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Website Software Reviews: Grow Your Website With The Right Tools

Choosing the right infrastructure for your website is critical. It's the foundation you'll use to build your business - whether it's an online store or personal project.

But choosing the right option is tough.

Because there is no such thing as an overall "best" option for everyone. There is no "best web hosting" or "best ecommerce website platform" - there is only the best option for you based on your goals, expertise, resources & situation.

Here's an overview of the types of reviews I've written based on my experience as either a customer or consultant.

Web Hosting Reviews

Your website has to "live" somewhere. And that somewhere is a server that "hosts" your website. I've been able to look at a wide range of web hosts and break them down based on pros & cons, or compare them to each other based on set of criteria.

My most popular web hosting review looks at the two of the industry's top brands - Bluehost vs. GoDaddy. My post on InMotion and 1&1 Hosting are also popular.

If you're getting frustrated reading about all the options, I also have a BuzzFeed-style quiz that can help you figure out the best web hosting options for you.

Find all my web hosting reviews here.

Ecommerce Hosting Reviews

There are some types of websites that need a core set of features. For ecommerce, that means a shopping cart, payment processing and inventory management. For some, it makes sense to provide those features as part of an integrated platform. My most popular ecommerce hosting review looks at Shopify. I've also written a guide to building your own ecommerce site with WordPress.

If you're getting frustrated reading about all the options, I also have a BuzzFeed-style quiz that can help you figure out the best ecommerce hosting options for you.

Find all my ecommerce hosting reviews here.

Domain & Business Software Reviews

But your business doesn't start and end with hosting - below, you'll also find reviews of domain name registrars, website builders & more. And I have quizzes on choosing domain registrars & choosing website builders too, and a full list of my favorite resources here.

Background on Ratings

I generally hate stars. They do not provide the nuance that I like to know when choosing a service. And yet, stars are a thing. We all expect stars on reviews, so my reviews have stars.

Here's what star ratings on my site mean.

1 Star - if you need the service, stop researching this company and move on. You will certainly find someone better.

2 Star - For what it's worth, this company is fine...but you'll probably be able to find a better service provider regardless of your goals.

3 Star - if there is a specific pro or feature that speaks to you - then you should feel good about using this company. Their cons or disadvantages are not especially bad across the board.

4 Star - unless there is a specific con or disadvantage that turns you off - then they are a good choice. Their pros are great across the board, but you should still keep an eye out for disadvantages that apply to your goals.

5 Star - if you need the service, stop looking and use them. I've never given a full 5 star even though Ahrefs comes super close.

Explore onwards - you'll find all my reviews listed below!

WordPress Hosting vs. Web Hosting Explained

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Choosing the best web hosting plan for your specific project has always been a bit confusing. Plan features never line up. Terminology never matches. And pricing varies according to current discounts and plan length.

But that was before the latest trend in web hosting – WordPress-specific hosting plans.

Nearly every hosting company offers a “WordPress Hosting Plan” in some form.

View my Purchasing Guide for WordPress Hosting

Sometimes those plans are nothing more than a headline change.

Sometimes they are very well-priced for the extra services. And sometimes they are plainly upsells with dressed up “features.”

It’s maddening – because here’s the thing. WordPress software runs fine on typical web hosting.

You do not need “WordPress Hosting” to run WordPress software.

All you need is a Linux-based hosting account that supports PHP and mySQL – aka plain vanilla shared web hosting.

Both are run of the mill features since the early 2000s. So what’s with all the WordPress Hosting plans vs. Web Hosting plans?

Well – sometimes a WordPress-specific plan is absolutely worth paying for. WordPress does have some needs & requirements that are not “generic” so some companies can offer seriously better service, support & performance for WordPress installs.

Here’s how they differ along with features worth paying for, and what to look for when shopping for the right host for your specific project and next steps.

[Read more…] about WordPress Hosting vs. Web Hosting Explained

HostPapa Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using HostPapa

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

HostPapa is an independent (ie, not owned by a big holding corporation) web hosting company from Toronto, Canada. They offer a spectrum of hosting services from shared hosting to VPS servers with a focus on small business owners (rather than bloggers or online-only operators).

See HostPapa’s Current Plans & Pricing

HostPapa started in 2006 and has seen rapid growth in the past few years.

Like most hosting companies, HostPapa also provides email, a website builder, and various complementary services with 24-hour support and a 30-day money back guarantee.

I’ve had several readers email to ask my opinion about HostPapa, so I decided to give them a shot in my recent shopping tour of entry-level web hosts.

Here’s my HostPapa Hosting review – structured with pros & cons based on my experience as a customer.

[Read more…] about HostPapa Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using HostPapa
HostPapa

HostPapa is an independent web hosting company founded in 2006 that provides a spectrum of hosting services for small businesses. Good value and customer support. A bit expensive, but a great small business host.

Price: 7.95

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Web Hosting

Editor's Rating:
4

Web Hosting Hub Review: The Good, Bad & My Experience

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Web Hosting Hub is a hosting company founded in 2010 by InMotion Hosting – it’s older, more well-known parent company.

According to InMotion’s comparison page, Web Hosting Hub was founded to attract “more of the start-up, and professional blogger market.” In practical language, that means Web Hosting Hub offers one product – shared linux hosting (ie, hosting that can run the most common types of websites and apps, such as WordPress without having to sustain large amounts of sustained traffic).

See Web Hosting Hub’s Current Plans & Pricing

As many more well-known brands change pricing and get bought up by large corporations (ie, Bluehost, 1&1 and GoDaddy), there’s been an increased interest in independent companies with clear features, simple setups, and affordable pricing.

Web Hosting Hub claims to be that provider. Some of my personal projects run on HostGator right now. But since this site runs on a VPS server with InMotion, I thought I’d try Web Hosting Hub with a hobby site that needed its own shared space. Since I’ve had that site there for more than a year – I decided to update this Web Hosting Hub review.

[Read more…] about Web Hosting Hub Review: The Good, Bad & My Experience
Web Hosting Hub

Web Hosting Hub is a shared hosting provider focused on small websites and startups on a budget. Solid starter hosting service. Great pricing with good performance and few caps. No upgraded servers for fast-growing websites though.

Price: 8.95

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Web Hosting

Editor's Rating:
4

FreshBooks Review: Pros & Cons of Using FreshBooks for Accounting

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

I’ve been running a business for more than 10 years now. The last 9+ years, I’ve been using FreshBooks for invoicing and bookkeeping. It’s also one the companies on my Resources page that readers ask me most about. I thought I’d convert those emails into a full FreshBooks review for reference – because here’s the thing.

See FreshBooks’ Current Plans & Pricing

I’ve had 3 bosses at 3 different companies tell me variations of the same idiom. “If it feels tedious, you’re doing it wrong.” Or, “if you’re working hard, you are using the wrong tool.” Or, “if you’re working hard, you’re probably ignoring what’s important.”

Boring stuff like invoicing and bookkeeping aren’t technically part of marketing or improving your or your client’s website. But it does compete for your time and attention. It’s also an easy-time suck.

