Comparison
Bespoke website vs Wix.
Wix does a brilliant job of getting a first website online. But once you add up the monthly plan, the add-on apps, and the SEO ceiling you eventually hit, the "£11 a month" headline looks much less tempting. A bespoke site costs more up front, but it's designed specifically for you, you own it, and there's no monthly plan to keep renewing.
The bit most "bespoke vs Wix" articles skip
What bespoke actually buys you.
A bespoke build is scoped against an agreed budget, typically in the low to mid four figures for a small business site. After that, you pay for hosting and a domain, which you'd pay for either way. No monthly plan tax, no feature paywall, no app store. Extras like custom functionality, booking or e-commerce are quoted up front at an hourly rate.
Designed for you
Not a template anyone else uses
No monthly plan
Just hosting and your domain
You own it
Code, design, content, all yours
For a small informational site.
The kind of site most small businesses actually need: services, about, contact, maybe a blog. Here's what Wix and a bespoke build really cost over five years, with nothing hidden.
| Aspect | Bespoke | Wix |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront build | Scoped to budget, typically low to mid four figures | £0 DIY, or £300-1,000 designer-led |
| Monthly plan | None. No plan, ever | £11-45/mo depending on tier |
| Hosting + domain | ~£25/mo + £20/yr | Included in plan |
| Apps & add-ons | Features built in. No app store. | £10-50/mo typical for SEO, bookings, CRM etc. |
| Design | Hand-designed around your brand | Template-based, bounded by Wix's system |
| 5-year cost of ownership | Build + ~£1,600 running costs | ~£1,500-4,500 (plan + apps) |
Once the apps stack up, the totals are closer than the headline price suggests. The real difference is what you have at the end of year five: with Wix, you've paid rent. With bespoke, you've paid hosting and you own the site.
For something more complex.
Bookings, custom e-commerce, portals, membership. This is where Wix runs out of runway, and where a properly built application replaces Wix Velo, a pile of apps, or a second platform entirely.
| Aspect | Bespoke (Laravel) | Wix |
|---|---|---|
| Custom logic | Any workflow, any integration | Velo helps, but bounded |
| PageSpeed (mobile) | 95+ routinely, sub-second LCP | Often 40-70; JS-heavy frontend |
| SEO ceiling | None. Full control of URLs, schema, HTML | Improving, still template-bounded |
| Lock-in | None. Code is yours. | High. Can't export the site. |
| Ongoing work | Hourly pay-as-you-go | More apps, higher tier |
When each is the right call.
Bespoke wins when…
- You want a site that looks nothing like the next Wix template.
- You've hit Wix's SEO ceiling or performance ceiling.
- You want to stop paying a monthly software subscription.
- You need custom logic Wix can't handle cleanly.
- You want to own the site at the end of it.
Wix wins when…
- You love Wix's visual editor and want to DIY everything yourself.
- A simple portfolio or hobby site is all you need.
- Budget is genuinely tight and a monthly plan suits you better than a one-off build.
- You need something live tonight, not in two weeks.
Wix is a decent starting point. If your needs are modest and you're happy with templates, it's a perfectly reasonable choice. An honest answer from me is sometimes "try Wix first." I look at the problem, not the budget.
Bespoke vs Wix FAQs.
How long does a bespoke website take to build?
A small business site is typically two to four weeks from kick-off to launch, depending on how quickly content and feedback come back. Larger builds with bookings, e-commerce or membership take longer, and I'll give you a realistic timeline before any work starts.
Who owns the code and design at the end?
You do. Source code, design files and content are 100% yours from day one. No proprietary builder, no theme licence, no lock-in. If we part ways, you keep the site.
Can you migrate my Wix site to a bespoke build?
Yes. Content, images, blog posts and your domain all come across. URL structure usually improves too, with proper redirects so you don't lose SEO rankings.
Will I lose my domain name if I leave Wix?
No. Your domain is yours. I handle the DNS transfer so your email and domain stay live throughout the move.
Why is Wix not as SEO-friendly as a bespoke site?
Wix has improved, but it's still template-bounded. URL structure, schema flexibility, JavaScript-heavy rendering, and HTML you can't fully control all limit what's possible. A bespoke site gives you control over every SEO signal.
Outgrowing Wix?
Let me audit your current Wix site for free. You'll get a PDF telling you exactly where it's holding you back.