01Difficulty by method
If you just need a site, start at the top of the table. If you want to learn to build websites as a skill, start with HTML and CSS; how to make a website from scratch is a good path.
| Method | Difficulty | Skills needed | Time to a first site |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI website builder | Easy | Describe what you want, edit the result | Under an hour |
| Website builder | Easy to moderate | Using a visual editor | A day or two |
| WordPress | Moderate | Hosting, themes, plugins, updates | A few days |
| HTML and CSS by hand | Moderate to hard | Basic coding, layout, responsive design | Weeks to learn |
| Framework (React, Next.js) | Hard | Programming and tooling | Weeks to months to learn |
02What makes it hard
Tools have removed most of the technical difficulty. What remains is judgment. Common website design mistakes lists the issues that make sites look amateur.
- Knowing what to say: a clear headline and the right pages.
- Design: making it look trustworthy, not like a template.
- Mobile: making it work on every screen size.
- Technical setup: domain, email, forms, analytics.
- Getting found: search, social and word of mouth.
- Keeping it current: prices, hours and photos change.
03If you want to code it yourself
A simple static site needs HTML for structure and CSS for style. A Hacker News thread about a minimal hand-made site noted that even the simplest page needs modern basics, such as HTTPS and the viewport tag that makes it display properly on phones. First-time builders sharing sites there get feedback on readable fonts, mobile layout and examples, which is a fair checklist for any first project.
Free resources such as MDN's learning area cover the basics thoroughly. Expect a few weeks of practice to build a simple site comfortably, and longer for interactive features. Hosting is free for static sites; how to host a website for free compares options.
04Making it easier
Should I build my own website or hire someone? helps if you are unsure whether to do it yourself.
- 1Write your content before choosing a toolThe tool is easier once you know what goes in it.
- 2Copy a structure that worksLook at three sites in your field and note their pages and sections.
- 3Use a builder or AI for the first versionThen change what does not fit.
- 4Ask someone to use itWatch them try to find your prices or contact details.
05The skills that matter most
If you want the site to work, not just exist, a few skills matter more than any tool: writing a clear headline, choosing two fonts and a few colors and sticking to them, taking or choosing good photos, and making the next step obvious. None of these needs code, and all of them improve with practice. How to make a beautiful website and how to choose website colors are good places to start.
What people who tried it say
On Hacker News, people sharing their first websites hear feedback on readability, mobile layout and content, the parts that remain hard even when the code is simple.
- Show HN: I published my first websiteHacker News
A first-time builder shared a hand-made reference site; feedback focused on readability, mobile layout and adding examples, the same things that matter on any first site.
- I made my first web0 website today. It's so cool it just worksHacker News
Commenters debated how simple a site can be; one pointed out that even a minimal page needs modern basics such as HTTPS and the viewport tag that makes it work on phones.
Looking for more first-hand opinions? Search Reddit for “how hard is it to make a website”. We link the live threads rather than summarizing them, so you read them in full.
Our take
building a website is no longer the hard part. Spend your effort on the first screen (what you do, for whom, and what to do next) and you will be ahead of most sites.
Where this falls short
Difficulty depends on what the site must do. Stores, bookings, memberships and custom features add real complexity whatever the tool.
Orlume removes the design and code steps: describe the business, and it designs, builds and publishes the site, which you then refine in plain language.
Free to start · No card required · Live in one click
Sources
- 1.Viewport meta tag · MDN Web Docs
- 2.<a>: the anchor element · MDN Web Docs
- 3.Mobile site and mobile-first indexing best practices · Google Search Central
Researched and written by the Orlume team · Updated October 2026
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