"Should I use Wix or WordPress?" It's one of the most common questions I get from Irish business owners. The honest answer is: it depends on your specific needs, budget, and how hands-on you want to be.
Let me break down the main options so you can make an informed decision.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Best For | Cost | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | DIY beginners | €15-40/month | Easy |
| Squarespace | Creatives/portfolios | €12-40/month | Easy |
| WordPress | Flexibility/growth | €50-200/year + hosting | Medium |
| Shopify | E-commerce | €29-299/month | Medium |
| Custom Built | Unique needs | €2,500+ | N/A (done for you) |
Wix
Best for: Beginners who want to build a simple site themselves
Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder that's genuinely easy to use. You can have a basic site up in a day with no technical knowledge.
Pros
- • Very easy to use
- • Lots of templates
- • All-in-one (hosting included)
- • Good for simple sites
Cons
- • Limited customisation
- • Can't switch templates later
- • SEO limitations
- • Costs add up over time
Squarespace
Best for: Creatives, photographers, artists, and anyone who wants a beautiful portfolio
Squarespace has the best-looking templates of any website builder. If design matters most to you and you don't need complex features, it's a solid choice.
Pros
- • Stunning templates
- • Good for portfolios
- • Built-in analytics
- • Reliable hosting
Cons
- • Less flexible than others
- • Limited third-party apps
- • E-commerce features limited
- • Can be slow
WordPress
Best for: Businesses that want flexibility and room to grow
WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. It's incredibly flexible but has a steeper learning curve. Most professional web designers work with WordPress.
Note: WordPress.org (self-hosted) is different from WordPress.com. Most professionals use WordPress.org for full control.
Pros
- • Extremely flexible
- • Thousands of plugins
- • Great for SEO
- • You own your site
- • Scales with your business
Cons
- • Steeper learning curve
- • Needs regular updates
- • Requires separate hosting
- • Can be hacked if not maintained
Custom Built Website
Best for: Businesses with unique needs, web apps, or those wanting to stand out
A custom website is built from scratch specifically for your business. This is what I do for most of my clients—using modern technologies like React to create fast, unique websites that perfectly match their needs.
For example, I built Trusted Tradesman as a custom web application because no off-the-shelf solution could handle the two-sided marketplace functionality they needed.
Pros
- • Completely unique
- • Exactly what you need
- • Best performance
- • No platform limitations
- • Professional result
Cons
- • Higher upfront cost
- • Takes longer to build
- • Need a developer for changes
My Recommendation
For most Irish small businesses, I'd recommend either:
- • Custom/WordPress if you're serious about your online presence and want a site that generates leads
- • Wix/Squarespace only if you have a very tight budget and simple needs
The "free" or cheap options often end up costing more in the long run—either in monthly fees, lost customers, or the eventual cost of rebuilding when you outgrow the platform.
Read my full breakdown of website costs in Ireland to understand what you should budget.
Not Sure What You Need?
I'm happy to give you honest advice on what platform makes sense for your business. I offer custom web design, web app development, and SEO services — no sales pitch, just practical guidance.