Final verdict
Pixpa emerges as the more versatile and feature-rich platform, making it the preferred choice for creatives and small businesses seeking comprehensive website and ecommerce solutions.
-
Format (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
is tailored for creative professionals, offering a focused set of tools for portfolio presentation. It shines in providing a user-friendly interface and specialized templates for photographers, artists, and designers. However, it falls short in ecommerce capabilities, plugins and integrations, and user management features compared to Pixpa. Format is best suited for individuals or small teams primarily interested in showcasing creative work without the need for extensive ecommerce functionalities. -
Pixpa (Overall Grade: 6.7/10)
stands out with its all-in-one platform approach, offering a broader range of templates, more comprehensive ecommerce features, and superior marketing tools. It provides greater flexibility in design and functionality, catering to a wider audience including creatives, small businesses, and users requiring advanced website features. Pixpa’s emphasis on user management and security also makes it a more robust choice for teams and businesses looking to grow their online presence securely and efficiently.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.0 |
7.8 |
|
Ease of use |
8.3 |
8.4 |
|
Ecommerce |
5.2 |
7.0 |
|
Website Editors |
7.5 |
7.5 |
|
Product testing options |
8.3 |
8.5 |
|
Price |
7.9 |
9.1 |
|
Hosting quality |
5.0 |
5.4 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.0 |
3.0 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
4.9 |
6.7 |
|
Marketing features |
5.3 |
7.4 |
|
Customer support |
7.0 |
7.0 |
|
Security |
7.4 |
8.3 |
|
AI capabilities |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
User Management |
2.8 |
7.3 |
| Overall |
5.8 |
6.7 |
Best for ecommerce
5.2
7.0
Verdict
: For creative professionals looking to sell online, Pixpa is the superior choice over Format, offering a more robust set of ecommerce features tailored to enhance online stores.
-
Format
: While Format is designed with creatives in mind, its ecommerce capabilities are basic, suited for those with minimal selling needs. It’s a good starting point for artists and designers who wish to sell a limited range of products alongside showcasing their portfolios. -
Pixpa
: Pixpa shines with a higher ecommerce score and a comprehensive suite of features for online selling. It’s particularly strong in areas like payment processing without commissions, diverse product options, and a variety of ecommerce-specific templates, making it a better fit for creatives serious about their online sales.
Best for informational & business websites
7.2
7.9
Verdict
: Pixpa edges out Format for informational and business websites, offering a more user-friendly experience and better-suited features for creatives and small businesses.
-
Format
: Designed with creative professionals in mind, Format provides a solid foundation for showcasing portfolios. However, its focus on portfolio features may not fully cater to the broader needs of informational and business websites. -
Pixpa
: Pixpa shines for informational and business websites, thanks to its higher score and a wider array of features. Its platform is not only easy to use but also includes tools for SEO, marketing, and analytics, making it a better fit for businesses looking to grow their online presence.
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.
7.0
7.8
🏆
Winner: Pixpa.
With a higher score in design functionalities and templates, Pixpa offers a wider variety of templates and designs, greater customization flexibility, and more advanced creative design possibilities.
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.
On the other hand, Pixpa offers a wide variety of templates and designs tailored to meet the diverse needs of creative professionals. With an extensive library that includes numerous options, users can easily find the perfect template that aligns with their brand identity and showcases their work in the best light.
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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.
8.3
8.4
🏆 Winner: Pixpa
. Scoring a close 8.4, Pixpa edges out Format, which scored 8.3. Both platforms are designed for creative professionals and offer user-friendly interfaces and drag-and-drop features. However, Pixpa offers a more comprehensive suite of learning resources, which can contribute to its ease of use.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Pixpa
. While both platforms offer learning resources, Pixpa provides a more comprehensive suite of resources, including detailed tutorials, step-by-step guides, and video walkthroughs. Format, on the other hand, provides a help center and a YouTube channel with 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.
