{"id":41849,"date":"2026-10-19T23:58:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T20:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coma.lv\/?page_id=41849"},"modified":"2026-10-19T23:58:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T20:58:23","slug":"template-vs-custom-website-design","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/template-vs-custom-website-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Template vs Custom Website Design: Which to Choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-hero-000f6fad6f73c3498ca562d4b07ac270\">\n.avia-section.av-cmp-design-hero-000f6fad6f73c3498ca562d4b07ac270{\nbackground-repeat:no-repeat;\nbackground-image:url(https:\/\/coma.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/laptop-white.jpg);\nbackground-position:50% 50%;\nbackground-attachment:scroll;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-cmp-design-hero-000f6fad6f73c3498ca562d4b07ac270 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  avia-full-stretch avia-bg-style-scroll av-minimum-height av-minimum-height-50 av-height-50  container_wrap fullsize'  data-section-bg-repeat='stretch' data-av_minimum_height_pc='50' data-av_min_height_opt='50'><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-41849'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-h1-e739f51074cade795e1c276685ca004f\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-cmp-design-h1-e739f51074cade795e1c276685ca004f{\npadding-bottom:20px;\nfont-size:40px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-cmp-design-h1-e739f51074cade795e1c276685ca004f .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-cmp-design-h1-e739f51074cade795e1c276685ca004f .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:40px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-cmp-design-h1-e739f51074cade795e1c276685ca004f .av-subheading{\nfont-size:18px;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-cmp-design-h1-e739f51074cade795e1c276685ca004f .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-cmp-design-h1-e739f51074cade795e1c276685ca004f .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-cmp-design-h1-e739f51074cade795e1c276685ca004f av-special-heading-h1 blockquote modern-quote modern-centered  avia-builder-el-1  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  av-inherit-size'><h1 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Website Template or Custom Design: Which Should You Choose?<\/h1><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_below'><p>A practical comparison of ready-made templates and individual design for a business website, with real prices and timelines.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-summary-d104327883a14f13891204407da7c377\">\n.avia-section.av-cmp-design-summary-d104327883a14f13891204407da7c377{\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\nbackground-image:unset;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section av-cmp-design-summary-d104327883a14f13891204407da7c377 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-41849'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-summary-col-3aaa3d54bd37368096ab35db7d8d264a\">\n.flex_column.av-cmp-design-summary-col-3aaa3d54bd37368096ab35db7d8d264a{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-cmp-design-summary-col-3aaa3d54bd37368096ab35db7d8d264a av_one_full  avia-builder-el-3  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-cmp-design-summary-text-a5b3ca6b40e39b5ea23a0cceff7f03be '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>The quick verdict<\/h2>\n<div class=\"cmp cmp-answer\" style=\"--cmp-a:#2f8f83;--cmp-b:#b48e5f\">\n<p class=\"cmp-lead\">Short answer: choose a ready-made template for a small, standard site that has to be online quickly on a tight budget. Choose custom design when the site has to set you apart, convert visitors in a specific way or carry a brand, an unusual structure or several languages.<\/p>\n<p class=\"cmp-more\">Neither is automatically better. A good template is a sound starting point; custom design is a decision to spend more so that the site fits your business instead of the other way round.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp cmp-duo\" style=\"--cmp-a:#2f8f83;--cmp-b:#b48e5f\">\n<p class=\"cmp-title\">At a glance<\/p>\n<div class=\"cmp-grid\">\n<div class=\"cmp-card cmp-side-a\">\n<p class=\"cmp-h\">Template<\/p>\n<p class=\"cmp-tag\">Ready-made and quick<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cmp-chips\">\n<li>Tested layouts and a builder<\/li>\n<li>Low launch cost and short timeline<\/li>\n<li>You choose from what exists<\/li>\n<li>Many features you will never use<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-card cmp-side-b\">\n<p class=\"cmp-h\">Custom design<\/p>\n<p class=\"cmp-tag\">Planned around your business<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cmp-chips\">\n<li>Structure and message built for your visitors<\/li>\n<li>Your brand, typography and imagery<\/li>\n<li>Lean code and tuned speed<\/li>\n<li>Built for how your team edits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>A template<\/strong> is usually the better choice for a small brochure site, a first site for a new business or a project where speed and cost matter most. You get a tested layout, a builder and a result in days.