Having your own website is every entrepreneur’s dream. However, the biggest pebble in their shoe is choosing between a website builder or a content management system (CMS). After all, your choice can impact everything—from how your site looks to how easy it is to manage.

Truth be told, website builders are the easier choice for site owners who are just starting out. And CMS is a better fit for business owners who love customisation and demand scalability. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Each option has its strengths and weaknesses. Your decision should factor in the following:

  • Your customer’s needs
  • How well-versed you are technically
  • Your site’s long-term goals

In this article, we’ll break down the differences between website builders and CMS platforms to help you make the right choice. Let’s go!

What Is a Website Builder?

A website builder, like Crazy Domains, is a platform that allows you to create and launch a website, even if you don’t know how to code. It combines essential services such as hosting and domain registration in one package.

Plus, it offers simple drag-and-drop tools and pre-designed templates to help you quickly design and publish your site. Many builders also offer built-in tools to help with SEO and track your website’s performance.

What Is a Content Management System (CMS)?

A CMS is software that helps you create and manage a website. Unlike website builders, it gives you a framework to build your site and offers flexibility through themes and plugins.

For example, if you’re starting a food blog, a CMS like WordPress lets you choose a theme specifically designed for recipe websites:

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You can then add plugins to display nutrition facts, create a recipe index, or even allow readers to leave reviews.

If you have some technical skills, you can take things further—tweak the layout, add custom features, or adjust your site’s code to fit your exact needs.

Which Platform Is Better for You: CMS or Website Builder?

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Revenues from CMS are constantly on the rise. Popular website builders, too, have gained momentum in terms of revenue:

In this section, we will compare website builders and CMS with respect to user-friendliness, cost, features, design and customisation, and scalability potential.

Website Builder and CMS: Which is More User-Friendly?

The first criterion we’ll decode is ease of use. 

Website Builders: Easy. Fast. Beginner-Friendly.

If we were to compare, website builders are a “plug-and-play” option for creating a site. You get drag-and-drop editors, which makes it incredibly intuitive. This is why 62.2% of all websites are powered by WordPress today. You don’t need to know how to code. The process feels more like customising a presentation!

For instance, if you’re launching an online store, you can choose a template, experiment with colours and fonts, and add your products in one session.

Plus, hosting and domains are typically bundled, so you won’t need to shop for separate providers. However, you might find yourself stuck if you want to customise beyond the options provided. Builders cater to speed and ease, but they often sacrifice flexibility.

Use Case: Let’s assume you want to create a portfolio website for your photography. A website builder lets you drag your photos into beautiful pre-set grids. On the off chance you want a specific type of gallery effect that’s not built-in, you will be left hanging dry.

Content Management Systems (CMS): Flexible but Demanding

CMS platforms offer a slightly different experience. They’re highly customisable but equally complex. While they do provide visual interfaces, the setup process takes more effort.

For example, you’ll need to secure a hosting plan and domain separately, install the CMS, and add plugins for features like SEO or payment processing.

This extra work pays off in flexibility. Pre-designed templates do not bind you—you can edit almost every aspect of your site. Need a membership site, multilingual capabilities, or an advanced booking system? A CMS can handle all of that.

But beware, there’s a catch: More flexibility means more responsibility. Outdated plugins and themes can lead to security vulnerabilities. You’ll need to handle updates and troubleshoot issues manually. And while there are forums and tutorials, there’s no one-click support like you’d find with website builders.

Use Case: Let’s say you’re building an eCommerce store with complex features like subscription boxes and advanced shipping rules. A CMS will step in and help you but you’ll end up spending more time configuring the site compared to using a builder.

The Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

If you want speed and simplicity, go for a website builder. And if your goal is to create a site that grows with your business and adapts to unique needs, a CMS gives you the tools to do so—provided you’re ready to put in the work.

Website Builder and CMS: Which is Costlier?

The second criterion is cost and budgeting. If you’ve ever tried to DIY a site using multiple tools, you know how quickly those extra costs add up.

Website Builders: Predictable Pricing

Website builders such as Crazy Domains offer straightforward pricing, which makes budgeting easy. You can start out with the free plan for your personal project to gauge fit.

If you want a professional site, paid plans are the way to go. Crazy Domains, for example, offers an affordable option that bundles hosting, a free domain for a year, domain-based email, and unlimited SSL certificates in one package.

Crazy Domains also includes built-in AI and SEO tools, traffic analytics, and eCommerce functionality so that you don’t need to buy additional plugins.

Website builders offer pre-designed templates and even stock images for free, which CMS users usually need to purchase separately.

Use Case: Let’s say you’re a small business owner who wants to launch an online eCommerce store. With Crazy Domain’s eCommerce Builder, you get AI Builder, ready website templates, and AI Writer Tools to help you build your online store and manage your orders with on-the-go editing:

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This all-inclusive approach saves time and keeps costs predictable.

