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.
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.
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.
Our latest Duda review takes a deep dive into a new yet unique website builder offering, offering you insight into all the pros, cons, features, and tools, helping you make an informed choice.
Duda comes with a wide range of features including drag-and-drop editing capabilities, access to hundreds of templates and widgets, and an advanced AI. This makes it easier to build attractive websites and manage them at scale without any of the usual hassle.
Wix remains our pick for the top website builder of 2025. But this website builder has been built specifically with professionals in mind, offering agency-level functionality and white labeled tools. This makes it one of the best website builders for agencies and freelancers who want to build great websites for their clients.
Duda: 2-minute review
Duda positions itself as a premium website builder designed specifically for agencies, freelancers, and professional web developers. The platform excels at creating responsive websites that look great across all devices, with particularly strong mobile optimization tools that set it apart from competitors like Wix or Squarespace. Its drag-and-drop editor is intuitive yet powerful, allowing users to create professional websites without coding knowledge while still offering advanced customization options for those who need them.
What makes Duda so appealing to agencies is its comprehensive white-label capabilities and client management features. You can customize the platform with your own branding, give clients controlled access to their sites, and manage multiple projects efficiently. The platform runs on Amazon Web Services hosting, ensuring fast loading times and reliable performance. However, Duda's focus on professional users means it comes with a higher price tag than many competitors, and it lacks the free tier that makes other builders accessible to beginners.
What is Duda?
Duda is a cloud-based website building platform that lets you create professional websites without needing to write code. It provides everything you need to build a website — templates, design tools, hosting, and management features, all in one place.
Instead of hiring a team of web developers who specialize in complex programming, you can use the visual editor to drag and drop elements like text, images, and buttons exactly where you want them.
Duda adjusts your website's layout to look great on any screen size, but it also gives you granular control to customize how your site appears on each device type. It also includes built-in features for online stores, contact forms, photo galleries, and other common website functions.
Features
The Duda App Store lets you easily install apps from over 25 different categories. (Image credit: Duda)
The Duda App Store lets you easily install apps from over 25 different categories. Whether you’re looking for ecommerce tools, membership options, or website personalization options, there's plenty of options to choose from.
In more recent updates Duda has focused on rolling out better connectivity. Connectors are a new category available within the Duda App Store. They allow data transfer between Duda and other platforms such as ERPs, the best CRM software, and more. This allows agencies and freelancers to drastically expand the platforms to which they can connect client sites. Since launch Duda has released integrations with ActiveCampaign, MailChimp, Hubspot, Slack, and Facebook Conversions.
Duda has also added Blog APIs to its library. This addition will help agencies boost productivity by allowing the automatic import and push of blog content not created on the Duda platform to the sites they build. This will be especially useful to agencies using external writers or AI for blog writing.
If you’re running an online store, then you need an ecommerce solution. With Duda, we were able to easily set up an online store with its built-in ecommerce tools. We also took advantage of additional features such as payment processing integration and customer management tools.
Duda also provides membership options so that your customers can access exclusive content on your site. Whether it’s videos or podcasts, your site visitor can register for a paid membership to access this content without needing to leave your site. This is a great way to generate additional revenue for your business while offering your visitors more value.
Creating a website from scratch can take a lot of time and effort – but not with Duda. We were able to create a professional-looking website with Duda’s templates. These templates have been carefully crafted by industry experts so that they look great on any device or browser – regardless of size or resolution. Plus, all templates are fully customizable so that you can make them look exactly how you want them to be.
Mobile devices are becoming increasingly popular among web users – and if your site isn't optimized for mobile devices then it won't be seen by these potential customers. Fortunately, with Duda's mobile-friendly sites feature, creating mobile websites is easier than ever before. Not only does this feature allow visitors to view your site on any device or browser – but it also allows them to take advantage of features such as click-to-call buttons which give visitors direct access to contact information such as phone numbers and addresses right from their phones.
Widgets are small pieces of code snippets that add extra functionality and features to websites without needing any coding knowledge whatsoever. During our test, we were able to create custom widgets with drag-and-drop functionality. This can also be used by beginners to customize their sites in no time at all.
Keeping track of client payments is essential if you're offering services through your website - and luckily with the client billing feature in Duda, we were able to keep track of payments with ease. This feature allows you to easily set up invoicing systems through which you can keep track of clients' payments seamlessly - ensuring that all payments are made promptly and accurately every time.
Tools
Click on an object to be presented with numerous customising options… (Image credit: Duda)
Despite being an AI website builder, Duda offers to its credit a powerful platform that has everything that a small-to-medium design or development agency would need. Here are some standout features that we thought were worth highlighting:
Accessibility
Everyone deserves to experience an accessible website regardless of their disability or technology. With the AudioEye tool, businesses get peace of mind knowing the product they are providing meets WCAG 2.0 AA standards for website accessibility in just a few clicks. Duda’s AudioEye tool allows visitors with visual impairments to access your site’s content in Audio format.
Ecommerce
With the Omni-channel ecommerce tool, you can easily drive sales from both your online stores as well as across the web. All products are synced with the store catalog and managed from one convenient platform.
This feature enables customers to shop from anywhere; whether it’s on a computer or mobile device and pay for purchases seamlessly without ever having to leave your site. This helps create a seamless shopping experience that customers will appreciate and come back for again and again.
Member management
The Simple Member Management & Reporting tool makes it easy for you to manage members directly from the Site Overview tab or the side panel of the editor. You can add, edit or remove members quickly while also keeping track of user interactions such as past purchases and more in one convenient place. This simplifies member management while also giving you valuable insight into how people are interacting with your website so you can adjust accordingly.
White labelling
If you are a web developer or web designer working with clients, then hiding your platform is essential for maintaining credibility and professionalism. With Duda’s white-label website builder & preview tools, you can place your client’s entire site-building process under your brand. That way your customers will never know that you are using Duda until you tell them yourself. This tool also includes preview tools so that your customers can get an accurate view of how their site will look before it goes live.