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Custom design<\/strong> is usually the better choice when the website is a sales tool: the structure is planned around your offer and your visitors, the visual identity is yours, and the code is lean because nothing unused is carried along.<\/p>\n<p>If you compare only the launch price, a template wins. If you compare what the site earns over several years, fit to your business, speed and conversion start to matter more.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cmp cmp-score\" style=\"--cmp-a:#2f8f83;--cmp-b:#b48e5f\">\n<p class=\"cmp-title\">Where each option is stronger<\/p>\n<div class=\"cmp-legend\"><span class=\"cmp-side-a\">Template<\/span><span class=\"cmp-side-b\">Custom design<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-row\">\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Cost to launch<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-a\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Template: 5\/5\"><i class=\"w5\"><\/i><\/span><b>5\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-b\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Custom design: 2\/5\"><i class=\"w2\"><\/i><\/span><b>2\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-row\">\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Speed to launch<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-a\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Template: 5\/5\"><i class=\"w5\"><\/i><\/span><b>5\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-b\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Custom design: 3\/5\"><i class=\"w3\"><\/i><\/span><b>3\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-row\">\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Uniqueness and brand fit<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-a\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Template: 2\/5\"><i class=\"w2\"><\/i><\/span><b>2\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-b\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Custom design: 5\/5\"><i class=\"w5\"><\/i><\/span><b>5\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-row\">\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Fit to your goals and conversion path<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-a\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Template: 3\/5\"><i class=\"w3\"><\/i><\/span><b>3\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-b\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Custom design: 5\/5\"><i class=\"w5\"><\/i><\/span><b>5\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-row\">\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Performance and lean code<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-a\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Template: 3\/5\"><i class=\"w3\"><\/i><\/span><b>3\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-b\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Custom design: 5\/5\"><i class=\"w5\"><\/i><\/span><b>5\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-row\">\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Ease of changes later<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-a\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Template: 4\/5\"><i class=\"w4\"><\/i><\/span><b>4\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-bar cmp-side-b\"><span class=\"cmp-track\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Custom design: 3\/5\"><i class=\"w3\"><\/i><\/span><b>3\/5<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"cmp-note\">Coma&#8217;s assessment for typical business sites (5 = strongest). It is not a measurement or a benchmark.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp cmp-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Decision factor<\/th>\n<th>Template<\/th>\n<th>Custom design<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Best for<\/td>\n<td>Small standard sites, first websites, tight budgets<\/td>\n<td>Business sites that sell, stand out or have unusual requirements<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Cost to launch<\/td>\n<td>A theme licence (typically tens of euros) plus setup and content<\/td>\n<td>From 800 euros for a business-card site, from 1,500 for a corporate site, from 4,000 for an e-shop<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Timeline<\/td>\n<td>Days to two weeks, depending on content<\/td>\n<td>Landing 1\u20132 weeks, business card 1\u20133, corporate 2\u20134, e-shop 4\u20138<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Brand and uniqueness<\/td>\n<td>Limited; many sites share the same layouts<\/td>\n<td>Built around your identity and message<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Structure and conversion<\/td>\n<td>Fits your content into existing sections<\/td>\n<td>Structure planned around your offer and visitors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Speed and code<\/td>\n<td>Often carries scripts and features you do not use<\/td>\n<td>Lean, tuned for speed from the start<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Editing later<\/td>\n<td>Visual builder, familiar to many developers<\/td>\n<td>Built for your team; depends on how it is built<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Languages<\/td>\n<td>Depends on the theme and plugins<\/td>\n<td>Planned in from the start, extra language from 200 