SimpleSite Review | Should We Utilize This Website Builder
By Sam Nguyen
Key Takeaways
- SimpleSite is easy for beginners and works well on mobile devices. The platform offers guided step-by-step website creation and mobile editing.
- While SimpleSite lacks advanced features and design options, it’s a playful choice for simple websites.
This article will give you an overall review of the SimpleSite website builder, including its features, pricing, customer support, and other crucial information. Let’s dive right in!
SimpleSite Review: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
SimpleSite Review: Ease Of Use
First, we’ll explore just how easy it is to create stunning websites using their platform. Let’s delve into the top three reasons SimpleSite stands out regarding user-friendliness:
Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Editor
Creating your dream website shouldn’t feel like solving a puzzle. SimpleSite’s drag-and-drop editor takes the hassle out of website design. You don’t need to be a tech whiz to use it—simply select elements like text, images, and videos and effortlessly place them where you want.
It’s as simple as dragging a photo into a folder on your computer. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your website takes shape, all thanks to this user-friendly feature.
Pre-Made Templates that Work
SimpleSite offers a collection of pre-made templates that are visually appealing and incredibly functional.
Choose a template that resonates with your style and goals, and watch as your website transforms with just a few clicks. You can customize colors, fonts, and more to match your brand, giving your site a personal touch without the headache.
Guided Step-by-Step Process
Sometimes, starting a new project can make you feel overwhelmed. That’s where SimpleSite truly shines. From signing up, SimpleSite will take you on a guided journey. The platform breaks down the process of creating a website into easy-to-follow steps.
Whether adding pages, uploading media, or tweaking the layout, the clear instructions keep you on track. It’s like having a patient mentor with you, ensuring your website-building experience is smooth and stress-free.
Whether starting a personal blog, showcasing your portfolio, or launching a small business site, SimpleSite proves that creating a professional and visually appealing website doesn’t have to be complicated.
To summarize, if you’re seeking a website builder that prioritizes simplicity without sacrificing quality, SimpleSite is a standout choice.
SimpleSite Review: Design & Themes
Creating your website with SimpleSite might be simple, but what about how it looks? The design of your site comes as a trade-off for the easy editor. Let’s dig into the design and themes of SimpleSite and see what it’s all about.
Old-fashioned Designs with Limited Customization
SimpleSite’s designs might not win any awards. They come across as old-fashioned and don’t offer a lot of room for customization. Unlike other builders that let you choose from various templates, SimpleSite takes a different route.
Themes and Structure
If you pick “personal/blog” or “other,” you’ll be handed a preset piece to work with. If you opt for “business,” you can choose from a few themes. It’s strange because you can specify your business type but not if your personal site is a blog, portfolio, or something else.
Choosing “Business” for more options
Go with the “business” option lets you explore all the themes available and find one that suits you. Once you have your theme, customization is possible but pretty basic.
Easy adding, tough editing
Adding stuff like text and images is a breeze on SimpleSite. But if you need to edit or move them around later, that’s where the challenge comes. It’s a bit like building with Playmobil – it is easy to make something good-looking, but you’re following the rules.
Switching Layouts, not Themes
You can change your site’s layout after it’s live, but you can’t completely switch to a new theme. Think of it like getting creative with Playmobil sets – you can change things around, but you’re still working within certain boundaries.
The Verdict
SimpleSite is like the Playmobil of website builders – it’s easy to build something that looks nice, but you’re sticking to the plan. Builders like Wix and Squarespace are more like Lego – still simple for beginners but with more freedom and creativity for impressive results.
If you’re okay with some design limitations and want an easy ride, SimpleSite’s design might be just your thing. But if you want more design freedom, you might want to explore other options.
SimpleSite Review: Pricing
The next thing you may care about is pricing. SimpleSite has three plans for you to pick from Starter, Pro, and E-Commerce. No matter which plan you choose, some cool things come with all of them:
- 3 months of free hosting: To help you get started, all SimpleSite’s plans give you a free trial period for hosting your website. It’s like a test drive for your site!
- Free website builder: With every plan, you get SimpleSite’s website builder for free. It’s super easy to use and helps you create your excellent website.
- Free Google Ads credit: With Google Ads, you can grow your website’s traffic. And when you sign up, you get one month free to try it out.
- 24/7 support: SimpleSite support team is here for you around the clock, every single day of the year. Friendly help whenever you need it.
- Free SSL certificate: All SimpleSite’s plans have a free SSL certificate. This means your website is safe and secure from day one.
- Web stats: With SimpleSite, you can get insights about your visitors and how they explore your site.
You can learn more about SimpleSite’s plan by the comparison below:
Starter plan
The Starter plan is like your website’s first steps. It’s simple and affordable for merchants to start using SimpleSite from the beginning You can build your site with a desktop and mobile editor. However, you will be limited to 5 pages, and you can only use standard templates. It’s a good start if you want to dip your toes into the website world, but you might feel boxed in if you’re thinking bigger.
Pro plan
The Premium plan takes things up a level. You get the same desktop and mobile editor, but now you have the freedom of unlimited published pages. Users can take advantage of the fancy templates, and faster loading times are on the menu, too. Plus, you get free images and support for high-definition pictures. There’s even a backup and restore feature. It’s like getting the deluxe burger with extra toppings. If you’re serious about your site and can spend more, this plan might suit you well.
