Final verdict
Appy Pie and Blocs cater to different user needs and preferences, with Appy Pie emerging as the more versatile and user-friendly option overall.
-
Blocs (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
is a specialized tool designed for Mac users, offering a powerful platform for those with a focus on design and customization. Its strengths lie in design functionalities and templates, making it a preferred choice for users seeking creative control. However, it falls short in areas like ecommerce capabilities, hosting quality, customer support, and security, which are crucial for a comprehensive web development experience. -
Appy Pie (Overall Grade: 7.2/10)
stands out for its ease of use, comprehensive AI capabilities, and strong customer support. It offers a wide range of features that cater to both app and website development, making it a versatile choice for users looking to create professional-looking websites efficiently. Appy Pie’s focus on AI-driven design and customization, along with its robust security measures, positions it as a practical solution for users of all skill levels.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.5 |
6.8 |
|
Ease of use |
8.7 |
8.3 |
|
Ecommerce |
7.0 |
7.2 |
|
Website Editors |
7.5 |
7.7 |
|
Product testing options |
7.0 |
8.9 |
|
Price |
9.0 |
7.4 |
|
Hosting quality |
0 |
6.9 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.2 |
5.0 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
6.8 |
6.4 |
|
Marketing features |
6.9 |
7.5 |
|
Customer support |
5.1 |
8.2 |
|
Security |
0.0 |
7.5 |
|
AI capabilities |
5.4 |
7.2 |
|
User Management |
1.4 |
7.3 |
| Overall |
5.8 |
7.2 |
Best for ecommerce
7.0
7.2
Verdict
: With a very close score in ecommerce capabilities, Appy Pie slightly edges out Blocs, offering a marginally better suite of features for online store creation and management.
-
Blocs
: Tailored for Mac users, Blocs integrates with several ecommerce platforms, providing a solid foundation for creating online stores. It’s particularly suited for those with a design focus, offering responsive templates and a range of customization options through third-party integrations. -
Appy Pie
: Stands out for its ease of use and comprehensive ecommerce features directly within its platform. It’s designed for quick deployment of online stores, making it ideal for businesses looking to get up and running without the complexities of code. Appy Pie’s slightly higher ecommerce score and its focus on a no-code solution for app and website development make it a strong contender for those prioritizing simplicity and efficiency.
Best for informational & business websites
7.5
7.4
Verdict
: With nearly identical scores for informational and business websites, Blocs slightly edges out Appy Pie, making it a marginally better choice for users prioritizing design and customization.
-
Blocs
: Blocs offers a powerful, user-friendly website builder specifically designed for Mac users, focusing on beautiful, modern websites without the need for coding. Its intuitive visual interface, pre-designed blocks, and responsive design make it ideal for creating professional websites with minimal effort, especially for designers and developers. -
Appy Pie
: Appy Pie provides a no-code development platform that’s easy and quick for creating websites, making it suitable for individuals and businesses wanting to establish an online presence with minimal technical know-how. Its simple, drag-and-drop interface and vast template selection cater to users of all skill levels, focusing on ease-of-use and quick deployment.
Detailed comparison
Design functionalities & templates
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
7.5
6.8
🏆
Winner: Blocs.
If you’re looking for a platform that offers more creative control and a wide array of design features, Blocs is the preferred choice.
Blocs website builder offers a vast selection of design templates, boasting over 36 layouts for various website types, including business, e-commerce, personal portfolios, and photography, catering to a wide range of user needs. These templates are designed to be responsive, ensuring optimal display across different devices, from desktops to smartphones. Furthermore, the templates are available for purchase in packages, with pricing dependent on the number of websites intended for creation, and are crafted for easy customization, enabling users without coding expertise to quickly develop professional-looking websites.
Compared to Blocs, Appy Pie offers a wide array of website templates with over 10,000 options, catering to various needs and budgets. Categorized across industries, these templates are mobile-friendly and customizable, allowing users to edit colors, fonts, layouts, and add features. The platform’s pre-designed themes, layouts, and user-friendly drag-and-drop builder enhance visual appeal and customization ease, making it accessible for users without coding knowledge.
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Ease of use
Ease of useReflects the platform’s overall user-friendliness.Score
Components:
- Learning curve (40%): Quickness and ease of getting started.
- Interface design (30%): Simplicity and intuitiveness of layout.
- User guidance (20%): Quality of tutorials and support.
