WordPress vs Modern Website \u2014 What's Better for Small Business?
The eternal question \u2014 WordPress or something modern? If you're currently thinking about a new WordPress website or looking for the best website builder for your business, this article is for you. We'll compare both options objectively \u2014 without bias, with facts and figures.
WordPress dominates the web quite significantly \u2014 by estimates, about 43% of all websites in the world run on WordPress. This makes sense \u2014 most web agencies offer WordPress solutions because they're quick to deploy. However, what's quick to deploy isn't necessarily quick to load. And that's exactly where the modern web comes in, which is still used by only a small percentage of companies \u2014 but those who switched aren't going back.
What Is WordPress?
WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that appeared in 2003 as a blogging platform. Today, approximately 43% of all websites on the internet run on it \u2014 from simple blogs to large online stores.
Its strength lies in its massive ecosystem \u2014 thousands of themes and plugins that allow you to add virtually any functionality without programming. A WordPress website can be created even without technical knowledge, making it the most widely used platform in the world.
On the other hand, WordPress's popularity makes it the most frequent target for hackers. And the more plugins you add, the slower and more unstable the website becomes.
What Is a Modern Website?
A modern website uses technologies like React, Next.js, Astro and the so-called Jamstack approach. Instead of the server generating each page on every visit (like WordPress), a modern website pre-generates pages as static HTML files.
The result? Lightning-fast loading, better SEO, minimal security risks, and hosting that is often completely free. For content management, a headless CMS is used \u2014 a system that provides a convenient admin panel without slowing down the website itself.
A modern website is like a custom-built car \u2014 tailored exactly to your needs, without unnecessary weight. WordPress is like a used car from a dealer \u2014 it works, but it doesn't suit everyone.
Comparison: WordPress vs Modern Website
Real-World Experience
Numbers and comparisons are great, but the differences are best seen in real examples. Here are three cases of companies that faced the same dilemma as you.
Hair Salon in Bratislava
A small salon had a WordPress website that loaded in 4.2 seconds and was hacked twice \u2014 once attackers inserted spam links, the second time they crashed the site completely. After switching to a modern website, loading time dropped to 0.8 seconds, security issues disappeared completely, and thanks to improved Core Web Vitals, their Google ranking improved significantly. New clients from the internet increased by a third.
IT Startup in Kosice
A team of young developers first tried WordPress but quickly hit limitations \u2014 templates couldn't provide the unique, pixel-perfect design needed for their brand. Switching to a modern React website gave them full control over every detail. The result? A lightning-fast page with animations and interactive elements that impresses investors and clients. All with free hosting on Vercel.
Restaurant in Zilina
A family restaurant had WordPress with 12 plugins \u2014 contact form, gallery, maps, booking system, image optimization, and others. Every month something stopped working after an update. The owner spent hours solving technical problems instead of cooking. After migration to a modern website \u2014 zero plugins, zero maintenance. Everything is built right into the code, works reliably, and the owner can finally dedicate himself fully to what he does best.
Who Is WordPress For?
Bloggers and Content Creators
If you write dozens of articles per week and need a simple way to manage content without a developer.
DIY Projects with Minimal Budget
If you want to build a website yourself for a few euros per month and don't need outstanding performance.
Large Content Websites
Managing thousands of articles with multiple authors, where the WordPress plugin ecosystem is irreplaceable.
E-commerce on WooCommerce
If you already have a running WooCommerce store and migration would be too costly.
Who Is a Modern Website For?
Small Business That Values Speed and SEO
When you need customers to find you on Google and your website to load instantly.
Companies That Value Their Brand
A unique custom design that sets you apart from competitors using identical WordPress templates.
Entrepreneurs Who Don't Want to Deal with Maintenance
No plugin updates, no security patches, no crashing pages.
Professionals and Freelancers
A portfolio, landing page, or corporate presentation that makes a professional impression.
Our Recommendation
For most small businesses, a modern website is clearly the better investment. Here's why:
WordPress still has its place \u2014 mainly for large content websites and bloggers. But if you're a small business, sole proprietor, or professional who needs a fast, secure, and professional-looking website, modern technologies are the obvious choice.
Let's look at the specific numbers: a small business typically invests \u20AC300 \u2013 \u20AC1,000 in a website. With WordPress, add \u20AC5\u201320 per month for hosting, \u20AC50\u2013100 per year for premium plugins, and countless hours for updates and troubleshooting. With a modern website, operating costs are virtually zero \u2014 hosting on platforms like Vercel is free, no plugins to update, no security patches. Over 2 years of operation, a modern website comes out significantly cheaper, and that's not counting the value of better SEO, which brings you more customers organically.
The return on investment for a modern website is simply better \u2014 you pay less for maintenance and earn more thanks to better visibility on Google and the professional impression your website makes on potential customers.
Migration from WordPress
Already have WordPress and considering a switch to a modern website? Good news \u2014 migration is easier than you think. You don't need to start from scratch. Your existing content \u2014 texts, images, page structure \u2014 can be fully transferred to the new solution.
As for SEO, your Google rankings will be preserved. With properly configured 301 redirects, all existing URLs will be redirected to new ones, so neither Google nor visitors will notice any disruption. Your domain name, of course, stays the same.
The entire migration process usually takes 1\u20132 weeks depending on the site size. Throughout the process, your original WordPress site works normally \u2014 the switch happens only when the new site is fully ready and tested.
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