A couple of months ago, we got a message that went something like this: “Our sites were built by an agency using their custom CMS but they’re pulling the plug on it in a few months. Can you rebuild everything in WordPress?”
The client was a software provider with three separate sites and they were all tied to a proprietary CMS their agency had cooked up in-house.
Luckily, the sites were rather straightforward in their design and functionality, so we were able to jump in and get the sites running in just a few weeks. But honestly? It could’ve been a much longer, messier process.
Helping software and service businesses become digitally self-sufficient is at the heart of what we do. That includes giving you full control over your website so you’re not held hostage by a single agency or a CMS no one else knows how to use.
So when we see web agencies locking clients into their own private platforms, it drives us a little bit mad. Your website shouldn’t disappear just because your agency’s CMS hits end-of-life.
Sure! Here’s a cheekier, more conversational version of that line:
So consider this your friendly warning: if a web agency pitches you their “custom CMS built just for you”, smile politely, back away slowly, and run like a rabid badger is chasing you.
Three major downsides of custom, agency-owned CMS solutions
Let’s break down exactly why these agency-built CMS platforms are trouble, no matter how shiny the pitch sounds.
Your site gets locked in a digital prison
Once your site is built on an agency’s custom CMS, you become completely dependent on this agency. You might be able to clone and populate new pages, but you will be heavily restricted by the parameters of the templates. Need to update the design or develop new templates? You’ll have to ask them. Want to move your site to another platform? You’re probably looking at a full rebuild. Even minor tweaks often require going back to the same team that built it.
The worst part? If the agency retires the CMS or disappears entirely, your site is now sitting on unsupported, possibly crumbling infrastructure.
You are stuck with limited features and no support community
Open-source platforms like WordPress have thousands of plugins (64,000+ to be more precise) and a global community. If you hit a wall, you just Google it, hire a developer, or install a ready-made add-on.
With a custom CMS, you get none of that. There’s no community or YouTube tutorials. No plugin marketplace or theme variations. If you want new features, you have to call the agency that built the system. And then say a little prayer that this new functionality won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
It’s a transparency red flag
“Our CMS is better than WordPress.” No, no it’s not. Don’t fall for this arrogant lie. This is simply code for: “We want to keep you on the hook forever.”
These custom CMS solutions are rarely better. Around 640 people from at least 53 countries and 129 identified companies contributed to WordPress 6.6. Over 750 volunteers contributed to the code base of Joomla. Shopify employs over 4,000 engineers.
But sure, the agency’s custom CMS “is better.”
It is certainly more convenient. For the agency, not the clients. It gives the agency complete control over the tools, the support, the access, and your ability to leave.
A good agency gives you a solid website and the freedom to take it elsewhere. A great agency sets you up for self-sufficiency. But if the CMS they’re pushing only works if you stay with them forever, that’s not a partnership. It’s a trap.
If not custom CMS, then what? WordPress?
Alright, let’s hope that we’ve managed to convince you that proprietary, agency-built custom CMS platforms are a no-go. The obvious next question: what should you use instead?
Full transparency: yes, WordPress is definitely our favorite. And for a good reason. It’s the world’s most popular CMS, powering around 43.5% of all websites. It’s flexible, scalable, and backed by a massive global community of developers and users.
Having said that, WordPress isn’t the only game in town. There are other robust CMS platforms out there that offer similar key advantages: active communities, extensive marketplaces for plugins and themes, a wide range of integrations, etc. We’re talking about such platforms as Joomla, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, Drupal, and others. Each one has its set of pros and cons, but at the end of the day, they are all exponentially better options than custom, agency-built CMS.
Another solid argument in favor of these platforms? If you ever want to switch to a different CMS solution, you’ll be able to do it more easily as there are already various solutions within marketplaces that facilitate migration between major CMS platforms.
Own your digital space. Don’t rent it.
This is the truth we stand by. Your website should be yours. You should be able to easily access, manage, and maintain it. It should serve your needs to the fullest.
Proprietary, agency-built custom CMS solutions might sound appealing at first, but they come with hidden costs: lock-in, limited features, no community, and a glaring lack of transparency.