Dynamic pages
The Dynamic Pages tool is one of Duda’s most powerful tools as it allows you to design a single page once and then use it over and over again for different purposes without having to manually enter new information each time. This tool uses collections of text, images, business information, video, and more to automatically populate pages with relevant data based on user input or preferences. You can even sync these collections with Google Sheets or Airtable for even faster results.
Search engine optimization
Duda also leverages AI to help make creating and growing your website easier. All plans come with access to their AI content assistant, which will automatically generate and edit site content for you. Those on the Team plan and higher also get access to the AI SEO assistant. This tool makes following SEO best practices easy by generating metadata for all site pages in just one click.
Along with AI tools, Duda offers users a powerful SEO overview. This tool provides, at a glance, an overview of your site’s search engine optimization, helping you find and fix issues quickly. It also provides insight into optimization opportunities and delivers a simple way to give clients an up-to-date SEO snapshot. Working behind the scenes, this tool will identify and alert you of any issues with essential SEO requirements including external and internal links, page meta tags, image alt text, etc.
Ease of use
It’s incredibly easy to locate the theme you’d like from Duda’s long list. (Image credit: Duda)
When you start your trial, and after you’ve verified your email address (par for the course these days), you’ll be asked about your business — are you a freelancer, a design agency, are you a web designer, or developer, that sort of thing. You’re then promptly sent to Duda’s template selection.
It’s incredibly easy to locate the theme you’d like from Duda’s long list. It’s even possible to preview its look on any type of device with just a click. Once you’ve found the template that’s right for you business, Duda will start setting it all up for you.
Duda has several features that make it easier for you to build the website you want without having to go through a complex process. For instance, you can drag and drop elements wherever you need them on your site. This makes it easy if you don’t have coding knowledge to add images, videos, and text boxes wherever you need them.
The dashboard is also designed in such a way that makes it easier for you to manage and edit your sites. The tools are all clearly labeled and easy to access – which means you don’t have to waste time figuring out how each tool works or where they’re located in the dashboard. This makes it possible for anyone with no web design experience at all to quickly and easily create a beautiful website that looks professionally done.
All of these features combine in such a way that makes Duda an incredibly user-friendly platform that anyone can use.
Pricing
Duda's pricing structure reflects its positioning as a professional-grade platform. (Image credit: Duda)
Plan
Starting rate (paid annually)
Renewal rate (paid annually)
Basic
$25/month
$12.50/month
Team
$39/month
$19.50/month
Agency
$69/month
$34.50/month
White Label
$199/month
$99.50/month
Custom
Contact for pricing
Contact for pricing
Duda's pricing structure reflects its positioning as a professional-grade platform. It has no free tier but a 14-day free trial to test the service. The Basic plan at $12.50 monthly covers single users building one website, while the Team plan at $19.50 monthly adds collaboration features and white-label client access.
The Agency plan at $34.50 monthly includes four websites and advanced features like widget building, making it ideal for growing web development businesses. For larger agencies, the White Label plan at $99.50 monthly provides enhanced branding options and priority support.
Ecommerce functionality requires separate add-ons regardless of your main plan, with three tiers ranging from $8 to $49 monthly per site. While this initially seems expensive, it actually makes Duda more competitive since you only pay for eCommerce features when you need them. Additional websites beyond your plan's allocation cost extra too.
Support
Duda offers comprehensive and up-to-date information through its Knowledge Base & Documentation section. (Image credit: Duda)
Duda offers comprehensive and up-to-date information through its Knowledge Base & Documentation section. This section contains detailed step-by-step instructions on how to use various features on Duda, as well as frequently asked questions (FAQ) about common issues that may arise when using the platform. Additionally, this page also contains links to other helpful resources such as user guides, tutorials, and videos that can help you get started quickly with your website.
If you require more personal help with your website or need assistance troubleshooting something specific, Duda has you covered in this area too. With live chat, you can get quick answers from knowledgeable customer service representatives when needed. Plus, Duda even offers priority support for businesses that need immediate solutions or have urgent requests for their websites.
In addition to having access to direct customer service representatives via live chat or phone calls, Duda also provides users with access to its online forum and community support networks. This is great for users who are looking for advice from fellow web developers or want to learn from others who may have encountered similar challenges as they work on their websites.
However, it is important to note that the level of support you receive depends on the package you choose. Those on Basic or Team plans can only access support via email, whereas those on the more expensive Agency and White Label plans get full access to priority email, live chat, and phone support.
Security
Duda offers an optional SSL certificate for all websites hosted on its platform. (Image credit: Duda)
Duda offers an optional SSL certificate for all websites hosted on its platform. An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a security protocol that encrypts data sent between a web server and a browser. This ensures that any personal information entered into your website is kept secure and protected from any potential hackers or malicious actors. The SSL certificate also adds an extra layer of protection against data breaches and other cyberattacks.
Finally, Duda also provides a Password Manager feature which allows you to store their passwords securely within the platform itself. This means that even if someone does get access to your account, they won't be able to view or use your passwords unless they have the correct login credentials for the Password Manager. This added layer of security further protects your account from malicious actors looking to gain access without authorization.
Alternatives
Squarespace has an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it simple to design a beautiful website from scratch. Squarespace also offers dozens of templates that can help you get started quickly if you don’t have time to build your site from scratch.
If ease of use is what you're looking for in a website builder, then Wix might be the solution for you. Wix doesn't require any coding knowledge - just point and click. It has hundreds of templates available so you can easily create a stunning website in minutes without having any prior design experience. Additionally, Wix offers powerful features like customizable forms and ecommerce solutions so you can easily manage customer orders on your site.
Duda: Summary
Duda offers a complete package of features that make it easy to build and maintain a website. It includes everything from template designer tools, customization capabilities, content management tools, e-commerce integrations, SEO optimization options, and more. All of these features work together to give you control over how your website looks and functions.
In addition to having lots of features that make it easy to customize your website, Duda also offers several helpful support resources. From getting started tutorials to detailed user guides and FAQs, there are plenty of resources available that can help you design the perfect site for your business or organization in no time.
