{"id":16964,"date":"2018-10-22T10:35:46","date_gmt":"2018-10-22T16:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/?p=16964"},"modified":"2021-08-30T17:10:26","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T23:10:26","slug":"the-pros-and-cons-of-choosing-wordpress-vs-a-website-builder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/blog\/the-pros-and-cons-of-choosing-wordpress-vs-a-website-builder\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pros and Cons of WordPress vs a Website Builder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you want to start up\u00a0a membership site, you first have to decide what platform you\u2019ll use to create it. The two simplest methods are to use either a website builder or a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress. However, it can be difficult to choose between the two.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69d4c59ef3c5c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">WHAT'S INSIDE<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69d4c59ef3c5c\"  \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/blog\/the-pros-and-cons-of-choosing-wordpress-vs-a-website-builder\/#How_Is_WordPress_Different_from_a_Website_Builder\" >How Is WordPress Different from a Website Builder?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/blog\/the-pros-and-cons-of-choosing-wordpress-vs-a-website-builder\/#The_Pros_and_Cons_of_Choosing_WordPress_vs_a_Website_Builder\" >The Pros and Cons of Choosing WordPress vs a Website Builder<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/blog\/the-pros-and-cons-of-choosing-wordpress-vs-a-website-builder\/#How_to_Decide_Whether_to_Use_a_Website_Builder_or_WordPress_for_Your_Membership_Site\" >How to Decide Whether to Use a Website Builder or WordPress for Your Membership Site<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/blog\/the-pros-and-cons-of-choosing-wordpress-vs-a-website-builder\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>On the surface, a website builder may seem very similar to WordPress, but there\u2019s actually a world of difference. A website builder is a pared-down tool, where you can add text, images, and other content into a pre-designed template. With WordPress you can do a lot more, such as extending your site\u2019s functionality with themes and plugins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we'll explain the major pros and cons of choosing WordPress as compared to a website builder. Let\u2019s get moving!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Is_WordPress_Different_from_a_Website_Builder\"><\/span>How Is WordPress Different from a Website Builder?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3360\" height=\"1612\" src=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org.png\" alt=\"The WordPress.org home page.\" class=\"wp-image-16972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org.png 3360w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-300x144.png 300w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-1024x491.png 1024w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-768x368.png 768w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-1536x737.png 1536w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-2048x983.png 2048w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-354x170.png 354w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-840x403.png 840w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-1216x583.png 1216w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-1832x879.png 1832w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-700x336.png 700w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-156x75.png 156w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org-1080x518.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3360px) 100vw, 3360px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As the name suggests,\u00a0a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boxmode.com\/templates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website builder<\/a> is a simple tool for creating your own site. Some examples include Squarespace, Weebly, and <a href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/go\/wix\" title=\"Wix Affiliate Link\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow \" target=\"_blank\">Wix<\/a>. On the other hand, WordPress is a <a href=\"https:\/\/searchcontentmanagement.techtarget.com\/definition\/content-management-system-CMS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Content Management System (CMS)<\/a>, which is a solution for managing various types of website content (text, images, video, and so on).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although there are many different CMS platforms, we\u2019re\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/?p=16958\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">focusing on WordPress<\/a>\u00a0in this article because of its ease of use, its popularity, and the many features available. It's important to note that\u00a0<em>WordPress.org<\/em>\u00a0is a CMS, but the company also offers a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">website builder called\u00a0<em>WordPress.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some similarities between WordPress and a website builder. Both offer interfaces that help you create sites without needing to know any code. This is called <a href=\"https:\/\/whatis.techtarget.com\/definition\/WYSIWYG-what-you-see-is-what-you-get\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)<\/a> editing.\u00a0However, you can do a lot more to customize your site in WordPress than you can in a website builder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the main differences between WordPress and a website builder is how hosting works. With a website builder, you are usually stuck using that company\u2019s hosting plan. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogtyrant.com\/15-very-faqs-on-starting-a-self-hosted-blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">WordPress is self-hosted<\/a>, on the other hand, which means you have more flexibility over where your site \u2018lives'.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Pros_and_Cons_of_Choosing_WordPress_vs_a_Website_Builder\"><\/span>The Pros and Cons of Choosing WordPress vs a Website Builder<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When deciding whether to use WordPress or a website builder for your project, you'll first need to understand the advantages and drawbacks of each. Website builders, for example, are incredibly simple to use, which can make them a reasonable place to start if you\u2019ve never touched a website before:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Screen-Shot-2018-10-01-at-1.25.08-PM.png\" alt=\"The Gutenberg editor.