In the past, creating a website from scratch was a daunting and complicated task that required a lot of HTML coding knowledge. Thankfully, those days are long gone. Nowadays, many web design platforms like WordPress, Dreamweaver, Wix and Weebly make it easy for anyone to create a beautiful and functional website with little to no coding required.
WordPress has long dominated the website builder market with its vast selection of themes and plugins. Averagely, WordPress powers 42% of the web. That’s a huge number for just one content management system (CMS).
However, Dreamweaver has been making a comeback in recent years as a powerful tool for creating custom websites. While it doesn’t have as many plugins and themes as WordPress, Dreamweaver offers more control over the design and development process.
This post will look at some key differences between WordPress and Dreamweaver to help you decide on the right platform for your next project. To start, let’s take a look at how each platform approaches web design and development.
Table of Contents
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a content management system that enables users to create and manage their website’s content without extensive coding or web development knowledge. It uses a template-based system, meaning users can select from various pre-made templates to design their website.
WordPress also provides a wide range of features and plugins that allow users to add custom functionality to their websites, such as social media integration, e-commerce capabilities, and more.
Today, WordPress is used by millions of people worldwide, including many large organizations such as The Guardian, Forbes, and The New York Times. Best still, it’s a free and open-source platform released under the GPL.
If you’re looking to create a website, WordPress is an excellent choice. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the critical benefits of
What are the pros of using WordPress?
Some of the key benefits of using WordPress include:
1. WordPress is easy to use, even for beginners. The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, and a large community of users is always willing to help if you need assistance.
2. WordPress is highly customizable. There are thousands of themes and plugins available, allowing you to change the look and feel of your site and to add new features as required.
3. WordPress is SEO-friendly. The clean and well-organized code makes it easy for search engines to index your site. In addition, there are numerous plugins available that can help you to optimize your site for better search engine visibility.
4. WordPress is secure. Regular security updates are released to keep WordPress sites safe from hackers and malware. In addition, there are several security plugins available that can further protect your site.
5. WordPress is mobile-friendly. More and more people are using their mobile devices to access the internet, so ensuring your website is designed for mobile viewers is essential. Fortunately, WordPress themes are typically responsive and will automatically adjust to fit any screen size.
6. WordPress is free and open-source software. You can download it and use it without paying any fees, and you can also contribute to the development of WordPress if you wish.
What are the cons of using WordPress?
Some of the key disadvantages of using WordPress include:
Limited control: WordPress is a hosted platform, so you don’t have complete control over your website. This can be an issue if you want to make customizations or need specific features unavailable on WordPress.
Security risks: As with any website, there is always the potential for security risks. WordPress websites can be vulnerable to hacking and malware attacks, which can cause severe damage to your website.
Limited scalability: WordPress might not be the best option if you want to expand your website beyond a simple blog or online store. While there are plugins and themes that allow you to add more functionality to your site, there are limits to what you can do with a WordPress website.
WordPress can be slow and sluggish, especially if many plugins and themes are installed. This can make your website slow to load and make it challenging to manage it effectively.
What is Dreamweaver?
Adobe Dreamweaver is a commercial web development tool. Dreamweaver was created by Macromedia in 1997 and acquired by Adobe in 2005.
Since then, it has been an industry-standard tool for professional web developers.
Dreamweaver is a visual editor, meaning that you can see what your website will look like as you’re building it.
It also has a code editor, so you can hand-code HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Dreamweaver can be used to create websites from scratch or to edit existing websites.
If you’re planning on using Dreamweaver to create web pages, you’ll need to have some basic HTML and CSS knowledge. If you don’t have any coding experience, Dreamweaver can still be used to create a website, but you may find it easier to use a visual editor like WordPress.
There are plenty of Dreamweaver tutorials available online to help you learn the ropes. Here are a few to get you started.
What are the Pros of Using Dreamweaver?
1. WYSIWYG Interface: As mentioned above, the Dreamweaver interface allows users to see how their content will look on a web page as they are creating it. This makes it easy to ensure that your content looks how you want it to before publishing it.
2. Templates: Dreamweaver comes with many built-in templates that can be used to create standard web page layouts. This can save you time by allowing you to start with a pre-made layout rather than starting from scratch.
3. Code Completion: Dreamweaver includes code completion capabilities that can help you write valid HTML code faster. When you start typing a tag, attribute, or value, Dreamweaver will provide you with a list of options to choose from that are valid for the current context. This can save you time and help you avoid mistakes.
4. Site Management Tools: Dreamweaver provides several tools that make it easy to manage your website, including the ability to view all of the files on your site, check for broken links, and publish your site to a server. These tools can save you time and help you keep your site organized.
5. Support for multiple languages: In addition to HTML, Dreamweaver also supports CSS, JavaScript, XML, and other web development languages. This makes it a versatile tool for developers who work with multiple languages.
What are the disadvantages of using Dreamweaver?
1. Dreamweaver can be expensive. The software is not cheap, and you will need to purchase it outright to use it. Additionally, Adobe Creative Cloud subscription is required to access some of the more advanced features.