FAQs
Can I try out Duda before purchasing?
Yes. Duda offers a 14-day free trial with all the features available in the Team plan so that you can play around with the platform and make sure it fits your needs before making any commitment.
Does my website have to be hosted with Duda?
All websites built on the Duda platform are hosted on servers via Amazon Web Services (AWS). This guarantees your sites maintain a 99.999% uptime. However, if you’re on an Agency or Custom plan, you can export code from Duda - but importing code from an external source isn’t allowed.
What CDN does Duda use?
All websites created with Duda are served via Amazon's Cloudfront CDN for lightning-fast loading speeds. This makes sure visitors have quick access to your website no matter where they are located and that your content is delivered quickly and reliably across all devices.
Although not known as a global best web hosting provider FC2 is still a pretty popular blogging host from Japan (think of it as the Japanese version of GeoCities). The company is registered in the US but supposedly run by brothers (Rihiro and Takahashi Takahiro. While it is US based it's clear that this is made for Japanese (or people that can read Japanese) users as even when the language is set to English, Japanese characters still appear making usability somewhat difficult for users not proficient in Japanese.
In November 2024 Rihiro was arrested in Japan for allowing obscene content to be published on the site and together with user decline part of the blogging site was shut down. More information about the shutdown can be found on FC2's post. Websites and web pages without fc2web in the URL should still be operating as expected.
Controversy has followed FC2 through the years, primarily for allowing hosting without putting any restrictions on the content including pornography, piracy and defamation. Fortunately, from 2012 onwards stricter rules have been enforced and the changes in Japanese law regarding the foreign entities operating in Japan have helped the injured parties seek justice.
For those growing up in the early 2000s, FC2’s main website may feel like a walk down the memory lane with its old-school style and somewhat puzzling user experience. Everything seems straightforward at the beginning, but soon enough you might feel like being lost in a maze, faced with dead ends and some pages popping up in Japanese just to confuse you even further.
FC2's blogging site is much more modern than its website page (Image credit: FC2)
Besides English and Japanese, FC2’s website is available in eleven additional languages, although the translation doesn’t appear to be total in some parts. If you click on “Blog” (next to a cute rubber duck), you’ll proceed to FC2 BLOG’s website which is more modern, easier to use and available in all the same languages.
The “About” section of FC2’s website provides a brief overview of FC2’s history that ends in 2013 and fails to mention anything about their servers or data center locations.
Although there is truth in the words that you get what you pay for, since FC2 provides services that are completely free of charge, we’ll have to judge them by other means. With FC2 there aren't multiple web hosting plans to choose from, but rather one plan to rule them all for those looking for a way to create their dream blog without lightening their wallets.
As one would expect, this plan doesn’t provide much, but it does include up to 1GB of web space, one subdomain, unlimited bandwidth, a file manager and editor, support for Java and Flash file types as well for CGI, PHP and SSI. Besides shared hosting, FC2 provides its own website builder, which is (again) absolutely free.
Despite the fact that FC2’s services are free, you can make some pocket money by allowing ads on your blog, although (as of late) you can decide not to allow any advertisements on it.
You'll have to register with FC2 before you begin writing a blog or building a website (Image credit: FC2)
Ease of use
FC2’s site may not be the most intuitive one we’ve seen, but with a little patience you’ll find everything you need to know before creating your website. To start this journey into the unknown, click on the “Free Website” key and proceed to “FC2ID registration” to create your account. Before this, you would probably want to check out the features, read terms of use, some of the beginner-friendly manuals or contact the team behind FC2. However, the latter can be done to make inquiries about three types of issues only: questions about payments, bug reports and special feature requests.
To sign up you’ll be required to enter your e-mail address, pass an image verification and agree to all terms of use. After this, to activate your FC2 account, you’ll have to do a verification via e-mail and (unless a part of your URL broke off, like ours did) you should have no trouble proceeding with the creation of your new account. The next step is to produce a password (by using letters and numbers only), pick out a gender (male or female), choose a security question to which you’ll provide an answer, add your birth date (or any birthday you’ll remember) and a zip code.
This is the FC2 dashboard where you'll manage all of your services (Image credit: FC2)
In a matter of minutes you’ll get another email form FC2 and proceed to their dashboard where you can add some of the free services they provide besides web hosting. These include FC2 Blog (where you’ll find a website builder), FC2 Video (video hosting), FC2 Live, FC2 Analyzer, FC2 Content Market and the list goes on. These and all other aspects of your website can be monitored and managed from your dashboard.
If you would rather use a website builder to create content for your new website, FC2 will provide you with one together with 5000 colorful templates, a photo album feature and an ability to create pay-to-view content. If you already have a blog, you can transfer it from a broad range of sites (WordPress included) to FC2.
If you are wondering about the ads, apart from “Powered by FC2”credited at the bottom end of each page, you won’t be seeing any, unless you chose to add them to make extra money along the way.
We used GTmetrix to measure the uptime and response time of our FC2 site (Image credit: GTmetrix)
Speed and experience
Even though FC2 makes no promises when it comes to speed or performance, after testing their main website we were blown away by the results we received. The latest performance report by GTmetrix (which is our tool of choice) shows first-grade performance of an A (100%), with all of the vital metrics dramatically above the average values. The time it took to fully load the page amounted to 1.5 seconds which looks even better when compared with the average result of 8.2 seconds.
Since FC2 offers no uptime guarantee, we didn’t expect much when we decided to monitor the uptime of their main website via UptimeRobot. One month later we got a report indicating a spotless uptime of 100%. During this period we failed to record any downtime at all and response time, although not ideally fast, was fairly stable. All in all, it appears that neither speed nor uptime should be on your “worry list” when hosting with FC2.
You can find answers to some common questions in FC2's Website Manual (Image credit: FC2)
Support
Having dedicated customer support is definitely not something FC2 can brag about which is understandable considering that their services come at no cost. Since direct channels of support (such as telephone number or live chat) are not an option, you’ll have to find your way using some of the self-help alternatives. The most obvious one is FC2’s “Website Manual” which contains several novice-friendly guides summarizing basic knowledge on how to create your first website. This section functions as the knowledgbase comprising of 26 articles at the time of writing.
