Static Sites vs CMS Platforms
WordPress charges you monthly. Wix owns your design. Shopify takes a cut of every sale. And all three need babysitting.
A static site costs less, loads faster, and never sends you a "critical update required" email at midnight. Here's how they compare.
Let's Build TogetherIf you're a dentist in Chandler, a roofer in Mesa, or a salon in Scottsdale, you don't need a content management system. You need a site that shows what you do, where you are, and how to contact you.
That's a static site. It does one thing and does it well.
But if you sell 500 products with inventory tracking? You probably need Shopify. We'll tell you that. Read the comparison and see for yourself.
The Full Comparison
Every number is real. We don't pad our column or sandbag theirs. WordPress SEO is legitimately good. Wix is legitimately easy. But look at the full picture.
*Varies with client feedback speed. **With professional optimization ($500-$2,000+).
| Static | WordPress | Shopify | Wix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | $550 - $5,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | $2,000 - $8,000 | $500 - $3,000 |
| Monthly Cost | None required | $50 - $500+ | $29 - $299 | $14 - $49 |
| Time to Launch | about 3 weeks* | 2-8 weeks | 2-6 weeks | 1-4 weeks |
| Loading Speed | ~3s mobile* | Varies** | Fast | Moderate |
| Security Risk | Minimal | High | Low | Low |
| Maintenance | Very low | High | Low | Low |
| Owner Setup Time | 0 hours | 20-40 hours | 10-25 hours | 2-8 hours |
| SEO | Excellent | Good** | Good | Moderate |
| Self-Editing | Grow and up | User-friendly | User-friendly | Very easy |
| Customization | Unlimited* | High | Limited | Very limited |
| E-commerce | Catalogue, to 25 items | Advanced | Full | Basic |
What Nobody Tells You
Every platform has fine print. Here's what shows up after you've already committed.
WordPress
- Plugin updates break your site at 2am
- Hackers target WordPress specifically (43% of the web = big target)
- Hosting costs creep up as traffic grows
- You need a developer anyway for anything beyond a basic theme
Shopify
- Monthly fees whether you sell anything or not
- Transaction fees on top of payment processing fees
- Want a feature? There's an app for that. It's $29/month.
- Try to leave and your theme doesn't come with you
Wix
- Looks fine until you see another Wix site with the same template
- SEO is limited compared to custom-built sites
- Pick a template. Now you're stuck with it.
- Slow. Especially on phones.
Which One Fits You?
Be honest about what your business actually needs. Not what sounds impressive. Not what your nephew suggested. What you'll actually use.
A static site is right when:
You actually need a CMS when:
Not sure? That's what the free consultation is for. We build both. $550 for static, hourly rates for interactive. We'll tell you straight which one makes sense for your business, even if the honest answer saves you money. Check out the static vs interactive comparison for more detail.
A professional site that works as hard as you do.
Online in about 3 weeks. No hidden fees. No contracts.