2. Dreamweaver can be overwhelming for beginners. The software has a lot of features and can be challenging to learn. Many tutorials are available, but it can still be daunting for those just starting.
3. Dreamweaver can be buggy. Like any software, there are occasional bugs and glitches. These can be frustrating, but usually, they are not deal-breakers.
4. Dreamweaver is not as widely used as WordPress. This means that fewer resources are available, and it can be harder to find help when needed.
Now that we’ve looked at the pros and cons of using WordPress and Dreamweaver let’s weigh up which one is the best option for you.
WordPress vs Dreamweaver: Side-by-Side Comparison
Let’s take a look at how WordPress and Dreamweaver compare when it comes to the key features that matter most.
Ease of Use:
A good website builder should be intuitive and user-friendly, with a simple learning curve. It should also be easy to add content, images, and videos and customize the look and feel of your website.
WordPress: WordPress is highly user-friendly. That’s one of the reasons why WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world. You can create a website or blog with WordPress without any technical knowledge. You can also add content, images, and videos easily. And, if you want to customize the look and feel of your website or blog, thousands of wordpress plugins and themes are available.
Dreamweaver: As a web design tool, Dreamweaver makes it easy to create custom websites and designs. However, it is geared more toward experienced web designers and developers. That said, Dreamweaver is not as user-friendly as WordPress and requires some technical knowledge to use. However, Dreamweaver does offer a visual interface that can make website design and development more accessible. With Dreamweaver, you can drag and drop elements to create the look and feel you want for your website or blog.
Winner: WordPress
Design Flexibility:
You should be able to create a unique website design that reflects your brand and helps you stand out from the competition. The best website builders offer a wide range of templates and customization options so you can create a truly one-of-a-kind site.
WordPress: WordPress web design is highly dependent on themes and plugins, which are available in various forms, both free and paid. This means that you can easily change your WordPress site’s appearance and functionality without touching a single line of code. All you need to do is install the suitable theme and plugins, and your site will look and work exactly the way you want it to.
However, WordPress is more of a Content Management System (CMS) than a website builder. So despite its user-friendly interface, you will still need some basic coding knowledge to be able to customize your WordPress site to match your specific needs.
In other words, while WordPress is great for managing and creating content, it’s not so great for creating a fully-fledged website.
Dreamweaver: Adobe Dreamweaver is a full-featured website builder that gives you complete control over your website’s design and layout. One of the best things about Dreamweaver is its code-editing capabilities. The software has a built-in code editor that supports HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other web development languages.
The platform also provides a fluid grid layout system to adjust your website’s content to fit different screen sizes. The software’s live view feature lets you see how your website will look on different devices.
If you’re not a web developer or designer, you can still use Dreamweaver to easily create and edit your website. Dreamweaver has a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to add content and make changes to your website without having to code. You can also use Dreamweaver’s built-in templates and themes to create a professional-looking website without any design experience.
Winner: Dreamweaver.
eCommerce
If you’re planning on selling products or services on your website, you’ll need to choose a website builder that offers eCommerce functionality. This will allow you to set up a shopping cart, accept payments, and track inventory.
WordPress:
WordPress offers a few different plugins that add eCommerce functionality to your website. The most popular is WooCommerce, a free plugin that integrates with WordPress. With WooCommerce, you can turn your WordPress website into a fully-functional online store without any coding knowledge.
The plugin does everything from setting up your products and inventory to processing payments and calculating taxes. Additionally, you can create a shopping cart system that allows your customers to buy multiple items at once, set up coupon codes, and even offer customer loyalty programs.
Apart from WooCommerce, there are other eCommerce plugins available for WordPress, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, and Magento. These plugins are paid but offer many more features, such as support for multiple languages, advanced shipping options, and product customization.
Dreamweaver:
Dreamweaver does not have any built-in eCommerce functionality. However, you can add it by installing a plugin or extension. One popular eCommerce solution for Dreamweaver is Magento.
Magento is a popular eCommerce platform. It is used by some of the world’s biggest brands, including Coca-Cola, Olympus, and Samsung. Magento is a powerful platform, but it can be challenging to use. If you are not a developer, you will likely need to hire someone to help you set it up and customize it to your needs.
Alternatively, you can use an extension like eCart, a Dreamweaver-specific solution for adding eCommerce functionality to your website.
Winner: WordPress
Integrations
No man is an island, and no website is either. To function correctly, most websites need to integrate with other third-party services. These include social media networks, email marketing platforms, or payment processors.
WordPress:
As one of the most popular content management systems in the world, WordPress has a vast ecosystem of plugins and integrations that can be used to add all sorts of functionality to a website.
One of the most popular integrations for WordPress is with social media networks. There are plugins that can automatically share new posts on social media and embed social media feeds directly into a website.
Email marketing platforms like MailChimp can also be integrated with WordPress. This allows website owners to build an email list and send newsletters directly from their WordPress site.
Finally, there are plenty of plugins that add e-commerce functionality to WordPress. This allows website owners to sell products and services directly from their site.