E-Commerce plan
If selling stuff is your thing, the E-Commerce plan is your jam. It’s like getting the whole bakery. You get everything from the Premium plan – unlimited pages, fancy templates, speedy loading – plus some sweet extras.
Think Google Analytics and FB Pixel to track your visitors and an online shop feature to start selling your products. It’s like opening a store online without the fuss. But remember, if you’re planning a mega-store, you might need a more extensive shopping cart.
Which SimpleSite plan suits your needs?
After checking out SimpleSite’s pricing, here’s the scoop: If you’re testing the waters and just want a small site, the Starter plan might be your starting line.
The Premium plan adds a bunch of excellent toppings for your website sundae, and it’s worth the extra pennies if you’re diving into the website world.
But, if you plan to set up shop, the E-Commerce plan is your storefront key. Just remember, like picking a dish at a restaurant, you need to choose the plan that matches your hunger for a fantastic website without emptying your wallet.
SimpleSite Review: Main Features
In this section, let’s explore some of SimpleSite’s standout features; maybe these features can fit your needs!
Generous Ecommerce
One of SimpleSite’s standout features is its e-commerce capability. Even on the free plan, you can sell up to five products – a rare deal. But here’s the catch: If you’re planning a full-fledged online store, SimpleSite might not give you all the tools you need to manage it properly.
For unlimited products, you’d need to shell out for the most expensive E-Commerce plan, which could be better spent on platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce.
On-the-Go Mobile Optimization
With SimpleSite, you can easily edit your website using your mobile phone. No need to download apps or struggle with plugins – just a few taps on your phone or tablet and you’re all set to make changes.
It’s like having a mini website editor in your pocket. So, whether at home or out and about, you can keep your site looking great without hassle.
Imagine this: You’re sitting in a park, sipping your favorite drink, and suddenly, you get a burst of inspiration to update your website. With SimpleSite’s mobile editor, you can do just that. Whether at home, in a coffee shop, or waiting for a friend, you can change your website on the spot.
Professional Email Addresses
When buying a domain through SimpleSite, you score 5 personalized email addresses. Say goodbye to the generic yourname@hotmail.com – now it is contact@yourdoamain.com.
A professional email address linked to your domain name gives your business a more credible and trustworthy image. Besides, domain emails help in branding. Every time you send an email, you’re promoting your website and brand.
In short, if you plan to build a professional online business, consider this type of email.
SEO
SEO is a big step in marketing your business, and getting your site noticed on Google is important. Unfortunately, SimpleSite’s SEO tools fall short compared to other builders like Squarespace or Weebly. If you’re aiming for top Google ranks, SimpleSite might not suit it.
When you consider SEO and SEM, you should consider WordPress or Shopify. These CMSs allow you to manage more SEO tasks, making your site more friendly to customers and search engines.
App Market
SimpleSite doesn’t offer an app market, so you’re limited to its built-in features. Unlike other website builders like Squarespace and Shopify, which come with top-quality features, SimpleSite’s offerings might be lacking.
We recommend you use WordPress or Shopify if you want to build an e-commerce website.
- WordPress is an open-source CMS that allows you to install as many plugins as you want, or you can customize a plugin yourself. When you develop special requirements for your online business, you can hire a developer to develop your own plugins like payment, delivery tracking, etc
- Shopify is a CMS developed for e-commerce businesses. Shopify offers you many valuable apps via the “Shopify App Store.” You can customize your e-commerce site unlimited by installing apps on the app store.
Social Media Integration
While you can add social buttons for sharing, you can’t put live social feeds on your site. Social media is a big deal, and missing out on live feeds is a missed opportunity.
SimpleSite offers basics with a sprinkle of perks. But if you’re aiming high, be ready for some limitations. It’s like having a simple toolbox – good for quick fixes but not ideal for building skyscrapers.
SimpleSite Review: Customer Support
Well, the truth is that SimpleSite’s support options are a bit limited. They offer just one way to get help: through emails.
You send them an email, and a natural person will get back to you – which is good. But the not-so-good part is that they can only help as fast as a human can. It takes about two working days to hear back from them. So, it might not be the best fit if you’re in a hurry.
There’s no phone number on SimpleSite’s support page, only an email address and some FAQs. You can check out their blog for general info, but for specific or tricky issues, you’ll have to contact the support team directly. So, before you jump in, just remember that getting help might take a bit of patience.
SimpleSite Review: User Reviews
After diving into SimpleSite’s features, ease of use, design, support, and pricing, we’ve reached our verdict. SimpleSite shows you don’t need a tech expert to make a website. But, it sometimes goes too far in keeping things simple, leading to basic features and editing tools that can be frustrating.
SimpleSite is like a puzzle of contradictions. It’s easy to use but not always easy to figure out. It lacks some essential features but makes up for it with unique perks like free e-commerce and mobile editing.
For beginners aiming to create a hobby or personal website, SimpleSite has its hidden gems. It’s even suitable for selling a few things on the side. But if you’re after fancy designs or more advanced features, there are better options out there.
Compared to website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly, SimpleSite has a different vibe. It’s not trying to be as modern or advanced as them. SimpleSite aims to make website building enjoyable, like playing a game – and it succeeds. It’s not a super serious builder but a playful one. So, have fun using it.
SimpleSite Review: FAQs
Bottom line
To wrap up, SimpleSite is great for beginners and mobile-friendly. However, if you’re after advanced features or stylish designs, consider other choices. Overall, SimpleSite is a simple and fun option for starting your website journey.
