Custom-Built Websites vs Templates: The Pros and Cons

      Comments Off on Custom-Built Websites vs Templates: The Pros and Cons
custom built

You’re missing out if you don’t have your own website. You’re harder for others to find online, and you might find that your business appears less legitimate, too.

Actually getting your website built, however, can seem challenging. After all, you have to first decide whether to build it from scratch or use a template.

Using personal or business website templates can seem like an easier and cheaper option than a custom-built website. But at the same time, custom web design gives you more flexibility over your site for the higher price.

Read on to explore all the pros and cons of custom vs template websites so that you can make the right decision for your personal or business site.

Pros of Custom-Built Websites

Custom websites give you the key advantage of complete control. You can choose each aspect of the design and each feature you need. You can even request that the developer use a certain programming language or technology you’re familiar with.

You get flexibility since your site can easily scale as your needs change. Since you’re not tied to any template’s structure, you can have your website expanded or even get the whole design changed easily. You can also easily adjust the website to suit different devices such as tablets and phones.

Choosing a website web design also works better for complex websites. For example, you can have a robust online store made from scratch that has all the functionality your shoppers will appreciate. While you can create a simple online store with a template, you’ll likely run into limitations.

Custom-built websites also tend to have better search engine optimization. A skilled web developer knows the ins and outs of how to structure a site to make it stand out in search engines. Also, they likely have some marketing skills and can help you better promote such a site.

Lastly, you’ll likely have better support for a custom-built website. The individual or company who built the site usually provides ongoing help when you need updates or repairs.

Cons of Custom-Built Websites

The benefits of custom-built websites come with the drawback of longer development time, and this can cause issues if you need the site made quickly. You have to first find a suitable developer and then work with them to come up with a design. You then have to wait for the days, weeks, or even months of development.

Such websites also cost you more money due to the extra work involved. Since the developer makes everything from scratch, each page and feature takes longer to implement. The process can get even more expensive if you need to request changes along the way.

Having a website built from scratch also comes with some risk. If you choose the wrong developer, your site design may not be accessible or attractive. In the end, you could end up with a site that users have difficulty using or find unappealing.

Pros of Using Professional Website Templates

The advantage of a lower development cost is a popular reason people have their websites made from templates. Some templates cost nothing, so you’ll just need to pay someone to do some customization if you need it. Other templates cost a flat fee that will be a fraction of the cost of a custom-built site.

Professional website templates also help you get your site up as soon as possible. Templates can give you a basic website that is ready to use out of the box, and you can always have a develop customize it quite quickly. If your business urgently needs a website, choosing a template gives you an online presence almost right away.

Although website templates might not have as much flexibility as custom-built sites, templates have become quite flexible and sophisticated. You or a developer can add features like photo galleries and mailing systems as easily as installing a WordPress plugin. In many cases, you don’t even need to know how to code to add these features or edit your template website.

Cons of Using Professional Website Templates

A notable downside of using business website templates is that your website tends to look less unique. The easy accessibility of templates means many individuals and businesses choose the option. So, you might find your website looks a lot like many others you see on the web.

Template websites also tend to come with fewer support options than custom-built sites do. If you choose to set up the site yourself, you can get stuck relying on documentation and online troubleshooting. You can hire a professional developer to help, but that person may not have all the knowledge needed for that specific template.

Websites made from templates can also have some issues with accessibility. While a developer can create custom websites that work on all different kinds of devices, not all templates are built with this functionality. You might also find you need to pay more money for responsive template designs that look good on both small and large screens.

Your template website may also come without search engine optimization. This happens since the website has a pre-defined structure that gets difficult to change. While you can make some tweaks so that your site comes up more easily in search engines, you have less room to make these changes with a template site.

Lastly, you’ll experience limits to the overall customization you can do with a template website. Sure, you can add plugins and make changes to the design to more better fit for your needs. However, you don’t get the ability to make those decisions from the ground up.

Choose the Best Option for You

Now you can decide whether you should use a custom-built website or a template. Your needs, budget, timeline, and level of support will ultimately determine the right option for you.

If you need to set up a simple personal or business website, you can do so cheaply and quickly with a template like a WordPress or Drupal site. Just be aware that you’ll have limits to any customization and receive less support with this option.

For a complex website like an online store, you’ll probably find that a custom-built website is the way to go. This will also fit your needs if you want a complex design or need full control over the back-end of the website. Just be prepared for the additional time and money.

If a template site sounds right for you, be sure to check out our posts about content management systems to learn more.