By 2012, I had been running a freelance marketing & web design business for several years. I was spending way too much time trying to keep costs down while also looking professional and legit. I was using PayPal’s free invoice feature and Google Sheets. It was quite a mess. So I started looking a resource for bookkeeping, invoicing, and a bit of accounting.

I started using FreshBooks. I’ve never used QuickBooks or compared QuickBooks vs. FreshBooks. It seemed feature overkill (and $$$) at the time. But I haven’t left FreshBooks even as business has grown and my career has changed.

BTW – I evaluated it by signing up for a free plan and clicking around. Check out FreshBooks’ free trial & plans here.

I don’t use FreshBooks for anything super-complicated. I use it to:

  • Create and send invoices to clients and advertising partners and track their accounts.
  • Track and manage expenses.
  • Basic accounting (aka looking at P&L sheets & Schedule C documentation).
  • Simplify communication with my accountant.

For a while, I kept using the old FreshBooks Classic. But now I’ve fully migrated to the new FreshBooks platform.

So here’s my FreshBooks review with pros & cons. It’s not for everyone, but it’s also not meant to be either.

[Read more…] about FreshBooks Review: Pros & Cons of Using FreshBooks for Accounting
FreshBooks

FreshBooks is cloud-based accounting software focused on bookkeeping for small business & freelancers.

Price: 15

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Accounting Software

Editor's Rating:
4

11+ Wix Website Examples for Inspiration

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

So you’re considering using Wix as your website builder, and you’re looking for Wix website examples for inspiration and confirmation that you’re making the right choice.

Wix is one of the biggest names in the website builder product space. It’s a drag-and-drop website builder, which means users can “drag” different elements around and “drop” them where they want…all to create a site that looks the way they want.

It makes nice designs incredibly accessible for DIY-ers while leaving the heavy-lifting (AKA hosting, functionality, coding) to someone else.

See Wix’s Complete Selection of Templates

But before we dive into examples of what Wix websites look like in the wild, there is one thing to keep in mind when you’re evaluating a website platform: it’s not just about how the websites look. The functionality matters too.

Think of it like buying a car. You have a make / model in mind, and you’re probably looking to see them drive by on the road to see how they actually look. However, you also care about how they operate. Does it accelerate well? Does it have the hauling capabilities you need? How is the gas mileage?

Looking at a website platform should be done in the same way. We collected the following Wix examples not just to show you how they look, but how Wix websites can function so you can be sure you have a website that fits both the style you want and the functionality you need.

[Read more…] about 11+ Wix Website Examples for Inspiration

GoDaddy WordPress Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using GoDaddy

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

GoDaddy is one of the world’s largest “web services” companies. Although they were founded as a domain registrar, they provide a whole range of services from web hosting to website builders to accounting to email to digital storage to online security and much more.

See GoDaddy’s Current Plans & Pricing

Over the years, you’ve probably seen GoDaddy’s Super Bowl commercials, GoDaddy girls all around the Internet, and most recently their “Helping Small Business” commercials. They have brand recognition if nothing else.

With the popularity of using WordPress for setting up websites, GoDaddy has made a big product push for its “WordPress Hosting” product. In fact, they lead in marketshare for total WordPress installs around the Internet, leading even popular WordPress hosts like Bluehost.

Like any product, there will be tradeoffs, advantages, and disadvantages – depending on your particular goals, preferences, and resources. However, this product not only competes with other competitors but also with GoDaddy’s own regular web hosting product.

[Read more…] about GoDaddy WordPress Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using GoDaddy
GoDaddy WordPress Hosting

GoDaddy WordPress Hosting is GoDaddy's hosting product focused exclusively on WordPress websites. GoDaddy WordPress Hosting is an affordable, brand-name option for anyone with a single site who doesn't need advanced hosting features.

Price: 8.99

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: WordPress Hosting

Editor's Rating:
3

Duda Website Builder Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Duda Website Builder is known as an all-inclusive website builder that was originally created as an easy-to-use mobile website platform for DIYers. It has sinced evolved to help agencies, digital publishers, and hosting companies scale with an quick and easy website platform that helps their clients get up and running ASAP.

See Duda Website Builder Current Plans & Pricing

Duda is also known for making responsive websites, which means the site fits on any device (i.e. a tablet, phone, computer).

Recently, I gave Duda a try for a full Duda review. But before I get into the pros and cons of my Duda review, let’s dive into an overview about tools to build a website.

[Read more…] about Duda Website Builder Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives
Duda Website Builder

Duda certainly makes getting a website up and running easy, and when you factor in their advanced features that give you more control, it makes the platform a pretty solid website builder for small agencies and even DIYers who need something that's easy-to-use but can also scale.

Price: 14

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Website Builder

Editor's Rating:
3.5

Blogger Review: Pros & Cons of Using Blogger (aka Blogspot)

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Blogger is the grand old man of Internet publishing. In fact, they arguably started the whole “everyone should have a voice online” ideal. Evan Williams started the company way back in the 1990s.

After Evan Williams sold Blogger to Google, he went on to found both Twitter and Medium – both pillars of Internet publishing in their own right. Additionally, it was Matt Mullenweg’s dissatisfaction with Blogger that led him to create the first version of WordPress back in the early 2000s.

All that to say – Blogger is an Internet standby. In fact, it’s such a standby that it gets unfairly disregarded for many web projects simply due to its age.

Check out Blogger here.

I recently gave Blogger a try for a small project, along with several other website builders. I tried to approach Blogger not as the platform that had my first blog back in 2004, but as a serious platform that might be a good fit for someone’s web project today, post-2020.

But first, a bit of an overview on website builders (and blogging platforms) in general. Whether you go drag and drop builder, an installed Content Management System (CMS), or hand-coded HTML files, there are a lot of considerations that go into building a website and/or blog.

In the end, you really want someone to type in a website address and see your information, presented well with the right functionality in their browser. Whether you are building a simple personal blog or running a business, the way you build your site determines a lot both long-term and short-term.

[Read more…] about Blogger Review: Pros & Cons of Using Blogger (aka Blogspot)
Blogger

Blogger is one of the original blog platforms of the Web and is now owned by Google. While not a good fit for many web projects, Blogger is a solid, simple platform for web publishing despite its age.

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Website Builder

Editor's Rating:
3.5

iwantmyname Review: Pros & Cons of iwantmyname as Domain Registrar

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

iwantmyname is a New Zealand-based domain registrar company focused solely on domain registration and management. The company, which was founded by employees from several ICANN accredited domain registrars, has been around since 2008 and prides itself on its simplicity, transparency, and ethics.

iwantmyname believes in making the domain buying, managing, and transferring process transparent and simple. They’re big on company values (like transparency) and give off the “good guy” vibe when it comes to domain registrars.

See iwantmyname’s Current Prices & Selection

So, how does this domain registrar stack up against the rest? Here’s my experience so far and my full iwantmyname review with pros & cons…

[Read more…] about iwantmyname Review: Pros & Cons of iwantmyname as Domain Registrar
iwantmyname

iwantmyname is a New Zealand-based domain registrar company focused solely on purchasing and managing domains. It promises simplicity and transparency for global customers. A bit pricier than rivals, but a solid product for those who want an easy domain-buying experience. Clean, simple, and zero tech experience necessary, but lacks complementary products.