euros<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-choose-b5803305c9d5c277b63f1a867d9f8a09\">\n.avia-section.av-cmp-design-choose-b5803305c9d5c277b63f1a867d9f8a09{\nbackground-color:#f8f8f8;\nbackground-image:unset;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_3'  class='avia-section av-cmp-design-choose-b5803305c9d5c277b63f1a867d9f8a09 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-41849'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-choose-0-4069e9439b280dd13ac75e77d2c33b84\">\n.flex_column.av-cmp-design-choose-0-4069e9439b280dd13ac75e77d2c33b84{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-cmp-design-choose-0-4069e9439b280dd13ac75e77d2c33b84 av_one_half  avia-builder-el-6  el_before_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-cmp-design-choose-0-text-3f0584b566b6e7a21dcd54a885ba3f47 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Choose a template if&#8230;<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>You need a standard site (about, services, contact) quickly.<\/li>\n<li>The budget is tight and the site is not yet a sales channel.<\/li>\n<li>You will edit the site yourself with a visual builder.<\/li>\n<li>Your brand is still being shaped and you want something simple to start.<\/li>\n<li>You accept some constraints in layout and style.<\/li>\n<li>You may redesign later when the business grows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A template is strongest when speed and cost matter more than uniqueness. For many small businesses that is the right trade-off.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-choose-1-c16905d85bb5ce99583ed19eb8b292d4\">\n.flex_column.av-cmp-design-choose-1-c16905d85bb5ce99583ed19eb8b292d4{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-cmp-design-choose-1-c16905d85bb5ce99583ed19eb8b292d4 av_one_half  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-cmp-design-choose-1-text-eb651df3a6ee77fdb5399aceaa5817b0 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Choose custom design if&#8230;<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The site has to bring in leads or sales and convert visitors.<\/li>\n<li>You compete on quality and the site has to look and feel like your brand.<\/li>\n<li>Your content or structure does not fit a standard theme.<\/li>\n<li>You need several languages, integrations or an e-shop planned properly.<\/li>\n<li>Speed and clean code matter for search and for mobile visitors.<\/li>\n<li>You want the site built around how your team works.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Custom design is strongest when the website is part of how the business wins customers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-detail-8dc9af70d44af3d13e9fc654397cf702\">\n.avia-section.av-cmp-design-detail-8dc9af70d44af3d13e9fc654397cf702{\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\nbackground-image:unset;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_4'  class='avia-section av-cmp-design-detail-8dc9af70d44af3d13e9fc654397cf702 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-41849'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-detail-col-c0734817332099a6590964fa75da0bba\">\n.flex_column.av-cmp-design-detail-col-c0734817332099a6590964fa75da0bba{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-cmp-design-detail-col-c0734817332099a6590964fa75da0bba av_one_full  avia-builder-el-11  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-cmp-design-detail-text-05a49e5ee30f000116c4ff5bfa483391 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Cost and time: what you actually get for the money<\/h2>\n<p>A template looks cheap because the licence costs tens of euros. The real cost is setup, adapting content to fit sections, and the time you or an agency spend tuning it. It is fast for a simple site and gets slower the more you need to bend it.<\/p>\n<p>For custom work our prices start at 800 euros for a business-card site, 1,500 euros for a corporate site and 4,000 euros for an e-shop. Typical timelines are one to two weeks for a landing page, one to three for a business card, two to four for a corporate site and four to eight for an e-shop. Premium design is a 1,000 euro add-on and each extra language is about 200 euros in our <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/website-development-prices\/\">price calculator<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cmp cmp-cost\" style=\"--cmp-a:#2f8f83;--cmp-b:#b48e5f\">\n<p class=\"cmp-title\">What you pay for<\/p>\n<div class=\"cmp-grid\">\n<div class=\"cmp-card cmp-side-a\">\n<p class=\"cmp-h\">Template<\/p>\n<p class=\"cmp-tag\">A low licence fee, then setup<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cmp-stack\">\n<li>Tens of euros \u2014 typical theme licence<\/li>\n<li>+ Setup and content entry (your time or an agency)<\/li>\n<li>+ Hosting (from \u20ac10\/month on Coma Cloud)<\/li>\n<li>+ Adjustments by a developer when needed<\/li>\n<li>+ Care plan (\u20ac50\/month, optional)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-card cmp-side-b\">\n<p class=\"cmp-h\">Custom design<\/p>\n<p class=\"cmp-tag\">Priced by site type<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cmp-stack\">\n<li>From \u20ac800 \u2014 business-card site<\/li>\n<li>+ Corporate site from \u20ac1,500<\/li>\n<li>+ E-shop from \u20ac4,000<\/li>\n<li>+ Premium design +\u20ac1,000 (calculator add-on)<\/li>\n<li>+ Extra language about \u20ac200 each<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"cmp-note\">Coma prices are starting prices from our price calculator. Template licence cost is typical and varies by theme and seller.