So you’re all set to launch a website built in WordPress? Of course, you have everything planned out including the appearance of your website and the necessary functionality. You may have also decided which theme and plugins you are going to use. But building a website is so much more than just deciding on the themes and plugins you’ll be using. The ever-growing competition makes it very difficult for an emerging website to establish a strong online presence. Not only you need to have a beautiful and a fully functional website but also need to establish a unique brand identity.
WordPress, being the most popular platform to create websites, comes with a wide variety of themes and plugins. Whether you are building a portfolio website, a food-oriented website or an online store, you can easily find a relevant theme.
However is it what you want? Can you build your website with a pre-built theme? Or you want to give a touch of uniqueness to your website with a custom theme?
Well, some webmasters integrate a pre-made WordPress theme to their website and build the rest of the website according to it where others get custom theme developed from a WordPress development company to add an exclusive look to their final website.
Since no two businesses are same and have the same requirements, the choice of pre-made or custom WordPress theme narrows down to personal choices. Therefore, we have compiled a quick difference of pre-made and custom WordPress theme to help you make the right decision for your company.
Pre-made WordPress theme
Pre-made WordPress themes are those themes that are developed by other developers and made available online. These themes are readily available on the official WordPress websites as well as on third party sites. The major benefits of using these themes are the affordability and future-proofing.
Though some themes are bit costlier than the others, they still fall under $100. Pick out any theme and you will find a reasonable price tag hooked with it. In addition, there are a wide variety of themes available to choose from. No matter what the niche of your website is, you are sure going to the most appropriate theme.
Future-proofing is another popular reason of integrating a pre-made WordPress theme. Although not every WordPress theme is developed in keeping with the same industry standards, the best ones are available with around-the-clock support, regular updates and customizations.
Downside of using pre-made theme
The downside of pre-made WordPress themes depends on who you purchase the theme from. Is the developer renowned? Does he/she follow the coding standards while building a theme? Also, you need to check whether they offer support 24/7 or not. If you find answers to all your questions, you can definitely go with a pre-made WordPress theme.
Custom WordPress Theme
Why is there a need to get a custom theme developed when you can have a reasonably priced theme made available online?
A custom WordPress theme has a wider approach to building a website. Not only will you be having a unique design to represent your business online but also you’d be the sole person managing it. So straight out of the box, you get a great benefit of setting yourself apart from the rest.
Custom WordPress theme means custom look and functionality. You can easily add or delete any functionality according to your preference and needs. Need an image slider, add it. Doesn’t need a navigation menu in the header, chuck it.
Downside of Custom WordPress Theme
The biggest downside of using a bespoke theme is the cost associated with it. Building a bespoke theme costs you hundreds of dollars especially when you are hiring a WordPress development company to perform the job. This itself is a major deal breaker for a majority of webmasters.
Another important thing to consider is the occasional updates. Is your theme going to require updates to address any bugs and problems in it? If so, you better pick the right developer who can offer you affordable services including occasional updates.
Wrapping up:
Pre-made themes are easily available and do not burn a hole in your pocket. Therefore, if you are short on budget, you can always go with such themes. On the other hand, if budget is a secondary thing for you and you think you can afford occasional updates as well, a custom theme is the right fit for you.