\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Another benefit of website builders is that many are free, which means that you can easily start up a blog or website with no commitment. As we mentioned earlier, however, you'll likely end up tied to one hosting provider \u2013 which means you get little control over your site's performance and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Website builders also lack flexibility. If you want a specific look for your website, you\u2019re out of luck unless you can find a theme that perfectly matches what you want.\u00a0Plus, most website builders don\u2019t even offer plugins. Plugins are <a href=\"https:\/\/ithemes.com\/tutorials\/what-are-wordpress-plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">code extensions<\/a> that add functionality to your site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without them, website builders are best for creating very basic sites like blogs or portfolios. This means you may not be able to use a website builder to create a membership site the same way you could in WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress is a deceptively simple CMS. On the surface, it can be almost as easy to use as a website builder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1725\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor.png\" alt=\"The WordPress dashboard.\" class=\"wp-image-16973\" srcset=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor.png 1725w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor-1024x401.png 1024w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor-768x301.png 768w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor-1536x601.png 1536w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor-434x170.png 434w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor-840x329.png 840w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor-1216x476.png 1216w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor-700x274.png 700w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor-156x61.png 156w, https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor-1080x423.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1725px) 100vw, 1725px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, it lets you leverage complex tools to build membership or <a href=\"https:\/\/easyaffiliate.com\/blog\/tag\/affiliate-website\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">affiliate websites<\/a>, among many other options. You can also use whatever host you like, which lets you shop around for the best plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress is far more flexible than a website builder. For example, they both use themes, which are small pieces of software that determine a website\u2019s appearance. However, in WordPress, it\u2019s possible to do <a href=\"https:\/\/websitesetup.org\/customize-wordpress-101\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">advanced theme editing<\/a> and restructure your pages, giving your site a unique look. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A website builder may offer themes, but only enable you to change colors and images. You'll also get access to a lot less theme options overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress also lets you use plugins, which as we explained earlier can drastically expand your site\u2019s functionality. WordPress offers <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">thousands of plugins<\/a>, including an easy tool you can use to build a membership site. MemberPress\u2019 visual interface enables you to define complex user access levels, without knowing any code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, there <em>are<\/em> a few downsides to WordPress. Although it's very easy to learn, for absolute beginners it is slightly more difficult to use than a website builder. It\u2019s also not a completely free option, since you'll have to pay for a domain name and <a href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/go\/wpe\/pricing\" title=\"WPengine Affiliate Link\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow \" target=\"_blank\">web hosting<\/a> to get your site online. Fortunately, in most cases those start-up costs end up being very low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Decide_Whether_to_Use_a_Website_Builder_or_WordPress_for_Your_Membership_Site\"><\/span>How to Decide Whether to Use a Website Builder or WordPress for Your Membership Site<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what platform should you build your membership site with? There are some clear advantages to choosing WordPress, since you'll get:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Access to easy-to-use membership site tools:<\/strong>\u00a0For example, you can use the MemberPress plugin to define complex user access levels and manage payments.<\/li><li><strong>The chance to create a unique look:<\/strong> Since WordPress offers more themes and lets you customize them fully, you can visually set your site apart from the pack.<\/li><li><strong>Flexible hosting options:<\/strong> You can find a hosting plan that offers exactly what you want at a reasonable price, instead of being tied to one provider.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, we'd recommend WordPress for most users. It requires a bit more learning than a website builder does, and comes with some small start-up costs, but all-in-all it's a far more powerful and convenient option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re not ready to go straight to WordPress, however, or if you want to start your site completely for free, you could initially build your site using <em>WordPress.com<\/em>. Then, when you feel more comfortable with the platform, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theblogstarter.com\/how-to-move-your-wordpress-com-blog-to-your-own-domain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">transfer your site to <em>WordPress.org<\/em><\/a> easily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just keep in mind that you will need the self-hosted version of WordPress if you want to use MemberPress (or any plugin) to add functionality to your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you