When it comes to getting a website for your small business or startup, you have two main options: use an online website builder platform, or hire a professional web developer. Both paths will get you a functioning website at the end, but they differ significantly in terms of cost, ease of use, flexibility, ownership, and long-term scalability. In this article we shall discuss which is right for your business Website Builder vs Web Developer
Website Builders: The Easy, Budget-Friendly DIY Option
Website builders like Wix, Squarespace, Weebly and others have exploded in popularity by allowing anyone to build a professional-looking website themselves through a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. No coding skills is needed to learn.
The main appeal of website builders is convenience and ease of use. You simply choose from hundreds of pre-built website templates, then customize the layout, pages, text, images and other elements using the visual editor. Most builders also include e-commerce functionality to set up an online store and accept payments.
From a cost perspective, website builders are extremely affordable. Many offer free plans to get started, with upgraded plans that remove third-party ads and unlock more features typically costing between $10-$30 per month. This low-cost model makes website builders very accessible for cash-strapped small businesses and solopreneurs. However, this convenience and affordability comes with some significant trade-offs in terms of flexibility, customization, and control:
Limited Design Flexibility
While modern website builders allow you to tweak colors, fonts, layouts and more, you are still largely confined to the look-and-feel and core structure defined by that specific theme or template. There are only so many customizations you can make before hitting a ceiling.
Restrictive Functionality
Most website builders offer integration with common third-party services like Google Analytics, live chat, email marketing tools and more. But overall, you are limited to just the apps, plugins, and features supported by that specific builder platform.
Lack of Ownership
When you build on a website builder, you don’t actually own the source code for that website. The code belongs to the builder company, which means if they went out of business or made major pricing changes, you could be stuck with limited options to take your site elsewhere.
Website Developers: Ultimate Flexibility and Control (At a Cost)
On the other end of the spectrum, hiring an experienced web developer or agency gives you a fully customized website tailored precisely to your unique needs and specifications, with no constraints or limitations. Rather than working off templates, the developer will code your entire website completely from scratch.With a custom website, you have unlimited flexibility in terms of:
Design
The look, layout, and visuals can be designed and built to your exact requirements, not dictated by pre-built templates.
Functionality
Any specific features, tools, e-commerce integration needs can be developed and coded into your website as required.
Optimization
From page load speed to SEO best practices, a developer can optimize every aspect of your custom website.
Scalability
As your business grows, a custom coded website can much more easily evolve and scale via new functionality, add-ons, and upgrades. Of course, this incredible flexibility comes at a cost – generally anywhere from a few thousand dollars for a basic coded site, up to $10,000, $30,000 or more for a highly customized, complex website developed by an agency. But for many established businesses willing to make the investment, a custom coded site is worth the premium price for the unlimited potential.
Other Factors When Choosing Builders vs Developers
Cost and flexibility are the biggest factors, but there are a few other considerations to keep in mind:
Control and Ownership
Since you fully own the code for a custom developed site, you have full control to make changes, move hosting providers, and run it as you wish. With website builders, that code belongs to them which limits your ability to make drastic changes or moves.
Ongoing Work and Maintenance
Website builders handle all core software updates, security patches, and other backend work automatically. This is convenient but also means you’re at the mercy of that platform’s policies and pricing. Custom coded sites require more hands-on technical work and active maintenance from you or the developer to keep everything updated and secure over time.
So in summary, using an online website builder is definitely the faster, easier, and much more affordable option for getting a website up and running quickly. The trade-off is being confined to the limitations and walled garden of that specific builder platform. Hiring a web developer gives you full flexibility to create any custom website you can dream up, along with unlimited scalability for future growth. But of course, this maximum control and versatility comes at a much higher investment of time and money.
Conclusion
The right choice for your business will depend on your specific needs, goals, technical requirements, and budget. Many businesses start with a website builder while getting established, then graduate to a custom developed solution as they scale. But there’s no one-size-fits-all here – carefully evaluate your priorities to choose the best approach.
