You need a website. You have probably already searched "best website builder" or "WordPress vs Wix" and found a hundred articles that all say different things. The problem is that most of those articles are written by companies trying to sell you their own product, or by affiliates who earn a commission when you sign up through their link. The advice is not neutral.
Here is a straightforward guide based on what actually works for small businesses in the UK. No affiliate links. No platform loyalty. Just the trade-offs, explained plainly.
The six platforms small businesses actually use
There are hundreds of website builders and content management systems on the market, but the vast majority of small business websites in the UK run on one of six platforms. Each one has genuine strengths and genuine weaknesses. The right choice depends on what you sell, how much you want to spend, and how much control you need.
WordPress
WordPress powers roughly 43% of all websites globally. It is open-source software that runs on your own web hosting, which means you own everything: the files, the database, the design. You can extend it with over 60,000 plugins for things like contact forms, SEO, ecommerce, booking systems, and membership areas.
The strength of WordPress is flexibility. You can build almost anything with it. The weakness is that this flexibility comes with complexity. WordPress needs regular updates to its core software, themes, and plugins. Outdated plugins are the number one way WordPress sites get hacked. You also need to sort out your own hosting, which adds another thing to manage.
WordPress is a good fit if you want a blog, need to update content regularly yourself, or need specific functionality that plugins can provide. It is not a good fit if you want something that runs itself with zero maintenance.
Static HTML
A static website is the simplest option. The pages are built as plain HTML files and served directly to visitors. There is no database, no server-side processing, and nothing to update or patch. When someone visits your site, they get the file exactly as it was written.
Static sites are fast. They load in under a second on decent hosting. They are secure because there is nothing to hack: no login page, no database to inject into, no plugins with vulnerabilities. They are cheap to host because serving static files requires very little server resources.
The trade-off is that updating content requires editing HTML files, which means either knowing some code or having a developer make changes for you. Some static site generators (like Hugo or Eleventy) make this easier by using templates and markdown, but there is still a learning curve.
Static HTML works well for brochure sites, portfolios, and businesses that do not need to update their content every week. If your site is five to fifteen pages and the content changes a few times a year, static is hard to beat on speed, security, and cost.
Wix and Squarespace
Wix and Squarespace are hosted website builders. You sign up, pick a template, drag and drop elements to build your pages, and pay a monthly fee. You never touch code, never sort out hosting, and never worry about software updates.
The appeal is obvious: you can have a working website in an afternoon. For a new business with no budget and no technical skills, that is genuinely useful.
The problems show up later. You do not own the platform. If Wix decides to change its pricing, remove a feature, or shut down, your site goes with it. You cannot move your site to another host: what you build on Wix stays on Wix. SEO performance is generally weaker because the platforms generate bloated HTML and limit what you can optimise. And the monthly costs add up: what looks like £10 per month becomes £120 per year, and you still do not own anything.
Squarespace produces cleaner designs than Wix and is popular with creative businesses. But the same limitations apply: you are renting, not owning.
Shopify
Shopify is an ecommerce platform. If you are selling products online, it is the most straightforward option. It handles product listings, shopping carts, payment processing, shipping calculations, and order management out of the box.
The downside is the cost. Shopify starts at £25 per month, but transaction fees (unless you use Shopify Payments), paid apps, and premium themes can push the real cost to £50 to £200 per month for a working store. The design customisation is also more limited than WordPress unless you are comfortable with Shopify's templating language, Liquid.
Shopify is a strong choice if your primary business is selling physical products online. It is overkill if you just need a website with a contact form.
Magento (Adobe Commerce)
Magento is an enterprise-grade ecommerce platform. It can handle thousands of products, complex pricing rules, multiple storefronts, and integrations with warehouse and accounting systems. It is powerful software.
It is also expensive to build on and maintain. A Magento site typically costs £5,000 to £50,000 to build, needs its own server (it is resource-heavy), and requires a developer who knows the platform. For most small businesses, Magento is far more than you need.
Magento makes sense for established retailers with large catalogues, complex shipping requirements, or plans to scale significantly. If you are selling fewer than 100 products, Shopify or WooCommerce (WordPress with an ecommerce plugin) will do the job at a fraction of the cost.
How to match the platform to your business
Rather than comparing features in the abstract, think about what you actually need your website to do. Here is a decision framework based on common business types.
You are a service business (plumber, accountant, consultant, trades)
You need a site that explains what you do, shows your credentials, and makes it easy for people to get in touch. A contact form, phone number, and maybe a few testimonials. You probably update the content a few times a year.
Best options: static HTML (fastest, cheapest, most secure) or WordPress (if you want to add a blog or update content yourself). You do not need Wix, Shopify, or Magento.
You sell products online
If you have fewer than 50 products and simple shipping, Shopify or WordPress with WooCommerce are both solid. Shopify is easier to set up. WooCommerce gives you more control and lower ongoing costs if you are comfortable with WordPress.
If you have hundreds or thousands of products, complex inventory, or B2B pricing, look at Magento or Shopify Plus. But be prepared for the cost.
You are a creative professional (photographer, designer, artist)
Your site needs to look good and load fast. Squarespace has strong templates for visual portfolios. Static HTML gives you complete design control and better performance. WordPress with a portfolio theme is the middle ground.
