WordPress vs Bootstrap (2024) — What You Need To Know

Last Updated on February 16, 2024 by Leave a Comment

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WordPress vs Bootstrap (2024) — What You Need To Know
Blog / WordPress / WordPress vs Bootstrap (2024) — What You Need To Know

WordPress and Bootstrap are two popular methods of building websites. Although they share some similarities, such as responsive design and the ability to create visually stunning web pages, and are both free, they differ in approach. Bootstrap relies on only three programming languages: HTML, CSS, and javascript. In contrast, WordPress uses PHP, integrates CSS, HTML, and javascript, and requires a MySQL database. Deciding between the two for your web development needs depends on your goals and technical expertise. This post will compare WordPress vs Bootstrap to help you decide which platform suits your needs best.

WordPress vs Bootstrap: Who Are They For?

Although WordPress and Bootstrap are used to create responsive websites, each platform is tailored to a different audience.

WordPress vs Boostrap

WordPress and Bootstrap are meant for different types of users when building websites. If you know HTML, CSS, and Javascript well, Bootstrap lets you create a website from scratch by writing code for every part of it. However, since Bootstrap relies heavily on coding, it’s not the easiest choice for people who don’t have experience in this area. But Bootstrap can still be a good option if you’re willing to learn. That said, there are ways to use Bootstrap in WordPress, should you decide to go that route.

WordPress vs Bootstrap

On the other hand, WordPress is more user-friendly, which makes it an excellent choice for people who aren’t technically savvy. WordPress websites use themes that can be quickly installed, styled, and filled with content. Moreover, most themes either come with or allow page builder plugins to drag content blocks, images, and other design elements into a post or page. However, WordPress users will find that even though it’s not absolutely necessary, it’s good to know at least some basic CSS and some HTML codes in case they need to make changes that their chosen theme doesn’t support natively.

Overall, WordPress is a more suitable platform for beginners. At the same time, Bootstrap is better suited for web developers with coding knowledge who prefer to build websites from the ground up.

WordPress vs Bootstrap: Pricing

Regarding pricing, it’s worth noting that both the core Bootstrap and WordPress platforms are free and open-source, making them accessible even for those with tight budgets. However, it’s important to remember that there are still associated costs if you want to expand the functionality of either platform.

WordPress

As a multi-purpose platform, WordPress is hard to beat. You can create any site with it, make it look any way you like, and even easily create an online store. That said, the costs associated with WordPress can quickly add up. You’ll need a domain, hosting, a theme, plugins, and other things like email accounts, should your hosting provider not offer them. The costs of using WordPress can vary depending on the hosting type, theme, and plugins you choose.

Hosting options include shared, managed, dedicated, cloud, or VPS, with monthly prices ranging from a few to hundreds of dollars. For themes, you can choose from thousands of free options on the WordPress theme repository or invest in a premium one. Depending on your chosen theme, you can expect to pay anywhere from $40 to several hundred dollars annually for premium themes.

Additionally, plugins are essential for expanding your website’s functionality, but they can also be costly depending on your needs. For example, suppose you’re building a membership website. In that case, you may need a membership plugin like MemberPress, which costs around $180 annually. If you’re creating an ecommerce site, you can use WooCommerce. Still, extensions can potentially cost thousands of dollars when it’s all said and done.

Bootstrap

One of the best features of Bootstrap is that it’s completely free, but as with anything free, there is a cost. In this case, the price is your time. As previously mentioned, Bootstrap uses HTML, CSS, and javascript. It utilizes a 12-column grid system designed to be responsive, making it an excellent platform for creating mobile-first websites. However, to build a beautiful, mobile-friendly website with Bootstrap, you must build it from scratch. No drag-and-drop builders, plugins, or themes will do the work for you. You will only spend a little as long as you’re okay with spending countless hours in the depths of inline CSS.

The only costs you will incur with Bootstrap are hosting and a domain. Fortunately, Bootstrap doesn’t require much to host, so you can generally get away with cheaper shared options like Bluehost, HostGator, or Hostinger. For domains, you can expect to pay less than $20 a year through top domain registrars.

WordPressBootstrap
PricingWhile it is technically free, you'll eventually need to pay for hosting, a theme, and plugins. Your costs depend on how much you're willing to spend.🥇 Winner

Costs associated with Bootstrap are far less, with hosting and a domain being the only necessities.
Get started with WordPressGet started with Bootstrap

WordPress vs Bootstrap: Ease of Use

Depending on your coding expertise and familiarity with a content management system (CMS) and its unique features, WordPress and Bootstrap can be challenging to learn. To help you choose the best platform for your needs, let’s explore which one is more user-friendly.

