Custom build or WordPress: which one's right for you?
Same build price, very different engines. Here's the side-by-side so you can pick in two minutes.
Every website package we offer comes in two flavours: a custom build or WordPress. The build price is the same either way, so the right choice comes down to how your site will be used. Here's the honest side-by-side.
| Custom build | WordPress | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Simple, informational sites (contact details, services, about, gallery) that rarely change | Businesses that need blogs, ecommerce, bookings, memberships or frequently changing content |
| Development time | Faster to build | Longer to build, with more setup, plugins and testing involved |
| Site speed | Very fast. Pages are lightweight with nothing to load from a database | Can be slower, especially with lots of plugins or images |
| Security | Very secure. No database or login area for hackers to exploit | A common target for hackers; risk increases if updates are missed |
| Ongoing maintenance | No core or plugin updates required. Essentially "set and forget" | Needs regular core, theme and plugin updates to stay secure and working |
| Hosting cost | Lower. Needs minimal server space and resources | Generally higher. Needs more server resources and a database |
| Making changes yourself | Limited to simple edits (text, images, headings) | Full flexibility to add pages, sections, images, text and functionality anytime |
| Adding new pages | We build and publish them for you. Fast turnaround, flat $95 + GST per page | Can be done by you at any time |
| Functionality | Limited to what's built in from the start; not suited to complex or interactive features | Extensive: blogs, online stores, bookings, forms, memberships and integrations via plugins |
| Reliability | Very stable. Nothing to conflict or break | Can break if a plugin or theme update conflicts with another |
| Environmental footprint | Lower. Lightweight pages use fewer server resources per visit | Higher. Database-driven pages use more server resources per visit |
So which should you pick?
Go custom if your content is fairly fixed and you want a fast, secure, low-fuss site. Hosting is just $249 + GST a year and there's nothing to update.
Go WordPress if you want to run the site yourself, add content often, or expect to grow into bookings, memberships or a bigger shop. Hosting starts from $295 + GST a year, with optional WordPress and plugin updates at $65 + GST per update.
Still not sure? Give us a ring. We'll tell you straight.