WordPress vs. Custom Website — Which Is Better?

When an entrepreneur in Croatia decides to build a website, one of the first questions they ask is: "Should I use WordPress or go custom?" WordPress powers around 43% of all websites on the internet, making it by far the most popular CMS. But popularity doesn't always mean it's the best choice for your business.

In this article, we compare WordPress with custom-built websites developed using modern technologies like Astro and Next.js — the frameworks we use at ENKR. The goal is to help you make an informed decision.

Quick Comparison

Criteria	WordPress	Custom (Astro/Next.js)
Loading speed	2–5 seconds	Under 1 second
Security	Frequent vulnerabilities (plugins)	Minimal attack surface
Monthly hosting	€15–50	€0 (Vercel/Netlify)
SEO performance	Good (with plugins)	Excellent (native)
Maintenance	Regular (updates, backups)	Minimal
Design flexibility	Limited by theme	Full freedom
Initial cost	€200–500	€200–900
Annual total cost	€300–800	€10–15 (domain only)

Speed — Why It Matters

In 2021, Google introduced Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor. A website that takes longer than 3 seconds to load loses 53% of mobile visitors. WordPress sites — especially those with many plugins and heavy themes — rarely achieve a Lighthouse score above 70.

Custom websites built with Astro generate static HTML with minimal JavaScript. The result? Lighthouse scores regularly above 95/100, loading times under one second, and significantly better Google rankings.

Security — The Hidden Risk of WordPress

WordPress is the most hacked platform in the world. The reason is simple: thousands of plugins are managed by volunteer developers, and many aren't regularly updated. According to a Sucuri report, 96.2% of infected CMS websites were WordPress sites.

A custom website has no database, no admin panel, no plugins — nothing to hack. Static HTML served via CDN is practically unbreakable.

Costs — The Full Picture

Many entrepreneurs look only at the initial price, but the true cost of a website becomes clear after one or two years:

• WordPress: hosting (€15–50/month), premium theme (€50–100/year), premium plugins (€50–200/year), SSL certificate, security backup service, ongoing maintenance
• Custom website: domain (€10–15/year), hosting on Vercel or Netlify (€0 for small sites), no theme or plugin licenses

After two years, WordPress can cost €600–1,600 just for hosting and licenses, while a custom website remains at €20–30 (domain cost only).

SEO — Who Wins on Google?

WordPress offers Yoast SEO and similar plugins that help with basic SEO settings. However, plugins cannot compensate for slow load times and poor Core Web Vitals performance.

Custom websites provide SEO advantages from the foundation: semantic HTML, optimized images, structured data (schema.org), fast loading speeds, and clean URL structures — all without additional plugins. Google's algorithm clearly favors faster and technically cleaner websites.

Maintenance — How Much Time Does It Take?

WordPress requires regular updates of the core system, theme, and each individual plugin. One incompatible update can break the entire site. According to WP Engine research, 73% of WordPress websites have at least one outdated plugin with known security vulnerabilities.

A custom website does not require updates. Content can be changed via a simple Git commit or headless CMS — without the risk of breaking the site.

Plugins — Blessing or Curse?

The WordPress ecosystem offers over 60,000 plugins, which sounds impressive. In practice, each plugin adds JavaScript, CSS, and database queries that slow down the site. The average WordPress website uses 20–30 plugins, many with overlapping functionality.

With a custom approach, every feature is implemented intentionally — no unnecessary code, no plugin conflicts, and no monthly subscriptions for premium versions.

When Is WordPress the Better Choice?

WordPress definitely has its place. If you need:

• A large blog with multiple authors — WordPress admin interface is intuitive for teams publishing daily content
• Complex e-commerce — WooCommerce offers thousands of integrations for large online stores
• Frequent independent content updates — if you don't have a developer and want to edit the site daily

For large, content-heavy websites with dozens of new posts per week, WordPress remains a solid choice — provided you invest in quality hosting and proper maintenance.

Why Does ENKR Use Astro and Next.js?

For small business owners, craftsmen, salons, and local companies, a custom website simply offers better value for money. Our clients receive:

• A website that loads in under 1 second
• Lighthouse score above 95
• Zero monthly hosting costs
• No required updates or maintenance
• Fully customized design reflecting their brand

Explore our website development packages and see how a modern approach can transform your online presence.

Conclusion

For most small entrepreneurs in Croatia, a custom website is the smarter investment. It's faster, more secure, cheaper to maintain, and ranks better on Google. WordPress remains relevant for large content portals and complex e-commerce projects, but for presentation websites, landing pages, and small business sites — the custom approach wins across the board.

The key is not to look only at the initial price, but at the total cost of ownership over 2–3 years. When you factor in hosting, licenses, maintenance, and lost visitors due to slow performance — a custom solution pays off from day one.