can build your membership website, you'll need to decide whether to use a website builder or a CMS such as WordPress. Website builders offer the ultimate in simplicity and ease of use, while a CMS will give you many more options when it comes to the way your site looks and performs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For most people, we recommend using WordPress due to its increased flexibility, functionality, and freedom as compared to a website builder. Even though WordPress is <em>slightly<\/em> more difficult to get started with, it\u2019s still very intuitive and beginner-friendly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, creating a membership site will be a breeze, since you can simply download and install a simple <a href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">membership tool<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have any questions about WordPress or website builders in general? Let us know in the comments section below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you liked this article, be sure to follow us on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/memberpress\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/memberpress\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/memberpress\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/showcase\/memberpress\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">LinkedIn<\/a>! And don't forget to subscribe in the <a href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/go\/box\" title=\"Box affiliate link\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow \" target=\"_blank\">box<\/a> below.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you want to start up\u00a0a membership site, you first have to decide what platform you\u2019ll use to create it. The two simplest methods are to use either a website builder or a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress. However, it can be difficult to choose between the two. On the surface, a website builder [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76756,"featured_media":17037,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_strive_editorial_status":"not-started","_strive_copy_of":0,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","_strive_checklists":"\"\"","_strive_active_checklist":"62291e2bb2422","_strive_post_notes":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[145],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-16964","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tools","8":"entry"},"acf":{"plans":["scale"],"is_featured":false,"download_source":"none","mothership_slug":"","download_url":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.5.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"To create your membership site, two of the top options are website builders and WordPress. 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The two simplest methods are to use either a website builder or a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress. However, it can be difficult to choose between the two.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"If you want to start up&nbsp;a membership site, you first have to decide what platform you\u2019ll use to create it. The two simplest methods are to use either a website builder or a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress. However, it can be difficult to choose between the two."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>On the surface, a website builder may seem very similar to WordPress, but there\u2019s actually a world of difference. A website builder is a pared-down tool, where you can add text, images, and other content into a pre-designed template. With WordPress you can do a lot more, such as extending your site\u2019s functionality with themes and plugins.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"On the surface, a website builder may seem very similar to WordPress, but there\u2019s actually a world of difference. A website builder is a pared-down tool, where you can add text, images, and other content into a pre-designed template. With WordPress you can do a lot more, such as extending your site\u2019s functionality with themes and plugins."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>In this article, we'll explain the major pros and cons of choosing WordPress as compared to a website builder. Let\u2019s get moving!<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"In this article, we'll explain the major pros and cons of choosing WordPress as compared to a website builder. Let\u2019s get moving!"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/heading","render":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Is WordPress Different from a Website Builder?<\/h2>","content":"How Is WordPress Different from a Website Builder?","data":[],"style":{"align":"left","parent_style":{},"header":"h2","fontSize":"27px"}},{"type":"core\/image","render":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img src=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org.png\" alt=\"The WordPress.org home page.\" class=\"wp-image-16972\"\/><\/figure><\/div>","content":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org.png","data":{"alt":"The WordPress.org home page.","src":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-org.png","align":"center"},"style":{"width":3360,"height":1612,"align":"center","parent_style":{},"alignSelf":"center"}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>As the name suggests,\u00a0a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boxmode.com\/templates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website builder<\/a> is a simple tool for creating your own site. Some examples include Squarespace, Weebly, and Wix. On the other hand, WordPress is a <a href=\"https:\/\/searchcontentmanagement.techtarget.com\/definition\/content-management-system-CMS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Content Management System (CMS)<\/a>, which is a solution for managing various types of website content (text, images, video, and so on).<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"As the name suggests,\u00a0a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boxmode.com\/templates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website builder<\/a> is a simple tool for creating your own site. Some examples include Squarespace, Weebly, and Wix. On the other hand, WordPress is a <a href=\"https:\/\/searchcontentmanagement.techtarget.com\/definition\/content-management-system-CMS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Content Management System (CMS)<\/a>, which is a solution for managing various types of website content (text, images, video, and so on)."