Duda vs WordPress: which should you build client sites on?

Duda is a hosted, closed platform designed for agencies. WordPress is open software you can run anywhere, with a plugin for almost everything. One saves maintenance; the other gives you control.

Sign up free: 3 template sites on a we.inc address. AI building from $20/mo.

The short answer

Pick Duda if you build sites for clients and want hosting, updates, security and client permissions handled for you. Its Basic plan is $25 a month ($19 billed yearly), Agency is $69 ($52 yearly), and there is a 14-day free trial.

Pick WordPress if you want full control, the biggest plugin and theme ecosystem, and the freedom to host anywhere. The software is free; you pay for hosting, or use WordPress.com from $4 a month billed yearly. You or your hosting company handle updates and security.

Side by side

DudaWordPress
What it isHosted website platform built for agenciesOpen-source software (wordpress.org) or the hosted WordPress.com service
Entry priceBasic $25/mo, or $19/mo billed yearlySoftware free; WordPress.com Personal $4/mo billed yearly ($9 month to month)
Agency-level planTeam $39 ($29 yearly), Agency $69 ($52 yearly), White Label $199 ($149 yearly)Depends on your host; agencies often pay per site or per server
Hosting and updatesIncluded and managed by DudaYour job or your host's: core, theme and plugin updates, backups
Extending the siteDuda's app store and widgetsTens of thousands of plugins and themes
LeavingClosed platform; rebuild to moveExport your content and move hosts freely

Duda prices from duda.co/pricing and WordPress.com prices from wordpress.com/pricing, both checked November 7, 2026, in US dollars.

Pros and cons

Duda

Best for: Agencies that want low-maintenance client sites and client permissions

Price: Basic $25/mo ($19 yearly) up to White Label $199/mo ($149 yearly), checked Nov 7, 2026

Pros: Hosting, security and updates handled for you; Client access controls designed for agencies; 14-day free trial

Cons: Closed platform; moving a site means rebuilding it; Smaller app ecosystem than WordPress plugins; Basic and Team include 1 core project; Agency and White Label include 4

WordPress

Best for: Builders who want full control, plugins and portability

Price: Software free; WordPress.com $4 to $45/mo billed yearly, checked Nov 7, 2026

Pros: Huge plugin and theme ecosystem; Host anywhere and move freely; No platform fee on the software itself

Cons: Updates, backups and security are your responsibility when self-hosted; Plugin conflicts take time to debug; Costs add up from hosting, premium themes and plugins

We.Inc

Best for: People who want to describe a site or web app in plain English and have AI build it

Price: Free plan: up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address, no AI. AI building from $20/mo (Starter, 250 credits). Pro $49/mo, Max $99/mo.

Pros: Describe what you want in chat and AI builds a full, editable site or app; Edit by clicking on the page, by asking in chat, or in a real code editor; Export the React and TypeScript code to GitHub, so you are never locked in; Unlimited sites on paid plans, custom domains from Starter

Cons: The free plan is templates only; AI building needs a paid plan; Newer platform with a smaller app marketplace than the big names; Store features are simpler than a dedicated ecommerce platform

Where the real cost sits

With Duda you pay a predictable platform fee and spend little time on upkeep. With WordPress the software is free but the time is not: someone has to apply updates, test plugins after each one, restore from backup when something breaks and watch for security issues. Agencies that charge for a care plan turn that time into income; agencies that do not, end up absorbing it.

If you manage many small brochure sites for clients who rarely change them, Duda's managed model often wins. If your clients need custom features, unusual integrations or e-commerce built from plugins, WordPress gives you the tools.

A middle path

Managed WordPress hosting moves much of the upkeep to the host while keeping WordPress's flexibility; it costs more than basic hosting. If speed of building matters most, an AI builder such as We.Inc drafts the whole site from a brief and lets you export the code.

Start from a template

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Is Duda better than WordPress for agencies?

It depends on the work. Duda handles hosting, updates and client permissions for you, which suits agencies managing many simple sites. WordPress suits agencies that need custom features, plugins and the freedom to host anywhere.

How much does Duda cost compared with WordPress?

On November 7, 2026 Duda's Basic plan was $25 a month ($19 billed yearly) and Agency $69 ($52 yearly). The WordPress software is free; WordPress.com started at $4 a month billed yearly, and self-hosting costs depend on your host.

Can I move a Duda site to WordPress?

Not directly. Duda is a closed platform, so moving usually means rebuilding the site in WordPress and copying the content across.

Related reading

Sign up free and publish your first site today.

More in Compare

Build your own site

How we research, test and update this page: our editorial policy. We.Inc is our own product.

Product

Who It's For

Features

Resources

Company

View Sitemap