• Original review date: June 2022
• Newer BenQ X3100i now out
• Launch price: $1,899 / £1,299 / AU$2,599
• Target price now: $1,499 / £1,279
The BenQ TK700STi is a short-throw DLP model from a company known for its gaming projectors. It was relatively affordable for a 4K model at launch and at its current $1,499 / £1,279 price, is now an even better deal. (The TK700STi no longer appears to be available in Australia.) BenQ recently refreshed its short throw gaming projector lineup, with new models like the X3100i featuring higher brightness and built-in Netflix streaming. But the BenQ TK700STi remains in the lineup, and even though it doesn’t budge much from its current price, gamers looking for a projector that works well for both gaming and movies can look no further. The rest of this review remains as previously published.
If you’re looking to lay a big load of cash on a projector, you can’t go wrong with the BenQ TK700STi. If you’re buying it for gaming, then that endorsement is even stronger. This unit supports 4K at 60Hz with an unsurpassed 16ms response time at that resolution, which is as low as response times get in a native 4K projector. If you want up to 120 inches of bright, crystal-clear game on your wall or screen, this sets a new benchmark.
What do those numbers mean in practice? It means a crisp 100 inch image with a smooth frame rate and utterly negligible input lag. With a 3,000 lumens brightness and HDR support – as well as a couple of purpose-suited game modes – the display absolutely sings. With the PS5 and Xbox Series X out in the wild now (albeit, still hard to find), this projector can actually take advantage of the new console generation’s performance advantages.
While 60Hz at 4K is impressive, the TK700STi will also support 120Hz so long as you’re happy to compromise on a 1080p output, and with three modes in the form of FPS, SPG and RPG, the display can be optimized according to the type of action happening on screen.
What does that mean for watching TV content? Not a great deal: you’re getting a brilliant image at 4K, though naturally the 120Hz capabilities, not to mention the low response time, aren’t going to make a big difference. This is a projector for someone who wants the best of both worlds, though if you’re never going to use it for gaming, and 4K isn’t a big deal to you, you can probably settle for something less expensive.
Not to mention that the bundled Android TV dongle – which needs to be installed manually, albeit easily – has a glaring omission in a dedicated Netflix app. Still, if you’re a console gamer, Netflix is available on everything except Nintendo Switch, and this model packs a lot of performance for the price.
(Image credit: Future)
BenQ TK700STi 4K gaming projector review: Price and availability
The BenQ TK700STi projector is available for $1,899 in the US, £1,299 in the UK, and AU$2,599 in Australia.
Design and features
While other companies might be tempted to make their gaming projectors look like sci-fi obelisks, BenQ takes a minimalist approach to the TK700STi’s design – nothing about it screams 'gamer'. It’s a discreet white box with a black front, and it boasts a far more conservative design than its sibling model, the X1300i.
Analog zoom and focus dials are readily accessible at the top of the unit, as is the rest of the projector’s user interface: the power button, a directional pad for navigating the system’s menus, and a few quick access buttons for choosing display modes or triggering the Eco Blank functionality.
As for those zoom and focus dials, they allow for a lot of precision and stop very firmly in the desired location. There are also three thick bolts at the base which can be unscrewed in order to elevate the device slightly. This model comes with a remote control, which is highly recommended, as the buttons on the unit itself are unpleasant to use and require very firm presses to activate.
(Image credit: Future)
As for connectivity, you’ve got two HDMI 2.0 ports (with ARC on the second port), an RS-232, audio out for 3.5mm and a sole USB port. The device comes packaged with a BenQ Android TV dongle which you’ll need to install yourself: this involves removing one screw from a protrusion on the back of the unit, and connecting the dongle to a hidden USB port inside. It’s a slightly inelegant solution – why not bake this functionality in? – but it’s a one-and-done annoyance.
The rear of the TK700STi with the included Android TV dongle attached. (Image credit: BenQ)
Elsewhere, you’ve air vents along the entire right hand side of the unit, as well as a fraction of the left, and a little at the front. The whole thing measures at 31x11x25cm, and it has a 5W speaker included, though very few people are probably going to use it: you can either use the 3.5mm jack or attach a sound system or soundbar via ARC.
That said, if you’re traveling and want to use it away from your home entertainment audio gear, it’ll get you through.
This short-throw projector requires at least two metres between the projector and the wall to reach the 100-inch mark, and while the TK700STi advertises a 100-inch maximum, we found that it could retain a perfectly viewable picture at 120-inches on the wall. In concert with its 3,000 lumens brightness – which is about as bright as you’ll want to get in a home environment – the 4K display is remarkably crisp and vibrant, thanks to its HDR10 support.
Still – and this probably goes without saying – you’re going to want a very dark room. In some ways HDR can be a drawback in environments with just a little bit of sun leakage: playing Housemarque’s dark and gloomy PS5 game Returnal with the blinds futilely drawn was not an enjoyable experience, and wasn’t conducive to winning. That effect is exacerbated with a projector, and worth keeping in mind as more and more next-gen games embrace deeper blacks and more blinding brights.
Aside from that point, the 4K image is bright and invigorating and, in some ways, quite jaw dropping. The 60Hz refresh rate may not impress by the standards of modern gaming monitors, but it’s hugely impressive in a native 4K projector. With the appropriate lighting (or lack thereof) the TK700STi’s display shines like a portal on your wall, though like its X1300i stablemate, you do tend to see blooming around any bright-on-dark areas of the display.
Meanwhile, if you’re planning to use the TK700STi for movies and streaming you won’t be disappointed: color and clarity is admirable, though of course, you’re probably going to want to use a better sound source.
(Image credit: Future)
BenQ TK700STi 4K gaming projector review: Sound and gaming
While the gaming monitor market likes to promote the advantages of 1ms response rates, you’re getting nowhere near that with the TK700STi: in 4K it has a 16ms response time, while it can hit 8ms in 1080p.
It can’t be stressed enough, though, that these response times on a projector are very novel indeed, and given this is a projector with native 4K you’re not going to find better than this performance at the moment. All but a small number of inveterate competitive gamers (or dyed in the wool pedants) are going to notice any input lag. Basically, you’re probably not going to get better performance than this.
Still, given the emphasis Sony and Microsoft are placing on both 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rates, it’s a question that will arise, and the TK700STi’s 60Hz refresh rate at 4K – impressive only 5 years ago – might seem inadequate on paper.
Sure, if you’ve been gaming on a 240Hz monitor you may notice a difference in fluidity, but 60 frames-per second is a bar that consoles have only just gotten around to making (unofficially) standard: the likelihood of more than a handful of blockbuster games with 120Hz support coming out during the console generation seems low, as developers focus on the wow-factor of ray tracing, detail and resolution.
Of course, if you’re rocking this projector with a gaming PC those platform-oriented limitations are immaterial to you, and if a high-refresh rate is more important than resolution, then you probably aren’t seriously in the market for a projector.
For our money, playing through a selection of games on both the Xbox Series X and PS5 including Dirt 5, Returnal, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Forza Horizon 4 and Outriders, 100 inches of 60 frames-per-second next-gen goodness is undeniably impressive, offering a level of immersion no halfway affordable TV is likely to produce. Note that 4K offers a maximum 60Hz refresh rate, while 120Hz maxes out at 1080p.
Deezer may not be the most popular music streaming service, but it’s been around since 2007 and even though the space has become more and more competitive over the years, it’s still well worth checking out today. It’s a solid option if you don’t need all of the social features and constant recommendations that Spotify offers but would like a boost in audio quality without having to pay for Tidal’s HiFi Plus.
With more than 120 million tracks, Deezer has a bigger music library than many of its rivals and a bunch of added features, too, including a selection of podcasts, quizzes and a Shazam-like clone called Songcatcher. What sets it apart from rival Spotify is it offers a bump up in audio quality at 1411kbps, which makes it similar to Tidal’s HiFi tier and Apple Music.
It doesn’t feel like Deezer knows your music personality inside out in the same way Spotify does, but there are some good curated suggestions and a constantly-updated playlist of recommendations called Flow. There are several premium options to choose from that come with a one-month free trial. But there’s also a completely free tier with ads and some restrictions – although rumors online suggest this might be coming to an end in several regions.
In terms of design, Deezer’s user interface doesn’t feel quite as ‘put together’ as its rivals, it’s much more minimal. But at the same time, there’s something refreshing about how simple it is. That’s the big appeal of Deezer in my opinion, it may not have the bells and whistles of Spotify, but if you own one of the best wired headphones and want good quality music – and you’re not as interested in social features or a broad selection of fun playlists – it might be well worth your time.
Deezer review: Pricing and subscription
(Image credit: Deezer)
Free version with ads
Premium is $11.99 / £11.99 / AU$13.99 per month
One month free trial
There’s a free version of Deezer that has ads and a couple of restrictions – you can only shuffle songs rather than play whatever you like. It’s great there’s a free version as it’s likely to convert a lot of non-paying users into premium subscribers. However, according to several online reports, Deezer has emailed users in some countries recently saying this free tier will be coming to an end in 2024. We’ll update this review when we get official confirmation, but for now it still seems to be available in most regions.
The Premium Deezer tier removes any restrictions and costs $11.99 /£11.99 / AU$13.99 per month. Like Spotify, there’s also a Duo option available for $15.99 /£15.99 / AU$17.99 that’s aimed at couples, bringing you two individual accounts that can be used across up to 5 devices. If a few people in your household use Deezer, the service’s Family subscription plan ($17.99 / £19.99 / AU$21.99) allows for up to six individual accounts across up to 13 devices, offering optional kids’ profiles that let you keep an eye on what your children are listening to.
In an earlier version of this review, we said Deezer was a good value option but it’s upped its prices over the years. Rather than being cheaper than its rivals, it’s now a little more expensive than Spotify and Tidal’s HiFi option, which are both only $10.99 / £10.99 AU$12.99.
Deezer review: Specs
Deezer review: Music library and content
(Image credit: Deezer)
120 million tracks
160,000 podcasts
Infinite recommended music with Flow
Like most music streaming services, Deezer has added more and more tracks over the years. Right now it says it has more than 120 million, which is more than rivals Spotify and Tidal, which say they currently have 100 million.
Like Spotify, Deezer has added podcasts to its offering. There are more than 160,000 available to listen to at the time of writing and there’s a good selection. During testing, I could find all of my favorites, but it’s worth checking if your top ones are available. If they’re not, head on over to Spotify where there are currently more than 5 million podcast titles.
There were no audiobooks available when I was testing Deezer in the UK, they could be found via the search bar but couldn’t be played. This is likely because Deezer does offer a limited audiobook library, but only to users in certain regions, including Germany and The Netherlands.
