Final verdict
Between Blocs and Square Online, each platform has its strengths tailored to different user needs and preferences.
-
Blocs (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
excels in providing a user-friendly experience for Mac users, offering a robust set of design functionalities and templates. It’s particularly suited for designers and developers looking for a platform that combines ease of use with a high degree of customization. Blocs’ focus on design and its comprehensive learning resources make it a strong choice for those prioritizing aesthetics and user experience in their website creation process. -
Square Online (Overall Grade: 7.2/10)
stands out for its comprehensive ecommerce features and seamless integration with Square’s payment processing and business management tools. It’s an ideal choice for retailers, restaurants, and service businesses aiming to expand their online presence. With its higher scores in ecommerce capabilities, hosting quality, website speed optimization, and customer support, Square Online offers a well-rounded platform for businesses looking to manage their online and offline operations efficiently.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.5 |
7.4 |
|
Ease of use |
8.7 |
8.4 |
|
Ecommerce |
7.0 |
7.3 |
|
Website Editors |
7.5 |
6.6 |
|
Product testing options |
7.0 |
7.8 |
|
Price |
9.0 |
7.5 |
|
Hosting quality |
0 |
7.8 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.2 |
6.2 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
6.8 |
7.6 |
|
Marketing features |
6.9 |
7.4 |
|
Customer support |
5.1 |
6.7 |
|
Security |
0.0 |
8.5 |
|
AI capabilities |
5.4 |
7.4 |
|
User Management |
1.4 |
5.2 |
| Overall |
5.8 |
7.2 |
Best for ecommerce
7.0
7.3
Verdict
: Square Online slightly edges out Blocs in ecommerce capabilities, particularly for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution with strong POS features.
-
Blocs
: Offers a solid foundation for Mac users and web designers with its easy-to-use interface and integration with popular ecommerce platforms. It’s best suited for those who prioritize design and have specific ecommerce tools in mind. -
Square Online
: Tailored for retailers, restaurants, and service businesses, Square Online provides a comprehensive ecommerce solution. Its direct integration with Square’s payment processing and business management tools makes it ideal for businesses seeking to streamline their operations.
Best for informational & business websites
7.5
7.4
Verdict
: With nearly identical scores in this category, both Blocs and Square Online offer compelling features for informational and business websites, but Blocs slightly edges out with its focus on design and ease of use for Mac users.
-
Blocs
: Tailored for Mac users, Blocs shines with its intuitive interface and pre-designed blocks, making it ideal for those prioritizing design and simplicity in their informational websites. Its slightly higher score reflects its effectiveness in creating visually appealing and responsive websites with minimal effort. -
Square Online
: Very close behind Blocs, Square Online is a robust choice for businesses looking for an integrated online presence. While it excels in e-commerce, its capabilities extend to creating professional informational websites, supported by a variety of customizable templates and easy drag-and-drop tools.
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
7.4
🏆
Winner: Blocs.
Although both builders offer a good range of design functionalities and templates, Blocs edges out Square Online with a slightly higher score.
Blocs offers a vast selection of design templates, boasting over 36 layouts for various website types, including business, e-commerce, personal portfolios, and photography. These templates are designed to be responsive, ensuring optimal display across different devices, from desktops to smartphones.
On the other hand, Square Online offers a flexible website builder with a focus on e-commerce, providing a variety of design options through integration with platforms like Weebly. While the exact number of templates available directly from Square is not specified, the integration with Weebly provides about a hundred themes, including 15 for online stores, emphasizing professional design and mobile responsiveness.
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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
8.4
🏆 Winner: Blocs
. With a score of 8.7, Blocs edges out Square Online (8.4) in terms of ease of use. Blocs is highly regarded for its user-friendliness and versatility, particularly among Mac users. It offers a robust platform for both novices just starting to explore web design and professional coders seeking to create unique layouts. On the other hand, Square Online offers an intuitive and user-friendly website building experience with its drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for users without coding skills.
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. Square Online also provides high-quality resources including comprehensive guides, video tutorials, active community forums, and accessible customer service. However, Blocs’ learning environment is further enriched with over 900 tutorials and more than 12 detailed video courses, focusing on creating fast and responsive websites with an emphasis on quality and simplicity.
