Why We Don’t Build Websites on WordPress (Part 1)
Inside Surge, we used to jokingly call one of our sales trainings “WordPress Stinketh.” It always got a laugh. But the goal was never to mock WordPress or the many businesses that use it. The goal was to make sure our team understood why we intentionally build websites differently.
WordPress powers a significant portion of the internet. As of this writing, roughly 43% of all websites use the platform. That kind of adoption doesn’t happen by accident.
So why is WordPress so popular?
- It's free.
- It's old.
- It's open source.
- It's considered "easy to use."
Those are strong selling points. And for certain users, WordPress can absolutely make sense.
But for growing businesses who want performance, security, scalability, and less ongoing maintenance stress, those same strengths can quickly become complications.
Let’s walk through each one.
WordPress Is "Free"
Whenever someone says WordPress is free, I still can’t help but give a Jabba-the-Hutt-like chuckle: "Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho…" Not because it’s untrue, but because “free” on the internet rarely means “no cost.”
The WordPress software itself is free to download and use. If you only need a very basic site with minimal functionality, you can technically launch without paying for the platform.
But most real businesses need more than a digital business card.
Forms. Calendars. Membership portals. SEO tools. Security features. Performance optimization. Backup systems.
Those tools typically come through paid plug-ins, premium themes, third-party integrations, and ongoing maintenance services.
Even before that, you’ll still need:
- A registered domain name
- Website hosting
- Security protections
- Ongoing updates
None of those are free.
And as we’ll discuss in the open-source section, additional costs often show up in the form of time: troubleshooting plugin conflicts, fixing updates that break layouts, or resolving performance issues.
Many businesses come to Surge after experiencing those frustrations. They’re often surprised to learn that a structured monthly plan can actually cost less over time while significantly reducing downtime and maintenance stress.
“Wait… more support and fewer headaches for a predictable cost?”
We hear that a lot.
WordPress has been around since 2003. In the technology world, that’s impressive longevity.
If WordPress were a band, it might be the group that opened for Mozart.
Its long history is part of its strength. Millions of developers have used it, built on it, and taught others how to use it. That familiarity makes it comfortable and change can feel risky.
Originally created as a blogging platform, WordPress has expanded over the years into a full website management system. As with many mature platforms, growth often means layers of updates, added features, and expanded compatibility requirements.
Over time, that layering can introduce complexity. Older architectural decisions sometimes need modern workarounds. Additional plugins are added to expand functionality. Themes evolve. Updates stack.
The result isn’t inherently “bad”, but it can become heavier, slower, and more maintenance-intensive than many business owners expect.
Search trends suggest that while WordPress remains dominant, more companies are exploring alternative platforms that prioritize speed, security, and simplified infrastructure from the ground up.
And that exploration is exactly why we build the way we do.
WordPress Is Open Source
"Open Source" means developers around the world can build tools that interact with the platform. In theory, that’s a beautiful thing. It allows incredible flexibility.
In practice, that flexibility shows up in two major ways: plug-ins and themes.
Let’s start with plug-ins.
Imagine I want a pink river dolphin to swim across the screen every time someone opens my homepage. Is this necessary? No. Would it be delightful? Absolutely.
That feature probably doesn’t come standard in WordPress. But because the platform is open source, someone could build it. We might call it something official-sounding like Pink River Dolphin Welcome Party (PRiDoWeP).
That’s the power of open source. If you can imagine it, someone can code it.
And thousands of developers have. WordPress lists tens of thousands of available plug-ins. On the surface, that sounds like unlimited opportunity, but the challenge isn’t the number of plug-ins. The challenge is consistency.
Some plug-ins are developed and maintained by well-funded teams who update them regularly and provide support. Others are passion projects that may not receive long-term updates.
When WordPress releases core updates, those plug-ins need to remain compatible. If they don’t, things can get… interesting.
Sometimes that means a small formatting glitch. Sometimes that means a contact form stops sending messages. And occasionally, yes, that means your site decides to take the night off during your biggest marketing push of the year.
Themes follow a similar pattern.
Themes control the design and layout of a website: typography, spacing, structure, visual elements. There are beautiful themes available. There are also themes that prioritize appearance over performance.
If a theme isn’t optimized for speed, mobile responsiveness, or clean code structure, it can affect both user experience and search engine performance.
Again, open source isn’t the problem. The variability is.
When you combine:
- A core platform
- Multiple third-party plug-ins
- A third-party theme
- Hosting configuration
- Security add-ons
You’re essentially managing an ecosystem of independent pieces that all need to cooperate perfectly.
For experienced developers, that ecosystem can be powerful. For business owners who just want their website to work, it can feel like ongoing maintenance.
WordPress Is "Easy to Use"
At a basic level, WordPress is approachable. You can publish a page. You can write a blog post. You can upload images.
Where it becomes more complex is when customization enters the picture.
As functionality grows, so does the number of settings, plug-ins, integrations, and update requirements. Each added layer introduces more decision-making and more potential troubleshooting.
For some users, that flexibility is empowering. For others, it becomes one more thing on an already full plate.
At Surge, we’ve found that most growing businesses don’t want to manage a software stack. They want a fast, secure, high-performing website backed by real people who monitor it and maintain it.
That’s why we build on platforms that prioritize performance and stability at the foundation, reducing the number of moving parts behind the scenes.
WordPress has its place. For hobby bloggers, developers who enjoy customization, or teams with in-house technical support, it can be a workable solution.
But if your priority is:
- Predictable costs
- Minimal downtime
- Strong baseline SEO structure
- Ongoing support from real humans
Then working with a professional web design and SEO team may be the more sustainable path.
If you’d like to see what that looks like in action, take a look at one of our client sites, A Superior Cut, a professional lawn maintenance company in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their transition to a more structured hosting environment reduced maintenance stress and supported their growth.
If you’re exploring your options, we’re happy to have a conversation. You can reach Surge Web Design at (208) 391-3413 or info@surgewebdesign.com.
No pink river dolphins required.