The Cost of Not Choosing a WordPress Website
Many businesses make the mistake of choosing a website platform other than WordPress, thinking they are saving money. However, not owning your website can lead to higher long-term costs, limited control, and scalability issues. This article explores the hidden expenses of website rental services like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify and highlights the financial and strategic benefits of owning your website with WordPress.
Outline
- The Real Cost of Renting a Website
- Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify Pricing in GBP
- Subscription-Based Models and Hidden Fees
- Ownership vs. Renting – Why It Matters
- Complete Control Over Your Website
- Avoiding Vendor Lock-In
- Limited Customisation and Scalability
- Template Restrictions
- Expensive Customisation Services
- SEO and Performance Limitations
- Poor Optimisation Options
- Lack of Advanced SEO Control
- E-commerce Limitations Outside of WordPress
- Higher Transaction Fees
- Limited Payment Gateway Choices
- Security and Maintenance Costs
- Increased Security Vulnerabilities
- Lack of Backup and Update Control
- Comparing WordPress to Other Website Builders
- Why WordPress is the Smarter Investment
- Conclusion
- FAQs
The Real Cost of Renting a Website
Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify may seem cheap at first but often lock users into an expensive, ongoing subscription model. Unlike WordPress, where you pay for hosting and own your website outright, these alternatives require constant payments to keep your site live.
Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify Pricing in GBP
- Wix: Starts at £13/month, but advanced features like e-commerce and analytics cost more.
- Squarespace: Pricing ranges from £12 to £40/month, with further costs for premium integrations.
- Shopify: Basic plans start at £25/month, but transaction fees and app subscriptions quickly add up.
Over five years, renting a website can cost upwards of £2,000–£5,000, whereas owning a WordPress website costs significantly less in the long run.
Ownership vs. Renting – Why It Matters
Complete Control Over Your Website
You don’t truly own your website when using platforms like Wix or Squarespace. You risk losing everything if the provider shuts down or changes its policies. With WordPress, you have full ownership; your website is yours, no matter what.
Avoiding Vendor Lock-In
Many website rental platforms make it difficult and costly to migrate to another system. If you ever outgrow their service, you may have to rebuild your entire site from scratch, which can be expensive and time-consuming.
Limited Customisation and Scalability
Template Restrictions
Many website builders provide a limited number of templates, making it hard to create a unique brand. Custom changes often require expensive developer intervention.
Expensive Customisation Services
Unlike WordPress, which has thousands of free and premium themes, website rental services often require costly coding work for simple changes, adding to your overall expenses.
SEO and Performance Limitations
Poor Optimisation Options
WordPress offers industry-leading SEO tools like Yoast SEO and Rank Math, which help websites rank higher in search engines. Other platforms provide basic SEO features, limiting visibility and traffic potential.
Lack of Advanced SEO Control
- Limited access to schema markup
- Poor page speed optimisation
- Lack of control over meta tags and indexing
E-commerce Limitations Outside of WordPress
Higher Transaction Fees
Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace often charge extra transaction fees, reducing profit margins. In contrast, WooCommerce (on WordPress) gives complete control over payments with no extra fees.
Limited Payment Gateway Choices
Many website rental platforms restrict payment options, whereas WordPress allows you to integrate any payment processor, increasing business flexibility.
Security and Maintenance Costs
Increased Security Vulnerabilities
With rented website platforms, you rely on the provider for security, which may not always be robust. WordPress allows complete control over security measures, including firewalls, malware scans, and backups.
Lack of Backup and Update Control
Hosted platforms control when and how updates happen, sometimes causing compatibility issues. With WordPress, you decide when to update your site, preventing downtime and unexpected problems.
Comparing WordPress to Other Website Builders
| Feature | WordPress | Wix | Squarespace | Shopify |
| Cost | £50–£10,000+ (one-time investment) | £10–£50/month (ongoing fees) | £12–£40/month | £25–£299/month |
| Ownership | Full | None (Rental Model) | None (Rental Model) | None (Rental Model) |
| Scalability | Unlimited | Limited | Limited | High, but expensive |
| Customisation | Full | Restricted | Medium | Restricted |
Why WordPress is the Smarter Investment
- Lower long-term costs: Instead of constant rental fees, you make a one-time investment in a website you own.
- Complete control and ownership: You decide how your website operates without external limitations.
- Unlimited customisation: Modify every aspect of your site without extra fees.
- Better SEO and performance: Rank higher in search engines and gain more organic traffic.
- Scalability: WordPress allows businesses to grow without platform limitations.
Conclusion
Renting a website may seem convenient, but it becomes a costly and restrictive choice over time. Investing in WordPress ensures you own your website, control its features, and avoid unnecessary long-term costs. WordPress is the best choice if you want a scalable, customisable, and cost-effective solution.
FAQs
- Why is owning a website better than renting one? Owning a website means no ongoing rental fees, full control, and complete customisation.
- What are the hidden costs of website rental services? Recurring fees, transaction costs, and customisation restrictions add up to thousands of pounds over time.
- Can I migrate from Wix or Squarespace to WordPress? Yes, but it requires manual migration or hiring an expert, costing £500–£5,000.
- Is WordPress more difficult to use than Wix or Shopify? It has a learning curve but provides greater flexibility, long-term benefits, and lower costs.
- How much does it cost to maintain a WordPress site? Depending on your needs, hosting and maintenance costs range from £50- £500 per year.