A FAQ section is available as well and it features separate sections on various issues (such as registration, file manager, FTP, images, files and so forth) covering most of the essential questions and concerns. There is a comment section at the bottom of the page, however, since some comments have been pending an approval from 2017, we wouldn’t waste our time on that.
The competition
A good alternative to FC2 for those who are looking for free hosting is FreeHostingNoAds, an experienced host with a name that sums it all up. For a free service, FreeHostingNoAds earns a credit for providing a decent range of features (free domain registration, auto-installs for WordPress, Joomla and the CMS Grav, and a simple website builder). However, the bandwidth is limited to 5GB (while with FC2 it’s unlimited), disc space to 1GB (same as with FC2) and the upload file limit is a mere 15MB (it’s 250 KB with FC2), so if you want anything more than a very simple website, look elsewhere.
Infinity Free is considered to be one of the best providers of free hosting and for good reasons. It puts no restrictions on storage space and the number of monthly visits and subdomains. However, in terms of speed and uptime performance, FC2 wins the prize by a long shot. At any rate, since both services are entirely free, you have nothing to lose but your time.
Although HostGator doesn’t offer free hosting in itself, with their generous 45-days money-back guarantee you are free to try out what they have to offer without worrying about your budget. In addition to this, HostGator is very user-friendly (especially towards beginners), while FC2 users are primarily left to fend for themselves.
Another good beginner-friendly choice is Bluehost which (much like HostGator) doesn’t offer free hosting but still provides user-friendly experience with 24/7 customer support, a myriad of options and features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. FC2, although quite suitable for those who are just learning how to build their online presence, won’t give your website much space to grow and prosper.
Final verdict
As a rule, even the best free web hosting comes with a certain number of limitations. Such is the case with FC2, although they can supply everything that is essential for a personal blog, and a website builder with which you can build your website without much hassle. It is even possible to earn a bit of cash on the side, that is, if you don’t have an aversion to ads.
With all that said, if you are a first-timer who wants a helping hand, or a veteran webmaster wanting more than an absolute minimum, you’ll be better off choosing HostGator or Bluehost as your hosting provider. Their services don’t come free-of-charge, but will provide you with much more.
Those using a laptop as their primary computing platform can sometimes need more screen space, and bringing a monitor from the office isn’t always a practical exercise.
The espresso Display 15 is, as the name implies, a 15-inch display that’s designed to work with a single USB-C cable connection to a laptop or mini PC.
It has a magnetically attached stand and a 1m USB-C cable but no power supply. The makers also sell a range of accessories, including a battery power pack, a Pro stand, case, mount, and screen protectors. The makers also make an HDMI to USB-C adapter cable for those who don’t have Thunderbolt or USB-C, which supports DisplayPort Alt Mode.
The caveat of a thin and elegantly engineered display is that, for a 15-inch 1080p resolution display, it isn’t especially cheap, and to keep it so svelte, the designer left out lots of features, like speakers.
It also has no on-screen menu, no power button, or brightness controls. The only external features are two USB-C ports, enabling the espresso Display 15 to be externally powered or take power from the connected computer.
The minimalist approach of this design will either be exactly what you want or a major hindrance, depending on how you intend to use the screen. For those who need a portable monitor for presenting on the road or more display space, the espresso Display 15 has some potential if the price isn’t a showstopper.
espresso Display 15: Price and availability
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
How much does it cost? $299/£259/€299
When is it out? It available now, but can be out of stock
Before we get into the pricing, it’s worth noting that espresso Display 15 was out of stock for US, UK, EU, and Australian customers directly from espresso when I last looked.
Hopefully, it will come back into stock soon since it’s evidently a popular choice.
When that happens, it might also be available on Amazon.
Also not currently available is a bundle where the monitor comes with a cover.
The snag for espresso is that much cheaper options exist for those who don’t specifically want a display with aerospace engineering and a magnetically attached stand.
As an example, Arzopa has a 15.6-inch 1080p portable monitor with HDMI and USB-C inputs for only $65 on Amazon.com. It might not be made to the same exacting standards as the espresso model, but at 20% of the price, it’s certainly an option.
Even better-known brands like Lenovo and its L15 portable display are only asking $170 for a similarly specified portable display. Asus also has a ZenScreen 16” option that’s only $109.
Therefore, the espresso Display 15 is pitched at those who are happy to pay a steep premium to have something of exceptional quality.
Value: 2.5 / 5
espresso Display 15: Specs
espresso Display 15: Design
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Simple design
Magnetic stand
No speakers
The espresso Display 15 is an exercise in minimalism. But, and this is much of the pleasure of this hardware, it does make you question why monitors are festooned with buttons and controls.
Being only 5.3mm thick, this sandwich of 6H hardness glass, LCD electronics and anodised aluminium projects the level of engineering that went into its design and manufacturing.
The front has a 34mm deep metal tide line on the bottom edge with the espresso logo on the left corner. While such a thick border on most monitors might be considered less ergonomic, it provides a layer that should raise the screen slightly if it rests on a desktop.
The rear of the panel is entirely metal, and it needs to be for the Stand+ component that comes with the espresso 15 to work. This curious structure has a hinged mechanism that can be used in a number of ways, and in its most expanded form, it can raise the screen to 245mm from the desk surface.
The connection between the two parts is via neodymium magnets, enabling the display to be repositioned easily and quickly reoriented to portrait mode. My only reservation about this connection method is that the 765g of the display can cause some sliding if the panel is knocked, mostly due to how smooth the rear surface is.
It’s interesting to note that espresso makes a Pro stand that is not jointed, and its extra rigidity might help prevent the screen from being accidentally moved. It also makes a magnetic mount for VESA attachment to a conventional display arm, but espresso didn’t include either of these accessories with our monitor.
