In the world of website development, two popular platforms dominate the scene: HTML and WordPress. As a business owner, you may wonder which platform is best suited for your needs. To help you make an informed decision, we present you a comparison of HTML websites and WordPress websites, purely to help you make a smarter business decision. So, grab a cuppa and let’s dive into the exciting world of website platforms!
#1: Ease of Use
HTML Websites:
Creating an HTML website requires a solid understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You or your developers will have to manually write and edit code to design, update, and maintain your site, which can be time-consuming and potentially costly if you lack the necessary skills. Though there are HTML website code templates available online, you still need to revise them considerably to suit your needs.
As Albert Einstein once said, “You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” The same holds true for coding an HTML website.
WordPress Websites:
WordPress is a user-friendly content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and update your website without extensive coding knowledge. Its popularity can be understood from the simple stat that it powers over 43% of websites globally. It has a vast library of website design templates and plugins, which allows you to quickly create a professional-looking site with minimal effort. From a business perspective, WordPress makes more sense, though developers prefer HTML websites (you can probably guess why).
As WordPress expert Chris Lema puts it, “WordPress lets you focus on what you do best: running your business.”
#2: Customisation
HTML Websites:
With an HTML website, you have complete control over the design and layout, allowing you to create a fully customised site that reflects your brand identity. However, this freedom comes at the cost of increased complexity and a steeper learning curve. The result is the rise in costs. For example, an average HTML site can set you back by $2,000-$3,000 at the very least. The more you want it customised, the more time your developers will have to give the project, leading to rapid increase in costs.
WordPress Websites:
WordPress offers thousands of web templates and plugins to choose from, enabling you to customise your site without extensive coding knowledge. A decade or so back, the platform’s design flexibility was limited but this does not hold true anymore. Templates and plugins have become better and offer all the spectrum of designs that you can get from an HTML site. The best thing about WordPress is that even if you need something specific and it is not available in the theme or plugin repository, then you can build it yourself. As WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg puts it, “WordPress is like LEGO; you can build anything you want with it, but sometimes you need a specific piece.” This is perhaps why most organisations and people including the White House, Sony, Disney and more businesses have gone the WordPress way.
#3: Maintenance and Updates
HTML Websites:
Maintaining and updating an HTML website requires manual coding and is time-consuming. There is no way around it. Additionally, you’ll have to stay abreast of the latest coding standards and practices to ensure your site remains functional and secure. All this adds up to the cost. But if you are okay with it, then we suggest you go with it.
WordPress Websites:
WordPress makes website maintenance and updates more manageable by providing automatic updates for the core platform, themes and plugins. You still need to monitor your site’s performance and security, to ensure there are no vulnerabilities from outdated plugins or themes but all this takes five minutes or less even for large sites. Such work will take a week if not more in HTML sites.
#4: Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
HTML Websites:
With HTML, you have full control over the site’s structure and content, allowing you to optimise your site for search engines. However, effective SEO requires technical knowledge and ongoing effort to stay up-to-date with best practices. Optimising a web page means getting into the code and getting your hands dirty. There are no shortcuts here. And need we say it – the costs add up.
WordPress Websites:
WordPress offers numerous plugins such as Yoast SEO, Rank Math or AISEO, among others, to help you optimise your site for search engines. These plugins provide a user-friendly interface for managing meta tags, XML sitemaps and other SEO essentials. What takes a day with HTML sites gets done here in half an hour or less. This is why Joost de Valk, the founder of Yoast said, “WordPress is the best platform for anyone who wants to rank high in search results without needing an internet marketing service degree.” Also, something to keep in mind: a study by Backlinko found that WordPress sites outrank other CMS platforms in Google search results, with an average of 2.3 times more top-ranking pages.
To Summarise for Your Reference
Ultimately, the choice between HTML and WordPress depends on your unique needs and your technical expertise. HTML websites are supposed to offer greater customisation and control but require more skill and effort to develop and maintain. In other words, they are good if you specifically want them and have developers who can deliver your vision. WordPress, on the other hand, provides a user-friendly platform with a vast array of templates and plugins, making it easier for businesses to create and manage their online presence. It makes more business sense than HTML.
What we would say is this: consider the time and resources you’re willing to invest in your website’s development and maintenance. If you have the technical expertise and desire for complete control over your site, an HTML website may be the ideal choice. However, if you prefer a more user-friendly platform with a wealth of resources at your fingertips at fraction of the development and maintenance cost, WordPress could be the perfect solution.
