Building a website is a very achievable task these days, thanks to the number of available website builders. Popular site builders, like Dreamweaver and WordPress, are often stacked up against each other to compare the features and highlights of each platform.
If you are choosing between Adobe Dreamweaver vs WordPress, it’s good to know their differences so that you can determine which one will work best for you. Here we will run you through the site builders so that you can decide if Dreamweaver or WordPress will be your go-to tool.
WordPress
Dreamweaver
While both Dreamweaver and WordPress can be utilized to create the best website for your brand, there are some key differences to note. Dreamweaver is ideal for those well-versed in coding and site-building as it requires technical prowess in doing so. It is also a paid tool that needs to be downloaded.
On the other hand, WordPress is beginner-friendly due to its intuitive nature. You do not need to be an expert at coding or site building, because you can get started away with its flexibility and customizable features.
WordPress has five plans — including a free one — that you can choose from, whereas Dreamweaver gives you a one-week free trial before you will have to pay for a monthly subscription.
| Dreamweaver | WordPress |
| 1. Adobe Dreamweaver Single App - $27.62/month Adobe PortfolioAdobe Fonts100 GB cloud storage Access to latest updates and features upon release 2. Individuals - $52.62/month Adobe Portfolio Adobe Fonts100 GB cloud storage Access to latest updates and features upon release 3. Students and Teachers - $26.30/month Adobe Portfolio Adobe Fonts100 GB cloud storage Access to newest updates and features upon release 4. Business - $54.04/month Adobe Portfolio Adobe Fonts100 GB cloud storage Access to latest updates and features upon release | 1. Personal - $4/month Free domain (1 year) Unlimited support (email) Payment collection No WordPress adsIn-class hosting 2. Premium - $8/month Free domain (1 year) Unlimited support (email)Payment collection No WordPress adsIn-class hosting Ability to earn ad revenueLive chat support Video uploads Premium themesGoogle Analytics 3. Business - $25/month Free domain (1 year) Unlimited support (email) Payment collection No WordPress adsIn-class hosting Ability to earn ad revenueLive chat support Video uploads Premium themesGoogle Analytics Database Access and SFTP (SSH Transfer Protocol) Advanced SEO Tools Automated website backups Access to 50,000+ plugins 4. eCommerce - $45/month Free domain (1 year) Unlimited support (email) Payment collection No WordPress adsIn-class hosting Ability to earn ad revenueLive chat support Video uploads Premium themes Google Analytics Database Access and SFTP (SSH Transfer Protocol) Advanced SEO Tools Automated website backups Access to 50,000+ plugins Top Shipping Carrier Integration Payments for 60+ countriesPremium store design options |
At first glance, Dreamweaver’s subscription may be more of an investment. However, you will still need to get additional plugins and SEO functions, unlike WordPress. WordPress may be more justifiable in terms of its pricing and inclusions.
WordPress and Dreamweaver may differ extensively in terms of ease of use. Depending on your level of expertise, you may choose Dreamweaver if you are more adept at coding and WordPress if you are a beginner.
| Dreamweaver | WordPress |
| Dreamweaver is more complex, giving you two editing options: a code and a visual editor. The code editor supports numerous coding languages, and you can get additional support. The visual editor has drag-and-drop functionalities, but does not have as many features — adding these requires code. | It is easy to get started with WordPress because it is more streamlined and intuitive in its functions. You can easily navigate the platform without knowing anything about coding. You can build your ideal site by getting plugins and using WordPress’ many themes. |
WordPress’ ease of use and accessibility definitely win, thus explaining the widespread adoption of this site builder by individuals and businesses. It is especially appealing in its variety of themes and plugins, and you can build any type of site.
Both WordPress and Dreamweaver allow you to create beautiful and functional websites thanks to their themes selection, which can be customized with plugins and codes, respectively.
| Dreamweaver | WordPress |
| Dreamweaver has 16 templates in its software, but you will need to use code to customize the themes to your liking. Many professionals opt to use Dreamweaver for this purpose, as you have complete control. | WordPress has both paid and free themes that are ready to use, both available in-house and on third-party sites. You can edit elements of a page to customize the site further. |
On top of its myriad of themes, WordPress’s customization options with plugins help make it an excellent choice for beginners and even established businesses.