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The honest comparison is not &#8220;cheap vs expensive&#8221;. It is &#8220;pay less now and adapt your business to the template&#8221; against &#8220;pay more now and have a site that fits your business&#8221;. The second pays off when the site brings leads.<\/p>\n<h2>Design, brand and conversion<\/h2>\n<p>A good template has a tested layout, and that is a real strength. Its limit is that it was designed for nobody in particular. Your content is fitted into sections that exist, your visitors follow a path that someone else imagined, and your site looks like many others.<\/p>\n<p>Custom design starts from the questions that matter: who visits, what they need to decide, what you want them to do next. The structure, the wording of headings and the calls to action are planned around that, and the visual identity carries your brand. This is where the difference in results usually appears.<\/p>\n<p>A common compromise is to use a template for a small site and invest in custom design for the pages that matter most: the home page, the main service pages and the contact path.<\/p>\n<h2>Speed, SEO and code quality<\/h2>\n<p>Templates are built to be everything for everyone, so they often load scripts, fonts and features that your site never uses. That can slow pages down and hurt mobile scores, which in turn affects search and visitors.<\/p>\n<p>Custom design lets you ship only what the site needs, with clean headings, sensible structure, tuned images and fast loading. It does not guarantee rankings, but it removes a common handicap. A template can also be well optimised, so check PageSpeed and mobile behaviour before you choose.<\/p>\n<p>For multilingual sites, structure matters even more: URLs, hreflang and translations are easier when they are planned from the start. See our <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/wordpress-development\/\">WordPress development<\/a> for how we approach it.<\/p>\n<h2>Editing and maintenance after launch<\/h2>\n<p>Template sites are usually built with a visual builder and are easy to edit, and many developers know the popular themes. You also depend on the theme author for updates and on the licence.<\/p>\n<p>A custom site is built for how your team edits: clear fields, sensible blocks, and no unnecessary options. How easy it is to change later depends on how it is built, which is why we explain the editing before we hand over.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cmp cmp-matrix\" style=\"--cmp-a:#2f8f83;--cmp-b:#b48e5f\">\n<p class=\"cmp-title\">What is ready-made and what is designed for you<\/p>\n<div class=\"cmp-grid\">\n<div class=\"cmp-hd cmp-empty\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-hd cmp-side-a\">Template<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-hd cmp-side-b\">Custom design<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Page layouts and sections<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-platform\">Ready-made<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-you\">Designed for you<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Brand, typography and imagery<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-platform\">Ready-made<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-you\">Designed for you<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Conversion path and calls to action<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-platform\">Ready-made<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-you\">Designed for you<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Mobile behaviour<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-platform\">Ready-made<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-you\">Designed for you<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Editing experience<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-platform\">Ready-made<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-you\">Designed for you<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-lab\">Speed tuning<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-platform\">Ready-made<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-who cmp-who-you\">Designed for you<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Either way, the site needs care: updates, backups, security and monitoring. We offer <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/services\/wordpress-website-maintenance\/\">a maintenance plan<\/a> and managed <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/services\/wordpress-hosting\/\">WordPress hosting<\/a> for both.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-checklist-472b64af83c5500a3688e3e46bdb6a3e\">\n.avia-section.av-cmp-design-checklist-472b64af83c5500a3688e3e46bdb6a3e{\nbackground-color:#f8f8f8;\nbackground-image:unset;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_5'  class='avia-section av-cmp-design-checklist-472b64af83c5500a3688e3e46bdb6a3e main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-41849'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-checklist-col-748d93ed66bf5b1778987475fba99b21\">\n.flex_column.av-cmp-design-checklist-col-748d93ed66bf5b1778987475fba99b21{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-cmp-design-checklist-col-748d93ed66bf5b1778987475fba99b21 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-14  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-cmp-design-checklist-text-c98a33ff8b946fe632b65989d4dd2aae '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>A simple decision checklist<\/h2>\n<p>Answer these five questions before choosing:<\/p>\n<div class=\"cmp cmp-flow\" style=\"--cmp-a:#2f8f83;--cmp-b:#b48e5f\">\n<p class=\"cmp-title\">Five questions to decide<\/p>\n<div class=\"cmp-hd\"><span>Question<\/span><span>Points to a template<\/span><span>Points to custom design<\/span><\/div>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<div class=\"cmp-q\">What is the budget?