Building a website doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you want a simple business card site, a fast landing page, or a full-featured WordPress website, there is a builder that fits your needs.
This page gives you a clear way to choose between WordPress and the drag-and-drop website builders available on IDS Hosting. You will see the differences, how speed is affected, and how to get started step-by-step.
Most people start with the same question: “Should I use WordPress, or should I use a website builder?” The short answer is: it depends on how much control you want, how complex your site is, and how comfortable you are with managing updates.
HTML-based builders usually load faster by default. They output clean, static files — no database queries, no PHP processing, and no plugin overhead.
This means your pages are served quickly and consistently, especially when combined with local South African hosting.
WordPress can be extremely fast, but it depends on how the site is built.
In simple terms: if WordPress is built well, it can be lightning fast. If it’s built carelessly, it slows down. HTML builders are consistently fast out of the box.
| Feature | WordPress | HTML / Drag-and-Drop Builders |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Needs some learning and setup | Very easy — drag, drop, edit, publish |
| Flexibility | Extremely flexible — blogs, dynamic content, advanced features | Focused on simple, brochure-style sites |
| Maintenance | Requires updates (core, themes, plugins) | Very low ongoing maintenance |
| Setup speed | Medium — install, configure, choose theme | Fast — pick a template, replace content |
| Page speed | Variable — depends on theme and plugin quality | Consistently fast static output, especially on local hosting |
| Best for | Growing businesses, blogs, advanced sites, long-term flexibility | Simple business sites, portfolios, landing pages, quick launches |
| Hosting | Fully supported on IDS Hosting | Available via builders inside IDS Hosting cPanel |
For simple websites (home page, about, services, contact), the HTML builders are usually easier and faster. For more complex websites that will grow over time, WordPress is usually the better fit.
A simple, professional drag-and-drop builder for small business websites.
Best for: Businesses that want a solid online presence without the complexity of WordPress.
A modern builder that lives inside cPanel, with visual editing and ready-made layouts.
Best for: Users who want something modern and clean without needing to manage plugins or themes.
A lightweight builder for quick, straightforward sites.
Best for: Freelancers, start-ups, and anyone needing a quick, no-fuss website.
Hosting your website in the same country as your visitors makes a difference. With IDS Hosting, your website is hosted locally in South Africa, which means:
Many international builders host websites on servers outside South Africa. Using a local host with local website builders gives you better performance and more control.
You can switch platforms later, but it is important to know that it is not a one-click conversion.
Moving from an HTML builder (like Site.pro, JetApps, or SitePad) to WordPress requires a rebuild. The content can be copied, and the layout can be recreated, but the site has to be rebuilt in WordPress.
Switching from WordPress back to an HTML builder also involves a rebuild, because WordPress uses themes, templates, and plugins that are not compatible with drag-and-drop builders.
However, Site.pro includes an import tool that can scan an existing website and recreate a similar layout inside the IDS Website Builder. After the import, you may still need to:
This can save time compared to a full manual rebuild, but it is not a perfect one-click migration.
Getting started is straightforward. You need a hosting package with IDS Hosting, then you can choose between installing WordPress or using one of the website builders inside cPanel.
Option 1: Automatic installation via Softaculous
This is the easiest way to start for most users.
Option 2: Manual installation (for advanced users)
All builders are launched from inside your cPanel account. Once launched, they normally start with a template gallery or offer a blank canvas.
There is also a Website Builder tutorial under Support:
/website-builder-tutorial
(In future, this can link to more specific tutorials for each builder.)
For first-time users, starting from a template is usually much easier than starting from a blank canvas.
These articles will be added once published. All blogs link back to this main overview page.
