CMS vs Website Builder | TechRadar
Thinking about creating your website from scratch but don’t know which tools to use? Well, there are two main ways: an all-in-one content management system (CMS (Opens in a new tab)) or using a beginner-friendly website builder (Opens in a new tab).
Either way, you’ll find an excellent site building solution that makes this otherwise time-consuming and tedious task easier than ever. However, it should be noted that these tools typically require an entirely different technical how-to.
As a rule, more experienced users are more attractive to site developers because they use an intuitive, easy-to-use user interface (UI), drag-and-drop functionality, and many attractive ready-made templates.
On the other hand, tech-savvy users with coding skills aren’t intimidated by the complexity and overall capabilities of CMS because of the freedom and flexibility to design their site to their heart’s content.
So, on the surface, a CMS and a site builder differ in complexity, but it’s more than that.
To help you decide which is the right solution for you and your online project, let’s take a look at what these software are, what their main advantages and disadvantages are, and how they differ.
What is CMS?
A content management system (or CMS for short) is software that helps you create a fully functional site without having to write all the code from scratch – it can be a lifesaver if you don’t have any coding skills. As the name suggests, its main purpose is to manage the content in the database – create, delete, store, modify, publish and so on.
WordPress is currently the most popular CMS on the planet as it powers over 43% of all websites on the web. However, there are many more CMS on the market and some are better suited for specific sites (like e-commerce stores) than WordPress. (Opens in a new tab) – Like Prestashop (Opens in a new tab)Magento (Opens in a new tab)and BigCommerce (Opens in a new tab).
Some of the benefits of using a CMS include ease of use, easy site maintenance, cost effectiveness, extensible functionality (eg plugins) and community support.
However, there are some weaknesses. Namely the time-consuming aspect of maintenance, hidden costs and reliance on plugins, extensions and widgets. Also, while a CMS can give you full control over every element of your site, it puts a lot of responsibility on your shoulders – especially when it comes to security.
What is a website builder?
As the name suggests, a website builder is software (either a standalone program or a component of a platform) that allows you to put together a site. Plus, you can do it in no time.
Thanks to the many ready-made themes, templates and layouts, anyone can create an attractive site without any designer or developer skills – or hiring a designer or developer in our case.
As the most beginner-friendly site building tool out there, Site Builder gives you an easy-to-use editor that lets you customize elements on your site’s pages. For example, Wix (Opens in a new tab) It offers over 800 designer-made templates and they’re all customizable, meaning your site should stand out in the crowd – if you’ve had a stab at the editor, that is.
While Site Builder can be a great time saver, it comes with some strings attached. First of all, your site will never be yours, which makes transitioning to other platforms somewhat difficult. Also, because you don’t have full ownership of your site, if you forget to renew your subscription before it expires, you may lose your site and its content.
Additional costs and extras (such as marketing, SEO, etc.) (Opens in a new tab)or advanced analysis) you have to buy separately, the total cost can add up quickly.
What is the difference between a CMS and a website builder?
While usage varies from one solution to another, most site builders are created with beginners in mind, which is not the case with CMS. Also, a site builder works as an all-in-one platform that streamlines the site-creation process but also throws in other horrors.
For example, most professional site builders include web hosting services (such as Weebly). (Opens in a new tab)Squarespace (Opens in a new tab)and Shopify (Opens in a new tab)) While most CMS are self-hosted, this means you have to find hosting services elsewhere.
Also, standard CMS software is pretty bare-bones to begin with but can be customized with plugins, extensions, and modules. In contrast, with a site builder, you usually start with a lot of features, but they can’t be customized that way.
Additionally, tech-savvy users who know how to write custom code can enjoy the endless customization of a CMS, which is not possible with closed systems like site builders.
However, while site builders are strong in terms of regular customer support (like 24/7 live chat), you’ll have to settle for support from most CMS’ software’s dedicated community.
Last but not least, with a CMS you have full ownership of your content, which is not the case with site developers – sometimes you don’t even get a chance to use your own domain.
Similarities between CMS and website builder
CMS and site builders share a primary goal and that is to make it possible to create, manage and maintain a site without coding skills. In addition to being beginner-friendly, both solutions allow you to customize and stick to your site’s appearance.
Also, you get some search engine optimization (SEO) tools with the CMS and site builder. However, due to its high degree of customization, CMS is becoming stronger in this regard.
As for pricing, while both CMS and site builders can be free, pocket-friendly, and premium, the cost of using a site builder is more predictable than a CMS.
In terms of security, Site Builder is considered a more secure alternative to CMS due to its closed, proprietary nature. CMS software security, on the other hand, is left to you to handle – you’ll have to take care of all security updates, backups, and site optimization.
Which one is better?
There can never be a straight answer to a question like this, so we can’t give you one. Some users may feel right at home with a CMS, while others prefer the security, stability, and support they get with a site builder.
On the other hand, a CMS’ gives you more control over your site and its content, which is a priority for some users. So, it all depends on your specific needs and preferences.
For example, although a site developer is generally safe if you’re willing to invest your time, effort, and energy (and you can use all the right plugins), the security of a site created by a proprietary developer.
Also, while a running site builder provides you with some SEO tools, you can optimize your site’s performance if you combine your CMS with the right plugins. However, even if you’re using a free, open-source CMS (like WordPress), the best of the plugins don’t come free of charge.
So, even though a CMS site can be a cheap choice in the early stages, once you start piling on paid plugins, you can be protected by the total cost.
Should I use a CMS or a website builder?
If you have development and design skills (or at least the desire to learn) and want full control over the direction of your site – then CMS is the obvious choice for you.
However, if you are a total beginner and don’t have enough time to develop new skills – a site builder might be a better choice for you.
We should also note that once you’ve chosen one of these solutions, it’s best to stick with it, as it’s not very practical to switch between them once you’ve built your site.
A final thought
Now you should have a clearer idea of which of these site building solutions is the right choice for you.
Since most of these tools offer a free tier or free trial, it’s a smart strategy to try them out yourself before making a decision.
Also, once you’ve chosen a particular solution, take some time to do a background check on the company and try a few practical reviews. Only then can you be sure that you have made the right choice.
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