WordPress

WordPress Dashboard

Anyone who knows WordPress is aware that getting used to things takes a little time. Initially, the dashboard can be overwhelming, mainly when using multiple plugins. That said, since it is so widely used, there are plenty of places to learn WordPress. One of the best features of WordPress is the fact that you don’t need to know how to code. WordPress uses the Gutenberg editor out of the box, which is based on blocks and functions similarly to old word processors, allowing users to start typing right away. However, the block editor expands on this by adding over 40 blocks to build pages and posts.

Gutenberg editor

You can also create templates with the editor, which allows you to build custom page designs for archives, 404, search results, and more.

Bootstrap

Bootstrap sample website

While the learning curve for Bootstrap is steeper compared to WordPress, it’s manageable. As mentioned earlier, you need to develop a basic understanding of coding to add content like posts and pages. However, even without prior experience with Bootstrap, we grasped it quickly, thanks to our knowledge of CSS and HTML. After reviewing the documentation and coding examples on Bootstrap’s website, we built a functional one-page website in just an hour or so.

WordPressBootstrap
Ease of Use🥇 Winner

Creating posts and pages with the Gutenberg editor is a breeze. However, deciphering the dashboard takes some getting used to.
Working with Bootstrap requires coding knowledge, so it may take a while for beginners to get up to speed.
Get started with WordPressGet started with Bootstrap

WordPress vs Bootstrap: Customization

Both platforms let users fully customize their websites, giving them complete control over design and functionality. This high level of customization is a significant reason for their popularity. However, there are notable differences between the two that may impact your choice.

WordPress

WordPress is one of the most highly customizable content management systems available. With unlimited themes and plugins, and the ability to add custom code, custom fields, additional post types, and any number of widgets, you can create the perfect website for your needs.

Divi by Elegant Themes

WordPress offers thousands of free themes in the theme repository, along with countless premium options from professional developers like Elegant Themes, aThemes, and StudioPress. Most themes offer customization using the live WordPress customizer or proprietary theme options pages, allowing users to adjust colors, fonts, site width, and more. Some themes, such as Divi, have a Theme Builder that enables users to create custom templates for a fully customized look.

Best WordPress plugins

WordPress plugins offer users a range of features to enhance their website’s functionality, such as SEO improvement, LMS integration, custom forms, security optimization, and more. Additionally, excellent plugins are available for almost anything you can imagine, making it one of WordPress’s best features.

Custom post types, widgets, and custom code are other tools to make your website unique. Plugins such as Toolset allow you to create specialized websites like real estate, membership, business, or directory sites using custom post types. WordPress widgets let you add elements to your website, such as recent posts, search bars, categories, tags, and social media platforms, which you can place in the header, footer, or sidebar. You can add custom CSS or HTML to customize design elements further or insert snippets for third-party integrations, such as Google Analytics or Pinterest tags.

Bootstrap

Bootstrap is highly customizable, with every aspect being hand-coded, including reusable components, JavaScript code snippets, and CSS styles. This allows developers to modify Bootstrap’s framework and create a website that suits their needs without being limited by templates or themes. With a wide range of components to choose from, including headers, hero sections, modals, buttons, menus, and more, you can add elements to your site that can be easily adjusted with CSS to fit your website’s specific style.

Bootstrap themes

For those who require a more structured approach, Bootstrap offers more than 80 themes that can be used as a starting point. While they aren’t free, they are reasonably priced compared to some WordPress themes. They offer a solid foundation for developers to build on, with pre-designed styles and components that can be customized easily.

WordPressBootstrap
Customization🏳️ Draw

WordPress offers tons of customization options by way of plugins, themes, custom post types, widgets, and custom CSS and HTML, giving you ample ways to make your website unique.
🏳️ Draw

Although Bootstrap doesn't offer many themes, you can create your own with plenty of snippets and custom components at your disposal.
Get started with WordPressGet started with Bootstrap

WordPress vs Bootstrap: Hosting

Both WordPress and Bootstrap require hosting to display a website. That said, each has a different set of requirements.

WordPress

WordPress runs on PHP, so it needs a stable version installed on the server. In addition, WordPress requires a MySQL or MariaDB database to store all of your site’s content, including posts, pages, comments, and images. It also helps to use a web host optimized for WordPress, where the server is set up with specific parameters to make it fast, stable, and secure.

There are so many options for WordPress hosting that we’ve written plenty of posts about it. With several different types, including managed hosting, dedicated hosting, cloud hosting, and others, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the different types before deciding.

Bootstrap

On the other hand, Bootstrap is a more straightforward option that utilizes Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets (Sass), a preprocessor scripting language that generates CSS stylesheets. This enables Bootstrap to provide a modular and customizable architecture. As a result, hosting requirements for Bootstrap are less stringent, and you can often use a budget-friendly hosting provider, depending on the size of your website. However, it’s worth noting that better options are available that optimize their web servers to run Bootstrap websites more efficiently.

A2 Hosting for Bootstrap

One of the better options is A2 Hosting, which offers several plans for Bootstrap ranging from $12-$25 per month. They offer turbo hosting, which is built using LiteSpeed servers. Additional features include a free SSL, one-click Bootstrap installs through Softaculous, and several server location options.

