Pick the camp before the editor. Hosted no-code builders run your site for you, so the vendor handles hosting, updates and security, while WordPress page builders sit on hosting you control and leave those jobs with you. Then check lock-in: what happens to your pages if you ever leave.
There are two kinds of tool hiding behind the phrase website builder, and they're easy to confuse. This page is for small business owners, freelancers and agencies leaving Brizy, with nine options in no particular order, split by the kind of tool each one is.
Hosted or WordPress: who looks after the site
Brizy is a no-code website builder with a white-label option for agencies. The alternatives fall into two camps. Hosted builders run your site on the vendor's own platform. WordPress page builders plug into WordPress, and you bring your own hosting.
The camp decides who handles hosting, updates and security, so choose it before comparing editors. With a hosted builder those jobs are the vendor's, and you work within what the platform allows. With WordPress they're yours, or your developer's, but you get the freedom of the whole WordPress ecosystem in return. Agencies building lots of client sites should think hard about which of those they want to support for years.
Two vendor changes are worth knowing about if you've been reading older comparisons. Kadence's page now sits on Liquid Web, and Oxygen's homepage now pitches building sites through an AI agent. Neither is listed below.
Lock-in and leaving later
Ask what happens to your pages if you leave. Content built in some page builders turns into shortcodes or has to be rebuilt when you switch, which is a nasty surprise for a business with a large site or an agency with dozens of client sites. A hosted builder may let you export content, but rarely the design in a form another tool can use.
None of that rules a tool out. It just means the decision is bigger than which editor feels nicest in a demo, and you'll want to know the exit route before you build your first page.
Nine site builders, A to Z
Listed alphabetically and in no particular order. Each line reflects what the vendor says about its own product.
Beaver Builder
Best for: WordPress professionals who value stable updates and clean code; the vendor promises no broken pages.
Breakdance
Best for: Describing a WordPress site and letting AI build it, then editing in a visual editor; the vendor says the result is fully editable.
Framer
Best for: Designers who want an AI design agent, hosting, CMS, analytics and SEO in one place; the vendor calls it a free website builder from idea to launch.
SiteOrigin
Best for: WordPress users wanting a free, open-source page builder with themes and widgets; the vendor promises no bloat or lock-in.
Strikingly
Best for: Getting a simple, mobile-friendly site up quickly; the vendor's pitch is that you can make a website in minutes.
Thrive Themes
Best for: Lead-focused site owners on WordPress, with plugins and themes the vendor says put you in control of traffic, leads and conversions.
Tilda
Best for: Sites, online stores and landing pages assembled from pre-designed blocks; the vendor stresses no code and an AI-powered builder.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Unicorn Platform
Best for: Startups and SaaS teams building landing pages, directories and blogs with AI drag-and-drop; the vendor says no design skills are needed.
Webflow
Best for: Teams that want design, CMS, hosting and AI search features together; the vendor pitches designing, building, optimising and ranking in AI search in one place.
The two camps compared
| Tool | Camp and style | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Builder | WordPress page builder | Professionals wanting stable updates and clean code |
| Breakdance | WordPress visual builder | AI-built WordPress sites you can still edit |
| Framer | Design-led builder | Design-led sites with hosting and CMS built in |
| SiteOrigin | Free WordPress builder | A free, open-source WordPress builder |
| Strikingly | Simple one-page builder | Quick mobile-friendly sites |
| Thrive Themes | Conversion-focused WordPress | Lead-focused pages on WordPress |
| Tilda | Block-based builder | Block-built sites, stores and landing pages |
| Unicorn Platform | Startup page builder | Startup and SaaS landing pages |
| Webflow | Hosted site platform | Designing and running sites with a CMS and hosting |
Who each camp suits
Hosted no-code builders
Webflow, Framer, Tilda, Strikingly and Unicorn Platform run the site for you. They range from design-led platforms with a CMS to quick one-page sites and startup landing pages. They suit owners who'd rather never think about plugins, updates or hosting again.
WordPress builders and toolkits
Breakdance, Beaver Builder, SiteOrigin and Thrive Themes sit on top of WordPress. One leads with AI site building, one with stability and clean code, one with a free open-source approach and one with lead-focused plugins and themes. They suit people who already run WordPress or want full control of their hosting.
The advice I'd give before you rebuild
Decide who'll look after the site in two years' time, then pick the camp that suits that person. If it's you and you're not technical, go hosted. If you have a developer or an agency, or you already live in WordPress, a WordPress builder keeps your options open. Only then compare editors, and build one real page in each before you move a whole site.
For more options, see my lists of Elementor alternatives, WordPress page builders and website builders for SEO.
Questions to ask any builder about leaving
- If I cancel, can I export my pages, and in what format?
- Does my content stay readable without your tool, or does it turn into shortcodes?
- Who handles hosting, updates and security, and what happens when something breaks?
- Can I move a client site to another account or another host without rebuilding it?
- What happens to my forms, blog posts and images if I switch platforms?
Do you make website or page builder software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a website builder and a page builder?
A website builder usually hosts the whole site for you. A page builder is a plugin that adds a visual editor to WordPress, so you run the hosting and updates yourself.
Is a hosted builder or WordPress better for a small business?
Hosted builders are less work because the vendor handles hosting and security. WordPress gives more control and more plugins but needs someone to look after updates. Pick based on who will maintain the site.
Can I move a site from one page builder to another?
Usually not cleanly. Text and images can often be moved, but layouts built in one page builder generally have to be rebuilt in another. Check before you commit.
Are there free website builders?
Yes. Some vendors on this list name free options or free open-source plugins on their own sites. Check what the free version limits before building a business site on it.
Do agencies need a white-label builder?
Only if clients log in to edit their own sites and you want your brand on the dashboard. Many agencies manage sites themselves, where white-label matters less.