Operating System: All

Application Category: Domain Registration

Editor's Rating:
4

WordPress.com Review: Pros & Cons of WordPress.com as a Website Builder

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

WordPress is one of the most popular pieces of software in the website space. WordPress powers over 25% of the Internet and is famous for its versatility and ease of use.

See WordPress.com’s Current Plans & Pricing

Its is so well-known, that it’s common for people with some web design experience to generally say “just use WordPress” when referring DIYers and freelancers to a website solution.

But for those who are unfamiliar with the general WordPress world, there is a major point of confusion: WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org.

In this article, I’ll be reviewing WordPress.com as a website builder and general website solution for DIYers.

But before I dive into specifics, let’s talk about the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.

[Read more…] about WordPress.com Review: Pros & Cons of WordPress.com as a Website Builder
WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a great choice for anyone who loves the feel & versatility without the complications of seeking out hosting services.

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Website Builder

Editor's Rating:
4

Web Hosting vs. Domain Registration Explained

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Web Hosting and Domain Registration are two elements of running a website. But it’s important to understand the difference and use cases.

Web Hosting is an account on a computer (aka server) that can store and serve website files via the Internet.

Domain Registration is leasing a human-readable word (e.g., amazon.com) that directs people to specific website files via a browser.

As an analogy, a domain is an “address” on the Internet. Hosting is the “land” or space where your website files live.

That’s the short version. But there’s more to web hosting vs. domain registration than their definition.

[Read more…] about Web Hosting vs. Domain Registration Explained

InMotion Hosting vs. SiteGround vs. Bluehost Web Hosting Comparison

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

InMotion Hosting vs. SiteGround vs. Bluehost? is a very common comparison for anyone shopping for web hosting, especially for anyone planning on using WordPress as their website software.

See Bluehost’s Current Plans & Pricing
See InMotion’s Current Plans & Pricing
See Siteground’s Current Plans & Pricing

InMotion, SiteGround, and Bluehost are all –

  • Established, well-known brands in the hosting industry, particularly in the WordPress hosting industry
  • Provide a similar menu of products that revolve around shared Linux hosting
  • Provide a full spectrum of hosting needs with advanced features
  • Provide pricing & hosting products that focus on DIYers to small to midsize companies
  • Are either endorsed by the WordPress Foundation or are ever-present at WordCamps
  • Have marquee clients with plenty of endorsements or testimonials

And yet – they are very different companies with different brands and different focuses.

Unlike most online reviews, I do not think there is such a thing as a “best” host. There is only the best fit for you based on your goals, expertise, resources, and preferences.

I have current clients who use (and love) Bluehost. Although this specific site runs on InMotion Hosting – I also have several projects that have run on SiteGround for years. I’ve been happy with them.

In this comparison between InMotion, SiteGround, and Bluehost, I’ll try to break down the differences that I’ve found in several different areas ranging from pricing structure to customer service and market focus so that you can decide which is the best fit for your project.

Also – you can skip to the short version in the conclusion here (or take my Buzzfeed-style shared hosting quiz here).

Let’s dive into InMotion Hosting vs. SiteGround vs. Bluehost…

[Read more…] about InMotion Hosting vs. SiteGround vs. Bluehost Web Hosting Comparison

Namesilo Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Namesilo is an ICANN-accredited domain registrar who boasts cheap, easy, and secure domain registration and management. They have been around since 2009.

See NameSilo’s Current Prices & Selection

Does Namesilo hold up to their mission of being a cheap and easy-to-use domain registrar? We recently tried them out. Here’s our full Namesilo review with pros, cons, and alternatives.

[Read more…] about Namesilo Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives
Namesilo

Namesilo is a domain registrar that has been around since 2009. They have good pricing but fall down on management, design & onboarding.

Operating System: All

Application Category: Domain Registration

Editor's Rating:
2.5

SiteGround Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using SiteGround

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

SiteGround Hosting is an independent web hosting company founded in 2004. They are based in Bulgaria but serve hosting markets globally. SiteGround positions themselves as a company offering high-quality, “well-crafted” hosting solutions.

See SiteGround’s Current Plans & Pricing

What is SiteGround Hosting?

SiteGround offers a spectrum of hosting solutions ranging from shared Linux hosting (the affordable, versatile kind used by most websites) all the way to Cloud, WordPress, and Reseller server solutions for large, growing websites.

They are one of the fastest growing independent (ie, not a brand owned by a larger corporate holding company) hosting companies. I heard about them via their growing event involvement in the WordPress, Drupal, Joomla and marketing communities.

Like my experiment with Web Hosting Hub, I recently had a couple small sites that needed their own hosting accounts, so I wanted to give SiteGround Hosting a try based on high praise from people I respect in the industry. I started that project several years ago, and have kept the account active. I originally published this review several years ago, but have refreshed & republished this post as SiteGround has changed their tools & services.

Here’s my SiteGround Hosting review – structured with pros & cons, comparisons and next steps based on my experience as a customer.

[Read more…] about SiteGround Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using SiteGround
SiteGround Hosting

SiteGround is a independent hosting company with developer-focused features. Great product especially for globally focused websites. Cutting-edge features with good performance. A bit pricey and more focused on developers than general audience.

Price: 11.95

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Web Hosting

Editor's Rating:
4

Name.com Review: Pros & Cons of Name.com as Domain Registrar

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Name.com is a Denver-based, ICANN-accredited domain registrar company that also offers web hosting, email, a website builder, and SSL certificates. It’s owned by Donuts Inc, a domain servicing company who specializes in serving premium & new top-level domains (TLDs), which go beyond generic .com/.net/.org domains website owners were previously limited to.

Name.com touts an all-in-one approach to getting you online — they have everything you need to get up and running quickly (AKA a domain name, hosting, website builder, security, and email).

See Name.com’s Current Prices & Selection

So, how does Name.com stack up against other domain registrars? Here’s my Name.com review with pros and cons based on my experience with them so far…

[Read more…] about Name.com Review: Pros & Cons of Name.com as Domain Registrar
Name.com

Name.com is a Denver-based, ICANN-accredited domain registrar company that also offers web hosting, email, a website builder, and SSL certificates. It offers everything someone needs to get up and running online, all in one place. Offers basic complementary products and a wide variety of TLDs. Inexpensive pricing upfront with high renewal pricing and WHOIS privacy not included.

Operating System: All

Application Category: Domain Registration

Editor's Rating:
2

How To Try WordPress (for free) Before Purchasing Hosting for Your Website

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

I recently had a reader question sent via email  –

Is there a way to try out WordPress for free before signing up to a hosting site? Maybe a ‘try before you buy’ arrangement, or something which you can download and try out on a laptop? Am just worried about signing up and then finding WordPress isn’t for me.

That is an excellent question. Unlike website builder services like Weebly, Wix or Squarespace or even eCommerce platforms like Shopify or Bigcommerce – there’s no real “free trial” option for self-hosted WordPress.

And no matter how many setup guides you read or tutorial videos you watch, there’s nothing quite like messing around with software to see if it “makes sense” to you.

There are 3 ways to try WordPress for free before you actually purchase hosting.

