A website builder like Wix, Squarespace or Jimdo is the better choice if you want a simple site with little upkeep: hosting, updates and security are included. WordPress on your own hosting suits you if you want full control, many plugins or a site you can move between hosts. It's cheaper to run but needs regular updates.
The argument between builder fans and WordPress fans has been running for over a decade, and both sides tend to ignore one thing: most small sites never change much after launch. A bakery’s website needs opening hours, a menu and a phone number. Whether that sits on Wix or WordPress matters less than whether someone updates the opening hours at Christmas. Still, the choice affects cost, effort and how stuck you are later.
Website builder vs WordPress in one table
| Website builder | WordPress (self-hosted) | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Wix, Squarespace, Jimdo, WordPress.com | WordPress.org software on any host |
| Editing | Drag and drop | Block editor, theme-dependent |
| Hosting included | Yes | No, you rent it |
| Updates and security | Provider handles it | You handle it, or managed hosting does |
| Plugins and extensions | Limited app store | Tens of thousands of plugins |
| Typical yearly cost | Roughly $100–300 | Roughly $40–120 hosting, plus optional paid plugins |
| Moving away | Rebuild needed | Move files and database to another host |
| Learning curve | Low | Medium |
Prices are typical ranges and change regularly; check the provider’s current page.
When a website builder is the better choice
A builder suits you if most of these are true:
- You want a site with up to ten pages
- You don’t want to think about updates, backups or security
- You’re happy with what the templates allow
- You’d rather pay a bit more each month than spend time on maintenance
The provider runs the servers, installs security patches and usually issues the HTTPS certificate automatically. You log in, edit, publish. That’s worth real money if your time is scarce.
The downsides: you rent the whole platform. If prices go up, you pay. If a feature you need isn’t there, you wait or work around it. And when you leave, you rebuild.
When WordPress is the better choice
WordPress, the open-source content system that W3Techs has measured on over 40 percent of all websites for years, suits you if:
- You expect the site to grow: a blog, a shop, member areas, bookings
- You want a specific plugin, such as WooCommerce for selling
- You want to be able to move hosts without rebuilding
- You or someone you know is fine with occasional maintenance
You need hosting (web space where the site’s files live). Many hosts install WordPress with one click. Then you choose a theme for the design and plugins for extra features.
The cost of freedom is upkeep. WordPress core, themes and plugins get updates often, some of them security fixes. A site nobody updates for two years is a common target for automated attacks. Managed WordPress hosting takes this off your hands for a higher monthly fee.
Wix vs WordPress, Squarespace vs WordPress
People often compare one specific builder against WordPress. A few honest observations:
- Wix has a very free editor where you can place elements anywhere. Easy for designers, but it’s also easy to make a messy page.
- Squarespace has polished templates with a strict structure. Hard to make it look bad, also hard to make it look different.
- Jimdo focuses on small businesses and simple sites, with a guided setup.
- WordPress.com sits in between: the WordPress software, hosted for you. Lower plans restrict plugins and themes.
None of them is “best”. Try the free plan of two or three for an evening and keep the one whose editor annoys you least.
What each option costs over three years
A five-page business site, built by you:
| Item | Builder | WordPress, shared hosting | WordPress, managed hosting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain, 3 years | 3 × €14.99 | 3 × €14.99 | 3 × €14.99 |
| Platform or hosting, 3 years | ~$300–900 | ~$120–360 | ~$360–1,000 |
| Theme or template | Included | $0–100 once | $0–100 once |
| Your maintenance time | Low | 1–2 hours a month | Low |
The domain line is what betadomain charges every year. Platform costs are rough ranges from typical public price lists. Note that many builders and hosts offer cheap first-year prices and charge more on renewal, the same pattern you see with domains. A detailed cost breakdown is in how much does a website cost.
The one decision that keeps you flexible
Register your domain separately from the builder or host. Builders often offer a “free domain for the first year”, and it’s tempting. But when you want to leave, the domain is tied to that account, and moving it takes extra steps and time.
With the domain at a registrar, switching from Wix to WordPress or from one host to another means rebuilding the site and changing two DNS records. Your address and email stay the same. How to point the domain is shown in connecting a domain to a website builder.
A quick decision path
- Do you need a shop with many products, a membership area or very specific features? WordPress.
- Do you want zero maintenance and a site that’s done in a weekend? Builder.
- Will someone else build it for you? Ask them what they’ll maintain, and make sure the domain and logins are in your name.
- Still unsure? Start with a builder. It’s the faster way to learn what you actually need.
The bigger picture, from planning pages to launch, is in create your own website.
Whichever you pick, you’ll need an address first. Check whether stonebridgebakery.com is free with your own name, look at endings like .blog for a writing-focused site, or compare all of them on the list of domain prices.
Found your domain? You can check and register it directly at domain registration without teaser pricing – yearly price from €2.99.
FAQ
What's the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
WordPress.org offers the free open-source software you install on your own hosting. WordPress.com is a hosted service run by Automattic that uses the same software but works more like a builder, with paid plans and some restrictions on lower tiers.
Can I switch from Wix to WordPress later?
Not with one click. Builder sites generally can't be exported as a working site. You rebuild the pages in WordPress and copy text and images over. Keep your domain registered separately so the address stays the same.
Is WordPress hard for beginners?
Writing pages in WordPress is not hard. The setup decisions are: choosing hosting, a theme and plugins, and keeping everything updated. With managed WordPress hosting, much of that is handled for you.
Which is better for SEO?
Both can rank well. WordPress gives more control through plugins, builders cover the basics like page titles, descriptions and sitemaps. Content and links matter much more than the platform.