WordPress or Custom-Built?

The short answer: WordPress is worth it if you maintain content yourself often; a custom-built site is better when speed, security and a long, quiet life for the site matter. Both are tools, not religions. This question comes up in almost every first conversation, and I decide it based on the project, not on my favorite tool.

When WordPress fits

WordPress makes sense if you:

• want to maintain content yourself, regularly and without calling me.
• value a familiar, proven editing interface.
• want to cover lots of standard features through plugins (shop, booking, forms).

The price for that: WordPress needs ongoing updates and upkeep, otherwise it becomes a security risk. Many templates are also technically bloated and slow the site down.

When a custom-built solution is better

A custom-built, static site (like this one here) is the better choice if:

• speed and top marks at Google matter.
• the site should run stably over the long term, with minimal maintenance effort.
• security counts: there is no database and no login backend that can be attacked.

The price for that: you can’t just change the content yourself on a whim. Either I take care of it, or we build in a lean, modern editing system.

How I decide

I ask you three things: how often does the content change? How important are speed and security? And how much upkeep do you want to handle yourself? The answer then usually follows from your needs, not from my preference.

Conclusion

There is no system that is better across the board, only one that fits your case better. If you’re unsure, we’ll look at it together in a first conversation: honestly, and without me simply talking you into whatever I most enjoy working with.