[Read more…] about How To Try WordPress (for free) Before Purchasing Hosting for Your Website

GoDaddy vs. SiteGround Web Hosting Comparison

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

GoDaddy vs. SiteGround for hosting is a tale of the established, name-brand, corporate giant against the rapidly growing, scrappy, independent company.

See GoDaddy’s Current Plans & Pricing
See SiteGround’s Current Plans & Pricing

While there is no such thing as the “best overall” hosting company, both of these companies excel for certain types of projects & certain types of website owners.

In this comparison between GoDaddy and SiteGround, I’ll break down the differences that I’ve found in seven different areas ranging from pricing structure to customer service and market focus so that you can decide which is the best fit for your project.

Let’s dive into GoDaddy vs. SiteGround…

[Read more…] about GoDaddy vs. SiteGround Web Hosting Comparison

InMotion Hosting vs. GoDaddy Web Hosting Comparison

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

I did a full review of InMotion Hosting based on the broad advantages & disadvantages of the company. However, I wanted to specifically look at InMotion Hosting vs. GoDaddy Web Hosting, simply because GoDaddy is the consumer brand among most people who are looking to start their own website.

See InMotion’s Current Plans & Pricing
See GoDaddy’s Current Plans & Pricing

GoDaddy is a global brand that does a lot of advertising (that’s an understatement). I’ve maintained an account there, and a couple of my clients use it, so I’ve had a a good bit of experience with them dating back 2009. I wrote a GoDaddy hosting review here.

And InMotion is a rapidly growing hosting company out of Los Angeles that has generated a good bit of press and won several awards for their hosting services. I wrote an InMotion Hosting review here.

For quite a while now, I have been receiving reader questions about InMotion. I have client websites on GoDaddy, but currently use an InMotion VPS server for shivarweb.com. So I thought I’d compare them head to head. Let’s dive in and look at InMotion Hosting vs. GoDaddy Web Hosting.

[Read more…] about InMotion Hosting vs. GoDaddy Web Hosting Comparison

Squarespace Review: 5 Pros & 4 Cons of Using Squarespace

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Squarespace is one of the best known brands in the website building space. They do a ton of advertising with everything from podcasts to the Super Bowl and have a beautiful product with a long trusted history. I recently had a project that was a fit for a bundled website builder software. I gave Squarespace a try, along with several other brands. Here are my 5 pros, 5 cons, and full Squarespace review.

But first, a bit of an overview. There are a lot of considerations that go into an choosing a website builder.

There are also a ton of options, tons of pricing – and really a thousand ways to get what you want in the end (aka for someone to type in a website address and see your information in their browser). Whether you are building a simple personal website or running a business, the way you build your site has a lot of consequences.

In the long-term, it affects your versatility, functionality, and, of course, your brand. In the short-term, it can certainly add/take away a lot of headaches. That said, just like choosing a physical house or office, there is no such thing as an absolute “best” or “top” choice. There’s only the right choice relative to your goals, experience, and circumstances.

What Is Squarespace?

On the wide spectrum of website building solutions, Squarespace lives on the end that is all-inclusive and provides everything you need to get started and grow your website. It contrasts with solutions where you buy, install, and manage all the “pieces” of your website separately.

Using Squarespace is sort of like leasing and customizing an apartment in a really classy development instead of buying and owning your own house. You’re still in control of decor, cleaning, and everything living-wise – but you leave the construction, plumbing, security, and infrastructure to the property owner. That point is key because there’s usually a direct tradeoff between convenience and control.

Everything may fit together just right with a website builder like Squarespace, but that may or may not be what you’re looking for.

As far as competition, Squarespace competes directly with all-inclusive website builders like Weebly, Wix, and WordPress.com.

Compared to their direct competition, they try to allow for more customization and code access. Squarespace tries to appeal to the non-developer customer AND the developer community. It’s a tough pitch to sell – but they try it.

Those options as a group compete with options like self-hosted WordPress (which provides the free software to build a website that you own & control – see my WordPress setup guide here) all the way to options like typing actual HTML code into a text file. Make sense? Awesome, let’s dive into the Squarespace review.

[Read more…] about Squarespace Review: 5 Pros & 4 Cons of Using Squarespace
Squarespace

Squarespace is one of the world's most well-known website builders. They have truly beautiful designs and lots of functionality. If the all-inclusive website builder is the right solution for you, Squarespace is a good route to go. It has some drawbacks, but plenty of built-in beautiful design.

Price: 12

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Website Builder

Editor's Rating:
3

InMotion Hosting Review: 6 Pros & 4 Cons of InMotion Hosting

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

InMotion Hosting is one of the largest independent web hosting companies in the world. They’ve been around since 2001, and have tried to develop a brand around being the “nerd’s choice” that businesses also love.

See InMotion’s Current Plans & Pricing

What is InMotion Hosting?

InMotion Hosting is an independent provider of web hosting services in addition to complementary website products such as domain names, website builders (example), web design, and email services. They offer web hosting services ranging from shared to VPS to dedicated along with custom products such as WordPress and Reseller hosting.

InMotion Hosting positions themselves as one of the few large, stable hosting companies that is not owned by one of the 3 large web services holding companies (ie, GoDaddy, Endurance, and Web.com) that also has the breadth, resources, and expertise to serve websites for businesses, organizations, and long-term projects.

In an industry with inherent tradeoffs between costs, support, performance, usability, control, and convenience – InMotion focuses on providing a balance for businesses, organizations, and DIYers focused on more than simple costs. The ironic piece is that a focus on balance also creates tradeoffs. That is what this InMotion Hosting review will cover.

There are a lot of InMotion Hosting reviews online – usually with user-generated reviews based on anecdotes, complaints, and personal experience.

That’s fine, but I take a different approach with pros and cons to highlight whether a particular company is a good “fit” given resources, priorities, and experience.

Since 2013, I’ve done several side-projects on InMotion in addition to consulting for clients who run projects on a range of competitor hosting companies.

In August 2015, I actually moved ShivarWeb.com to an InMotion VPS server, though several projects remain with other hosting companies such as HostGator and InMotion’s sister brand Web Hosting Hub – both of which have more “unmetered” plans and a support focus on beginner/small sites.

Here’s what I’ve found to be the pros and cons in a full InMotion Hosting review with next steps based on my experience with them and other providers as a customer & consultant.

[Read more…] about InMotion Hosting Review: 6 Pros & 4 Cons of InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting

InMotion Hosting is one of the fastest growing and most respected independent and hosting providers on the Internet. Great product with solid customer service. Plans are not ideal for hosting lots of small sites, but they are a choice hosting provider overall.

Price: 7.99

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Web Hosting

Editor's Rating:
4

InMotion Hosting vs. HostGator Hosting Comparison

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

InMotion Hosting vs. HostGator – how do they compare and how well do they fit different types of website owners? They’ve both been around for quite a while, and both offer value on their own way. I have projects on both. This site is hosted on an InMotion VPS server, but many of my smaller project sites are on HostGator.

[Read more…] about InMotion Hosting vs. HostGator Hosting Comparison

Google Sites Review: Pros & Negatives of Using Google’s Website Builder

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Google Sites is Google’s free website builder software that it offers as part of the G Suite of Drive, Email, Hangouts, etc.

