Key facts
- A website builder combines design tools and hosting in one subscription.
- Sites made on a builder usually cannot be exported and moved to another host intact.
- Your own hosting lets you run open-source software such as WordPress, Joomla or Drupal.
- With your own hosting you can move the files and database to any compatible host.
- Builders limit custom code, server settings and some third-party integrations to varying degrees.
- dijitul Complete Hosting runs your own site at £1 a day + VAT, with migration included.
Renting a platform vs owning your site
A website builder is an all-in-one service: you design pages in the browser and the builder hosts them. It is quick and needs no technical knowledge. Your own hosting means you run your website software, such as WordPress, on a hosting account you control.
The key difference is ownership. On a builder you rent the platform and work within its rules. With your own hosting the files and database are yours, and you can move them whenever you like.
Website builder vs own hosting compared
| Factor | Website builder | Own hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Very quick, templates included | Needs setup, or a host to do it |
| Ownership | Site lives on the platform | Files and database are yours |
| Moving away | Usually means a rebuild | Copy to any compatible host |
| Custom code and plugins | Limited to what the platform allows | Any PHP, plugins or custom code |
| Server settings | Not available | PHP version, memory limits, cron |
| Ongoing cost | Subscription, often rising with add-ons | Hosting plus any paid plugins |
| Upkeep | Done by the platform | Your job, unless hosting is managed |
When a website builder is a good choice
Builders are a sensible choice when:
- You need a simple site live this week and have no budget for a designer.
- The site is a few pages with contact details and a form.
- You do not expect to add bookings, custom integrations or a large shop.
- You are happy to rebuild later if the business outgrows it.
Plenty of small businesses start this way. Just go in knowing that moving later normally means starting again.
When your own hosting wins
Your own hosting makes more sense as the website becomes more important. Signs it is time to move:
- You need a feature the builder cannot do, such as a booking system or a specific payment provider.
- Subscription and app costs keep creeping up.
- You want full control of SEO, page speed or tracking scripts.
- A developer needs server access, cron jobs, Composer or a particular PHP extension.
- You want to own the site outright and be free to change host.
The worry most owners have is upkeep. That is solved by managed hosting, where the host handles server updates, security, SSL and backups. Read more on our website builder alternative page, or see WordPress hosting if WordPress is your likely next step.
Planning a move off a website builder
If you decide to leave a builder, plan it so you do not lose enquiries or search rankings:
- List every page and its current web address.
- Download your text, images and any form submissions or customer data you are allowed to export.
- Rebuild the site in a CMS such as WordPress on your new hosting, ideally on a temporary address first.
- Set up 301 redirects from old page addresses to the new ones.
- Move DNS to point the domain at the new host and check SSL.
- Cancel the builder subscription only once everything is live and tested.
If the domain was bought through the builder, transfer it to a registrar or host in your name first.
How dijitul helps
dijitul Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT gives you your own website without the upkeep. It includes managed hosting, Plesk, 10 POP3/IMAP email accounts, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups kept for 14 days, free SSL and a domain registration or renewal each year. If you already run your own site elsewhere, migration is included. Moving off a builder usually means a rebuild, and dijitul, as a UK web agency since 2006, can quote for that too. Order online or call 01623 650333.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move my website from a website builder to my own hosting?
Usually not directly. Most website builders do not let you export a working copy of the site. You can normally copy your text and images, but the design and pages need rebuilding in a CMS such as WordPress on your own hosting. Plan the move and set up redirects to protect search rankings.
Is a website builder cheaper than hosting?
At the start it can be, because design tools and hosting come together. Over time, upgrades, apps and higher tiers can add up. Your own hosting plus open-source software such as WordPress often costs a similar amount and gives you more control and ownership.
Do I own my website on a website builder?
You own your content, such as text and images, but the site itself runs on the builder's platform and depends on your subscription. If you stop paying, the site goes offline. With your own hosting, the files and database are yours to keep and move.
Is WordPress on my own hosting hard to manage?
It needs regular updates to WordPress, plugins and themes, plus backups and security. On unmanaged hosting that is your job. On managed hosting, the host looks after the server, SSL and backups, and many tasks become routine rather than technical.
What does dijitul offer instead of a website builder?
dijitul offers managed Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT for your own website, including Plesk, 10 email accounts, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups kept for 14 days, free SSL and a domain each year. As a UK web agency since 2006, dijitul can also quote to rebuild a builder site.
Related
Set it up and forget about it
Managed hosting, Plesk, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups and your domain for £1 a day + VAT. We move your site for you.