Are you building a new website, or looking for an agency to do it? Several people have probably recommended WordPress, since it's one of the most popular website tools in the world. Nearly one website in two runs on it.
Let me give you three reasons we generally advise our clients against building a custom WordPress site.
1. Security is harder to control
WordPress is a very widespread platform, which makes it a major target for cyberattacks. The reality is that thousands of plugins and integrations are available.
Every additional plugin adds a dependency and can become an entry point for an attack, particularly once it stops being maintained or a security flaw is discovered.
2. More limited performance and SEO/GEO optimization
The more plugins, themes and features you add to WordPress, the heavier and more complex the code can become. That can mean longer load times and make technical optimization harder.
In our view, a high-performing site should be designed from the start for SEO, GEO and performance, rather than stacking plugins to add features.
3. Heavy dependency on updates
WordPress, its themes and its plugins all need regular updates.
If a plugin becomes obsolete, stops being compatible with a new WordPress version, or is no longer maintained by its developer, it can break or open a security hole. That means more maintenance and more dependencies to manage over the long run.
“But with WordPress I get an easy-to-use CMS”
That's true. WordPress offers an accessible CMS and an enormous amount of online resources and tutorials.
But with a custom site, we can build a tailored CMS that's even simpler and matched exactly to your needs. You don't need 50 features when you'll never use 45 of them.
A concrete example
For Le Balthazar, we built a custom CMS that let their marketing director stop juggling two or three tools and several Excel sheets.
So why choose a custom site?
A custom-built site gives you, among other things:
- ✓Optimized code and improved performance
- ✓Faster load times
- ✓Full ownership of the code
- ✓Complex designs and advanced animations
- ✓Fewer dependencies on third-party plugins
- ✓Better control over SEO and GEO
- ✓A more scalable architecture
- ✓The ability to add specific features such as a CRM, a client portal, a booking system or automations
- ✓Better control of long-term costs
WordPress isn't always a bad choice
Let's be clear: WordPress can be perfectly suited to certain standard needs, particularly to get started quickly on a limited budget.
But when a business wants a site that performs, scales and genuinely fits its operations, custom development often becomes the better option.
And today, custom no longer necessarily means long, expensive projects. At Oriana Solutions we built an offer that lets small businesses and entrepreneurs launch a custom website for $1,500 in 7 days, with a far faster and more accessible approach than traditional development.
The takeaway
The best tool isn't necessarily the most popular one. It's the one that best fits your needs.
Our hands-on experience with both approaches
This piece lays out our position as an agency. If you'd rather have a detailed comparison, with numbers and a project example, we published a separate article: Custom site or WordPress: which should you choose?
For a concrete comparison, take a look at our custom websites and our fixed-price offer.
Want to talk it through?
If you're torn between WordPress and custom for your next site, write to us. We'll tell you honestly which of the two suits your situation, even if the answer is WordPress.