- Flexibility (10%): Adaptability to various user skills.
8.7
8.3
🏆 Winner: Blocs
. Scoring 8.7, Blocs is highly regarded for its user-friendliness and versatility, particularly among Mac users. Appy Pie, with a score of 8.3, offers a simple and intuitive design, but falls slightly short in comparison to Blocs. If ease of use is a priority, Blocs is the clear winner in this category.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Blocs
. While both platforms offer solid learning resources, Blocs goes a step further with its comprehensive suite of learning resources for web design, catering to both beginners and advanced users through its learning portal and Blocs Academy.
For ecommerce
EcommerceMeasures the platform’s effectiveness in supporting online business activities.Score Components:
- Ecommerce themes and templates (20%): Variety and design of templates.
- Product management (25%): Ease of managing and organizing products.
- Payment options (25%): Variety and convenience of payment methods.
- Ecommerce features (20%): Features for managing an ecommerce store.
- Integration (10%): Compatibility with external e-commerce tools and services.
7.0
7.2
Blocs and Appy Pie both offer ecommerce capabilities, but their approaches and features differ significantly.
Blocs supports ecommerce through integration with leading service providers like Ecwid, Stripe, Snipcart, Paddle, and Gumroad. This allows for features such as buy buttons, checkouts, and complete storefronts. However, as a visual design tool aimed mainly at web designers and developers, it might present a learning curve for complete beginners or those looking for simpler, more intuitive ecommerce solutions.
On the other hand, Appy Pie provides ecommerce features for building and managing online stores within your app. It includes key functionalities such as product listings, inventory management, a secure shopping cart, diverse payment gateways, support for multiple currencies, promotions, order management, shipping options, tax calculation, and analytics.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
7.8 |
6.0 |
|
Product page customization |
6.5 |
7.0 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.0 |
6.5 |
|
POS capabilities |
0.0 |
6.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
7.5 |
7.5 |
|
Product numbers |
6.0 |
6.5 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
7.2 |
7.0 |
Blocs ecommerce features:
- Stripe integration
- Snipcart shopping cart integration
- Gumroad integration
- Ecwid integration
Appy Pie ecommerce features:
- Product and Inventory Management
- Shopping Cart
- Multiple Currencies
- Promotions and Discounts
- Order Management
- Shipping Options
- Analytics
- Tax management
Ecommerce themes & templates
Blocs provides a range of ecommerce-specific templates, allowing users to quickly launch optimized online stores or business platforms. These premium templates are designed to be fast, visually appealing, and SEO-friendly, ensuring websites look great on all devices and load quickly.
In contrast, Appy Pie offers a small selection of ecommerce website templates. These templates are designed to help users create online stores quickly and efficiently, without the need for coding skills. Appy Pie’s ecommerce templates feature mobile-first designs, customizable product galleries, and various other features aimed at enhancing the online shopping experience for both the store owner and their customers.
Product page customization
Blocs primarily offers ecommerce features through third-party ecommerce platforms such as Ecwid, so the product page customization possibilities vary depending on which platform is integrated.
Appy Pie’s Website Builder provides users with extensive customization options for product pages, enabling the creation of unique online stores or product showcases without requiring advanced coding skills. Users can personalize product details like descriptions, images, and pricing, ensuring they can offer comprehensive information to assist customers in making informed purchasing choices.
Payment processing
When it comes to payment processing, Blocs supports ecommerce through integrations with third-party ecommerce providers, suggesting flexibility in the use of various payment gateways without directly listing them. Blocs does not charge transaction fees or commissions, however such fees may be charged by the payment gateways or e-commerce platforms themselves. Additionally, Blocs does not offer POS capabilities.
Appy Pie offers a user-friendly platform for integrating payment processing and POS capabilities into mobile apps and online stores, supporting multiple payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Square for secure and versatile customer transactions. While it facilitates easy payment integrations, commission management may require third-party solutions or custom setups. This makes Appy Pie an effective tool for businesses looking to provide a comprehensive shopping experience with a focus on mobility and flexibility.
Website Editors
Website EditorsEvaluates the platforms’ website building and editing capabilities.Score Components:
- Customization tools (40%): Range and power of editing features.
- Editor usability (30%): User experience within the editor.
- Design flexibility (20%): Freedom in layout and design changes.
- Update and maintenance ease (10%): Simplicity of updating and maintaining the site.
