When starting a website, one big decision is whether to use a website builder like Wix or WordPress, or go full manual with coding. Each approach has pros and cons depending on your goals, budget, and skill level.

Website builders are great for beginners. They offer drag-and-drop tools, built-in templates, and zero coding required. You can build a nice-looking site in just a few hours. Perfect for portfolios, small businesses, or personal blogs.

However, manual coding gives you total freedom. Want custom animations, unique features, or integration with APIs? You’ll need to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It takes longer to build, but the flexibility is unbeatable.

The downside of coding everything yourself? It can be time-consuming and requires regular maintenance. You also need hosting that supports your setup — not all cheap hosts are friendly to custom-coded sites.

If you’re unsure where to start, platforms like web hosting for developers can help compare builders vs custom solutions based on your needs, and even recommend hosting that fits your choice.