Final verdict
Blocs and Format are tied with a final verdict score of 5.8 each
, indicating that both platforms have their unique strengths tailored to specific user needs.
-
Blocs
excels in providing a robust platform for Mac users, offering a wide range of design templates and customization options. Its strength lies in design functionalities, ease of use, and innovative AI capabilities, making it a solid choice for users looking for a powerful website builder with advanced features. Blocs is particularly suited for users who prioritize design versatility and have a technical background or willingness to explore its extensive features. -
Format
shines as a specialized platform for creative professionals, offering intuitive tools and templates designed to showcase portfolios. Its focus on user-friendly design, effective customer support, and security features makes it an attractive option for photographers, artists, and designers. Format’s integrated online store and client proofing tools further enhance its appeal to creatives looking to sell their work and engage with clients online.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.5 |
7.0 |
|
Ease of use |
8.7 |
8.3 |
|
Ecommerce |
7.0 |
5.2 |
|
Website Editors |
7.5 |
7.5 |
|
Product testing options |
7.0 |
8.3 |
|
Price |
9.0 |
7.9 |
|
Hosting quality |
0 |
5.0 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.2 |
5.0 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
6.8 |
4.9 |
|
Marketing features |
6.9 |
5.3 |
|
Customer support |
5.1 |
7.0 |
|
Security |
0.0 |
7.4 |
|
AI capabilities |
5.4 |
0.0 |
|
User Management |
1.4 |
2.8 |
| Overall |
5.8 |
5.8 |
Best for ecommerce
7.0
5.2
Verdict
: For users seeking robust ecommerce capabilities, Blocs is the superior choice over Format, offering a wider range of features and integrations.
-
Blocs
: With a score of 7.0, Blocs stands out for its flexibility in ecommerce through integrations with platforms like Ecwid and Stripe, making it suitable for a variety of online store setups. Its approach caters to users looking for a blend of design freedom and ecommerce functionality. -
Format
: Scoring 5.2, Format provides basic ecommerce features aimed at creative professionals. While it offers essential tools for selling products, its capabilities are more limited, especially for users aiming to build a comprehensive online store.
Best for informational & business websites
7.5
7.2
Verdict
: Blocs slightly edges out Format for informational and business websites, particularly for Mac users seeking a blend of power and ease of use. However, Format remains a strong contender, especially for creative professionals looking to showcase their work.
-
Blocs
: Tailored for Mac users, Blocs offers an intuitive platform with a focus on design and functionality. Its slightly higher score in this category reflects its capability to deliver modern, responsive websites with minimal effort. Ideal for designers and developers, Blocs is well-suited for those who prioritize visual appeal and user experience in their informational or business website. -
Format
: While Format is slightly behind Blocs in score, it is specifically designed for creatives such as photographers and artists. Its templates and tools are optimized for showcasing portfolios, making it a great choice for informational websites that rely heavily on visual content. Despite its lower score, Format’s ease of use and focus on aesthetics make it a viable option for business websites in creative industries.
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
7.0
🏆
Winner: Blocs.
If you’re a Mac user looking for a powerful and user-friendly website builder with a wide range of 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.
On the other hand, Format is a website builder specifically designed for creatives, offering nearly 100 customizable templates tailored for various artistic disciplines. It emphasizes high-quality imagery and mobile-friendly designs, ensuring portfolios look professional on any device.
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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
. With a score of 8.7, Blocs edges out Format (8.3) in terms of ease of use. Blocs is praised for its user-friendliness and versatility, offering an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and a wide range of features that facilitate the creation of visually appealing websites without the need for coding. Format, while also user-friendly, is more tailored to creative professionals and may not suit users in need of advanced functionalities or extensive third-party integrations.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Blocs
. Blocs offers a comprehensive suite of learning resources for web design, catering to both beginners and advanced users through its learning portal and Blocs Academy. Format, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive help center with a wide array of articles and maintains an official YouTube channel that features tutorials and updates.
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
5.2
When it comes to ecommerce, Blocs and Format offer different capabilities tailored to their target users. Blocs, designed for web designers and developers, 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, it might present a learning curve for complete beginners or those looking for simpler, more intuitive ecommerce solutions.