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
7.3
Blocs and Square Online both offer ecommerce capabilities, but they cater to different user needs. Blocs, with its integration with leading service providers, is more suited for web designers and developers, while Square Online, with its comprehensive suite of ecommerce features, is more tailored for retailers, restaurants, and service businesses.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
7.8 |
6.8 |
|
Product page customization |
6.5 |
7.6 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.0 |
7.9 |
|
POS capabilities |
0.0 |
9.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
7.5 |
7.5 |
|
Product numbers |
6.0 |
7.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
7.2 |
7.2 |
Blocs ecommerce features:
- Stripe integration
- Snipcart shopping cart integration
- Gumroad integration
- Ecwid integration
Square Online ecommerce features:
- Product Listing and Inventory management
- Payment Processing and POS features
- Shipping and Fulfillment
- Marketing features
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, Square Online offers a range of eCommerce templates designed to meet various business needs, enabling users to customize their sites to match their brand identity. It includes dynamic styling tools, personalized user experiences, and integrated payment solutions, including Square’s own payment gateway.
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.
In contrast, Square Online allows for extensive product customization. You can add up to 250 variations per item, like different sizes or versions, through “Selectable Options” in the item details section of your online store. Additionally, “Item Modifiers” allow for further customization by letting customers choose options or input custom text, such as engraving names on jewelry, without affecting inventory levels.
Payment processing
The Blocs website builder 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.
Square’s website builder supports a variety of payment options including Square Pay, Apple Pay, Cash App Pay, Google Pay, and Afterpay, catering to diverse customer payment preferences. The platform charges a transaction fee of 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction for its free plan, with a discounted fee available on the Premium plan. Additionally, Square offers comprehensive POS capabilities, with a range of hardware solutions that seamlessly integrate with its online store and point of sale systems, ensuring a unified management system for both online and in-person sales.
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
6.6
🏆
Winner: Blocs
. Blocs, with a score of 7.5, is a powerful and user-friendly website builder designed specifically for Mac users. It allows users to create beautiful, modern websites without the need to write code, thanks to its intuitive visual interface and pre-designed blocks. Blocs offers a wide range of features including responsive design, pre-made templates, and integration with popular web standards and tools.
Square Online’s website builder, scoring 6.6, is designed for businesses looking to establish an online presence with ease, focusing on e-commerce functionality. It offers limited customization options, aiming to simplify the design process, yet includes essential e-commerce and marketing tools suitable for a variety of business needs.
Mobile editor/app
8.5
5.5
🏆
Winner: Blocs
. Both Blocs and Square Online offer mobile editing capabilities, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. Blocs has a dedicated mobile editor app specifically designed for the iPad, providing a touch-first interface and including all the essential features needed to create various types of websites. This offers a flexible and efficient solution for building professional and beautiful websites on an iPad.
On the other hand, Square Online does not have a dedicated mobile editor app. Users can manage and edit a website built with Square Online using the mobile browser version, but it comes with certain limitations.
In summary, Blocs receives a higher rating due to its dedicated mobile editor app and the flexibility it offers for website creation on an iPad, while Square Online is strong in ecommerce management but may be better suited for users with some experience.
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
7.8
Overall Result
: Square Online scores slightly higher than Blocs with a score of 7.8 compared to Blocs’ 7.0. Square Online offers a 30-day free trial and allows users to test premium features during this period. However, users are required to enter their billing information for the free trial. Blocs, on the other hand, offers a trial version and allows users to test some features within a 14-day refundable period.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
No |
Yes |
|
Trial Duration |
Yes |
30 days |
|
Testing Premium Features |
Limited within refundable period |
During 30-day 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
7.5
Blocs offers a one-time payment plan, making it a cost-effective choice for users who prefer not to deal with recurring payments. On the other hand, Square Online provides a more comprehensive range of plans, including a free option and a custom-priced plan for larger businesses.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free |
No offering at this amount. |
Free ($0/month): For businesses who want to start selling online fast. Online payments with 2.9% + 30¢, basic-site layouts and design controls, tax calculation, unlimited items, SEO tools, blog feature, Facebook ads. |
|
$25-$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 |
Plus ($29/month): For businesses looking to drive online growth and streamline operations. Includes all the features of the free plan, plus, free custom domain for a year, professional branding, custom embed code, manage multiple sites, pre-orders, abandoned cart recovery, free shipping and delivery progress bar, product reviews, discounts, website statistics. Value for price: 7.5 |
|
$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
7.8
Winner: Square Online
. Square Online offers hosting with unlimited bandwidth, while Blocs does not offer hosting services. Square Online also has an uptime of 99.96%, although it does not provide an uptime guarantee. The locations of Square Online’s data centers are not disclosed.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
No | Yes, with unlimited bandwidth |
|
Data Centers: |
No hosting is offered | Not disclosed |
|
Type of hosting: |
No hosting is offered | Not specified |
|
Uptime: |
No hosting is offered | 99.96% |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
No hosting is offered | No |
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
6.2
🏆 Winner: Square Online
Both Blocs and Square Online prioritize website speed optimization, but Square Online has a slightly higher score and employs more strategies for speed optimization.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Criteria |
Website Speed Optimization Score |
Key Strategies |
|
Load Times and PageSpeed Score Ranges |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity | Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
No information available | No information available |
Blocs, a website builder designed specifically for Mac users, prioritizes website speed optimization and employs WebP Generation as a key strategy. However, specific information on load times, PageSpeed scores, and Core Web Vital improvements is not disclosed by the platform.
