Do I Need a Custom Website?

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been asked this question, I might not need a job anymore. I’ve spent over half my software development career at consultancies building proprietary web applications - and let me tell you, not all of them needed to be custom builds!

What Counts as a Custom Website?

From a high level, a custom website means:

• All of the code is written from scratch for your project

• Work is done by a team of engineers, product experts, and designers

• It serves a specific use case

• It requires decisions about data storage, hosting, image delivery, and updates

In short: everything is built intentionally for your needs.

If your business is software—meaning your product is the website or app - then yes, you need a custom build. Banks, airlines, and DoorDash are great examples. Their websites do very specific things that off-the-shelf solutions can’t.

Consider last time you picked out a car - did you build it custom like you would for a race or did you go to a dealership for something more tested?

The Gray Area: When It’s Not So Obvious

Here’s where it gets trickier. Sometimes a custom build makes sense even when you’re not a tech company.

If your site needs to connect to unique data - either user data or data from a third party - you’ll likely need something custom. Take Spotify Wrapped, for example: it curates your personal listening data into a dynamic web experience. That kind of secure, data-driven interactivity doesn’t happen in a page builder.

When Design Demands It

Sometimes you just want a specific look or interaction. Page builders can do a lot, but they have limits—especially when it comes to custom animations, responsive behavior, or immersive storytelling.

If the visual experience is central to your mission, a custom build might be worth it. Think of movie campaign websites like The Batman’s promotional site: unique, interactive, and purpose-built to immerse visitors.

Cost and Maintenance: The Tradeoff

Custom doesn’t always mean massive or expensive, but it does mean ongoing upkeep. Even small projects - like The Batman website - require updates to stay compatible with new browsers and tech standards.

When done right, that investment keeps your site stable, secure, and distinct. But if your needs are simple, you might be better off with a builder or hybrid solution.

Each of these paths will surely be rewarding - it’s just a matter of deciding what works for you.

How I Help You Decide

When we meet to discuss your project, we’ll evaluate whether custom development truly makes sense. After years of scoping and building web apps, I can spot when custom is worth it - and when it’s not.

There’s real beauty in custom work, but I hate to see people overspend when a simpler solution could meet their goals beautifully.

So whatever direction your website takes, I’m here to help you make it happen - smartly, strategically, and with craftsmanship at the core.