Pubner vs Duda: both build conversationally — ownership starts after the build

Duda Vibe and Pubner can both build client websites conversationally and manage them in a multi-project environment. The difference is what happens after the build — and what you actually own when you leave. Duda Vibe brings conversational creation, white label, permissioned client access, and REST APIs into Duda's hosted platform. Pubner adds an after-launch autopilot over the site's live data and exports editable Twig themes plus structured content as JSON.

What is Duda?

Duda is an AI-ready website platform for web professionals. Agencies get client management, team collaboration, white label ($199/month, or $149/month billed annually, for 4 sites), and an AI stack: text generation, SEO suggestions, an AI widget builder, template population, and MCP connections. Duda Vibe adds conversational creation and updates for websites and web applications, with REST APIs, permissioned client access, and the same multi-project dashboard. Pricing is per-site: Agency at $69/month includes 4 sites ($52/month billed annually), with extra sites at $17/month beyond the Agency bundle and volume deals at $8–15/site. Export exists on Agency plans and above as a ZIP of the published HTML, JavaScript, CSS, images, and media. It can run without the Duda editor, but dynamic features such as the store, dynamic pages, membership, apps, and contact forms do not carry over; builder editability is lost, and Duda does not allow exported JS/CSS to be unminified.

What is Pubner?

Pubner helps makers create and publish business sites, then keep them updated without constant manual work. You control what appears on the site. Content autopilot prepares content drafts for approval, new inquiries arrive in Telegram, and visitor AI chat can answer using the site's content. Solo is $19/month or $190/year for 1 site; Studio is $49/month or $490/year for up to 5 sites. Full Export provides editable Twig themes and content as portable JSON, not the Pubner backend runtime.

Duda vs Pubner: side by side

Duda Pubner
Conversational builder ✅ Duda Vibe ✅ Instant Kickstart + AI Builder
After-launch automation ✅ API, MCP, Zapier, platform automations ✅ native scheduled drafts, autonomous visitor chat, Telegram workflow, weekly pulse
Built for agencies ✅ client management, team roles ✅ Hub, isolated tenants, RBAC
White label ✅ $199/mo ($149/mo billed annually; 4 sites) ❌ (RBAC + isolated tenants instead)
Editing model visual editor + Duda Vibe CMS admin + Twig + AI conversational builder
API ✅ REST API inside Duda ✅ API inside Pubner
Runtime ownership ❌ hosted by Duda ❌ backend runtime is not exported
Export ⚠️ published HTML/JS/CSS ZIP; dynamic features excluded ✅ editable Twig themes + portable JSON
Pricing + AI per-site ($17/site beyond Agency bundle) Solo $19/mo or $190/yr (1 site) / Studio $49/mo or $490/yr (5 sites); AI included, no top-ups
Audience no-code pros, marketing agencies makers managing client sites — no-code/SMM freelancers and developers alike

When Duda is the better choice

Duda wins if nobody on the team writes code — and if client-facing white label matters more than owning the code underneath. Its visual editor, template library, hosting, and client onboarding are polished for marketing agencies that sell sites without a developer on staff. If your production process is "designer + templates, zero backend needs," Duda is the mature choice and Pubner's code-first foundation is overhead you won't use.

When a site needs to keep working, not just look agency-ready

Duda Vibe makes building and updating sites conversational. Pubner's distinction starts where editing stops: Content autopilot keeps drafts coming on a schedule so you only approve, not write from scratch; the AI chat answers visitor questions from the site's real content around the clock; and the Telegram assistant puts every inquiry in your pocket the moment it arrives, drafting a reply on request and sending only with your OK. The second split is ownership. Duda's REST API provides access to its platform, but the runtime remains Duda's. Its export is a published-site ZIP: useful for static hosting, but without Duda's dynamic features or builder workflow. Pubner's Full Export is different rather than absolute: it hands over editable Twig themes and structured content as portable JSON, but not the backend runtime.

Frequently asked questions

Can I export my website from Duda?

Only on Agency plans and above, as a ZIP of the published HTML, JavaScript, CSS, images, and media. It can run on another web server, but dynamic features do not carry over, builder editability is lost, and Duda does not allow the exported JS/CSS to be unminified.

Is there a Duda alternative with real code export?

Pubner — a comparable agency layer (client management, multi-site, RBAC), and Full Export hands you editable Twig themes plus structured content as portable JSON rather than only the published front-end files.

Does Duda have a conversational AI builder?

Yes. Duda Vibe can create and update websites and web applications conversationally. Pubner's distinction is not conversation itself; it is the native after-launch workflow and the form of ownership you retain through Export.

How do the prices compare?

Duda scales per site: Agency $69/month for 4 sites ($52/month billed annually), then $17/site beyond the bundle; White Label $199/month ($149/month billed annually). Pubner is Solo $19/month or $190/year for 1 site, and Studio $49/month or $490/year for up to 5 sites. Annual billing gives two months free. AI Builder and AI Assistant are included through a rolling weekly allowance with no top-ups; at 100%, AI pauses while non-AI editing continues and capacity gradually restores.

Does Pubner require knowing Laravel?

No. Customization happens in Twig — the template language for pages, layouts, and components. Clients use the admin panel for daily operation, and the AI mode builds pages from a conversation with live preview. Twig is what you touch for custom work, not the Laravel core underneath.

Can my clients edit their own sites?

Yes — each client gets an isolated admin, and RBAC controls what your team and the client can touch.

What work can Pubner reduce after launch?

Yes, mostly hands-free. Content autopilot writes fresh drafts on a schedule and waits for your approval before anything publishes. The on-site AI chat answers visitors fully on its own, 24/7. And the Telegram assistant routes every inquiry to your phone in real time — it can draft a reply on request, but sends only after your OK. A weekly pulse digest keeps you posted on visits, inquiries, and top pages.