Website Builder vs WordPress hosting: Which is best for me?

Establishing an online presence through a website is imperative for the prosperity of any business. A well-designed website not only draws in potential customers but also plays a pivotal role in driving sales. To streamline the website creation process without delving into intricate coding tasks, there exist a plethora of tools at your disposal.

Two prominent options when it comes to website development are online Website Builders and WordPress. These solutions offer user-friendly interfaces that empower individuals to embark on their online journey without a prerequisite for coding expertise. However, despite their shared goal of simplifying website creation, they differ significantly in various aspects.

This article aims to delve into the differences between a Web Builder and WordPress, elucidating the unique features and benefits of each. By understanding these distinctions, you can make an informed decision on which platform aligns best with your needs, preferences, and the objectives of your online presence. Whether you opt for the simplicity of a website builder or the versatility of WordPress, this exploration will guide you towards the platform that suits you most effectively.

Navigating the world of website creation can be a daunting task, especially when weighing the pros and cons of various platforms. The most prevalent options available today are WordPress and online web builders. While both are user-friendly and don’t require extensive coding knowledge, they differ significantly in numerous aspects. This guide aims to dissect these differences and help you choose the platform that suits your needs best.

The Differences Between WordPress and Website Builders on the Surface

WordPress and web builders are distinct in their operation and offerings. While web builders serve as all-inclusive solutions, WordPress operates as a content management system (CMS) necessitating separate hosting, installation, and customization.

Web builders are excellent for novices who seek a quick and straightforward means to create a simple website. In contrast, WordPress provides more flexibility, scalability, and control for advanced users wanting to construct intricate websites with custom features and plugins.

WordPress vs. Website Builders: An In-depth Analysis

This analysis will focus on self-hosted WordPress.org, not WordPress.com. The CMS version of WordPress requires users to select a hosting solution and install WordPress software on their hosting account.

We will not compare WordPress with a specific web builder since many options are available, which vary in pricing, templates, and features. However, they generally offer similar user experiences. Therefore, we will compare WordPress and the best web builders based on customization, security, value for money, and more. Furthermore, at the end we will take a quick look at the best website builders for your website.

Themes and Customization

Website Builders

Web builders simplify the website-building process using customizable templates. These pre-made website designs include layouts with space for your text and images. While each website builder offers different template options, they usually cover many website types, such as online portfolios, eCommerce shops, and blogs. Be prepared to pay extra if you want to sell products, or include a booking system, or any other advanced functionality though.

The drawback of using a web builder is that you’re limited to the available templates. The selection of WordPress themes significantly outweighs that of any web builder.

WordPress

WordPress, on the other hand, employs themes to change the web appearance. A WordPress theme is a package of pre-made templates, website elements, and customization tools. With 8,000+ free themes available in the WordPress theme directory and thousands of premium themes on marketplaces like ThemeForest, you get a surplus of website theme options.

Plugins and Features

Website Builders

Web builders offer several plans with different feature packs. Some site builders like Wix offer paid add-ons created in-house or by third-party developers so you can get additional advanced features as needed. Other web builders will offer DIY website builder tools that enable you to create an interesting and unique website. Be cautious of this as a lot of web builders appear to be affordable and a good investment, but will then hit you with many paywalls for premium content and features.

WordPress

In contrast, WordPress has thousands of free and paid plugins available to expand your website’s features. This means that you can easily implement the features or functionalities that match your needs. However, it will take more time to browse, select, and install the plugins on your WordPress site.

You can view the full WordPress plugin library here.

Learning Curve

Website Builders

Web builders are ideal for users with little or no coding knowledge. The drag-and-drop editor lets users customize their website intuitively. This allows you to have a functional and visually appealing up and running within a day.

WordPress

WordPress has a steeper learning curve. Getting started with the self-hosted WordPress requires setting up a hosting service and installing WordPress. If you know what you’re doing or willing to learn, WordPress can be a great ally. However, if not, WordPress can be incredibly overwhelming and confusing – and could end up doing more harm than good.

eCommerce Functionality

Website Builders

Web builders usually offer eCommerce features in specific plans only. Once again, your online store can be benefited from DIY web builder tools for products. While it’s easy to make an online store that sells with a web builder, we recommend this option only when starting a smaller business with fewer items to sell. This is because large websites with bigger and perhaps more complicated products may not be appropriate for a more simple storefront.