Sites has never been highly publicized like its other products. I’ve always thought of Sites as part of the bucket of products like Drawing, Blogger, and Correlate that sort of come as part of other, well-known product lines but are otherwise forgotten about…yet still awesome in their own way.

If you have a Google Account, go check out Google Sites here.

I’ve written about Google’s Domains product and Blogger – but have never looked at Google Sites specifically.

My experience with Google Sites began back when I first started my web design business years and years ago. I never used Google Sites for my own projects until I came across it when a client of mine was using it and needed a few tasks done.

But since then, better competition has popped up from Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, WordPress.com, Website Creator, and other website builders. And Google has upgraded the product I originally used. They’ve streamlined it to make it supposedly the “effortless way to create beautiful sites.”

See Google Sites here…

So for a personal project of mine, I decided to try it out again and see who the product would really be a good fit for – and not just compare it to other hosted website builders.

I also wanted to compare Google Sites to other website solutions like hosting your own website or using a hosted eCommerce platform.

[Read more…] about Google Sites Review: Pros & Negatives of Using Google’s Website Builder
Google Sites

Google Sites is Google's website builder product that is integrated with their productivity suite. Very limited - but good for what it is. If you could add a custom domain, it would be much more useful.

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Website Builder

Editor's Rating:
2.5

Stencil App Review: Pros & Cons of Using Stencil

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Stencil is a web-based graphic design tool built for anyone trying to quickly create digital design assets (aka social media & website images) with few to no graphic design skills.

See Stencil’s Current Plans & Pricing

I’ve been a Stencil customer for years – back from when they first launched as Share As Image. I got a lifetime plan from a re-brand promotion years ago.

Every “featured image” that you see on this website was made with Stencil. I’m a big fan…but I’ve also been a user for a long enough time to see & get frustrated with a few built-in limitations.

Stencil App Backend

Here’s an overview of Stencil along with some pros, cons, ideal use cases, and direct alternative tools.

[Read more…] about Stencil App Review: Pros & Cons of Using Stencil
Stencil App Review

Stencil is a web-based graphic design tool to help create images for social media & websites.

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Graphic Design

Editor's Rating:
4

How Many Domain Names Should I Buy? 10 Rules To Use When Starting Out

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

So you’re wondering “how many domain names should I buy?” Well here’s a quick story before we dive into 10 rules I use.

Let’s say that a person – let’s call him Fred – decides to learn a little bit about websites and marketing online. He finds how easy it is to install WordPress and setup a website. He learns all about keywords. He installs Google Analytics. Fred writes some content and gets some traffic.

Oh wow! This deal is so easy, fun, and might make me money someday! And I’ve got a million other website ideas!

So Fred goes over to his domain registrar of choice, and see that most of his website ideas are available! And they’re only $10 per year! He buys several.

But what about misspellings? Buys a few of those too.

What about the .net and .co versions? Buys a couple of those too.

And so on and so forth. And before you know it – Fred has spent $600 on domain names…without building out a single website idea.

Here’s the deal – “Fred” is really Nate (me) back when I knew little about how websites and digital marketing worked. I had this idea that thinking of an idea and buying a domain counted for something.

It doesn’t. But your domain name is still important – but important relative to other factors.

So whether you’re a freelancer, DIY type, someone getting your feet wet, or a small business owner concerned about your online presence wondering “how many domain names should I buy?” – Here’s 10 lessons I’ve learned to use when researching and buying domain names.

[Read more…] about How Many Domain Names Should I Buy? 10 Rules To Use When Starting Out

Shopify vs. Etsy: How To Choose, Differences & Using Them Together

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

If you are building an online store, Shopify and Etsy are two of the biggest brands that you’ll encounter. But a frequent question that I get is – Shopify or Etsy? What’s the difference and how do I choose what to start with?

See Shopify’s Current Plans & Pricing
See Etsy’s Current Plans & Pricing

The core difference is fairly straightforward.

Etsy is a marketplace for handmade, vintage and artisanal products (here’s my guide to setting up Etsy).

Shopify is a hosted eCommerce platform. An eCommerce platform allows you to set up and run an online store on your own domain while they take care of the technical parts & customer support (here’s my Shopify review).

In other words, Etsy is a marketplace where you can have an account. Shopify is software that sets up a storefront for you.

If they had physical world equivalents, Etsy would be a local farmer’s market where you could set up a stall.

Shopify would be a shopping center owner letting you build out your own store at your own address while handling the utilities, etc.

But that still doesn’t tackle the question behind the question (i.e., “what’s should I use?”) – so let’s look at the biggest differences & considerations so you can decide between Shopify or Etsy (or both!).

These differences will highlight Shopify vs. Etsy specifically – but they can also be applied to any alternative to Shopify, whether it’s WooCommerce, BigCommerce or others.

Keep in mind that these are all differences/considerations – they are not pros & cons. Everything has a tradeoff that might be a good or bad thing for you depending on your goals, resources and priorities.

[Read more…] about Shopify vs. Etsy: How To Choose, Differences & Using Them Together

Shopify Review: Pros & Cons of Using Shopify For eCommerce

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

There are a lot of options for running an online store – Shopify is an all-in-one eCommerce solution that I’ve used to run several online stores & consult with clients since 2009. Here’s my Shopify review – with 6+ pros and 6+ cons of using Shopify for your online store.

See Shopify’s Current Plans & Pricing

But first, a bit of background.

There’s a lot of options for running an online store, and your choice of best eCommerce platform can have just as big of an effect on your business as choosing a building or location for a physical store. It’s not the end all of the business – but it certainly can make or break your business – and can either expand your opportunity or severely kneecap your business.

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is a hosted eCommerce platform that provide everything you need from end to end (minus the product and business know-how) to set up and start selling your product(s) to the world as opposed to you putting all the pieces together yourself (see Shopify’s plans here).

It’s sort of like hiring a general contractor to build your house, over being the contractor and hiring sub-contractors yourself. You’re still in control, but you let the general contractor use their expertise to make the project happen. My go-to analogy is with real estate.

Ecommerce Real Estate Tradeoffs

There are pros and cons to the approach – which is what we’ll get into. But basically know that Shopify directly competes mainly with BigCommerce and Volusion – all three of which provide turn-key eCommerce solutions, which in turn compete with non-turnkey solutions (like setting up your own store with WordPress + WooCommerce).

And these hosted solutions sort of compete and integrate with eCommerce “marketplaces” like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. I wrote more about how Shopify can work with Etsy here and how Shopify competes with website builders like Wix here.

Aside – Shopify also has a “Buy button” functionality that allows you to use Shopify as Point of Sale (POS) / Inventory option – and let customers click to buy your products anywhere online (Pinterest, Facebook, WordPress blog, Tumblr, etc) and anywhere offline like Farmer’s Markets, tradeshows, etc. I’ll be looking less at that – and more at Shopify’s full online store package. You can get the Buy button only as part of the Lite Plan, but it really competes with PayPal & Square rather than full online store options.

How Does Shopify Work?

