Website Builder vs Custom Website: Which Wins Long Term?
Wix is free. Squarespace looks pretty. But what happens in 2 years when your business outgrows them? Here is the honest comparison nobody else will give you.
The Question You Should Actually Be Asking
Most Gold Coast business owners ask "Which is cheaper?" when they should be asking "Which will make me more money?" A website is not just an expense. It is either a lead generation machine or a digital brochure that collects dust.
The real cost of a website is not what you pay upfront. It is the leads you miss, the customers who bounce, and the opportunities lost to competitors with better online presence. Let us break down what actually matters.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Factor | DIY Builders (Wix, Squarespace) | WordPress (Self-managed) | Custom Website (Professional) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | $0 to $200 | $500 to $2,000 | $0 to $15,000+ |
| Monthly Cost | $15 to $50 | $20 to $100 | $50 to $200 |
| Time to Launch | 1 to 7 days | 2 to 4 weeks | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Design Flexibility | Limited to templates | Moderate | Unlimited |
| SEO Capability | Basic | Good with plugins | Advanced |
| Page Speed | Often slow | Variable | Optimised |
| Conversion Optimisation | None | Plugin dependent | Built-in |
| Scalability | Very limited | Good | Excellent |
| Support | Email/chat | Community forums | Dedicated team |
| Data Ownership | Platform dependent | You own it | You own it |
The Hidden Costs of DIY Website Builders
That "free" Wix website is not actually free. Here is what they do not tell you in the advertisements.
Your Time
Most business owners spend 40+ hours building their first DIY website. At even $50/hour, that is $2,000 in opportunity cost. And that is before ongoing maintenance.
Lost Leads
DIY websites typically convert at 1 to 2%. Professional sites convert at 3 to 5%+. If you get 1,000 visitors monthly, that is potentially 30+ leads you are missing every month.
Slow Speed
Wix and Squarespace sites are notoriously slow. Google penalises slow sites in search rankings. Every second of load time costs you approximately 7% in conversions.
Platform Lock-in
Built on Wix? You cannot take your site elsewhere. If they raise prices or shut down, you start from scratch. Your content, your design, your SEO history, gone.
When DIY Actually Makes Sense
We are not going to pretend everyone needs a custom website. DIY builders have their place.
DIY is Right For You If:
- You are testing a business idea before investing
- Your website is purely informational (no lead gen)
- You have more time than money right now
- You do not rely on Google for customers
- Your competitors also have basic websites
Custom is Right For You If:
- Your website needs to generate leads or sales
- You want to rank in Google search results
- Your business is established and growing
- Your competitors have professional websites
- You value your time over saving a few hundred dollars
The 3-Year Total Cost Analysis
Let us do the maths on what each option actually costs over 3 years.
Wix/Squarespace
WordPress (DIY)
3P Digital Custom
Plus a website that actually converts visitors into customers
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