Having a magnetically attached support is a slight departure from the norm, but this monitor doesn’t have any external controls whatsoever, and the only edge-mounted features are two USB-C ports.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The logic behind the two USB-C ports is to allow either the PSU of a laptop to power both the espresso 15 and the laptop that’s connected by one port. Or, to provide a means to independently power the monitor and still attach it, something that would be necessary if the optional HDMI to USB-C cable were used.
There is no power button, as it’s assumed that if you connect the screen to a system, it will be used. I’m fine with that, but I’m less convinced that this monitor has no OSD and no manual means to adjust the brightness. It can be adjusted using a free-to-download application, but that’s not very useful if you don’t use Windows or Mac OS.
Another gotcha is that the screen doesn’t have any speakers, not even the horrible small ones that sound like they’ve been made from tiny foil pie tins.
I’d accept that if speakers had been included, they probably wouldn’t be any better than those in a laptop, but if you use this screen with a TV streaming box, you may be forced to use headphones to hear anything.
Even if espresso mentions that this screen will work with computers, phones and tablets, the omission of speakers does hint that it was made specifically for laptop use, even if I found it ideal for mini-computers that typically don’t have speakers.
Putting aside some odd design choices and idiosyncrasies, the espresso 15 is still a desirable portable display, and the quality of the engineering in it is impressive.
Design: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
espresso Display 15: Performance
Great contrast
98% sRGB
Before discussing the results of a display analysis, I should mention that testing this monitor proved truly annoying, mostly because it doesn’t have an OSD, and the only way to adjust screen brightness was via the espressoFlow application.
Given that the Datacolor Spyder X2 Elite calibration application we used is designed to be full screen, and the espressoFlow application doesn’t show brightness percentages, the display analysis proved to be an absolute nightmare to perform.
Windows 11 didn’t help much either. If you use the brightness controls of the laptop, they only apply to the built-in screen and not an external one, even if the external display is the only one in use.
The quoted specifications for the display are that it is 300 nits, is 100% RGB, and has a contrast ratio of 1000:1. While the maximum brightness was slightly less than expected, the contrast was better than predicted, and the gamut representation was almost exactly right.
It’s not nearly colourful enough for a professional designer, but for a portable monitor, the gamut range is decent, and the colour is reasonably accurate.
One area that might have been better was the luminance uniformity, where it was distinctly darker at the bottom of the display than at the top. However, this might have been the direct result of some of the brightness control issues I’ve mentioned, as colour uniformity was good.
Overall, this is a good quality display for IPS technology. It might have been brighter, and the screen less glossy to reduce reflections, but compared with many portable monitors, it delivered on more of its maker’s promises than were flunked.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Performance: 4 / 5
espresso Display 15: Final verdict
Testing this hardware revealed that the extra cost over a lesser brand option might be worth it if you want image clarity and punchy colours. However, the cost difference is substantial, and with portable items, long-term durability might also be worth considering.
While I found the lack of brightness controls an issue for testing, for others who can use the provided application to make adjustments more easily, its omission isn’t a showstopper.
The omission of speakers might be more of a problem in some contexts, but again, you can get external speakers that use the audio jack or Bluetooth inexpensively.
Given that the Stand+ is half a kilogram of metal, you might also want to budget for the display cover to keep the two items from moving against each other in transit.
That increases an already high price, possibly pushing it beyond what some customers might consider reasonable. That said, the touch version of this display is another $200, so in the greater scheme of espresso displays, this hardware is as inexpensive as it goes.
I’m saying it’s worth that price, but getting the expense through accounts might be an entirely different problem for those who want one- when it eventually comes back into stock.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
espresso Display 15: Report card
Should you buy a espresso Display 15?
(Image credit: espresso)
Buy it if...
You need different orientations Due to the magnetically connected support, it is easy to switch from landscape to portrait and back again with this display. If you load the espressoFlow software, the computer should sense the change in orientation from the monitor.
You need colour accuracy This monitor offers decent colour accuracy for a portable display, although it’s not at the level that a professional working with colour would want. But, if you can avoid direct sunlight, this is a good screen for doing close-up presentations, delivering punchy colours and excellent contrast.
Don’t buy if...
You travel light and need a second screen When the weight of the display and Stand+ are combined, the total weight is 1330g, excluding the cable or a cover. That’s an extra weight above whatever the laptop mass is to be lugging around. Portable monitors that don’t use glass and metal weigh less, but lack the resilience of this one.
You have a laptop without USB-C or HDMI It is possible to drive the espresso 15 directly with USB-C from the PC without other cables, but if you use HDMI, you need to have a USB port that can deliver 15W or an external power source. Connecting this monitor without an HDMI or USB-C port (or Thunderbolt 3/4) is impossible.
This Jimdo review examines an AI website builder that's designed specifically for people who've never built a site before. The Hamburg-based company has been helping users create websites since 2007, focusing on simplicity over advanced features. While our best website builders guide features more powerful options, Jimdo carves out its own niche in the beginner market.
TechRadar reviewers have spent thousands of hours testing 140+ website builders, giving us deep insight into what works and what doesn't. Jimdo stands out to our team for its straightforward approach, though it can't match the versatility of our top pick Wix, which offers far more templates and advanced features. Jimdo's new AI-driven setup process makes it incredibly accessible, but this simplicity comes with trade-offs in customization and scalability.
Our testing reveals that Jimdo works best for solo entrepreneurs and very small businesses who need something online fast. The platform's "paint-by-numbers" approach keeps things simple but may frustrate users as their needs grow.
Jimdo: 2-minute review
Jimdo earns a solid 3.5 out of 5 rating as a beginner-focused website builder that prioritizes ease of use over advanced functionality. The platform's standout feature is its AI-powered setup process, which can build a basic website by asking you a few simple questions about your business or personal needs. This makes it incredibly accessible for first-time website creators who might feel overwhelmed by more complex builders.
