If you’re building a website for your business or organization, one of the first technical decisions you’ll face is whether to go static or dynamic. The answer isn’t always obvious, but getting it right can save you thousands of dollars and countless headaches down the road.
What’s the Difference?
Dynamic sites generate pages on-the-fly. Every time someone visits your site, a server runs code, queries a database, and assembles the HTML. WordPress, most e-commerce platforms, and custom web applications work this way.
Static sites are pre-built. All the HTML pages are generated ahead of time and served directly to visitors. There’s no database to query, no server-side code to run. The pages are just files sitting on a server (or CDN), ready to be delivered instantly.
When Static Makes Sense
A static-first approach is often the right choice when:
Your content doesn’t change constantly
If you’re updating your site weekly or monthly rather than hourly, static is a strong candidate. Blog posts, service pages, team bios, case studies—these don’t need to be generated fresh for every visitor.
You want reliability without the maintenance burden
Static sites have almost nothing that can break. No database to crash, no PHP or Node.js runtime to update, no plugins to patch. If your hosting provider is up, your site is up.
Performance matters (and it always does)
Static pages load faster. Period. There’s no waiting for database queries or server-side rendering. For a small business, faster load times mean lower bounce rates and better conversion.
Budget is a concern
Static hosting is often free or nearly free. Platforms like Netlify, Vercel, and Cloudflare Pages offer generous free tiers. Compare that to the $20-100/month you might spend on managed WordPress hosting, plus the cost of security plugins and ongoing maintenance.
When Dynamic Is Necessary
Static isn’t always the answer. You’ll likely need a dynamic approach when:
- User accounts and personalization: If visitors log in and see personalized content, you need server-side logic.
- Real-time data: Stock levels, live pricing, booking availability—anything that changes minute-to-minute.
- Complex e-commerce: While simple stores can work with static + third-party services, complex catalogs with dynamic pricing often need traditional e-commerce platforms.
- User-generated content: Comments, reviews, forums—anything where visitors are creating content in real-time.
The Hybrid Approach
Here’s what many don’t realize: you don’t have to choose one or the other entirely.
Modern static site generators can pull in dynamic content at build time, and you can add dynamic functionality through APIs and serverless functions where needed. Your marketing pages can be static (fast, reliable, cheap to host) while your app or customer portal runs on a dynamic backend.
This is often the sweet spot for small businesses: a static marketing site with a few dynamic touches where they actually add value.
Making the Decision
Ask yourself:
- How often does your content change?
- Do visitors need to log in or see personalized content?
- What’s your budget for hosting and ongoing maintenance?
- How critical is uptime for your business?
If your content is relatively stable, you don’t need user accounts, and reliability matters—static is probably your answer. You’ll spend less, worry less, and your visitors will have a faster experience.
Not sure which approach is right for your project? Book a free consultation and we can talk through your specific needs.