Choosing the wrong website platform can lead to expensive maintenance, limited functionality and costly migrations.
After 26+ years designing and developing websites and applications, I've learned that platform selection should start with business requirements, not technology preferences.
Here's how the main options compare.
What Should You Consider Before Choosing a Website Platform?
Before selecting a platform, consider:
- Functionality: What does your website need to do?
- Content management: Who will update content, and what controls do they need?
- Integrations: Will it connect to a CRM, inventory, accounting or booking system?
- Scalability: Can it support future functionality and business growth?
- Maintenance: Who manages updates, security and hosting?
- Total cost: What will it cost to build, operate and extend?
- Ownership: How much control will you have over your code, content and data?
These requirements should guide the technology decision.
WordPress — Flexible Content Management
WordPress is a widely supported content management system suitable for business websites, blogs and custom content-driven experiences.
Custom themes, structured content and plugins allow considerable flexibility.
Best suited to:
- Business and marketing websites
- Content-heavy websites and blogs
- Custom websites requiring flexible content management
- Businesses needing integrations and tailored functionality
Considerations:
WordPress requires ongoing core, theme and plugin updates. Excessive plugin dependencies can increase maintenance costs and introduce compatibility issues.
Page builders offer layout flexibility but can create inconsistent styling and unnecessary complexity without appropriate controls.
A well-architected WordPress website with carefully selected plugins can be maintainable and scalable.
Explore WordPress Development →
Drupal — Complex Content and Enterprise Requirements
Drupal is a powerful content management system suited to websites with complex content structures, permissions and editorial workflows.
Its structured content architecture and Views functionality support sophisticated content relationships, filtered listings and custom displays.
Best suited to:
- Large, content-heavy websites
- Complex content structures and relationships
- Multiple user roles and editorial workflows
- Organisations with detailed governance requirements
- Custom integrations and functionality
Considerations:
Drupal requires specialist development expertise and ongoing technical maintenance.
For smaller websites with simple requirements, the development overhead may not be justified.
For complex content management and long-term extensibility, Drupal can be an excellent choice.
Squarespace and Website Builders — Simple, Managed Websites
Squarespace, Wix and Webflow provide hosted website-building environments with managed infrastructure and visual editing tools.
They reduce the need for technical hosting and software maintenance.
Best suited to:
- Small business websites
- Brochure and marketing websites
- Straightforward content requirements
- Businesses with limited technical resources
Considerations:
Custom functionality, complex content structures and integrations may be restricted by platform capabilities.
Subscription costs, design controls and migration limitations should also be considered.
Website builders are practical for straightforward requirements but may become restrictive as complexity increases.
Shopify, BigCommerce or WooCommerce — Choosing an eCommerce Platform
eCommerce platform selection affects product management, payments, shipping, inventory, wholesale pricing and integrations.
Shopify
Shopify is a hosted eCommerce platform with built-in commerce functionality and an extensive app ecosystem.
Best suited to: Retailers wanting a managed platform, established selling tools and access to third-party integrations.
Considerations: Subscription fees, app costs, customisation limitations and transaction arrangements.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a hosted eCommerce platform with native functionality supporting complex catalogues, pricing structures and B2B requirements.
Best suited to: Established retailers, wholesalers and businesses requiring more advanced commerce functionality.
Considerations: Platform pricing, integration requirements and compatibility with specific business workflows.
Explore BigCommerce Development →
WooCommerce
WooCommerce adds eCommerce functionality to WordPress, combining flexible content management with extensive customisation options.
Best suited to: Businesses requiring close integration between content and commerce, custom functionality or greater control over their hosting environment.
Considerations: Hosting, security, plugin dependencies, performance and ongoing maintenance.
Explore WooCommerce Development →
Which eCommerce Platform Is Best?
The decision depends on product complexity, retail and wholesale requirements, inventory management, integrations and long-term operating costs.
A platform with more native functionality may reduce reliance on third-party apps. Another may offer greater customisation but require more development and maintenance.
Compare requirements and total costs before choosing.
When Do You Need Custom Development?
Off-the-shelf platforms don't always support complex business requirements efficiently.
Custom development may be appropriate for:
- Customer and staff portals
- Business applications and dashboards
- Complex workflows and automation
- CRM, inventory and accounting integrations
- Custom databases and APIs
- Functionality unavailable through existing platforms
Frameworks such as Laravel, Vue.js and React support tailored applications and interfaces.
Custom development can also extend an existing platform rather than replace it entirely.
Explore Full-Stack Development →
Compare the Total Cost of Ownership
The initial development quote is only one part of the cost.
Evaluate:
- Website design and development
- Hosting and platform subscriptions
- Plugins, apps and licensing
- Security updates and maintenance
- Technical support
- Integrations and future development
- Potential migration costs
A lower initial build cost can result in higher long-term expenses if the platform requires extensive workarounds or ongoing maintenance.
Conversely, a managed platform may reduce operational costs when its native functionality meets your requirements.
Which Website Platform Should You Choose?
| Business requirement | Platforms to consider |
|---|---|
| Simple business website | Squarespace, WordPress |
| Custom marketing website | WordPress, Drupal |
| Complex content management | Drupal, WordPress |
| Online retail store | Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce |
| Wholesale or B2B eCommerce | BigCommerce, Shopify, WooCommerce |
| Custom business application | Laravel, custom development |
| Complex integrations | Established platforms with custom integrations, or custom development |
These are starting points. The final recommendation depends on your requirements, budget and existing systems.
Explore the platforms and technologies we work with.
Not Sure Which Platform Is Right for Your Business?
Our Digital Blueprints help businesses make informed technology decisions before investing in design and development.
We define requirements, research and compare platforms, assess functionality and long-term costs, and develop an implementation plan.
Your Blueprint includes recommendations, defined requirements, a development roadmap, task breakdowns and cost estimates.