WordPress

WordPress doesn’t come with built-in eCommerce functionality. You need to install an eCommerce plugin such as WooCommerce to launch a store. Platforms such as WooCommerce are completely free, but come with premium versions that have a price tag attached.

Security

Website Builders

Your site will be hosted by the web builder, which will take care of most security aspects. This is a great way to ensure your website is safe without needing to splash out on extras that’ll add up to your websites costs. A good web builder package will include SSL for your website, and some basic website security features.

WordPress

WordPress security mainly relies on how the website owner maintains the site. Multiple aspects play a role in security, such as outdated WordPress software, themes, and plugins. Make sure the hosting you purchase either comes with security features and protection, or that you acquire them separately.

Maintenance and Development

Website Builders

One of the advantages of using web builders is that the provider will do the maintenance for you. This means there are minimal updates to make and a lot less troubleshooting and bugs to deal with.

WordPress

You need to ensure your WordPress site receives ongoing maintenance, a process that requires some technical knowledge.

SEO

Website Builders

Most web builders have SEO tools built into their platforms and built into the DIY web builder tools. This is great for helping people organically find your website on search engines like Google.

WordPress

WordPress lets you have custom URLs for web pages and change your images’ alt texts. However, you’ll need an SEO plugin to enable more on-page SEO features. We recommend using Yoast SEO, it’s the highest-ranking plugin which is ideal for simplifying the SEO process and helping your website’s pages to rank fast.

Customer Support

Website Builders

Most web builders provide various channels for customer support, such as email, live chat, and phone.

WordPress

WordPress doesn’t have a dedicated support team. Instead, it provides documentation to teach users how to use the platform or fix issues. There are also a multitude of online communities, YouTube videos, and more to help with bug fixing, and general WordPress experience.

Value for Money

Website Builders

You only have to pay for a web builder plan to get started. The plan already includes a hosting service, a custom domain name, and pre-made templates so that you can start creating a website quickly and easily.

WordPress

The cost of building a website using self-hosted WordPress varies. The content management system itself is free, but you need to get a hosting service and a domain name to get started, which increases the overall WordPress pricing.

When to Use WordPress or a Website Builder

WordPress provides more possibilities for website customization, making it a good choice for dynamic or membership websites, large-scale eCommerce websites, custom websites, and for full control and ownership of the website.

On the other hand, a website builder is a good option for those without coding skills or web development experience, for creating brochure or one-page websites, and for those who prioritize practicality over customizability.

What Website Builder should I use for my business?

So, you’ve decided that you want a web builder for your website. The next challenge is deciding which one to go for. With an ever-expanding number of web builders on the market, it can be hard to work out which one is best for you. That’s why we’ve done the research for you and found the best web builder around – The Elite Web Co., Website Builder.

Elite’s website builder is completely user friendly; so it’s not something to be afraid of if you feel that you don’t have the greatest awareness of technology. It has premade sections of content (varying from post blocks to home banners) so all you have to do is drag and drop them in. This helps to make the website builder vastly customisable, giving you the tools you need to build the website of your dreams.

For our full comparison of website builders, check out this article.

Conclusion

Website builders and WordPress cater to different user categories. Website builders are best suited for beginners without coding knowledge or web development skills, providing a simplified solution for quick website construction. However, WordPress is also suitable for beginners willing to invest time in learning the platform. It also caters to experienced developers wanting more control over their websites.

Above all, the choice between WordPress and a website builder depends on your specific needs, budget, and technical proficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Professional Web Developers Use WordPress?

Yes, professional web developers use WordPress for building websites. WordPress is a popular content management system that allows for easy customization and management of websites.

Is Using a Website Builder Worth It?

Using a website builder can be worth it for those with limited technical skills or time. However, for more complex or custom websites, hiring a professional web developer may be a better option.