Custom WordPress or off-the-shelf theme: what really changes
WordPress runs a large share of the world’s websites, and for good reason: it’s easy to learn and lets you edit your content without a developer. But “a WordPress site” can mean two very different things: an off-the-shelf theme (often with a page builder), or a theme built from scratch for your website.
I’ve worked with both approaches for several years. Here is what concretely sets them apart.
The off-the-shelf theme: quick to launch, hard to evolve
A commercial theme is built to appeal to as many people as possible. So it ships with dozens of options, layouts and features, of which you’ll only use a small part.
Its advantages
- a lower upfront cost;
- a website online quickly if the template already matches your needs.
Its limits
- Weight: all that unused code still gets loaded, which slows the site down, especially on mobile.
- Design: your website looks like thousands of others. Moving away from the template requires workarounds that make the whole thing fragile.
- Updates: the theme and its page builder depend on an outside vendor. An update can break a layout, and an abandoned theme becomes a security risk.
The custom theme: every line has a reason to be there
A custom theme is built from your website’s mockup, and for that website only.
Its advantages
- Speed: the site only loads what it displays. Google tracks this, and your visitors feel it.
- Design: the mockup is reproduced faithfully, animations included, with no compromises imposed by a template.
- Autonomy: with custom fields (ACF), each page offers exactly the areas you need to edit, no more, no less. You change a text or an image without risking breaking the layout.
- SEO: heading structure, structured data and performance are planned from the start.
Its limits
- a higher upfront budget, since the design and development are done for you;
- a slightly longer lead time before launch.
How to choose?
| Your situation | My advice |
|---|---|
| A temporary need or a very tight budget | An off-the-shelf theme, lightweight and well maintained |
| A website that needs to set you apart and bring in enquiries | A custom theme |
| An existing website that’s slow and hard to edit | A custom redesign, keeping the SEO you’ve already earned |
The real question isn’t “how much does the website cost?”, but “how much does it bring in, and how much does it cost me every year in workarounds and slowness?”.
What I do
I build custom WordPress themes, from mockup to launch, with an admin area designed so you can manage things on your own. Not sure which approach to pick? Write to me about your project and I’ll tell you honestly which one suits you.