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Although there are many different CMS platforms, we\u2019re&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/?p=16958\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">focusing on WordPress<\/a>&nbsp;in this article because of its ease of use, its popularity, and the many features available. It's important to note that&nbsp;<em>WordPress.org<\/em>&nbsp;is a CMS, but the company also offers a&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">website builder called&nbsp;<em>WordPress.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Although there are many different CMS platforms, we\u2019re&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/?p=16958\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">focusing on WordPress<\/a>&nbsp;in this article because of its ease of use, its popularity, and the many features available. It's important to note that&nbsp;<em>WordPress.org<\/em>&nbsp;is a CMS, but the company also offers a&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">website builder called&nbsp;<em>WordPress.com<\/em><\/a>."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>There are some similarities between WordPress and a website builder. Both offer interfaces that help you create sites without needing to know any code. This is called <a href=\"https:\/\/whatis.techtarget.com\/definition\/WYSIWYG-what-you-see-is-what-you-get\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)<\/a> editing.&nbsp;However, you can do a lot more to customize your site in WordPress than you can in a website builder.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"There are some similarities between WordPress and a website builder. Both offer interfaces that help you create sites without needing to know any code. This is called <a href=\"https:\/\/whatis.techtarget.com\/definition\/WYSIWYG-what-you-see-is-what-you-get\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)<\/a> editing.&nbsp;However, you can do a lot more to customize your site in WordPress than you can in a website builder."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>One of the main differences between WordPress and a website builder is how hosting works. With a website builder, you are usually stuck using that company\u2019s hosting plan. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogtyrant.com\/15-very-faqs-on-starting-a-self-hosted-blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">WordPress is self-hosted<\/a>, on the other hand, which means you have more flexibility over where your site 'lives'.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"One of the main differences between WordPress and a website builder is how hosting works. With a website builder, you are usually stuck using that company\u2019s hosting plan. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogtyrant.com\/15-very-faqs-on-starting-a-self-hosted-blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">WordPress is self-hosted<\/a>, on the other hand, which means you have more flexibility over where your site 'lives'."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/heading","render":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Pros and Cons of Choosing WordPress vs a Website Builder<\/h2>","content":"The Pros and Cons of Choosing WordPress vs a Website Builder","data":[],"style":{"align":"left","parent_style":{},"header":"h2","fontSize":"27px"}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>When deciding whether to use WordPress or a website builder for your project, you'll first need to understand the advantages and drawbacks of each. Website builders, for example, are incredibly simple to use, which can make them a reasonable place to start if you\u2019ve never touched a website before:<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"When deciding whether to use WordPress or a website builder for your project, you'll first need to understand the advantages and drawbacks of each. Website builders, for example, are incredibly simple to use, which can make them a reasonable place to start if you\u2019ve never touched a website before:"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/image","render":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img src=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Screen-Shot-2018-10-01-at-1.25.08-PM.png\" alt=\"The Gutenberg editor.\"\/><\/figure><\/div>","content":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Screen-Shot-2018-10-01-at-1.25.08-PM.png","data":{"alt":"The Gutenberg editor.","src":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Screen-Shot-2018-10-01-at-1.25.08-PM.png","align":"center"},"style":{"width":1276,"height":694,"align":"center","parent_style":{},"alignSelf":"center"}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Another benefit of website builders is that many are free, which means that you can easily start up a blog or website with no commitment. As we mentioned earlier, however, you'll likely end up tied to one hosting provider \u2013 which means you get little control over your site's performance and security.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Another benefit of website builders is that many are free, which means that you can easily start up a blog or website with no commitment. As we mentioned earlier, however, you'll likely end up tied to one hosting provider \u2013 which means you get little control over your site's performance and security."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Website builders also lack flexibility. If you want a specific look for your website, you\u2019re out of luck unless you can find a theme that perfectly matches what you want.\u00a0Plus, most website builders don\u2019t even offer plugins. Plugins are <a href=\"https:\/\/ithemes.com\/tutorials\/what-are-wordpress-plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">code extensions<\/a> that add functionality to your site. <\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Website builders also lack flexibility. If you want a specific look for your website, you\u2019re out of luck unless you can find a theme that perfectly matches what you want.