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Web Development

Why I tell my clients: think twice about WordPress

February 1, 2026LCR Consulting

"Can you help us with a WordPress site?"

I get this question about once a week. And every time I answer: "Sure, but let's first talk about what you actually need."

Because most people don't need WordPress. They need a website they can control themselves. And WordPress doesn't give you that control — it only promises it.

Where I'm coming from

Before starting my own company, I spent years working at Wise, Deel, and SavvyBooks. There I saw every day how well-built systems work: fast, simple, without anyone having to update something every week or worry whether things still work.

That's where my principle comes from: technology should work for people, not create extra burden.

And then I come back to Estonian small business owners and see the opposite. People paying monthly fees for things that should be free. People afraid to click a button on their own website because last time everything broke. People who don't know what they're even paying for.

This is not normal.

Three stories I hear constantly

"I'm afraid to touch anything" A restaurant owner told me: "I have a WordPress site, but I'm afraid to do anything with it. Once I tried to update the menu and everything went haywire. Now I don't dare anymore."

"Every change costs money" A training company manager: "Every time I want to add a new course, I pay 80 euros. I have about 10 new courses per year."

"I don't know what I'm paying for" A consultant: "I have hosting, plugins, updates... Honestly, I don't even know exactly what I'm paying for."

These aren't exceptions. These are normal Estonian business owners who simply want their website to work.

What's actually wrong with WordPress

WordPress became popular at a time when there were no alternatives. Today 43% of websites use it — but popularity doesn't mean quality. Half the world uses Facebook too, and nobody says it's the best product.

Specific problems:

The plugin trap. Want a contact form? Plugin. Want SEO? Plugin. Want your site to be fast? Plugin. Every plugin is a separate monthly fee, a separate update, and a separate security risk. In 2024, nearly 8,000 new security vulnerabilities were discovered in the WordPress ecosystem — and 96% of them were in plugins.

The interface is outdated. The WordPress admin panel looks like a 2012 product, because it is one. Content management is clunky, navigation is confusing, and every action requires more clicks than necessary.

Syncing doesn't work. Try changing multiple things at once, do it from different devices, or try collaborating with a team. WordPress's architecture wasn't built for that.

Maintenance is your problem. WordPress doesn't update itself. You need to monitor security updates, plugin compatibility, PHP versions, databases. Or pay someone who does. Forever.

How things should work

You shouldn't be thinking about hosting, plugins, and security updates. You should be thinking about your business. Your website should be a tool that helps, not a project that demands constant attention.

My clients get a website where:

No plugins or monthly fees. Everything needed is built in. Contact form, SEO, speed — everything works without you having to pay for someone's subscription every month.

Hosting is free or minimal. Modern hosting solutions offer free plans for small businesses that cover all needs. For comparison: WordPress hosting costs 120–200 euros per year.

You can manage it yourself. After 2–3 hours of training, you can change your own content. Without a developer, without fear, without anything breaking. My training has been mastered by both 55-year-olds and 17-year-olds.

Your site grows with you. Today, with AI assistance, you can manage and even further develop your own website in ways that weren't possible a few years ago. I build solutions that are ready for this — not so that you stay dependent on someone forever.

Real numbers

Typical WordPress per year:

  • Hosting: €120–200
  • Plugins and licenses: €50–150
  • Developer help and maintenance: €200–500
  • Your own time and stress: priceless
  • Total: €370–850 per year + your time

Modern solution:

  • Hosting: €0–20 (free plans cover most needs)
  • Plugins: €0 (not needed)
  • Maintenance: minimal
  • Total: €0–100 per year

This isn't a price difference. It's a completely different approach.

How I work

I don't sell technology. I help you gain control over your website.

  1. I review your needs — not a technical audit, but a business one: what you actually need and where you're wasting money
  2. I build a solution that fits your specific skills and needs. Often this involves WordPress migration or custom web applications
  3. I teach you to use it — 2–3 hours, and you can manage on your own
  4. I'm available for 30 days if questions come up

Result: you run your website, not the other way around.

What's next

If you recognize yourself in these stories — if you're paying for plugins, afraid to change something on your site, or don't know what you're even paying for — let's talk.

Get in touch for a free consultation. I won't sell you anything at the first meeting. I'll listen, review your situation, and honestly tell you if and how I can help.

If you want to explore on your own how modern web solutions work:

Questions? Write here. I enjoy helping people make smart choices — even when they don't hire me.