On the other hand, Square Online, a comprehensive website builder designed for businesses, has a slightly higher website speed optimization score. The platform employs multiple strategies for speed optimization, including Lazy Loading, Code Minification, Caching, and Image optimization. Like Blocs, Square Online does not provide specific information on load times, PageSpeed scores, and Core Web Vital improvements.
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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
7.6
🏆 Winner: Square Online.
With a score of 7.6, Square Online outperforms Blocs, which scores 6.8. Square Online offers a wide array of app integrations that facilitate various aspects of business operations, including eCommerce, accounting, marketing, and employee management. These integrations span from free options to premium services, allowing businesses to tailor their Square setup to their specific needs. On the other hand, Blocs offers a variety of custom-made add-ons and extensions that enhance web design capabilities. However, the breadth and depth of Square Online’s integrations give it the upper hand.
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
7.4
🏆
Overall Winner: Square Online
. Square Online edges out Blocs with a more comprehensive set of marketing features, including ads and promotions, which Blocs lacks. Both builders offer SEO tools, email marketing, blogging, social media integration, and analytics and reporting.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
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
6.7
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. With a customer support score of 6.7, Square Online outperforms Blocs, which has a score of 5.1. Square Online provides customer support through phone, live chat, and email, with availability ranging from 6 AM to 6 PM Pacific Time on weekdays for general inquiries. Additionally, the customer success team is accessible for account issues Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM EST. The level of support varies by subscription tier, with more extensive support available for higher tiers. Premium plan users benefit from 24/7 phone support in English, alongside weekend support hours from 8 AM to 5 PM PST.
On the other hand, Blocs website builder offers customer support, but it heavily 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. Blocs does not offer an 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
8.5
🏆
Winner: Square Online
. Square Online takes a comprehensive approach to security, providing free SSL security for every site, ensuring that personal and financial information remains confidential and protected. This level of security is essential for building trust with customers, as it secures online transactions and sensitive data. In addition, Square Online complies with GDPR for EU and UK users, ensuring users’ rights to data privacy are respected.
On the other hand, Blocs does not provide any information about its security measures and does not offer hosting, which means that the security measures can vary depending on the hosting provider chosen by the user. Therefore, in terms of security, Square Online is the clear winner.
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
7.4
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Website Builder |
|
|
|
AI Ecommerce Features |
|
Personalized product recommendations based on customer behavior |
|
AI Content Generation |
AI Assistant for content generation and editing |
AI-generated photo environments, email copy, website content |
|
Additional AI Features |
AI Assistant with dictation and voice commands |
AI-enhanced productivity and communication features |
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. With a score of 7.4, Square Online’s AI capabilities are more focused on enhancing the ecommerce experience and streamlining business operations. Its AI features include personalized product recommendations, AI-generated content, and productivity-enhancing features.
Blocs, scoring 5.4, incorporates an AI Assistant that enhances the user experience by allowing for the generation and editing of content directly within a Blocs project. It also supports dictation and voice commands, allowing for a more intuitive and hands-free interaction with the design tool.
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
5.2
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. Managing your online team with Blocs and Square Online involves different approaches to website editing access.
- Blocs allows only one user to build and edit a website.
- Square Online allows multiple staff accounts, however the platform does not specify how many accounts are supported.
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 appreciate Square Online Store for its ease of setup, no initial payment requirement for registration, and dependable payment processing. The platform is lauded for its simple user interface, which allows for quick product sales and efficient inventory management. However, some users express dissatisfaction with the limited design customization options and the simplicity of the store layouts, noting that they do not match the design quality of competitors like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify. Additionally, limitations in scheduled order processing and a desire for more advanced features and better support for custom HTML and SEO were highlighted.
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 Square Online?
Can I use Blocs or Square Online for an ecommerce website?
How do Blocs and Square Online compare in terms of design and customization?
Which platform is more user-friendly?
What are the main differences in pricing between Blocs and Square Online?
Which platform offers better customer support?
How do Blocs and Square Online ensure website security?
Which platform has better AI capabilities?
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