CMS vs Custom Website Development – Which is Better?
When it comes to building a website, business owners have two primary options: CMS (Content Management System) or Custom Website Development. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss in detail in this article and try to find out which one is best for you.
However if you are looking for a web agency who can build a website for your business you can consider us.
CMS vs Custom Website Development
Factor | CMS | Custom Website Development |
|---|---|---|
Definition | A pre-built platform that allows users to create and manage websites using a set of templates and pre-designed functionalities | Building a website from scratch, tailored to the business's specific needs |
Price | More affordable, as they come with pre-built functionalities that reduce development time and costs | Costs vary depending on the complexity and features required |
Time to Launch | Quick and easy website creation, as they offer pre-built templates and functionalities | Requires more time and resources to build a website from scratch |
Third Party Apis & Plugins | Offer a range of third-party plugins and APIs that can be easily integrated into a website | Requires custom coding for each extra functionality. |
Content | Easier to manage and publish new content. Need no coding knowledge. | Hard to manage and publish new content because you need coding knowledge to do everything. |
Easy to Use | Designed to be user-friendly and require little technical knowledge to use | Require more technical knowledge to manage and update |
Improves Site Maintenance | Come with pre-built maintenance tools that make it easy to manage and update websites | Require more manual maintenance and updates |
Improves Site Maintenance | Come with pre-built maintenance tools that make it easy to manage and update websites | Require more manual maintenance and updates |
SEO Friendly | Designed to be SEO-friendly, with pre-built features that improve website rankings | Can be made SEO-friendly, but it requires more customization and development time |
Quality of Code | Use pre-built code, which can be less efficient and slower | Typically have better quality code, as it is specifically tailored to the business's needs |
User Interface | Offer pre-built user interfaces that are designed to be user-friendly | Offer greater flexibility in terms of user interface design |
Performance | Can be slower, depending on the number of plugins and customizations | Typically have better performance, as the code is specifically optimized for the website's needs |
Interactivity | Offer pre-built interactive features, but they may not meet specific business needs | Offer greater interactivity, as they can be designed with specific interactive features in mind |
Preview Function | Often offer preview functionality, allowing users to preview changes before publishing | May not have this feature, depending on the development approach |
Adaptability | Offer greater adaptability, as they come with pre-built templates and functionalities that can be easily customized | May require more development time to make changes |
Scalability | Designed to handle large amounts of website pages and easy to maintain. | May require more development time to scale because there is no automated feature. Everything has to be done manually. |
Security | It has all the moderate security features so you can consider it to be secure. | More secure than the CMS platform because it’s completely unique from other websites. |
Who Should Go for the CMS Platform?
Small and medium businesses, such as local businesses and e-commerce sites, should opt for a CMS platform like WordPress. It is easier to use, cost-effective, and does not slow down the website due to its few pages and simple functionalities. Additionally, it requires no professional maintenance, which reduces costs.
Who Should Go for Custom Website Development?
Large businesses and corporations, including international brands, marketplaces, and very big e-commerce sites, should consider custom-developed websites as they offer unique designs, high-level customer experiences, complex functionalities, top-notch performance, and full security. Although it can be expensive, larger businesses can afford it.
Or, You Can Use Both in One Website (Best Option)
Using custom code in a CMS platform (wordpress) is the best option. Sometimes, CMS platforms may not provide complex functionalities, which prompts users to opt for custom-developed websites. However, by building the website on a WordPress CMS platform and coding the necessary functionalities, users can enjoy the benefits of both CMS and custom development. This approach can also make the website faster.
Conclusion
In conclusion, for small and medium businesses, using a CMS platform like WordPress is ideal, while for larger businesses requiring functionalities that a CMS website cannot provide, custom development is the way to go. However, it is advisable for larger businesses to build their website on a CMS platform like WordPress and add the required functionalities through coding if possible.
Additional Resources
Best CMS Platforms in 2023.
Learn which CMS platform is best now and which one you should go for.
Web Design vs. Web Development
Learn what is the difference between web design and web development and who should you hire to build your website.