Shopify is fairly straightforward – which is sort of their whole selling point. The broad process is as follows –

  1. Pick a Shopify plan that fits your budget and feature needs.
  2. “Point” your domain that you bought from a registrar like GoDaddy or NameCheap to your Shopify store. You can also buy one via Shopify.
  3. Choose a design/template for your store. You can edit a free one via their drag/drop tool or buy a premium one or hire a designer.
  4. Add your products, page content, payment options, etc.
  5. Go get customers! Here’s an eCommerce marketing strategy to get you started.

Is Shopify Worth It?

It depends! That is a maddening answer, I know. But it’s true. Shopify is a tool. It might not be for you. If you are selling a single digital product on your blog, then Shopify is probably not worth it.

A PayPal button or a WooCommerce plugin on your WordPress site would work. But if you need to run a multi-product eCommerce store with inventory, marketing tools, customer records, etc – then Shopify is absolutely worth it…if the pros / cons balance out for your based on your goals, resources, expertise, etc.

Make sense? Cool. Let’s dive into the actual Shopify review.

[Read more…] about Shopify Review: Pros & Cons of Using Shopify For eCommerce
Shopify

Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform that allows anyone to setup an online store with hosting and support included. If you are looking for an all-in-one solution for your online store, Shopify is a great way to go.

Price: 29

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Ecommerce Hosting

Editor's Rating:
4

Wix Review: 11+ Pros & Cons of Using Wix For Websites

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

There are seemingly thousands of different ways to build a website now. Wix is one of the best-known brands in the website builder world.

See Wix’s Current Plans & Pricing

They’ve been around for quite a while (circa 2006). Until 2018, they built their brand on word of mouth and ease of use. Post-2018, they’ve accelerated that growth with Super Bowl ads, sports sponsorships and more. I recently had a small project, and a reason to try out several drag and drop website builders. I gave Wix a try to see how they fit. Here are my pros, cons, use cases, alternatives and full Wix review.

[Read more…] about Wix Review: 11+ Pros & Cons of Using Wix For Websites
Wix

Wix is one of the best known all inclusive website builders. It has drag and drop design, and straightforward user experience. Wix lacks some features favored by design and marketing professionals, but, for DIY website builders, they have solid pricing and functionality.

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Website Builder

Editor's Rating:
4

Tailor Brands Review: Pros, Cons & Alternatives

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Tailor Brands is a suite of branding & design tools powered by machine learning for non-technical users.

They allow businesses, organizations, and individuals to create an entire “brand identity” with logos, typography, color patterns, and other elements across the web & print.

See Tailor Brands’ Current Plans & Pricing

In other words, Tailor Brands a toolset that makes your project “look good” everywhere from your Facebook page to business cards to website.

[Read more…] about Tailor Brands Review: Pros, Cons & Alternatives
Tailor Brands

There are plenty of Tailor Brands reviews on the Internet - some good, some bad. This Tailor Brands review will look at how the software works, the upsides, downsides, and ideal use cases for the product based on my experience as a digital marketing consultant.

Price: 3.99

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Logo Design

Editor's Rating:
4

GoDaddy Website Builder vs. Shopify for Online Stores

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

GoDaddy Website Builder vs. Shopify – they are two of the most well-known brands in the website/eCommerce platform industry, but how do they compare directly to each other?

See Shopify’s Current Plans & Pricing
See GoDaddy’s Current Plans & Pricing

First, a bit of background. Over the past few years, online store costs have plummeted, and the technology to get a website from idea to reality has blossomed. Whether you’re using a text editor and uploading to the Amazon cloud, hosting your own site powered by WordPress + WooCommerce or using a drag and drop online store builder, there’s never been an easier time to create an online store.

All-inclusive eCommerce builders have been particularly interesting. Companies like GoDaddy, Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Shopify, and BigCommerce – not to mention platforms like Etsy, eBay, and Amazon – have brought eCommerce to everyone regardless of their coding skills.

On the wide spectrum of eCommerce store building solutions, they all live on the end that is all-inclusive and provide everything you need to get started and grow your website.

They stand in contrast to solutions where you buy, install and manage all the “pieces” of your website separately. While that’s not a good or bad thing, it is something to be aware of when you’re choosing one of them as a solution since it affects your website both long and short term.

In the long-term, it affects your versatility, functionality, and, of course, your brand. In the short term, it can certainly add/take away a lot of headaches. That said, just like choosing a physical house or office, there is no such thing as an absolute “best” or “top” choice. There’s only the right choice relative to your goals, experience, and circumstances.

Using an online store builder is like leasing and customizing an apartment in a really classy development instead of buying and owning your own house. You’re still in control of decor, cleaning, and everything living-wise – but you leave the construction, plumbing, security, and infrastructure to the property owner. That point is key because there’s usually a direct tradeoff between convenience and control.

Ecommerce Real Estate Tradeoffs

Shopify, GoDaddy’s builder, and other options like Weebly as a group compete with options like WordPress + WooCommerce (which provides the free software to build a website that you own & control – see my WordPress setup guide here) all the way to options like typing actual HTML code into a text file.

There are three last prefaces to straighten out.

First – GoDaddy is an all-around hosted website builder with eCommerce capability.

Second – Shopify, in contrast, is strictly a hosted ecommerce platform. This focus puts GoDaddy Website Builder behind as an advanced tool and Shopify behind as a super-easy-to-use tool. With their respective free trials, you can quickly see the differences.

Third – GoDaddy also offers hosting without the builder where you can install WooCommerce, Magento or other self-hosted eCommerce software. In this comparison, we’ll look at GoDaddy’s Builder product specifically. You can find GoDaddy hosting alternatives here.

Make sense? Awesome – let’s dive into the comparison.

Side note – if you want this comparison in a BuzzFeed-style quiz, you can take my online store builder quiz here…

You can also take a look at my posts on –

Otherwise, we’ll look specifically at pricing, onboarding/user experience, design features, technical features, eCommerce features, marketing features, and customer support.

[Read more…] about GoDaddy Website Builder vs. Shopify for Online Stores

GoDaddy Website Builder Review w/ Pros, Cons & Alternatives

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

GoDaddy is the big brand in the website services industry. From their Super Bowl ads to TV ads to online advertising, they are by far the most well-known choice for domains, hosting, website builders, and productivity products for small businesses.

See GoDaddy’s Current Plans & Pricing

I have written about GoDaddy’s hosting product and domains product, but I’ve never looked specifically at GoDaddy’s website builder product (aka “Websites + Marketing”) before this post.

My experience with GoDaddy’s website builder began back when I first started my web design business years and years ago. I didn’t actually use GoDaddy’s website builder for my projects until I came across it when a client of mine was using it and needed a few tasks done.

Since then, new competition has popped up from Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, Gator, WordPress.com and other website builders. And GoDaddy has upgraded the product I originally used. They’ve streamlined it to make it supposedly the “easiest way to get online.”

So for a personal project of mine, I decided to try it out again and see who the product would really be a good fit for – and not just compared to other hosted website builders.

I also wanted to compare GoDaddy’s website builder to other website solutions like hosting your own website or using a hosted eCommerce platform.

