Hey,
I make my living with WordPress. Still, I tell some clients: take something else.
That sounds counterintuitive, but it's honest. WordPress is a fantastic tool, but not the right one for everyone. And whoever chooses wrong pays for it later.
The uncomfortable truth about WordPress
WordPress powers over 40 percent of all websites worldwide. That's impressive. It also means: most of them aren't good.
WordPress is powerful but complex. It needs maintenance, updates, security measures. It needs someone who knows what they're doing. Without that, WordPress quickly becomes a problem.
The plugins are blessing and curse at once. For every problem there's a plugin. But every plugin is also a potential security risk, a performance killer, a maintenance task. I've seen sites with 50 plugins. That's not a system, that's chaos.
So: when is WordPress actually worth it?
When WordPress makes sense
WordPress is the right choice when you have a lot of content. A blog with a hundred articles, a knowledge base, a magazine. That's what WordPress is built for. Content management is fantastic when used properly.
WordPress is right when you need flexibility. Custom features, special integrations, unusual requirements. With WordPress you can build almost anything. With website builders you can't.
WordPress is right when you think long-term. The platform isn't going anywhere. The community is huge. You'll always find someone who knows their way around. That's different with some alternatives.
And WordPress is right when you want to own your data. You host it yourself, you control everything, nobody can pull the plug on you. With SaaS solutions you're a tenant. With WordPress you're an owner.
When WordPress doesn't make sense
For a simple business card website with five pages that never changes, WordPress is overkill. You pay for hosting, maintenance, updates, and get features you never use.
For a pure e-commerce store, Shopify is often better. Not because Shopify is technically superior, but because it's focused on e-commerce. Everything is geared toward that. With WordPress and WooCommerce, you have to piece together a lot yourself.
When you have nobody to handle the tech, WordPress is risky. A neglected WordPress site gets hacked. That's not a question of if, but when. Website builders like Wix or Squarespace handle security and updates. You don't have to do anything.
The alternatives in detail
Webflow is the designers' darling. Visually powerful, clean code, no plugins. You build in the browser and get a fast, secure site. The catch: you're dependent on Webflow. If prices go up or the company shuts down, you have a problem. And for complex features, flexibility is lacking.
Shopify is king in e-commerce. Payment processing, shipping, inventory management, all integrated. For a pure online store, that's often the better choice than WooCommerce. The catch: monthly fees plus transaction fees. At high revenue, that gets expensive.
Wix and Squarespace are the website builders. Simple, fast, no technical knowledge needed. Perfect for solo entrepreneurs who want to get online quickly. The catch: limited flexibility, mediocre performance, and you're locked in. Exporting your content is practically impossible.
Static site generators like Hugo or 11ty are lightning fast and secure. No database, no attack surface. Perfect for documentation, portfolios, simple company sites. The catch: you need technical know-how. Unsuitable for non-developers.
The decision matrix
Here's the honest assessment.
If you want a blog or magazine: WordPress. Nothing else comes close.
If you want an online store: Shopify, unless you need special features. Then WooCommerce.
If you want a design-heavy portfolio site: Webflow if you have the budget. Otherwise WordPress with a good theme.
If you want a simple company site and have no patience for tech: Squarespace. Seriously. It's good enough.
If you want maximum control and flexibility: WordPress. With all the consequences.
What this means for you
The choice of CMS isn't a technical decision. It's a business decision.
Ask yourself: how much time and money do I want to invest in maintenance? How important is independence to me? What features do I need today, and which ones maybe in three years?
WordPress is the Swiss Army knife. It can do everything, but you have to know how to use it. The alternatives are specialized tools. They do one thing well, but only one thing.
I build websites with WordPress because my clients need flexibility. Because they want to grow. Because they don't want to start over in three years.
But when someone comes and says: I need a simple site that I never touch, then I say: take Squarespace. You'll be happier with it.
That's not defeat. That's honest advice.
Cheers,
Rafael