When it comes to professional website development, the choice of the right web design tool seems to be crucial. If you manage to pick the right service, then your project will be a success. If you don’t, then the chances to fail will be rather high.
There are many types of web design tools available in the contemporary web construction niche. Your task is to pick the one that absolutely adheres to your requirements, expectations, goals, skills and pricing preferences. One of the problems users frequently encounter is the choice between SaaS and Hosted solutions. Let’s figure out the major differences and common features of both systems types to help you select the right web design tool now.
SaaS and Hosted Platforms: What Are the Differences?
- SaaS (Software As a Service) is a kind of a business model, when the software is built on a web platform and becomes accessible via the Internet. It’s up to you to pick the subscription the system offers based on your needs and expectations. SaaS systems can be accessed by multiple users, who have their own accounts and who pay monthly/annual fees for using the subscriptions.
- Hosted platforms is a model that implies installation of the software on separate hosting. There is often no need to rely on the Internet connection to use the system. You just download and use it, having made the required payment with regard to the plan chosen. When using a hosted solution, you have an opportunity to completely customize the platform based on your project needs.
Which of the platforms is right for you? To make the distinctions and special features of both platforms more obvious and understandable to all user categories, let’s compare the most popular representatives of both software types. These are Wix website builder, which now powers over 2 232 41 websites across the globe and WordPress CMS, which was used to start more than 27 021 750 professional projects. This usage statistics speaks for itself.
Wix vs WordPress: Which System Works Best for You?
When it comes to choosing the right web design tool, it makes sense to compare the most remarkable representatives of each system type. According to expert reviews, these are Wix and WordPress.
Wix is a SaaS website builder, which is the leader of the DIY web design market. It is used to start literally all types of web-based projects, including business and promo websites, landing pages, blogs, portfolios, eCommerce websites and what not. The main advantages and special features of the website builder are as follows:
- Ease of Use. Wix is one of the easiest website builders available in the modern web design market. It lets you browse over 550 pre-designed, mobile-ready and free themes, enjoying the intuitive website development process. No coding skills are required to give the selected theme the preferred design and functionality with Wix.
- Website Editing. Wix offers two website editing options, each targeting a certain user category. WixADI (the advanced AI-based tool) uses the submitted info to automatically set up a website for you, while Standard Editor allows for deeper web design customization and, thus, it works well for experienced users.
- Widgets and Extensions. The website builders lets you browse its extensive App Market, which contains hundreds of free and paid applications and widgets. They refer to various niches and can be integrated into any website based on the result you wish to avail and functionality you expect to get.
- Hosting. As a SaaS platform, Wix comes with integrated hosting offered in terms of its paid subscriptions. It is included into the cost of the plan chosen right from the start. No extra fees are required here.
WordPress is a Content Management System, which currently occupies the top position in the professional web design niche. The CMS works great for running any type of project, while its powerful integration and design customization options ensure high end result. Some of the most remarkable features of the CMS include:
- Convenience and Design Customization. As opposed to Wix with its impressive template collection, WordPress grants access to thousands of high quality themes available on the web. It takes time to download, install and master the basic functionality of the system and this is where you may require third-party assistance. As you do that, however, you will enjoy the process of your project customization, which is quite flexible and convenient.
- Code Editing Skills Required. To customize WordPress projects, you won’t go without coding skills. Opportunity to edit the selected design via code integration will let you avail maximum flexibility and improved design quality.
- Powerful Integration Options. WordPress stands out from the crowd due to its high end integration options. There are hundreds of plugins available for the CMS out there and it’s only up to you to pick those that come up to your project specialization. WordPress plugins are both free and paid and the choice basically depends upon your web design needs.
- Hosting. WordPress doesn’t offer any hosting solutions, which is one of the most distinctive features of the CMS. To go live with your project, you are expected to pick a reliable hosting provider along with one of the plans it offers. This, correspondingly, implies extra financial investments. If you are not ready to bother about hosting choice, you can always switch from WordPress to Wix to avail simpler hosting options.
Bottom Line
SaaS website builder or Hosted solution – which options works best for you in the long run? Each of these system types deserves usaer attention and targets specific audiences. The choice should be eventually based upon individual factors, such as your web design itnentions, goals, skills, time and budget you have at your disposal.
SaaS platforms like Wix website builder are generally simpler and more intuitive for beginners. They come with integrated hosting and distinctive powerful functionality provided out-of-the-box. Absence of coding skills is a notable advantage of this software.
Hosted platforms like WordPress CMS are frequently more complicated yet they offer advanced functionality to start large-scale projects. These systems mostly require coding skills along with plugin integration to get the most out of your project. What’s more, they imply hosting choice, which results in extra time/budget expenditures.
Thus, SaaS platforms and hosted solutions work great for different types of projects and come with diverse integrated functionality. Each software type targets a specific audience and each of them allows completing a broad spectrum of web design tasks. All these factors eventually affect your choice of the software. In case you decide to migrate from WordPress to Wix, you can always do that any time you face such a need.
