# Building a website with Kualo - your options explained > Three ways to build a website on your Kualo hosting without becoming a code wizard - ProSite's drag-and-drop builder, WordPress with WP Toolkit, or one of 400+ apps via Softaculous - and how to pick between them. Source: https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/building-a-website-with-kualo-your-options-explained Updated: 2026-06-13 --- ## So, you want to build a website? That's awesome. But before you start, take a deep breath - because this is one of those moments where infinite choice is both exciting and slightly terrifying. There are so many ways to build a website. Some are fast and simple. Some are powerful and flexible. Some require you to become a full-fledged code wizard. But let's assume you want to get your website live without spending three months lost in a coding tutorial rabbit hole. ## The good news At Kualo, you have three main ways to build a website without needing a PhD in Web Development: 1. **ProSite** - our drag-and-drop website builder. 2. **WordPress** - the world's most popular website platform (but let's do it the smart way). 3. **Softaculous** - one-click installs for all sorts of powerful web apps. Let's break these down. ## Option 1: ProSite - the "click, drag, done" route If you want a website but don't want to touch code, [ProSite](/knowledgebase/prosite-getting-started/getting-started-with-prosite) is your best friend. It's a drag-and-drop website builder - which means you can literally grab elements (text, images, buttons, forms), move them around, and create a professional website without writing a single line of code. ### Why choose ProSite? - **Instant setup** - no installation, just log in and start building. - **Gorgeous templates** - start with a stunning design and tweak it. - **Mobile-friendly by default** - your site will look great on phones and tablets. - **Built-in SEO tools** - so Google actually finds your site. ### Who should use it? - Small business owners who want an easy-to-manage website. - Freelancers who need a simple portfolio. - Anyone who wants a no-fuss website without hiring a developer. ### Who shouldn't? - If you need a highly custom or scalable website, WordPress is probably a better choice. ## Option 2: WordPress - the "I want more control" route WordPress is by far the most popular way to build a website. And for good reason: - It powers over 40% of the internet. - It's endlessly customisable - build anything from a blog to an eCommerce store. - It has plugins - want a contact form? A membership site? A booking system? There's a plugin for that. Now, if the words "installing WordPress" send shivers down your spine, relax - with [WP Toolkit](/knowledgebase/wp-toolkit) in cPanel, getting started is easy. ### WP Toolkit: WordPress, without the hard bits - **One-click install** - no database setup or files to upload, just hit install and go. - **Manage everything from one dashboard** - plugins, themes, security, and updates. - **Stage your site** - test changes on a copy of your site before making major changes. :::info **Want to skip the setup and let AI build your website?** If you want to get online faster without designing every page yourself, try our AI Starter Site plugin. It builds a complete website tailored to your business in minutes - powered by WordPress, styled with Astra, and built using the Spectra page builder. You'll still have full control to customise everything afterwards, but you won't be starting from scratch. [Learn more about AI Starter Sites](/knowledgebase/wp-ai-starter-sites/getting-started-with-wordpress-ai-starter-sites) ::: ### Choosing a WordPress theme (and why you should think about page builders) If you've ever browsed the WordPress theme marketplace, you'll know there are **hundreds of thousands** of themes out there. Some are gorgeous. Some are outdated and abandoned. Some look great in the demo but turn into a nightmare when you try to customise them. The truth? **The best themes are flexible ones that work well with page builders.** ### Themes vs page builders - what's the difference? Think of a theme as the foundation of your website's design. It controls the overall layout, typography, and styling - but some themes lock you into rigid layouts that are hard to customise. A **page builder**, on the other hand, gives you full control over your page layout, without needing to write a single line of code. The best approach is to choose a **lightweight, flexible theme** and pair it with a **powerful page builder** - so you're never stuck with a theme that looks good in the demo but refuses to cooperate in reality. ## Best themes and page builders for WordPress Let's break down some winning combinations that will make building your site easier, more flexible, and future-proof. ### Best all-rounder: [Spectra](https://wpspectra.com/) + [Astra](https://wpastra.com/) **What it is:** Spectra is a block-based page builder, designed to integrate seamlessly with the **Gutenberg editor** (the default WordPress editor). **Why it's great:** Lightweight, fast, and flexible - it's perfect for modern WordPress sites. **Best paired with:** [Astra](https://wpastra.com/) - a fast, highly customisable theme that works beautifully with Spectra. There's also [Spectra One](https://wpspectra.com/spectra-one/), a free theme optimised for Spectra, but Astra offers more flexibility for different site types. **Kualo's AI Starter Site plugin** is built on Spectra, so if you want a full website generated for you, this is the route to go. Find out more about [AI Starter Sites](/knowledgebase/wp-ai-starter-sites/getting-started-with-wordpress-ai-starter-sites). ### Best for beginners: [Beaver Builder](https://www.wpbeaverbuilder.com/) + Themer add-on **What it is:** Beaver Builder is a drag-and-drop page builder that lets you design pages visually, with no coding required. **Why it's great:** Super intuitive, stable, and developer-friendly. Plus, it doesn't lock you in - if you ever deactivate it, your content stays clean. **Best paired with:** - [Astra](https://wpastra.com/), [GeneratePress](https://generatepress.com/), or [Kadence](https://kadencewp.com/) - all lightweight and optimised for performance. - The [Beaver Themer add-on](https://www.wpbeaverbuilder.com/beaver-themer/) - which lets you customise headers, footers, and archives. ### Best for stylish, feature-packed