WordPress vs Bootstrap: Which One is Better?

Both WordPress and Bootstrap have a learning curve and offer plenty of customization options.

WordPressBootstrap
PricingWhile it is technically free, you'll eventually need to pay for hosting, a theme, and plugins. Your costs depend on how much you're willing to spend.🥇Winner

Costs associated with Bootstrap are far less, with hosting and a domain being the only necessities.
Ease of Use🥇 Winner

Creating posts and pages with the Gutenberg editor is a breeze. However, deciphering the dashboard takes some getting used to.
Working with Bootstrap requires coding knowledge, so it may take a while for beginners to get up to speed.
Customization🏳️ Draw

WordPress offers tons of customization options by way of plugins, themes, custom post types, widgets, and custom CSS and HTML, giving you ample ways to make your website unique.
🏳️ Draw

Although Bootstrap doesn't offer many themes, you can create your own with plenty of snippets and custom components at your disposal.
Get started with WordPressGet started with Bootstrap

However, the choice between the two ultimately comes down to what you want to achieve with your website. WordPress is the better option if you’re looking to create a blog or an e-commerce website. On the other hand, if you’re interested in building a custom website and enjoy coding, Bootstrap may be more appropriate. Regardless of your choice, WordPress and Bootstrap are excellent options for creating a unique website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Before we wrap up, let’s answer some of your most common questions regarding WordPress and Bootstrap. Did we miss one? Leave a question below, and we will respond!

Which is better, WordPress or Bootstrap?
WordPress is a clear winner as it is a platform that helps you create and manage websites even if you don't know how to code.WordPress is more user-friendly, has more features, and provides better help and support. WordPress is a better website creation option if you're not a developer. In contrast, Bootstrap is a front-end framework for website building but requires more technical know-how.
What is the difference between WordPress and Bootstrap?
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows users to create and manage websites focusing on content. Bootstrap, on the other hand, is a front-end development framework that provides a set of pre-designed components and tools to create responsive and mobile-first websites. While WordPress focuses more on content creation and management, Bootstrap focuses more on design and front-end development.
What are the benefits of using WordPress over Bootstrap?
WordPress offers more flexibility in terms of customization and a wider range of plugins and themes to choose from. It also has a more user-friendly interface for non-developers, enabling content creation and management to be a breeze. However, Bootstrap is great for developers who want more control over the design and functionality of their websites.
Is WordPress more user-friendly than Bootstrap?
WordPress is more user-friendly than Bootstrap because it is a content management system specifically designed for creating and managing websites, while Bootstrap is a front-end framework for web development. WordPress has a visual editor and pre-made templates that make it easy for users to create and customize their sites without needing coding skills. Bootstrap requires more technical knowledge and programming skills to use effectively.
Which platform requires coding skills, WordPress or Bootstrap?
Bootstrap requires coding skills as it is a front-end development framework that requires knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. WordPress, however, does not necessarily need coding skills as it has a user-friendly interface and a variety of pre-built themes and plugins that you can use to create a website without writing any code. However, some coding knowledge may be helpful when customizing and optimizing a WordPress website.
What factors should be considered when choosing between WordPress and Bootstrap?
When choosing between WordPress and Bootstrap, factors such as the purpose and complexity of the website, design and customization options, ease of use, and level of coding knowledge required should be considered. Additionally, WordPress is better suited for content-heavy websites, while Bootstrap is ideal for building simple websites.
Can I use WordPress and Bootstrap together?
Yes, you can use WordPress and Bootstrap together. Bootstrap is a front-end framework that provides a set of design and layout components, while WordPress is a content management system. Developers can create responsive and attractive designs by integrating Bootstrap into a WordPress site. You may check out our guide on using them together here.
Is WordPress more SEO friendly than Bootstrap?
WordPress is more SEO-friendly than Bootstrap due to its built-in functionality for optimizing content, such as permalinks, and easy integration with popular SEO plugins. On the other hand, Bootstrap is primarily a front-end framework and does not have the same level of SEO features. However, you can optimize both for SEO with proper implementation and content strategy.
What types of websites are better suited for WordPress than Bootstrap?
WordPress is better suited for content-heavy websites such as blogs, news websites, and e-commerce sites, as it offers a user-friendly CMS and a wide range of plugins and themes. On the other hand, Bootstrap is ideal for websites that require a responsive design, such as landing pages, portfolios, and corporate websites, as it provides a mobile-first approach and a robust front-end framework.
How does the learning curve compare between WordPress and Bootstrap?
WordPress has a smaller learning curve because it is designed specifically for creating and managing websites with a user-friendly interface and pre-built templates that allow users to create and customize their websites without advanced coding knowledge easily. On the other hand, Bootstrap is a front-end web development framework that requires a solid understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to utilize its features effectively.
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