The Best Website & Homepage Builder Comparison

What is a Website Builder?

Having a professional website is undoubtedly one of the most important success factors in business today. But not every company wants to pay a high amount to an agency or freelancer for their own internet presence. This is where website builder systems offer a cost-effective and flexible alternative. These systems enable freelancers and small businesses to create an appealing online presence without extensive technical knowledge. During the test phase, users can thoroughly test the functionality and design options of the builder system. Using a variety of templates and intuitive tools, websites can be designed according to individual preferences. The flexibility of such systems is demonstrated in their adaptability to various business requirements, whether by integrating additional functions or adapting the design. Such a system offers even absolute beginners the chance to create a website and/or an online store relatively easily. This is done with pre-programmed templates, easy-to-integrate typical web functions, and via drag-and-drop as well as various intuitive buttons, sliders, etc. or plugins. Domain, hosting, updates and other features for long-term maintenance are often included in such solutions. Also, various marketing tools may be included. Ideally, customers get everything they need for the realization and operation of their website from one place. It should be noted that some functions or advanced design templates may be subject to a fee. This allows users to expand and professionalize their website as their needs increase. By the way, the term "homepage builder" is essentially incorrect. Because the homepage is strictly speaking only the start page of a website - and of course, much more than this can be designed with an appropriate builder system. The term "website builder" is more appropriate. "Website" describes a collection of individual webpages that run under a common domain. Exactly such a structure can be achieved with such a tool.

Good website builders bring the following features or advantages, among others:

• They provide a platform for easily creating a website and/or an online shop.
• Using templates for the organization, navigation, and other components of a website, as well as engaging design functions, even laypeople can work with a website builder.
• A website builder requires no or hardly any administrative work - most of it is taken over by the respective provider.
• A website builder can include special tools for Analytics, SEO, Content-Marketing, etc., or allow these to be integrated for an additional amount.
• A homepage builder allows the use of an individual domain and often directly creates it.
• Websites created with a website builder are almost always mobile-optimized today.
• Integrated functions for search engine optimization (SEO) support the visibility of the website in search engines.
• The ability to create multilingual websites significantly expands the target group and reach.
• Included web hosting simplifies the operation and maintenance of the website by covering technical aspects such as server maintenance and security updates.
• Customizability for mobile devices ensures that the website is optimally displayed on various screen sizes and device types.

How does a website builder work and what are the key benefits of such an application?

Companies and individuals use website builders to create websites with relatively little effort themselves. Specific programming or design skills do not need to be present. These solutions are usually offered as Software-as-a-Service. In simple terms, this means that customers pay for a specific bundle of services provided by a provider - from the website builder itself to customization options to marketing tools. The setup depends on the builder or your own requirements. Nothing more needs to be done than to log in via a conventional browser. The user interface of the builder software is usually intuitive and customizable to make operation easier even for users without prior knowledge. Everything runs online, without anything having to be downloaded or installed. With a modern website builder that is precisely tailored to your own needs, you can achieve almost everything professional web design from an agency or freelancer brings. Users proceed very cost-effectively. In addition, many builders offer options for integrating functions or content from third parties, which expands the range of design possibilities. However, the significant expenditure of time, which is associated with the realization of a website even when using a homepage builder, should not be ignored. Unruly users will probably take a relatively long time with a website builder to achieve a truly convincing result. Moreover, a homepage builder is considerably less flexible compared to a web presence solution that is generated based on a CMS. However, the advantages of such software often significantly outweigh the aforementioned typical counterarguments. Another important aspect is optimization for various end devices. Modern builders offer customizable options to ensure that the website looks and works equally well on desktop computers, tablets, and mobile devices.

Low cost expenditure Website builders are always much cheaper than hiring a team of designers and programmers or working with external specialists. If you don't have big requirements, you can use a homepage builder for free. Solutions with more features typically cost no more than a few euros a month. Domain, hosting, updates, and technical maintenance are already included. With a modern website builder, results can certainly be achieved that are hardly distinguishable from an individually designed or programmed internet presence.

Control When you commission the creation of a website, the schedule is in the hands of an external team. The client can put pressure on it to meet a certain schedule, but the completion of the website entirely depends on how fast the team works. Here, numerous factors can lead to sometimes severe delays. With a homepage builder, this is not an issue. Users themselves have full control over the creation and publication of their website. With such a solution, an internet presence can indeed be created in a few days. With little know-how, absolutely competitive results can be achieved in many industries. Easily achieve professional quality. Managers in companies or private individuals who do not have broader design and programming knowledge can still create a high-quality website via a website builder using drag and drop. Practically every website builder has corresponding simple configuration functions. This is the main benefit of these tools. Nevertheless, they differ from product to product in terms of differentiation. The best website builders allow design templates and features to be created that were otherwise reserved exclusively for real programming professionals.

