Page builders make it easy to get a site online, and for plenty of people that is exactly right. But there is a point where a builder starts to feel like a box you are working inside. Pages slow down, the design stops bending, and the monthly fee never ends.
This is how we think about the choice, and when we would reach for code instead.
what page builders do well
They are quick to start, they have a huge range of templates, and you can change things yourself without a developer. For a simple site, a short campaign or a small business testing an idea, that speed is worth a lot.
where they start to hold you back
Builders load a lot of code you did not ask for, which shows up as slower pages. Design is limited to what the platform allows, so your site tends to look like every other site on it. Moving away later can mean rebuilding from scratch, because your site lives inside the builder.
You also pay for the platform every month, for as long as the site exists.
what a code-first site gives you
A site written in code is yours. It can be built to look exactly like your brand, and to load quickly because it only ships what it needs. There is no platform to be locked into, and hosting can be very cheap.
We build with Astro, which produces fast, light pages, and host on Cloudflare Pages. It is the foundation behind Sterts Arts & Environmental Centre.
but can my team still edit it
Yes, and this is the part people worry about most. A custom site can have a content system your team uses without touching code. At Sterts, the team runs the site themselves while the design and speed stay intact.
a simple way to decide
Choose a builder if you need something live fast, the design can be standard and the site is not central to what you do. Choose custom if the site has to be distinctive, fast, accessible and light, or if it connects to other systems such as ticketing, a shop or a newsletter.
“Working with Ace is a total joy. He has a unique creative eye and takes a collaborative and flexible approach. He has enabled our organisation to achieve more than we thought possible in the timeframes we’ve had to work within. We love working with Ace and can’t recommend him highly enough!”
custom websites in plymouth
We are a creative studio in Plymouth building custom, code-first websites for clients across the South West and the UK. If you are choosing between a builder and custom, send us your project details and we will tell you honestly which suits you.