Thinking about taking your business online, but stuck between choosing a quick-start Website Builder and flexible Web Hosting?
Both can help you build a brilliant professional site for your brand. The difference is how much control you want, how confident you feel with tech, and the time you have at your disposal.
In this guide, we break down the key differences so you can choose with confidence — and pick what works best for your needs and budget.
At a glance: What’s the difference between Website Builder and Web Hosting?
What is Website Builder?
For anyone looking to get online with minimal fuss, easy website creation tools will be the easiest way to create a professional site. They bring design, content, and hosting together in one place, so you can focus on how your site looks and what it says rather than the tech behind it.
123 Reg Website Builder helps you get your business online with no coding required. Because hosting is included, you don’t have to worry about servers or setup — your site is automatically stored and live on the internet.
Start with ready-made templates and personalise them with your own images, colours, videos, and branding. Built-in AI features can even generate written content for your pages in seconds.
Website Builder is a great choice for business sites, portfolios, or blogs, helping you get online fast and keep the focus on what you do best.
What is Web Hosting?
123 Reg Web Hosting gives you the space, tools, and flexibility to run your website exactly how you want. It isn’t a single platform like Website Builder — it’s the hosting foundation, letting you choose how your site is built and managed.
Web Hosting is a more flexible setup that suits websites needing more advanced or dynamic features. However, you will need more technical know-how or a professional on hand.
You’ll have access to a control panel (like cPanel) where you can install your own choice of platform, upload files, add plugins, or add your own custom code as you please.
123 Reg offers these hosting options:
☐ Web Hosting – Affordable shared hosting for professional websites and everyday business use. “Shared” just means your site runs on a server alongside others (keeping the costs down for you).
☐ Managed WordPress Hosting – Designed for WordPress, this hosting takes care of updates and performance for you. Start with a ready-made theme and customise using plugins.
☐ VPS Hosting – A ‘Virtual Private Server’ offering more power and control, ideal for growing or custom sites looking to scale up.
☐ Premium Hosting – High-performance hosting for bigger, busier websites. Like Web Hosting, just with more speed and power for businesses that need it.
How they compare
| Feature / Focus | 123 Reg Website Builder | 123 Reg Web Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Simple business sites, portfolios, blogs | Content-heavy sites, growing sites, custom apps |
| Ease of use | Drag-and-drop simplicity, no coding | More setup, needs some tech skill |
| Speed to launch | Live in minutes with hosting included | Takes longer but offers more freedom |
| Customisation | Ready-made templates and AI tools | Full control: themes, plugins, code |
| Hosting & SSL | Yep, all included with annual plans | Included but need to be managed by you (depending on plan) |
| Maintenance | Updates, backups, security handled for you | You manage updates, security, backups (or hire help) |
| Flexibility & Growth | Great for small business needs | Unlimited room for advanced features |
| Platform | All-in-one website builder platform | cPanel, WordPress, VPS or Premium Hosting |
Website Builder or Web Hosting: Which to go for?
How fast do you need to launch?
“I need something live this week!”
→ Choose 123 Reg Website Builder
If speed’s the priority, Website Builder gets you online fast. You can choose a ready‑made template, drop in your content, and publish your site in minutes. Start building your site with Website Builder today.
Hosting and SSL are already included, so there’s no stress when it comes to setting up — just add your business details and you’re good to go. Great when time and resources are tight but you still want a professional home for your business or project.
“I have time to develop, tweak and test.”
→ Choose 123 Reg Web Hosting
When you want more creative freedom, Web Hosting gives you the space to design and build at your own pace. You can explore different themes, add SEO tools or plugins, and fine‑tune your site before launch.
Managed WordPress Hosting is a great fit if you like experimenting and want a setup that can grow with your business — from simple beginnings to advanced features later on.
What’s your technical comfort level?
“I prefer easy, visual tools.”
→ Choose 123 Reg Website Builder
If you like a simple, visual approach, Website Builder will feel completely natural. You can edit your site right on the screen — click to change sections, add text or images, and see your updates appear instantly. There’s no coding or technical setup to worry about, so you stay focused on your content rather than the tech behind it.
“I’m comfortable with coding and content management systems.”
→ Choose 123 Reg Web Hosting
If you prefer more control, Web Hosting gives you the freedom to build things your way. You’ll have full access to upload files, manage your database, and fine‑tune performance or security settings through your hosting control panel. It’s the perfect fit if you enjoy getting hands‑on with your website and want the flexibility to customise every corner of it.
What type of site are you building?
“I just want to make a simple business site, portfolio, or blog.”
→ 123 Reg Website Builder gets you up and running right away.
It’s the fastest way to create a professional site — one that works for restaurants, shops, or small businesses where most work happens offline. Built-in search optimisation (SEO) basics and email marketing tools help you reach customers without extra setup.
Many businesses start with Website Builder, while others choose WordPress for greater design freedom from day one.
Get 50% OFF 123 Reg Website Builder annual plans — use code WSB50 at checkout!
“I’m building an online store.”
→ Either option works — it depends on your goals.
For smaller product ranges, simple checkouts, or booking‑based services, Website Builder’s Commerce plans make selling online easy.
If you’re planning a larger shop with lots of products, detailed variations, or advanced tools for shipping and payments, Web Hosting (especially with WordPress and WooCommerce) gives you the flexibility to expand.
Match your choice to your product range and how complex your store needs to be.
Explore Website Builder Commerce
“I’m building a custom web application.”