7.5
7.7
🏆
Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie, with a score of 7.7, offers a user-friendly, cloud-based platform that allows individuals, professionals, and small businesses to create mobile-friendly websites without needing to code. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, and various features like social media integration, ecommerce capabilities, and SEO tools. This makes it an ideal solution for quickly creating a wide range of websites, from landing pages to online stores, tailored to users’ specific needs and brand identities.
Blocs, scoring 7.5, is a user-friendly web design tool that enables the creation of modern, responsive websites without needing to code. It utilizes a block-based interface with drag-and-drop functionality, making web design accessible to designers and creatives without technical backgrounds. The app offers a variety of pre-designed blocks, integration options, and SEO tools to streamline the website creation process. Blocs stands out for its intuitive design process, allowing users to quickly bring their website visions to life with minimal effort.
Mobile editor/app
8.5
5.5
🏆
Winner: Blocs
. Both Blocs and Appy Pie offer mobile editing capabilities, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. Blocs provides a dedicated mobile editor app specifically designed for the iPad. This app includes all the essential features needed to create various types of websites, offering a flexible and efficient solution for building professional and beautiful websites on an iPad.
On the other hand, Appy Pie’s website builder does not have a dedicated mobile app. However, it is possible to edit Appy Pie websites using the mobile browser. This might not provide the same level of convenience and functionality as a dedicated mobile app.
In summary, Blocs receives a higher rating due to its dedicated mobile app that offers a comprehensive set of features for website creation and editing, while Appy Pie’s mobile editing capabilities are limited to browser-based editing.
Product testing options
Product Testing OptionsAssesses the options for trying out platform features before commitment.Score Components:
- Trial quality (40%): Extent and usefulness of the trial or free version.
- Feature accessibility (30%): How many features are available to test.
- Trial duration (20%): Length of the trial period.
- Ease of transition (10%): Smoothness of moving from trial to paid plans.
7.0
8.9
Overall Result
:
Appy Pie Wins
. Appy Pie scores 8.9 in product testing options, significantly higher than Blocs’ 7.0. Appy Pie offers a 30-day free trial with access to all premium features, providing users with a comprehensive testing experience. Blocs, on the other hand, offers a trial version with limited premium feature testing and a 14-day money-back guarantee.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
No | No |
|
Trial Duration |
Yes |
30 days |
|
Testing Premium Features |
Limited during trial |
All features during free trial |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
14-day money back guarantee |
No |
Price
PriceLooks at the cost-effectiveness and value for money of each platform.Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
9.0
7.4
Blocs offers a one-time payment plan, making it a cost-effective solution in the long run, while Appy Pie provides a more traditional monthly subscription model with a discount for annual commitments.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
$10-$20 |
No offering at this amount. |
Start ($18/month): Suitable for personal projects, offering 50 GB storage and access to professional theme templates, domain connection, no Appy Pie ads, CSS & Java customization, etc. Value for price: 6.5 |
|
$30-$50 |
Blocs Plus (+$49.99): An add-on to the Blocs 5 plan, providing additional features such as the ability to build custom WordPress themes without writing code, extract typography, assets, and color schemes from any website, a productivity-boosting image editor, a class styles library manager, and an SEO helper. Value for price: 8.5 |
Grow ($36/month): Aimed at small businesses, providing unlimited storage, advanced marketing and monetizing tools, multiple payment gateways, etc. Value for price: 8.5 |
|
$90+ |
Blocs 5 ($99.99): This plan offers a native Mac app with no subscription required. It allows building unlimited websites, works offline, includes animations & scroll FX, powerful interactions, no page limit, font manager, writer mode, auto backup, all V5 updates, and email support. A Blocs license can be used on one Mac and all future Blocs V5 updates come for free. Value for price: 8.0 |
No offering at this amount. |
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.
Hosting quality
Hosting
qualityExamines the reliability and performance of the hosting solutions.Score Components:
- Uptime (40%): Consistency and reliability of website availability.
- Speed (30%): Loading times and performance.
- Bandwidth and storage (20%): Sufficiency of resources provided.
- Data centers (10%): Quality and distribution of hosting infrastructure.
