How I build websites
Why Your Site Runs on Cloudflare, Not WordPress
Most web designers reach for WordPress because everyone knows it. I reach for what actually makes your site fast, secure and cheap to run, then tell you honestly when WordPress is the right answer instead.
Cloudflare vs WordPress
Faster, Safer, Cheaper Hosting for Your Irish Business Website
I build websites on Cloudflare's global network instead of WordPress, so your site loads almost instantly across Ireland, has nothing to hack, and costs next to nothing to run.
WordPress powers around 40% of the web. For most small Irish business sites it's also far more than you need: slow by design, dependent on plugins and security updates, and carrying monthly hosting and maintenance costs. A fast, static site avoids all of that, and faster pages rank better on Google through Core Web Vitals.
Not sure which is right for you? Tell me what you're trying to do and I'll give you a straight answer, even if that means recommending WordPress, Shopify, or something other than what I build. Moving a site that already ranks is its own job, covered on website migration.
No obligation · same-day reply
Is your current site worth moving?
A quick line about your site and what it costs you to run. I'll tell you honestly whether moving is worth it.
Cloudflare vs WordPress on Speed, Security and Cost
For a small business site, the way it's built matters more than how it looks. These are the three places it shows.
Loads almost instantly
Pages are built in advance and served from 300+ Cloudflare locations, so there's no server or database to wait on.
Nothing to hack
No PHP, no database and no plugins, so there's nothing on the site for an attacker to get into.
Costs almost nothing to run
Cloudflare Pages is free for most sites. WordPress typically runs €30 to €80 a month before anything breaks.
Speed Speed and security
Why a Cloudflare Site Loads Faster and Can't Be Hacked Like WordPress
There's no server generating a page on the fly and no database query to wait for. The page is already built and sits on Cloudflare's global network, so it loads from a server near your visitor, almost instantly, every time. WordPress runs PHP, queries a database and assembles every page on request, and caching plugins only paper over it.
WordPress gets hacked because the attack surface is enormous: PHP on a server, a database with credentials, and dozens of plugins maintained by different people. A static site has none of that.
- Under a second to load, anywhere in Ireland
- No PHP running on a server
- No database, no credentials to steal
- No plugins, no plugin vulnerabilities
Cloudflare Pages vs WordPress, the Honest Comparison
Including where WordPress still wins.
| Factor | WordPress + shared hosting | Cloudflare Pages (how I build) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Often slow by default, needs plugins + tuning to fix | Instant, globally. Built on 300+ data centres. |
| Security | Constant updates, plugin vulnerabilities, regular hacks | No database, no PHP, nothing to exploit. Static. |
| Monthly cost | €20–€80+/mo: hosting + SSL + backups + plugins | Cloudflare Pages: free to €25/mo. No surprises. |
| Uptime & reliability | Dependent on one server, can go down | Cloudflare's global network. 99.99% uptime. |
| Google ranking (speed) | Slow WordPress hurts Core Web Vitals scores | Fast sites rank better. This is engineered for it. |
| Maintenance | Ongoing: plugin updates, backups, security patches | Near zero. No plugins, no database to maintain. |
| Lock-in | Can move, but it takes effort and export/import faff | Your code, your domain, your content. Take it anywhere. |
| When WordPress wins | Complex CMS, e-commerce, user logins, forums. Real reasons. | Most business sites don't need any of that. |
The honest bit
When WordPress Is Actually the Right Answer
I'd rather lose a project than build the wrong thing. There are genuine cases where WordPress, or Shopify, is the correct tool, and if you need one of them I'll tell you and point you toward the right approach.
- Real e-commerce with a shopping cart and checkout
- Membership areas or lots of user accounts
- Forums or community features
- Complex multi-author publishing workflows
For most Irish small business sites, the faster, cheaper and more secure option is what I build.
The honest bit Speed is a ranking signal
Google Ranks Fast Sites Higher. Full Stop.
Core Web Vitals are a direct ranking factor. A fast, static site starts with a structural advantage that plugins can't replicate.
How ranking worksCommon questions
Cloudflare vs WordPress Questions, Answered
Ask me directly
Not on the list? Send it over. I'll give you a straight answer, no sales pitch.
Send a questionCan I update my own content without a developer?
Yes. For most small business sites I build in a simple content layer so you can update text, images and prices yourself. If your site is mostly static (opening hours, services, location), you'll rarely need to.
What if I already have a WordPress site?
That's fine. If it's working, we keep it. If it's slow, insecure, or costing you too much to maintain, I'll tell you honestly whether a rebuild is worth it, and what you'd gain. Sometimes it isn't worth it.
Is this harder for Google to crawl than WordPress?
No, it's actually easier. There's no JavaScript framework for Google to wrestle with, no slow server to wait on. Clean HTML, fast load times, and proper structured data. Google loves it.
What about WooCommerce, online shops or membership sites?
For a large online shop or a membership site with lots of user accounts, WordPress or Shopify is often the right tool, and I'll tell you that honestly. Online booking is different: I build booking systems directly into the site, with no plugins and no commission.
Can I switch hosting providers later?
Yes, completely. The code is yours. The domain is yours. Cloudflare Pages is free to leave. You're never locked in. The part worth planning for when moving a site that already ranks is the rankings themselves.
Guides on WordPress, Speed and Custom Builds
All guides →
Start hereWhy Your WordPress Site Keeps Getting Hacked (And How to Make It Stop)Read the guide →
How to Choose a Web Designer in Ireland (Without Getting Burned)Ireland's web design market is full of agencies that overpromise and lock you in. What to look for, and the questions that reveal the truth.
Custom Websites, Tools & Systems: What Irish Businesses Can Actually BuildYour website can do more than sit there: take bookings, track jobs, run a dashboard. A plain-English guide to custom development in Ireland.
Mobile Web Design for Irish Businesses: Why Your Phone Experience Wins or Loses the SaleMost Irish web searches happen on a phone. If your site is not fast, clear and usable there, you are handing customers to your competitors.
Web Design for Irish Businesses: What Actually Gets ResultsA straight guide to web design for Irish businesses: what a good site costs, what makes it rank, and what most designers will not tell you.