On the other hand, Format, designed for creative professionals, offers basic ecommerce functionalities for selling physical and digital products. It includes features such as product management, currency options, and discounts. However, its ecommerce capabilities are basic and may not suit those looking for extensive ecommerce features or a broad range of website types.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
7.8 |
4.0 |
|
Product page customization |
6.5 |
5.5 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.0 |
4.5 |
|
POS capabilities |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
7.5 |
6.5 |
|
Product numbers |
6.0 |
5.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
7.2 |
3.5 |
Blocs ecommerce features:
- Stripe integration
- Snipcart shopping cart integration
- Gumroad integration
- Ecwid integration
Format ecommerce features:
- Inventory management and tracking
- Discounts
- Multiple currency options
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. On the other hand, Format does not offer ecommerce specific templates.
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. Format offers limited specific details on product page customization directly, but its e-commerce features suggest a focus on showcasing products through high-quality imagery and detailed descriptions.
Payment processing
The Blocs website builder supports ecommerce through integrations with third-party ecommerce providers, suggesting flexibility in the use of various payment gateways. 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.
The Format website builder offers integration with major payment gateways, including Paypal and Stripe. It charges a 15% commission on the Pro plan and 5% on the Pro Plus plan. However, the platform does not have built-in POS (Point of Sale) capabilities.
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
7.5
🏆
Winner: Tie
. Both Blocs and Format scored 7.5 in this category, indicating that they both offer robust and user-friendly website editors.
Blocs app 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.
The Format website editor offers a variety of features for creating online portfolios. It provides nearly 100 professionally designed templates and thousands of design variations without requiring any coding. Users can express creativity with custom pages, incorporating unique gallery layouts, colors, text formatting, and custom code embeds. The templates and pages are fully responsive, ensuring a mobile-first experience. Format also supports direct video hosting, high-quality image rendering, and easy template switching to give sites a new look. Additionally, it includes studio management tools, e-commerce capabilities, and SEO tools.
Mobile editor/app
8.5
4.0
🏆
Winner: Blocs
. Both Blocs and Format offer unique features in their website builders, but when it comes to mobile editing, Blocs takes the lead. Blocs has a dedicated mobile editor app specifically designed for the iPad. This app provides a touch-first interface and 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, Format does not offer a dedicated app for editing on mobile devices. While it is possible to edit your website using a mobile browser, the interface presented is the same as the desktop version, making it difficult to use on a smartphone. Therefore, Blocs is the clear winner in this category due to its dedicated mobile app that enhances the user experience for website editing on the go.
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
8.3
Overall Result
:
Format Wins
. Format scores 8.3 in product testing options, slightly higher than Blocs’ 7.0. Both Blocs and Format do not offer a free version, but they provide trial versions for users to test their platforms. Blocs allows users to test some of its features during the free trial and within a 14-day refundable period. On the other hand, Format allows users to test all premium features during its 14-day free trial and offers a longer money-back guarantee period of 30 days compared to Blocs’ 14 days.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
No | No |
|
Trial Duration |
Yes |
14 days |
|
Testing Premium Features |
Limited during free trial |
All features during free trial |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
14 days |
30 days |
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
7.9
Blocs offers a one-time payment plan, which can be more cost-effective in the long run, while Format provides monthly subscriptions with discounts for annual payments.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
$10-$20 |
No offering at this amount. |
Basic ($12.00/month): Offers core services like mobile-optimized site, up to 10 web pages, and up to 70 high-resolution images. 3 client galleries, up to 2GB file transfers. No video uploads or custom code editor. Value for price: 5.0 |
|
$20-$30 |
No offering at this amount. |
Pro ($24.00/month): Includes all from Basic, plus unlimited web pages, 1500 high-resolution images,15 mins video hosting, 100GB cloud storage, a free custom domain, Online Store with up to 15 products, 50 client galleries and up to 5GB file transfers. Value for price: 7.5 |
|
$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 |
Pro Plus ($36.00/month): Adds on Pro features with priority support, unlimited pages and high-res images, 120 mins video hosting, and 1TB cloud storage. Online Store with up to 1000 products, 250 client galleries and 10GB file transfers. 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
5.0
Winner: Format
. Format offers hosting services, while Blocs does not. However, Format does not provide specific details about the type of hosting, uptime, or data centers. Despite the lack of detailed information, the availability of hosting services gives Format a higher score in hosting quality.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
No |
Yes |
|
Data Centers: |
Not applicable | Not disclosed |
|
Type of hosting: |
Not applicable | Not disclosed |
|
Uptime: |
Not applicable | Not disclosed |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
Not applicable | Not disclosed |
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 Format prioritize website performance and page speed, but Blocs gets a slight edge due to its WebP Generation strategy.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
WebP Generation |
Image and video optimization |
|
Performance Tools |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Key Strategies |
WebP Generation |
Image and video optimization |
|
Load Times |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not disclosed |
Not disclosed |
Blocs, a website builder designed specifically for Mac users, prioritizes website performance and page speed. Its key strategy for speed optimization is WebP Generation. However, Blocs does not disclose any information about its Core Web Vitals improvements. The load times and PageSpeed scores vary depending on optimization and website complexity.
