Websites

Ashwin S.

28 Jul 2025

11min Read

Website Builder vs Coding in Kenya: Which One Should You Choose in 2025?

Students, local business owners, digital entrepreneurs, online sellers – just about anyone in Kenya looking for online presence is eventually considering website builder vs coding. And rightfully so!

Website builders ensure fast and reliable website launch, but you might need to compromise on website capabilities. Coding opens up a world of possibilities, but agencies are costly and the process takes time, even more than one year if you decide to pick up coding yourself.

In this guide, we’ll go over website builders vs coding from every angle – benefits, shortcomings, possibilities for the website and personal growth, costs, scaling, and much more. By the end, you’ll be making a confident decision for your digital future.

What’s the Difference Between a Website Builder and Coding?

A website builder is a tool that lets you create a website without writing any code. The way it works is straightforward – it’s a platform that’s intended to guide you through a website creation process from start to finish with the help of intuitive building blocks. These tools offer templates, drag-and-drop editors, bundled hosting and SSL certificates, and basic (or sometimes even advanced) SEO features.

Some old-school site builders still have quite a learning curve to them, while modern AI website builders contain advanced AI tools so you only need to answer a few questions and get a ready-made, easily customizable website.

Most website builders have their own angle, for example Wix focuses on versatility, Durable AI on launch speed, Shopify on eCommerce store features and HostAfrica website builder on localization for Kenyan audiences.

Coding means building a website manually using programming languages, and the capabilities are only limited by your knowledge and imagination. Mastering code gives full control over how a website looks, functions, and scales, but it requires a fair share of knowledge and effort.

Languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the base line of web development. They are within the skillset of most developers – it takes time to master these languages, but it’s attainable. And in the absolute majority of cases they are enough to build a nicely looking, fully functioning website.

Advanced developers also use frameworks like React, Laravel, or Next.js – endless possibilities, massive learning curve. These languages will allow you to build not only websites, but also platforms or SaaS products.

All that sounds a bit overwhelming? Here’s a quick and simple comparison between website builders and coding:

Feature	Website Builder	Coding from Scratch
Ease of Use	Zero technical knowledge required	Requires significant learning, minimum 3 months of intense studies
Speed	Fast – sites can go live in hours	Slower – weeks or months
Customization	Limited by platform templates	Almost unlimited possibilities
Cost	Subscription (KES 300–2,500/mo), paid add-ons	Variable – courses, tools, time
Scalability	Moderate – depends on the builder’s capabilities	High – build anything with the right skills

Why Website Builders Are Ideal for Most Kenyan Business Owners

Let’s say you’re a boutique owner in Eldoret and wish to generate more interest in your crafts, a farmer in Nakuru looking to sell local produce faster, or a beauty salon in Nairobi facing fierce competition. Naturally, you want to dominate the digital space – attract new audiences, take orders on WhatsApp, process delivery requests, enable booking calendars.

In this case, a website builder is hands-down the better option. It’s straightforward, the launch and maintenance time is minimal, costs are low, and the website is stunning.

Let’s break down the specific key benefits of website builders:

Forget coding: if you can drag and drop, you can build your site. Some site builders go as far as to ask a few questions about your business and come back with a full-fledged website.
Enjoy all-in-one packages: web hosting, SSL, and sometimes even domain names come bundled, meaning you don’t need to worry about the technical part of the website setup.
Save costs, a lot: with website builders, you avoid the upfront fees of hiring a developer. Ongoing costs include primarily the subscription plans, which range between KES 300-2,500 monthly.
Launch fast and maintain easily: launch in a few hours or maximum days, not months. Some AI builders will let you launch your site literally in minutes. As for maintenance, worry only about your website photos and content, never the technical side of it.
Champion mobile commerce: in 2024, the Kenyan eCommerce buyer base reached around 12.26 million. That paired with the fact that Kenyans are most often mobile-first shows how crucial it is to have a website optimized for mobile buyers. Conveniently enough, most builders are mobile-optimized by default.

