Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Shopify, WordPress — when you start looking for a platform for your new site you run into a tangle of options. For SMB entrepreneurs it usually comes down to one main choice: do you want a website builder (closed system, everything from one source) or WordPress (open source, flexible, ownership with you)?
Website builders: fast, but with strings attached
The big advantages of builders like Wix or Squarespace are clear: you register an account, pick a template, and within a day something is online. No technical setup, no hosting choices, no plugins that can break. For those who truly need only a digital business card, that is attractive.
But there are strings attached. You pay every month, often more than you think the moment you want extra functionality. Your content sits in a closed system — if you want to move in two years, you start copy-pasting. And you are bound by what the platform offers; want a specific integration with your accounting or your own blog structure, then you often hit walls.
WordPress: more upfront work, more control afterwards
WordPress is open source. That means: the software is free, you can host it anywhere, and your content is yours. Forty percent of all websites worldwide run on it — from the smallest sole proprietor to large companies. It is no coincidence that it reaches such a wide audience: WordPress is mature, well-documented, and has a huge ecosystem of themes and plugins.
The flip side: you need someone to set it up, or invest some time learning. Hosting, updates and backups you arrange yourself or via a service provider. For most SMB entrepreneurs that is no option — that is why parties like us exist: we build the site, handle the base infrastructure, and you only need to update content.
When to pick what?
- Pick a builder if you want a very simple site, have no need to grow, and do not mind paying every month for a platform that is not yours.
- Pick WordPress if you seriously want your site to still work in five years, you want flexibility to add things, and you do not want to be locked into one vendor or platform.
What really sets it apart: ownership
For us that is the decisive factor: with WordPress everything is yours. The site, the content, the domain, the hosting account — if you want to switch to another builder or host tomorrow, you can without copy-pasting. That is the assurance builders cannot offer.
Still wondering which platform fits your situation? Send us a message — we are happy to think along, even if we are not the ones building it.