Website Builder vs Web Developer – Do You Still Need a Web Developer?
When you own a business or simply wish to market yourself, having a website is important in every marketing strategy. These days, everyone is searching for a product or service online. If you don’t have a website, you could be missing out on potential leads and sales. The main issue people face when creating a website is choosing between a website builder and a web developer. If you’re unsure which one is the best choice for you, we go into detail in the article below about the main differences between a website builder vs a web developer.
What is a website builder?
A website builder is a tool or software with ready-made templates and functions for users with no coding or design knowledge to build a website. Most of these website builders come with drag-and-drop functions or other easy methods for users to create and design a website. There are both free and paid versions for website builders. Some examples of popular website builders are Wix, Weebly, and WordPress.
Pros and cons of a website builder
Explore the pros and cons of a website builder below:
Pros:
- Various pre-made designs available: Website builders usually have different templates and designs that are pre-made and ready for anyone to start with.
- Affordable price: It’s cheaper to use a website builder as some are free while the paid plans are subscription-based and don’t cost much too.
- Simple to use: It’s easy for anyone to use a website builder as it doesn’t require much technical knowledge.
Cons:
- Less design flexibility: Website builders generally don’t allow as much customization as web developers since it’s restricted to pre-made templates and functions.
- Unable to scale: Website builders don’t have as many resources and may limit the scalability to accommodate the growth of websites.
- No maintenance: The maintenance of the website is up to you as you will manage the entire website from A to Z.
What is a web developer?
A web developer is a professional who has ample coding and design knowledge to build beautiful, stunning websites. They typically have gone through proper education or completed certifications for being a web developer. The available web developers in the market are either freelancers, web development companies, or digital agencies.
Pros and cons of a web developer
Take a look at the pros and cons of a web developer:
Pros:
- Professional design: Web developers will build your website from scratch and offer suggestions to create a suitable design that reflects your brand.
- Ample customization: You can fully customize your website to fit your exact needs and requirements with web developers.
- Maintenance support available: Web developers can fully manage your website if you want them to, which means they can offer support and maintenance to keep it updated.
Cons:
- Expensive cost: It’s expensive to hire web developers as they are experienced individuals who are professionals at what they do. You’re paying for both their skills and time.
- Unfulfilled expectations: Sometimes miscommunication can happen and the web developer may not be able to meet your expectations or needs.
- Long delivery time: The delivery time will depend on the complexity of the website. If the website is complex, more time will be needed.
Website builder vs Web developer: An overview
Here’s a quick summary of the main differences between a website builder vs web developer:
| Aspects | Website Builder | Web Developer |
| Features and Scalability | Website builders come with a range of pre-made features for different website types. Some features are not available in free plans, and advanced features require higher-paid plans. Scaling can be difficult as traffic and website demands grow. | Web developers can create unique features based on specific needs and requirements. They can scale the website to accommodate growing traffic and business needs, designing it to handle higher demands. |
| Customization | Limited customization options. Users are restricted to pre-designed templates and available functions, which may not fully meet specific expectations or brand identity. | Full customization to match the client’s vision and business needs. Web developers can design websites from scratch, creating a unique and custom design that aligns with brand identity and specific requirements. |
| Pricing | Website builders offer free and paid plans, typically subscription-based. Prices range from USD 15 (RM 62) to USD 300 (RM 1,250) per month depending on the plan. | Web developers are more expensive due to the service, time, and skills involved. Prices vary, but the investment is generally worth it for a custom-built website that caters specifically to the client’s business goals. |
| Delivery Time and Speed | Website builders allow users to quickly create websites in a few days since templates and pre-built components are readily available. | Web development can take weeks to months, depending on project complexity. Developers must understand business goals and design from scratch, which leads to a longer timeline, especially if handling multiple projects. |
| Website Maintenance | Basic maintenance such as software updates and backups are included in free or paid plans, but comprehensive support and maintenance are limited. | Web developers offer monthly maintenance packages, including server management, security checks, and backups, though this comes at an additional cost. Developers handle all technical upkeep, ensuring smooth operation and website uptime. |
| Which is for me? | Suitable for users who need a simple website and don’t require complex design or functionality. Website builders can be a cost-effective solution for basic needs but may lack advanced customization and scalability. | Ideal for businesses or individuals who need a custom, scalable website with full support. A web developer is often the better choice for those who want to focus on other business areas while leaving the web design and maintenance to professionals. |
Website builder vs Web developer: Features and scalability
Website builders have a wide range of pre-made features for different kinds of websites. But some of these features are not available for free plans. The advanced features are usually reserved for those who subscribe to the higher-paid plans. Hence, it can be hard to scale your website, especially as your website traffic grows and the demands are higher.
Web developers, on the other hand, are able to provide and accommodate unique features based on your requirements and needs. On top of that, web developers can meet your growing demands as your business expands and design your website accordingly.
Website builder vs Web developer: Customization
In terms of customization, website builders don’t offer much freedom to design your website as you please. You are limited to the pre-made templates and functions available, which may not meet your expectations and requirements.
As for web developers, they are able to customize your website to match your needs and vision. This also means that web developers will design your website from scratch and create a unique design that represents your brand identity.
Website builder vs Web developer: Pricing
Website builders offer both free and paid plans for users to choose from. Most of the paid plans are subscription-based so users can either pay monthly or annually. The price ranges between USD15 (RM62) to USD300 (RM1,250) a month.
Web developers are usually more expensive than website builders as you’ll be paying for their service, support, time, skills, and knowledge. However, it’s worth the price as you’ll be getting a website design that’s unique and catered to your business goals.
Website builder vs Web developer: Delivery time and speed
With website builders, you can quickly design a website in a short time frame as everything is already ready and prepared. It can be done within just a few days.
For web developers, it may take a long as they could be dealing with multiple projects. Besides that, it will take time to understand your business objectives and goals. Since they are designing the website from scratch, it will take a few weeks to a few months, depending on the complexity of the websites.
Website builder vs Web developer: Website maintenance
If you create a website with a website builder, they don’t offer regular maintenance and support. The free or paid plans only include the basic necessities such as backups and software updates.
Web developers will offer monthly maintenance to ensure your website is up-to-date such as server management, monthly backups, and security checks. This will be an additional cost on top of the website design rate, though. However, it’s worth the price to ensure your website runs smoothly and has 100% uptime as web developers will handle all these tasks for you.
Website builder vs Web developer: Which is for me?
Deciding between a website builder vs web developer depends on your own needs and requirements. If you don’t need a complex website design, then you could go for website builders. However, you can still benefit from a web developer as they do offer customized packages for simple websites.
Web developers are generally the best option as you can focus on other important aspects of the business instead of designing a website yourself. They will be able to handle your website and meet your expectations.
Conclusion
After understanding the differences between website builders vs web developers, you are able to choose the right option. As long as you identify what your website goals and objectives are, you can be on your way to having a well-designed website. Learn more about the cost of website design so that you can make a better decision.