Do you want to create a magnificent website from scratch but don’t know which tool to use? The complexity of website building will depend on the platform you choose. For now, there are two paths: using a content management system or a website builder.
In both cases, you can create a highly functional and engaging website for your business. While the outcome is the same, the process isn’t. These two platforms depend on entirely different technical know-how.
If you ask me, a website builder is more beginner-friendly. You will get ready-made templates, drag-and-drop features, easy editing, etc. On the other hand, CMS software is suitable for tech-savvy users with coding knowledge.
That being said, you must know their differences. If you’re looking for website builder vs CMS, this article is perfect. I will discuss what they are and their core differences.
What is a website builder?
A website builder is software or tools that streamline website creation. Not only is it super beginner-friendly, but it also takes minimal effort to build a website. If you get the gist, you can build your website quickly.
Website builders usually feature hundreds of different templates, themes, and layouts. These are segregated as per the industry. Thus, you can always find the right one for your business. You also don’t need to hire a web designer.
Nowadays, most website builders create websites using AI. They come with a simple editor to customize your website effectively. For example, Wix has over 900 templates, helping your website stand out.
While a website builder may seem like the best option, there are some essential things to be aware of. For example, your website will never truly be yours. When you choose a website builder, you need to pay a certain amount of money every month. Otherwise, you will lose your site and its content.
Therefore, the ongoing costs may not be particularly beneficial. Yes, I admit that the initial cost will be much less, but the ongoing cost and maintenance may put a toll on your pocket.
What is a content management system?
A content management system can help you create a site without coding knowledge. Although you can include custom CSS and HTML modes, it’s not mandatory. The primary purpose of a CMS is to manage database content. It can also delete, modify, create, and publish the content.
The best example of a CMS is WordPress, which powers more than 44% of websites worldwide. However, WordPress isn’t the only option. Some popular CMS software like WordPress is Hubspot, BigCommerce, Prestashop, Magento, etc.
Just like a website builder, CMS is also user-friendly. The cost-effectiveness and simplified maintenance will capture your attention. However, CMS isn’t free from flaws.
For starters, website maintenance from CMS is undoubtedly time-consuming. Hidden costs and reliance on extensions, plugins, and widgets make the experience more difficult. Also, using a CMS means taking extreme security precautions to protect your website.
Website Builder vs CMS: A quick comparison
The best users for a website builder are those who wish to establish a website quickly and effortlessly. For those seeking an all-in-one solution for their website development, these platforms are a fantastic choice.
The platform’s provider offers free web hosting and manages updates to guarantee the best possible security and speed. Select a builder with migration capabilities if you intend to scale your website.
| Website Builder | Website builder | CMS |
| User-friendliness | Website builders are designed while keeping user-friendliness in mind. | CMSs are also user-friendly but geared more towards professionals. |
| Cost-effectiveness | Website builders are relatively cheaper, but you have to bear recurring costs. | A CMS itself won’t break the bank, and you don’t need to pay recurring fees except for domains. |
| Features | Website builder comes with additional features like marketing, SEO, etc. | A CMS usually doesn’t come with extra features. If you add anything extra, you need to download plugins. |
| Design and customization | Designing and customizing websites with a builder is super fast and easy. | Using a CMS to customize a website takes time and professional expertise |
| Scalability | Cannot scale as your business and inventory grows. | Highly scalable due to extensive advanced features. |
A CMS is a great tool for creating a complicated website with plenty of features because of its versatility. Long-term online projects and users with substantial budgets can also benefit from it. On the other hand, novices may find the comprehensive customization possibilities overwhelming.
In contrast to website builders, the platform’s full potential might require coding knowledge. Other technical skills are also needed for CMSs as you must take care of potential faults and maintain and secure your website. Although hiring a web developer to complete the work is an option, it comes at extra expense.
Website Builder vs CMS: Key differences
Now, coming to the main part. Knowing the differences between website builder vs CMS will help you choose the right one. You can make more informed decisions based on your needs.
After all, the website is your business’s storefront. So, you must choose one that will help you with top-notch services. That being said, let’s look at the primary differences between these two platforms.
1. User-friendliness
The first point I’m about to discuss is user-friendliness. Remember that the whole point of comparing these two platforms is to know which one is more user-friendly. After all, you don’t need something with an extremely steep learning curve.
However, the user-friendliness aspect doesn’t always cover ease of use. It also impacts setup process, installation, and overall learning curve.
Website builder: More user-friendly
Website builders usually feature a drag-and-drop site editor. These types of editors are super beginner-friendly and easy to use. Even if you haven’t used any editor before, you can still learn the basics within minutes.
Moreover, you also don’t need to have any coding knowledge. And, this is applicable to all the website builders. Trust me I’ve used lots of them so speaking from experience.
Also, website creation is super smooth. Just choose a relevant template and then customize its appearance. The template will instantly generate the basic layout, allowing you some inspiration. This will help you finalize the web design pretty easily.
Then, you can preview your website from the same section. If everything’s to your liking, you can take it live. If you do need to change anything later, just come back to the dashboard and make changes.
Additionally, most website builders provide a free hosting plan, essential search engine optimization tools, and a custom domain. These will make your website more professional and ready to use.
CMS: Suitable for professionals
A CMS platform also provides a visual user interface. However, the learning curve will be quite steeper due to its extensive features. Moreover, unlike a website builder, taking your website live is more time-consuming.
But don’t get me wrong. It’s not because of the lengthy editing process but because of domain and hosting plans. You need to purchase them separately, which causes more hassle.