Thanks to a tie-in with Tune My Music, a third-party app, you can easily import your entire music collection from other streaming services, including your playlists and favorites. You can also bring MP3s from other sources to Deezer via the web version and listen to all of your music in one place. With a Premium subscription you can also download any tracks, albums, playlists and podcasts for offline listening, which is ideal for travel.
There are a couple of cool extras available alongside Deezer’s music library, including a selection of live radio stations, music quizzes – with themes like 90s Rap, Disney and TikTok Hits – as well as a feature called Songcatcher, which is Deezer’s answer to Shazam. These are all ultimately nice additions, but definitely not enough to pull you away from a rival music streaming service.
Deezer review: Apps and compatibility
(Image credit: Deezer )
Desktop, mobile, or web player
Chromecast and AirPlay support
Available in 185 countries
Deezer is available to use via a desktop app, mobile app, and a flash-based web player. You can download the mobile app for Android, iOS devices, and Windows 10 mobiles and tablets. Deezer is also compatible with a range of smart watches, smart TV platforms, wireless speaker systems such as Sonos, car interfaces, and the Xbox. There’s also support for Chromecast and AirPlay, which means you can send your music to even more devices.
While I preferred using the app, the Deezer web player works well, offering a stripped-back version of the platform in your browser. Deezer’s user interface looks similar to the likes of Spotify and Apple Music with a dark background and grids of tracks and album artwork, but the design here is a little more minimal and somehow less elegant – which might be due to some of the font choices. However, I like that there are bright pops of color accents throughout, as well as when you play a track. Deezer seems to select a shade from the album artwork – or at least it looks that way – and uses it as the background color while you play the track.
The experience is a little different depending on how you’re listening, but for the most part you’ll find a menu along the bottom of the screen and the first option is Home, which is populated with a wide selection of content. Including your favorite artists at the top, followed by a section called “Mixes inspired by…” which consists of new tracks similar to your favorites. While I was testing out the Deezer app, there was always a solid recommendation here for me.
(Image credit: Deezer)
You’ll also find “Made for you”, which is filled with curated playlists and it’s where you’ll find Flow, as well as a bunch of Daily playlists to accommodate different moods. Deezer also serves up general playlist recommendations, like Electronic Soundtracks, and fresh new releases. In a section called “Go beyond streaming” you’ll find everything that isn’t music, like podcasts and other extras.
Along from Home, you’ll find Explore which feels a little repetitive to me. Suggestions are divided by genres, but also moods, which are helpful, like “Feeling Sad”. The next option in the menu bar is Favorites, which is where tracks you’ve favorited and your playlists live, as well as albums, artists, podcasts, shaker groups, and any downloaded music. Search is where you’ll find a search bar, allowing you to search across track titles, artists, albums, playlists, lyrics, podcasts and podcast episodes. The Songcatcher feature lives here, too, which works well whenever you’re out and about and want to know what a track is – I like using this when I’m watching a move or TV show, too.
Deezer review: Playlists and recommendations
(Image credit: Future)
Flow is good, not great
Not as fun as Spotify
Keeps things simple
Like Spotify, Deezer uses its recommendation algorithm to suggest music you might enjoy, which results in a number of specially curated playlists and different suggestions for different moods and activities, like Girl Power, Chill and Workout.
One of Deezer’s standout features is Flow, which serves up an automated mix based on your tastes. It combines your favorite tracks with new recommendations and other songs you might have forgotten about. You’ll need to ‘favorite’ at least 15 tracks before the Flow playlist appears on your home screen, but when it does it’ll fast become a staple and probably the first playlist you tap when you open the app.
I found Flow to be a really fun listen. No, it didn’t get my tastes right with every track, but most were the kind of songs I’d want to listen to throughout the day, especially as I’m working. This suited me as, unlike Spotify’s playlists, Flow is played in an “infinite” stream of music, meaning you’ll have an easy way to listen to music with very little thought required on your part.
Deezer has some good social features and you can share what you’re listening to straight to Instagram and Facebook stories. However, as it doesn’t have as many users as Spotify, you might feel like you’re missing out when a new and fun update hits, like Spotify Wrapped, or the way everyone is still sharing their unhinged Spotify Daylist playlist titles. These points are all a testament to Deezer being a more simple option. This means a less sociable and fun experience, which is bound to be a red flag for some and exactly what others are looking for.
Deezer review: Audio quality
(Image credit: Deezer)
Ranges from 128kbps to 1,411kbps
CD quality music
The same as Tidal HiFi and Apple Music
There are three different streaming quality options for Deezer listeners. Standard streams at 128 kpbs, High Quality at 320 kbps and High Fidelity at 1411 kbps (FLAC), which Deezer says requires a high-speed connection. You have the ability to adjust the audio quality settings and set presets for when you’re listening over Wi-Fi as opposed to using your phone’s mobile data – handy, if you’re keeping an eye on your data usage.
This High Fidelity option is lossless, which means you get CD-quality streaming and FLAC music across any device that you’re listening on, including Deezer’s desktop app, web player, iOS, Android, and Xbox.
How does this compare to other streaming services? Deezer's High Fidelity setting is the same as what’s on offer from Tidal HiFi, also delivering a similar listening experience to Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited. However, it’s better than Spotify’s 320kbps. You'll only get better than that by opting for Tidal's HiFi Plus offering, which brings you 9,216kbps or 24-bit/192kHz.
During testing, I was using wired high-quality headphones with an iPhone 14 Pro and Deezer’s music certainly sounded more immersive, offering a clearer and more detailed listen when I was comparing the quality options, as well as when I was comparing tracks to their equivalent on Spotify. However, the key thing to remember here is that if you’re not using higher-end audio equipment, then you may not notice a significant difference between the audio on offer from Spotify and Deezer. This is probably one of the reasons why Spotify is still such a popular option, even though services like Deezer and Tidal offer a bump up in audio quality.
The best parental control apps, like Bark, are becoming increasingly popular as the web gets increasingly dangerous for young people – and with features like screen time management, website and app blocking and location tracking available, it’s no wonder.
Bark was founded by Brian Bason, the current CEO, in 2015. It’s grown to become one of the biggest names in the parental control space, with 7.5 million children covered by its services – and, admirably, it’s detected millions of potential self-harm and bullying situations alongside loads of other threats.
Should you consider Bark for your parental control needs, though, or should you look elsewhere? Let’s find out.
Plans and pricing
Bark’s core service, its monitoring app, is available with two different plans. The more affordable plan, Bark Jr, costs $5 per month or $49 per year and allows parents to control screen time, filter websites and apps and monitor for appropriate content. It also offers location tracking and check-in features.
The more expensive plan, Bark Premium, costs $14 per month or $99 for a year and adds social media, email, and YouTube monitoring on phones, tablets, and computers. That pricier product also includes advice and tips from child psychologists and web search monitoring.
Bear in mind that right now the app only works in the US, Guam, South Africa and Australia.
Bark’s size and popularity mean that the company has branched out beyond the app, too.
The Bark Phone integrates many of the app’s features into a kid-friendly smartphone with automatic monitoring capabilities. The Starter Plan costs $29 per month and doesn’t allow apps, social media or browsing, so it’s ideal for younger children. The Advanced Plan costs $39 per month and adds those features – with parental controls – for older children.
The Bark Watch monitors texts, tracks locations, manages contacts, and includes an emergency SOS button. It costs $15 per month and includes a Bark Premium subscription.
Finally, there’s Bark Home, which is a small device that connects to your home internet to monitor screen time, content and apps for every device in your home. It costs $6 per month.
Features
We’re here to discuss the Bark app, though, and there’s no denying that there’s plenty to talk about.
Firstly, it’s essential to note that, like many parental control tools, Bark can monitor various services and apps on both Android and iOS devices. This is because of how easily Bark’s software works with those operating systems. For Bark, Android is the most comprehensive platform.
On Android, Bark currently monitors 27 different apps. The list includes big social media names, like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, X and TikTok, alongside messaging services like WhatsApp, Kik, Slack and Discord. It covers cloud storage services like OneDrive and Google Drive, apps like ChatGPT, Spotify and Steam, and gaming platforms like Roblox.
(Image credit: Bark)
Beyond that, Bark on Android monitors Google Chrome, Firefox, and the device's default browsers, email clients including Outlook, Gmail, AOL, Comcast, and iCloud, and the device’s texts, photos, and videos.
On iOS, add Yahoo Mail to the list. On Apple’s platform, Bark only includes complete monitoring for 15 apps, and that list does not include TikTok, Snapchat, Skype or Discord.
When a potential event is detected, the parent gets a real-time alert to intervene, and different alerting methods are available, including texts, emails, or push notifications.
(Image credit: Bark)
Bark also offers comprehensive features to limit children’s online time, including blocking websites and controlling screen time with a range of granular options – although it's worth noting that a complete website history is not available. Bark will only update you if it’s flagged for your chosen topics.
But, with Bark, that’s the idea. It’s not a keylogger or a tracker, and relies on a certain level of trust between parent and child – so you get alerting and reporting, but not a complete picture.
A similar approach is deployed for Bark’s location tracking. You get alerts when your children are at specific locations, rather than 24/7 tracking. If they drive, you get a summary of their travel and top speed.
Elsewhere, Bark is a smart bit of software with some unfortunate blind spots. Its machine learning is great at catching the latest trends and slang words, and it can spot if your child is using VPNs or trying to create alternative accounts for services and apps, but it can’t block offline apps.
To play into the trust involved here, children can uninstall Back – albeit with a warning. If they try to install risky apps, parents will get a warning and parents can block, but that’s not automatic.
Interface and in-use
Bark’s apps and desktop interfaces are excellent: clear, straightforward, and attractive. A dashboard provides a summary of the rules you’ve set for your children and their activity over the last seven days, and parents get a weekly report via email too.
Individual reports are clear, which makes it easy to see what’s been flagged and why, and alerts that need attention are displayed prominently.
(Image credit: Bark)
Support
Bark offers email and live chat support, online guides and forums, and an AI assistant can provide easy access to articles and triage basic issues.
On the Bark website you’ll find how-to videos that explain the app’s key features, and plenty of support articles.
There isn’t any phone support, though, which may be a dealbreaker for parents who want quick responses while talking to a real person.
The competition
Bark faces plenty of competition as one of the larger names in the sector. Qustodio is one of the other big names, and it suffers from some of the same issues: it’s far more powerful on Android than on iOS, for starters.
It’s stronger on screen time limits and web filtering, but it’s a little more expensive.
Elsewhere, Google Family Link is free, even if it’s a bit more basic than Bark, and Mobicip is a good alternative if you want real-time activity monitoring and location tracking.