In terms of products and integrations, Dreamweaver and WordPress have a lot to offer. These can align with your brand’s identity and message, making your site unique.
| Dreamweaver | WordPress |
| Since Dreamweaver is an Adobe product, you have access to Adobe’s other tools to customize your site even more. It also supports many coding languages for more control over your site. | WordPress offers many integrations and plugins — pretty much everything you could ever imagine or need for your site. |
WordPress’ products and plugins win, given how there’s one for all of your needs, especially as add-ons to your chosen themes.
One area where Dreamweaver and WordPress may not differ too much is the payment options available for purchasing the platform.
| Payment Options | Dreamweaver | WordPress |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| Debit Card | Yes | Yes |
For eCommerce sites, point of sale capabilities are essential. Here’s what Dreamweaver and WordPress have to offer.
| Dreamweaver | WordPress |
| Dreamweaver allows you to create any kind of web application, including an eCommerce site, but it will have to be coded from scratch. | WordPress has plugins for POS systems that are affordable and user-friendly and will let you manage customers, sales, orders, and inventory. |
POS systems for WordPress may be far easier to set up since you just need to get a plugin.
You can purchase your plans for Dreamweaver and WordPress directly on their websites. You can pick your chosen plan or subscription method, billing scheme, and payment options depending on your desired budget and functionalities needed — especially for WordPress.
For both builders, you will need to create accounts before getting started on building your website. Both Dreamweaver and WordPress are relatively straightforward about account setup and checkout.
| Dreamweaver | WordPress |
| Dreamweaver is an Adobe product, so you will need to make an account on the Adobe site or enter your email address to make the software purchase. | WordPress requires creating an account before getting started and choosing your pricing plan. |
WordPress has an easy-to-integrate SSL plugin to make your site more secure and encrypt communication between browsers and servers. With the help of a third party, you can also redirect your Dreamweaver sites to SSL.
SEO is integral to the websites that you build for your business, and WordPress actually offers advanced SEO tools in its Business and eCommerce plans. On the other hand, Dreamweaver does not have any built-in integrations related to SEO. These must be done manually.
The speed of your website is an essential factor influencing user experience. Here’s the difference between site speeds for Dreamweaver and WordPress. When it comes to site speed, following tips and tricks on both platforms can help optimize performance.
| Dreamweaver | WordPress |
| Dreamweaver has a simplified coding engine that improves site speed. They have starter templates that you can customize, lessening the time it takes to set up shop. | There are many strategies for speeding up WordPress sites, from reducing image sizes, cleaning up your database, carefully choosing your web hosting service, and more. |
App stores are where you can find more tools for improving and customizing your site. These differ for both platforms.
| Dreamweaver | WordPress |
| Since Dreamweaver is part of Adobe, you will be granted access to all its other tools and software as well. | WordPress is known for its app store, where you can find integrations, apps, and plugins for all purposes that you can use in your store. |
Customizing your site requires more coding with Dreamweaver, but it’s WordPress’ app store that is extremely popular and widely used.
Support is necessary, especially if you encounter mishaps or hiccups when building your site or when it’s already up. Both builders offer support in various ways.
| Dreamweaver | WordPress |
| Dreamweaver has user guides and a host of tutorials for users. These tools assist users when learning how to build their site or when troubleshooting an issue. | WordPress offers unlimited email support for every pricing plan and live chat support for their Premium plan upwards. |
WordPress is ideal for direct, real-time support, and Dreamweaver offers guides for you to address and tackle potential issues on your own.
Got more questions on Dreamweaver vs. WordPress? Read on!
A lot of professionals use Dreamweaver as it requires technical knowledge and coding expertise to execute a fully functional site. Dreamweaver also gives you more free rein in designing your own site because most of the process is done from scratch.
Dreamweaver is not drag and drop, as the site is built on code and supports different coding languages.
Dreamweaver is free for a week until you have to choose a subscription. It costs $27.62 for the single app.
Based on the above comparison, WordPress is the best website builder. It offers more features and functions, and you do not need any specific technical background to get started.
It is suited for beginners, but even professionals and seasoned businesses can customize their sites with WordPress. Check out PageKits for more articles on website builders!
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