Still, Jimdo's simplicity comes with significant limitations as your needs grow. With only 16 templates available and no way to preview them before committing, design options feel more restrictive than most competitors. The platform caps e-commerce stores at just 100 products and supports only Stripe and PayPal for payments, making it unsuitable for larger online businesses. Founded in 2007 by three German entrepreneurs, Jimdo has built a reputation for helping over 25 million users get online, but it hasn't kept pace with more feature-rich competitors in the website building space.
What is Jimdo?
Jimdo is a no-code builder that lets you create professional-looking websites without writing code or having technical skills. It comes with pre-made website templates and an easy drag-and-drop system, kind of like how you might arrange furniture in a room with a floor planning app. The platform is known for its acessible AI assistant, which can build a basic website for you by asking simple questions.
This company offers two main ways to build your site: AI-powered generation that does most of the work for you, and a hands-on editor where you can customize things yourself within certain limits. Instead of overwhelming beginners with hundreds of options, Jimdo keeps things simple by giving you fewer choices but making those choices very easy to implement. This works well if you want to get online quickly without fussing over every design detail.
Features
Answer a few question and Jimdo will create a template website for you (Image credit: Jimdo)
With Jimdo’s professional domain feature, I was able to get my own domain name for my website all in minutes. Having a custom domain name helps build trust with my customers, making them feel more comfortable when they visit my website.
The multiple pages feature of Jimdo let me create a lot pages on my site so that visitors can learn more about the products and services I offer on my test site. This helps me make sure that visitors see all the best parts of my business at once instead of having to search around for various pieces of information. This also means they’re more likely to stay on the page longer and take action - like signing up for a newsletter or buying something from my site. Jimdo makes it easy for me to optimize my website for Google searches so that more people can find me online. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to improve my ranking on Google so that I can drive even more traffic to the site.
Jimdo also offer GDPR-compliant legal pages feature. With this feature, all of my legal pages like imprint, privacy policy, terms & conditions are now covered by trusted shops guarantee - giving me peace of mind knowing everything is taken care of properly.
Tools
Your editing options are quite rudimentary (Image credit: Jimdo)
Jimdo provides a focused set of tools designed to get beginners online without overwhelming them with options. The platform emphasizes simplicity over comprehensive functionality, making it easy to understand what each tool does.
AI website builder
Jimdo's standout feature is its AI-powered website creation tool that builds sites automatically based on your answers to simple questions. The system asks about your business type, goals, and preferences, then creates a customized website complete with relevant content and design elements. You can even connect your social media profiles to help the AI better understand your brand and populate your site with appropriate content.
Drag-and-drop editor
The platform offers a visual editor that lets you modify your website by dragging elements around the page, though within the constraints of your chosen template. You can add new sections, change colors and fonts, and rearrange content blocks, but you're limited to the structure and elements provided by Jimdo. This "paint-by-numbers" approach prevents design mistakes but restricts creative freedom.
Ecommerce tools
Jimdo includes basic online store functionality that supports up to 100 products with features like product variants and manual stock updates. The platform handles essential e-commerce needs including flat-rate shipping calculations and integrates with Stripe and PayPal for payment processing. However, the limited product capacity and basic shipping tools make it suitable only for very small online stores.
SEO and analytics
The platform provides beginner-friendly SEO tools that help optimize your site for search engines without requiring technical knowledge. Basic analytics features let you track website performance and visitor engagement, while mobile optimization ensures your site works well on all devices. The SEO guidance is straightforward but lacks the advanced features needed for competitive markets.
Ease of use
Build your website using blocks (Image credit: Jimdo)
Jimdo has a very straightforward approach to website building. As we mentioned before, it offers two options: an AI-powered setup that builds your site for you, and a traditional drag-and-drop editor for those who need more hands-on control.
If you opt for the AI assistant, it begins by asking simple questions about your business type, goals, and industry, then automatically generates a website with content and design elements. This takes minutes and eliminates the intimidation factor that often scares beginners away.
But even the drag-and-drop UI maintains this simplicity throughout the editing process. You can smoothly transition between editing specific pages and adjusting overall site design — without getting lost in complex menus. Everything's clean and intuitive, though you're working within the constraints of your chosen template rather than with complete creative freedom.
While this "paint-by-numbers" approach prevents mistakes, it also means you can't break free from predetermined layouts and structures. With only about 16 dated templates available, that can be limiting. But the platform does include features like mobile responsiveness built into all templates, free SSL certificates ,and 24/7 backups for enhanced security.
Pricing
Jimdo offers a free plan to get you started. (Image credit: Jimdo)
Plan
Starting rate (paid annually)
Renewal rate (paid annually)
Free
$0
$0
Start
$11.00
$11.00
Grow
$18.00
$18.00
Unlimited
$45.00
$45.00
Basic (Ecommerce)
$18.00
$18.00
Business (Ecommerce)
$22.00
$22.00
VIP (Ecommerce)
$45.00
$45.00
Jimdo offers a free plan to get you started. Unsurprisingly, this plan is pretty limited and requires you to use a .jimdosite.com domain. However, this is a great option if you are just creating a hobby website or looking to test some of the Jimdo features before committing to pay.
To get rid of on-site ads and connect a custom domain, you will need to go for the Start plan. This plan is still a little simplistic but does offer you everything you need to create a professional website, so it is ideal for startups, freelancers, and more serious hobbyists.
If you want to really grow your website, the aptly named Grow plan could be for you. You get everything from the Start plan along with tools for Search Engine Optimization (SEO), visitor statistics, and personalized support (within 4 hours).
Online stores have three plans to pick from: Basicm, Business, or VIP. Business gives you all the ecommerce basics such as the ability to add product variants, social media marketing, and social selling tools. VIP takes this one step further, offering unlimited storage and professional design review.
Security
Jimdo takes security seriously with measures that protect both website owners and their visitors (Image credit: Jimdo)
Jimdo takes security seriously with measures that protect both website owners and their visitors. The platform automatically provides SSL certificates for all websites, ensuring data transmission is encrypted using HTTPS protocols. All financial transactions are secured through PCI DSS certification from the international PCI Security Standards Council, guaranteeing that payment processing meets the highest industry standards.
