Why WordPress Might Not Be the Best Choice for Your Small Business in 2025

Many small businesses are told that WordPress is the ultimate solution for building their website. After all, it has been a staple of the web for years, powering millions of sites. But is it still the right choice in 2025?

As someone with well over a decade of experience in web development, I’ve seen the challenges many businesses face with WordPress. While it was once a groundbreaking platform, times have changed. Today, there are more modern, efficient alternatives, and WordPress might no longer be the best fit for your needs.

In this article, we’ll explore why WordPress might not be the right choice for your small business and why Sanity is a strong alternative worth considering.

Why WordPress Feels Outdated in 2022

WordPress emerged as a revolutionary platform, offering a flexible and open-source solution for building websites. However, with evolving technology and the rise of headless CMS platforms, its limitations are more apparent.

Headless CMS tools like Sanity are designed for modern needs, focusing on content management and delivering that content to any platform via APIs. This approach allows for more streamlined, faster, and tailored website experiences.

Why Sanity?

Sanity takes a developer-friendly approach while prioritising ease of use for content editors. With live editing features, editors can see changes in real-time, making content updates intuitive and efficient. Unlike WordPress, which often feels disconnected between the admin panel and the live site, Sanity provides a seamless editing experience.

Why People Recommend WordPress (Even When It’s Not the Best Fit)

“It’s What We Sell”
Many agencies and developers continue to recommend WordPress simply because it’s what they know and sell. Transitioning to modern tools like Sanity requires time and resources, which some providers are reluctant to invest in.

“Lack of Awareness About Alternatives”
WordPress’s dominance has led to a ripple effect: people recommend it because it’s familiar, not because it’s the best option. Many developers and business owners haven’t explored newer tools like Sanity, which are better suited to today’s requirements.

“It’s Free”
While WordPress itself is open-source, running a WordPress website often incurs significant hidden costs—paid themes, premium plugins, hosting, maintenance, and security measures. These costs can quickly add up, where as modern alternatives like Sanity provide scalable solutions without these burdens.

"Sometimes, WordPress Is the Right Fit"
There are cases where WordPress makes sense, such as when you need a highly specific plugin for a niche functionality. However, even in these scenarios, ensure your developers have a compelling reason for recommending WordPress over an alternative.

Misconceptions About Why You Need WordPress

“We’re Comfortable With WordPress”
Familiarity with WordPress is understandable, but learning a new tool like Sanity is far less daunting than it might seem. Sanity’s live editing and intuitive interface make it easy to adapt while providing a significantly better content management experience.

“It’s Free”
WordPress is often marketed as free, but the reality is quite different. Hosting, plugins, security updates, and ongoing maintenance make WordPress anything but free in the long run. Sanity offers scalable pricing and a developer-first approach that eliminates many of these hidden costs.

“We’ve Invested Too Much in Our WordPress Site”
It’s common for businesses to feel tied to their existing WordPress site because of past investments. However, starting fresh with Sanity can save time and money compared to untangling years of outdated WordPress code and plugins.

“What If the Platform Dies Off?”
WordPress’s longevity is undeniable, but Sanity is also a secure, future-proof option. Its focus on modern technology and developer support ensures it remains relevant for years to come.

Misconceptions About Why You Need WordPress

The Drawbacks of WordPress

Not Editor-Friendly
WordPress’s admin dashboard is disconnected from the live website, making content updates cumbersome. Sanity addresses this with its live editing capabilities, which let you manage content in context and see changes instantly.

Plugins and Compatibility Issues
WordPress sites often rely on numerous plugins, each of which can introduce compatibility and security risks. A single update to WordPress or a plugin can break your site. With Sanity, these risks are eliminated, as the platform doesn’t rely on third-party plugins.

Bloated Codebase
WordPress’s one-size-fits-all approach results in heavy, slow-loading websites. Sanity, on the other hand, allows you to build exactly what you need, optimising for speed and performance.

Too Much Freedom, Not Enough Structure
WordPress offers endless possibilities, but this lack of structure can lead to inconsistent designs and poorly managed websites. Sanity provides a more structured framework, ensuring a polished and professional outcome.

Why Sanity Is the Ideal Alternative

Sanity’s headless CMS approach empowers small businesses to create fast, scalable, and highly customisable websites without the bloat and headaches of WordPress. Its intuitive content management system, real-time collaboration, and API-first design make it a perfect fit for modern web development.

If you’re looking for a future-proof solution for your small business website, it’s time to explore what Sanity can offer. WordPress has had its moment, but in 2024, better options are available—options that will save you time, money, and frustration in the long run.