Key takeaways:
- Web hosting provides online storage for your website, while a website builder is a tool for creating the website itself without knowing how to code.
- Website builders often include hosting, but custom sites or those using a CMS (like WordPress) demand separate hosting.
- Choosing between a website hosting and website builder depends on your need for control, scalability, and your technical skill level.
If you’re a beginner trying to launch your first website, all the information you need to take in can be overwhelming. Aside from planning your branding, there are also other things to consider such as domain names, web hosting, SEO and marketing strategies. Before you can use them, you need to know what they do and how they work.
Web hosting and website builders are often confused, but they serve different purposes. Knowing the difference can be a good start since both play an essential role in getting your site up. This will ensure your website is both useful and effective online.
In this guide we’re going to:
- Break down the differences between web hosting vs. website builder
- Explain the benefits of each service
- Show you how to get started on each service
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is a service that allows you to publish your website on the internet. A web hosting provider allocates space on a server where your website’s files are stored. This server delivers your website’s content to anyone who searches your domain name into a browser.
Along with storing your site, the host:
- Manages traffic flow to ensure your site remains accessible and runs smoothly
- Provides security measures to protect from data breaches
- Performs regular backups to safeguard your data
Pros and cons of web hosting
| Pros | Cons |
| Makes your site accessible online 24/7. | Quality hosting requires monthly or yearly payments. |
| Enables you to use your own domain name. | Some hosting types (like VPS or dedicated) need setup and management. |
| Hosting plans can grow with your website. | Cheap or poor hosts may suffer frequent outages. |
| Reliable speed and uptime. | Shared hosting can slow down with heavy traffic. |
| Many hosts offer backups, SSL, and protection against threats. | Migrating to another host can be difficult. |
| Technical support is often available. | —- |
What are the common types of web hosting?
Web hosting is an umbrella term and there are more specific types that fall beneath it. Depending on your needs, you can choose from different types of hosting services, each offering varying levels of performance, security, and scalability. Some common types of web hosting include:
- Shared hosting
- Dedicated hosting
- Virtual private server (VPS)
- Cloud hosting
Shared hosting
Shared hosting is the most affordable and popular type of hosting available, and usually the hosting type used to launch a website for the first type. It’s perfect for people with relatively small websites and who have fewer custom needs.
However, shared hosting often has storage limitations and is limited to one or two websites that you own.
Dedicated hosting
Dedicated hosting is more expensive, and more personalized. On a dedicated host, a company or individual has a server all to themselves. They don’t share any resources, nor do they allow any third party to rent their space. This allows for a full customization of the server, a higher bandwidth for traffic, and better security. If you have a bigger business or a website that experiences high volumes of traffic, take a close look at dedicated hosting.
Virtual private server (VPS)
Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting offers dedicated resources, unlike shared hosting, which is crowded. However, you still share the server space with other users. This makes your site faster and more reliable. It’s ideal for small or growing businesses that need more power and control but are not ready for the costs of a full server.
Cloud hosting
Cloud hosting uses a network of virtual servers to host websites and manage web traffic. If one server has a problem, others step in to keep your website running smoothly. This makes cloud hosting more reliable and flexible, especially if your website gets busy with a lot of visitors. It can grow or size down to fit your needs, making it a great choice for businesses that want stability and room to expand.
What is a website builder?
A website builder is a tool that helps you create a website without needing to know how to code. They come with templates and a simple drag-and-drop interface. You can easily add text, images, and videos. They also offer other features such as:
- Contact forms
- Blogs
- eCommerce features for online selling
- 24/7 customer support
Building and maintaining a website demands more technical skills, time, and resources. This is especially true for small businesses or individuals who lack expertise or a budget. That’s why these builders are perfect for beginners as they make the process quick and easy, allowing you to focus on content and business goals instead.
Pros and cons of a website builder
| Pros | Cons |
| Drag-and-drop interfaces require no coding skills. | Not ideal for complex or growing businesses. |
| Build and launch a site within hours. | Free plans often display ads or branding. |
| Hosting, domain, and tools included. | Less flexibility for advanced SEO optimization. |
| Professionally designed layouts available. | Hard to migrate to another platform later. |
| Affordable plans, especially for small sites. | —- |
| Automatic updates and security handled by provider. | —- |
What are the types of website builders?
There are two main builders: online and offline. Each caters to different preferences and skill levels. Depending on your needs and site management plans, one will likely suit you best.
- Online website builder
- Offline website builder
Online website builder
The website builder is hosted on the same server as the website and can be accessed anywhere there’s internet. This means that the user will never have to download or install software and can access their “build” — at any stage — so long as they have good internet connection.
Offline website builder
Typically geared more towards users with technical know-how, the user must download the software and save the files locally, then upload them onto a server once they want to launch the website.
Website hosting vs. website builder
When comparing web hosting and a website builder, there are factors to be considered. Here are some points to use to compare these products:
| Aspect | Website hosting | Website building |
| Purpose | Stores your website’s data online securely. | Lets you build a website without coding. |
| Control | Offers more control and flexibility for customization and advanced features. | Relies on templates, limiting flexibility. |
| Scalability | Scales easily as your site grows. You can upgrade to VPS, dedicated, or cloud. | Limited customization. Scaling may require hiring a developer. |
| Security | You manage security, though some hosts offer built-in protection. | Basic security features included, but with less control. |
| Cost | Cost varies by resources and plan tier. Higher tiers cost more. | Usually includes hosting in one price. Some hosts offer builders in their plans. |
- Purpose. Website hosting and website building serve distinct purposes. Hosting stores your site’s data online, securely. Website building lets you create without needing to code.