Format, a website builder designed for creative professionals, also prioritizes website performance and page speed. Its key strategy for speed optimization is image and video optimization. Like Blocs, Format does not disclose any information about its Core Web Vitals improvements. The load times and PageSpeed scores also vary depending on optimization and website complexity.
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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
4.9
🏆 Winner: Blocs.
With a score of 6.8, Blocs leads in this category. It offers a variety of custom-made add-ons and extensions that enhance web design capabilities, facilitating a richer web development experience. They allow for the addition of sophisticated e-commerce systems, dynamic content via CMS integration, and enhanced SEO tools.
On the other hand, Format, with a score of 4.9, offers support for a limited selection of plugins/integrations. However, it does include support for several key integrations, including Adobe Lightroom, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics. Despite this, its overall capabilities for expansion through plugins and integrations are notably limited.
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
5.3
🏆
Overall Winner: Blocs
. Blocs stands out for its more advanced marketing tools, especially in SEO and analytics. Format is strong in email marketing and blogging, ideal for content-driven strategies.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
|
|
|
Email Marketing |
|
|
|
Blogging |
|
|
|
Social Media Integration |
|
|
|
Analytics and Reporting |
|
|
|
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
7.0
🏆 Winner: Format
. Format outperforms Blocs in this category with a customer support score of 7.0 compared to Blocs’ 5.1. Format offers 24/7 customer support through email and live chat, ensuring users can get help whenever they need it. The support team is distributed across different countries, providing round-the-clock assistance.
On the other hand, Blocs leans heavily 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. Neither of the platforms offers enterprise-level support.
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
7.4
🏆
Winner: Format
. Format takes the lead in security with a score of 7.4, compared to Blocs’ score of 0.0. Format emphasizes the security of user data through encrypted data storage, both in transit and at rest, and employs strict access controls. The platform regularly updates its security measures to protect against new threats and complies with data protection regulations like GDPR. Users are also provided with resources to help secure their accounts, including strong password guidelines and two-factor authentication options.
On the other hand, Blocs does not disclose any information about their private data storage and protection measures. As Blocs primarily focuses on building websites offline and does not offer hosting, security measures 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
0.0
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Builder |
|
Format does not have an AI website builder |
|
AI Ecommerce features |
|
Format does not have AI ecommerce features |
|
AI content generation |
Blocs incorporates an innovative AI Assistant for content generation and editing |
|
|
Additional AI features |
Blocs introduces advanced AI capabilities to the design environment, enabling users to enhance their projects with intelligent features |
|
🏆 Winner: Blocs
. Despite both Blocs and Format lacking an AI builder and AI ecommerce features, Blocs takes the lead with its innovative AI Assistant that enhances the user experience by allowing for the generation and editing of content directly within a Blocs project. This feature offers seamless integration and significantly enhances the assistant’s accuracy and functionality. On the other hand, Format does not have any AI capabilities.
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
2.8
🏆 Winner: Format
. Both Blocs and Format only allow one user to manage and edit websites. However, Format scores slightly higher in user management with a score of 2.8 compared to Blocs’ score of 1.4. This suggests that Format may offer a slightly better user management experience, despite the lack of multi-user capabilities in both platforms.
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.
Users highly praise Format for its user-friendly website builder, particularly noting the ease of adding images and the effectiveness of customer service. Many reviewers appreciate the variety of modern templates and the platform’s suitability for users without technical expertise, especially photographers. Format’s mobile app and proofing section receive special mentions for their convenience and functionality. However, some users desire more customization options, particularly for mobile views, and mention minor limitations in template flexibility and SEO functionality. Overall, Format is celebrated for its ability to provide a professional online presence easily and efficiently, solving users’ needs for showcasing work and attracting new clients.
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 Format?
Can I use Blocs or Format for ecommerce?
Which platform offers better customer support, Blocs or Format?
How do Blocs and Format compare in terms of design and templates?
Which platform is more user-friendly for beginners?
Are there any significant differences in pricing between Blocs and Format?
Which platform is better for creative professionals?
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