Custom plugin or off-the-shelf: how to decide

There are over fifty thousand plugins in the WordPress directory. Most needs are covered by one of them. So when does it make sense to build your own?

Choose an existing plugin when

• the feature is common (forms, SEO, caching, backups)
• the plugin is actively maintained, with recent updates and good reviews
• you are happy to work the way the plugin works

Choose a custom plugin when

• your process is specific and no plugin fits without awkward workarounds
• you are combining three or four plugins to do one job, and they conflict
• you need to integrate with an internal system or unusual API
• a plugin loads far more code than your feature requires
• you want to own the logic instead of depending on a vendor

Questions to ask first

1. How much does the workaround cost each month in time or lost sales?
2. Who will maintain the plugin after launch?
3. What happens on the next major WordPress update?

What good custom work looks like

It follows WordPress coding standards, keeps settings in the admin, escapes and validates all data, ships with readable code and documentation, and can be handed to another developer.