→ 123 Reg Web Hosting is the way to go.
Choose Web Hosting when flexibility and custom development are must‑haves.
Website Builder isn’t designed to run custom apps or complex back‑end systems — it’s built for standard websites. With Web Hosting, you get full freedom to develop however you like: use your preferred frameworks, add advanced functionality, and connect to databases, APIs, and so on.
See also: How Can I Make an E-commerce Website? and How to Make a Restaurant Website: Menus, Opening Hours & More
How much control do you want over your site?
“I want most of it taken care of for me.”
→ Go for 123 Reg Website Builder.
With Website Builder, all the technical bits — hosting, SSL certificates, updates, and security — are handled automatically. You never have to worry about maintenance or setup. It’s ideal if you’d rather spend your time running your business instead of managing the behind‑the‑scenes tech.
“I want full control over design, features, and functionality.”
→ Choose 123 Reg Web Hosting.
Here, you’re in charge. You can install custom themes and plugins, adjust site settings, or dive into the code whenever you want. This setup offers the flexibility to shape your site exactly how you envision it — perfect if you want room to experiment or plan to grow your business long‑term.
What’s your budget?
“I want predictable costs with everything included.”
→ Get 123 Reg Website Builder
Website Builder keeps things simple. Each plan bundles web space (hosting), templates, security (SSL), and basic marketing tools into one fixed monthly price — no surprise extras, just straightforward costs you can plan for.
Most first‑year deals range from £6–£10 per month (when billed annually), renewing at £12–£16+ per month. Your domain name and basic email are free for the first year, and updates happen automatically in the background.
“I want more flexibility and room to grow.”
→ Choose 123 Reg Web Hosting
Web Hosting often starts cheaper but gives you more control over how you scale. Introductory shared plans begin around £2–£4 per month, renewing at £4–£8 per month. You can choose your own hosting type, themes, and add‑ons — and even run multiple websites from one account.
Keep in mind that security, maintenance, or custom development may require extra time, tech skills, or help from a pro (typically £20–£50/hour).
The bottom line: Let your goals guide your choice
It’s a business call
Choosing the right platform isn’t just about tech specs — it shapes how quickly you get online, how much control you have, and how easily you can grow. Go too simple and you may outgrow it. Go too advanced and you might spend more time managing your site than running it.
In the end, your goals, timeline and budget will point you in the right direction. Want to launch quickly and keep things simple? Website Builder gives you everything in one place. Planning something bigger or more customised? Web Hosting gives you room to build and grow. For a happy middle ground, there’s Managed WordPress Hosting — with automatic updates, built‑in security, and strong performance right out of the box.
Key Takeaways
- ☑︎ Website Builder is the simplest way to get online fast, with dozens of mobile-ready templates to choose from and marketing tools to help you grow.
- ☑︎ Web Hosting gives full control but needs technical skills or a team to manage it.
- ☑︎ Website Builder works well for smaller businesses but also larger companies that do most of their work offline.
- ☑︎ Web Hosting suits larger businesses or more complex sites where you want room to grow, and connect with databases or other custom features.
- ☑︎ Managed WordPress Hosting can be a happy medium for some. It gives you room to flex your IT skills while taking care of updates, backups, and security.
- ☑︎ With 123 Reg it’s easy to get a great domain name and matching pro email address with whichever option you choose!
Explore Website Builder for simple all-in-one plans with hosting, templates, and tools included. Take a look at Web Hosting if you want full control, greater flexibility, and room to grow. Not sure which option is right for you? Our friendly team can walk you through the choices and recommend the best fit for your business.
FAQ
Can I use my existing domain?
Definitely. If it’s already with 123 Reg, you’re set up automatically. If it’s elsewhere, we’ll walk you through connecting it in just a few easy steps. For more info, see: How do I change the nameservers for my domain name?
What is Web Hosting?
Web Hosting gives you the server space and resources needed to store your website files and make them accessible online. It’s not a single website-building “platform” per se — instead, it gives you the freedom to install software, like WordPress, and customise using a control panel like cPanel. This setup lets you upload files, add plugins, and scale your site as needed.
What’s the difference between Web Hosting and Managed WordPress Hosting?
Web Hosting lets you install any platform and gives you full control, but you handle updates, security, and maintenance yourself. Managed WordPress Hosting comes with WordPress already installed, with the updates, security, backups, and performance tweaks handled for you
Managed WordPress Hosting can be a happy middle ground for many business owners. You can get your site online fast without worrying about servers or maintenance, while keeping control over design, features, and plugins.
Can I upgrade or scale my Web Hosting?
Yes — you can upgrade your plan, add more resources, or move to VPS or Premium Hosting anytime as your site or business grows.
Can I switch from Website Builder to Web Hosting later?
Yes, you can switch in principle, though it’s not seamless. You’ll need to cancel your Website Builder plan, add a Web Hosting plan, and manually migrate your content by copying text, images, and pages. Our support team can guide you through it.
Can I migrate from my current Web Hosting provider to 123 Reg?
It depends on the platform you’re using, but for WordPress sites on our Web Hosting plans, migrating to or from another provider is straightforward using our 1-click migration tool. This makes the process much easier compared to manual content transfers from tools like Website Builder.
See also: How Do I Migrate My WordPress Website?
Still unsure or have more questions?
Our friendly Support team can walk you through the choices and help you pick the best plan for your site. You can start a live chat from your Control Panel or call 0345 450 2310.
