When you’re launching a new website, choosing a CMS is often the first hurdle.
CMS vs. website builders: what actually matters for long-term growth?
The first step to choosing a website platform is to understand the difference between a CMS and a website builder.
A CMS, or content management system, is an open-source platform that allows you to customize your website and add custom coding. You can use a CMS to create any type of website, from a blog to an e-commerce store.
A website builder, on the other hand, is a software tool that allows you to create a website without writing code. Website builders are often easier to use than a CMS, but they are also less flexible.
In this post, we’ll compare the two types of website platforms in more detail.
What is a CMS?
A CMS is a software that manages all the content on your website. It helps you with the creation, editing, organization, and publishing of content.
Most CMS software includes web-based publishing, format management, revision control, and indexing, search, and retrieval features.
In addition to those features, a CMS allows you to collect, manage, and display content in various formats on your website. For example, you can create a blog, news feed, press release, and media gallery.
CMS software can also help you manage other parts of your website beyond just content. It can help you manage layout and design, code, and even the user experience.
The most important thing to understand about CMS is that it allows you to manage your website without needing to know how to code.
You can publish new pages or blog posts, change the layout of your site, add custom features, and so on.
The CMS gives you the flexibility to do all of this without having to worry about learning how to code.
What is a website builder?
Website builders are a type of software that allow businesses to build a website from scratch using a drag-and-drop tool. Website builders are designed to be easy to use, so they’re a great option for businesses that are new to the digital space.
With website builders, you don’t need to know how to code or have any technical skills. You can simply choose a template, customize it, and then add your own content. Website builders are a great option for businesses that are looking for a simple, affordable solution to get their website up and running quickly.
1. Content ownership
Website builders are a great option for businesses that need a website up and running quickly. However, most website builders don’t give you the option to export your website code, which means you don’t own your website.
That’s a big problem if you ever decide to switch to a different website builder or CMS. You’ll have to start from scratch because you can’t take your website with you.
With a CMS like WordPress, you own your website and all of the content on it. You can export your website code and move it to a different hosting provider, or you can simply export your content and import it into a new website.
2. Customization and flexibility
When you’re building a website, you want to make sure it can look and function exactly how you need it to. This is where the customization and flexibility of your website platform come into play.
Customization features in website design
A website builder like Wix can be a great option if you’re looking to get a simple website up and running quickly. They offer a lot of customization features like templates, design tools, and widgets so you can make a website that looks exactly how you want.
But, like we mentioned earlier, website builders can be limiting when it comes to long-term growth. If you’re building a website for a small business, for example, you might need to add an online store, a blog, or a customer portal down the line.
If you’re using a website builder, you might not be able to do this without completely rebuilding your website. That’s why many businesses and web designers prefer a CMS like WordPress. With WordPress, you can use a website builder like Elementor to get your website up and running quickly, but you can also add custom code, plugins, and more to make sure it can grow with your business.
This balance between speed and flexibility is exactly what modern ecommerce brands are now demanding for mobile too. Platforms like Apptile follow the same principle: they give brands drag-and-drop option without sacrificing the ability to scale into fully personalized app experiences later.
Customization features in website content
When it comes to your website’s content, you want to make sure you can customize it to reach your audience effectively. This is where a CMS really shines.
With a CMS like WordPress, you have the flexibility to use custom fields, tags, and categories to organize your content. This makes it easy for your audience to find what they’re looking for and helps with SEO.
In the image below, you can see how we use custom fields and categories to organize our content in the HubSpot CMS. This makes it easy for our audience to find what they’re looking for.
With a website builder, you might not have as much flexibility when it comes to organizing your content. This can make it hard for your audience to find what they’re looking for and can hurt your SEO.
So, if customization and flexibility are important to you, you might want to consider using a CMS for your website.
3. Scalability
Scalability is a measure of how well a website can grow with your business. A website that’s built to scale will be able to handle more traffic, content and functionality as your business grows.
Website builders are often limited in terms of scalability. While they may be able to handle a lot of traffic, they can be limited in terms of the number of pages and amount of content they can support.
CMS platforms, on the other hand, are built to scale. They can handle as many pages and as much content as your business needs. This makes them a great choice for businesses that are looking to grow quickly.
4. Search engine optimization (SEO)
SEO is how you make sure your website shows up on Google when someone searches for your products or services. It’s how you get organic traffic to your website.
SEO is important for any business, but it’s especially important for new businesses and startups. When you’re just starting out, you need to get your brand in front of as many people as possible. SEO is a free way to do that.
So, how do you know which platform is best for SEO?
Well, it depends on how much control you want.
If you want to be able to customize your website’s metadata, create a custom URL structure, and have complete control over your website’s code, then a CMS like WordPress or Craft is the way to go.
If you don’t want to worry about any of that and just want to be able to easily add keywords and meta descriptions to your website, then a website builder is the best choice.
5. Security
Website security is a big deal. A hacked website can lead to loss of data, loss of customer trust, and a drop in search engine rankings. It can also be a nightmare to fix.
In general, website builders handle security for you. That’s one of the benefits of having everything in one place. However, if you’re using a CMS, you’re responsible for your own security. That means you’ll need to:
• Install security updates
• Use a secure hosting provider
• Use an SSL certificate
• Install a security plugin (if you’re using WordPress)
And more. If you’re not comfortable managing the security of your website, a website builder may be the better option for you.
6. Cost
This is a big one. The cost of a website can vary greatly depending on the platform you choose, your business’s needs, and the agency you work with.
That said, website builders are going to be cheaper than most CMS options. If you’re just starting out and need a simple website, a website builder like Wix or Squarespace might be the best choice for you.
On the other hand, if you’re a more established business or have a larger budget, a CMS might be a better choice. While they can be more expensive upfront, they’re often more cost-effective in the long run. With a CMS, you own your website and can make changes without having to pay a developer. With a website builder, you’ll have to continue to pay a monthly fee.
7. Support
Finally, what kind of support can you expect from your website platform? The answer to this question can make or break your experience as a website owner.
For the most part, you can expect to have access to customer support with any website platform you choose. However, the quality of that support can vary. For example, some platforms offer 24/7 support, while others only offer support during regular business hours.
In addition to the availability of support, you should also consider the different ways you can get help with your website. Some platforms offer phone support, live chat, email support, and more. Think about which of these options is most important to you, and look for a platform that offers that kind of support.
Conclusion
The biggest difference between a CMS and a website builder is that a CMS is a blank slate for you to build whatever you want, while website builders are a collection of templates with some customization options.
For some, a website builder is the best choice. They’re easy and affordable, and they’re a great way to get a professional-looking website up and running quickly. However, they’re not the best choice for long-term growth.
If you’re building a website that you want to be the foundation of your marketing strategy (e.g., running AI cold outreach campaigns), then a CMS is the best choice. It will take more time and effort to set up, but it will be more flexible and scalable in the long run.