sites: [Divi](https://www.elegantthemes.com/gallery/divi/) (theme + builder in one) **What it is:** Divi is both a **theme and a page builder**, built by Elegant Themes. **Why it's great:** - Comes with hundreds of pre-designed layouts. - Packed with features (animations, effects, split-testing). - No need for a separate theme - it's all-in-one. **Best paired with:** Itself! The Divi Theme and Divi Builder are made to work together. Great for designers who want full creative freedom but don't want to mess with code. ### Best for speed and simplicity: [Breakdance](https://breakdance.com/) + any minimal theme **What it is:** A newer page builder that's rapidly gaining popularity. **Why it's great:** - Lightning-fast, even with complex designs. - Super intuitive UI (easier than Elementor). - Works with WooCommerce for eCommerce sites. **Best paired with:** [Astra](https://wpastra.com/), [GeneratePress](https://generatepress.com/), or any minimal theme. Breakdance is a fantastic middle ground between simplicity and advanced design capabilities. ## Option 3: Softaculous - the "I want something other than WordPress" route WordPress is great. But it's not the only way to build a website. Maybe you're launching a **full-blown online store**. Maybe you want to **create an online course**. Maybe you're nostalgic for **forums** (remember those?). Or maybe you just like the idea of using something other than WordPress. **Softaculous** is here to make that easy. ### What is Softaculous? Think of **Softaculous** as the *app store for your web hosting*. It lets you install over **400+ web apps** with just a few clicks - no manual file uploads, no database setup headaches, no "wait, how do I install this?" moments. Instead of wrestling with installation guides, you just: 1. Click install. 2. Grab a coffee. 3. Log in and start building. Softaculous also handles **automatic backups** and, for certain apps, it can also handle **updates**, so you're not stuck maintaining everything manually. ### Popular apps you can install with Softaculous Depending on what you're building, Softaculous has some **powerful alternatives to WordPress**. Here are some of the big ones: ### Running an online store? If you're selling products, you need an **eCommerce platform** that can handle inventory, payments, shipping, and all the fun stuff that makes an online shop work. - [Magento](https://magento.com) - a heavyweight eCommerce solution used by big brands. Extremely powerful, but best if you have a developer or are comfortable with tech. - [PrestaShop](https://www.prestashop.com) - more user-friendly than Magento, with lots of built-in features. Great for mid-sized stores. - [OpenCart](https://www.opencart.com) - lightweight and flexible, perfect for small businesses looking for a simple store setup. - [AbanteCart](https://www.abantecart.com) - a lesser-known but powerful alternative, good for entrepreneurs who want an easy-to-manage store. ### Want a website without WordPress? Not everyone loves WordPress. If you're looking for an alternative **content management system (CMS)**, here are some solid choices: - [Joomla](https://www.joomla.org) - one of the biggest WordPress competitors. More flexible than WordPress but comes with a slightly steeper learning curve. - [Drupal](https://www.drupal.org) - used for **complex, high-performance** sites (think universities, government sites, big brands). Not beginner-friendly but extremely powerful. - [Grav](https://getgrav.org) - a modern, flat-file CMS that's super fast and easy to deploy (no database required). - [ClassicPress](https://www.classicpress.net) - a fork of WordPress designed for people who don't want the Gutenberg block editor. ### Want to build a community or forum? Maybe you want to create a **thriving online discussion hub**. Social media might rule the internet, but **forums still have their place** - especially for niche communities. - [phpBB](https://www.phpbb.com) - one of the oldest and most trusted forum platforms. Highly customisable. - [MyBB](https://mybb.com) - more modern than phpBB, with a **simpler user interface** and **great plugin support**. - [SMF (Simple Machines Forum)](https://www.simplemachines.org) - lightweight and straightforward, great for small forums. - [Vanilla Forums](https://vanillaforums.com) - a sleek, modern forum platform with a built-in reputation system. ### Creating an online course or learning platform? If you're building an **e-learning** platform, Softaculous has some excellent tools. - [Moodle](https://moodle.org) - the most popular **Learning Management System (LMS)**. Used by schools, universities, and corporate training programs. - [Chamilo](https://chamilo.org) - a lighter alternative to Moodle, easier to set up and manage. - [eFront](https://www.efrontlearning.com) - great for businesses looking to create an **employee training system**. - [Claroline](https://www.claroline.net) - a simple and effective LMS for online courses. ### Want to build a wiki, CRM, or something else? Softaculous isn't just for websites - it also lets you install **tools for businesses, knowledge bases, and even personal projects**. - [MediaWiki](https://www.mediawiki.org) - the same software that powers Wikipedia. Perfect for **internal wikis or knowledge bases**. - [Dolibarr](https://www.dolibarr.org) - a free **CRM and ERP** solution for businesses. - [osTicket](https://osticket.com) - a popular **helpdesk system** for handling customer support. - [NextCloud](https://nextcloud.com) - your own **self-hosted cloud storage**, like Dropbox but under your control. ### Whatever you're creating, Softaculous probably has an app for it From online stores to forums, learning platforms to business tools, Softaculous has a one-click solution for almost anything you need. Pick the right app, install it with a click, and start building - without the hassle of manual setup. ## So, which website building option is best for you? - **Want the easiest, no-code route?** ProSite is for you. - **Want a powerful, flexible website?** WordPress + WP Toolkit + a page builder. - **Need a specific app for a niche website?** Softaculous is your best bet. No matter what route you take, your website is in good hands with Kualo. 🚀 --- _Source: Kualo Knowledgebase — https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/building-a-website-with-kualo-your-options-explained · © Kualo Ltd._