There are numerous things to think about when setting up a website. Which tool you want to use to develop your website is one of the most crucial decisions. You can create a website in a variety of ways. But these are the 2 popular website building platforms – WordPress or website builder.
What is a Website builder?
A platform known as a website builder offers a drag-and-drop user interface that enables people with little to no coding experience to create a website easily. These platforms typically have pre-built themes, hosting capabilities, and integrated photo and video storage. Additionally, third-party interfaces are frequently accessible, enabling you to include components like shopping carts and lead-gathering tools. Some top website building platforms, such as Wix and Squarespace.
Benefits of choosing a Website Builder
- The majority of website builders offer simple usage.
- They are easily reachable.
- They are inexpensive.
- Your website will appear professional.
Drawbacks of using a Website Builder
- There are limits to customization.
- You’re stuck with your decision.
- Your website can resemble others.
Who can use Website Builder?
A simpler way to design a website is with a website builder. Although it’s simple to set up and user-friendly for beginners, it has more restrictions than WordPress.
- Website builders are preferable for those without prior web development skills (No Coding Skills or Web Development Experience).
- Website builders are used as simple website building platforms, such as portfolios, online shops, and landing pages, that give visitors information and establish an online presence.
- When you have limited time for the website construction process, a drag-and-drop website builder is preferable to WordPress.
What is WordPress?
The most straightforward and well-liked option to start your website or blog is WordPress. WordPress is a free, open-source website-building platform. A WordPress website builder is a PHP-based MySQL database-based content management system (CMS).
Pros of WordPress
- WordPress is free to install and use.
- WordPress allows you to practically do anything you’d like with your website with the aid of plugins.
- Themes and plugins are plentiful.
- It’s simple to locate a ton of information on WordPress usage.
Cons of WordPress
- Updates can be overwhelming.
- WordPress is slightly more difficult. Your website’s goals will require more effort to implement the more complicated they are.
- WordPress makes it easy to build a website for no cost, but many users pay for a premium theme and several plugins to have their website perform the tasks they need.
Who is WordPress best for?
- Depending on the visitor’s location, time, user account, and input to the website, websites with dynamic interactive content may display many versions of the same content. This interaction necessitates the use of WordPress plugins or server-side scripting.
- WordPress is better for creating a sizable eCommerce website. As your business expands and the number of products available rises, you won’t need to worry because there is no product limit. Additionally, you will have more choices for a hosting provider that can handle the increasing traffic.
- The best way to create a website with distinctive functionality or appearance, such as a corporate website, is with WordPress. You can choose from the thousands of available plugins to allow advanced functions like website caching and live chat assistance.
- For Complete Ownership and Control of the Website.
What is the difference between Website builder vs. WordPress?
| Factors | Website Builder | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | The use of website builders is typically simpler. It is anticipated that users won’t have to modify the code. | WordPress tends to be confusing. The wording may seem technical to non-technical people. |
| Different Editors | You can usually drag and drop pieces about your website with website builders’ drag-and-drop interfaces. | A visual interface is absent from a CMS like WordPress. It has a different form editor called Gutenberg instead. |
| Hosting | Any website builder comes with hosting. | You can install WordPress on a web host that supports PHP and MySQL. To upload WordPress, you might even need to utilize an FTP client. |
| Themes and Customization | Customize the fonts, colours, and template options. | Hundreds of thousands of themes to choose from, or work with a developer to create a bespoke site. Numerous plugins add features and components to the site. |
| Plugins and Features | WordPress’s range of plugins is unmatched by website builders, yet every “plugin” in a website builder will function—no configuration is required. | Due to WordPress plugins, the platform is more adaptable than website builders. |
| Security | The service provider will handle the maintenance. They will immediately install any new updates or bug patches to your account; you don’t need to take any more action. | You must ensure that your WordPress website receives regular maintenance, which requires technical expertise. |
| SEO | Its SEO capabilities enable you to build a beautiful website for your company quickly, but they are primarily useful for new users. | Gives you effective Google Analytics integration, advanced functionality, and SEO plugin options, including Yoast SEO, to help your website rank higher and attract more visitors. |
| Customer Support | All contractors provide online materials. Some offer telephone assistance | Accessible resources online. A large developer community on internet discussion forums. |
| Value for Money | To get started, you must pay for a website builder package. The package comes with pre-made templates, a hosting provider, and a unique domain name for quick and simple website creation. | Self-hosted WordPress might be expensive to use when creating a website. Although a hosting service and domain name are required to start, the content management system is free. |
| Future Considerations | Some website builders, but not all, have export functionality. | It may be more difficult to transfer domain names acquired through Website Builder and vice versa. If you wish to switch hosting providers, themes, etc., you can import and export the content of your website. |
| Installation | Create an account without installing anything. | Manually carried out tasks can be time-consuming and demand technical expertise. Numerous hosting providers provide one-click installation. |
| Cost | Many website builders are excellent low-cost options right away. They might, however, impose bandwidth, support, and other restrictions on your website. | WordPress is free, and you can select the web server of your choice. Before choosing a web host package for your WordPress website with better price stability, you are free to consider your company’s needs. |
| eCommerce Functionality | The majority of website builders only include eCommerce functionalities in certain plans. | WordPress lacks integrated eCommerce capabilities. To start a store, you must install an eCommerce plugin like WooCommerce. |
Conclusion
The basic difference between website building platforms and WordPress is that the latter frequently has an intuitive interface but few customization choices. In contrast, WordPress requires some practice to become proficient but offers greater flexibility and scalability. So what would you choose WordPress or Website builder?