Bark: Final verdict
Bark may not have every feature available, but it does excel when it comes to tracking key social media apps and other services that are popular with kids and teens – indeed, few apps track as many apps on Android as Bark.
Elsewhere, Bark is easy to use and relatively affordable, making it a good option for maintaining some level of trust with your children.
Be aware, though, that it only works in certain countries, and it’s not suitable if you want an app that provides complete tracking.
Eschewing a flashy website, DMDE - DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software gets down to business by telling you exactly what to expect from its no-nonsense recovery tool. With five license options beyond the free tool, DMDE is a bit of a mystery, offering multiple languages on its website ( English, French German and Russian) but no clue as to its origins, other than launching in 2008. Its "About" page only explains the software, rather than the company and developers.
The "WHOIS" information for dmde.com is also another dead end as the registrar details are protected by a domain privacy service.
A number of the online reviews linked on DMDE's website, list its creator as one Dmitry Sidorov, a Russian software publisher. Our searches found a developer of that name on the "Herd Protect" platform who seemingly has worked on the Windows version of the app but there's no way to confirm this.
Sales support is available in Canada and the USA, although both agencies appear to be operating under license, with different websites.
All of this makes DMDE rather enigmatic.
That mystery aside, how well does DMDE recover your lost files?
DMDE offers a free version as well as several other editions (Image credit: DMDE Software)
DMDE: Free vs other options
DMDE is available in multiple editions.
Before purchasing, the developer recommends using the free edition to "make sure you are able to recover and open necessary files." DMDE Free Edition can recover up to 4000 files at a time which makes it useful in small scale recovery jobs. This is less useful for recovering disks and partitions, however, which is where the paid options come in.
You can choose a package for one operating system or upgrade to one that covers several (Image credit: DMDE Software)
Five different licenses are available, scaled to specific uses. An Express one-year license is $20, whereas a Standard license for DMDE is $48. Both options are for a single operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux). There is also a Standard license for multiple operating systems ($67).
DMDE Professional is $95 for one OS, or $133 for installation on multiple operating systems. DMDE also offers a discount for multiple licenses. This is just as well, as once the "1-OS" version has been installed on a particular OS like Windows, you cannot reinstall on another system like Linux.
When visiting the website to install the Windows edition, we found out that the software was available in ZIP file. This caused a red flag for Windows Defender which initially blocked the download.
Once downloaded, you need to extract the ZIP archive to a new folder and run DMDE from there. The utility won't appear in your installed programs, so you'll need to return to this folder each time or place a shortcut somewhere convenient like the Desktop.
Both versions 4.0.2 and 4.0.6 of the utility are available for download. In our tests we used 4.0.2, as DMDE claim it's the most popular version. Although we opted to use the version of DMDE which came with a GUI, command line lovers will be pleased to learn that there's also a console version for Windows, macOS and Linux.
You can even manage the partitions on your computer with DMDE (Image credit: DMDE Software)
DMDE: Key recovery features
Using DMDE Free Edition to recover data gives you the option to recover up to 4000 files at a time. You can do this by selecting files in a particular panel, although there's no maximum limit to the number of files you can recover overall.
It also offers partition management as well as disk imaging and cloning. DMDE Free Edition finds lost data via a thorough volume search, and the disk editor lets you navigate and browse various disk structures.
DMDE suports NTFS, FAT, exFAT and many other formats (Image credit: DMDE Software)
The tool supports NTFS, FAT formats, exFAT, Ext formats, HFS+/HFSX, ReFS, APFS, ext2, ext3, ext4 and btrfs. It can both scan and manage partitions in these formats.
The DMDE Manual cautions that it can only perform recovery on partitions supported by the guest OS. For example a Windows machine doesn't support the ext4 format used by most versions of Linux by default.
The utility can also recovery NTFS encrypted files but naturally it can't decrypt them for you. The developers have confirmed via their feedback page that they plan to include support for Bitlocker encrypted drives but such changes can take time.
Finding files with DMDE Free Edition
Launching DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software prompts the Select Disk/Task dialogue, also available in the Disk menu. From here, you select the device to scan, then click OK.
We were pleased to see that helpful 'hints' appeared next to each of the main options upon launch. You can click on each hint to display the next one. This happened each time we loaded the utility, which could prove annoying to experienced users especially as there's no obvious way to turn the hints off.
Still, thanks to these hints you'll be guided to the next window, where you can choose any partition of the chosen disk, see relevant data about it, then click "Full Scan" to commence recovery. You can do this both on the disk and on individual partitions.
The list of recoverable files is accompanied by a Preview pane, where completeness can be assessed. To recover a file, check the box, right-click, and select Recover. Multiple files can be selected (as noted, up to 4000 files) and the Recover data button clicked. If you're using the Free Edition, you'll also need to do this folder by folder.
Recovered data is saved to the same folder where DMDE is located by default but you can create/specify another directory if you wish.
Checking logical disks, disk images, and constructing RAID disks are all available from the Select Disk/Task window.
How we Tested
For our data recovery tests we used a virtual machine with a clean install of Windows 11. The only third-party tools installed besides DMDE were VLC Media Player and GIMP.
Data Files
The files we chose for recovery are an album of Mozart's Music available from the Internet Archive.
We did this as we wanted to see how the utility performed with a wide variety of files.The album included 4 music files (2 in Mp3 and 2 in FLAC) format, 6 JPG image files of album covers (with thumbnails) and 2 PNG image files. The files also included 2 XML files, a torrent file and an 'SQLite' file containing details of the album. There were 25 files in total.
We copied the files in the music album to a 512MB virtual NTFS-formatted hard drive, which was then attached to the Windows 11 virtual machine.
Data Tests
The tests were performed one after the other on three separate virtual drives:
1. File deletion : the album files were simply deleted from the drive and the Recycle Bin emptied. No other data was copied to the drive. We then tried to recover the files.
2. Delete & Format : The files were deleted as outlined above and we also performed a 'Quick Format' using the 'Disk Management' utility built into Windows 11. We then tried to recover the files from the formatted partition.
3. Recover corrupted files: We used the freeware program 'Victoria' to overwrite the volume header of the drive containing the files with zeroes. The drive didn't mount automatically in File Explorer and showed as being unpartitioned in Windows "Disk Management" utility. We then checked if the utility could see it and if so, recover the files.
We do not believe that running data recovery tools in a virtual environment has a significant effect on how they function. Still, if you're considering buying software we encourage you to read all reviews thoroughly and make sure that the developer offers a refund policy.
DMDE: Recovery performance
The good news is that DMDE - DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software is relatively fast.
Although slower than some alternatives, the depth of recovery was considerable.
In our first test, DMDE quickly recognized all 25 deleted files and we were able to recover them to a folder complete with filenames.
We next tested on the drive where the files had been deleted and then the drive itself given a "quick" format. This gave us a chance to use DMDE's "raw" feature which searches for file data even if there are missing headers or other information.
In this case 23 of the original 25 files were recovered (the .torrent and the .sqlite file didn't make it). One of the MP3 files was also only partially recovered : around 6 minutes of a 9:38 minute track were playable. The remaining files opened without issue, although as this was 'raw' data the original filenames were missing.
Our final test was on the drive with the corrupted volume header. DMDE spotted the lost partition immediately and prompted us to run a full scan. When we did so it was able to detect all 25 files, which we were able to restore fully with their original filenames.
DMDE - DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software's various expanded features like searching for 'raw' data impressive. Investigating these further, we took the time to create a disk image of the disk in question, while it was still unmountable.
The image was easy to create, resulting in a BIN file that could itself be mounted in DMDE and used for recovery.
You'll appreciate the benefit of having this feature and using it on an old HDD that is about to break, as this way you can attempt recovery of your data without risking further damage to the drive itself.
This could also be a good way to allow others to perform file recovery operations on your drive remotely, as the BIN file could be sent via a file sharing service like Dropbox.
There is a manual available on DMDE Software's website (Image credit: DMDE Software)
DMDE: Support
There is virtually no support for DMDE - DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software. While the website offers a 10-point FAQ and detailed online manual (also available as a PDF) with translations in Polish and Russian, technical support is available only via a direct email.
You can also get in touch via a contact form (Image credit: DMDE Software)
Feedback can be sent through the website, but it misses a detailed, searchable knowledge base and chat support. There is no reference to any social network accounts or a Reddit page.
In short, if you choose to use DMDE to recover your lost data, manual aside, it's likely to be a slow process if you run into trouble. This said, the manual is comprehensive in terms of explaining what DMDE can and can't do, as well as how to perform basic recovery operations.
Hopefully, this is sufficient to retrieve lost data, but given the depth of options in this software it seems strange that more in-depth support isn't available. The hints do go a long way to preventing DMDE becoming overwhelming for new users.
DMDE: Final verdict
With so many recovery tools on the market with varying levels of competence, speed, features, and pricing, it is easy to be suspicious of DMDE - DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software.
But this is a feature packed recovery tool with a free mode that is ideal for all but the most devastating recovery scenarios. 4000 files per recovery session is enough in most cases, and that's before considering the paid options which are surprisingly affordable when compared with others.
While the user interface presents information that might be potentially confusing to the uninitiated, it boasts features that other tools omit, can handle RAID construction, and create disk images.
The Express license alone is a bargain, DMDE - DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software is available for Linux and macOS as well as Windows, making it perhaps the best free and paid recovery solution available.
This IONOS review examines one of the most budget-friendly website builders available in 2025. IONOS prides itself on offering a complete suite of solutions for professionals looking to establish an online presence, including shared hosting, VPS, dedicated servers, and their MyWebsite builder platform. You can also check out our guide to the best website builders for more options.
Techradar reviewers have spent thousands of hours testing 140+ website builders to bring you expert insights. Based on our tests, IONOS stands out with its AI-assisted design process and some of the lowest introductory prices in the industry, starting at just $1 per month. However, Wix remains our top pick for the best overall website building experience in 2025.
IONOS MyWebsite targets beginners without programming experience, especially with its "MyWebsite Now" builder launched in 2023. We found IONOS delivers on its promise of simplicity, though it won't satisfy users seeking extensive design control or advanced features.
IONOS MyWebsite: 2-minute review
IONOS MyWebsite represents a solid entry-level website builder that prioritizes ease of use over advanced functionality. The platform excels at helping complete beginners create functional websites quickly through its AI-assisted design process. Users simply answer a few questions about their business, and IONOS generates a website draft that can be manually adjusted.
The German internet service provider has built a reputation for affordable web services, and their website builder continues this tradition with introductory pricing as low as $1 per month. However, IONOS faces stiff competition from more feature-rich platforms like Wix and Hostinger. While it offers good value for simple business websites, its limited template selection and rigid design structure may frustrate users seeking creative freedom.
