Answer: Choose custom for control, performance, and unique branding. Choose templates for speed and low cost. Custom wins long-term for serious businesses.
| Factor | Template | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 3-8 seconds load time | Under 1 second |
| Uniqueness | Shared with 1000s of sites | 100% unique to you |
| SEO Control | Limited | Full control |
| Launch Time | Same day (if DIY) | One week (with us) |
| Upfront Cost | $0-200 | $750-10,000 |
| Ownership | Platform owns your site | You own everything |
Testing a business idea (not committed yet)
Need a site live in the next 24 hours
Zero budget (literally can't afford $750)
Don't care about SEO or page speed
Planning to rebuild in 6 months anyway
You're serious about your business (not just testing)
You need to rank in Google (SEO matters)
You want your brand to stand out (not look like everyone else)
Fast load times matter (Google cares, customers care)
You want to own your code (not rent a platform)
We build custom Next.js sites with the speed of templates but none of the limitations:
Sources: Performance comparison based on PageSpeed Insights testing of 100+ template sites (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify) vs custom Next.js builds (2024).