Content Management Systems (CMS) are platforms designed for one purpose: managing and publishing content. Users add text and images through a simple web interface, then publish with a click. True CMS platforms eliminate technical setup - no software to install, no programming knowledge required, and no design decisions to make. The focus is purely on content, not construction. The learning curve is minimal to zero.
Website Builders are tools for constructing websites from components. Users choose templates, customise layouts, drag-and-drop elements, configure settings, and make design decisions throughout the process. Most website builders include extensive options for colours, fonts, spacing, animations, and features - all managed through online dashboards. Many require plugins or extensions that need regular updates. The emphasis is on building and design, resulting in a more challenging learning curve compared to a Content Management System (CMS).
Think of it this way: a CMS is like writing for a newspaper (the layout is done). A website builder is like being the newspaper designer (you create the layout).
The terms "CMS" and "website builder" are often used interchangeably in marketing, which confuses users about what they're actually getting.
If you just want to publish content (photos, text, updates), you don't need building tools - you need a publishing platform. Using a website builder for simple publishing is like buying a construction toolkit when you just need to hang a picture.
If you need complete design control or complex functionality, then website building tools make sense - but you're accepting the time investment and learning curve that come with them.
Understanding this difference helps you choose the right tool for your actual needs, not what marketing says you need.
| Aspect | True CMS | Website Builder |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Publishing content | Building websites |
| Design Work | Pre-designed, ready | You design it |
| Learning Curve | Minutes | Hours to days |
| Time to Publish | 5 - 10 minutes | 3 - 20 hours |
| Mobile Editing | Easy (text/photos) | Difficult (layout issues) |
| Updates Needed | None (we maintain) | Regular (plugins, themes) |
| Decision Making | Minimal | Constant |
| Best For | Content publishers | Design enthusiasts |
You want to showcase your portfolio and deliver photos to clients. You don't want to spend hours designing galleries—you want to upload images and share them quickly. You need some galleries public (for marketing) and others private (for client delivery).
You need a simple website with your business information, services, and contact details. You're not a designer and don't want to become one. You just want a professional-looking site that you can update yourself when your hours change or you add a new service.
You want to share your collection, blog about your hobby, or post updates about your interest. The content matters to you, not the website design. You want something simple that you can update from your phone.
You're a consultant, trainer, or service provider who needs a public-facing website plus a private area where clients can access resources, documents, or personalized content.
You're launching an online shop with multiple products, variations (sizes, colours), inventory tracking, payment processing, and shipping calculations. You need full control over the customer journey and checkout process.
You have specific branding guidelines—exact colours (Pantone), custom fonts, precise spacing, unique layouts. Your brand identity is critical and you need every element to match your existing marketing materials perfectly.
You're a designer or creative who enjoys the building process. You want your website itself to be a showcase of your design skills. The website IS part of your portfolio.
You need custom booking systems, membership tiers with different access levels, integration with specific business software, or unique interactive features that don't exist in standard platforms.
Symptom: You spend 15 hours building a site with three pages of text and a photo gallery. You're frustrated by the complexity and just want to publish your content.
Solution: Switch to a CMS. You don't need building tools—you need publishing tools.
Symptom: You're frustrated by limited customisation options. You want to change colours, adjust layouts, or add custom functionality that isn't available.
Solution: Switch to a website builder. You have specific design requirements that a pre-designed CMS can't accommodate.
Symptom: You chose a platform because of clever advertising or a recommendation, without considering whether it matches your actual use case.
Solution: Ask yourself honestly: "Do I want to publish content or design a website?" Your answer determines which tool you need.
Website builders market "drag-and-drop" as the ultimate simplicity, but there's a problem they rarely mention: it doesn't work well on mobile devices.
Many people assume they can build their website on their phone during their commute, lunch break, or while relaxing on the sofa. Website builder marketing often shows people casually editing on tablets, making it look effortless.
A true CMS doesn't ask you to drag, drop, or adjust layouts on mobile—because there's nothing to adjust. The layout is already done.
On mobile with a CMS, you simply:
No dragging. No layout decisions. No zooming to check alignment. Just content publishing.
Photographer at a wedding: Takes photos, uploads them to a private client gallery during the reception, gallery is live and accessible to the couple that evening. Total time: 5 minutes on phone.
Same task with a website builder: Would need to return home to desktop, import photos, create gallery layout, adjust spacing, configure password protection, test on mobile, then publish. Total time: 45+ minutes, requires computer.
To be fair, some website builders have improved mobile editing for simple text changes:
But for actual layout work, photo galleries, or structural changes, desktop is still necessary with builders.
If you plan to update your site frequently from your phone, ask yourself:
JWBIZ Easy CMS is a true content management system focused on the simplest possible publishing experience.
A publishing platform where we handle all technical setup and design, and you focus purely on your content:
We built JWBIZ Easy CMS for people who kept telling us the same thing: "I just want to share some photos and text. Why is everything so complicated?"
Website builders gave them hundreds of options they didn't want. Traditional CMS platforms required technical setup they couldn't do. They didn't need power - they needed simplicity.
Most platforms say "easy setup." We say "we do the setup." You receive login credentials for a ready-to-use site. No configuration, no decisions, no technical work.
Every page or gallery can be set to:
Switch between modes with one click. Perfect for businesses needing public marketing pages and private client areas.
Update from your phone not by dragging elements around, but by doing what phones are actually good at: taking photos and typing text.
From £29/year including hosting and domain. No surprise charges, no monthly fees that add up, no plugins to buy.
We're honest about our limitations:
We're not right if you need:
If you need those things, use a website builder. They're powerful tools for the right use case.
We offer a 7-day free trial with no credit card required because we know that once you see how simple publishing can be, you'll wonder why other platforms make it so complicated.
Both are valid tools. The right choice depends on whether you want to build or publish.
Subdomain included, i.e. your-name.jwbiz.com - unique domain, i.e. your-name.com from £25.00 p.a.
| Product | Pages | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy CMS Web Page | 1 Web Page - 10 sections | 12 months | £39.00 |
| Easy CMS Web Pages | 3 Web Pages - 3 x 10 sections | 12 months | £89.00 |
| Easy CMS Photo Album | 1 Gallery Page - 20 photos | 12 months | £29.00 |
| Easy CMS Photo Albums | 3 Gallery Pages - 3 x 24 photos | 12 months | £79.00 |
| Easy CMS Combo Edition 1+1 | 1 Web Page - 2 sections 1 Gallery Page - 20 photos | 12 months | £59.00 |
| Easy CMS Combo Edition 3+3 | 3 Web Pages - 5 sections 3 Gallery Pages - 3 x 24 photos | 12 months | £109.00 |
Get a quote: P.O.A.
JWBIZ Easy CMS: We handle the website. You handle the content.
If you decide you want neither we can create business or personal custom handcrafted responsive sites.
