Short answer: If the site only presents your company, portfolio and a contact form, a 5–10 page WordPress site at about NT$20,000–80,000 is enough; you don't need custom development. Once you need member logins, online booking, order flows or ERP integration, a custom website usually has the lower three-year total cost.
The Wrong Choice Can Cost You Twice
Bottom line: the most common mistake is forcing WordPress to act as a system with a pile of plugins.
An interior design firm spent NT$50,000 on a WordPress site, then added online booking for site measurements and a client project tracker using four paid plugins. Two years later the plugins conflicted, the site slowed down, and licenses plus repairs exceeded NT$40,000 a year. They rebuilt it as a custom site anyway, paying twice. The reverse happens too: companies needing six pages get talked into a NT$250,000 custom build.
The One-Line Answer and a Decision Tree
Bottom line: first ask whether the site must handle data and workflows; that answer decides everything.
- The site only presents information (about, portfolio, articles, contact form) → WordPress.
- The site must remember customers (members, points, order history) → up to 3 such features, test with WordPress plugins; more than 3, go custom.
- The site must talk to internal systems (ERP, POS, inventory, scheduling) → custom.
- Budget under NT$30,000 → launch on WordPress or a site builder and upgrade later.
WordPress vs. Custom: Full Comparison
Bottom line: WordPress wins on cheap, fast starts; custom wins on long-term cost and flexibility once features pile up.
| Factor | WordPress | Custom website |
|---|---|---|
| Build cost | About NT$20,000–80,000 | About NT$80,000–300,000+ |
| Time to launch | 2–4 weeks | 6–12 weeks |
| Yearly upkeep | Hosting, plugin licenses and updates, about NT$10,000–40,000 | Hosting and maintenance, about NT$20,000–60,000 |
| Flexibility | Limited by plugins; complex flows are hard | Built around your process |
| Security risk | Higher with many plugins; needs frequent updates | Smaller attack surface, but depends on the team |
| Editing content yourself | Easy admin, lots of help online | Depends on whether a proper admin is built |
| Best for | Company sites, blogs, portfolios | Members, bookings, orders, internal system links |
WordPress isn't outdated. W3Techs reports it runs more than 40% of websites, so help and talent are plentiful. The problem is only using it for the wrong job.
Three Common Situations
Bottom line: SMEs with different needs get different answers.
- A: a 10-person consultancy wanting a professional image and content marketing → WordPress, NT$30,000–60,000, with effort on copy and SEO.
- B: a three-branch beauty salon needing online booking and stored-value memberships → custom, or a booking SaaS alongside a WordPress site. Past 300 bookings a month, custom is usually cheaper.
- C: a 50-person manufacturer whose dealers log in to order and check stock → custom with ERP integration; starting around NT$200,000 is reasonable.
Common Traps
Bottom line: most waste comes from "build first, think later" and comparing build cost only.
- Comparing build cost only, ignoring three years of plugin licenses, hosting and fixes.
- Nobody updates the WordPress site, and a hack is discovered two years later.
- Not requiring source code and an admin panel on a custom build, so every text change costs money.
- Domain and hosting held in the vendor's name and lost when you switch.
Decision Checklist
Bottom line: if more than 4 of these 10 are "yes," evaluate a custom website.
- ☐ Need member logins or a client portal?
- ☐ Need online booking or scheduling?
- ☐ Need order, quote or payment flows?
- ☐ Must connect to ERP, POS or inventory?
- ☐ Already running more than 10 WordPress plugins?
- ☐ Plugin licenses over NT$10,000 a year?
- ☐ Your process differs clearly from competitors'?
- ☐ Will you keep adding features for 3 years?
- ☐ Need an app sharing data with the site?
- ☐ Budget of NT$80,000 or more?
FAQ
Is WordPress secure?
The core is fairly secure; most risk comes from plugins. With regular updates, few plugins and backups, it's fine for SME company sites.
Is a custom website always more expensive?
The build usually costs more, but yearly plugin licenses and patching cost less. The more features you need, the better custom looks over time.
Can a WordPress site move to custom later?
Yes. Posts and pages can be exported, but set up URL redirects to protect search rankings.
What if my budget is only NT$30,000?
Choose WordPress or a site builder. NT$30,000 can't buy a reliable custom system; launch first and upgrade as revenue grows.
Next Step: We'll Tell You Which Fits in the First Call
Bottom line: you don't have to guess between WordPress and custom; one conversation about your needs settles it.
ScriptWalker (台灣 Laravel／Flutter 客製化開發工作室, a Taiwanese Laravel and Flutter custom development studio) publishes starting prices of NT$15,000 for websites, NT$80,000 for systems and NT$150,000 for apps. In the first consultation we'll tell you plainly whether WordPress or custom fits, without pushing the expensive option:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 0916-224-047
- LINE: @ufv9089p