[Read more…] about GoDaddy Website Builder Review w/ Pros, Cons & Alternatives
GoDaddy Website Builder

GoDaddy's Website Builder (GoCentral) offers businesses a way to seamlessly get their own website started. Very convenient with simple onboarding and integration. Features are limited with some upsells.

Price: 10

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Website Builder

Editor's Rating:
3

GoDaddy Website Builder vs. Wix vs. Weebly: Website Builders Compared

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

GoDaddy Website Builder vs. Weebly vs. Wix – they are the three most well-known website builders. I’ve written about them individually here, here and here. But how do they compare directly to each other?

View Wix’s Current Plans & Pricing

View Weebly’s Current Plans & Pricing

View GoDaddy’s Current Plans & Pricing

First, a bit of background. The process of building a website has changed radically since the early days of the Internet. Even though the core job of a website – HTML rendered in a browser – has not changed, the technology used to produce the HTML has. While you can still produce a website with nothing but a text-editor – most people choose a technology that makes the process of building and managing the website much easier and more accessible.

All-inclusive website builders have been particularly interesting. Companies like GoDaddy’s Website Builder, Weebly, and Wix have brought websites to everyone regardless of coding skills with their drag & drop and/or customizable templates.

There is a wide variety of website building solutions, and they all live on a spectrum with a tradeoff between control & convenience. I’ve written a full explainer on website builders here, but here’s how I think about it –

On the 100% control, but 0% convenience end – you have solutions like a text editor and server space that you purchase separately. It’s a bit akin to buying raw land to build your house for shelter.

On the 0% control, but 100% convenience end – you have solutions like Facebook and Twitter that provide no control (not even domain name control), but are highly convenient.

In the 50/50 middle – you have solutions like WordPress that live on your own server, but help you manage & build your website. It’s akin to buying a house that you own – you are responsible if anything breaks, but you can do really whatever you want.

Towards the convenience end, but with more control all live “hosted” website builders like Weebly, Wix, and GoDaddy’s Website Builder. They offer more convenience by bundling hosting, design, etc, but trade some control.

Using a website builder is sort of like leasing and customizing an apartment in a really classy development instead of buying and owning your own house. You’re still in control of decor, cleaning, and everything living-wise – but you leave the construction, plumbing, security, and infrastructure to the property owner. That point is key because there’s usually a direct tradeoff between convenience and control.

In the long-term, it affects your versatility, functionality, and, of course, your brand. In the short term, it can certainly add/take away a lot of headaches. That said, just like choosing a physical house or office, there is no such thing as an absolute “best” or “top” choice. There’s only such a thing as the right choice relative to your goals, experience, and circumstances.

GoDaddy Website Builder, Weebly, and Wix as a group compete with options like WordPress (which provides the free software to build a website that you own & control on your own hosting – see my WordPress setup guide here) all the way to options like typing actual HTML code into a text file.

*confusingly, GoDaddy also offers hosting, where you can install website software like WordPress. This comparison will focus on GoDaddy’s Website Builder that bundles hosting. You can find GoDaddy hosting alternatives here.

Make sense? Awesome, let’s dive into the comparison.

Side note – if you want this comparison in a BuzzFeed-style quiz, you can take my website builder quiz here…

Otherwise, we’ll look specifically at pricing, onboarding/user experience, design features, technical features, marketing features, customer support & company structure.

[Read more…] about GoDaddy Website Builder vs. Wix vs. Weebly: Website Builders Compared

WPMU Dev Hosting Review: Pros, Cons & Alternatives

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

WPMU Dev is a long-time member of the premium WordPress software community. While they are best known for their plugins, they recently launched a new WordPress hosting product.

See WPMU Dev’s Current Plans & Pricing

I’m currently a WPMU Dev member and had free access to the new hosting product. The WordPress & web hosting world is constantly evolving with new & interesting products.

Given that I use & love some of their plugins, I tried out the hosting product as well. Here are the pros, cons, use cases & alternatives for WPMU Dev hosting.

[Read more…] about WPMU Dev Hosting Review: Pros, Cons & Alternatives
WPMU Dev Hosting Review: Pros, Cons & Alternatives

WPMU Dev is a long-time member of the premium WordPress software community. While they are best known for their plugins, they recently launched a new WordPress hosting product.

Operating System: All

Application Category: Web Hosting

Editor's Rating:
3.5

1&1 IONOS Web Hosting Review: 4 Pros & 4 Cons of 1&1 Hosting

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

1&1 IONOS is one of the largest brands in the Internet services industry, and I get a lot of reader questions about what their hosting product is like. I’ve worked with 1&1 IONOS web hosting several times for clients, and recently bought a hosting package for a separate project I’m running. Here’s my first 1&1 web hosting review in a series that looks at their hosting product overall & in comparison with other top hosts.

See 1&1 IONOS’ Current Plans & Pricing

1&1 IONOS offers a wide range of products from domain names to hosting to website builder packages. 1&1 IONOS is actually one of the oldest web hosting companies – founded in 1988. And they are also one of the more aggressive advertisers with full-page ads in magazines and TV spots. Anecdotally, I think only GoDaddy rivals them in terms of mass-market advertising and brand awareness.

They recently merged with one of Europe’s largest cloud providers to create a new company. They’ve redesigned a lot of their products, and restructured their products.

1&1 Rebrand

But big brand doesn’t always mean a good product – and that’s one thing I wanted to look into with a full 1&1 IONOS web hosting review.

[Read more…] about 1&1 IONOS Web Hosting Review: 4 Pros & 4 Cons of 1&1 Hosting
1&1 IONOS

1&1 IONOS Hosting is one of the largest and oldest web services companies. Good pricing, but poor usability and performance makes 1&1 a poor fit for most.

Operating System: All

Application Category: Web Hosting

Editor's Rating:
3

11+ GoDaddy Website Builder Examples for Inspiration

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

So you’re considering using GoDaddy as your website builder, and you’re looking for GoDaddy website builder examples for inspiration and confirmation that you’re making the right choice of site builder.

See GoDaddy’s Current Plans & Pricing

GoDaddy is the big brand in the website services industry. From their Super Bowl ads to TV ads to online advertising, they are by far the most well-known choice for domains, hosting, website builders, online stores, and productivity products for small businesses.

[Read more…] about 11+ GoDaddy Website Builder Examples for Inspiration

Google Domains Review: Pros & Cons of Google As Domain Registrar

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Google Domains is a domain name registrar owned and operated by Google. Google rolled out the product in 2014, and is out of “beta” as of 2020.

Google Domains is not my primary domain registrar (which is NameCheap). As a Googlephile and SEO consultant, I pretty much had to register a domain with Google Domains the day they started.

Here’s my experience so far (going on 6+ years) and my full Google Domains review with pros & cons…

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Google Domains

Google Domains is Google's domain registrar product. It promises simplicity and transparency for US based customers. A bit pricier than rivals. But a solid product for owning a few domains. Simple and clean but lacks complementary products.

Operating System: All

Application Category: Domain Registration

Editor's Rating:
4

Google Domains vs. GoDaddy: Domain Name Providers Compared

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Google Domains and GoDaddy are two of the most well-known domain name registrars on the Internet. I’ve written about both Google Domains and compared GoDaddy to Namecheap (their other big competitor). But how do they compare to each other?

