WordPress vs Custom Development: The Right Choice

"I want a website, but should I use WordPress or get it custom-built?" — This is one of the first questions everyone asks when looking to build a website. Both approaches have strengths and weaknesses. Let's explore which one is right for you.

What Is WordPress?

WordPress is the world's most popular content management system (CMS). Approximately 43% of the internet runs on WordPress. It allows you to quickly build sites using pre-made themes and plugins.

WordPress Advantages

• Quick setup — Basic site ready within hours
• Thousands of themes — Choose from ready-made designs
• 60,000+ plugins — Most features available as plugins
• Easy content management — Add posts without technical knowledge
• Low initial cost — Theme + hosting for $200-500
• Large community — Easy to find solutions

WordPress Disadvantages

• Security risks — Popularity makes it a target
• Performance issues — Too many plugins = slow site
• Limited customization — Hard to go beyond the theme
• Update requirements — Needs regular maintenance
• Plugin conflicts — Plugins can break each other
• SEO limitations — Technical SEO requires extra work

What Is Custom Development?

Custom development means your website is coded from scratch to your specific needs. Built with modern technologies like Next.js, React, or Vue.js.

Custom Development Advantages

• Unlimited customization — Anything you imagine is possible
• Superior performance — No unnecessary code
• Security — Smaller attack surface, more secure
• SEO excellence — Full control over technical SEO
• Scalability — System grows as you grow
• Unique design — Stand out from competitors

Custom Development Disadvantages

• Higher cost — $1,000-5,000 range
• Longer timeline — 3-8 weeks development time
• Developer dependency — Need developer for changes
• Content management — CMS integration is separate

Comparison Table

| Criteria | WordPress | Custom Development | |----------|-----------|-------------------| | Cost | $200-1,000 | $1,000-5,000 | | Timeline | 1-2 weeks | 3-8 weeks | | Performance | Medium | Excellent | | SEO | Good (with plugins) | Excellent | | Security | Risky | Secure | | Customization | Limited | Unlimited | | Maintenance | Easy but regular | Less but technical | | Scalability | Limited | High |

When to Choose Which?

Choose WordPress If:

• Your budget is limited (under $500)
• You need to go online quickly
• You're building a blog or simple info site
• You want to manage content yourself
• You have no technical background

Choose Custom Development If:

• You want a unique design
• High performance and SEO are critical
• You're building e-commerce or a web app
• You're thinking long-term investment
• Security is your priority

Hybrid Approach: Headless CMS

There's an approach that combines the best of both worlds: Headless CMS. You manage content from a CMS like WordPress or Strapi, but the site is built with a modern framework like Next.js.

Benefits of this approach:

• Easy content management (CMS interface)
• Excellent performance (static site generation)
• Full SEO control
• Higher security (frontend and backend separated)

Conclusion

The right choice depends on your budget, needs, and long-term goals. If you just need an online presence, WordPress is sufficient. But if you want to turn your website into a business tool, custom development is a much smarter investment.

Let's decide together which approach is right for you. Reach out for a free consultation: info@cagribilgehan.com. Check out my projects: cagribilgehan.com