A Pearland medical practice called us about rebuilding their website. They’d been on a proprietary CMS that their previous agency controlled. When they wanted to make changes or leave, they discovered they didn’t own their site—the agency did.
Their story isn’t uncommon. Choosing the wrong CMS creates headaches for years. Choosing the right one makes managing your website straightforward and keeps you in control.
Here’s an honest breakdown of your options in 2026.
What a CMS Actually Does
A Content Management System lets non-technical users update website content—text, images, blog posts—without touching code. You log in, make changes, publish. No developer required for routine updates.
CMS options fall into three categories:
Self-hosted CMS: Software you install on your own server (WordPress, Drupal). You control everything but handle all maintenance.
Hosted website builders: All-in-one platforms where hosting and CMS are bundled (Squarespace, Wix, Webflow). Simpler but less control.
Headless CMS: Content management separated from front-end display (Contentful, Sanity). Powerful but complex, usually overkill for small businesses.
For most Houston small businesses, the choice is between self-hosted WordPress and hosted builders.
The Contenders
WordPress
What it is: The world’s most popular CMS, powering about 40% of websites.
Best for: Businesses wanting flexibility, those with specific customization needs, content-heavy sites, e-commerce.
The honest take:
WordPress’s strength is flexibility. Nearly anything is possible—custom features, integrations, designs, functionality. Thousands of plugins extend capabilities. Thousands of themes provide design starting points.
That flexibility comes with responsibility. WordPress requires maintenance: security updates, plugin updates, backups, performance monitoring. Neglected WordPress sites get hacked or break.
What you’ll pay:
- Software: Free
- Quality hosting: $30-150/month for managed WordPress hosting
- Premium themes: $50-200 one-time
- Premium plugins: $50-500/year for essential functionality
- Professional setup: $3,000-15,000
Maintenance reality:
- Weekly or monthly updates required
- Occasional plugin conflicts to resolve
- Security monitoring needed
- Either DIY (2-4 hours/month) or pay someone ($100-500/month)
When WordPress makes sense:
- You need custom functionality
- You’re building complex e-commerce
- You want maximum control
- You plan to grow significantly
- You’ll invest in proper maintenance
When to skip WordPress:
- You want zero maintenance
- Simple site that won’t change much
- No budget for proper hosting and maintenance
- No technical support available
Squarespace
What it is: Hosted website builder known for beautiful templates and simplicity.
Best for: Creative professionals, small retail, restaurants, simple business sites.
The honest take:
Squarespace is the opposite philosophy from WordPress: limited options, but those options work well and require no maintenance. Templates are gorgeous and consistent. Building is intuitive. Everything works together because everything is controlled.
The limitation is exactly that control. Want something Squarespace doesn’t offer? Too bad. Need a specific integration? Maybe it exists, maybe not. Custom functionality? Not really possible.
What you’ll pay:
- Business plan: $27-49/month
- Commerce plans: $36-65/month
- No additional hosting, security, or maintenance costs
Maintenance reality:
- None. Squarespace handles everything.
When Squarespace makes sense:
- You want simple and beautiful
- Your needs fit their templates
- You don’t need custom features
- You want zero maintenance
- Budget for ongoing platform fees
When to skip Squarespace:
- You need custom functionality
- You want control over your code
- You’re building serious e-commerce
- You need specific integrations
- You want to own your site outright
Wix
What it is: Highly accessible website builder with drag-and-drop focus.
Best for: Very small businesses, solo entrepreneurs, simple sites.
The honest take:
Wix is the easiest platform to use. Drag, drop, done. Anyone can build a site quickly. Templates cover most small business needs.
But Wix sites often perform poorly—slow loading, bloated code. SEO capabilities are limited. And you’re locked in: you can’t export a Wix site.
What you’ll pay:
- Business plans: $17-45/month
- E-commerce plans: $29-159/month
Maintenance reality:
- None. Wix handles everything.
When Wix makes sense:
- You need something simple, fast
- DIY with minimal learning curve
- Budget is very tight
- Performance isn’t critical
When to skip Wix:
- SEO matters for your business
- Performance and speed are priorities
- You might outgrow the platform
- You want to own your site code
Webflow
What it is: Visual web development platform offering designer-level control with CMS capabilities.
Best for: Design-focused businesses, agencies, marketing sites requiring polish.
The honest take:
Webflow produces faster, cleaner sites than Squarespace or Wix while maintaining visual building interfaces. It’s positioned between website builders and custom development—more powerful than Squarespace, more accessible than coding.
The learning curve is steeper than Squarespace. Content management for non-designers isn’t as intuitive. And costs are higher for comparable features.
