WordPress powers 43% of all websites on the internet. That's remarkable market dominance. But it doesn't mean WordPress is automatically right for you.
Let's look honestly at the options.
The Major Platforms
WordPress (Self-Hosted)
What it is: Open-source software you install on your own hosting. You have complete control and ownership.
Best for:
- Complex websites with custom requirements
- Large-scale e-commerce (WooCommerce)
- Sites that need extensive functionality via plugins
- Businesses wanting full ownership and portability
- Developers and technically comfortable users
Honest pros:
- Unlimited flexibility - can build almost anything
- Massive plugin ecosystem (60,000+ plugins)
- You own everything - content, design, data
- Large community for help and resources
- No monthly platform fees (just hosting)
Honest cons:
- Requires maintenance - updates, security, backups
- Security is your responsibility (and plugins are a common vulnerability)
- Quality varies wildly - cheap WordPress sites often cause problems
- Can become slow or bloated with too many plugins
- Steeper learning curve than website builders
Typical costs:
- Hosting: £5-50/month (quality matters significantly)
- Premium theme: £30-100 one-time
- Premium plugins: varies widely
- Professional development: £2,000-20,000+ depending on complexity
Wix
What it is: An all-in-one website builder where everything is managed for you.
Best for:
- Small businesses wanting simplicity
- People who want to build themselves without coding
- Simple brochure websites
- Quick launches without developer involvement
- Users who prioritise ease over flexibility
Honest pros:
- Very easy to use - drag and drop interface
- All-inclusive - hosting, security, maintenance handled
- Quick to get started
- Affordable entry point
- No technical knowledge needed
Honest cons:
- Limited customisation - you're within Wix's constraints
- SEO tools less sophisticated than WordPress
- Harder to migrate away - somewhat locked in
- Performance can suffer on complex pages
- Monthly fees add up over time
- You don't truly "own" your site
Typical costs:
- Basic: £10-15/month
- Business/E-commerce: £20-35/month
- Custom design help: £500-3,000
Squarespace
What it is: A website builder known for beautiful templates and design quality.
Best for:
- Design-focused businesses (creatives, photographers, portfolios)
- Small service businesses wanting a polished look
- Users who value aesthetics and simplicity
- Basic e-commerce with limited products
Honest pros:
- Stunning templates - best design quality out of the box
- Clean, modern aesthetic
- Good for portfolios and visual businesses
- Solid e-commerce for smaller stores
- All-inclusive like Wix
Honest cons:
- Less flexible than Wix for layout customisation
- Fewer third-party integrations
- Can feel restrictive if you want something different
- Similar lock-in concerns as Wix
- Limited plugin/extension ecosystem
Typical costs:
- Personal: £12-16/month
- Business: £18-26/month
- E-commerce: £27-49/month
Modern Alternatives
Beyond the big three, there's a new generation of options:
Static Site Generators (Gatsby, Next.js, Hugo)
What they are: Modern frameworks that create ultra-fast, secure websites. Typically used with headless CMS systems.
Best for:
- Performance-critical websites
- Businesses prioritising speed and security
- Companies with developer resources
- Marketing sites, blogs, documentation
Honest pros:
- Exceptional performance - consistently fast
- Extremely secure - no database to hack
- Modern development practices
- Often cheaper hosting (or free)
- Great for SEO (when done right)
Honest cons:
- Require developer expertise
- Not DIY-friendly
- Content management less intuitive
- Updates require technical knowledge
- Smaller support community than WordPress
Typical costs:
- Hosting: Often free (Vercel, Netlify)
- Development: £3,000-15,000+
- Ongoing changes require developer involvement
Webflow
What it is: A visual website builder that outputs clean code. Sits between DIY builders and custom development.
Best for:
- Designers who want more control
- Agencies building client sites
- Those who want visual editing with professional output
- Complex marketing sites without traditional development
Honest pros:
- More powerful than Wix/Squarespace
- Clean, professional code output
- Strong animation and interaction capabilities
- CMS functionality for content management
- Better performance than WordPress in many cases
Honest cons:
- Steeper learning curve than Wix
- More expensive than alternatives
- Still some lock-in
- E-commerce less mature than dedicated platforms
- Overkill for simple sites
Typical costs:
- Basic: £14-23/month
- CMS/Business: £23-47/month
- Custom design: £3,000-10,000+
The Decision Framework
Choose WordPress if:
- You need extensive customisation or complex functionality
- You want full ownership and portability
- You have budget for proper development and maintenance
- You're planning significant e-commerce (WooCommerce)
- You or someone on your team can handle updates
Choose Wix or Squarespace if:
- You want simplicity above all else
- Your site is relatively straightforward
- You're comfortable with their templates
- You don't want to think about maintenance
- Budget is tight but you need something professional
Choose modern frameworks if:
- Performance and speed are top priorities
- Security is critical
- You have ongoing developer support
- You're building something sophisticated
- You want the latest technology
Choose Webflow if:
- You're a designer wanting more control
- You need complex interactions without coding
- You want visual editing with professional output
- Traditional WordPress feels outdated
Common Mistakes to Avoid
"WordPress is always the best choice"
It's not. For simple sites, WordPress can be overkill - bringing maintenance burden and security concerns you don't need. A well-built Squarespace site might serve you better than a poorly maintained WordPress site.
"Website builders are unprofessional"
This was true years ago. Modern website builders can produce genuinely professional results. Plenty of successful businesses run on Squarespace. Judge the output, not the tool.
"The cheapest option is the best value"
Cheap WordPress development often creates expensive problems later. A £500 WordPress site that's slow, insecure, and breaks regularly costs more than a £2,000 site that works properly.
"I can always switch later"
Technically true, but migration has real costs. The more content and complexity you build, the harder switching becomes. Choose thoughtfully from the start.
The Honest Truth
There's no objectively "best" platform. There's only what's best for your specific situation:
- Your budget
- Your technical comfort
- Your support resources
- Your growth plans
- Your content needs
A Squarespace site that you actually maintain is better than a WordPress site you neglect. A WordPress site built properly is better than one built cheaply.
The platform matters less than:
- How well it's implemented
- Whether it's maintained
- How good your content is
- Whether it serves your visitors
Start with your needs, not platform loyalty. The right choice is the one that works for you.