CMS: Flexible but Potentially Expensive

CMS platforms like WordPress start with the allure of being “free.” While the software itself might not cost anything, you’ll soon realize there are additional expenses. Hosting and domain names are separate purchases, and many essential features require premium plugins or themes.

Here’s a rough breakdown of what you might spend with a CMS:

  • Hosting: AUD 7.50–27/month
  • Domain: AUD 15–30/year
  • SSL Certificates: AUD 15–150/year
  • Premium Themes: AUD 75–300 each
  • Plugins: AUD 15–1,500 depending on functionality

For basic websites, you can avoid some costs by sticking to free themes and plugins. However, if you’re building a feature-rich eCommerce site, the expenses pile up quickly.

Use Case: Let’s say you want an advanced booking system for your site. You’d likely need to buy a premium plugin, ensure it’s compatible with your theme, and spend time configuring it—possibly hiring help. As you can imagine, this level of customization can be pricey (and time-consuming).

The Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

If you want a quick, affordable way to build a website, go with a website builder like Crazy Domains. It’s simple, budget-friendly, and doesn’t require any technical skills. You can set up a professional-looking site in no time. This makes it a great option for small businesses or anyone short on time and money.

Need more control or advanced features? A CMS might be a better fit. It’s more flexible and lets you customize your site exactly how you want. But it’s also more expensive and needs regular upkeep. Think about your budget, goals, and how much time you’re willing to invest before making a decision.

Website Builder and CMS: Which Provides More Features?

In your quest to compare a CMS and a website builder, the next criteria are the features and functionalities each platform offers.

Website Builder: Simple and Pre-Packaged Features

At its core, website builders are all about convenience. Most of their features come baked into the platform, which means you don’t have to hunt for plugins or figure out how to install them. For instance, a builder like Crazy Domains comes with ready-to-use eCommerce tools, such as inventory management, payment gateways, and order tracking—perfect for small businesses that want to start selling online yesterday:

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Some website builders go a step further with AI-driven tools. Crazy Domains offers an AI-powered tools for writing and visualization so you can get a professional-looking site without needing a designer. These extras save time and cut costs for beginners.

CMS: Limitless Possibilities (But With a Learning Curve)

A CMS is all about customisation. Most platforms offer massive plugin libraries to add practically any feature you can dream of—SEO tools, membership systems, advanced analytics; you name it. If you can’t find a plugin for what you need, you can even create one yourself (or hire a developer to do it).

This level of flexibility makes CMS platforms ideal for websites with specific and evolving needs. However, adding too many plugins can slow your site down or make it harder to troubleshoot if something goes wrong. 

Use Case: Imagine you’re a photographer building a portfolio site. With a CMS, you can pick from tons of portfolio plugins to showcase your work exactly how you envision it.

Want a fancy grid layout or an interactive gallery? There’s probably a plugin for that. But here’s the catch—if two plugins don’t get along, you could spend hours trying to fix the problem. And if you’re not tech-savvy, you might end up calling a friend or hiring a pro to sort it out!

The Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re looking to get a website live quickly and without stress, a website builder is a great choice. It gives you everything you need—designs, hosting, and tools—in one place.

You can pick a template, add your content, and launch within hours.
On the other hand, if your site has unique needs—like custom features or integrations—a CMS is your better bet. It gives you more freedom to add tools, adjust the layout, and customise every detail.

But you’ll need to handle updates, sort out any problems, and maybe even hire help if things get tricky. It’s perfect if you’re aiming for something unique and are okay with spending more time making it happen.

Website Builder and CMS: Which Offers Better Design and Customization?

Next up, we’ll deep dive into factors such as design and customization.

Website Builder: Quick and Easy

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Website builders are mindfully conceived to simplify the art of creating a site. The platform offers 13,000+ free plugins! It comes with pre-made templates that look professional right out of the box and are fully optimised for search engines.

Moreover, you can customise fonts, colours, and layouts without touching a single line of code. The beauty of a website builder lies in its ease of use. Even if you’re new to website creation, you can have a polished site up and running in no time

Use Case: Say you’re opening an online coffee shop and want an inviting design. A website builder like Shopify can give you a ready-made template that fits into your site’s vision like a dream:

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But if you want a custom map integration showing local coffee bean suppliers, you might hit a wall.

CMS: Limitless Customization

A CMS is a playground for creativity for those with some imagination. It offers a vast selection of themes from both official sources and third-party providers such as ThemeForest, where you’ll find tens of thousands of options. Unlike website builders, you’re not tied to a single library—you can explore countless styles to find the perfect fit.

Customization is where a CMS truly shines. You can edit themes, add custom CSS, or even build your own design from scratch if you know how to code.

The flexibility allows you to customize every aspect of your website to fit your brand’s personality and functional needs at the same time. That said, customization on a CMS often requires technical skills or a solid budget to hire a developer. And if you’re not careful, over-customization can slow down your site.

Use Case: If you’re launching an art portfolio, a CMS like Canva lets you build intricate galleries with animations and filters that showcase your work uniquely:

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The Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re short on time and need a polished site with minimal fuss, a website builder is your best bet. It’s perfect for users who want simplicity without sacrificing a professional look. On the flip side, if you have a specific vision for your website or anticipate making frequent customizations as your needs evolve, a CMS is the better choice.

