The internet has changed the way we do business. The days of posting your business address and phone number online are long gone. Nowadays, it's all about how businesses can stand out from the crowd, and there are many ways to attract customers to a site. 

One way is by using open-source website builders, which have become popular in recent years because they make it easy for anyone with basic computer skills to create a unique and professional-looking website and customize it with their own content and graphics. But what exactly is an open-source website builder?

What is an open-source website builder?

The term "open-source" refers to software that is freely available for use and modification. When it comes to website builders, this means that the code used to create the site is public and can be accessed by anyone who wishes to do so.

Open-source website builders contain all the tools needed to build a site, right there in one convenient place. Many types of open-source website-building programs exist, but a drag ’n’ drop builder is the most popular and common type.

Open-source Drag ’n’ Drop Website Builder

Drag-and-drop website builders are tools that let users add content and features by dragging elements onto their page, then customizing them by modifying the code.

Open-source drag ’n’ drop website builders offer startups the advantage of being able to get started quickly with a basic website but also leave room for flexibility and customization for the long term.

Why use open-source drag ’n’ drop website builders?

For those startups looking into using these innovative tools but aren't sure how it will be of benefit, here are seven reasons why an open-source drag 'n' drop website builder might be the next best investment:

Cost-effective

The cost-effectiveness of an open-source platform can be compelling for companies that are just starting out.

Open-source drag ’n’ drop website builders are built on a foundation of open-source technologies, making them ideal for startups looking to build their websites without spending much on website design and web development costs. The tools will typically be free, or at least very inexpensive, and they offer a lot of options in terms of what users can do with their website. 

This can be particularly important for startups that are still in the process of building their brand and identity. Startups might not have a lot of money to spend on their website, but they do need one if they want to get found online. 

Flexible customization

Open-source drag ’n’ drop website builders are great for startups because they offer a great deal of flexibility and customization capabilities. The code is open source, so users can extend it to add custom features or templates and make the tool do exactly what they need it to do.

These open-source software allow users to create highly customized webpages using blocks that they can drag and drop into place, and then customize by clicking on them, modifying the existing code, or adding a new one.

It offers users the best of both worlds—the convenience of drag ’n’ drop functionality with major customization capabilities through the open-source platform.

Highly scalable

One of the best parts about using an open-source website builder is that startups can grow with it. As their business grows, they can easily add new features and functionality. 

In particular, when managing customizable websites at scale—where tasks can become more complicated and tedious due to the sheer number of moving pieces involved—open-source software allows businesses to scale up their operations with ease. This is particularly true for companies that want to maintain a consistent experience across multiple websites and locations.

With a full-featured open-source website builder, startups can create an initial website that meets the needs of their business and then continue to add new features as their company grows.

Full control and content ownership

For startups that want full ownership and control of their content, an open-source drag-and-drop website builder is the way to go.

This open-source software allows full content ownership and control because there are endless options on what users can do with their site's content once they've created it.

Some of the best open-source drag-and-drop web builders like WordPress and Wix will give users the flexibility to create a unique and engaging experience that works for their business.

More secure

Of the many advantages of using open-source software, high security is among the most important.

Open-source drag-and-drop website builders are built on open-source frameworks, which means that the code is available to the general public and therefore has been checked over by multiple people.

This makes open-source software safer than closed-source ones because it doesn’t contain any proprietary code, which means that it can be audited for bugs by anyone who wants to look at it. This also means that it’s much less likely to have any security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers.

Future proof

Startups can always be sure that the open-source drag ’n’ drop web builder they choose will be regularly updated and improved. As these platforms are open-source, developers are constantly working on them to make them easier to use and more effective. This makes them ideal for startups since these open-source software will always be up-to-date with the latest features and functionality.

A supportive community of developers

In addition to the low cost and ease of use, open-source drag ‘n’ drop website builders typically have a more active and supportive community. Many of these sites are backed by a large and active community of developers who use them for their own projects, which in turn leads to an increase in documentation and support.

The community is also a great resource for learning new skills and sharing knowledge. Websites like WordPress have large communities of users who contribute to forums and documentation pages as well as share their own websites with each other in order to get feedback on their designs and functionality. This support can help startups who are unfamiliar with web development learn how to build websites on their own.

Final Thoughts

With the unlimited possibilities available, the sky is literally the limit. There are a lot of innovative tools out there and plenty of resources to pull from. At the same time, anyone can create a website that reflects their vision and address any functional concerns they may have. 

Those taking advantage of these powerful tools, shouldn't be surprised when it pays off for their business—both in the short term and over time.