WordPress Website Builder Hosting is software tool that enable a developer to create and maintain a website without the use of programming. Changes to the website can also be made easily without actual code editing. There are two kinds of website builders – online and offline.
- Offline website builders are software tools that run on a computer and create websites that can later be published on the internet using a hosting service.
- Online website builders are generally provided by the hosting providers themselves. Customers get to build their own private websites using these tools. Content Management Systems are examples of online website builders.
1- Website Builders Through The Ages
The original websites that were coded in HTML were created in the 1990s. Later on, the DreamWeaver software package became popular for easy website development. Although, it was popular Dreamweaver faced a lot of criticism by web developers for the quality of the code it produced.
The Amaya software was introduced in 1996 by W3C. It was started as an HTML and CSS editor but now supports XML, XHTML, SVG and MathML too.
Geocities that was launched in 1996 was ideal for beginners with limited technical skills. It is now outdated and shut down.
2- Comparison Between Online and Offline Website Builders
Online website builders are provided by web hosting companies once the customer signs up for the hosting plan. There is a variety of website builders offered by hosting companies. Some website builders enable the user to create simple web pages while others can create social media sites, e-commerce websites, etc.
Some are template-based while others are a lot more flexible with many features. Quick results and ease of use are important benefits of online website builders. Even people with limited technical expertise are able to create successful websites using these tools. The help files and demo videos that generally come with the software provide useful technical support to the developers.
Online website builders create websites using HTML and Adobe Flash. As we can see, online website builders are ideal solutions for beginners or non-technical individuals that wish to create a website. On the other hand, offline website builders cater to the requirements of professional web developers with a lot more technical expertise. Their jobs generally entail the creation of web pages for multiple clients. They require at least a high-level understanding and experience of HTML and CSS.
Offline website builders are more flexible than their online counterparts and are also a lot more expensive. The freemium license model enables developers to download some offline website builders free of charge.
3- What Is The Best Website Builder For You?
3.1- Choosing Between Software
There are two options for building a website. Either you can use a website building software like WordPress or use a website builder provided by the web host. In the first option, the software has to be downloaded from the control panel of the host and installed. This option is generally suited for experienced developers. However, WordPress and Joomla are even popular among beginners.
In the second option, the app for the website builder is usually available on the host’s control panel and a drag and drop method is used to create and edit the website. This is also called the ‘What you see is what you get’ or WYSIWYG editor. Both these options are easy and affordable.
4- Top Rated Website Builder Hosting Providers
4.1- Best For WordPress
According to expert opinion, InMotion’s hosting packages are the best for working with WordPress for site creation. InMotion provides hosting plans that include WordPress already installed. The unlimited storage space enables the customers to build WordPress sites that are expected to grow in size and complexity. It also allows the customer to host any number of WordPress sites on one account.
4.2- Best For Drupal
Drupal and SiteGround go hand-in-hand in more ways than one. Drupal has highly robust security features which when coupled with SiteGround’s SSD speed make a power packed combination. Using Drupal for site building is not ideal for first time site designers. Its exceptional functionality and performance make it a very popular option among professionals and experts in the field.
4.3- Best For Joomla
After Drupal, Joomla is also one of the technologies preferred by experienced site developers. eHost provides a one-click installation of Joomla. The affordable cost, abundant storage and domain are all plus points that make eHost the ideal host for website building using Joomla.
5- Top Rated Website Builders Provided by Hosting Companies
5.1- Most Budget Friendly Website Builder
Most of the cheaply available website builders do not enable the user to create good quality websites. The user has to compromise with a few dull design templates and a handful of color options. It is much more logical to go for a reputed website builder available at a higher but affordable price. Weebly is one such option. It is provided by default by iPage and the price is hard to beat.
5.2- Most Simple Yet Powerful Website Builder
Simplicity is the most important factor for a drag-and-drop website builder. However, a proper combination of simplicity and good functionality is what will make it a successful website builder. eHost offers hosting plans with website builder tools that provide hundreds of templates and functions. This makes it a good option for a website builder host.
6- Top Rated Website Builders For E-Commerce Applications
6.1- Best For Small Business Websites
BoldGrid is the website builder provided by InMotion. It works as an add-on to WordPress and turns it into an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. This is ideal for small business owners who do not have a lot of time to spend on website creation along with all their other responsibilities. In addition to this InMotion’s SSD speed and reliable combination make it the best host for small business website building.