The company hosts its services on AWS Cloud data centers in Ireland that maintain ISO 27001 and SOC2 certifications, with strict access controls requiring multi-factor authentication and encrypted VPN connections for internal system access.
Beyond basic encryption, Jimdo employs multiple layers of protection including AES-256 encryption for data storage and communication, automated DDoS attack mitigation through Cloudflare partnership, and regular penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.
The platform participates in a Vulnerability Disclosure Program that allows security researchers to safely test and report potential weaknesses. Daily automated backups ensure data recovery capabilities, while malware protection helps prevent security breaches.
Jimdo's professional security team also continuously monitors systems and updates security patches, backed by comprehensive emergency and recovery plans that are tested periodically.
Support
Need help? This knowledgebase could sort you out (Image credit: Jimdo)
The first method for getting assistance from Jimdo is submitting a ticket. This can be done directly on the website, under the “Help” tab located in the navigation bar at the top right side of every page.
Once you click this tab, you will see an option that says “Submit A Ticket” which allows you to fill out a form with all of your relevant information including your name, e-mail address, type of inquiry (such as technical issue or billing question), and additional comments if needed. Once this form has been completed and submitted, you will be able to track your ticket status online in order to find out when it has been answered.
The second method for getting assistance from Jimdo is accessing its help center which can also be found under the “Help” tab.
In the help center you will find helpful guides on topics such as setting up your website, managing content, design features, SEO optimization, ecommerce features, and much more. The help center also contains frequently asked questions along with step-by-step tutorials in order to make sure that you are getting answers quickly and accurately. It should be noted that only paid plans have access to priority support from Jimdo’s customer service team via email; free plans must rely on submitting tickets or accessing the help center for assistance.
Alternatives
One of the main competitors of Jimdo is Wix. Wix offers a comprehensive set of tools to help you build and manage your website quickly and easily. Its drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to customize your site and add media, while its range of themes allows you to create a professional-looking site without having any coding skills.
Weebly is another popular website builder that is often compared with Jimdo. Weebly has an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and hundreds of templates that make it easy to customize your site. It also offers features like built-in analytics, ecommerce tools, and support for multiple languages.
Squarespace is another great alternative to Jimdo if you want an easy way to build and manage a beautiful website. It has a modern interface with plenty of features designed for businesses who want their sites look professional and polished. Squarespace also offers powerful blogging tools, as well as integrated ecommerce features if you plan on selling products or services online.
Jimdo: Summary
Jimdo is a good choice for businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform with plenty of powerful features at an affordable price point. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and comprehensive suite of tools and services, it was the perfect fit for my business - and could be just right for yours too! So if you’re looking for a website platform that will give your business a leg up without breaking the bank, then definitely consider checking out Jimdo.
All these factors add up to make it one of the best small business website builders on the market - although with some more advanced tools, businesses of any size could benefit from using the Jimdo website builder.
FAQs
What are the disadvantages of using Jimdo?
One of the first things I found out about Jimdo was the priority email support is only available to paid plan users. This could be a problem if you have questions or issues and need help from customer service quickly.
Another downside of using Jimdo is that it is limited in customization, which could be an issue if you want to get creative with your website design.
Is Jimdo free to use?
Yes, Jimdo offers you a free plan that you can use to build a website without any cost. However, this plan is limited, for example you cannot connect a custom domain, you only get 500 MB of storage, 2 GB of bandwidth, and you don’t get access to customer support. You will also have ads displayed on your website.
A free website builder can be a great way to test a platform or get a hobby online, but it will rarely offer the level of functionality needed to create a professional presence online.
Can I use my own domain name on a Jimdo website?
Yes, Jimdo allows you to connect a custom domain to your website on all plans. You can also purchase your domain directly through the Jimdo platform, making the process quick and easy.
However, if you opt for the free plan, you will not be able to connect your own domain. Instead, you will be allocated a ‘.jimdosite.com’ for your site.
Is Jimdo reliable?
After building my website on Jimdo, I can confidently say that it is reliable. The user-interface was intuitive and easy-to-use, making the entire process smooth and straightforward. The templates were also visually appealing and had useful features like galleries and contact forms integrated into them.
Moonfruit is a popular website builder service, whose options are a little more basic than some of the competition, with the company offering only a small number of responsive templates. Still, these can be customised by tweaking individual details or dragging and dropping full content blocks. Your pages can include image galleries, forms, maps, social feeds, embedded videos and more.
Moonfruit's Basic plan gets you a single site with 500MB of storage, unlimited pages, but no specific bandwidth limits. Even though it costs £6.38 ($9.59) a month, this still includes Moonfruit branding.
Moonfruit's Professional plan loses the ads, thankfully. It supports up to five sites, a maximum of 10GB storage, and gives you a free domain voucher. As we write, the Professional plan looks to be good value at £5.39 ($6.99) a month, but this is a "limited offer". Normally it's a more average £10.79 ($13.99). It must be noted however that this “limited offer” has been available for nearly three years as far as we can tell.
Back in January 2018, two further plans, Ecommerce Lite and Ecommerce Pro, were listed as "coming soon". Neither of these are present since at least January 2020.
Moonfruit offers a free 14-day trial, and even if you sign up after that, the company says it will refund your money if you cancel within 14 days. This isn't automatic – you must ask the support team via live chat – and if you've registered a domain through the plan, that cost will be deducted. But overall, the Moonfruit policy is much like any other, and you should have no difficulty getting a refund, if you need one.
Creating your Moonfruit account is easy, and works much like most other services: enter your email, a username and password, or sign up directly using your Facebook or Google accounts. Follow up by choosing your preferred Moonfruit subdomain (yourname.moonfruit.com) and once you’ve verified your email address, you're taken directly to the editor, which almost looks like a blank page.
There’s a section for the Header, one for the Footer, and a middle section to design your page. But where are all the elements you need to start building? If you're hoping for an instant site you can modify and use right away, there's a good chance you'll be disappointed.
