WordPress vs Sitejet vs custom
Choosing how to build your website affects your business for years. Pick the wrong platform and you end up paying to rebuild it. Pick the right one and it gets updated when it needs to and does its job without drama. Each of the main options exists for a reason, and we build all of them, so this guide sets out what each one is good at.
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The short answer
There is no single best platform. WordPress is the most flexible and suits shops, memberships and content-heavy sites, as long as someone keeps it updated. Sitejet suits a bigger site you want to edit yourself, with a little training. VoxelSite suits a small site where you change the words and photos. A code site suits a small site you would rather we look after, and is the quickest and least costly to build. A fully custom system is for apps and portals. WaTo Consulting builds all of these and helps you choose. Rough prices for each are on our website options and prices page.
What to consider
Upkeep
WordPress needs regular updates to plugins, themes and core software, which we can handle on a maintenance plan. A code site or VoxelSite has far less to update. With Sitejet, the editor itself is looked after as part of the hosting.
Cost to build
A code site is the least costly to build, then VoxelSite, then Sitejet, then WordPress. A fully custom system is quoted per project. The difference comes from how much there is to set up, train on and look after.
Time to build
A code site is the quickest, and a typical WordPress site can be rebuilt as one in about a week. Sitejet and WordPress builds take longer because there is more to set up. How quickly your words and photos arrive is usually the biggest factor.
Who makes the changes
On a code site we make the changes for you, billed by the hour. On VoxelSite you change words and photos by clicking on them. On Sitejet you can add pages and move sections. On WordPress you or we can change almost anything.
Security
WordPress is a common target because so many sites use it, and most security holes turn up in plugins. Kept updated, it is solid. A code site has far less to attack, because it has no plugins and no database.
Ownership and moving later
You own your content on all of them. WordPress and code sites are files that can move to another host. With hosted builders such as Wix or Squarespace, moving away usually means rebuilding the site.
Who this guide is for
- Business owners getting a new website built and trying to choose the right platform.
- Anyone with an existing site that's outdated or too hard to maintain, looking at options for a rebuild.
- Businesses comparing quotes from web designers who've recommended different platforms.
- Owners who want to understand the trade-offs before committing to a platform they'll use for years.
What to do next
- Define what your site needs to do. Brochure site? Blog? Online store? Booking system? The features you need narrow down the platform quickly.
- Think about who'll maintain it. If you want to update content yourself, VoxelSite, Sitejet and WordPress all let you. If you would rather hand it off, a code site we look after fits, and so does WordPress on a maintenance plan.
- Set a realistic budget. Include the first year of hosting, maintenance and any updates you'll need on top of the build cost. That's the real cost of ownership.
- Ask about what happens after launch. A good web partner doesn't disappear after the site goes live. Ask about update plans, security, and support before you sign anything.
- Talk to us. We build on WordPress, Sitejet, VoxelSite and plain code, and do fully custom systems when a project needs one. We will recommend what fits, not whatever earns the biggest fee.
How WaTo can help
- We work across all of these platforms, so our recommendation is based on your needs, not what we prefer to build.
- We handle the full build, from design through to launch, on whichever platform suits you best.
- We provide ongoing maintenance plans so your site stays secure, updated, and running properly.
- For WordPress builds, we manage the updates and security so you don't have to worry about plugin vulnerabilities.
- We've been building websites for Adelaide businesses since 2001. We've seen platforms come and go, and we know what lasts.
Related questions
Is WordPress still a good choice in 2026?
Yes. WordPress still powers a huge share of the web and remains the most flexible option for content-heavy sites. The key is keeping it properly maintained. An unmaintained WordPress site is a security risk, but a well-managed one is solid.
What is Sitejet exactly?
Sitejet is a drag-and-drop website builder that runs on our hosting. You can add pages, move sections around and write content with built-in AI help. It takes a little training, and in return you can change most of the site yourself.
When does a custom build actually make sense?
When you need an app or portal that no website platform handles well, such as complex integrations or your own workflows. Those are quoted per project. For most small business sites, a code site, VoxelSite, Sitejet or WordPress covers it.
Is a code site the same as a custom build?
No. A code site is a small website we write in plain web code, which makes it the quickest and least costly option. A custom build in this guide means a bigger system, like a portal or an app with its own server, which is quoted per project.
Can I switch platforms later?
Yes, but it's essentially a rebuild. Your content can usually be migrated, but the design and functionality need to be recreated on the new platform. It's worth getting the choice right upfront to avoid paying twice.
How WaTo can help with this
Still not sure?
Tell us what you need your website to do and we'll recommend the platform that fits, honestly and without pushing you towards the most expensive option.
Mon to Fri, 8:30am to 5pm