6.2- Best For “Do It Yourself” Users
Many times individuals need to create websites for personal use. These could be portfolios, resumes etc. The Weebly website builder that comes by default with iPage shared hosting plans is ideal for personal website building. It provides the user with hundreds of templates at a great price.
7- WordPress Website Builder FAQ
7.1- How to Build a Website?
The first thing you should do is to register a domain name from an appropriate web hosting company. After registering your domain, you need to determine the infrastructure of the website. At that point, you have two options. You can program your site by writing codes on your own or you can use a website builder if you don’t how to program a website. Most of the people choose the second option since it’s easier and time-saving.
7.2- What is a website builder?
Actually, the website builder is a content management system (CMS). Website builders are used to creating websites and the user doesn’t have to know any programming language. Moreover, any skill related to installing a CMS, designing a template, or creating a database is not needed.
7.3- Can I create a website without any skills in design and coding?
Yes, of course. Website builders serve this purpose. You can choose any template provided to you by the website builder and start creating your content easily. You can edit and manage everything by yourself with the help of the drag & drop option.
7.4- What are the types of website builders?
There are two types of website builders. These are online website builders and offline website builders.
7.5- What is an online website builder?
An online website builder is a tool that is provided by web hosting companies. The user can install other tools on the provided one. If an online website builder has a complex structure, it may be called as content management system.
7.6 What is an offline website builder?
An offline website builder is a program that can be downloaded and used for creating the website. Offline website builder requires a basic understanding of HTML and CSS.
7.7- What are the differences between online website builders and offline website builders?
You usually need to sign up with a web hosting company in order to use an online website builder. Being easy to use and not requiring any prior knowledge are the main advantages of these builders. Moreover, if you have a niche website, you can find the features needed for your niche with online website builders. On the other hand, offline website builders may require working on more than one client. These builders allow WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) option so as to edit the source code.
7.8- What are the features of website builders?
Website builders are easy to use. Even if the user doesn’t have technical knowledge, builders provide essential features. They offer different templates. The user doesn’t need to design the template. Website builders have design flexibility.
The user may add/remove blocks on the template. Most of the website builders provide free custom domains. The user can choose the domain and create the website with the help of the builder. They also provide mobile compatible templates.
7.9- What are the popular website builders?
Popular website builders are Wix, Weebly, WordPress, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Jimdo, Webs, etc.
7.9- Which one of the website builders should I choose?
It depends on you, your niche, and your habits. However, most of the experts recommend Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly for their design and easy to use features. It is recommended that you conduct a research based on your niche and choose your website builder.
7.10- How do I create content with website builders?
Every website builder has its own user interface but the logic behind it is similar. Website builders provide a user-friendly interface and allow users to create their content easily. Most of the website builders use WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) principle. The user can add and edit image/text on the same screen and as soon as the change is saved, the output can be seen on the website.
7.11- How long does it take to build a website with a website builder?
It depends on your interest and skills. If you take it seriously, you can lay the foundations of your website in a few hours.
7.12- Which website builder is the best for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?
It doesn’t matter which website builder you use for SEO. If it was too easy to appear on the first page of the google search results, everyone would achieve that. In other words, choosing a good website builder doesn’t guarantee that your page would be recognized by Google. If you are an expert in your field and your web page is shared across social media, no matter which website builder you use, Google would recognize and bring your website to a higher place in search results.
7.13- Should I buy my domain name from a website builder?
You don’t have to buy your domain from a website builder but doing so makes it easier to speed up the process of creating your website. In some cases, website builders provide extra options if you prefer to
buy their plans for the long term.
7.14- Will I be able to create a website after choosing the right website builder?
To be honest, no. Choosing a website builder is the first step that you should take in order to create a website. You need to test different website builders before choosing the best option for you. After that, you need to decide the template of your website, create good looking layouts for the pages, edit images and texts. If you consider the process of creating a website, deciding your website builder is just the beginning.
7.15- How much does it cost for me to use a website builder?
Every website builder has its own strategy and plan. Charges may differ for each other. You need to check the prices for the domain name and website services.
7.16- How should I choose the best website builder?
There are some questions that you need to consider before choosing a website builder. To begin with, you can search the popular website builders mentioned above. After your research, you can check the number of people using their services, the support of these companies, and the advantages and disadvantages of each builder. You can test all of these website builders for free and decide based on your impression.