Best Local and Global Website Builders for Kenyans

If you settle on a website builder, you’re sacrificing some of that flexibility and in depth features that come with coding. To minimise that and get the best result possible out of your website builder, you need to pick the right one. Let’s review what’s on offer for Kenyan audiences:

Wix: this internationally-acclaimed, highly visual drag-and-drop builder comes with hundreds of templates and even has a free plan available. However, as you scale, it’s one of the priciest options, especially if you’re looking for advanced features. Plus, it does not offer local payment integration like M-Pesa by default.
HOSTAFRICA Kenya. Smooth onboarding, 100+ templates, some of the most affordable plans out there and most importantly, supports local payment gateways, including M-Pesa.
Shopify: hands down the best builder for sellers, Shopify is basically an eCommerce ecosystem with an integrated website builder. It supports multiple payment gateways, including some local options. On the more expensive end.
Jimdo: get your website live in 10 minutes with a questionnaire walkthrough and AI generated site based on the answers. We tested it and we must admit, the result exceeded all our expectations.
Truehost: locally owned and trusted by as many as 100,000 Kenyan businesses already, this website builder is super beginner-friendly and caters to local Kenyan needs.

All things considered, if your main goal is to get online quickly, cheaply, and professionally, a website builder is your best bet in Kenya.

Why Learning to Code Can Be Life-Changing for Kenyan Students and Freelancers

When the time comes to go online, most face the dilemma of website builder vs web developer. However, you can choose to look at your website not just as a potential business growth opportunity, but a personal one too. If your goals extend beyond just having a website – if you’re thinking about freelancing, app development, or a tech career – then learning to code can transform your future.

Coding Opens Income Streams Beyond Websites

Kenyans who know how to code can:

Offer freelance web development services internationally on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or even locally via LinkedIn. For international jobs that pay in EU or USD, the freelance web developer hourly rates range between KES 1,500 to KES 13,000 or even more.
Build and monetize SaaS tools, e-commerce platforms, or plugins.
Create internal systems for SMEs like inventory apps, booking systems, CRMs.
Get hired internationally and enjoy remote work or even be eligible for visa sponsorship if you’re trying to relocate.
Become educators or YouTube creators in the coding niche. You’d be surprised how much passive income a well-structured beginner’s coding course can bring.

Of course, it’s important not to oversimplify it. Getting to a point where you’re a good enough developer to land well-paid gigs, international positions, or launch an education program yourself normally takes years. But if you commit and work hard, this can be your path not only into a great website for your own business, but a bright future career.

Local Learning Resources

All that sounds exciting and you’re ready to dive in? Let’s explore locally and internationally available resources Kenyans can benefit from in pursuit of their goal to learn coding:

School	Location	Cost (KES)	Time Commitment	Description
Le Wagon	International	1 615 000,00	Full-time: 9 weeks Part-time: 24 weeks	Intensive full-stack coding bootcamp with global network and career support, available online and onsite.
General Assembly	International	2 002 600,00	Typically 12 weeks full-time or part-time options	Bootcamp for software engineering and data science with flexible learning and career support.
Nucamp	International	Starting at 59 173,60	3-6 months part-time (online, flexible)	Affordable and community-focused online bootcamp with flexible payment and monthly installments.
Moringa School	Kenya	Approx. 15 5040,00 – 38 7600,00	3-4 months, full-time programs	Kenya’s leading coding school focused on software development and data science with practical job-focused training and mentorship.
Zindua School	Kenya	Approx. 77 520,00 – 155 040,00	12 weeks, flexible schedule	Kenyan bootcamp with live mentorship and “learn-now-pay-later” options offering software engineering and DevOps training.

If cost is a problem but commitment is there, you can check out the online courses below. You might not receive as much individual feedback or interactive course material, but it’s still very much possible to get at least the base line knowledge.

freeCodeCamp: completely free, self-paced coding lessons with certifications in web development, JavaScript, and more. Requires about 300-800 hours to complete full tracks depending on your goals, ideal for serious self-learners.
Codecademy (Free plan): free access to basic interactive courses in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, and more. Paid PRO plan unlocks advanced content. Time commitment varies by course, from hours to months.
MIT OpenCourseWare: free university-level programming courses available online, typically self-paced and rigorous. Great for learners seeking deep understanding without fees.

The barrier to entry has never been lower. All you need is time, a device, and reliable internet.

Career Paths After Learning to Code

Wondering what happens after you finish your coding courses, get your business website live, and are ready for new challenges? Stay on track by choosing a professional direction to pursue:

Technical virtual assistant (with HTML/JS skills): provide remote tech support tasks such as editing websites or managing platforms using basic coding skills like HTML and JavaScript.
Web developer (freelance or in-house): build and maintain websites (including your own!) for a living, either independently or as part of a company.
WordPress/PHP developer: specialize in all-powerful WordPress and the PHP programming language.
Software engineer: design, develop, and test software systems and applications across various platforms.
Front-end or back-end engineer: focus on either the visible parts of a website users interact with (front-end) or everything behind the curtain, like the server-side logic and databases (back-end).
App developer: create mobile or desktop apps for platforms like Android, iOS, or Windows.
Product manager or tech founder: oversee the development and direction of a tech product or startup, balancing business goals, technical possibilities, and resource allocation.

