Why website builders and WordPress hold you back

Most people only see the surface, a slick looking template, a low monthly cost, and a few buzzwords. But site builders and free WordPress themes often come with serious compromises.

Performance, accessibility, legal compliance, and ownership are rarely prioritised. If you run a business, charity, or public-facing service, those things matter [3]Source 3 [4]Source 4 .

The problems with site builders

Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, and other drag-and-drop builders suit simple brochure sites. They often struggle once you need stronger performance control, better accessibility, or cleaner SEO foundations [1]Source 1 [3]Source 3 .

Where they fall short:

• You do not own the platform
  Stop paying and the site goes offline. Moving away often means rebuild work, not a clean export [7]Source 7 .
• You are stuck with templates
  The designs are generic and built around their system. You end up working around limits instead of matching your content and journeys.
• Performance control is limited
  Builder output often adds extra script and markup you do not control. That increases page weight and slows key pages [1]Source 1 .
• Accessibility risk increases
  Layout choices and components can break keyboard navigation, screen reader behaviour, or contrast. Without proper testing, issues slip through [3]Source 3 .
• Support tends to scale with price
  When something breaks, you often get generic guidance instead of fixes tailored to your site.

The truth about WordPress

WordPress is popular. Popular does not mean low-risk by default.

The outcome depends on theme markup, plugin choices, hosting, and how updates get handled [8]Source 8 .

• Security risk rises with complexity
  A larger plugin surface increases the attack surface. Patching and safe update workflows matter [8]Source 8 [6]Source 6 [7]Source 7 .
• Plugin bloat
  Many sites rely on multiple plugins for core features. That adds code, requests, and more failure points [1]Source 1 .
• Ongoing maintenance
  Updates can clash across plugins and themes. Without regular checks, issues turn into emergency work [8]Source 8 .
• Accessibility varies widely
  Many themes and builders ship weak patterns for menus, modals, and forms. Manual testing is what catches the blockers [3]Source 3 .
• WordPress still needs expertise
  The software is free. Keeping it fast, secure, and reliable takes skill and time [1]Source 1 [7]Source 7 .

Legal risk is part of the picture

Accessibility is not only a technical preference. It links to legal duties and procurement checks, depending on your organisation [4]Source 4 [5]Source 5 .

A better alternative

I build websites that:

• Match what you need, without filler
• Meet accessibility standards from the start [3]Source 3
• Load quickly and run efficiently [1]Source 1
• Keep hosting flexible, with clear ownership
• Avoid theme stacks and plugin piles as the default approach

When the contract ends, you still have a working site. You can move it, run it where you like, and you are not tied to one vendor.

Not sure what you are using?

If you are a bit unsure whether your current setup helps or holds you back, I will review it. Site Score gives you a clear breakdown of what works and what does not, and the quick report is free.

Want something proper?

If you want a website that works, loads quickly, meets legal and technical standards, and reflects who you are and what you do, I will help.

Get in touch View current packages

Or request a Site Score for a no-nonsense performance breakdown of your current site, the quick report is free.