\u00a0Plus, most website builders don\u2019t even offer plugins. Plugins are <a href=\"https:\/\/ithemes.com\/tutorials\/what-are-wordpress-plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">code extensions<\/a> that add functionality to your site. "}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Without them, website builders are best for creating very basic sites like blogs or portfolios. This means you may not be able to use a website builder to create a membership site the same way you could in WordPress.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Without them, website builders are best for creating very basic sites like blogs or portfolios. This means you may not be able to use a website builder to create a membership site the same way you could in WordPress."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>WordPress is a deceptively simple CMS. On the surface, it can be almost as easy to use as a website builder:<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"WordPress is a deceptively simple CMS. On the surface, it can be almost as easy to use as a website builder:"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/image","render":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor.png\" alt=\"The WordPress dashboard.\" class=\"wp-image-16973\"\/><\/figure>","content":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor.png","data":{"alt":"The WordPress dashboard.","src":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wordpress-editor.png"},"style":{"width":1725,"height":675,"align":"left","parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>At the same time, it lets you leverage complex tools to build membership or <a href=\"https:\/\/easyaffiliate.com\/blog\/tag\/affiliate-website\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">affiliate websites<\/a>, among many other options. You can also use whatever host you like, which lets you shop around for the best plan.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"At the same time, it lets you leverage complex tools to build membership or <a href=\"https:\/\/easyaffiliate.com\/blog\/tag\/affiliate-website\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">affiliate websites<\/a>, among many other options. You can also use whatever host you like, which lets you shop around for the best plan."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>WordPress is far more flexible than a website builder. For example, they both use themes, which are small pieces of software that determine a website\u2019s appearance. However, in WordPress, it\u2019s possible to do <a href=\"https:\/\/websitesetup.org\/customize-wordpress-101\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">advanced theme editing<\/a> and restructure your pages, giving your site a unique look. \u00a0<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"WordPress is far more flexible than a website builder. For example, they both use themes, which are small pieces of software that determine a website\u2019s appearance. However, in WordPress, it\u2019s possible to do <a href=\"https:\/\/websitesetup.org\/customize-wordpress-101\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">advanced theme editing<\/a> and restructure your pages, giving your site a unique look. \u00a0"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>A website builder may offer themes, but only enable you to change colors and images. You'll also get access to a lot less theme options overall.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"A website builder may offer themes, but only enable you to change colors and images. You'll also get access to a lot less theme options overall."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>WordPress also lets you use plugins, which as we explained earlier can drastically expand your site\u2019s functionality. WordPress offers <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">thousands of plugins<\/a>, including an easy tool you can use to build a membership site. MemberPress\u2019 visual interface enables you to define complex user access levels, without knowing any code.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"WordPress also lets you use plugins, which as we explained earlier can drastically expand your site\u2019s functionality. WordPress offers <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">thousands of plugins<\/a>, including an easy tool you can use to build a membership site. MemberPress\u2019 visual interface enables you to define complex user access levels, without knowing any code."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Of course, there <em>are<\/em> a few downsides to WordPress. Although it's very easy to learn, for absolute beginners it is slightly more difficult to use than a website builder. It\u2019s also not a completely free option, since you'll have to pay for a domain name and web hosting to get your site online. Fortunately, in most cases those start-up costs end up being very low.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Of course, there <em>are<\/em> a few downsides to WordPress. Although it's very easy to learn, for absolute beginners it is slightly more difficult to use than a website builder. It\u2019s also not a completely free option, since you'll have to pay for a domain name and web hosting to get your site online. Fortunately, in most cases those start-up costs end up being very low."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/heading","render":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Decide Whether to Use a Website Builder or WordPress for Your Membership Site<\/h2>","content":"How to Decide Whether to Use a Website Builder or WordPress for Your Membership Site","data":[],"style":{"align":"left","parent_style":{},"header":"h2","fontSize":"27px"}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>So, what platform should you build your membership site with? There are some clear advantages to choosing WordPress, since you'll get:<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"So, what platform should you build your membership site with? There are some clear advantages to choosing WordPress, since you'll get:"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/list","render":"<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Access to easy-to-use membership site tools:<\/strong>&nbsp;For example, you can use the MemberPress plugin to define complex user access levels and manage payments.<\/li><li><strong>The chance to create a unique look:<\/strong> Since WordPress offers more themes and lets you customize them fully, you can visually set your site apart from the pack.