Wix, Squarespace, WordPress or a fully custom build. Everyone has an opinion, and the right answer depends on what the site has to do for you.
We build mainly on WordPress and WooCommerce, and we take on fully custom builds when a project needs one. We are not against website builders either, and some businesses are better off on one. Here is how they compare.
Website builders (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify)
What they are. Drag and drop tools where hosting, security and updates are included in a monthly plan.
Good points.
- Fast to launch, sometimes in days.
- No technical skill needed.
- Hosting, SSL and updates handled for you.
Limits.
- Less control over design, speed and search engine settings.
- Moving off the platform later is painful.
- You pay every month for as long as the site exists.
Best for. Personal brands, simple portfolios and early tests where speed matters more than ownership. Shopify is a reasonable choice for a straightforward store.
WordPress (self-hosted)
What it is. Open source software you run on your own hosting. Most of the web runs on it.
Good points.
- Full control over design and features.
- Strong for search engine optimisation when set up properly.
- You own the site and can move hosts any time.
- WooCommerce turns it into a full online store.
Limits.
- It needs updates, backups and security checks, or it can get hacked.
- Someone with experience should build it, or it ends up slow and fragile.
Best for. Service businesses, schools, content-led sites and online stores that want to rank on Google and own what they build. This is where most of our work sits. Business websites start from R6,000 and stores from R15,000.
Custom development
What it is. Software written from scratch for a specific purpose.
Good points.
- No platform limits.
- Built exactly around how your business works.
Limits.
- Higher cost and longer timelines.
- You depend on whoever built it to maintain it.
Best for. Booking systems, portals, marketplaces and anything that behaves more like an application than a website. Bespoke projects generally start from R20,000 and are quoted once we know what you need.
How to decide
- How central is the site to your income?
- Do you need features beyond pages and a contact form?
- How important is ranking on Google?
- Do you want to own it outright?
- How often will you change it yourself?
A quick guide: testing an idea, use a builder. A business that wants to be found on Google, use WordPress. A store, use WooCommerce or Shopify depending on your needs. Something that works like software, go custom.
Not sure which one fits? Tell us what you are building and we will say honestly which route makes sense, even if that is a builder.
Related services: Web design in Johannesburg · Custom software