Visit GoDaddy’s Current Domain Pricing

Visit Google Domain’s Current Selection

Domain Registrars are a unique industry. Since ICANN issues all domain names, leaving Registrars mainly as bookkeepers, there is not a ton of scope to offer completely different products. At the end of the day, you simply need a domain name that you can associate with a server where your data lives.

And yet, not all domain registrars are the same (which is why you are reading this post, I’m guessing). I’ve tried dozens and have had every problem imaginable. There is no such thing as a “best” domain registrar. Everybody has tradeoffs. And Google and GoDaddy are actually a good example of very different approaches to domain registration.

I was a Day One customer of Google Domains back at their launch, and I’ve been a customer (and consultant to customers) of GoDaddy for 10+ years.

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Namecheap vs. GoDaddy? Where To Get Your Website Domain Names

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Namecheap vs. GoDaddy? Where’s the best domain registrar to buy your domain name? And once you buy your domain…who has the best hosting, email, and services? I get asked those type of questions a lot. I’m a customer of both GoDaddy and Namecheap. So this review is based 100% on my experience with both companies as far as domains go.

If you click this link for GoDaddy – you can get a .com for $4.99 for the first year.

If you click this link to Namecheap, you’ll access their current flash sale.

Quick Aside on Domain Registration & Hosting

GoDaddy & Namecheap both started life as domain name registrars, which allows them to sell & manage domain names. It is also the service that they are well-known for.

But they also offer a ton of complementary services. I’ll actually cover that below. But – it’s important to keep in mind that you can buy web services such as domains, hosting & email separately.

If you aren’t quite sure how they all interact, I’ve written posts on Domain Names Explained; Web Hosting Explained; Website Builders Explained; and Domain Registration vs. Web Hosting.

I’ve also specifically covered Namecheap’s hosting services here and GoDaddy’s hosting services here.

Still with me? Great! Let’s dive into the full Namecheap vs. GoDaddy review! Because you’re already the type of person who knows that your domain name is your name on the Internet – and that it matters who provides it – I’ll break the review down into 6 categories that actually matter – price, user experience, interface, extras, upsells, and principles based on my experience as a consultant & owner of (way too many) domains.

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Bluehost vs. HostGator Web Hosting Comparison

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

Bluehost vs. Hostgator? – it’s a question that’s a bit like asking “Coke or Sprite?” It’s somewhat slicing details, but it’s a choice nonetheless for something that you’ll likely be using for years.

Bluehost and HostGator are both –

  • Owned by Endurance International Group (EIG) – a large technology corporation
  • Established, well-known brands in the hosting industry
  • Provide a similar menu of products that revolve around shared Linux hosting
  • Provide pricing & hosting products that focus on small to midsize companies

And yet – they are different companies with different brands. When you are choosing a website host – you still have to end up choosing.

View Bluehost’s Current Plans & Pricing

View HostGator’s Current Plans & Pricing

I have current clients who use (and like) Bluehost. Bluehost has excellent business-focused features & support. They have a known & trusted brand.

I also have several projects that have run on HostGator for years. They have great value pricing, and provide some features for DIYers that are great. I’ve been happy with them.

In this comparison between Bluehost and HostGator, I’ll try to break down the differences that I’ve found in seven different areas ranging from pricing structure to customer service and market focus so that you can decide which is the best fit for your project.

Let’s dive into Bluehost vs. HostGator…

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Bluehost vs. iPage Web Hosting Comparison

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

“Bluehost vs. iPage?” – it’s a question that’s a bit like asking “Coke or Sprite?” It’s kind of slicing details, but it remains a choice nonetheless for something that you’ll likely be using for years.

Bluehost and iPage are both –

  • Owned by Endurance International Group (EIG) – a large technology corporation
  • Established, well-known brands in the hosting industry
  • Provide a similar menu of products that revolve around shared Linux hosting
  • Provide pricing & hosting products that focus on DIYers and small to midsize companies

View Bluehost’s Current Plans & Pricing

View iPage’s Current Plans & Pricing

And yet – they are still different companies with different brands. When you are choosing a website host – you still have to end up choosing.

I have current clients who use (and like) Bluehost. I wrote a full review of Bluehost here. I also compared other hosts to Bluehost here. They have a great suite of services and a trusted brand.

Although this site runs on InMotion Hosting (which I’ll mention later) – I also have several small projects on iPage. It’s specifically their pricing that makes sense for many sites. I wrote a full review of iPage here.

In this comparison between Bluehost vs. iPage, I’ll try to break down the differences that I’ve found in seven different areas ranging from pricing structure to customer service and market focus so that you can decide which is the best fit for your project.

Let’s dive into Bluehost vs. iPage…

[Read more…] about Bluehost vs. iPage Web Hosting Comparison

WP Engine Review: 9+ Pros & Cons of WP Engine WordPress Hosting

Nate Shivar Updated By

Disclosure - I receive a commission when you make a purchase from the companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my experience as a customer or consultant to a customer.

WP Engine is a Managed WordPress Hosting service based in Austin, TX. They were one of the (if not the) first companies to provide managed hosting services specifically for WordPress.

While they have plenty of competition in both the general hosting and managed WordPress hosting verticals, they are still the market leader in many ways -and they have broad name recognition and cutting-edge features.

See WP Engine’s Current Plans & Pricing

With the growth of both self-hosted WordPress and website builders, the hosting industry has become a super-confusing place.

Several of the bigger brands such as GoDaddy, Bluehost, HostGator, InMotion and SiteGround all now offer various flavors of “WordPress Hosting.”

I wrote a whole post about WordPress Hosting vs. Web Hosting.

But here’s the short version: They all vary in services provided. Some simply have WordPress-trained tech support. Some offer services such as server-side features and staging for WordPress.

And then there’s a separate level of managed WordPress Hosting where you are not really buying hosting per se – but rather services to keep your WordPress install live. Basically, a Managed WordPress Hosting service offers a menu of services tailored to WordPress at a higher price point, so that the website owner can focus less on speed + security and more on the website content + functionality.

Every competitor in the Managed WordPress Hosting has a different offering. And there is no standardized “menu” of options, but as a whole, they all compete with traditional shared Linux hosting offerings and customized WordPress hosting options.

Either way – that’s the field where WP Engine plays. It’s confusing, yes, but it’s important to understand before making apples to oranges comparisons.

There are a lot of WP Engine reviews online – usually with user-generated reviews based on anecdotes and personal experience. That’s fine but I take a different approach. This review will look at the pros + cons of WP Engine in the context of all web hosting options to see who it is a “best fit” for.

I’ve used WP Engine for various projects since 2012. I don’t use them for my primary sites right now (see conclusion), but I do have a current client on WP Engine who absolutely loves them. Here’s my WP Engine review structured as pros and cons.

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WP Engine

WP Engine is one of the leaders in Managed Hosting for WordPress. Great fit for some customers who need performance & critical support above all else. Complexity and price make it less of a fit for others.

Price: 30

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: All

Application Category: Managed WordPress Hosting

Editor's Rating:
4