<\/li><li><strong>Flexible hosting options:<\/strong> You can find a hosting plan that offers exactly what you want at a reasonable price, instead of being tied to one provider.<\/li><\/ul>","content":"<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Access to easy-to-use membership site tools:<\/strong>&nbsp;For example, you can use the MemberPress plugin to define complex user access levels and manage payments.<\/li><li><strong>The chance to create a unique look:<\/strong> Since WordPress offers more themes and lets you customize them fully, you can visually set your site apart from the pack.<\/li><li><strong>Flexible hosting options:<\/strong> You can find a hosting plan that offers exactly what you want at a reasonable price, instead of being tied to one provider.<\/li><\/ul>","data":{"listType":"unordered"},"style":{"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Overall, we'd recommend WordPress for most users. It requires a bit more learning than a website builder does, and comes with some small start-up costs, but all-in-all it's a far more powerful and convenient option.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Overall, we'd recommend WordPress for most users. It requires a bit more learning than a website builder does, and comes with some small start-up costs, but all-in-all it's a far more powerful and convenient option."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>If you\u2019re not ready to go straight to WordPress, however, or if you want to start your site completely for free, you could initially build your site using <em>WordPress.com<\/em>. Then, when you feel more comfortable with the platform, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theblogstarter.com\/how-to-move-your-wordpress-com-blog-to-your-own-domain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">transfer your site to <em>WordPress.org<\/em><\/a> easily. <\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"If you\u2019re not ready to go straight to WordPress, however, or if you want to start your site completely for free, you could initially build your site using <em>WordPress.com<\/em>. Then, when you feel more comfortable with the platform, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theblogstarter.com\/how-to-move-your-wordpress-com-blog-to-your-own-domain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">transfer your site to <em>WordPress.org<\/em><\/a> easily. "}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Just keep in mind that you will need the self-hosted version of WordPress if you want to use MemberPress (or any plugin) to add functionality to your site.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Just keep in mind that you will need the self-hosted version of WordPress if you want to use MemberPress (or any plugin) to add functionality to your site."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/heading","render":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>","content":"Conclusion","data":[],"style":{"align":"left","parent_style":{},"header":"h2","fontSize":"27px"}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Before you can build your membership website, you'll need to decide whether to use a website builder or a CMS such as WordPress. Website builders offer the ultimate in simplicity and ease of use, while a CMS will give you many more options when it comes to the way your site looks and performs.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Before you can build your membership website, you'll need to decide whether to use a website builder or a CMS such as WordPress. Website builders offer the ultimate in simplicity and ease of use, while a CMS will give you many more options when it comes to the way your site looks and performs."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>For most people, we recommend using WordPress due to its increased flexibility, functionality, and freedom as compared to a website builder. Even though WordPress is <em>slightly<\/em> more difficult to get started with, it\u2019s still very intuitive and beginner-friendly. <\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"For most people, we recommend using WordPress due to its increased flexibility, functionality, and freedom as compared to a website builder. Even though WordPress is <em>slightly<\/em> more difficult to get started with, it\u2019s still very intuitive and beginner-friendly. "}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Plus, creating a membership site will be a breeze, since you can simply download and install a simple <a href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">membership tool<\/a>.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Plus, creating a membership site will be a breeze, since you can simply download and install a simple <a href=\"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">membership tool<\/a>."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Do you have any questions about WordPress or website builders in general? Let us know in the comments section below!<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Do you have any questions about WordPress or website builders in general? Let us know in the comments section below!"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p><strong>If you liked this article, be sure to follow us on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/memberpress\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/memberpress\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/memberpress\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/showcase\/memberpress\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">LinkedIn<\/a>! And don't forget to subscribe in the box below.<\/strong><\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"<strong>If you liked this article, be sure to follow us on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/memberpress\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/memberpress\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/memberpress\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/showcase\/memberpress\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">LinkedIn<\/a>! And don't forget to subscribe in the box below.<\/strong>"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}}],"app_access":{"can_access":true,"restrict_message":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/76756"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16964\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17037"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}