How do I know if my site is on Duda?

Ask your agency directly, or check your contract. Many agencies use Duda under their own brand, so it isn’t always obvious from the site.

No. Duda has good speed defaults and local SEO features. The concern is ownership, not search.

Is Custom website or Duda better for SEO?

Custom website gives you more SEO control. Custom website: Tags, URLs, redirects and schema are all under your control. Rankings still depend on content and links. Duda: Good controls, including schema for local businesses.

Do I own my website on Custom website or Duda?

Custom website (fully yours): Everything, provided your contract gives you the code. The way I work, it lives in a repository you own. Duda (platform-only): Account owners or staff can export a static copy (HTML, CSS and images); forms and other dynamic features stop working. Ask your agency what you’d get before you sign.

Custom website vs Duda

If you want to own your site outright and have it look like no one else’s, a custom website is the better choice. Duda is reasonable when you want an agency to handle everything and you’re comfortable that the site lives in their account. Read the exit terms either way.

Not sure which fits? Send me your site and I’ll give you my honest view.

Whether it’s Custom website, Duda or something else, I’ll give you a straight recommendation for your business. Free.

Side by side

Ratings are my own assessment for a typical small business, as of October 2026. Platforms change their features and plans often, so check the vendor’s current documentation before you decide.

Custom website vs Duda comparison
	Custom website	Duda
What it is	Designed from a blank page and hand-coded for one business.	A white-label builder agencies use to build and manage client sites.
Ownership and portability	Fully yoursIf the contract assigns it to you, the code, design and domain are yours. Any developer can pick it up.	Platform-onlyThe site usually lives in the agency’s account; its export is a static copy.
SEO control	ExtensiveTags, URLs, redirects and schema are all under your control. Rankings still depend on content and links.	StrongGood controls, including schema for local businesses.
AI-search readiness	StrongPrerendered HTML and structured data can be built in from day one. Citations still depend on content.	MixedDecent structure; content quality depends on the agency.
Performance	StrongCan ship only the code each page needs. Fast if built well, slow if not.	GoodA stated focus of the platform.
Design freedom	UnlimitedNo template ceiling. The brand and budget set the limits.	LimitedFlexible for a builder, still a builder.
E-commerce	GoodCustom storefronts are possible; often paired with Shopify for checkout.	BasicAvailable, not its strength.
Maintenance burden	MinimalA static site has no plugins or database to patch, though dependencies and the domain still need care.	MinimalThe agency handles it.
Learning curve	GentleYou don’t build it. Editing depends on whether a CMS is included.	GentleBuilt for professionals, not owners.
Pricing model	A project fee up front, then optional ongoing care. Static hosting itself tends to cost very little.	Agencies pay Duda; you usually pay the agency a monthly fee that includes the site.
Day-to-day editing	Text and images through a simple CMS if one is set up, otherwise a quick request to the developer.	Usually by the agency; clients may get a simplified editor.

Which one suits you

Choose Custom website if…

you want the code, design and domain in your own name
your brand needs a design that isn’t bounded by a builder
you want to switch developers without starting again

Choose Duda if…

you’re happy paying an agency monthly to handle the site entirely
a fast, competent local business site is enough
you don’t want to think about the website at all

The difference that matters most

Control is the difference that matters. A Duda site is usually built by an agency in the agency’s account, so your site exists as long as that relationship does. Change agencies and you often change websites.

A custom site sits in a repository you own. If an Edmonton accounting firm decides to move to a different developer, the new one picks up the same code. That’s code ownership in practice, and it’s easy to overlook until you need it.

Where each one leads

Counted from my ratings in the table above.

Custom website leads on ownership and portability, seo control, ai-search readiness, performance, design freedom and e-commerce.

Duda doesn’t clearly lead Custom website on any of the factors above.

Best fit for Custom website: established businesses whose website has to win work in a competitive market. Best fit for Duda: businesses whose agency manages the site end to end.

Switching between them

Moving off Duda starts with asking the agency what you can take. Duda can export a static copy, but forms and dynamic features stop working, so expect to rebuild from your text and images. Rebuild the pages, keep every URL you can, and redirect the rest. Make sure the domain is registered to you before the agency relationship ends.

FAQ