WordPress or a website builder: choosing a platform

Choose a platform around the work the owner and editor need to do. A small campaign page, a large catalogue, and a service with customer accounts may need different tools. There is no universal winner without a project brief.

Compare the editor’s actual tasks

Ask to see how to change contact details, prices, photos, and a page layout, then try those changes yourself. Visual editing is helpful when updates are simple and repeated. If every change means working through a complex layout or code, the platform’s apparent simplicity has not solved the editor’s problem.

What to consider with WordPress

WordPress uses themes, plugins, and user roles to separate design, features, and access. That flexibility comes with responsibility for updates and compatibility. Decide who will maintain the site. Avoid installing several plugins for the same task without a reason.

What to check with a builder

Check the current plan, use of your own domain, and limits on forms, catalogues, and integrations. Read that service’s own documentation about exporting a project and whether features keep working after export. Consider subscription dependence and how the project can be handed to another owner.

Make the decision about the work, not the label

List required tasks and test them in a prototype. Compare launch costs, annual fees, backups, and the effort of changing suppliers. Choose the option that meets the requirements with manageable upkeep. AlgaLab’s current site uses WordPress with a custom theme and content plugin; that is a choice for this project, not a rule for every business.

Further reading

• What kind of website does a business need? From a simple profile to an online store
• A user-friendly website admin: what the owner should be able to do
• Website maintenance after launch: what to check and who should handle it

Tell AlgaLab who will update the site and what they need to change. We can match the platform to that work. Contact AlgaLab.