What is IONOS?
IONOS is a German internet service provider that offers a comprehensive suite of online services, including web hosting, domain registration, email hosting, and website building tools. Their MyWebsite builder is specifically designed for UX beginners who want to create professional-looking websites without any coding knowledge or design experience.
The platform uses artificial intelligence to simplify website creation. When you sign up, IONOS asks you questions about your business type, goals, and preferences, then automatically generates a website draft based on your responses. You can then customize this draft using their drag-and-drop editor, which features pre-built sections and layouts that you can modify to suit your needs.
Features
Though IONOS doesn’t compete with higher-end builders like Wix or Webflow on customization, it shines in simplicity and efficiency. (Image credit: IONOS)
Better known for its affordable web hosting, IONOS extends its expertise into site building, offering a user-friendly platform that can support everything from simple personal pages to ecommerce stores.
Though IONOS doesn’t compete with higher-end builders like Wix or Webflow on customization, it shines in simplicity and efficiency, making it an ideal choice for users seeking functionality with minimal hassle.
It's primary offering is an AI-assisted website generation experience, which comes with additional features like a template library, drag-and-drop customization, multichannel ecommerce, and a number of marketing and analytics tools.
Tools
With the AI-powered experience, you answer a few questions about your brand and preferences so IONOS generates up to four layout options. (Image credit: IONOS)
As we just discussed, IONOS is a beginner-friendly website builder with AI guidance for new users being its most important website building feature. But that said, there are other tools in its repository that add to the existing value.
AI tools
With the AI-powered experience, you answer a few questions about your brand and preferences so IONOS generates up to four layout options. If you don't like any of them, it can take another shot and rework the choices. Once you find a layout that fits, you get to personalize it by playing with colors, fonts, and shape themes. As expected, the editing options are a bit basic, so if you’re looking for intricate typography or color schemes, they’re not quite there.
IONOS’s AI also helps with content creation, from filling in text to generating images. You can tweak the tone of the text to feel more friendly, professional, or trustworthy, just by selecting the vibe you want. And the image generator is also pretty handy, even if the results can be hit-and-miss.
Templates
ONOS’s website template range is surprisingly modest, with around 30 options, but it leans toward professionalism and ease of use, keeping design decisions straightforward. These templates cater to all sorts of business, portfolio, and personal projects alike, giving you a polished and professional springboard for your site.
Once you pick a template in IONOS’s editor, customizing your site is simple, though it does lean toward structure over total freedom. Rather than full drag-and-drop flexibility, you’ll add pre-designed sections — like "About," "Galleries," or "Contact" - with only a few style choices for each. You can tweak colors, spacing, and fonts, though the font choices are quite limited.
Ecommerce toolkit
Ready to kickstart your online store? IONOS provides a solid set of ecommerce tools that make it easy to manage your inventory, set up tax and shipping options, and customize product variations - all the essentials you need to hit the ground running.
While it might not have the ultra-advanced features of bigger ecommerce platforms, IONOS has the essentials small-to-midsize businesses need to set up shop, handle orders, and keep customers engaged. Features like discount codes, abandoned cart emails, and social media integration are also part of the package.
Free domain and SSL
With IONOS, each plan comes with a free domain for the first year, which helps keep startup costs down. Plus, they include an SSL certificate right from the get-go, ensuring your site is secure and helping boost your search engine rankins. This built-in SSL support is a big plus for ecommerce sites, as it makes online transactions safer.
Email hosting
IONOS keeps things straightforward by bundling a professional email address that matches your domain — so, no need to set up with another provider. This built-in email feature makes it easy to stay connected with customers. If you need more storage as your business expands, IONOS offers scalable email plans to keep up with your growth.
SEO tools and rankingCoach
With IONOS, you can make your site pop in search results thanks to customizable SEO settings available for every page, giving you the tools to optimize your content and boost your visibility. For a more beginner-friendly SEO boost, you can integrate rankingCoach, a tool that walks users through visibility improvements step-by-step.
IONOS also includes a tool that checks for SEO improvements, making it simple to stay on top of rankings.
Localization features
If your business has global ambitions, IONOS has you covered with translation support for over 60 languages, making it easy to cater to different regions. You can customize content based on location, tailoring messages or promotions to resonate with specific audiences.
This mix of multilingual options and targeted content helps you engage with a whole variety of customers.
Site analytics
After your site goes live, you can dive into visitor stats that answer key questions about your audience: Who are they, and how can you reach them? This info lays the groundwork for successful marketing strategies tailored to your potential customers.
These tools make it easy to track key metrics like visitor counts, session lengths, and page impressions. You’ll also get a good look at your bounce rate, showing where you might want to make some tweaks.
Ease of use
While IONOS makes getting started super simple, there are limitations when it comes to advanced customization. (Image credit: IONOS)
With the IONOS AI site builder, all it takes is a few details about your business, and you’ll have a customizable site complete with tailored images and text. This hands-off method is a lifesaver for busy entrepreneurs who want to channel their energy into more meaningful tasks instead of stressing over design elements.
While IONOS makes getting started super simple, there are a few limitations when it comes to advanced customization. If you’re after a more intricate design, you might hit a few bumps in the road.
Still, if you’re looking for a fast and efficient way to establish your online presence, IONOS is a superb option that helps you get started without the steep learning curve.
Pricing
IONOS offers some of the most competitive introductory pricing in the market. (Image credit: IONOS)
Plan
Starting rate (paid annually)
Renewal rate (paid annually)
Starter
$6/month
$12/month
Plus
$1/month
$18/month
Pro
$17/month
$30/month
Starter (+ Store)
$6/month
$24/month
Plus (+ Store)
$1/month
$30/month
Pro (+ Store)
$34/month
$62/month
Expert (Store Only)
$44/month
$92/month
IONOS offers some of the most competitive introductory pricing in the website builder market, with plans starting as low as $1 per month for the first year. The Plus plan represents exceptional value during the promotional period, offering 50GB storage and up to 200 pages for just $1 monthly. All plans include a free domain name for the first year, free SSL certificates, and business email hosting.
However, you should be aware that prices increase significantly upon renewal, with the Plus plan jumping from $1 to $18 per month. Despite this, IONOS remains more affordable than many competitors even at renewal rates. The platform also offers specialized e-commerce plans for users wanting to build online stores, though these come at higher price points.
Security
(Image credit: IONOS)
IONOS provides solid security foundations with wildcard SSL certificates included on all plans, protecting both your main website and any subdomains you create. This comprehensive SSL coverage makes setting up multiple site sections much easier compared to platforms that require separate certificates for each subdomain.
The platform implements automatic cookie notices to ensure GDPR compliance, which is particularly important for European users. However, IONOS lacks some advanced security features like DDoS protection and automatic backups that you'll find with premium website builders. While this isn't problematic for small websites, it could become a concern as your site grows and requires more robust protection.
Support
(Image credit: IONOS)
IONOS is built to handle high traffic and keep your site running smoothly, even when visitors are pouring in from across the globe. For businesses looking to keep their audience engaged without slowdowns, IONOS’s infrastructure should deliver dependable speed and stability.
As for support, you’ve got plenty of resources to lean on. Their knowledge base is packed with how-tos on everything from tech tips to marketing advice. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to open it in a separate tab since it’s not right in the dashboard. Still, it's a solid spot for quick guidance.
For those times when you need immediate help, IONOS is one of the few that offer 24/7 phone support - something beginners will appreciate. The team is known for being kind and knowledgeable, too. There’s also live chat from 8 AM to 8 PM if you prefer a quick message over a phone call.
Alternatives
If you’re thinking about IONOS but curious about what else is out there, here’s a quick rundown on how it stacks up against Weebly, Squarespace, and Wix, its top competitors.
Weebly is a perfect choice for ecommerce newbies - it’s packed with tools to make selling easy, all for $12 per month. While Weebly’s free plan gives a nice starting point, its paid plans are a better fit for anyone who wants a polished, professional look.
Squarespace brings a lot of style to the table, with stunning templates that appeal to creatives. Starting at $16, it’s a bit pricier, but the 14-day free trial lets you explore everything it offers before diving in.
Wix is an awesome alternative if you’re all about creative freedom. With true drag-and-drop customization, you can place elements anywhere on the page. It offers tons of templates, but for total beginners, IONOS will still feel a little easier.
If you're a newcomer to site building, IONOS is a superb option. With its budget-friendly starting prices, swift AI setup, and useful SEO tools, getting your site up and running it has never been easier.
That said, its limited customization options and absence of a free trial might leave some aspiring designers wanting more. Still, if you're after a user-friendly platform that won't break the bank, IONOS is a great pick - just be prepared to work within its constraints.
FAQs
Is IONOS good for beginners?
Yes, IONOS excels as a beginner-friendly platform with its AI-assisted website creation process. The platform requires no coding knowledge and guides you through each step of building your site. However, beginners should be aware that customization options are limited compared to other builders.
Does IONOS offer e-commerce capabilities?
IONOS provides e-commerce functionality through dedicated store plans that support hundreds to thousands of products depending on your chosen tier. The platform includes basic features like payment processing through Mollie and social buy buttons, but lacks the advanced e-commerce tools found in specialized platforms like Shopify.
What happens to pricing after the first year?
IONOS uses promotional pricing for the first year, after which rates increase significantly. For example, the Plus plan jumps from $1 to $18 per month upon renewal. While still competitive, this price increase is substantial and should factor into your long-term budgeting.
Can I migrate my existing website to IONOS?
Yes, IONOS offers migration assistance to help transfer your existing website and content to their platform. They provide 24/7 support during the migration process and can help with domain transfers as well.
With a 10.3-inch screen, the Kobo Elipsa is not the largest ereader that’s ever been made – consider the 13.3-inch Onyx Boox Max3 for example – but it is for Kobo. It’s also the only device from the Japanese-Canadian ereader maker to ship with a stylus in the box.
Kobo is touting the Elipsa as not just an ereader, but as a research device that you can jot notes on, putting it in competition with the likes of the ReMarkable 2 and, more recently, the Amazon Kindle Scribe. The difference here, though, is that you need to jump through hoops to use the ReMarkable as a reading device – it’s more a digital note-taker than ereader – while the Kindle counterpart just doesn't have the extensive note-taking abilities of the Elipsa.
Despite its writing prowess, the Kobo Elipsa is an ereader first – just one that can multitask, and that's evident in how the Kobo Stylus functions. While it's not quite real-time responsive, it is fast enough to not throw you off but writing on the screen isn't quite as smooth as it is on the newer E Ink note-taking tablets. That said, the Elipsa's ability to recognize handwriting to convert to text has always been remarkable, and is now better and faster after some firmware updates since its launch in 2021.
