In the most simple terms web hosting and website builders are both like renting a shop. With web hosting you're renting an empty shell and you get flexibility to choose what you put in it. With a website builder you're renting the shop plus the shelves, shopping carts, till, lighting, and fridges and freezers. There is still choice, you're just limited by what the leaseholder says is OK to put in it.
Both have their benefits and drawbacks. For web hosting, you have a lot more flexibility and it can be cheaper. If you decide to move your store you can pack up all your things and easily move elsewhere. With website builders, you cannot just pack up and leave with your stuff and monthly payments can be larger because you're renting not only the store but the stuff in it too.
That's not to say website builders don't have their benefits. For a start, it's easier to set your shop up because everything is easily integrated and ready to go. Also, you get the luxury of not having to deal with the maintenance of your stuff.
This is a very simple analogy. In fact, there are web hosting providers that restrict what you can put in a store and web hosting providers that will manage your shop for you. There are also website builders that are cheaper overall to set up and run a site. Which one to use is all down to the type of website you want to create, your experience level, and how much time you have to invest in your site.
Clearly, it isn't black and white. We have created this guide to better explain the differences, positives, and negatives when it comes to web hosting and website builders.
What is a website builder?
In the old days building a site meant learning how to code, having web designer skills, and pouring plenty of time and energy into your online project. Now, it’s a totally different story, and fortunately so.
The number one tool that makes building beautiful sites within everyone’s reach is a website builder. It’s a software solution created for creating all sorts of sites (to put it simply) and it requires no technical know-how. On the contrary, you can have a fully-functional site up and running within hours, or potentially minutes if you are using one of the best AI website builders.
A website builder is an online platform that allows you to create a website without needing to write any code. Website builders typically use a drag-and-drop interface, which makes it easy for you to add and edit content, images, and other elements on your website. Website builders also provide you with a range of templates and themes, which can be customized to suit your brand or business.
Alternatively, AI website builders can also help you create a site without having to drag-and-drop or select a template. These typically work by asking you a few simple questions and then letting the AI does the work for you producing a complete site - although you will typically need to make some edits to make it fully fit for purpose.
Some website builders offer additional features such as ecommerce capabilities, blog creation, and social media integration. With a website builder, you can create a professional-looking website quickly and easily, without requiring any technical expertise.
The main advantage of using a site builder is the built-in simplicity and swiftness of creating a site with it. Also, most site builds are budget-friendly, so there’s no need to worry about blowing your budget anytime soon.
Limited choice has often been cited as a downside of using a website. However, the best website builders now offer a fantastic level of flexibility with plenty of tools to help you achieve the website you want. This is especially true with AI website builder, which allow for a much greater level of customization without the need to code.
However, if you want total control, opting for a web host and custom coding your website is the only choice.
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is an online service that makes your site and its content available on the internet - it’s a server where your site “lives”. The service provider that makes this possible is called a web hosting provider, or web host for short. There are several types of web hosting and which one you’ll want to use depends on your personal and professional needs.
If you wish to start a personal blog or a simple site, a pocket-friendly shared hosting plan should suffice. It allows multiple sites to use a single “shared” server, which makes this option cheap but tight on server resources (CPU, storage space, bandwidth, and RAM).
However, if you need a web host for a professional, mission-critical site, you’ll want something more powerful than shared hosting. Virtual private hosting (VPS) is probably the first upgrade you’ll want to make and it implies you’ll get private hosting resources hosted on a virtual server. So, while you’ll be using the same server with other users, your virtual space on it and all your resources are yours alone.
For those who want more, there is dedicated server hosting. As suggested, the whole server will be dedicated to you. Not surprisingly, it’s the costliest type of hosting today.
There is also cloud hosting, which is similar to VPS but hosted by the cloud services provider - which means your site will be hosted on the cloud and using cloud resources.
Managed hosting is a subtype of several hosting types and it implies that the web host will take care of the setup, configuration, management, upkeep, and support of your server. The most common managed hosting subtypes include managed VPS, managed cloud, and managed dedicated server hosting.
Last but not least is colocation hosting and it’s a superb alternative to hosting an in-house data center or using a dedicated server hosting service. For this, you’ll be using your own servers, storage, and other IT equipment and putting it into a colocation data center that is optimized for such equipment. This is a solid, cost-saving strategy for large, mission-critical businesses.
The main advantages of using web hosting include affordable pricing, powerful site performance, solid security, tons of free perks, customer support to rely on, and the sheer simplicity of the service.
On the downside, web hosting can get from pocket-friendly to costing a pretty penny as your site grows. Also, if you're using a shared hosting plan your site might run out of space for growth and suffer from poor performance. Plus, since no company is truly immune to data breaches, you’ll be putting your trust (and sensitive data) in the provider's hands.
Similarities and differences
Similarities
Both are essential for creating a website: Website builders are used to create the design and layout of a website, while web hosting provides the server space to store and serve the website content.
Both are available as online services: Website builders and web hosting services are both available online, and you can access them from anywhere in the world.
Both offer different pricing plans: Both website builders and web hosting services offer different pricing plans to suit the needs of different websites.
Differences
Purpose: Website builders are used to create the website's design and layout, while web hosting is used to store and serve website content.
Functionality: Website builders allow you to create a website without any coding knowledge, while web hosting services offer server space and other resources to store and serve website content.
Control: With a website builder, you have more control over the design and layout of your website, while web hosting providers have more control over the server and technical aspects of the website.
Flexibility: Website builders offer a range of templates and themes that can be customized to create a unique website design, while web hosting services offer flexibility in terms of storage space and resources to suit the needs of the website.
Do I need web hosting and a website builder?
Yes, in most cases, you will need web hosting and a website builder to create and launch a website. Web hosting is required to store the website content and make it accessible to visitors on the internet, while a website builder is used to create the design and layout of the website.
However, some website builders come with web hosting built-in as part of their service, so you may not need to purchase web hosting separately. In this case, the website builder will provide the server space and resources required to store and serve your website content.
On the other hand, if you already have a website design or have created a website using a web development platform like WordPress, you may only need to purchase web hosting to make your website accessible on the internet.
However, the decision to use a website builder and web hosting depends on your website's specific needs and your technical abilities. If you have no experience with website development, a website builder may be the best option, while if you have more technical expertise, using a web development platform with web hosting may be more appropriate.
Web hosting vs website builder: Which one is better?
If you’re new to all this and want a simple solution for building a stunning site with totally zero site management responsibilities, a site builder is probably the best choice for you.
If you're new to all of this and are willing to put a tiny bit of effort in, you can get a web host that will give you a free website builder. From the website building perspective it will be exactly the same, you'll just have some additional freedom and responsibilities.
Final thought
Whether you choose a website builder or web hosting will depend on your needs and technical skills. If you are looking for an easy-to-use solution to create a website quickly, a website builder may be the best option for you.
However, if you want more control over your website and want to save some money, web hosting may be the better choice. Understanding the differences between these two essential components will help you make better decisions and build a successful website.
- Check out our list of the best cheap website builder deals out there
