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Custom site vs WordPress vs Wix/Shopify

There is no universally “best” platform; you choose the one that fits your case. Here, custom development, WordPress and drag-and-drop platforms (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify) are compared on speed, price, SEO and ownership.

  • 7 min read
  • D. Svilenković
  • Updated

Custom development (code written for you)

A site built from scratch for your case. The fastest and easiest for SEO, with no unnecessary code, fully customizable.

  • Maximum speed and Lighthouse scores, clean code, no bloat.
  • Exactly what you need, nothing more and nothing less. The source code is yours.
  • A higher upfront investment than a ready-made template.

It makes the most sense for businesses that care about speed, custom design and long-term ownership.

WordPress

The most widely used CMS in the world. Great when you need to update content often yourself (blog, news) and want a large ecosystem of plugins.

  • Easy to add content, lots of plugins, familiar to everyone.
  • It easily becomes slow and vulnerable when it's overloaded with plugins and page builders.

When a CMS really is the right choice, we build WordPress “the right way”: a custom theme, optimized queries, caching and no bloat.

Wix / Squarespace / Shopify

Drag-and-drop platforms. A quick start for very small needs, but with compromises.

  • Quick and cheap for a trial run.
  • A monthly subscription forever, limited design and SEO, and you're “locked in” to the platform.

The exception is Shopify for serious selling, with a custom-built theme so the store doesn't look like a template.

A quick decision guide

  • You need a fast, custom, long-term website → custom development.
  • You write a lot of content yourself and want a CMS → WordPress (done right).
  • Serious online selling with many products → a custom store or Shopify with a custom theme.

Frequently asked questions

Is a custom site harder to maintain?

No. If you update content often, the site comes with an admin panel, so you change text and images yourself. For new features, you get in touch with us, as you would with any platform.

Can I move from Wix to a custom site later?

Yes. We also do redesigns and migrations that keep your content and URL structure, so you don't lose your SEO rankings.

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