A more affordable custom website without WordPress

You need to introduce your company, show your work and generate inquiries. You want your own look and room for more features.

At MixedApps, we have been building mobile apps for years. We now build custom websites and web apps with Next.js. We started with our own website: we replaced the original WordPress site with a Next.js solution that we run on our own virtual server. We will use it to show how this approach works and who it may suit.

What a more affordable custom website means

A custom website does not always mean building everything from scratch. We build recurring elements, such as navigation, case study listings and contact forms, from proven components. That lets us focus our time on what matters to your company: content, design and features.

Artificial intelligence also speeds up our development. AI tools help us with routine code, changes and reviews, so we can deliver a website sooner. We make the design decisions ourselves, though, and always review and test the resulting code. A smaller company that previously found custom development too expensive can now afford its own specialized, fast website.

You pay only for what you actually need. A company website does not need its own admin interface or database from the start. You can begin with services, case studies and contact information, then add other sections over time.

The budget mainly depends on the number of page types, how ready the copy and visuals are, content management requirements and integration with other systems. We can help with the copy: we use AI to prepare the website's core copy and translations into other languages, leaving you to review and refine them.

How Next.js, Node.js and a VPS fit together

Each of these names refers to a different part of the solution:

• Next.js is a framework built on React that we use to create the website's pages and features. Our site's pages are generated in advance when a new version is built. Visitors receive a finished page that the server does not need to assemble again for every request.
• Node.js is the environment that runs the server side of the website. On our site, for example, it handles the contact form. Depending on the project, we can add sign-in, database operations or integrations with other services. What Node.js is.
• A VPS is a virtual private server where we host the website. Next.js can run on your own server, so we are not tied to a single hosting provider. Next.js self-hosting documentation.

What matters most to you, though, is the result: a website suited to your needs and a clear agreement on how it will develop and who will keep it running.

Our own MixedApps website as an example

Our new website brings together the studio's profile, services, portfolio and blog. We store the copy, articles and case studies in files alongside the source code, so the content does not need a database or the WordPress admin interface.

The solution includes:

• separate pages for services and individual case studies,
• project filtering by platform, industry and technology,
• a blog with previews of draft articles before publication,
• a contact form with validation and spam protection,
• redirects from the original URLs after moving away from WordPress.

A change in technology must not break what already works. During the migration, we therefore carried over the content and redirected the old URLs to the new pages. Visitors arriving through an older link or a search engine do not end up on an error page.

You can find the details in the MixedApps website case study.

Who will edit copy and add articles?

This is worth considering when defining the project. Our website has no visual editor. We store copy, new articles and case studies in files and publish them with a new version of the website. This suits us as developers: every change has a history, and we can review it before release.

If you will be editing content frequently yourself, it makes sense to add a content management system (CMS). Next.js can connect to one, allowing you to edit copy and articles without touching the code. We can readily set up a CMS like this.

What running your own VPS involves

Your own server gives you more control over the environment and deployment. It also brings work: system and dependency updates, backups, uptime monitoring and handling outages. Even a website without WordPress needs maintenance.

Our website runs in Docker, and we deploy new versions through Coolify. We can set up your server and deploy your website in the same way. We connect the domain and configure HTTPS, automatic deployment of new versions and uptime monitoring. After launch, we can also handle ongoing server administration or hand it over to your administrator.

A simple company website may also work well on other hosting; your own VPS is not a requirement for a Next.js website. We therefore agree on the hosting approach along with the development price.

From a company website to a web app

A website can also serve as a work tool. The same technology can support a client portal, internal dashboard or booking system, for example. These features need their own design, data handling and thorough testing.

We are currently building a booking system. Once we have a concrete result to show, we will add it to our case studies and describe its features and our development experience. More websites and web apps will follow over time.

Planning a new website?

Tell us what your website or web app needs to do. We will propose the scope of the first version, suitable technologies and a hosting approach.

Let's discuss your website or web app.