Compared
Twin Lakes vs WordPress
WordPress runs a huge share of the web, and in the right hands it can do anything. The honest problem for a small business is the hands.
When WordPress is the right call
If you have a developer you trust, a site with real complexity (memberships, a large content archive, custom integrations), or you simply want to own every line of it from day one, WordPress is a legitimate choice. It's portable: you can take a WordPress site anywhere.
When Twin Lakes is the right call
If you don't want to think about plugin updates, security patches, hosting plans and the quote for every change, we take all of that away for one monthly price. You still own your domain and content, and after 12 months you can take the code too.
What they charge
WordPress, priced as at 11 October 2026.
Two ways to run WordPress, priced differently. WordPress.com's own plans are in US dollars; self-hosted WordPress is the software (free) plus whatever you pay for hosting, a theme and the person who maintains it.
WordPress.com prices exclude tax and are charged in US dollars, so the Australian cost moves with the exchange rate. Hosting and build figures are typical ranges from Australian guides, not a quote.
- WordPress.com Personal: US$4 a month billed yearly (US$9 monthly). No plugins or selling.
- WordPress.com Premium: US$8 a month yearly (US$18 monthly). Payment buttons only.
- WordPress.com Business: US$25 a month yearly (US$40 monthly). Plugins allowed.
- WordPress.com Commerce: US$45 a month yearly (US$70 monthly). Full store.
- Self-hosted: Australian shared hosting A$3.50 to A$10 a month, managed or business-grade hosting A$15 to A$50 a month, a .com.au domain A$15 to A$25 a year.
- A build: freelancers A$1,000 to A$3,000, small studios A$2,500 to A$6,000, larger agencies A$8,000 and up. Maintenance plans A$50 to A$300 a month.
Sources: WordPress.com pricing, How much does a website cost in Australia, Grove Foundry (2026), Website hosting costs in Australia, Redback (2026). Twin Lakes is $79 a month including GST, checked the same day because we set it.
Side by side
What you get, and what it costs you over time.
Prices quoted are as published on 11 October 2026. They change, so check the other side's page before you decide.
| What | WordPress | Twin Lakes |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | A freelancer or agency to build it, then you or them to maintain it. | We do it, by hand, from what you tell us. |
| Upfront | Usually a build fee: Australian freelancers commonly quote A$1,000 to A$3,000 and small studios A$2,500 to A$6,000 for a small business site. | Nothing. Your first $79 is paid when you approve the draft. |
| Ongoing | WordPress.com hosted plans run US$4 to US$45 a month on yearly billing. Self-hosted, expect A$10 to A$50 a month for decent Australian hosting, A$15 to A$25 a year for a .com.au domain, and a maintenance plan of A$50 to A$300 a month or an hourly rate for changes. | $79 a month including GST. Domain, hosting, changes, bookings, forms, ordering and apps are all in it. |
| Time to a site | Weeks, typically. | A working draft in 24 hours. Live in days. |
| Changes | Simple text you can do yourself. Anything structural usually goes back to the developer. | Email them through. Done, usually the same day, no hourly rate. |
| Bookings, forms, ordering | Plugins exist for all of it, each with its own updates and often its own subscription. | Included. Bookings, quote forms, online ordering, a members' app if it genuinely helps. |
| Your domain | Yours, if you registered it. Check whose name it's in. | Registered in your name from day one. We pay the renewals while you're with us. |
| Hosting | Wherever you or your developer chose. Australian hosts exist; cheap plans are often overseas. | Australia. Fast for your customers, and their details stay in the country. |
| Leaving | Fully portable. A real strength. | Month to month. Your domain, content and data go with you. After 12 months, the code too. |
| Support | Your developer, if they're still around. Plugin and host support otherwise. | Nick, by email or phone. The person who built it. |
Switching
Moving from WordPress
We rebuild from your current site and your content, keep your domain, redirect the old addresses, and switch hosting across without downtime. If your WordPress site has something genuinely custom, we'll tell you whether it's worth keeping before you decide.
Straight answers
Isn't WordPress free?
The software is. The theme, the plugins, the hosting, the person who keeps it updated and the time you spend are not. Add them up over a year and compare.
My site keeps getting hacked or breaking after updates.
That's the maintenance cost of WordPress showing up as downtime. Ours doesn't have plugins to update or a login page to attack.
Can I keep my WordPress site and just get hosting from you?
No. We only host what we build, because that's how we keep the speed and security promises.
See your draft tomorrow.
A few details is all it takes. You'll hear back from hello@twinlakes.au within 24 hours with a link to your draft.
- Draft in 24 hours
- Nothing to pay until you say yes
- Cancel any time
Rather talk first? Book a 30-minute call