WordPress or a website builder? How I would choose
I'd choose around what you need to edit, what the website must connect to and what you want to pay each year. The platform name comes after those questions.
Describe the job before choosing the software
A small brochure site may only need service information, photographs and an enquiry form. A shop, membership service or booking business has more to keep working. Write those requirements down before comparing platforms.
I would also ask who will update the site. A system you can use comfortably may be a better choice than one with more features that you never touch. Ask to try the editing process for the content you will change most often.
Separate hosted WordPress from WordPress software
The WordPress software and WordPress.com hosting plans are different things. With a site using WordPress software on a chosen host, somebody needs to manage the hosting, backups and software updates.
A hosted website builder includes its own platform and editor within a subscription. Exactly which features, integrations and exports it permits depend on the provider and plan. Read the relevant plan details rather than assume all builders behave alike.
Compare the running costs you will actually pay
List the subscription or hosting fee, domain renewal, paid extensions and support. Include the person who will make changes. An inexpensive platform can still become costly if every ordinary edit needs paid help.
For either route, ask what happens if a paid add-on stops being renewed. Check who owns those accounts and whether the licences can remain with the business when the person maintaining the site changes.
Try the awkward requirements
If a calendar, accounts package or booking system has to connect, test that requirement early. A logo and a homepage layout will not tell you whether the platform can handle the work behind the enquiry.
Also ask what moving away would involve. Content export, design portability and custom functions are different questions. A replacement site may need rebuilding even where some of its written content can be exported.
What I would recommend
I'd use WordPress where its editing and extension options fit the job and the business has a plan for looking after it. A hosted builder can suit a simpler site where its subscription and limits are understood.
If the main requirement is a custom business application, we should discuss that directly. Trying to force it into the wrong platform can leave you paying for workarounds. Send me the requirements and we can compare the practical options.