What you’ll pay:
- Site plans: $18-49/month
- E-commerce: $42-212/month
- Workspace plans for agencies and teams
Maintenance reality:
- Minimal. Webflow handles hosting and security.
- Some learning curve for content updates.
When Webflow makes sense:
- Design quality is premium priority
- Marketing sites with sophisticated needs
- You have a designer or agency building it
- Performance matters
When to skip Webflow:
- You need very simple editing
- Complex e-commerce requirements
- You need specific integrations Webflow doesn’t support
- Budget is very limited
Shopify
What it is: E-commerce focused platform—if you’re primarily selling online, it’s purpose-built for that.
Best for: Product-based businesses, online retail, e-commerce focused operations.
The honest take:
Shopify does e-commerce exceptionally well. Inventory management, payment processing, shipping, taxes—everything commerce-related is handled. The ecosystem of apps extends functionality significantly.
For non-commerce sites, Shopify is overkill. Content management for blogs and non-product pages is limited compared to proper CMS options.
What you’ll pay:
- Basic: $29/month + 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction
- Shopify: $79/month + 2.6% + 30 cents
- Advanced: $299/month + 2.4% + 30 cents
- Plus: $2,000+/month for enterprise
Maintenance reality:
- Minimal. Shopify handles hosting and security.
- App updates occasionally required.
When Shopify makes sense:
- E-commerce is your primary focus
- You want reliable, scalable selling
- You don’t want to think about technical e-commerce
When to skip Shopify:
- Commerce isn’t central
- You need heavy content/blog functionality
- Transaction fees impact margins significantly
Custom Development
What it is: A website built specifically for your needs without template constraints.
Best for: Businesses with unique requirements, complex applications, enterprise needs.
The honest take:
Custom development produces exactly what you need—nothing more, nothing less. Performance can be optimized precisely. Features work exactly as specified.
But custom is expensive. Development takes longer. You’re dependent on developers for changes beyond content. And unless carefully architected, maintenance can become complicated.
What you’ll pay:
- Simple custom sites: $10,000-30,000
- Complex applications: $50,000-500,000+
- Ongoing maintenance: $500-3,000/month
When custom makes sense:
- Your needs don’t fit any platform
- You’re building something unique
- Scale and performance are critical
- Budget supports proper development
When to skip custom:
- Standard platform would work
- Budget is limited
- Timeline is tight
- You don’t have ongoing development support
How to Choose
For Most Houston Small Businesses
WordPress with quality hosting and maintenance is usually the right answer. It balances flexibility with reasonable complexity. You can start simple and grow into sophisticated features. You own your site and can take it anywhere.
The key is doing WordPress properly: quality hosting (not $3/month shared hosting), security measures, regular maintenance, and professional development if your needs are complex.
For Simplicity-First Businesses
Squarespace if you want beautiful simplicity with zero maintenance. Accept the limitations in exchange for never worrying about updates, security, or technical problems.
For E-Commerce
Shopify for pure online retail. WooCommerce on WordPress if you need equal content and commerce capabilities.
For Design-Forward Marketing Sites
Webflow when visual design is paramount and you have someone who can work with the platform.
Avoid
Proprietary platforms from agencies that lock you into their services. If you can’t export your site and move elsewhere, you don’t really own it.
Platforms with poor performance if SEO or user experience matters (check your options with PageSpeed Insights before committing).
Overkill solutions. A simple service business doesn’t need enterprise CMS. Match the tool to the job.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing
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Who will update the site? Non-technical staff need intuitive interfaces. Developers can work with anything.
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What features do you actually need? Don’t choose for features you might need someday. Choose for needs you have now.
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What’s your ongoing budget? Total cost includes platform fees, hosting, maintenance, and content updates. Calculate the full picture.
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Do you want to own your site? Can you export and move if needed? Or are you locked in?
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What happens in 5 years? Will this platform grow with you? Or will you need to rebuild?
Our Recommendations for 2026
For Houston service businesses (law firms, medical practices, contractors, consultants): WordPress on managed hosting with professional development and maintenance plan.
For Houston retail and restaurants: Squarespace for simple presence, Shopify if e-commerce is significant, WordPress if you need both content and commerce flexibility.
For startups and simple businesses: Squarespace to launch quickly, with plan to migrate to WordPress if you outgrow it.
For custom applications or unique needs: Custom development or Webflow depending on technical complexity.
Making the Right Choice
The right CMS isn’t the most powerful or the simplest—it’s the one that matches your specific needs, budget, and capacity to maintain.
If you’re not sure which direction makes sense for your Houston business, contact us. We’ll help you evaluate options based on your specific situation—not what we prefer to build, but what actually works for you.
Learn more about our web development approach, where we match the right technology to each client’s needs.
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