For the most part, the Elipsa does exactly what it says on the tin – it lets you read, make annotations, draw, create lists, buy ebooks, borrow ebooks from a public library and read web articles via Pocket. However, there are some caveats that make the Elipsa hard to recommend.
Stylus support is locked to ebooks you buy directly from the Kobo Store, meaning you can’t annotate a sideloaded EPUB. However, you can write and draw on sideloaded PDFs. For a company that has a reputation for not locking down its ecosystem, it does feel as though Kobo is taking a step in that direction by allowing you to write only on locked ebooks.
Then there’s the size and weight considerations. Kobo says the Elipsa is an ereader first, but with a screen size of 10.3 inches and 383g in weight, it’s not quite as portable as traditional ereaders. It’s too large to use on public transport, even if you’ve got a seat, and feels heavy in the hand, even without a sleepcover. And, it’s not designed for one-handed use. But that's not unique to Kobo – every 10.3-inch E Ink tablet we've tested is going to feel cumbersome as an ereader.
The stylus doesn't feel quite as natural as the experience we've had with the Kindle Scribe. Where Amazon has managed to make writing on its first large-screen ereader buttery smooth, Kobo didn't quite achieve that. To be fair, the Kobo model is much older and technology keeps improving, which we hope to see in the Elipsa 2, if there is one.
All said and done, for a first attempt at a stylus-toting digital note-taker, Kobo’s done quite well with the Elipsa, even adding some bang-for-buck when compared to some of its competition.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Kobo Elipsa review: price and availability
Announced May 20, 2021
Launch price of $399.99 / £349.99 / AU$599.95
Ships with sleepcover and stylus
Usually Kobo ereaders ship as a standalone device and you can then buy accessories like sleepcovers separately. However, the brand has taken a different approach with the Kobo Elipsa, selling it as a bundle, including the sleepcover and the stylus with the tablet, in a package called the Elipsa Pack. This will set you back $399.99 / £349.99 / AU$599.95, which is quite competitive considering you’re getting the accessories as well.
In comparison, the ReMarkable 2 costs $399 / £399 / $679 for the tablet alone. You’ll need to pay an extra $49 / £49 / AU$79 to get the Marker (stylus). There is a Folio available for the ReMarkable 2, but that too is an extra expense.
The much newer Amazon Kindle Scribe that was announced late in 2022 costs $339.99 / £339.99 / AU$549.99 for 16GB of storage with basic pen. To put that into context, the Elipsa comes with 32GB of storage by default, with a stylus that includes erase and highlight buttons. You do the maths.
While it might hold its own against the direct competition, the Elipsa costs more than the 2021 10.2-inch Apple iPad, a far more versatile device with a color screen, multimedia support and access to the App Store. However, it would be unfair to compare a traditional tablet to an E Ink device as their use cases are quite different and, in case case, it's cheaper than the 2022 10.9-inch iPad.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Kobo Elipsa review: design and display
10.3-inch screen
No warm LEDs
USB-C charging port
If you’ve never used a ReMarkable tablet or an Onyx Boox Note Air before, then think of the Kobo Elipsa as an oversized Kindle Oasis that you can write on. The reason we’re comparing the Elipsa with the premium Amazon device is because, like the Oasis, the Kobo’s screen is flush with the bezels, whereas all other Kobo devices have their screen set into a recess below the bezels. And now that the Kindle Scribe is out, there's comparisons that can be made between the two direct competitors.
Kobo Elipsa key specs
Screen type: E Ink Carta 1200 Screen size: 10.3 inch Resolution: 227ppi Storage: 32GB Battery: 2,400mAh Connectivity: Wi-Fi + USB-C Frontlight: white LED only Dimensions: 193 x 227.5 x 7.6 mm Weight: 383g without accessories
Thanks to the E Ink Carta 1200 screen tech used on the Elipsa, the display is plenty sharp despite a resolution of 227ppi (1404x1872). Most popular ereaders today have a screen resolution of 300ppi, but there are large-screen E Ink devices with the same 227ppi display, like the Onyx Boox Note Air. This is the same screen technology that's used in pretty much every new ereader available today, at least those released since 2021, and it makes the touchscreen 20% more responsive than older Carta 1000 panels with 15% more contrast ratio too.
The Kindle Scribe, however, has a far brighter and sharper screen even though it uses the same tech. There's 300ppi resolution in the newer device and it's really nice and bright.
Like all the Kobos, the Elipsa’s screen is also front-lit, but there are no amber LEDs here. That means that while you can dim the brightness, there’s no way to change the hue (temperature) of the light at night to warmer tones as you can on most Kobo devices – a major design flaw for a device that costs as much as the Elipsa. However, there is a ‘dark mode’ available on board that switches black text on white to white text on black.
Kobo Elipsa vs Kobo Libra H2O (Image credit: TechRadar)
The Elipsa’s large size means it’s heavier than most popular ereaders, which also happen to be smaller. Where most ereaders weigh around 200g or less, the Kobo Elipsa is a much heavier 383g for the tablet alone. That’s lighter than the 10.3-inch Onyx Boox Note Air (which weighs 420g) and the Amazon Kindle Scribe (433g), but still feels heavy in the hand. It takes getting used to, but is a little unwieldy when used either in bed or on public transport. We also found that the most comfortable way to use it as a note-taking device was to have it on a table.
While its size and weight make it difficult to use single-handed, it would have been easier if there were page-turn buttons (like on the Oasis and Kobo Libra H2O). There is ample room for them as one side bezel is wider than the other. Presumably this wider bezel is there so you can hold the device comfortably while writing, but if you find yourself putting it down to do so most of the time, that space could have been put to better use. That said, we're yet to come across a 10.3-inch E Ink device from any brand with physical page-turn buttons.
On the side of the wider bezel is the power button, which we found to be too small and awkwardly placed to find. Beside that is a USB-C port – the first Kobo ereader to adopt it – for charging and transferring files.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Unlike the plastic tablet, the Kobo Stylus is all metal, made of aluminum. There are two buttons conveniently situated where your thumb or forefinger would be – one to highlight when reading, the other to erase. Erasing triggers a page refresh, removing any ghosting or shading from the writing. The stylus is powered by a single AAA battery, which means there will be some ongoing cost to maintaining the pen. It’s important to note that the Kobo Stylus is proprietary and no other stylus will work with the Elipsa. So if the nib suffers from wear and tear, you will need to buy the replacement tips from Kobo.
The sleepcover for the Elipsa is different from the usual ones for most ereaders – instead of opening like a book, it pulls up vertically. It has folds that convert the folio to a stand and a niche to stow the Kobo Stylus safely away when not in use.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Kobo Elipsa review: ease of use
Easy to set up and sync
32GB internal storage
Notes are well organized
If there’s one thing that Kobo does well, it’s the device UX. It’s the same Linux-based software in use here as is in all Kobo ereaders, so if you’ve used one before, you’ll be right at home with the Elipsa.
Everything is streamlined as we’ve come to expect from Kobo, with the ability to organize your library as you see fit, plenty of information on the home screen (including recommendations and access to the Kobo Store) and all the important settings at your fingertips. To change the brightness settings on the Elipsa, just drag your finger either up or down the left edge of the screen, but keep in mind this works only when a file is open and not on the home screen.
While the settings options on the top of the home screen remain unchanged, the Elipsa debuted the dedicated My Notebooks tab on the lower navigation bar, which can now also be found on the Kobo Sage. This is where you can draw, write, make notes or create lists, all organized the way you want them. You can have notes with several pages or just one, add more later, change page background, and so much more. Of course, you can even change the hue of the ink in different grayscale shades, while also changing the thickness of the nib.
It’s very easy to connect the Elipsa to Wi-Fi (there's no Bluetooth here) and you can force a sync any time you want. Even using the stylus is intuitive, although it does not work on all files (more on that later).
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Kobo Elipsa review: reading experience
Large screen suits comics and graphic novels
Detects full 360º movement
Dark mode
Reading on the Elipsa is pretty much what we’d expect from any other Kobo device – the text is sharp and pictures (including cover art) render very well. In fact, its large screen is perfect for reading non-fiction books with diagrams, maps or images, as well as comics and graphic novels. There’s a lot of flexibility on how small or large you want the font to be – heck, you can even sideload other fonts you prefer, like Amazon’s Bookerly or Ember – or how much line spacing and margins you want.
There’s a pinch-and-zoom functionality available when reading PDFs, which is great to have, but it doesn’t quite work as expected right after launch. When we tried to zoom into a comic strip in PDF format, it turned into static after a second. Opening another PDF resulted in the same issue. This issue has since been resolved and it makes marking up a PDF really simple.
The pinch-and-zoom experience for PDFs is far from ideal (Image credit: TechRadar)
While there’s no option to alter light temperature to warmer hues in the evening, the Carta 1200 screen supports a dark mode that inverts text to white on a black background. While that does help a little, we think it would be a better reading experience if amber/yellow LEDs were available on the device.
Like the Libra H2O and the Kobo Forma, the Elipsa has gyroscopic sensors that detect full 360º movements. You have the option to lock the movements to just vertical (portrait) orientation or horizontal (landscape) orientation, or let it keep adjusting automatically as you move the device. This, though, can get a little annoying as, occasionally, even the slightest change in angle can trigger a reorientation. When used horizontally, an ebook divides into two pages on screen (resembling an open book) thanks to the space available, which might be preferable to some users.
As before, Kobo isn’t restricting the file format support, with 15 formats supported, including EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, RFT, CBZ and CBR. And you can look up the meaning of a word in some European languages (Dutch, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Portuguese) – handy if you’re learning another language (or improving your English if it’s not your first language).
(Image credit: TechRadar)
You can still long-press to select a word for dictionary lookup and highlight, but it’s definitely easier to use the stylus to do the latter (and this works even on sideloaded EPUBs).
It would have made the reading experience a lot better if the Elipsa had page-turn buttons, but Kobo’s rapid page-turn engine (which debuted in 2018 on the Clara HD) is available – albeit it only works on ebooks purchased from Kobo. It works the same way as before – just long-press on the right bottom corner to move forward or the left bottom corner to go back. The page slider that debuted on the Libra H2O also pops up when you tap on the centre of the screen. However you choose to turn pages, there’s no ghosting or significant black blips caused by refreshes (unless the page has an image).
Like all other Kobos before it, the Elipsa comes with OverDrive, Pocket and Dropbox support baked in. So you can borrow ebooks from your local public library if they support OverDrive, read longform web articles you may have saved to your Pocket account or store your entire digital library on the cloud and download without needing to connect to a computer.
