Last updated: 23 October 2026 · By Maurice, freeehouse team · About 3 minutes to read
1. The site belongs to the system
According to the Wix help pages, a Wix site cannot be exported and run with another provider. At Jimdo, content does not move with the domain according to the help pages. At Squarespace, only parts can be exported as a WordPress file, and STRATO describes only a static copy. A switch is therefore always a rebuild.
2. The costs never stop
A website builder is a subscription. According to the price pages you pay roughly €144 to €240 a year, with no end. Domain, mailbox and apps can come on top. If you stop paying, your site disappears from your domain.
3. Promotional prices hide the real price
According to their plan pages, IONOS and STRATO lure with €1 per month in the first year. After that, Plus costs €18 and €12 per month respectively. Anyone who only sees the entry price calculates wrongly. More at Spotting teaser prices.
4. The work stays with you
Writing texts, cropping images, creating pages, keeping things up to date. Many businesses have told us they sit at the computer for this in the evening after work. That is a hidden bill that appears nowhere.
5. Templates look alike
Many sites in the same industry and city are based on the same templates. If you want to stand out from the competition, you hit design limits, especially with simple website builders.
6. Limits on size and features
Jimdo Start has 10 subpages according to the price page, STRATO Basic has 5. If you want to explain every service on its own page, which matters for Google, you quickly need a bigger plan. Features the website builder does not have are not available there, or only through an extra app.
7. Loading time and code
Website builders often load a lot of code that a single page does not need. In analyses we ran for businesses in October 2026, a typical Wix homepage loaded around one megabyte of code with 50 to 65 scripts. Google rates loading time and user experience through the Core Web Vitals.
8. Readability for chat searches
Google recommends delivering important content so that it is in the HTML, because not every bot runs JavaScript. OpenAI describes its own crawlers for search in ChatGPT. Website builders that assemble content heavily with JavaScript can make it harder for these crawlers.
When is a website builder still the right choice?
If you like designing yourself, have time, the site stays small and independence is not important to you. For clubs, hobbies and the very first start, a website builder is a sensible choice. The advantages, a fast start and no technology, are real.
If several of these drawbacks affect you: freeehouse builds you your own website that belongs to you with source code, with no limit on subpages. We do not charge for the build, you only pay for hosting with care, cheaper than today. How freeehouse works
What advantages do website builders still have?
- You can start fast and without technology.
- The provider takes care of hosting, security and updates.
- Costs are predictable, as long as no promotions run out.
- The range of features is enough for simple sites.
Anyone who values these advantages and can live with the drawbacks is well served by a website builder.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest drawback of website builders?
That the site does not belong to you. A switch means a rebuild, because the site usually cannot be exported.
Are website builder sites bad for Google?
Not in principle. But they often have longer loading times and less control over code and structure. Content and structure matter more than the provider.
Can I switch from a website builder to WordPress?
Yes, with a rebuild. Content is carried over, old addresses are redirected.
Who is a website builder right for?
For anyone who likes designing themselves, needs a small site and does not mind permanent subscription costs.
Sources
- Wix Help Center: Exporting or embedding your Wix site elsewhere, accessed 23 October 2026
- Jimdo Help: How do I transfer my domain to another host, accessed 23 October 2026
- Squarespace Help: Exporting your site, accessed 23 October 2026
- STRATO FAQ: DSGVO-Datenexport, accessed 23 October 2026
- Google Search Central: Grundlagen JavaScript-SEO, accessed 23 October 2026
- OpenAI: Overview of OpenAI Crawlers, accessed 23 October 2026
- web.dev: Core Web Vitals, accessed 23 October 2026
Providers' prices and terms change often. What counts is what's in your customer account and your contract. Not legal advice.
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