WordPress versus custom is not a moral argument. WordPress is a publishing system with themes and plugins. A custom website is HTML, CSS and whatever backend you agreed, without that CMS unless you add one. Both can look professional. Both can look abandoned.
WordPress versus Shopify is a different fork: WordPress vs Shopify. This page assumes you need a company site, not a shop.
Pick WordPress if you will change pages and posts without calling someone every week. Pick custom if the site is small, specific and you want less plugin surface. Pick a builder only if you accept its limits. Pick Shopify if you actually sell products.
| WordPress | Custom site | |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | Admin most people can learn | Depends on what you were given |
| Plugins | Fast features, more updates | You build or skip the feature |
| Hosting | WordPress-friendly hosting | Matches the language you used |
| Blog | Natural | You add it if you need it |
| Risk | Plugin pile and stale core | Nobody left who understands the code |
How we decide on a first call
If the client will publish weekly notes, WordPress is the default. If they have five pages and a form and hate updates, a small custom PHP site on Hostinger can be calmer. If they arrived with a Hostinger AI draft, we look at whether to keep it or rebuild. See builder vs developer.
Hosting for WordPress is ordinary hosting. Hosting for small business sites in India and the Hostinger partner page cover that. Cost bands: WordPress website cost in India and business website cost.
That sentence usually picks the stack. Send it with the page list.
