WordPress vs Shopify vs bespoke, which platform should you use?

Last updated 3 July 2026 | Websites for Trades editorial team

1 min read

The honest answer is "it depends", but it depends on a small number of clear questions.

Are you selling products online?

If yes, and physical product e-commerce is your main business: Shopify. Don't fight it. Yes, WooCommerce can do the same thing, but Shopify handles it better with less maintenance.

Is the site mainly content + lead capture?

WordPress for most, especially if non-technical people need to add pages. Excellent SEO plugins, huge developer pool, low cost. The main risk is plugin bloat, keep it tight.

Do you need a fast, SEO-perfect content site?

Astro or Webflow. Both produce cleaner, faster sites than WordPress for content-heavy use cases. Astro needs a developer; Webflow has a visual builder.

Do you have integrations with existing systems?

If your CRM, accounting, stock or booking system already exists and the website needs to plug into it: usually bespoke or custom Next.js. Off-the-shelf platforms struggle with this.

Are you a tiny business that just needs a presence?

Squarespace or Wix. Yes, they have limits. No, you won't outgrow them in year 1. Pick the design you prefer.

See our platform comparison for the full breakdown.

Services that fit this guide

Website design

Choose the platform around content, SEO, editing and conversion needs.

Website rebuild

Move away from a platform that blocks growth or maintenance.

SEO

Protect rankings with clean structure, metadata and migration planning.

Key terms

Useful glossary definitions for this guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is WordPress or Shopify better for a small business?

Shopify is usually better for product ecommerce. WordPress is usually better for service businesses that need flexible content and lead-generation pages.

When should a business choose a bespoke website?

Choose bespoke when you need custom integrations, unusual workflows, very high performance requirements or a site that off-the-shelf platforms cannot support cleanly.

Is Wix good enough for a small business website?

Wix can be enough for a very small business that needs a simple presence, but it may be limiting for serious SEO, speed and content-led growth.

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