<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-ans cmp-ans-a\">Tight; keep launch cost low<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-ans cmp-ans-b\">Invest to get the result<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"cmp-q\">How soon do you need it?<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-ans cmp-ans-a\">Days; standard is fine<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-ans cmp-ans-b\">Weeks; planned properly<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"cmp-q\">What must the site do?<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-ans cmp-ans-a\">Present the business<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-ans cmp-ans-b\">Generate leads or sales<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"cmp-q\">How unusual is your content?<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-ans cmp-ans-a\">Standard pages<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-ans cmp-ans-b\">Own structure, languages, integrations<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"cmp-q\">How important is the brand?<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-ans cmp-ans-a\">Still taking shape<\/div>\n<div class=\"cmp-ans cmp-ans-b\">A core part of the offer<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<h2>How a custom design project runs<\/h2>\n<p>A custom project starts with your goals, not with colours. We agree who the site is for, what visitors need to decide and what the structure of pages should be, then design, build and test it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cmp cmp-steps\" style=\"--cmp-a:#2f8f83;--cmp-b:#b48e5f\">\n<p class=\"cmp-title\">What the process includes<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Brief and goals<\/li>\n<li>Structure and page plan<\/li>\n<li>Visual design<\/li>\n<li>Build on WordPress<\/li>\n<li>Content and SEO setup<\/li>\n<li>Testing on phones and speed<\/li>\n<li>Launch with redirects<\/li>\n<li>Care and support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"cmp-warn\">The most common template problem is not looks but structure that does not match your offer, and a page that loads slowly on a phone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>You get a launch plan with redirects and tracking, and the site is handed over with an explanation of how to edit it.<\/p>\n<h2>Final recommendation<\/h2>\n<p>Choose a <strong>template<\/strong> when you need a standard site quickly on a tight budget and are comfortable adapting to it. Choose <strong>custom design<\/strong> when the site has to earn money, carry a brand or fit unusual content and several languages.<\/p>\n<p>The decision is rarely about taste. It is about what the site has to do for the business and what that is worth to you over the next few years.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-faq-98944b8c8384dc2fe3dfe3f12fc5bdf5\">\n.avia-section.av-cmp-design-faq-98944b8c8384dc2fe3dfe3f12fc5bdf5{\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\nbackground-image:unset;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_6'  class='avia-section av-cmp-design-faq-98944b8c8384dc2fe3dfe3f12fc5bdf5 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-16  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-41849'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-faq-col-899f2326693e1b331ddb9d0428905862\">\n.flex_column.av-cmp-design-faq-col-899f2326693e1b331ddb9d0428905862{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-cmp-design-faq-col-899f2326693e1b331ddb9d0428905862 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-17  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-cmp-design-faq-text-7fea6869a542c0b3aff12670a3a954fb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>FAQ<\/h2>\n<h3>Is a template good enough for a business website?<\/h3>\n<p>For a small, standard site, yes. For a site that has to generate leads, stand out or fit unusual content, custom design usually pays back more.<\/p>\n<h3>How much does a custom website design cost?<\/h3>\n<p>Our business-card sites start at 800 euros, corporate sites at 1,500 euros and e-shops at 4,000 euros. Premium design is a 1,000 euro add-on and each additional language is about 200 euros in our price calculator.<\/p>\n<h3>How long does a custom website take?<\/h3>\n<p>A landing page takes one to two weeks, a business-card site one to three, a corporate site two to four and an e-shop four to eight weeks.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I start with a template and switch later?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Content, URLs and rankings can be carried over, although changing the design usually means rebuilding the layouts. It is wise to plan URLs and redirects so that the switch does not cost you positions.