Here are the main similarities and differences between my preferred solution, Brilliant Directories (read full Brilliant Directories review here), and using Wordpress theme / plugin to build a directory website.
Cost Comparison
Figures below are approximate as at January 2025.
Brilliant Directories:
One-time purchase or subscription includes all features (£1,100 / lifetime | £110 month)
No additional plugin costs
Free hosting and SSL included
Built-in payment processing
WordPress Solution:
Directory Theme (£50-100)
Membership Plugin (£150/year)
Payment Gateway Plugin (£150/year)
Form Builder (£80/year)
SEO Plugin (£80/year)
Security Plugin (£80/year)
Hosting (£20-100/month)
SSL Certificate (£50/year)
Developer costs for integration
Feature Integration
Brilliant Directories:
All features work seamlessly together
Single dashboard controls everything
Unified updates and maintenance
Consistent user interface
No compatibility issues
Integrated support for all features
WordPress Solution:
Plugins may conflict with each other
Multiple dashboards to manage
Different update schedules
Inconsistent interfaces
Regular compatibility checking needed
Multiple support channels
Performance Impact
Brilliant Directories:
Optimised code base
Managed server resources
Built-in caching
Streamlined database queries
No plugin overhead
Consistent load times
WordPress Solution:
Each plugin adds code overhead
Multiple database queries
Separate caching solutions needed
Resource usage varies by plugin
Performance degrades with plugins
Regular optimisation required
Maintenance Requirements
Brilliant Directories:
Automatic platform updates
Single system to maintain
Integrated backup solution
Unified security measures
One support team
Consistent upgrade path
WordPress Solution:
Multiple plugin updates
Several systems to maintain
Multiple backup solutions
Different security measures
Various support teams
Complex upgrade process