- Control. By choosing hosting, you gain more control and flexibility to customize your site. It also supports advanced technical features. In contrast, website builders rely on pre-made templates that restrict flexibility.
- Scalability. Web hosting effortlessly scales to accommodate a growing site. When your traffic increases, you have the option to upgrade to VPS hosting, dedicated hosting, or cloud hosting. Meanwhile, web builders are having limited customization, so if you’re planning to expand, you might need professional website developers to make your own site.
- Security. Hosting requires you to manage security, though some hosts offer built-in protections. Website builders include basic security features, but you have less control over them.
- Cost. Hosting plans vary by resources and services. Plus, it can be more costly as you choose higher tier plans. Website builders often bundle hosting into their pricing for a simpler, all-in-one cost. However, some hosting plans also offer website builders in their plans.
6 key features to look out for when choosing a website builder
A quality website builder provides all the tools you need to build, maintain, and expand upon a website. A few common things to expect are:
- Variety of templates
- Functionality
- Mobile formatting
- User-friendly interface
- Technical support
- Analytics tools and SEO
1. Variety of templates
The allure of using a website builder is that it’s pre-coded. This means that someone with zero knowledge of coding can utilize the user interface to create their own website. This is done by way of templates.
Each website builder will have their own catalogue of templates which are pre-coded, designed, and color coordinated. Once selected, these templates can be customized to fit a brand or personality.
2. Functionality
A good website builder enhances your site creation experience with powerful tools like an integrated image editor, allowing you to adjust and optimize photos directly within the platform. It should also feature intuitive “drag and drop” functionality, making it easy to design your layout without needing technical skills.
Additionally, customizable templates are essential, offering a flexible starting point that can be tailored to fit your specific branding and design needs.
3. Mobile formatting
Most people are likely to visit your website on their mobile device. If the website builder you’re considering doesn’t format for mobile, consider other alternatives. You can’t risk losing customers because your website doesn’t load properly on their mobile device.
4. User-friendly interface
Website builders are designed to be easy to use, allowing anyone, even those without coding experience, to quickly create a site. This user-friendly interface makes it simple for users to focus on designing and populating their site with content, without getting bogged down by technical details. The aim is to make building a website straightforward and accessible for everyone.
5. Technical support
Despite its easy website builder should be backed by a reputable and diligent technical customer support team. If anything, on the website happens to break, or if certain pieces aren’t fitting together, then a good provider would offer customer support to troubleshoot the problem.
6. Analytics tools & SEO
Analytics and SEO are now utilized by every successful website, so you should expect your website builder to offer some form of both.
This can mean offering a flawless integration of Google Analytics, or even some ground level keyword generation for SEO. These types of tools will allow a user to understand how well they’ve positioned themselves on the internet, what they’re doing wrong, and where to improve.
What are the essential features to consider in choosing the right web hosting service?
When choosing the right web hosting service, it’s important to focus on a few essential features that will ensure your website runs smoothly and securely. Here are the key factors to consider:
- Ease of use. Choose a web host with a clean dashboard, and a one click installation for platforms like WordPress. A smooth setup process can help you launch a site easily and manage everything without a hassle.
- Flexibility. Choose a host that works with any site. For example, a blog, store, or portfolio. It should offer compatibility with CMS platforms and custom code setups, so your site can grow with you.
- Reliable performance. Pick a host with fast, reliable performance across all devices. Quick load times and strong uptime improve SEO and keep visitors engaged.
- SEO support. Go for a host that offers built-in SEO tools or supports them well. Features like SSL certificates, fast load times, and site backups all play a role. The better your hosting foundation, the easier it is for people to find your site.
- Customer support. Ensure your web hosting offers reliable support for issues or questions. 24/7 support makes troubleshooting easier. Access to guides, tutorials, and a responsive help desk saves time. Good support means you’re never stuck with a problem.
Do I need both web hosting and a website builder?
It depends on how you plan to build and manage your website.
If you use website builders with web hosting included in the package, you don’t need to buy it separately. Network Solutions offer an all-in-one solution that includes hosting, templates, design tools, and support.
However, if you’re building your site with a content management system (CMS) like WordPress or developing it from scratch, you’ll need separate web hosting. In this case, the hosting provider gives your website a place to live online, while the builder (like WordPress) helps you design and manage your site.
Put simply:
- Website builder only? Hosting is usually included.
- Custom/WordPress site? You’ll need to buy hosting separately.
Take the first step in creating your website
There is no choosing one or the other, rather it’s about working to integrate both web hosting and a website builder, so how do you get started?
First, you need to register a domain name. This is going to be your website’s name, aligning with your brand or company. From there, you can choose what type of hosting and website builder package you want.
You don’t need to be an expert coder to create a fantastic website, you just need a solid website builder and a decent web hosting plan.
If you’re still confused about all the options or have any questions regarding domains, hosting services, and website builders, then feel free to reach out to our experts and they’ll help you sort it out.
Frequently asked questions
Website builders are popular among beginners and small businesses for their ease, speed, and accessibility. On the other hand, building your own website allows for greater control and customization. However, it requires coding skills and a significant time investment.
Yes, you need hosting for your website to be online. Website builders usually include hosting. However, some custom sites require you to buy hosting separately.
Web hosting stores your site’s files on a server, so anyone can access them online. Web development, on the other hand, involves designing and coding the website to make it functional, visually appealing, and easy to use.
Most website builders let you easily create and run an online store. They include smooth payment processing and easy product management tools.
Generally, switching from a website builder to traditional hosting is difficult and often requires rebuilding your site. Website builders are closed platforms, making it hard to transfer your full site design and functionality elsewhere.