<\/p>\n<h3>Are templates bad for SEO?<\/h3>\n<p>No, not by themselves. The risk is a heavy theme that loads slowly and a structure that does not match what people search for. Check speed on a phone and plan the page structure before you choose.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-cta-d7ff8def616ad1680e664f6075df8634\">\n.avia-section.av-cmp-design-cta-d7ff8def616ad1680e664f6075df8634{\nbackground-color:#f3efe8;\nbackground-image:unset;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_7'  class='avia-section av-cmp-design-cta-d7ff8def616ad1680e664f6075df8634 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-19  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-41849'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-cta-col-10618e7c1e021b8778e8d87d38e939de\">\n.flex_column.av-cmp-design-cta-col-10618e7c1e021b8778e8d87d38e939de{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-cmp-design-cta-col-10618e7c1e021b8778e8d87d38e939de av_one_full  avia-builder-el-20  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-cmp-design-cta-text-0eacd3f160a493543936e028dfcc4be5 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 style=\"text-align:center\">Need help choosing between a template and custom design?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"max-width:760px;margin:0 auto 20px;text-align:center\">Coma designs and builds WordPress sites, from fast, simple projects to custom designs with several languages and integrations, and can host and maintain them. We review your goals and budget and tell you honestly what you need.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center\">See our <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/wordpress-development\/\">WordPress development<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/website-development-prices\/\">prices<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/services\/wordpress-hosting\/\">hosting<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/contacts\/\">contact us<\/a> for a practical recommendation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap av-cmp-design-button-b53825bc386fc47d00171f3398448fce-wrap avia-button-center  avia-builder-el-22  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-button-b53825bc386fc47d00171f3398448fce\">\n#top #wrap_all .avia-button.av-cmp-design-button-b53825bc386fc47d00171f3398448fce{\nbackground-color:#b48e5f;\nborder-color:#b48e5f;\ncolor:#ffffff;\ntransition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .avia-button.av-cmp-design-button-b53825bc386fc47d00171f3398448fce .avia-svg-icon svg:first-child{\nfill:#ffffff;\nstroke:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<a href='https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/contacts\/'  class='avia-button av-cmp-design-button-b53825bc386fc47d00171f3398448fce av-link-btn avia-icon_select-no avia-size-large avia-position-center'   aria-label=\"Get a recommendation\"><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Get a recommendation<\/span><\/a><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-cmp-design-related-text-e4c1169f40c077fc2570c2e4f85d7f9f '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p style=\"text-align:center;margin-top:18px\"><strong>Related comparisons:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/diy-wordpress-maintenance-vs-support-plan\/\">DIY maintenance vs a support plan<\/a> &middot; <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/wordpress-vs-wix\/\">WordPress vs Wix<\/a> &middot; <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/wordpress-vs-tilda\/\">WordPress vs Tilda<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-sources-cd1adbe5f8ea71f2e68e7e60f0733fb4\">\n.avia-section.av-cmp-design-sources-cd1adbe5f8ea71f2e68e7e60f0733fb4{\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\nbackground-image:unset;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_8'  class='avia-section av-cmp-design-sources-cd1adbe5f8ea71f2e68e7e60f0733fb4 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-24  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-last  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-41849'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-cmp-design-sources-col-1e5c22d9a812c2433de5d3f4cc66eaf3\">\n.flex_column.av-cmp-design-sources-col-1e5c22d9a812c2433de5d3f4cc66eaf3{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-cmp-design-sources-col-1e5c22d9a812c2433de5d3f4cc66eaf3 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-25  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-cmp-design-sources-text-0cfc7685b482c859e3daeda7a2365890 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Sources checked<\/h2>\n<p>Coma prices and timelines come from our <a href=\"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/website-development-prices\/\">price calculator<\/a> and service pages, checked in October 2026. Template licence cost is typical and varies by theme and seller.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-41849","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41849"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41849\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41850,"href":"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41849\/revisions\/41850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coma.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}