WordPress vs Custom Website — What Should Sydney Businesses Choose?

If you have been getting website quotes in Sydney, you have probably heard both options pitched. Here is what actually matters when making this choice.

What is WordPress?

WordPress powers about 40% of all websites globally. It uses pre-built themes and plugins that can be customised for almost any type of business website. Most small business websites across Western Sydney are built on WordPress.

What is a Custom Website?

A custom website is built from scratch — usually using modern frameworks like Next.js or React. Everything is purpose-built for your specific business needs.

When WordPress Makes Sense

WordPress is ideal when you need a straightforward business website, want to manage content yourself, need a blog, and have a budget under $3,000. For most small Sydney businesses — a plumber in Penrith, a beauty salon in Kellyville, a café in Castle Hill — WordPress delivers everything needed.

When Custom Development Makes Sense

Custom development makes sense when your website needs to integrate with specific business systems, has complex functionality like booking engines or customer portals, needs to handle very high traffic, or when performance is critical.

The Hidden Costs of WordPress

WordPress is not entirely free. You need hosting ($10–$50/month), a premium theme, plugins for SEO, security and backups, and regular updates and maintenance. These costs add up over time.

Our Recommendation

For most Sydney small businesses, a professionally built WordPress site or a custom Next.js site in the $499–$1,699 range delivers the best value. The platform matters less than the quality of the build and the SEO setup.

TotalBiz builds both WordPress and custom websites for Sydney businesses. We recommend the right technology for your specific needs and budget.