/001
/Custom vs Platform.
Framer, Wix, and Elementor are genuinely good tools — for the right job. Here's an honest breakdown of what each one costs over 3 years, and where custom code wins.
$657
saved vs Wix over 3 yrs
18mo
break-even vs Framer Pro
0
vendor lock-in
/ Where each platform wins
Framer
Pro · $30/mo annual
Good fit
No backend needs, design matters most, solo creator or tiny team.
Watch out
Additional editors cost $20/mo each. Locales, A/B testing, and advanced hosting are paid add-ons on top of the plan fee. No backend or custom logic possible at any tier.
Wix
Business · $39/mo annual
Good fit
Bookings, payments, and email marketing all in one place — zero code, zero maintenance.
Watch out
Hardest platform to migrate away from (proprietary format). Payments require Core plan ($29/mo) or above. Most expensive at every tier.
Elementor
One · $16/mo + hosting
Good fit
You already run 10+ WordPress sites and want a consistent page builder across all of them.
Watch out
Hosting and domain cost extra ($10–20+/mo). Large plugin surface area means regular security updates and maintenance. Credits for AI and optimization don't roll over monthly.
/ 3-year cost comparison
Cumulative spend for a typical 5-page business site: 1 complex page + 4 standard pages. Prices in USD, annual billing.
| Platform | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Custom build← custom typical 5-page site | $475 | $611 | $747 |
Framer Pro $30/mo · annual billing | $360 | $720 | $1,080 |
Wix Business $39/mo · annual billing | $468 | $936 | $1,404 |
Elementor One + hosting $16 plugin + ~$10 hosting/mo | low ↓$312 | $624 | $936 |
Framer Pro's cumulative cost overtakes a custom build between months 16–18.
Elementor's Year 1 cost excludes WordPress setup time and ongoing security maintenance.
/ Feature comparison
| Feature | Custom | Framer | Wix | Elementor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom backend & API logic | ✓ | × | × | × |
| User auth / member areas | ✓ | × | add-on | plugin |
| Complex database & CMS | ✓ | limited | limited | WooCommerce |
| You own the source code | ✓ | × | × | ✓ |
| Deploy to any host | ✓ | × | × | ✓ |
| No vendor lock-in | ✓ | × | × | partial |
| Zero monthly platform fee | ✓ | × | × | × |
| Unique custom design | ✓ | templates | templates | templates |
| Built-in e-commerce | custom build | × | ✓ | WooCommerce |
| Drag-and-drop editing | × | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
/002
/ When custom code wins
01
You need something the platform can't do
Booking flows with custom rules, member portals, admin dashboards, third-party API integrations — no platform can be configured for arbitrary logic. Custom code has no ceiling.
02
You'll be online for more than 2 years
Framer Pro costs $360/yr forever. A typical 5-page custom site is ~$475 once, then $136/yr. By month 18, the custom site costs less in total — and you own it outright.
03
Your team has multiple editors
Framer charges $20/month per additional editor. A 4-person team adds $60/mo = $720/yr on top of the base plan. A CMS module from me is a flat one-time build fee.
04
Your brand needs to stand out
Framer templates look like Framer templates. Wix looks like Wix. A custom-built site is unique to you — no visitor can recognize the tool behind it.
/ When a platform is the better choice
If you're a solo freelancer building a personal portfolio, Framer Basic at $10/mo is hard to beat. If you need a simple booking site with zero technical involvement, Wix is genuinely good. This comparison is for businesses that need a real web presence, plan to stay online for 2+ years, or need features that no platform ships out of the box.
Not sure which fits your project?
/Let's Find Out.
Book a free 30-minute call. If a platform is actually the better choice for your needs, I'll tell you.