Switchbox SEO Blog: HTML5 vs. WordPress

            The question is often posed, when should one use basic HTML5 templates versus WordPress to construct a website. WordPress is a Content Management System that has a ton of built in features and functionality that can provide a good starting point for a fairly basic site. However, WordPress has a tendency to be overkill when it comes to certain applications. It really depends on what your site is trying to accomplish.

HTML is the markup language used to display web pages. Most websites on the internet use HTML with a variety of markup and scripting languages to create web pages. HTML5 templates can provide clean, clear-cut design to help get your application off the ground. HTML5 websites sometimes require the aid of an outside developer, unlike some basic WordPress applications.

What is your site’s purpose?

            What will your site do? Will it simply be an informational site describing your business? Will it be a blog site with the need to control users and/or possibly a forum? If the former, then a simply HTML5 template site will work just fine, especially if you don’t plan on changing the content of the pages very often. If you are looking for a blog application with possibly a forum, users, or other dynamic content, then WordPress would be the better alternative. While WordPress is easy to use, it can take a while for some to get familiar with the technology. There is plenty of help available to get over this learning curve quickly, but it will take a little effort.

What are the advantages of WordPress?

1. Easy to Update – WordPress is relatively easy to use and has a user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for you to update or add new pages on your site. For dynamic or constantly-changing content, this works really well.
2. Pre-Made Templates – There are plenty of ready-to-go templates that can be used to create a good site design, most of them free. HTML5 Templates can be found pre-made, but often is up to the discretion of a design firm or developer.
3. Powerful Plugins – WordPress websites can be easily enhanced with plugins. By installing plugins, you can add most functionality to your existing website at little to no extra cost. Some of these plugins might be adding a contact form, adding a reservation system, or adding a photo gallery. An HTML5 template application won’t have these plugins and would require the help of a developer to get these setup.

What are the advantages of an HTML5 Application?

1. Little to No Maintenance – Once your website is in production, you do not need to install any updates or regularly backup like in WordPress. If nothing has changed, you can just backup your website once and forget about it.
2. Little to No External Requirements – HTML websites don’t need servers with PHP or MySQL installed on them. They can run on cheaper servers with lower resources and thus are more cost-efficient in the long run.
3. Easier to Maintain – If you end up hiring a company to help you develop your website, an HTML5 template application is considerably easier to maintain versus WordPress. WordPress has a tendency to be cumbersome and require more resources.

Which one to use?

            After reviewing several advantages and disadvantages of HTML5 Templates and WordPress, which one is the better choice? Again, it all comes down to what your site’s purpose is. If you are certain that you will never want to update, change, or add anything new to your website and that the site will most be static and unchanging, then an HTML5 template website is the better choice. It will be faster and will serve its purpose. If you want to have the freedom and control of your website and if your content is more dynamic, changing and your business may grow, then WordPress is the better choice.

            In addition to the purpose of your site, cost-efficiency should also be considered. HTML5 template websites can often start out more expensive than WordPress due to the need to hire a developer to create and startup your application. WordPress applications can often be cheaper in this regard, but costly maintenance or plugins may end up causing a WordPress application to become costlier over time. With an HTML5 application after the initial cost, there are only minor expenses. Of course, this is dependent on the number of updates, expansions, etc., that you would need done to the site. In the long run, an HTML5 template application might actually be the cheaper option as the return-on-investment far outweigh the risks of using WordPress.