Do you need a Website Custom build or use WordPress Page Builders?
WordPress is one of the most widely used website builders in the world. It has over 100 million websites hosted on it and is popular because of its ease of use, flexibility, and price point.
However, there are two main ways to create a WordPress site: using a custom theme or using Elementor (a page builder). There are pros and cons to both options so let’s dive into them!
When it comes down to web development WordPress can have its downsides. One of them is that you can’t do anything with your site without learning some code. That’s why many people prefer to use page builders like Elementor or Beaver Builder, which are basically drag-and-drop tools that allow you to change your site as much as you want.
But what if you don’t want anything too flashy or complicated? You might be looking for a simpler solution and one that allows for more customization, like changing colors and fonts or adding new elements on the fly. In this case, there are two solutions: WordPress custom builds vs using WordPress page builders
WordPress Custom Builds
Pros and Cons of a Custom Theme
Here’s a quick rundown of some pros and cons of custom themes:
Pros
- Custom themes are the most visual representation of your brand
- You can design your own page layouts and styles, which is great if you want full control over the look and feel of your site.
- They’re easier to update because you don’t need to go through an editor when making changes.
- A custom look and feel from the ground up
Cons:
- Custom themes take longer to create than some other options, such as a page builder or pre-made theme.
- If you’re not familiar with coding or web design, it might be hard to work with a custom theme that requires frequent updates (known as “web maintenance“).
- Custom builds take more time and money to create.
- Custom builds require advanced web programming languages like HTML, CSS, jQuery, and PHP, among another knowledge base.
- Need a Developer for each update or change
- Usually harder to maintain
Pros and Cons of Page Builders
While the pros of using a page builder might seem obvious, there are some significant downsides to consider.
Pros:
- Drag & Drop Interface makes it easy to use even for those who don’t know how to code although there will always be elements or particular functionality that will require some coding skills.
- Page builders are faster to develop with. Faster Development Times with Less Work
- They are more user-friendly than custom builds, which means you can easily make changes on your own without (in general) having to get in touch with a developer.
- They’re great for non-coders who want something that looks nice but don’t have any training or experience in coding.
- Increased productivity, which leads to less work for you over time. This means that instead of having to stay on top of all of the latest WordPress updates and bugs (which can be tricky), you can simply focus on your content and let the page builder handle the rest!
- Website Owners can be independent when needing to make small changes to a website
Cons
- Creating Initial Custom Design Can Be Hard, Time-Consuming, and Costly at the beginning.
- Matching the company branding can be tricky if we are not familiarised with the page builder elements and tools.
- We need to be cautious about which page builder we use, as it needs to be kept up to date and offer very good customer support.
- Using a page builder combined or embedded in a “premium theme” can be tricky and can mess things around long term.
Why Elementor?
Elementor is one of the most popular free WordPress page builders. There are many reasons for this:
- It’s easy to use
- The PRO version is really powerful
- It offers pretty advanced functionalities.
- Its visual flexibility allows to create pretty custom layouts and designs.
- It’s fairly fast (no waiting for pages to load) when not combined with other “premium themes”
- The installation process is quick and intuitive
The decision will depend on the nature of the website and its functionality. I would personally recommend Elementor for brochure Websites since it is faster to get results and is cost-effective. However, if you are looking for something like an e-commerce site or a membership portal, then you might want to go with a custom build or page builder.
In conclusion, you should consider how much time you want to spend on development and how easy it will be to make additional changes later on. If you’re looking for a quick solution that doesn’t require coding experience, then go with a page builder. If not, then consider hiring someone who can build you something custom based on your vision.