0
6.9
Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie offers proprietary hosting services, while Blocs does not offer any hosting services. Appy Pie’s hosting services include a 99% uptime guarantee and it relies on Amazon Web Services (AWS) for its data centers.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
No | Yes |
|
Data Centers: |
Not applicable | AWS |
|
Type of hosting: |
Not applicable | Proprietary hosting service |
|
Uptime: |
Not applicable | 99% |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
Not applicable | Yes, 99% |
Website Speed Optimization
Website Speed OptimizationEvaluates optimization of website loading timesScore Components:
- PageSpeed Score (30%): Google’s score indicating performance optimization.
- Loading Time (30%): The average time until a website is fully interactive.
- Mobile Optimization (15%): Optimization effectiveness for mobile devices.
- Resource Optimization (15%): Optimizing images, scripts, and other heavy resources.
- CDN Usage (10%): Use of CDN to enhance speed across geolocations.
5.2
5.0
🏆 Winner: Blocs
Both Blocs and Appy Pie have similar website speed optimization scores, but Blocs edges out slightly with a score of 5.2 compared to Appy Pie’s 5.0.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
WebP Generation |
User-driven optimization |
|
Performance Tools |
Not specified |
Various tools and features |
|
Key Strategies |
WebP Generation |
No specific strategies |
|
Load Times |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
Varies widely, depending on optimization and user’s location |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not disclosed |
Not disclosed |
Blocs, a website builder designed specifically for Mac users, focuses on WebP Generation for speed optimization. However, it does not disclose specific information about its load times, PageSpeed scores, or improvements in Core Web Vitals.
On the other hand, Appy Pie, an AI website builder, does not directly implement specific speed optimization strategies. Instead, it offers various tools and features that users can utilize to optimize their website’s speed. Like Blocs, Appy Pie does not disclose specific information about its load times, PageSpeed scores, or improvements in Core Web Vitals.
Given the lack of specific information from both builders, it’s recommended for users to conduct their own tests to determine the actual performance of their websites.
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Plugins and integrations
Plugins and integrationsMeasures the range and effectiveness of additional plugins and integrations.Score Components:
- Variety of options (40%): Range of available add-ons.
- Integration smoothness (30%): Ease of integrating plugins into the site.
- Quality of plugins (20%): Functionality and reliability of the options.
- Custom integration capabilities (10%): Support for custom or third-party integrations.
6.8
6.4
🏆 Winner: Blocs.
With a score of 6.8, Blocs edges out Appy Pie, which scored 6.4. Blocs offers a variety of custom-made add-ons and extensions that enhance web design capabilities, facilitating a richer web development experience. On the other hand, Appy Pie provides a range of plugins and extensions for website enhancement, with the availability differing across plans. While both platforms offer a wide range of functionalities, Blocs’ emphasis on ease of use and learning, along with its extensive resources, tutorials, and community support, gives it a slight advantage.
Marketing Features
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
6.9
7.5
🏆
Overall Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie edges out Blocs with a slightly higher score, offering a more comprehensive suite of marketing tools, including SEO features, email marketing, blogging, social media integration, analytics and reporting, and ads and promotions.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
|
|
|
Email Marketing |
✓ (via Mailchimp integration) |
|
|
Blogging |
|
|
|
Social Media Integration |
|
|
|
Analytics and Reporting |
✓ (via Google Analytics integration) |
|
|
Ads and Promotions |
✗ |
|
Customer Support
Customer supportEvaluates the quality and availability of support options.Score Components:
- Response time (40%): Speed of support responses.
- Support quality (30%): Effectiveness and helpfulness of the support.
- Availability (20%): Range of support channels (phone, chat, email).
- Resource richness (10%): Quality of self-help and educational materials.
5.1
8.2
🏆 Winner: Appy Pie
. With a customer support score of 8.2, Appy Pie outperforms Blocs, which has a score of 5.1. Appy Pie offers 24/7 customer support through various channels including live chat, email, and phone. They also provide extensive documentation and tutorials on their website to help users troubleshoot common problems on their own.
On the other hand, Blocs leans towards self-service, relying predominantly on articles and a community forum for user assistance. This setup may leave some users feeling unsupported, particularly when they encounter complex issues that require direct, personalized support. Furthermore, Blocs does not offer an enterprise level support, which is a disadvantage for larger businesses.
Security
SecurityLooks at the platforms’ security measures and data protection.Score Components:
- Data protection (40%): Safeguards for user and customer data.
- SSL and encryption (30%): Implementation of secure connections.
- Compliance (20%): Adherence to industry security standards.
- Regular updates (10%): Frequency of security updates and patches.
