Site creation services: A comparison from March 2011
Competition is fierce in the market of website construction services. These services are referred to by experts as “webCMS” or “website builders”.
Over the past decade, numerous services have emerged to create personal websites. Their multiplication is often linked to changes in the technology available. For example: Flash JavaScript or Ajax and HTML 5.
What follows is an overview of these services that cater to all audiences. Using the services, a person with no advanced technical background or knowledge of web technologies or languages is able to create a website. Each is different and will offer users varying degrees of ease and success.
For this comparison we have surveyed the current industry leaders and have added the services that we have deemed to be most credible.
Services that include a free offer
PRO: powerful editor, theme classification, numerous modules, connection to social networks CON:increase in edit screens, high price, very restricted free mode JUDGMENT: A quality paid service that is well connected to other online services but is expensive and tedious to use
PRO: Excellent module integration, unified principles for handling objects, direct editing in the page. CON: Automatic web publishing, lack of explanations in the modules, complex, expertise necessary. JUDGEMENT: A useful service for creating powerful websites. Provides an ergonomic layout and the ability to quickly build and publish sites. However it is highly complex and calls for a prior experience in Computer and Internet technology.
PRO: rich functionality, rational interface, site preview, very professional assistance. CON: creating and consuming power modules, inflexible themes, essential functions only included with expensive subscriptions. JUDGMENT: A service for creating Flash sites with a clear and well organized interface. Preprogrammed themes are very restrictive.
PRO: Direct editing of pages, an excellent tool for graphic designers, simple business model, template sharing between users. CON: Display bugs, no navigation menu, no guidance for building a good site. JUDGMENT: A solution for geeks and pros to easily facilitate web design. However the service is not reliable enough. It is very difficult to make a site that meets the expectations of readers and search engines
PRO: The promise of easily creating sites that are both clear and easy to use seems to be fulfilled, assisted creation of multilingual sites, successful coaching of novices. CON: Insufficient richness of features for advanced users, paid subscription is required to edit details in the graphic themes. JUDGMENT: A simple and original service, ideal for users with no computer background. Created sites are highly structured for readers and search engines. The only service to offer multilingual sites. Lacks some functions.
PRO: Powerful creation engine, excellent ergonomics, feature-rich, flexible themes, WYSIWYG editing, support for beginners. CON: Confusing preview and publication module, bugs in the image import dialog, no management of non English accented characters, multiple configuration boxes, pushy advertising standards. JUDGMENT: A good service for creating sites. Very ergonomic layout. Finely tunable. Quality help. However too many dialogues and the merchandising is consistently present. There are also annoying bugs. Service is unilingual.
PRO: Powerful editing engine, precision management of objects, rich functionality, ideal interface for users familiar with Office, precision online help. CON: Service is slow, many dialogue boxes, manipulation of themes is complex, absence of guides. JUDGEMENT: Ubiquitous commercial offers in the interface, free website a hoax, a service reserved for fans of the former Office interface. The site creation technique is intended for specialists who appreciate picky access settings
PRO: Excellent interface, flexibility, overall clarity, rich functionality, free trial included. CONS: Bugs found when working in Firefox 4, certain fonts are difficult to read without accents, designers need to be masters in planning to build a good site. JUDGMENT: A service with a remarkably well integrated interface, inspired by Office, many of the functions are open to free sites but expertise is needed to make sites that meet the expectations of readers and search engines.
PRO: Very good use of Flash, good ergonomics and editing features, full screen ability, good support, functional richness and a clarity of interface. CON: Powerful tool but it comes at a price: slow loading, several pallets of adjustment, e-commerce not really offered in free version. Invasive auto-promotion on published free sites, preloaded metadata in favor of the service itself JUDGMENT: With its outstanding ergonomics, this is a powerful and effective tool intended for advanced users who are looking to create beautiful websites in Flash with indexable text. You have to pay to get rid of Wix advertisement. Possibility to put sound on the site.
PRO: Rational design environment, rich functionality, publishing facilitated by the use of widgets. CONS: No free themes of any kind. Inflexible models, display bugs in published sites using older versions of the software. JUDGMENT: A site full of creative functions with a rational interface that offers very banal models full of constraints. The assistance is in part expired
Paid services with a limited trial offer (no free site)
Service not tested because registration policy obsolete: requirement to provide credit references in addition to full contact before being able to test the service. Most expensive of the services being compared.
PRO: Sleek interface, true wysiwyg, clear support, powerful editor, very sophisticated themes, great deal of thought put into the functions. CONS: Many elements to master, no e-commerce support, management of site and pages is complex, high price of service JUDGMENT: A service that realizes good technical achievement. An elegant interface with useful support. Good attention to detail makes this an interesting option for webmasters and seasoned experts. When tested e-commerce was non-functional.
PRO: Excellent ergonomics for experienced users, wysiwyg, concise clear interface, good access to support, tips on organizing content, well developed tools. CONS: Initial platform dedicated to blogging, many concepts to master in order to manage a site, monolingual. JUDGMENT: Initially this is a very powerful tool for managing blogs. A unique WYSIWYG interface makes it a credible alternative to other services. However there is a demand for real expertise in content management and web and computer technology in order to manage a site.
PRO: Different organizational modes, effective interface, precision of use. CONS: Initial platform dedicated to blogging, confusing organization, lack of basic functions, must be a master of html in order to quickly build and maintain sites, monolingual. JUDGMENT: A very rich service for creating blogs, has an effective interface but the organization is slow to learn. Missing functions require users to have a good understanding of html.
Services excluded from our comparison
In 2001 the web agency Cabanova chose to exclusively use Flash in its website creation tool. The version TX released in September 2010 continues this trend.
A service using an original approach, the “gamification” to accompany the creation of websites. The service provider encourages excessive monetization of sites created using their service. It is likely that the service generates more capital than the customers.
The Google website creation service is rich in functionality with an uncluttered interface. However the interface can sometimes be confusing. This service is not promoted by the publisher.
The services offered by this site are tuned for creative people in general but focuses especially on photographers. The Flash technology used on their websites is a selling point. However, we consider this to be a handicap.
This is a Content Management Software intended for web-savvy individuals. Wordpress also offers online hosting services. This is a specialized software geared towards the publishing of blogs and due to its specialized nature it has been excluded from this comparison.
A hosting solution offering free hosting without advertising. A very simple website creator is included in the offer but it is more a marketing augmentation than a competitive service.