Website Builder and CMS: Which Offers More Scalability?

Scaling your website is inevitable—whether that’s accommodating more traffic, expanding features, or optimizing performance. 

Website Builder: Not Entirely Scalable

Website builders streamline everything, but their simplicity can sometimes feel restrictive when your site starts growing.

Most builders tie you to their hosting platform, which can be a challenge if you ever need to move. Migrating to a new host often means recreating your site from scratch—definitely not ideal for an established site with complex features.

On the bright side, some website builders, like Crazy Domains, make scaling easier by offering high-performance hosting and built-in optimizations.

For instance, image resizing and placement are automated to improve page load times—a critical factor for keeping visitors on your site. If your traffic spikes, it lets you seamlessly upgrade to cloud hosting for better performance without you needing to dig into technical settings.

CMS: Built for Growth

If scaling is your priority, a CMS allows you to fine-tune almost every aspect of your site’s performance, from optimizing your database to adding caching plugins. A CMS also makes it easier to switch hosting providers or upgrade to a better plan if your current setup can’t handle your traffic.

However, managing scalability with a CMS often requires technical know-how. Clearing database clutter, optimizing server-side scripts, and ensuring that your plugins don’t slow things down are tasks that demand either hands-on expertise.

The Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

If you value convenience and aren’t expecting rapid growth in the immediate months, a website builder is a smart choice. Platforms such as Crazy Domains are perfect for small-to-medium sites that benefit from integrated tools and straightforward upgrades.

On the other hand, if you’re building something with long-term scalability in mind—like a growing eCommerce store or a high-traffic blog—a CMS offers the freedom to expand without limits.

Website Builders vs CMS: A Tabular Comparison

To wrap up, here’s a quick run through of both platforms for your convenience:

Feature

Website Builder

CMS

Ease of Use Easy, drag-and-drop interface Requires technical skills and understanding
Setup Time Quick setup, ready to go in minutes Longer setup, needs separate hosting and domain
Cost Cheaper, often includes hosting, domain, and tools More expensive due to hosting, plugins, and development costs
Features Limited to what the platform offers Expandable with plugins and custom development
Customization Limited to built-in tools and templates Fully customizable with coding and plugins
Design Templates Typically 150+ templates or more, easy to modify Over 49,000 themes, both free and premium
Hosting & Migration Hosting included, migration often limited or not possible Easy to migrate to different hosts and platforms
Maintenance & Security Platform handles updates and security automatically Requires manual updates and security management

When Should You Go With a Website Builder?

  • Quick Setup Is Key: If you need a website live yesterday—whether for a personal project, small business, or portfolio—website builders let you get up and running fast.
  • You Have a Limited Budget: Builders include hosting, domain, and design tools in one package, which makes them much more affordable than a CMS, where you’d pay separately for everything.
  • You Don’t Want to Deal With the Technical Stuff: Website builders are perfect for those who want a website without the headache of maintaining it. Updates, security, and backups are all handled for you.
  • You’re Planning to Scale, but Only Moderately: If you’re building a small-to-medium business website that you’ll upgrade as needed, look for a builder that offers migration options.

When Should You Go With a CMS?

  • You Need Flexibility and Scalability: If your website is going to grow and needs complex features, or if you want to be able to add custom tools down the road, a CMS is an ideal choice.
  • You Have Some Technical Know-How (Or Resources to Hire Help): Building and maintaining a CMS-based website requires more skill. If you’re ready to learn (or hire a developer), a CMS can give you the freedom you need.
  • You Want Control over Every Aspect of Your Site: If design, functionality, and performance are non-negotiable, a CMS offers far more customization than a website builder ever will.
  • You’re Building Something Long-Term: Whether it’s a massive eCommerce site or a high-traffic blog, CMS platforms are built to handle big, growing websites.

Crazy Domains: Have You Tried the Best Website Builder for Your Site Yet?

Choosing between a website builder and a CMS isn’t about picking the “better option—it’s about what fits your needs best. Ask yourself:

  • What’s the purpose of your site?
  • What kind of experience do you want your visitors to have?
  • Do you want a site that offers a streamlined or a more multifaceted experience?

If you’re aiming for a fast and straightforward setup, especially for an online store or portfolio, a website builder is your go-to. It’s quick, easy, and requires minimal effort.

But a CMS offers unmatched flexibility and control if you’re looking to build a site with advanced features, intricate workflows, and room for growth.

It all comes down to your goals and your audience’s expectations. Take the time to evaluate what you need—both now and in the future—and let that guide your choice.

To give you a head start, consider Crazy Domain’s website builder capabilities that come power-packed with rich features such as:

  • AI Builder and AI Writer tools
  • Drag-and-drop features
  • Customisable templates
  • eCommerce platform

Visit our site to build a highly-personalised site within minutes today!