WordPress vs. HTML5

The hardest question for your business as you explore website development might simply be: where do we start? The internet is constantly growing and changing: based on your resources and needs, we can help you decide between two popular web tools: WordPress and HTML5.

WordPress is a content management system with a free publishing platform, and is responsible for 22.5% of the internet’s websites. WordPress is open-source, meaning its source code is available for anyone to modify and update. An entire community of developers contributes to WordPress in addition to providing tech support and consulting. WordPress is also very user-friendly: everything is organized around an admin panel, which enables you to control every feature of your site. Plug-ins are being released by developers every day on WordPress which allow you to add social media feeds, calendars, maps, and countless other capabilities to your site with little to no coding experience.

A downside of WordPress’s rapid growth this is that the software needs to be frequently updated. In order to avoid the compatibility issues that often come with recurrent updates, diligent site maintenance is required. Neglecting to update the various components of your site make it much more vulnerable to hackers. In addition, while WordPress offers free website themes to its users, if you want your website to stand out more effectively, you should strongly consider a custom-made theme. This creative decision would require a developer. If you are unable to devote the time and energy to WordPress’s updates, plug-ins and add-ons, you might want to explore other options.

HTML is a Hyper-Text Markup Language which is officiated by W3C, the World Wide Web Consortium. This markup language contains tags that are used to classify elements in a web page. This language doesn’t need a third party media player to handle image and video content, such as Flash Player, and is Cross-Platform, which means it can be used on a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. And, unlike WordPress, you do not need plug-ins to expand the functionality of the website. Another advantage to not using plug-ins is that once your website goes live you will not need to install updates, and only need to run backups as content changes are made – which is as little or as often as you want.

The biggest con to HTML5 is that it is not a content management system, thus it is not as structured and outlined as WordPress. While this certainly allows for more creative freedoms, it can cause complications for those without coding experience. While a lack of plug-ins means less updates, it also means that, unless you are able to hire an experienced developer, adding extra functionalities can be much more challenging.
See what two of our developers have to say about these options:
Rachel OakesRachel:
WordPress is great because it essentially gives the client a free content manager that provides them with a lot of support and resources. The biggest perk I would say is how easy it is to add content to your site as well as update it. It also allows you to add functionality to your site without knowing code.

A con to WordPress’s open source status is that anyone can access these files, including hackers, who can use them to find vulnerabilities in your security. Whether it’s through themes, plug-ins or the core itself, hackers can find ways to access your site. This means you have to be more vigilant on updates and monitoring your site for possible attacks

For HTML you have less of a chance of getting your site hacked and you don’t need to keep updating. The con though is that you need a basic understanding of writing code and adding new content is not as easy as it is with WordPress.
Brooklyn GuanBrooklyn:
WordPress is best for larger sites that need to be frequently updated, and it’s a huge plus that no coding background is required to edit the content. Plug-ins are very helpful tools that can add functionalities like portfolios and e-commerce to the site, which are great for businesses.

HTML is more suitable for small sites whose pages have simple layouts and don’t necessarily need extra functionalities. Even without those extra functionalities, adequate coding abilities are required to make each page.

See for yourself how we have leveraged the two platforms for various client needs.

WordPress:
In this site built for Vodori, case studies, job openings and blogs are continually being added.

For Blue Software, this growing company needed the flexibility to add products as their line expands.

And for Mitchell Channon Design, his ever-growing portfolio was set up to easily add new work himself.

HTML:
Switching their annual report to a digital format saved Minnesota Computers For Schools thousands of dollars every year.

After expanding their product offering, Waste Harmonics needed a simple site to highlight a new environmentally friendly product line, Eco2GoBox.com.

This one-page site for DUI.sucks, a campaign run by criminal defense law firm Pfeifer & Pfeifer, supported the physical campaign with a presence on the web without excessive development time or added costs for annual maintenance.

Need more guidance on which option would be best for your project or business? We can help! Get in touch today.

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