If you have already gone through the Google rabbit hole for building websites, chances are that you have come across website building platforms such as WordPress, Wix, Squarespace etc. multiple times. With all of these options available just a few clicks away, and persistent advertisements continuously bombarding you, it’s easy to get confused about which platform to choose for your new website.

As professional web developers for 10+ years, we have explored and evaluated pretty much every option available out there. To help you start off on the right foot, we have written, from our experience, what works best when building a new website for your business.

So let’s take a look.

Affordability vs breaking the bank

When it comes to hosting, services like Wix are pretty expensive. Yes, there are cheaper Wix pricing plans available but they will come with a good range of limitations in terms of storage and overall usability, eventually pushing you to upgrade to more expensive plans such as Wix Premium. This can be a deal-breaker for startups that don’t have the funds to spend tons of money every month on their website, especially when custom web development companies like IPOINT INT will provide you hosting service with full customer support for almost half the price.

While custom website development may seem expensive at first, we can assure you that most of the ready website building services will end up costing you more in the long run. With custom websites, you will have a wide range of hosting services available with affordable pricing plans to choose from.

Here’s a quick Wix vs WordPress cost comparison –

PlatformPlan/OfferCostLimitations
WixBasic Website BuilderFreeWix advertisements on the top and bottom of the website, custom domain names are not available, Google Analytics and other useful add-ons are not included
Unlimited Plan$12.50 / montheCommerce and business features are unavailable
Business Basic$17 / monthStorage and bandwidth limitations, costs for Wix apps are not included
WordPressOpen SourceFreeRequires own domain name and hosting provider, which will cost much less than Wix

Regardless of which Wix plan you choose, you will still have to pay for apps in the Wix store. WordPress on the other hand provides tons of free quality apps and plugins for your website. To get more information on the cost of creating a bespoke WordPress website, get in touch with us.

Winning vs losing the SEO race

When it comes to SEO, custom websites always stay ahead of the curve. The reason for this is that when you hire a custom web development company like IPOINT INT to build a bespoke website, we use the latest technologies available at the time, not to mention that we build the website completely from scratch with your brand in mind. Platforms such as Wix have a lot built on previous-generation technologies, so it takes a bit of time to make the shift to the latest generation. Slower loading speed is another factor that contributes to not so great SEO of Wix.

Premade vs tailored around your brand

Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, Weebly etc. offer prebuilt themes and features, which means that these are not tailored around your brand. These services are built for the mass and don’t always represent a unique brand voice. Custom website development on the other hand provides website personality and features that are unique only to your brand, which will set you apart from your competitors.

When we developed the website for Imagina Gaming, one of our main focuses was to create a design that matches Imagina’s brand personality, with transcendent visuals and illustrations. Results like this can not be achieved with a premade website theme.

Also, feel free to check out iGaming NEXT, another custom developed website by IPOINT INT that caters solely to our client’s needs. Equipped with custom graphics, iconography, calendars for upcoming events, a podcast library and more, this website truly revolves around the needs of the events and content creation company iGaming NEXT.

Ease of use vs depth of customisation

Website building platforms such as Wix and Squarespace are quick, beginner-friendly and let the users set up websites without getting their hands dirty with coding. These platforms have premade themes available with drag and drop editors that allow users to make quick modifications to the websites.

But this beginner friendliness of Wix and Squarespace comes at a big cost – Limited customisation.

With custom WordPress websites, the scope for customisation is literally endless. Whether it’s the design customisation or implementation of advanced backend features, a bespoke website will always provide maximum flexibility to cater to your needs as your business evolves with time. Laferla, Apcopay and Quinel are some of the custom websites developed by us which we update and revamp from time to time based on our clients’ business needs.

Now that you have read both sides of the spectrum, which side are you on? Do you think you should choose a ready website building platform like Wix or invest in a custom developed website for your business? If you need personal advice or would like to set an appointment, give us a call.