Plenty of business owners genuinely do not know what their website is built on. An agency built it years ago, the person who managed it moved on, and all that remains is a login and a monthly invoice. That matters, because the platform decides what you can change, what it costs to run, and whether you can take it with you.
This tool reads the public HTML and response headers, matches the fingerprints a developer would look for, and tells you the platform, the page builder, the hosting and the tracking. Then it answers the question that actually matters: do you own this website, or are you renting it?
Check the stack- CMS or website builder, and whether it locks you in
- Ecommerce platform
- Page builder and front-end framework
- Hosting and CDN signals
- Analytics, advertising and marketing tags
How can you tell what platform a website uses?
Every platform leaves fingerprints. WordPress serves files from /wp-content/, Shopify loads assets from cdn.shopify.com, Wix uses parastorage.com and its own response headers, Squarespace has its own CDN domain. We match those signatures in the markup and headers rather than in the visible text, so a page that merely mentions a platform in its copy is not mistaken for running it.
What is the difference between owning and renting a website?
On an open platform like WordPress you hold the files and the database. You can change host, change developer, export everything and keep working. On a closed builder such as Wix, Squarespace or GoDaddy, the design and templates cannot be exported at all, and the site only exists while you keep paying that specific company. Your content can usually be salvaged; the build cannot. That is not an argument against builders, plenty of businesses are well served by them, but it is worth knowing which side of the line you are on before you invest another five years of content into it.
Why does a page builder slow my site down?
Builders like Elementor, Divi and WPBakery generate deeply nested markup and load large CSS and JavaScript bundles on every page, whether the page needs them or not. That is the trade for editing visually without touching code. On a small brochure site it rarely matters. On a site chasing rankings or running paid traffic, it often adds a second or more of load time, which is why our speed test and this checker are worth running together.
Can I move off Wix or Squarespace without losing my Google rankings?
Yes, if the migration is done properly, and that word is doing all the work. The content moves, the design is rebuilt, and every old URL gets a permanent redirect to its new equivalent so search engines and existing links follow you across. Rankings typically hold and then improve, because the new build is usually faster. Done carelessly, without a redirect map, it is the classic way businesses lose years of traffic overnight.
Is this accurate?
For mainstream platforms, very. We match technical fingerprints in markup and headers, not prose, so false positives are rare. The limits are honest ones: a site behind aggressive caching or a proxy can hide some signals, custom builds have no fingerprint to find by definition, and server-side technology such as your database or programming language is largely invisible from outside. A blank result means "not visible externally", not "not used".
Do you own it, or rent it?
The practical difference when you decide to leave.
| Platform | Type | What you can take with you |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress, Drupal, Joomla | You own it | Everything: files, database, design |
| Magento, custom builds | You own it | Everything, including the source code |
| Shopify, BigCommerce | Hosted | Products, customers and orders. Not the theme |
| Webflow | Hosted | Exported code on higher plans only |
| Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy | Locked in | Some content. No design, no templates |
How to decide whether to move platform
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1
Find out what you are actually on
Run the check above. Plenty of owners are surprised.
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2
Add up the real monthly cost
Platform fee, apps and plugins, and any per-transaction charge. Builders get expensive quietly.
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3
List what you cannot currently do
Custom checkout, a specific integration, real speed control. If the list is empty, stay put.
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4
Check who owns the domain
It should be registered in your business name, not your agency's. This is the one that causes real trouble.
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5
Get a redirect map before anything else
Every existing URL mapped to its new home. No migration should start without one.
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6
Move, then watch Search Console
Rankings dip briefly and recover. Broken redirects show up in the first fortnight.
Fair questions.
Can I check my competitor's website?
Yes, and most people do. Everything this reads is public. It is a quick way to see what a competitor is running, whether they are on a builder, and which marketing tools they have invested in.
It says no platform detected. Is that bad?
Usually the opposite. It typically means a custom or statically generated build with no off-the-shelf fingerprint, which normally means you own the code outright. It can occasionally mean the site sits behind a proxy that strips the signals.
Does it detect plugins and themes?
Some, not all. We detect major page builders and ecommerce plugins because they leave obvious traces. A full plugin inventory needs access to the site itself.
Is WordPress better than Wix?
Different, not better. Wix is genuinely good for a simple site you want live this week with no technical involvement. WordPress wins when you need control, custom functionality, real speed work or the ability to change supplier. The trap is outgrowing a builder and not realising you cannot take the build with you.
Why does it say I am on a page builder when my developer built the site?
Many developers build on Elementor or Divi because it is faster and the client can edit it afterwards. That is a legitimate choice, not a red flag. It is worth knowing because it explains page weight and where your speed budget went.
Can it tell me my hosting company?
Sometimes. Managed hosts and CDNs such as Cloudflare, WP Engine, Kinsta and SiteGround leave identifiable signals. Generic hosting usually does not, and a CDN in front will mask the origin entirely.
Will moving platforms break my email?
It should not, but this is where migrations go wrong. Email is controlled by your MX records, which are separate from your website hosting. They must be preserved deliberately during the move, which is exactly the step people forget.
How much does it cost to move off a builder?
For a typical small business site, roughly $2,000 to $4,000 including the rebuild, the content migration and a proper redirect map. Larger or ecommerce sites cost more. Our migration service starts at $2,450.
Move off Wix, Squarespace or GoDaddy without losing your Google rankings, your content or a day of trading.