The default features of a CMS don’t differ too much from a website builder. The only exception is blogging. You just need to install and configure plugins manually to add more features to your website.
For example, many website builders have a default payment acceptance feature. But the same isn’t available on CMS. You must install Stripe WooCommerce to accept online payments. This is a must-know information for online store owners.
You can create a website using CMS without coding knowledge. But what’s the point of that? Coding is a must if you want more customized themes or advanced features. Having some technical knowledge to handle website security and hosting is also helpful.
2. Cost-effectiveness
Building a website requires a significant amount of investment. Sometimes one-time, sometimes incurring. That’s why you must never overlook the importance of considering how much you will invest.
From building a website to purchasing hosting to domains, SSL certificates, etc., the cost is never low. Moreover, you also need to consider hiring a website designer.
Website builder: Pocket-friendly
Certain website builders offer free plans, but these come with restricted functionality and a non-customizable domain bearing the provider’s name, like yoursite.websitebuilder.com.
Non-custom domains are better suited for personal usage because they lack professionalism. Also, these domain names won’t cost a penny.
But it isn’t the same when you’re building a business website. See, your website will impress your customers and showcase your brand. They will immediately question site authenticity if they find such a demo domain name.
When you purchase a premium plan, you will get a domain for free. And the premium plans won’t break the bank. Yes, the amount will vary from one website builder to another, but it ain’t going to affect your cash flow.
And, the premium price you pay isn’t for the website builder or domain. You will also get a domain-based email, eCommerce features, cloud storage, unlimited SSL certificates, SEO tools, and many more.
CMS: Can prove expensive
Here comes a big difference between website builder vs CMS. In contrast to site builders, a CMS won’t come with a free domain, hosting, or SSL certificate. In fact, you won’t get any additional features.
While the software will be free, the total cost will undoubtedly blow your mind. It will depend on the site’s functionality and size. The bigger the site, the more expensive it will be.
For example, you don’t need to buy premium themes or plugins to create a basic website. But for an eCommerce store, add-ons, marketing, and SEO is neccessary.
But the biggest expense is hiring a web developer or designer. If you lack the technical knowledge, hiring them is a must, as they will manage your site.
3. Features
I admit both website builders and CMS platforms come with unique features. But sometimes, not all features will cater to your needs. Thus, you need to be mindful about what you want.
Website builder: Excellent features
The features of a website builder are never constant. It will heavily depend on the service provider you choose. Some providers specialize in providing features for basic website creation. On the other hand, some specifically provide eCommerce features.
Some website builders, like Wix, have a dedicated app or plugin store. You can download various third-party apps directly from these stores. However, the library isn’t extensive and has many unreliable apps.
But there’s one interesting thing you must know. Most website builders will provide you with eCommerce features for free. This includes payment processing, inventory management, order tracking, etc.
Additionally, some website builders also have code editor features. It will help you make more detailed changes to your website thanks to custom code implementation.
Website builder: Limited yet beneficial features
When you use a content management system, there is no need to worry about plugins. There are many free and paid plugins available to boost your site functionality. Besides the official ones, some CMSs also support third-party plugins.
Now, if you have some programming knowledge, you can also create customized plugins. The vast pre-made plugin templates and the capability of creating a customized one make CMS an excellent choice.
However, there’s one important thing you must know. Installing too many plugins will affect your site’s security. Also, you will notice frequent lags when the number of plugins is too high.
4. Design and customization
Now, I will talk about the design and customization in this section. Remember that these aspects will heavily influence what platform you choose. Let’s take a look.
Website builder: Top-notch customization
Although many templates are available with website builders, customers may only select ones from the official library. For instance, more than 150 free search engine-optimized layouts are available on Squarespace website builder.
Without any prior coding or design knowledge, anyone may easily construct a professional-looking website by modifying the font and color schemes included in the templates.
CMS: Customization is slightly tech-savvy
A broader range of themes from official and third-party libraries are available through CMSs. For example, ThemeForest, a well-known third-party CMS website theme library, has over 50.000 themes.
Content management systems offer greater customization options than website builders. Users can add CSS code or design a new theme to alter the files on an existing website. But to handle it, you might have to pay a web designer.
5. Scalability
Scaling a website is modifying its resources to support increased traffic and maintain its functionality and content. Installing optimization tools and moving to a different hosting company are two strategies.
Website builder: Not super scalable
Typically, websites built using builder platforms are restricted to the hosting service offered by the provider. Users might have to start their websites over from scratch when moving hosts or platforms.
Select a builder that offers high-performance hosting and a simple migration process to handle the expansion of your website. Users can move their websites to a well-known CMS in four easy steps using Hostinger Website Builder.
While most website builders don’t enable third-party plugins, many have built-in optimization capabilities. For instance, Hostinger Website Builder automatically adjusts image location and size to speed up page loading.
CMS: Can scale accordingly
CMSs are typically more scalable than website builders because of their versatility. You can increase performance by making back-end tweaks to your website, such as minifying your code or deleting database files.
You can install plugins, like a cache plugin, through a content management system (CMS) to enhance your website’s functionality. Furthermore, switching providers or upgrading to higher-performance hosting plans is simple.
Ready to use the right platform?
Both site builders and content management systems are important for website building. These options will prove highly beneficial whether you want an eCommerce store or a personal website.
However, they cater to different technical knowledge and use cases. While a website builder is more beginner-friendly, a CMS is geared towards more professionals.
I hope you found this website builder vs CMS blog informative. Do you have any other questions? Make sure you let me know in the comments below.