Dreamweaver:
Dreamweaver is not as well equipped as WordPress when it comes to integrations. However, it has some integrations that can be useful for certain websites.
As part of the Adobe Creative Suite, Dreamweaver can be integrated with other Adobe products like Photoshop and Illustrator. This can be helpful for designers who want to quickly prototype a design in Dreamweaver and then export it to Photoshop or Illustrator for further refinement.
Dreamweaver can also integrate several CMSs and eCommerce platforms, including Drupal, Joomla!, and Magento. These integrations can be helpful for developers who want to use Dreamweaver as their primary development environment but still take advantage of the features and functionality of a CMS or eCommerce platform.
Finally, Dreamweaver can be integrated with several code repositories, including GitHub and Bitbucket.
Winner: WordPress
Technical Support
As with any software, problems are inevitable. You’re bound to run into some issues, whether a beginner or a seasoned pro. When you do, will you have access to the support you need?
Software developers are the first people you should turn to for help. They know the ins and outs of the program and can often provide helpful advice or patch up any software glitches you may be experiencing.
WordPress:
When it comes to WordPress, there is no shortage of support options. The software is open source, which means there are thousands of people around the world who work on developing and perfecting it. If you come across a problem, chances are there’s already a solution out there.
On the WordPress.org support forums, you can search for solutions to common problems or post your question and wait for someone to come to your aid. If you need more immediate assistance, there are also several companies that offer paid support services.
Dreamweaver:
Dreamweaver is proprietary software owned and maintained by Adobe. If you need help with the software, you’ll have to rely on Adobe’s customer support team.
Though Dreamweaver may not have an extensive community support system like WordPress, it does have world-class customer support from the team at Adobe.
The team is available via phone or chat during regular business hours, or you can submit a support ticket and wait for a response. Adobe also offers several online resources, such as tutorials, forums, and a knowledge base.
Winner: WordPress
Pricing:
When choosing between two similar products, pricing is always a significant factor. Whether a small business owner or an individual, you want to get the most bang for your buck. For website builders, this often means finding the most features for the lowest price. This is because your new website won’t generate revenue immediately, so you don’t want to spend more than necessary.
WordPress:
WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS). You can download and install it on your server at no cost. However, you will still need to pay for hosting, a domain name, and premium custom WordPress themes or plugins that you might want to use.
Depending on your hosting company and your chosen plan, you can expect to pay anywhere from $3 to $10 per month for shared hosting. If you want a more robust hosting option, you can always choose a VPS (virtual private server), which will cost you around $30 to $50 per month.
Many hosting providers offer discounts if you pay multiple months in advance. Some providers also offer free Domain names with their hosting plans. If your hosting plan doesn’t include a domain name, you can purchase one from a domain registrar like GoDaddy for around $10 per year.
After hosting and domain name, your next most significant expense will likely be premium WordPress themes. These can cost anywhere from $59 to a few hundred dollars.
You can generally expect to spend around $100 per year on website hosting and domain names. If you purchase a premium WordPress theme, your total cost would be around $160 per year.
Dreamweaver:
With Dreamweaver, your most significant expense will be the software itself. Adobe Dreamweaver CC starts at $20.99 per month. You can also purchase a Creative Cloud All Apps plan, including Dreamweaver, for $54.99 monthly.
In addition to the software costs, you’ll also need to pay for website hosting and domain names. Dreamweaver does offer a few features that allow you to connect to the popular web hosting providers, but you’ll still need to pay for the hosting service itself.
Winner: WordPress
Summary
Dreamweaver is a more advanced web design platform better suited for experienced coders and developers. While it does require some coding knowledge, Dreamweaver is an excellent platform for those who want more control over their website’s design and functionality.
On the other hand, WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that is much easier to use and is better suited for those who are not as experienced with coding. With WordPress, you can create a website without learning HTML or CSS. However, you will be limited in terms of design and customization options.
So, which one is better? It depends on your needs and skill level. If you need a simple website that you can easily update, then WordPress is a good choice. If you want more control over the design and functionality of your website, then Dreamweaver is the better option.
FAQs
Do designers still use Dreamweaver?
Yes, many designers still use Dreamweaver to create and manage their websites. It is a powerful tool that gives you a lot of control over the look and feel of your site.
What is the difference between WordPress and Dreamweaver?
WordPress is a content management system used to create and manage websites. Dreamweaver is a web design and development tool that gives you more control over the look and feel of your site.
Is WordPress or Dreamweaver better for SEO?
WordPress is better for SEO because it is a content management system designed to help you create and manage your website content effectively. Dreamweaver is a web design and development tool that does not have as many features specifically for SEO.
Is Dreamweaver hard to learn?
No, Dreamweaver is not difficult to learn. However, it is more complex than WordPress. WordPress might be a better option for you if you are a beginner.
Is Dreamweaver better than WordPress?
Dreamweaver may bear the crown for web design professionals. It offers more flexibility and control over the look and feel of your site. However, WordPress still leads the way regarding user-friendliness and ease of use.