Where the Elipsa excels is viewing PDFs on that 10.3-inch screen, and we found that all DRM-free PDFs are editable.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Kobo Elipsa review: writing and drawing experience
Can’t write on all files
Handwriting converts to digital text
Excellent handwriting recognition software
Writing on the Elipsa is a good experience, but not the best. While the stylus isn’t quite real time, there’s only a very marginal lag that’s very easy to get used to. However, the screen isn’t completely smooth, meaning the stylus nib will, over time, suffer from wear and tear, but they are replaceable. In our opinion, the smoothest writing experience is on the Kindle Scribe and the Elipsa does not compete here at all.
Writing or drawing on files stored on the device, though, is restricted. As we mentioned earlier, you can annotate any ebook you’ve bought directly from the Kobo Store, but you can’t on any sideloaded EPUB. For example, you won’t be able to make annotations in the margin of a textbook in EPUB format you may have sourced from elsewhere, but you will be able to highlight sections of text.
It’s a different story with PDFs though. As long as the PDF is not DRM-locked, you can scribble on it, but not highlight. PDFs can also be pinched and zoomed, although we faced rendering issues during our testing. If this functionality works well, you’ll see a small map appear on the top left corner of the page to help you orient. This could be really helpful when filling in PDF forms, for example.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
It’s not just books and forms that you can write on. The Elipsa also lets you create new notes on blank pages, all of which automatically get saved in the My Notebooks section accessible via the home screen. There are two types of notebooks – Basic and Advanced. Basic notes can’t be converted from handwriting to text, but can be exported to your computer or Dropbox. Backgrounds of Basic notes can be changed, so you can choose to write on a blank sheet, on a ruled page or on a grid.
If you want to convert your handwritten notes to text, then you’ll need to select an Advanced Notebook. This adds a scrollbar on the right side, in case your note is a long one, and you can insert images and mathematical formulas into Advanced notes. You can't, however, change the background of the page here and you will need to write between the lines on the screen.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
The Elipsa’s writing capabilities are powered by MyScript, a company that produces real-time handwriting recognition software, and we’re impressed at how well this works. Even when we thought we scribbled deliberately badly on the Elipsa, the software was able to identify the words correctly and convert them into a text file. During our initial testing this process of conversion was slow – it took about 5 seconds for a single sentence to be converted, and up to 30 seconds for a paragraph of about 30 words. Subsequent firmware updates has improved that speed dramatically and, impressively, has even improved handwriting recognition which was already excellent.
Other than different background options, notebooks also allow you to switch orientations, change pens (including a calligraphy pen), and choose the thickness and opacity of the pen. There are even different types of erasers but we found ourselves just using the button on the stylus to ‘undo’ any errors.
So, while all this sounds impressive on paper, the writing experience on the Elipsa feels restrictive because you can’t scribble on sideloaded EPUBs, but then that's the case with the Kindle Scribe too. In fact, when it comes to writing capabilities and features, the Elipsa is the clear winner as the Scribe has only a handful of templates and only one kind of pen. There's also no text conversion of handwritten notes, nor the ability to add images and formulae to copy on the Amazon device.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Kobo Elipsa review: battery life
2,400mAh battery
3-4 week battery life
No quick charge capabilities
Like any ereader, the Kobo Elipsa’s battery life is pretty impressive. There’s a 2,400mAh capacity battery under the hood, which is double that of the one in both the Libra H2O and Forma. This big battery can last up to four weeks on a single charge, but that will depend largely on how much you use the device and at what brightness you’ve got the screen set at.
It takes a little under three hours to top up from 0% to full, which is not too bad considering the 1,200mAh battery in the Libra H2O takes over two hours. Unlike the Onyx Boox Note Air, there’s no quick charge capabilities here.
Amazon Music Unlimited is a high-quality music streaming app to rival audiophile-grade services, like Tidal, at a good price.
If you’re a little confused by Amazon’s music streaming naming conventions, you’re not alone. There used to be Amazon Music Unlimited and Ultra HD and Amazon Music HD. But now you’ll find everything under the Amazon Music Unlimited umbrella.
What’s more, there are a few different tiers here, all offering different things. Amazon Music Free gives you free access to some top playlists and has ads. Then there’s Amazon Music Prime, this gives you access to 2 million songs ad-free and some playlists and stations. It’s included with Prime at no additional cost.
Then there’s the service we’re reviewing here, Amazon Music Unlimited, which is Amazon’s premium music subscription service. It has more than 100 million tracks, like most rivals, and brings you lossless FLAC audio qaulity up to 24-bit/192kHz, while Spotify, for example, only offers 320kbps.
It’s arguably the best value music streaming service if you want lossless audio. And the good news is that if you already have a Prime membership, you’ll get the music streaming service for $9.99 / £9.99 / AU$11.99, making it a cheaper option than all of the competition.
If you have Amazon products there’s great Alexa integration and even the option to buy the streaming service so you can listen to it on just one smart device. But even if you’re not already bought into everything Amazon, this is still a good value option with hi-res audio and a solid library of tunes.
Amazon Music Unlimited review: Pricing and subscription
(Image credit: Amazon)
Discount for Prime members
A (sort of) free version with restrictions
A 30-day free trial
As a quick recap, anyone can access Amazon Music Free. But that has ads and restrictions. Amazon Music Prime is free for Prime members and that gives you access to 2 million songs ad-free. But if you want the premium subscription service, Amazon Music Unlimited, you’ll need to pay.
Prime members can get Amazon Music Unlimited for $9.99 / £9.99 / AU$11.99 with a monthly subscription or $99 / £99 (roughly AU$190, although annual pricing isn't shown on Amazon's site) a year with an annual subscription. If you’re not a Prime member, you’ll need to pay $10.99 / £10.99 / AU$12.99 a month. If you sign up for the monthly subscription, you’ll get a 30-day free trial and, at the time of writing, those in Australia can get a free trial that lasts three months.
For $5.99 / £5.99 / AU$6.99 month you can listen to Amazon Music Unlimited on a single Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Echo Look, Amazon Tap or Fire TV device. This is a really nice option for anyone who knows they only really like listening on one device.
There’s also the option of a family plan, but only for Prime members and each person will need an Amazon account. This allows six different people to listen to music all at once and costs $16.99 / £17.99 / AU$20.99 per month or $159 / £179 (AU$242) a year. Amazon Unlimited for Students is available for $5.99 / £5.99 / AU$6.99 per month.
Amazon Music Unlimited review: Key specs
(Image credit: Amazon)
Amazon Music Unlimited review: Music library and content
(Image credit: Future/Amazon Music)
More than 100 million tracks
Good selection of podcasts
Save for offline listening and local files
There are more than 100 million songs in the Amazon Music Unlimited library at the time of writing and these are a mix of HD and Ultra HD quality. This is the same amount as Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music.
Amazon added podcasts to the streaming service a few years back, and a lot of my favorites are available. But do check your go-to podcasts are available before signing up, as the choice feels limited compared to Spotify.
You can download music to listen to later via offline playback. I found this to work very well, and it was good knowing if I lost a data or Wi-Fi connection, I could keep listening. But remember that those high-quality audio files take up more space on your device.
You can also store music you already own locally within the Amazon Music Unlimited app and import playlists from other streaming platforms with the help of a service like SongShift or TuneMyMusic.
Amazon Music Unlimited review: Apps and compatibility
(Image credit: Amazon)
Web browser, desktop app, and mobile app
Integration with home audio devices
Interface not as slick as Spotify
You can stream Amazon Music Unlimited via your web browser, but it works the best in a desktop app or mobile app on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows devices. It’s also integrated into a range of home devices, including speakers, amplifiers, and soundbars. As you’d expect, this includes all of Amazon’s Echo products, Sonos speakers, Fire TV devices, and more.
The desktop app isn’t as slick or good-looking as Spotify or Tidal. But it offers a very similar user experience with a grid-like design displaying album and playlist artwork in full color across the screen that allows you to swipe horizontally through playlists, tracks and albums. The color palette is simple, with dark grey and some bright blue accents.
In the menu you’ll find Home. This is where you’ll find recently played tracks, album and playlist recommendations, and sections dedicated to the latest tracks. The following section is Find, which is both a search and music discovery section where you can browse by genre and audio quality. Library is where your music is stored, including what you’ve listened to recently and your saved playlists, artists, and tracks. The final section is Alexa, and you need to grant Amazon microphone access to your phone for this to work – so be sure you’re happy with that before you agree.
(Image credit: Amazon)
The bar that runs along the bottom of the screen has playback controls, and there’s the option to send your music to a connected device – like an Echo speaker.
There’s also a three-dot ellipsis next to playlists, albums and tracks that expands features and brings up menus. This keeps the interface clean and presents a range of options, including adding to queue, adding to a playlist, downloading or sharing – this opens up a link and social media with more options in the mobile app, including Instagram Stories.
At times I actually prefer the look of Amazon Music Unlimited’s app more than Spotfiy’s because it’s simply less cluttered and jammed with text and content. So even though it may not be as slick-looking as other services, its minimal design, easy-to-use controls, and menus make it straightforward. For that reason, this would suit someone who hasn’t dipped their toe into music streaming before.
Unsurprisingly, Amazon Music Unlimited works with Alexa and it does work remarkably well to surface new music. You can ask Alexa to play tracks or playlists, or ask for specific genres and types of music, and Amazon’s voice assistant will access Amazon Music Unlimited to play a mix for you.
Amazon Music Unlimited: Playlists and recommendations
(Image credit: Amazon)
Good playlist recommendations
Algorithm not as intuitive as Spotify
Create your own playlists
You can create your own playlists with Amazon Music Unlimited – just head to Library > Playlists. However, the service also makes many good playlists for you, too. Many aren’t personalized to you but do surface good suggestions, and you can find many of these recommended in the Home section of the app.
The ones that are personalized are My Discover Mix, a new playlist delivered to you every Monday with fresh new tracks. Think of it like Spotify’s Discover Weekly. Then there’s My Soundtrack, a constantly updated radio station tailored to your tastes, this is like Deezer’s Flow feature. I liked this and felt it definitely got better the more I used the app, bringing me a mixture of tracks I already like and fresh new ones.
Overall, Amazon Music Unlimited’s recommendations felt right for me and surfaced great new tracks in My Discovery Mix and provided a great soundtrack for me to work and not have to worry about moving between playlists with My Soundtrack.
The playlists don’t feel quite as fun as Spotify’s recommendation engine and there are less to choose from and none that are updated daily – I say this because I’m a big fan of Spotify’s 'Daylist'. However, if you don’t need all of that and just want a couple of fresh ways to discover new tracks you’ll find that here with Amazon Music Unlimited.