0.0
7.5
🏆
Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie takes the lead in security with a score of 7.5. They offer secure private data storage and protection, advanced encryption, strict access controls, SSL encryption, regular security audits, secure hosting, two-factor authentication, and password protection for user accounts. They also have a dedicated team that monitors and responds to any security threats or breaches.
On the other hand, Blocs, with a security score of 0.0, does not provide any information about their private data storage and protection measures. As Blocs is primarily an offline website builder and does not offer hosting, security measures can vary widely depending on the hosting provider users choose.
AI Capabilities
AI capabilitiesMeasures the effectiveness of AI-driven features and tools.Score Components:
- Automation efficiency (40%): Impact of AI on streamlining processes.
- Personalization (30%): AI-driven customization for users or customers.
- AI-Assisted design (20%): Role of AI in website design and functionality.
- Data analysis (10%): Use of AI in interpreting user data and analytics.
5.4
7.2
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Builder |
|
Appy Pie uses AI algorithms to design and customize websites |
|
AI Ecommerce features |
|
Appy Pie offers personalized shopping experiences and chatbots |
|
AI Content Generation |
Blocs AI Assistant allows for content generation and editing |
Appy Pie’s AI tailors content to match user goals and audience |
|
Additional AI features |
Blocs AI Assistant offers advanced AI capabilities |
Appy Pie offers chatbots, virtual assistants, and AI analytics |
🏆 Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie, with a score of 7.2, offers a comprehensive suite of AI capabilities, including an AI website builder, AI ecommerce features, AI content generation, and additional AI features such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and AI analytics. These features make it easy for users to create professional-looking websites without any coding knowledge.
Blocs, with a score of 5.4, does not have an AI builder or AI ecommerce features. However, it does have an AI Assistant that enhances the user experience by allowing for the generation and editing of content directly within a Blocs project. This feature is accessible through the Main Menu or a keyboard shortcut, offering seamless integration.
User Management
User ManagementAssesses the platforms’ capabilities in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility.Score Components:
- Role Customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of Management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access Control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
1.4
7.3
🏆 Winner: Appy Pie
. The user management capabilities of Blocs and Appy Pie are quite different.
- Blocs allows only one user to build and edit a website.
- The Appy Pie website builder offers different user access levels based on the plan chosen. For the Free Plan, one user has full editing privileges. Paid plans include the Starter Plan (3 users), Hobby Plan (5 users), Professional Plan (10 users), and Enterprise Plan (unlimited users). Each plan designates an Admin with full access and additional Editors with varying editing rights. Additionally, paid plans allow for customization of roles, enabling tasks such as content editing or design adjustments.
Unfortunately, there is no information available about user roles and access levels for both Blocs and Appy Pie.
Additional Features
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SSL Certificate |
|
|
|
Custom Domain |
|
|
|
Free Custom Domain Included |
|
|
|
International Domains |
|
|
|
Mobile Responsive |
|
|
|
Page Speed |
|
|
|
Website Builder Mobile App |
|
|
|
Convert a Website To An App |
|
|
|
Website Analytics |
|
|
|
Multilingual Sites |
|
|
|
Multiple Users |
|
|
User Feedback
Blocs website builder is praised for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible to users with varying levels of web development expertise. Its extensive library of templates and customization options, including the ability to add custom CSS and JavaScript, facilitates the rapid creation of diverse and visually appealing websites. However, users report encountering bugs and express a desire for more sophisticated customization features, indicating room for improvement. Overall, Blocs is valued for significantly streamlining the web design process, supported by a strong community and educational resources, despite its learning curve and occasional technical glitches.
Appy Pie garners positive feedback for its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support, offering low-code solutions for app and website building without requiring coding experience. Users appreciate its ease of use, extensive features, and ability to create apps and websites quickly. While some express a desire for more customization options and templates, overall, Appy Pie serves as a valuable tool for businesses and individuals seeking to create apps and websites efficiently, solving the problem of complex coding requirements and providing a platform for easy communication and engagement with users.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
FAQ
Which platform is better for Mac users, Blocs or Appy Pie?
Can I use Appy Pie for both website and app development?
How do Blocs and Appy Pie compare in terms of ecommerce capabilities?
Which platform offers better customer support?
Are there any significant differences in the pricing models of Blocs and Appy Pie?
Which platform is more user-friendly for beginners?
Do Blocs and Appy Pie offer AI capabilities?
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