforms such as Vercel. There are no plugins to update, and each page loads only what it needs. Content changes either in the code or through a content management system connected to the site, depending on how often it changes.
The comparison at a glance
| Criterion | WordPress | Custom (e.g. Next.js) |
|---|---|---|
| Changes by you | Easy, from the admin panel | Easy with a content management system, otherwise by the builder |
| Ready-made features | Thousands of plugins | Whatever is needed gets built or connected |
| Speed | Good with a light theme and caching, slow with heavy page builders | Very good by nature |
| Security | Needs constant updates to core, theme and plugins | Fewer things to keep updated |
| Design | Limited by the theme and the builder | No limits |
| Hosting | A server with PHP and a database | Platforms such as Vercel or Netlify |
| Maintenance | Regular, or problems pile up | Less, mostly for new features |
| Changing developers | Easy, many people know WordPress | Needs someone who knows the framework |
When to choose WordPress
- You will write articles often or change pages yourself.
- You need something that exists as a plugin, such as bookings or multiple languages, and it is good enough as it is.
- You want an e-shop on WooCommerce, which runs on WordPress.
- Someone, you or a partner, will run the updates every month.
When to choose custom
- Speed on phones and your Google rankings come first.
- You want a design or motion that will not fit a ready-made theme.
- The site has to do something specific: calculations, a client area, a connection to your own system.
- You do not want to deal with plugin and security updates.
Answer and see what fits you
Common mistakes
- WordPress with twenty plugins for five pages. Each plugin adds weight and one more thing to update.
- A page builder that loads everything everywhere. Heavy page builders make simple pages slow on phones.
- A custom site with no way to change a phone number. If you will change copy often, ask for a content management system from the start.
- No maintenance at all. Both need someone looking after them after launch; WordPress simply needs more.
If you already have a site and want someone to keep it updated, see website maintenance. If you are starting from scratch, start with website development.
Frequently asked questions
Is WordPress bad for Google?
No. A WordPress site with a light theme, few plugins and good hosting can do very well in Google. The problems come from heavy themes, too many plugins and cheap hosting.
Can I change the text on a custom site myself?
Yes, if it is connected to a content management system. Say so from the start, because it changes how the site is built.
Which one costs more?
A WordPress site on a ready-made theme usually costs less to build and more to maintain. A custom site takes more work at the start and less afterwards.
Can I move from WordPress to custom later?
Yes. What matters is keeping the page addresses or setting up proper redirects, so your Google rankings are not lost.
What does CLICKO use?
Whatever fits the project: WordPress and WooCommerce, Shopify, and custom sites in Next.js. Tell us what you want your site to do and we will suggest the platform that fits.
Got something similar in mind?
Tell us what you want to build and we will reply with a clear proposal.