Low maintenance effort in technology, backend, and frontend With a homepage builder, users hardly have to worry about the technology behind it. Updates are largely carried out automatically and individual system components function securely in the long term. Everything is organized by the provider, including the storage space provided, which is needed for the content of the website. This storage space is usually sufficiently dimensioned to host a variety of media such as texts, images, and videos, and can often be expanded if needed. In the frontend - i.e., the area that visitors see in the browser - of course, everything should always be up to date and all features that the target group expects/needs should generally be provided. This is also very easy to handle with a website builder. Content - from texts to videos - is inserted in seconds via simple backend functions, and the creation of new pages works just as quickly. As a rule, there are even tools with which content can be edited or optimized directly in the website builder.

Website Builder: What are the typical functions?

There is a multitude of different functions of website builder software. The functions listed below are quite typical. The first core feature is easy operation via drag-and-drop integration and intuitive user guidance. Not only is the design itself, but also the content management is usually greatly simplified by correspondingly end-user-friendly operating mechanisms. Templates that can be adapted for your own purposes usually form the basis of the internet presence from the website builder. Here, users can choose from a variety of fonts to individually design the appearance of their website. A function for creating and managing a blog and/or the possibility to build an online shop are also offered by many providers. A website from a homepage builder usually works not only on the PC. Almost as a standard, the designs are also perfectly usable on mobile and tablet. Various solutions even deliver very good results for business purposes. Often, it is ideal if the homepage builder of choice can already be adapted out of the box to your own business. Then there might be specific templates and other characteristics that are important for online success in your own industry. This could be, for example, a predominant focus of the builder on e-commerce. Often, integrated or bookable SEO options prove to be very advantageous. More and more Social Media features are also found beyond blogging. A domain and the possibility to get professional email addresses is also becoming increasingly common among more providers. Updates are usually handled unnoticed in the background by the provider. Some providers offer comprehensive support for their customers in addition to taking over routine technical administration tasks. It is also important to recognize the weaknesses of a website builder, such as the potentially limited flexibility in the design of specific subpages or functions. Nevertheless, the integration of such systems often offers an excellent balance between user-friendliness and functionality.

Website Builder Comparison: What types of homepage builder software are there?

Homepage builders are practically always offered as Software-as-a-Service solutions (SaaS). This means that users do not have to worry about setting up such a system on servers themselves, and updates as well as long-term maintenance are largely in the hands of the respective provider. The latter provides a more or less individually configurable bundle with central functions, which are needed for the creation and operation of a website or even an online shop. This range of functions and the associated costs constitute the biggest difference in website builders and thus significantly determine the types. Basically, a distinction must be made as to whether a homepage builder is available free of charge or has to be paid for. Furthermore, some providers offer special solutions for individual sectors, such as the creative sector, or specific company sizes, for example, SMEs. Not a few solutions from the website builder comparison are available free of charge up to a certain range of functions and/or service offer. Systems fully designed as homepage builder freeware are virtually non-existent. Most of the time, interested parties do get the basic website builder for free. Essential features, such as a domain, special customization options, or SEO, then have to be paid for extra.

What should you pay particular attention to when choosing a homepage builder?

Interested parties should always pay special attention to the following factors when choosing a website builder.

• Suitable basic orientation: Some builders are already aligned with specific industries, company sizes, or typical requirements of individual companies. If there is such a solution for your own area, it should be checked preferentially.
• Testing usability: Interested parties should definitely get the opportunity to test whether the builder fits their own needs. It is very important to check the usability. Only if this is optimal can the website system be used to maximum advantage. Most providers offer a free trial version.
• Support: In particular, comprehensive direct support can be very important for beginners in the website topic. With some website builders, this support costs extra.
• Website builder price: The price, of course, always plays an important role. For a builder that perfectly meets your own requirements, it can certainly be worthwhile to invest a bit more. After all, you will probably work much more efficiently with it than with a cheaper solution.
• Functions: Customization options, SEO features, a good mobile capability of the eventual website, additional tools that help to offer visitors an excellent experience, direct sales options, or a password-protected area for customers can make a significant contribution to staying one step ahead of the competition.
• Domain and Hosting: Website hosting is practically always included. A domain has to be paid for. The receipt of a suitable domain address should be possible either directly via the builder, or there should be the option to move an external domain to the builder.
• E-mail Accounts: For the business use of a website, you should ensure that email addresses suitable for the entire team can be generated. Such email addresses convey professionalism, seriousness, and trust.