Amazon Music Unlimited review: Audio quality
(Image credit: TechRadar)
HD and Ultra HD
Encoded in FLAC
Dolby Atmos and Sony 360RA
Amazon Music Unlimited brings two types of audio quality. There’s HD and Ultra HD, and both are hi-res audio quality in a FLAC format. You’ll also find some standard quality tracks of up to 320kbps, which matches Spotify.
The lossless High Definition (HD) songs on Amazon Music HD have a bit depth of 16 bits and a sample rate of 44.1kHz. This is what’s called CD quality. You can stream many other songs in Ultra HD on Amazon Music HD, with a bit depth of 24 bits, sample rates ranging from 44.1 kHz up to 192 kHz, and an average bitrate of 3730 kbps. This is better than CD quality and puts Amazon Music Unlimited in line with the audio quality on offer from Tidal HiFi Plus and Qobuz.
As a quick refresher, lossless audio allows you to hear the full range of sound from recordings that have been mastered from better-than-CD quality music sources. This means the sound you hear from Amazon Music Unlimited more closely replicates the quality that the musicians and engineers were working with in the studio when recording compared to the highly compressed versions you might find on many other services.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
There are also songs – no word on the exact number at the time of writing – remixed in Dolby Atmos and Sony 360RA 3D Audio formats. However, you’ll need the right equipment to experience these formats – the Amazon Echo Studio smart speaker is one device that can handle both spatial audio technologies.
Spotify currently offers a bitrate of up to 320 kbps. These audio files are compressed, and won’t reveal as much detail as less highly compressed sources. When comparing the two streaming services, this difference in quality is noticeable. Expect more detail, immersion and better performance from Amazon Music Unlimited.
This is because Amazon Music Unlimited brings you the original recording served up with a much higher quality sound. Or at least it’ll try to based on your network, which device you’re listening on, and whether you have the best headphones and speakers – they’ll need to support HD and Ultra HD playback to make the most of the sound quality on offer.
When you’re browsing Amazon Music Unlimited, you’ll see that every track is labelled with a quality badge. Click on this in the desktop or mobile app, and you’re shown what the quality of the track is, what quality the device you’re using is capable of bringing you, and what it’s playing at right now. If you’re not getting the quality you expect, take a look at your settings.
This is a great way to prove you’re getting the quality you want – especially if you’re an audiophile and want to make sure you’re getting the best of the best consistently.
Founded in 2014 by Christine Telyan and Anh Pham Vu, UENI was created to help independent businesses establish an online presence in a market where approximately 70% of small businesses lacked one. Unlike the majority of the best website builders, that provide tools and templates for you to build your own site, UENI takes a "done-for-you" approach, with real humans creating your custom website based on a simple questionnaire about your business needs.
After completing a 30-minute questionnaire, UENI's team builds a custom website for you within seven days, complete with relevant content, images, and business listings across multiple platforms. Once ready, you are also free to customize the website to your liking via the easy-to-use site editor. The service is best suited for service providers, local businesses, and small retailers who need a professional online presence without the learning curve of traditional DIY website builders.
UENI features
UENI takes a unique "done-for-you" approach to website building, where a team of professionals creates your custom website based on your business needs. The process begins with you completing a simple questionnaire about your business, website requirements, and design preferences. Within 7 days, UENI's team delivers a fully-built, mobile-friendly website complete with written content, selected images, and product/service listings.
Beyond website creation, UENI offers comprehensive business profile creation services. They build and verify your Google Business Profile within 7 days, syncing it with your website and optimizing it for local search to increase your online visibility. For users on the Plus plan or above, UENI extends this service to include business listings across more than 25 platforms, including Apple Maps and Facebook.
UENI's platform includes essential ecommerce features that allow you to sell products online with unlimited product listings and multiple payment methods (credit cards, PayPal, offline payments) with zero commission fees. The service also includes an appointment booking system that works from day one, with email confirmations and calendar syncing capabilities. While UENI's editor isn't the most advanced, it offers intuitive controls for making changes after your site is built, along with widgets and integrations like advanced photo galleries, customer surveys, Google Analytics, and social media feeds.
How easy is UENI to use?
UENI eliminates the complexity of DIY website building by handling the entire creation process for you. After completing the initial questionnaire, you simply wait for the team to build your custom website, removing the learning curve typically associated with traditional website builders. This approach is particularly beneficial for small business owners, local service providers, and entrepreneurs with limited technical skills who need a professional online presence without investing significant time in learning web design.
Once your website is complete, UENI provides a one-to-one consultation with a web design expert who teaches you how to use its intuitive editor for maintaining your site. The editor is beginner-friendly, allowing you to choose between 8 templates to change your site's overall look and access basic customization options. Users on the Growth plan receive additional monthly one-to-one calls to help continuously optimize their online presence.
However, there are some limitations to be aware of. UENI's editor offers limited customization options compared to more advanced website builders such as Wix. Some users have reported frustration when requesting edits, discovering limitations only after their initial website was built. While the platform provides a solid foundation for establishing an online presence, businesses with complex needs or those requiring highly customized features might eventually outgrow UENI's capabilities. Additionally, there's a mandatory one-time setup fee of $199 for most plans (except the Lifetime Deal), which adds to the initial investment.
(Image credit: UENI)
How good is UENI's customer support?
UENI offers comprehensive customer support across multiple channels. Users can contact the support team by submitting a ticket through the website, sending an email, or using the LiveChat feature available directly from the UENI Hub. The LiveChat agents are available between 10 am and 6 pm EST, providing real-time assistance for immediate concerns.
For users on the Plus and Growth plans, UENI offers phone support, allowing direct connection with the expert support team. Phone support hours vary by region, with availability from 9 am to 5 pm EST for users in the United States and Canada, and from 2 pm to 10 pm for those in the United Kingdom. The company's Customer Success Team is available seven days a week, aiming to respond to all queries within two working days.
Support services are included in all UENI plans, with no extra charges for basic assistance. The Plus plan includes a concierge service and quarterly SEO review, while the Growth plan offers additional support features like a customized marketing program, competitor tracking, and reputation management. UENI also provides a personalized Zoom call to present and finalize your website, discussing any desired changes before launch and training you on using the website editor for self-managed updates. For ongoing technical issues, UENI handles hosting and maintenance, solving problems through their Live Chat support system.
Performance
UENI websites are hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is known for being one of the fastest and most secure hosting services available. This ensures fast loading times and excellent speed performance regardless of your visitors' location.
UENI's focus on creating straightforward websites helps with speed optimization, improving both user experience and search engine rankings. Additionally, all UENI websites include SEO optimization using keywords related to your niche, target audience, and local area, with monthly comprehensive reports provided to track your online performance.
UENI website builder pricing and plans
UENI offers four main pricing plans: Launch, Plus, Growth, and Platinum. As of early 2025, the Launch plan costs $149 billed annually (or $259 for two years) with a $79 setup fee, providing a built-for-you website with personalized design, fast loading, custom domain name, professional email address, easy-to-use editor, and secure hosting. The Plus plan ($899 billed every two years with a $79 setup fee) adds four email addresses, advanced SEO, unlimited done-for-you edits, and VIP phone support.
The Growth plan ($1,499 billed every two years with a $79 setup fee) includes everything in Plus along with a dedicated VIP Growth Team, marketing plan, monthly marketing sessions, and 2,000 words of fresh content.
For ecommerce businesses, the Platinum plan ($3,499 billed every two years with a $199 setup fee) offers advanced ecommerce features, unlimited edits, unlimited products, subscription, and digital product selling capabilities, and enhanced marketing integrations.
Alternatively, UENI used to offer a Lifetime Deal for $599 as a one-time payment with no recurring fees, providing a fully-built website, personalized design, Google Business Profile, and free web hosting forever. However, it seems that this one-time purchase offer is no longer available on the website.
UENI website builder alternatives
Despite UENI's comprehensive done-for-you approach, some users have reported dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the service. Limitations include a lack of advanced customization options with only 8 template choices available, which some users find restrictive for growing businesses.
Technical support limitations have also been mentioned in reviews, along with the absence of a free trial option to test the service before committing financially. Additionally, some business owners were unimpressed with what they perceived as a lack of modern features, poor interface, and cookie-cutter websites that didn't fully represent their brand identity.
For those seeking alternatives, several options exist in the website builder market. Wix provides more design flexibility with its drag-and-drop editor and extensive template library. Squarespace is known for its visually stunning templates and integrated marketing tools. Although both of these options are incredibly easy to use, they don't offer the same 'done for you' approach that you get from UENI.
When choosing an alternative, consider factors like ease of use, customization needs, budget constraints, and whether you prefer a do-it-yourself approach or require assistance with website creation.
(Image credit: UENI)
UENI website builder review: FAQs
What is UENI?
UENI is a London-based company that provides small businesses with all-in-one solutions for building their online presence, including web design, basic site editor, and web hosting service.
Who owns UENI?
UENI was founded by both Christine Telyan and Anh Pham Vu. Originally founded in 2014, UENI has gone through 5 major platform updates, many of which added new features and completely rearranged the original interface.
Founded in 2014 by Christine Telyan and Anh Pham Vu, UENI was created to help independent businesses establish an online presence in a market where approximately 70% of small businesses lacked one. Unlike the majority of the best website builders, that provide tools and templates for you to build your own site, UENI takes a "done-for-you" approach, with real humans creating your custom website based on a simple questionnaire about your business needs.
After completing a 30-minute questionnaire, UENI's team builds a custom website for you within seven days, complete with relevant content, images, and business listings across multiple platforms. Once ready, you are also free to customize the website to your liking via the easy-to-use site editor. The service is best suited for service providers, local businesses, and small retailers who need a professional online presence without the learning curve of traditional DIY website builders.
UENI features
UENI takes a unique "done-for-you" approach to website building, where a team of professionals creates your custom website based on your business needs. The process begins with you completing a simple questionnaire about your business, website requirements, and design preferences. Within 7 days, UENI's team delivers a fully-built, mobile-friendly website complete with written content, selected images, and product/service listings.
Beyond website creation, UENI offers comprehensive business profile creation services. They build and verify your Google Business Profile within 7 days, syncing it with your website and optimizing it for local search to increase your online visibility. For users on the Plus plan or above, UENI extends this service to include business listings across more than 25 platforms, including Apple Maps and Facebook.
UENI's platform includes essential ecommerce features that allow you to sell products online with unlimited product listings and multiple payment methods (credit cards, PayPal, offline payments) with zero commission fees. The service also includes an appointment booking system that works from day one, with email confirmations and calendar syncing capabilities. While UENI's editor isn't the most advanced, it offers intuitive controls for making changes after your site is built, along with widgets and integrations like advanced photo galleries, customer surveys, Google Analytics, and social media feeds.
