Ask David
There are so many website builders available. How do I choose the best one for my website?
David’s Answer:
Don’t choose a website builder just because it makes it easy to get a website online.
That’s important, but it’s not the most important thing to consider.
I’ve seen plenty of websites start out simple and then become much more complicated as the business grows. What seemed like a good choice at the beginning can become a problem when the website needs more functionality, more customization, or more control.
Before choosing a website builder, I’d look beyond the templates and the initial setup and ask a few more important questions.
What Happens When Your Website Grows?
Start by thinking about what you need your website to do now – and what you might need it to do later.
Maybe you’re starting with a basic business website. But you might eventually want e-commerce, a blog, memberships, photo galleries, a forum, a directory, or other functionality.
If your website builder can’t handle what you need later, you may have to move the entire website to another platform.
That’s a much bigger hassle than choosing a platform with room to grow in the first place.
If you want a broader look at the factors to consider when comparing website builders, see Choosing the Best Website Builder: Your Ultimate Guide.
How Much of Your Website Is Actually Yours?
This is something I would pay very close attention to.
Some website builders are completely hosted platforms. Your website lives on their servers, and you use their software to manage it.
That can be convenient in the beginning, but it also means you’re dependent on that platform.
Before choosing one, ask:
- Can I access my website files?
- Can I access my database?
- Can I move my website to another host?
- Can I make changes beyond what the visual editor provides?
- What happens to my website if I stop using the service?
Your website is a business asset. I don’t like the idea of building that asset on a platform where leaving means starting over.
With UltimateWB, you can buy the software (one-time fee!) and download your website and host it wherever you want.
Who Controls the Hosting?
This is related to ownership, but it’s worth looking at separately.
I don’t think your website builder should dictate where your website has to live.
With UltimateWB, you have several choices.
You can download UltimateWB and host it with the hosting provider of your choice that satisfies the server requirements.
You can host your UltimateWB website with UltimateWB and use our managed hosting services.
Or you can use UltimateWB Cloud, which combines the website builder and hosting in a cloud-based service. You can buy the UltimateWB software at any time to download your website and host where you want. So even with UltimateWB Cloud, you are not stuck in a locked hosting environment.
You’re not forced into one hosting arrangement.
That gives you the flexibility to change your hosting setup later without having to rebuild your website from scratch.
How Dependent Is the Website on Plugins and Third-Party Services?
This is another thing I would investigate before choosing a website builder.
If every additional function requires another plugin or third-party app, your website can quickly become dependent on a collection of separate components.
And every one of those components creates another potential problem.
A plugin can have a security vulnerability. Two plugins can conflict. An update can break something that was working before. A developer can stop maintaining a plugin. A third-party service can change its API, pricing, or terms.
And when something goes wrong, you have to figure out which component caused it.
I prefer a platform that has substantial functionality built in rather than making the basic operation of my website dependent on a long chain of add-ons.
If you want to see some of the problems that can come with relying on third-party plugins, see Why Relying on WordPress Plugins Can Backfire (And How to Avoid It).
What Happens When Something Breaks?
This is something people don’t always think about when choosing a website builder.
A website can work perfectly when you first build it. Then an update comes along, a plugin changes, an integration stops working, or a third-party service changes something on its end.
What happens then?
Can you access the underlying website? Can you troubleshoot it? Can a developer make changes? Do you have access to the files and database?
Those things become much more important when the website is responsible for your business.
A platform that is easy to use but leaves you with no options when something goes wrong isn’t necessarily the easiest platform to own.
How Much Control Do You Want?
You don’t have to be a developer to benefit from having control over your website.
You may be perfectly happy using visual website-building tools most of the time. But you should still have options if you eventually need something beyond those tools.
UltimateWB is designed to work that way.
You can build visually without having to code, while developers can also work directly with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL when custom development is needed.
That means you’re not limited to whatever features happen to be available in a visual editor or app marketplace.
If you’re specifically interested in choosing a website builder that works for both beginners and developers, see How to Choose a Website Builder That Works for Both Beginners and Developers?.
What Is the Real Cost?
Don’t just look at the advertised monthly price.
Look at what you’ll actually have to pay to run the website.
Are the features you need included? Will you have to pay for plugins or apps? Are there transaction fees? Are you required to use the company’s hosting? What happens when you need more functionality?
A low starting price doesn’t necessarily mean a low total cost.
UltimateWB’s downloadable website builder is a one-time purchase, with one year of software updates included. You can continue purchasing updates when you want them.
You can also choose your own hosting, use UltimateWB hosting, or use UltimateWB Cloud.
Don’t Choose Based on Templates Alone
A website builder can have beautiful templates and still be the wrong choice for your website.
A template is just the starting point.
I’d be much more interested in what you can do after choosing it.
Can you change the design? Add functionality? Customize the code? Move the website? Change the hosting? Continue developing the site as your needs change?
You want a website builder that lets you build your website – not one that makes you build your website around its limitations.
If you’re not sure what those limitations look like, see Signs Your Website Builder Isn’t as Customizable as You Think.
Try It Before You Commit
If a website builder offers a demo or trial, actually use it.
Don’t just look at screenshots.
Try building a page. Change the design. Look at the administration area. See how the features work. Pay attention to anything that feels unnecessarily difficult or restrictive.
That’s much more useful than deciding based on a list of features or a few attractive templates.
UltimateWB offers demos and tutorials, and UltimateWB Cloud has a free trial, so you can get a feel for the platform before deciding which option you want.
So, How Do You Choose the Best Website Builder?
I’d look at the long-term picture.
You want a website builder that can handle what you need now, but you also want room to grow. You want control over your website, flexibility in hosting, and enough access to the underlying website that you’re not helpless if you need to make a change.
And I would think carefully before building a website that depends on a long chain of plugins and third-party services.
If you’re considering an all-in-one website builder, here’s what I’d look at when evaluating one.
For me, that’s what makes UltimateWB the better choice.
Don’t just choose the website builder that’s easiest to start with. Choose one you won’t regret owning later.
Ready to design & build your own website? Learn more about UltimateWB! We also offer web design packages if you would like your website designed and built for you.
Got a techy/website question? Whether it’s about UltimateWB or another website builder, web hosting, or other aspects of websites, just send in your question in the “Ask David!” form. We will email you when the answer is posted on the UltimateWB “Ask David!” section.