Web Design: HTML vs WordPress Which Is Better?
It’s not so much a question of whether HTML or WordPress are better – but which is right for the job at hand.
Each approach has their own advantages. But answering a few quick questions will identify which type of website design would be best.
What Is the Difference Between WordPress and HTML?
Firstly, lets quickly define what we’re comparing here.
WordPress is essentially a Content Management System. This means it’s a heavyweight powerful piece of software that sits on your web hosting, which lets you log in and add content. You write new articles and blog posts much the same way you would using a word processor. Titles, subtitles, bold/italic, images, bullet points etc – all done just by clicking buttons. And ‘what you see is what you get’ when you hit the publish button.
An HTML website is more ‘static’. It’s not built to be regularly added to or updated. At least not by someone who isn’t a web designer. There is nowhere to log in. HTML sites are more ‘hand coded’ by web designers who know how to write code in HTML5 and CSS3. That’s not to say they look any less impressive – a pure HTML site can look just as good as any WordPress website.
HTML vs WordPress Website
The best way to decide which is better for you, is to simply let a WordPress web designer know what you want your website to do. They will be the best judge on how to build what you need.
But here’s the kind of questions they will ask to help reach that decision:-
- Do you or your team want to be able to add more content e.g. blog posts? If so, WordPress is definitely a better solution.
- Are you creating or do you plan to add ecommerce facilities at some stage? WordPress makes this significantly easier.
- Do you just want to create a basic ‘business card’ type site – something that just says who you are, what you do and where to find you? A simple HTML site would suit this perfectly well.
- Even though your requirements are basic now, do you have plans to add advanced functionality later? If so, WordPress may be the best choice or you could end up rebuilding from scratch later.
So Which Is Better – HTML or WordPress?
Both are still good choices for building websites. It just depends on what kind of site you want to build.
If you need advanced features such as shopping carts or appointment booking systems, then WordPress will typically be the best option. WordPress is good for building many types of small business websites.
If you want to be able to add content later yourself, then WordPress is the one to choose.
But if your WordPress web designer recommends an HTML site for your specific needs, please don’t think they are giving you something ‘less’. WordPress is simply over-complex and more than you need for some purposes. Many businesses with simple requirements would be better served with a static HTML site that does not need regular maintenance to keep it secure and running well.
Of course, complex sites will simply require more ongoing maintenance and management. It’s unavoidable. So if your requirements are more complex it’s just something to be aware of, and to budget for.