How easy is UENI to use?
UENI eliminates the complexity of DIY website building by handling the entire creation process for you. After completing the initial questionnaire, you simply wait for the team to build your custom website, removing the learning curve typically associated with traditional website builders. This approach is particularly beneficial for small business owners, local service providers, and entrepreneurs with limited technical skills who need a professional online presence without investing significant time in learning web design.
Once your website is complete, UENI provides a one-to-one consultation with a web design expert who teaches you how to use its intuitive editor for maintaining your site. The editor is beginner-friendly, allowing you to choose between 8 templates to change your site's overall look and access basic customization options. Users on the Growth plan receive additional monthly one-to-one calls to help continuously optimize their online presence.
However, there are some limitations to be aware of. UENI's editor offers limited customization options compared to more advanced website builders such as Wix. Some users have reported frustration when requesting edits, discovering limitations only after their initial website was built. While the platform provides a solid foundation for establishing an online presence, businesses with complex needs or those requiring highly customized features might eventually outgrow UENI's capabilities. Additionally, there's a mandatory one-time setup fee of $199 for most plans (except the Lifetime Deal), which adds to the initial investment.
(Image credit: UENI)
How good is UENI's customer support?
UENI offers comprehensive customer support across multiple channels. Users can contact the support team by submitting a ticket through the website, sending an email, or using the LiveChat feature available directly from the UENI Hub. The LiveChat agents are available between 10 am and 6 pm EST, providing real-time assistance for immediate concerns.
For users on the Plus and Growth plans, UENI offers phone support, allowing direct connection with the expert support team. Phone support hours vary by region, with availability from 9 am to 5 pm EST for users in the United States and Canada, and from 2 pm to 10 pm for those in the United Kingdom. The company's Customer Success Team is available seven days a week, aiming to respond to all queries within two working days.
Support services are included in all UENI plans, with no extra charges for basic assistance. The Plus plan includes a concierge service and quarterly SEO review, while the Growth plan offers additional support features like a customized marketing program, competitor tracking, and reputation management. UENI also provides a personalized Zoom call to present and finalize your website, discussing any desired changes before launch and training you on using the website editor for self-managed updates. For ongoing technical issues, UENI handles hosting and maintenance, solving problems through their Live Chat support system.
Performance
UENI websites are hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is known for being one of the fastest and most secure hosting services available. This ensures fast loading times and excellent speed performance regardless of your visitors' location.
UENI's focus on creating straightforward websites helps with speed optimization, improving both user experience and search engine rankings. Additionally, all UENI websites include SEO optimization using keywords related to your niche, target audience, and local area, with monthly comprehensive reports provided to track your online performance.
UENI website builder pricing and plans
UENI offers four main pricing plans: Launch, Plus, Growth, and Platinum. As of early 2025, the Launch plan costs $149 billed annually (or $259 for two years) with a $79 setup fee, providing a built-for-you website with personalized design, fast loading, custom domain name, professional email address, easy-to-use editor, and secure hosting. The Plus plan ($899 billed every two years with a $79 setup fee) adds four email addresses, advanced SEO, unlimited done-for-you edits, and VIP phone support.
The Growth plan ($1,499 billed every two years with a $79 setup fee) includes everything in Plus along with a dedicated VIP Growth Team, marketing plan, monthly marketing sessions, and 2,000 words of fresh content.
For ecommerce businesses, the Platinum plan ($3,499 billed every two years with a $199 setup fee) offers advanced ecommerce features, unlimited edits, unlimited products, subscription, and digital product selling capabilities, and enhanced marketing integrations.
Alternatively, UENI used to offer a Lifetime Deal for $599 as a one-time payment with no recurring fees, providing a fully-built website, personalized design, Google Business Profile, and free web hosting forever. However, it seems that this one-time purchase offer is no longer available on the website.
UENI website builder alternatives
Despite UENI's comprehensive done-for-you approach, some users have reported dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the service. Limitations include a lack of advanced customization options with only 8 template choices available, which some users find restrictive for growing businesses.
Technical support limitations have also been mentioned in reviews, along with the absence of a free trial option to test the service before committing financially. Additionally, some business owners were unimpressed with what they perceived as a lack of modern features, poor interface, and cookie-cutter websites that didn't fully represent their brand identity.
For those seeking alternatives, several options exist in the website builder market. Wix provides more design flexibility with its drag-and-drop editor and extensive template library. Squarespace is known for its visually stunning templates and integrated marketing tools. Although both of these options are incredibly easy to use, they don't offer the same 'done for you' approach that you get from UENI.
When choosing an alternative, consider factors like ease of use, customization needs, budget constraints, and whether you prefer a do-it-yourself approach or require assistance with website creation.
(Image credit: UENI)
UENI website builder review: FAQs
What is UENI?
UENI is a London-based company that provides small businesses with all-in-one solutions for building their online presence, including web design, basic site editor, and web hosting service.
Who owns UENI?
UENI was founded by both Christine Telyan and Anh Pham Vu. Originally founded in 2014, UENI has gone through 5 major platform updates, many of which added new features and completely rearranged the original interface.
Keeping your PC running at its optimum is not easy. The more you use it, the more data it accumulates. Windows gathers files as you install software, but doesn’t always delete them. Background apps interfere with the performance of foreground apps, unwanted preinstalled software runs without you knowing, and various accumulated clutter – personal and collected while browsing – also has an impact.
Whether you’re using a Windows PC or laptop, a tool like Iolo System Mechanic is a good solution.
Iolo is a California-based company, founded in 1998, that has developed a collection of PC security and maintenance tools. Iolo System Mechanic (and its variants) is among the most popular.
We’ve assessed this software by looking at factors like price, features, usability, customer support, and how it stacks up against competing tools.
Iolo system mechanic: Plans and pricing
(Image credit: IoIo)
Three versions of Iolo System Mechanic are available, each at different price points and with an expanding focus and feature set as the price increases.
Iolo System Mechanic includes ActiveCare and DeepClean features, and 24/7 support, all for $39.95.
With Iolo System Mechanic Pro, you also get antivirus software with Real-Time Protection, System Shield, and Malware Killer. This costs $54.95.
Finally, there is the Iolo System Mechanic Ultimate Defense option. With this package, add Privacy and Password Manager tools to everything found in the other selections, totaling $63.94.
Note that all three options are essentially 1-year licenses, with annual auto-renewal.
A free trial of Iolo System Mechanic is available, which includes the ActiveCare and DeepClean options.
Payment is via credit card or PayPal, and Iolo System Mechanic has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Iola system mechanic: Features
(Image credit: Iolo)
Iolo System Mechanic boasts several features to help you keep your PC tuned and optimized. However, note that we found the user interface lacked natural intuition, with features hidden behind a non-obvious drop-down menu.
The Performance section of the tool is free to use in the trial version, whereas the Privacy, AntiVirus, and Password Manager tools are only available by upgrading the software.
Deepclean
Included in the Iolo System Mechanic is a cleanup tool that is designed to handle network, browser, operating system, registry, security, and RAM issues. These are grouped under the Deepclean heading in the Performance section and can be worked through, one task at a time.
One feature of this we found particularly useful was the NetBooster for dealing with issues with the PC’s network setup. In this case, the software detected some particularly concerning issues, such as the TCP keep-alive setting and NetBIOS release.
Elsewhere, Iolo System Mechanic can detect and handle 50 different types of junk data and scans your PC relatively quickly. Other tools include a speed booster, which should increase RAM availability and CPU speed. Hard drive checking tools are also included for ensuring smooth gaming and media production.
Repair issues and remove bloatware
Iolo System Mechanic has an ActiveCare feature that can handle 30,000 different issues, aiming to keep your PC fast and performance stable. Meanwhile, the startup programs tool will help you find software that is running without your knowledge – those apps and services that launch with Windows but you don’t know about. Think cloud drives, gaming services, and even weather apps – you can delay when these applications run.
System requirements
Iolo System Mechanic is intended for Windows 11 and will also run on Windows versions 7 to 10. On older systems, ensure your hardware has at least 512MB of RAM (2GB is optimal) and 100MB of hard disk space available.
After installing the software, you will need to submit your email address to access the free trial.
Iola system mechanic: Interface and in use
(Image credit: IoIo)
The user interface is clear, uncluttered, and easy to navigate using the icons. However, it’s a bit annoying that one of the constant recommendations is to upgrade to System Mechanic Ultimate Defense—this also appears on the paid-for version of the software.
Downloading the trial version from iolo's website was fast, and installation only took a few minutes. One unexpected feature of the installation was a popup asking if I wanted to download and use Opera as my default internet browser as an optional offer from iolo.
Iolo system mechanic: Support
(Image credit: IoIo)
While Iolo System Mechanic has enough features to ensure your PC performance gets a boost, there may be occasions when you need help. This might be with the software, or with your subscription.
Iolo maintains a good support page, which greets you with a pleasant “How can we help?” message and search box. There is also a telephone number for 24/7 premium support, although this requires an active license.
On top of this, a knowledge base answers questions on various Iolo-related issues, and there is a dedicated section dealing with Iolo System Mechanics.
Iolo has built a good reputation for customer service and has accumulated a 4.2 score on Trustpilot.
Iola system mechanic: Competition
Plenty of tools are currently on the market that are designed to get the best performance from a Windows PC. They include CCleaner, Ashampoo WinOptimizer, Nero TuneItUp PRO, and AVG TuneUp. How does Iolo System Mechanic compare with these tools?
The most obvious difference is the price. Even the cheapest Iolo System Mechanic option is more expensive than some of these tools. Keeping in mind that CCleaner has a popular free version, you would need a good reason for choosing a paid tool that does the same job. Avoiding this means opting for one of the more expensive Iolo System Mechanic variants if you’re planning to justify an outlay.
While the software is perfectly good at cleaning up PCs and delivering a boost to performance, its price when compared to competing tools offering the same basic functionality is a disadvantage.
Iola system mechanic: Final verdict
Although we were really impressed by the NetBooster feature, overall Iolo System Mechanic is a pretty standard collection of PC optimization tools. There is little else in this collection to set it apart from the competition unless you’re prepared to pay an extra $15. That’s where the password manager, privacy, and anti-virus tools are activated, but they’re not necessary to use the software effectively.
Then there is the issue with the user interface, which feels as though a menu has been moved for design reasons rather than usability. This, and the need to submit an email address to use a trial (very few similar tools require this) count against the suite.
Overall, Iolo System Mechanic cannot offer a decent alternative to CCleaner and the other competition.
