html is the foundation of the website structure and big player on SEO.

Choosing the right platform for your business website is a massive decision. It’s not just about how it looks; it’s about whether it’ll help you grow, attract new customers, and compete online. You’ve got three main options, each with its own pros and cons for SEO and performance. So, what’s the score?

Choosing between Wix, WordPress, and custom code depends on your goals and resources. Wix is the fastest way to launch a simple brochure site. WordPress offers the best balance of SEO control, scalability, and cost. Custom code, meanwhile, delivers peak performance and flexibility for complex builds, but it demands bigger budgets and expert developers.

Key Takeaways

• Wix: Easiest setup and, therefore, fine for simple local sites; however, technical SEO control and performance tuning are limited.
• WordPress: The best all-rounder for SEO and content growth; with disciplined hosting and plugins, its performance can truly excel.
• Custom code: Offers unmatched performance and precision for complex projects; nevertheless, you should expect higher costs and ongoing maintenance.

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Who this guide is for

This guide is for business owners and marketers choosing a platform that won’t bottleneck organic growth, Core Web Vitals, and content scale. If you want something simple and quick, start with Wix. When its about growing traffic and publish content often, go for WordPress. Need an enterprise-level performance or unique features, consider a custom-coded site instead.

Wix: The Simple SEO Starter Kit

Wix makes launching a professional site effortless. It’s an all-in-one, drag-and-drop system with hosting included, so there’s no dev faff. For a local service like Kingston and Richmond Removals, Wix can deliver a clean site with a contact page, services, FAQs, and reviews in a weekend. Even so, as your ambitions grow, its limitations can start to appear.

• Pros
  • Speed to launch and minimal setup.
  • Templates and built-in features.
  • Decent for small, static sites.
• Cons
  • The closed system limits technical SEO and performance tuning.
  • Less control over markup, scripts, and caching.
  • It can bloat as you add features; consequently, load times may rise.
• Best for: Brochure sites, solo operators, and early-stage local businesses.

WordPress: The SEO Professional’s Choice

WordPress is an open-source CMS, which means you have full control over your themes, plugins, URLs, schemas, performance settings, and deployment. That’s why a professional chooses WordPress — it’s the perfect engine for growth. With the right stack (a lean theme, premium hosting, and minimal plugins), you can achieve fast Core Web Vitals and, moreover, a content engine built for scale.

• Pros
  • Granular control of on-page SEO, schema, information architecture (IA), and internal linking.
  • A massive ecosystem of themes, plugins, and headless options.
  • It scales from simple blogs to complex sites; likewise, it supports custom workflows.
• Cons
  • Needs governance: poor plugin choices can lead to bloat.
  • Requires updates, backups, and hosting know-how.
  • There is a learning curve for non-tech users; however, good onboarding can make it a breeze.
• Best for: Content-led growth, SEO roadmaps, and sites that need flexibility and scale.

Check our article Wix vs. WordPress for SEO: A Superior CMS for more information about these 2 platforms.

Custom Code: The Bespoke Powerhouse

Built with HTML/CSS/JS (or a modern framework), a custom site gives you surgical control over markup, assets, caching, and the developer experience. That’s how you squeeze every millisecond for LCP/INP/CLS and craft exactly the schema and IA you want; as a result, the performance ceilings are highest here.

• Pros
  • Best-in-class performance potential.
  • The cleanest possible markup and asset pipeline.
  • Infinite flexibility for bespoke features; similarly, fewer third-party constraints.
• Cons
  • The highest cost and lead time.
  • Ongoing dev is needed for any changes.
  • Requires strong product and process discipline; otherwise, delivery can drift.
• Best for: Complex, high-scale, or feature-rich builds where speed and control are non-negotiable.

Head-to-Head: SEO & Performance Factors

Factor	Wix	WordPress	Custom Code
Technical SEO Control	Basic controls. Limited access to raw code and server config; therefore, deeper tweaks are harder.	Full control via a clean theme + selective plugins. Additionally, headless options expand flexibility.	Total control—semantic HTML, critical CSS, caching, edge functions; consequently, maximum tuneability.
Core Web Vitals	Okay for simple pages; however, it can struggle as features pile on.	Excellent with a tuned stack (fast host, lightweight theme, image/CDN strategy, minimal JS). Moreover, modern hosts provide server-level caching.	The highest ceiling—you ship only what’s needed and, therefore, minimise bloat.
Information Architecture & Content Scale	Fine for small sites; by contrast, complex silos and taxonomies are limited.	Built for content hubs, taxonomies, custom post types, and internal linking; consequently, scaling content is straightforward.	Anything you can design—but you must build it, which, in turn, increases scope.
Speed to Launch & Cost	Fastest and lowest upfront; meanwhile, recurring fees are predictable.	Moderate; needs hosting and setup, yet overall cost remains reasonable.	The longest and priciest; nevertheless, ROI can be superior at scale.
Maintenance	Managed for you; therefore, fewer operational worries.	You manage updates and backups (or buy managed WP hosting); additionally, set a maintenance cadence.	Your dev team handles the lot; consequently, plan a budget for ongoing work.

Final Verdict: Which one should you choose?

• Simple local brochure site (few pages, low change rate): Wix will do the job nicely, especially if you prioritise a quick launch.
• Growth-focused business (content, SEO roadmap, lead gen): WordPress wins on a balance of control, performance, and cost; moreover, it scales gracefully.
• Complex/unique product, high traffic, or enterprise needs: Choose custom code for peak performance and flexibility; ultimately, control trumps convenience.

Ready to make the right choice for your website? We’re here to help you get the most out of your online presence, no matter the platform.

• Want the simple route? We’ll spec a clean Wix build with local SEO basics; furthermore, we’ll add tracking from day one.
• Ready to grow with content? We’ll set up a fast, scalable WordPress stack and, additionally, a publishing workflow.
• Need precision engineering? Book a scoping call for a custom build so we can, consequently, design for speed.

For more proper wicked tips, have a butchers at the Properclick SEO Blog.