We build both WordPress sites and custom-coded sites, so this isn’t one of those “everyone needs a custom site” sales pitches. Here’s the honest framework.
Choose WordPress if…
- You want to update content yourself without calling a developer
- Your site is content-heavy (blog, news, catalogue)
- You want e-commerce (WooCommerce is still the best value)
- Budget is US$500–3000
- You want to be able to hire any WordPress developer anywhere if we’re unavailable
- You need your site live in weeks, not months
Choose custom-coded if…
- You need extreme performance (sub-1s load times)
- You have unusual functionality that WordPress plugins can’t do cleanly
- You need to integrate with specific enterprise systems
- Security is paramount (financial, health, government data)
- Budget is US$5,000+
- You’re comfortable being locked into the developer who built it
The WordPress reality check
WordPress has a security reputation problem because poorly-configured WordPress sites get hacked. A properly configured WordPress site with good hosting, up-to-date core and plugins, strong admin passwords, and regular backups is as secure as any custom build.
The custom-coded reality check
“Custom-coded” doesn’t mean “better” automatically. If your developer writes bad code, a custom site is more insecure and slower than a good WordPress site. The skill of the builder matters more than the stack.
Our recommendation for 90% of Zimbabwean SMEs
WordPress with a carefully chosen theme, properly configured hosting, and ongoing support. The 10% who need custom usually know who they are — they have complex requirements from day one.
We’ve built both. Tell us about your project and we’ll honestly recommend the right approach.
