These days, web design is also made easy through the use of applications that require almost no coding. Two of the most well-known apps are WordPress and Dreamweaver and we can’t help but pit them and make it WordPress vs. Dreamweaver! Both of these apps came from prominent companies and are also veterans in beginner-friendly web design and even for heavy-duty outputs but have enough different features to make them separate from each other.
If you are a businessman who wants to engage in web design for their blog, know that WordPress and Dreamweaver are both great options. But which is the better fit for you and which will bring out the best of your website?
What is Web Design?
We will try to make things easier to understand as possible. Web design is basically the establishing of your website and it encompasses many processes such as web graphic design and interface design among many others. It provides the structure of your site, the navigational systems, and the visual appearance. Without web design, there is no website, a thing you dig deeper into as web design is becoming more and more popular in the Philippines.
Key elements include:
- Written content
- Layout
- Colors
- Fonts
Web design is being invested because it brings forth many benefits. A well-designed website attracts visitors and satisfies them. When this happens, your website will be bumped by Google on the search results as your site proved to be useful to customers.
It also goes hand in hand with other elements of digital marketing such as SEO which in turn needs UX. In ways of using it as an avenue for other digital marketing strategies to gain traction. Simply put, web design is the entire flesh and bones of your site and if they come as well-developed, they will give you desired results.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a content management software (CMS) meaning it is a bunch of PHP pages that you can use to create content and organize webpages in your site. It is currently open source and free for all to use at least the basic functions. For many, WordPress is primarily for blogging but it is also best for other forms of web content.
One of the first things you should know is that WordPress cannot be installed in your computer, rather it’s an application that exists on the web server. Ever since its establishment in 2003, WordPress is widely used by web designers and web developers alike. As of 2018, 1.3 million WordPress posts are being made every day.
Another one of the primary reasons why WordPress is used by many is because of its pre-made themes that can be altered by users without completely disrupting its functions and systems. With WordPress, you can also put plugins to customize your site and make it a cut above the rest.
What is Dreamweaver?
Unlike WordPress that can be found online, Dreamweaver is an exclusive Adobe application that can be downloaded to your computer and actually costs a few hundred bucks. However, it’s all worth it as Dreamweaver is a high-quality application from a well-known enterprise.
Dreamweaver was once called as a WYSIWYG (What You Is What You Get) editor and makes web design, especially coding, as simple and straightforward with its drag and drop solutions. It is made easy for beginners and is filled with features that will make web designing a quick affair. It also has features that are for far more advanced web designers. However, before this happens, you will need to spend a little time using it to fully maximize its potentials.
Differences between WordPress and Dreamweaver
We don’t want to bore you with intricate details about the differences of both applications as they are both powerful in their own rights so we will just provide you with a rundown to help you decide on your own.
Here they are:
Pros of WordPress
- WordPress is free of charge
- You can create a website, especially a blog, within 5 minutes
- There are a lot of themes to choose from
- No coding
- You don’t really need to learn about PHP, MYSQL or other web design related elements
- You just piece features together to form a website
- Dynamic webpages can be created on-the-fly
Cons of WordPress
- Your growth in web design can be stunted with quick and easy features
- To customize you need paid updates that can also create site issues
- With its generic tools, your site can be weak against hackers
- Speed can be a problem
Pros of Dreamweaver
- You can use it offline
- You get what you pay for
- The drag and drop function for beginners is a winner
- It teaches beginners what coding is
- You are setting yourself up to be a master web designer with its start-from-scratch web designing approach
Cons of Dreamweaver
- Dreamweaver will cost you a hundred dollars
- The interface is tricky and takes time to adjust to
- Sometimes what you code will not display properly in the browser as Dreamweaver is not browser-based
- Overall, very complex compared to WordPress
When to use which
In all honesty, it is all a matter of when to use them. If possible, you can use both WordPress and Dreamweaver to your benefit. There really is no competition as you can actually use one of them to benefit the other but there will come a time where you will only need the strength of one.
If you want a plain website that does not use coding at all, something that you can create in a few minutes and is free of charge, then WordPress is for you. But if you want something more advanced, something you will spend the time to build from scratch, and if something you are not afraid to invest some money in then you can try Dreamweaver.
You can also use both. For example, you can design your webpages in Dreamweaver and upload them to WordPress which is now your main server. Yes, this is possible.
Anyone can now create their own web design thanks to innovative applications that are available for use but each has its own strengths and weaknesses and it is up to you or your web designer to maximize them. If possible, try out WordPress and Dreamweaver (there is a free trial available) for a particular period of time and from there decide if you will choose one or use the two together. The latter is what we recommend!
We are hoping this is of help to put a rest on your Dreamweaver vs. WordPress qualms!