Custom website vs template: which is better for your business?
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Template or custom: it is one of the first choices you make when you get a website built. A template is fast and cheap to start with. Custom costs more upfront, but you get a faster, unique website that is yours, with no subscription running every month. I build custom websites from €499 for a landing page and from €899 for a business website. Below I put the two side by side.
Want to know what a custom website would cost for your business? Request a free quote
What is a custom website?
A custom website is built from scratch for your business: your brand, your audience, your goal for the site. There is no off-the-shelf theme underneath. I design the pages around your offer and write the code myself, in Next.js and React, hosted on Vercel.
- Unique design that fits your brand
- Custom code, without redundant plugins or unused features
- Technical foundation built for speed and SEO
- You own the code, the design and the content
When is a template enough?
A template is sometimes the sensible choice, and I will say so when you call me.
- Your budget is very small and you want something online today
- The site is temporary, for an event or to test an idea
- You barely compete online and the site is mainly a digital business card
- You are fine managing the tech, updates and subscription yourself
Not sure whether a template is enough for your business? Send me a message and I will tell you honestly what I would do and what it costs.
Benefits of custom
If you want customers through Google and a site that grows with your business, custom wins on the points that matter.
- A design that sets you apart from competitors on the same theme
- Fast on mobile, because there is no redundant code
- Stronger SEO through full control over structure, metadata and speed
- No builder subscription; you only pay hosting and domain
Costs compared: template vs custom
The starting price of a template is low. The difference is in what you pay afterwards: a monthly subscription for as long as your site is online, and a higher plan for your own domain or to remove their logo. With custom you pay once for the build and then only hosting and your domain name. Over 3 years, custom is often closer to a template than you think.
| Criterion | Template | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Low or free, plus a monthly subscription | From €499 (landing page) or €899 (business website), paid once |
| Cost after 3 years | 36 months of subscription, plus paid themes or plugins | One-time build, plus hosting €10-€25/month and domain €10-€15/year |
| Speed | Generic code, often slow on mobile | Next.js on Vercel, only the code you need |
| SEO | Basics present, little control over the tech | Full control over structure, metadata and speed |
| Unique design | No, you share the theme with thousands of sites | Yes, designed around your brand |
| Expandable | As far as the platform goes | Anything is possible, from extra pages to a webshop |
| Who runs the tech | You, within the limits of the platform | I do; maintenance optional from €49/month |
How custom works with me
If you go custom, you want to know where you stand upfront. That is why I work with a fixed price.
- You send a message through the form, WhatsApp or by phone; I reply within 24 hours
- We briefly go through what you need and you get a fixed price upfront, excluding VAT
- I build a proposal for your homepage first; if you do not like it, you pay nothing
- Most websites go live within 1-2 weeks; after that I stay reachable
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Frequently asked questions
Is a custom website always more expensive than a template?
Upfront, yes: a template starts almost free and custom begins at €499. Over 3 years the gap is smaller, because with a template you pay a subscription every month and often pay extra for a domain, theme or plugins. With custom you pay once and then only hosting and domain.
How long does a custom website take?
Most custom websites I build go live within 1-2 weeks. A landing page is often ready within a week, a larger website takes 2-4 weeks.
Can I switch from a template to custom later?
Yes. I build the new site, move your content over and set up redirects so old URLs point to the right new pages, keeping as much of your Google position as possible. Starting with custom right away is cheaper than building twice, though.
Do I own my custom website?
Yes. The code, the design and the content are yours and the domain is in your name. With a website builder you rent the site: stop paying and it is gone.
Which approach do you recommend?
For businesses that want to win customers through their website, I recommend custom: a faster site, more control over SEO and no ongoing subscription. I keep it affordable: a landing page from €499, a business website from €899, with a fixed price upfront.
Want to know whether custom or a template fits your business better? Send me a message and I reply within 24 hours with honest advice.