Comparison
Custom website vs Wix: how to choose without regrets
An online website builder lets you create your site yourself. A professional builds it for you. Both have their merits. Here is what really changes, depending on your time, your budget and your needs.
Why the question comes up
Online website builders, Wix being the best-known example, have put website creation within everyone’s reach. You pick a template, replace the text and photos, and publish. For many small businesses, that is real progress.
The question often comes later: the site does not show up on Google, updates eat into your evenings, or you need a feature the template does not offer. That is when you wonder whether a professionally built site would have been simpler. The product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners, cited as examples only, with no partnership or connection with us.
The options
An online builder like Wix · A custom site built by a professional
An online builder like Wix
You create and manage your site yourself, in an online tool, on a subscription.
Pros
- Quick start: a template, your text, and the site can be live fast.
- Low upfront cost, with no quote and no provider.
- You change everything yourself, whenever you like.
- Hosting and technical updates handled by the platform.
- Plenty of apps and add-ons to bring in common features.
Limits
- The time spent is yours: text, photos, settings, SEO.
- The result depends on your own layout and writing skills.
- Your site lives on the platform: leaving often means rebuilding it elsewhere.
- The subscription and add-ons add up over the years.
- Specific needs are limited to what the tool and its add-ons offer.
The right choice if : People who are just starting out, enjoy handling it themselves and have a simple need: present their business and be easy to contact.
A custom site built by a professional
A professional designs your site, writes it with you, puts it online, then looks after it.
Pros
- Your only time commitment is explaining your business to us and approving the work.
- Structure, copy and local SEO planned from the start to bring in enquiries.
- The site does exactly what you need, without relying on a catalogue of add-ons.
- With us, you remain the owner of the site, the domain name and the logins.
- Hosting, maintenance and small changes taken care of every month.
Limits
- A higher upfront cost than a website builder subscription.
- It takes a first call and a few rounds of feedback before going live.
- For anything beyond small edits, you go through the provider.
- Quality depends on the provider: choose carefully.
The right choice if : Tradespeople, shop owners and small businesses who want a website that works for them, without giving up their evenings to it.
The criteria side by side
| Criterion | An online builder like Wix | A custom site built by a professional |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low | Higher, price agreed in writing first |
| Cost over time | Subscription and add-ons | Monthly maintenance fee |
| Time required | Significant, all yours | Low, mostly approvals |
| Independence | Total, on your own | Small edits included, the rest quoted |
| Customisation | Limited to templates and add-ons | Tailored to your needs |
| Ownership and leaving | Tied to the platform | Site and logins are yours |
When we are not the right choice
If you enjoy building your site, have time to polish your copy and your needs fit on a single presentation page, an online builder will do the job very well. Paying someone for that would make no sense.
The same goes if you are launching a business to test it: better a simple site, built quickly and by yourself, even if you move on later. And if you want to change the layout every week without a middleman, the independence of a builder will suit you better than the way we work.
How to decide
Ask yourself three questions. How many hours can you give it, at the start and then each month? Does your site simply need to exist, or should it bring you enquiries? Do you have a need out of the ordinary, such as a detailed quote request form or online booking?
If you have time and a simple need, start with a builder. If your time is worth more on site or in your shop, or if the website really has to pay its way, a custom site will often be the better investment. To get a sense of the budget, our estimate tool gives you a ballpark figure in a few questions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move from a Wix site to a custom site?
Yes. We carry over your text, your photos and your domain name. The layout, however, has to be rebuilt, because it belongs to the platform.
Can a site made with a website builder rank well?
Yes, if it is well written and properly set up. The difficulty is not the tool but the time and method required.
Will I be able to edit my custom site myself?
Small changes (text, photos, opening hours) are included in the monthly fee: you write to us and we take care of it. Further developments are quoted.
Who owns the site?
With us, you do: the site, the domain name, the data and the logins. If you leave, they leave with you.
How much does a custom site cost with you?
Our starting prices are published on the pricing page, and the estimate tool helps you place your project. The exact price is set out in writing before we start.
Further reading
- Websites and online shopsShowcase websiteWe build showcase websites of 1 to 3 pages for tradespeople: who you are, what you do, where you work and how to reach you. Nothing more, nothing less.
- GuidesShowcase website or pro site: which should you choose?A showcase website to be found, a pro site to present each service in detail and receive quote requests. Both are useful, but for different needs. Here is how to choose without paying for what you will not use.
- Free toolsEstimate the price of your website.A few choices, a price range based on our rates, and the matching monthly fee. No sign-up.
Still undecided?
A free first call is often enough to make up your mind. We will tell you honestly if a website builder is all you need.
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