If you wish to work completely independently, you’re not one for constant meetings, and you’re really good at spotting details – backend or software engineering might be your route. If you like imagining how users will interact with the website, what they need from it, dive into app or frontend development. Alternatively, if you love organizing work and juggling responsibilities, you will shine in product management.

Real Talk: Challenges of Coding in the Kenyan Context

Despite its benefits, learning to code isn’t for everyone. Consider the challenges before you commit, because the commitment is big:

Time commitment: even for the savviest of learners it can take 6–12 months to become proficient.
Self-discipline: you must create your own structure if learning independently and that will most often be the case if you don’t have thousands to spend on a bootcamp.
Internet costs: watching tutorials and testing code uses data, so you’re going to need an unlimited plan or a regular seat at an internet cafe.
Job competition: the global tech talent pool is big, you will need a lot more than just HTML skills to be competitive. Plus, anything an entry level developer can do, so can AI.

Still, those who push through can access a truly promising global job market.

When Coding a Website Is Actually Necessary

We established how many doors learning to code can open, but let’s come back to the original goal, which is launching your website. In which cases would you actually need to code your own site as opposed to leaving the majority of the work to a website builder?

You need custom features like advanced search, filtering, or user dashboards.
Your site must integrate with other tools or APIs in complex ways.
You want a fully optimized SEO experience.
You want to scale into a large application (e.g., an edtech platform).
You plan to sell templates, plugins, or themes afterwards.

For example, if you’re a real estate agency needing a map filter and login system, a builder likely won’t cut it.

Website Builder vs Coding: Cost Breakdown in Kenya

Cost is always a factor, so let’s have a detailed breakdown of each website building related components:

Cost Element	Website Builder	Coding Yourself
Initial setup	Free – KES 2,500/month	Free (self-learn) – KES 60,000+
Hosting	Included	KES 1,000–5,000/year
Custom domain	Often included	KES 1,000–3,000/year
Learning materials	Not needed	Free to KES 100,000+ (bootcamps)
Tech maintenance	Included	Your responsibility
Hiring a dev	Not needed	KES 30,000–150,000+

Mistakes Kenyans Often Make After Choosing Coding or Website Builder

Finally, when you decide that coding or website builder is the way to go, make sure you avoid these common mistakes or misconceptions:

Trying to learn to code just to launch a simple site: too slow and overwhelming, absolutely unnecessary and can be done with a website builder in an hour.
Relying on website builder generic templates without branding: hurts credibility, brand memorability and uniqueness.
Picking builders that don’t support Mpesa or .co.ke domains: misses local relevance and greatly complicates eCommerce functionalities.
Ignoring mobile performance: speed is critical, especially in areas with slower 3G networks, and while web builders are natively optimized to be fast, when coding yourself, it’s something you need to keep at the forefront of your effort.
Not planning the site’s purpose first: leads to quickly lost interest, motivation, and abandoned projects.

Smart Hybrid Options That Work in Kenya

Not ready to dive head first into coding bootcamps? You don’t always have to choose one extreme. Many Kenyans succeed by mixing both approaches:

Start with a website builder and have a site up and running as you learn to code on the side.
Use WordPress + Elementor: combines simplicity of drag-and-drop builders with developer flexibility.
Try Webflow: drag-and-drop plus custom code access.
Learn basic HTML/CSS to customize your builder or fix small issues – most website builders allow for custom features.

This way, you launch fast but still grow your technical capacity over time.

So, Which One Should You Choose?

Let’s recap with a decision guide between website builder and coding:

Goal	Best Option
Launch fast and affordably	Website builder
Build a complex platform	Coding
Learn a new marketable skill	Coding
Sell easily via website plus Instagram or WhatsApp	Website builder
Become a freelancer	Coding
Get full creative control	Coding
Don’t want a high learning curve or hire a team	Website builder

Final Thoughts

If you’re a business owner in Kenya, don’t waste time trying to learn to code just to launch a website. Use a platform like HostAfrica Website Builder, get online fast, and focus on marketing your products.But if you’re thinking about career growth, remote work, or building tech solutions, then learning to code is one of the best investments you can make. It’s not just about a website, it’s about financial independence, problem-solving, and unlocking a global income stream.