There’s a sidebar to the left which reveals options to add more pages to your site, insert new sections to an existing page, and an upload feature to include files to your site.
In the Settings section, you can add a favicon (the small icon that represents your site in a browser tab), and images that would appear on Facebook when your site is shared there. There are also built-in options to connect your site with Google Analytics and Google Search Console, potentially giving you much more information about your website and its visibility on Google.
Drag a template section to your page and you’re ready to start customising (Image credit: Moonfruit)
Editor
The closest to templates we could find were in the sidebar’s ‘Sections’. From there you’re offered a long list of thumbnails. Being tiny, they’re not that easy to see and don’t even zoom in when you click on one to offer you a better idea of what you’re choosing.
There are eye-catching Hero sections (an important element to highlight a key feature of the site), page bodies in various styles, navigation tools, and layout sections which organise your content in various column formats.
Drag one you like to the main section of your blank site. It’s then ready for you to customise.
There’s a good number of elements you can add to your page (Image credit: Moonfruit)
Some website builders impress you immediately with their flashy visuals and depth of features. Moonfruit, well – not so much. We’ve already explored the left sidebar, but now that you’ve added a template to your page, clicking on any element reveals a contextual menu on the right, as well as a few buttons at the top of your selected element.
These buttons are there for quick edits and shortcuts: Copy, Duplicate, Delete, and a Help button which opens the support page for that object type. There are undo and redo buttons top right of the page, and you can save the project whenever you like.
The contextual menu on the right changes its options depending on what’s selected. Click on a text box for instance and you get Text, Position, Background, Links, Outline, and Animation. Select an image instead, and those are replaced by Link, Settings, Position and Animation.
The animation options can be fun (Image credit: Moonfruit)
Clicking on any of these menus reveals the parameters that can be changed. We particularly liked the Animation options as they give your page a bit of visual flair which can be fun.
Prior to adding a template to your page, the left Sidebar’s Elements section was greyed out. But now, you can select it and see all options available to you.
You’re able to drag new objects to your page via that menu: text, images, galleries, buttons, video (YouTube, Vimeo), music (Spotify, SoundCloud), Google services (Maps, Search, Calendar), social media elements (Facebook pages, comments and likes, Twitter feeds, Instagram, Pinterest and more), and a good range of form-related services that includes Wufoo, Google Forms and Moonfruit's own form objects.
Some basic edits are still very straightforward. Not happy with that button caption? Double-click it, type a new one, press Enter. You can edit the contents of text boxes in much the same way, including changing text styles and colours, inserting lists and adding links.
Moonfruit limits the customisations you can apply to many page objects. You can't manually resize, or drag-and-drop a button, for instance. The most you can do is set it to align to the left, right or centre of the page, and to size it automatically, or to set the width to a percentage of the page.
But on the plus side, the editor does have many integrated ways to tweak each object. Even a simple button allows customising text style, size, colour, hover colour, button shape, border style, link type and destination (new or same window).
Whatever changes you make can be previewed at any time in desktop, tablet or mobile views.
Image editing capabilities are extremely poor (Image credit: Moonfruit)
Media
Moonfruit's media handling abilities are much like the rest of the service – they cover the basics, but don't have quite the power or customisation options you're likely to want.
Add a single image, for instance, and you can't precisely resize or position it. Image editing features are restricted to settings for brightness, contrast and saturation. Even those are only available in limited 25% increments from 0% to 200%,
You can add an image gallery to your page and have a few basic options at your disposal (Image credit: Moonfruit)
An Image Gallery control supports filmstrip, gallery and slideshow views. There are a few tweaks – enable or disable autoplay, set various arrow styles – but nothing to set your design world alight.
Video support is limited to embedding single YouTube or Vimeo clips. There's no video wall or anything more complex, although we did find one interesting option in the menus: you can set the background of any element to a stock or YouTube video.
Audio support is a little more capable, with the ability to embed Spotify playlists or SoundCloud content.
Bonus options include the ability to embed Instagram and Pinterest content, as well as PhotoSnack slideshows, and an HTML Snippet option may allow you to use content from some other sites.
While this will cover simple websites, other builders give you much more. Moonfruit does provide a decent file manager for managing your content. Upload website images and you can organise them into folders, view them as grids or lists, and sort your media by name, size, or age (the newest first, or oldest). Files can then be added directly to images boxes or galleries without having to re-upload them every time.
Blogging and e-commerce
Moonfruit doesn’t offer any type of blogging features. There is an Element designed to integrate a WordPress.com blog though. Essentially, you must create and manage your blog on WordPress.com (which you can do for free), and the Moonfruit widget simply displays the URL of that blog in a box on your site.
This approach works in the most basic of ways, but it doesn't look great, and not being able to manage the blog and website together could make your life more complicated. Even something as basic as coordinating the images and colour schemes of both sites will take some time and thought.
Moonfruit also has no e-commerce solution. Not even a PayPal button.
Support
Moonfruit provides a web knowledgebase where you can search for details on any part of the service. It's always accessible from a Help icon within the editor, or you can browse it at any time from help.moonfruit.com.
We moved on to explore Moonfruit's knowledgebase, anyway. This has a reasonable number of articles, but they're generally short and lacking in detail.
Confusingly, the knowledgebase covers the same topics for both Moonfruit's old editor and the new one, so most keywords will return a lot of articles that won't help you. Worse still, the site doesn't clearly explain which is which, beginning some titles with 'V6', others with 'Responsive Editor', and hoping users will guess correctly.
('Responsive Editor' is the latest of the two, and yes, that would have been our first guess, too. But we shouldn't have to guess at all, and at the very least, all V6 articles should now have a top line explaining that they refer to the old editor, not the current one, making it clear to everyone what's going on.)
It can be confusing since the older ‘V6’ editor had blogging features, and even years after upgrading to ‘responsive’, those instructions are still there even though blogging is no longer supported. Talk about confusing your customers.
Final verdict
Moonfruit is a basic website builder which currently lags well behind the competition in terms of power, features, ease of use, support, visual appeal and just about everything else.
