WordPress runs about 40% of the web. Most web design agencies in the UK use it as their default. That popularity makes it a safe choice. It doesn't make it the right choice for every business.
We build custom websites using Next.js and TypeScript. We don't use WordPress. But this post isn't a sales pitch for our stack. Some businesses are better served by WordPress. Others aren't. The decision depends on what you need.
Where WordPress works well
Content-heavy sites. If you publish articles, news, or blog posts multiple times a week, WordPress has a mature editing experience. Writers can log in and publish without developer involvement.
Tight budgets. A WordPress site from a competent developer costs £500 to £2,000. Thousands of themes exist. Plugins handle most common features. Development time is shorter for standard sites.
Sites that need frequent non-technical editing. WordPress was built as a content management system. Adding pages, editing text, uploading images. The admin interface handles all of it.
Where WordPress struggles
Speed. A default WordPress install loads plugins, database queries, and theme files on every page request. Even with caching, a WordPress site is slower than a static or server-rendered site. Google measures page speed. Slower sites rank lower.
Security. WordPress is the most targeted CMS on the internet. Plugins introduce vulnerabilities. Themes ship with outdated code. The platform needs constant updates. Skip an update and you're exposed.
Plugin dependency. Contact form? Plugin. SEO? Plugin. Caching? Plugin. Security? Plugin. Each plugin adds weight, potential conflicts, and maintenance overhead. A custom site handles these at the code level with zero bloat.
Customisation limits. Themes impose structure. You can customise within that structure, but breaking out of it means fighting the theme. A custom build has no ceiling.
Where custom builds win
Performance. Our Burch Studio website scores 98/96/100/100 on Lighthouse. Server-rendered pages load in under a second. No database queries on page load. No plugin overhead. Google rewards this.
Security. No admin panel exposed to the internet. No plugins to exploit. No database to inject. The attack surface is minimal compared to WordPress.
SEO control. Custom meta tags per page. Structured data (JSON-LD) built into every template. Server-rendered HTML that Google reads without executing JavaScript. Full control over heading hierarchy, canonical URLs, and sitemap generation.
Flexibility. Need a mortgage calculator? Build it. Need an admin dashboard backed by Supabase? Build it. Need AI integration? Build it. No plugin limitations. No theme constraints.
Where custom builds cost more
Upfront price. A custom site costs more to build than a WordPress site. You're paying for architecture, not assembly.
Finding a developer. WordPress developers are everywhere. Developers who build with Next.js, TypeScript, and modern frameworks are fewer. You need to choose someone with a portfolio that proves they can deliver.
Content editing. Without a CMS, content changes require a developer. This is solvable. We build admin dashboards when clients need to edit content themselves. But it's an additional cost compared to WordPress's built-in editor.
The decision
Choose WordPress if you need a content-heavy site on a tight budget and you're comfortable with ongoing plugin maintenance.
Choose a custom build if performance, security, and SEO matter to your business, and you want a site that does exactly what you need with nothing you don't.
Both options produce good websites when built by competent people. The tool matters less than the person using it.
Questions?
If you're unsure which route fits your business, we're happy to talk through the options. No pressure to choose us. An honest conversation about what makes sense for your situation.