You need a blog or content-heavy site
WordPress was built for this. Its editor is designed for writing and publishing content regularly. Static site generators like Hugo can also work well for blogs, but the workflow is less intuitive for non-technical users.
You are starting from scratch with no budget
Wix or Squarespace will get you online fastest with no upfront cost. But plan to migrate to a better platform within a year or two if your business grows. The longer you stay on a hosted builder, the more content you accumulate that cannot be moved.
A direct comparison
| Factor | Static HTML | WordPress | Wix/Squarespace | Shopify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | £500 to £2,000 | £500 to £3,000 | £0 (DIY) | £0 to £2,000 |
| Monthly cost | £5 to £15 (hosting) | £10 to £30 (hosting + plugins) | £10 to £30 | £25 to £200+ |
| Page speed | Excellent (sub-1s) | Good (1 to 3s) | Variable (2 to 5s) | Good (1 to 2s) |
| Security | Excellent (nothing to hack) | Needs maintenance | Good (managed by platform) | Good (managed by platform) |
| SEO control | Full control | Full control | Limited | Good |
| Ease of updates | Needs a developer | Easy (admin dashboard) | Easy (drag and drop) | Easy (admin dashboard) |
| Own your site? | Yes (full ownership) | Yes (full ownership) | No (rented) | No (rented) |
| Maintenance | None | Monthly updates needed | None | Minimal |
| Ecommerce | Not built for it | WooCommerce plugin | Built-in (basic) | Built-in (full) |
The questions to ask before you choose
Before you pick a platform, answer these five questions honestly. Your answers will narrow the field quickly.
1. How often will you update the content? If the answer is "rarely," static HTML is your best option. If you plan to blog weekly or update product listings regularly, you need a content management system like WordPress or Shopify.
2. Do you sell products online? If yes, you need ecommerce functionality. Shopify is the easiest path. WooCommerce (WordPress) gives you more control. Magento is for large catalogues only.
3. What is your realistic budget, including ongoing costs? A £10 per month platform sounds cheap until you realise you need £50 per month in add-ons, and you still cannot move your site. Factor in the total cost over two to three years, not just the first month.
4. Do you want to own your website or rent it? On Wix and Squarespace, you are renting. You cannot take the site with you if you leave. On WordPress and static HTML, you own the files and can move them to any host.
5. How important is search engine visibility? If organic search (Google, Bing, AI search engines) is a significant source of customers, you need a platform with strong SEO capabilities. WordPress and static HTML give you the most control. Wix has improved its SEO tools but still lags behind.
What we recommend (and why)
We build both static HTML sites and WordPress sites for our clients. The choice depends on the business.
For most small service businesses, we recommend static HTML. It is faster, more secure, and cheaper to host than any other option. The content does not change often enough to justify a database and a content management system. When you need an update, a developer can make the change in minutes.
For businesses that need to manage their own content, publish blog posts, or run a simple online shop, WordPress is the right tool. It has a learning curve, but the admin dashboard makes regular updates manageable without touching code.
We do not recommend Wix or Squarespace for businesses that plan to grow. The limitations become real problems, and migrating away later costs more than building properly the first time.
If you are not sure which platform is right for your business, we are happy to talk it through. No sales pitch, just honest advice based on what you actually need.
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Get in Touch View PackagesFrequently asked questions
Is WordPress still the best platform for small business websites in 2026?
WordPress powers about 43% of all websites and remains a solid choice for businesses that need a blog, content management, or plugin flexibility. But it is not the best fit for every business. If you need maximum speed, security, and minimal maintenance, a static HTML site is often better. If you are running an online store with more than a few products, a dedicated ecommerce platform like Shopify or Magento makes more sense.
What is the difference between a static website and a WordPress website?
A static website is made up of fixed HTML files that are served exactly as stored. There is no database, no server-side processing, and no moving parts. WordPress is a content management system that generates pages dynamically from a database every time someone visits. Static sites load faster, are harder to hack, and cost less to host. WordPress makes it easier to update content yourself and has thousands of plugins for added functionality.
Should I use Wix or Squarespace for my business website?
Wix and Squarespace are fine for getting a basic site up quickly, especially if you have no technical skills and a tight budget. The trade-off is that you do not own the platform, you cannot move your site elsewhere, SEO performance is generally weaker than WordPress or static sites, and you are limited to the features they offer. For a business that plans to grow, these limitations tend to become problems within a year or two.
How much does a website cost for a small business in the UK?
A basic small business website built by a professional designer in the UK typically costs between £500 and £3,000, depending on the number of pages, design complexity, and features needed. DIY platforms like Wix or Squarespace cost £10 to £30 per month but require your own time. WordPress sites need hosting (£5 to £30 per month) plus a theme and potentially paid plugins. Ongoing costs include domain renewal (£10 to £15 per year) and hosting.
Can I switch website platforms later?
Yes, but it is rarely straightforward. Moving from Wix or Squarespace to WordPress or a static site usually means rebuilding the site from scratch, since these platforms do not export clean HTML. Moving from WordPress to static is possible with tools that generate HTML from your WordPress content. The content (text, images) can be migrated, but the design, URL structure, and functionality often need to be recreated. This is why choosing the right platform at the start saves time and money.