CMS vs Website Builders (Explained with BBQ, Bread, and Common Sense)
Choosing a website platform in 2025 is a lot like deciding what’s for dinner.
Do you:
- Slow-smoke a brisket for 14 hours?
- Cook from a recipe with room to improvise?
- Or order takeout and hope it travels well?
When it comes to building a website, the debate usually comes down to WordPress or Joomla vs Wix or Squarespace.
They all build websites.
They just very differently.
Let’s compare them without the marketing fluff — and with just enough humor to keep things interesting.
Content Management Systems (CMS): WordPress & Joomla
The Backyard Pitmasters of Website Platforms
WordPress and Joomla are open-source content management systems (CMS).
Translation: you get full control — and full responsibility.
These platforms power a massive portion of the internet, from small blogs to enterprise-level websites. They’re flexible, powerful, and occasionally temperamental… like a smoker with a mind of its own.
✅ Pros of WordPress & Joomla
- Full ownership of your website, files, and data
- Highly customizable themes and plugins
- Excellent SEO capabilities
- Scales easily for blogs, businesses, e-commerce, and memberships
- Huge community support
❌ Cons of WordPress & Joomla
- Requires hosting setup and configuration
- Ongoing maintenance, updates, and backups
- Slight learning curve if you’ve never touched a server before
If you enjoy:
- Tweaking settings
- Installing plugins
- Googling error messages that start with “Fatal”
Congratulations — you might be a CMS person.
Website Builders: Wix & Squarespace
The Takeout Option (Fast, Polished, Limited)
Wix and Squarespace are hosted website builders.
Everything — hosting, design tools, security, and updates — is bundled into one monthly subscription.
You don’t need technical skills. You don’t need a server. You mostly just need a mouse and a credit card.
✅ Pros of Wix & Squarespace
- Very fast setup
- No technical maintenance
- Professionally designed templates
- Predictable monthly pricing
❌ Cons of Wix & Squarespace
- Limited customization
- Platform lock-in (moving later can be painful)
- Advanced features may be unavailable or costly
- Can struggle as your site grows or becomes more complex
Great for:
- Portfolios
- Simple business sites
- People who just want a site online today
WordPress vs Wix vs Squarespace: Comparison Chart
| Feature | WordPress / Joomla (CMS) | Wix / Squarespace (Builders) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Speed | Moderate | Very Fast |
| Customization | Extremely High | Limited |
| Hosting Control | Full | None |
| SEO Control | Excellent | Moderate |
| Monthly Cost | Low–Moderate | Fixed Subscription |
| Scalability | Excellent | Limited–Moderate |
| Learning Curve | Medium | Low |
| Ownership | You own everything | Platform controlled |
| Best For | Long-term growth, flexibility | Fast, simple sites |
Which Website Platform Is Best for You?
Here’s the Bytes, Bread, & Barbecue rule:
Choose WordPress or Joomla if you want:
- Long-term flexibility
- Strong SEO performance
- Custom features or integrations
- A site that grows without rebuilding from scratch
Choose Wix or Squarespace if you want:
- Speed over control
- Minimal maintenance
- A clean, professional site with minimal effort
Neither option is wrong.
But choosing the wrong one for your goals is like catering a wedding with a microwave.
CMS vs Website Builders: Final Thoughts
Website platforms are tools — not belief systems.
Some people love tending the fire, adjusting airflow, and checking internal temperatures every half hour. Others just want dinner to show up hot and on time.
At Bytes, Bread, & Barbecue, we respect both approaches —
but we’re always going to favor tools that let you season things your way.
Now if you’ll excuse me, something needs flipping…
and it’s probably a plugin update.