Comparison
Hosted Website Builder vs. Self-Hosted CMS
Two approaches to building a website, compared on clear criteria. There is no universal winner — the right fit depends on your needs.
| Criteria | Hosted builder (e.g. Shopify) | Self-hosted CMS (e.g. WordPress) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup effort | Often straightforward; store setup still takes work | Requires hosting and installation |
| Maintenance | Platform updates handled by the provider | Depends on hosting and support arrangements |
| Flexibility | Within platform limits | Depends on themes, plugins and skills |
| Portability | Content export varies | Greater control over files; portability depends on setup |
| Best suited to | Those who prefer managed infrastructure | Those who want more control over their setup |
Hosted builder (e.g. Shopify)
- Managed hosting
- Provider-managed platform updates
- Ongoing subscription
- Less control over the stack
Self-hosted CMS (e.g. WordPress)
- Open source and portable
- Extensive ecosystem
- Requires upkeep
- Plugin quality varies
There is no overall winner here. Choose based on the criteria that matter most to you.