5.2
7.0
When it comes to ecommerce, Pixpa outperforms Format with a score of 7.0 compared to Format’s 5.2. While both platforms cater to creative professionals, Pixpa offers a more comprehensive set of ecommerce features, including an integrated shopping cart, inventory tracking, and the ability to sell both physical and digital products. On the other hand, Format provides basic ecommerce functionalities, making it more suitable for creatives who only need to sell a limited range of products.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
4.0 |
6.8 |
|
Product page customization |
5.5 |
6.5 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
4.5 |
7.5 |
|
POS capabilities |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
6.5 |
7.0 |
|
Product numbers |
5.0 |
5.5 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
3.5 |
6.0 |
Format ecommerce features:
- Inventory management and tracking
- Discounts
- Multiple currency options
Pixpa ecommerce features:
- SEO and Marketing features
- Secure Payments
- Comprehensive product options
Ecommerce themes & templates
Format does not offer ecommerce-specific templates, which may limit its appeal for users looking to build a comprehensive online store. In contrast, Pixpa provides a variety of ecommerce-specific templates designed to showcase products effectively and provide a seamless checkout experience. However, the customization options might have limitations depending on the chosen plan, and advanced ecommerce features could be restricted to higher-tier plans.
Product page customization
Format offers limited specific details on product page customization, but its ecommerce features suggest a focus on showcasing products through high-quality imagery and detailed descriptions. Pixpa, on the other hand, offers a range of ecommerce product page customization options, including options for multiple images, pricing variations, and detailed product descriptions. It also supports the integration of customer reviews, related products, and promotional banners to enhance the shopping experience and increase conversion rates.
Payment processing
Format integrates with major payment gateways, including Paypal and Stripe, but charges a commission on sales. Pixpa does not charge commissions on sales, allowing creators to keep all revenue generated, minus any transaction fees from payment processors. It supports various payment gateways, including Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, PayUmoney, and offline payments. However, neither platform offers 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 Format and Pixpa scored 7.5 for their website editors, indicating that they offer equally good editing experiences.
Format’s website editor is highly regarded for its user-friendliness and is especially geared towards creative professionals. 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.
Pixpa is an all-in-one platform designed for creative professionals to build their own websites without needing any coding knowledge. It offers a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create and customize a professional-looking website, portfolio, or e-commerce store. Pixpa provides a variety of templates and design options tailored to photographers, artists, designers, and small businesses. Additionally, it includes features such as client galleries, blogging, and SEO tools to help users showcase their work effectively and grow their online presence.
Mobile editor/app
4.0
5.5
🏆
Winner: Pixpa
. Both Format and Pixpa do not offer a dedicated mobile app for editing. However, they allow users to edit their websites using a mobile browser. The user experience may not be optimal due to the limitations of mobile browsers. Pixpa scores slightly higher than Format in the mobile editor score, indicating a better mobile editing experience. Despite this, both platforms could benefit from a dedicated mobile app to enhance the user experience for on-the-go 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.
8.3
8.5
Overall Result
:
Pixpa wins
. Pixpa scores slightly higher than Format with a score of 8.5 compared to Format’s 8.3. Both platforms do not offer a free version, but they provide trial versions for users to test their features. Pixpa offers a slightly longer trial period of 15 days compared to Format’s 14 days. Both platforms allow users to test premium features during the trial period. However, Pixpa provides a more extensive testing opportunity, allowing users to test all premium features not only during the trial period but also within the 30-day refundable period. Both platforms offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
No | No |
|
Trial Duration |
14 days |
15 days |
|
Testing Premium Features |
During free trial period |
During 15-day free trial and 30-day refundable period |
|
Money-Back Guarantee |
30 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.
7.9
9.1
Pixpa offers more affordable options and better value for the price compared to Format.
| Price range |
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
$0-$10 |
No offering at this amount. |
Basic ($8/month): Ideal for personal use with basic website features, gallery images, and blogging. Possible to have up to 10 website pages and up to 200 images. Value for price: 6.0 |
|
$10-$20 |
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 |
Creator ($15/month): Targets creators with more storage and enhanced visibility options. Value for price: 7.0 |
|
$20-$29 |
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 |
Advanced ($25/month): Best for businesses requiring extensive resources and advanced ecommerce tools. Value for price: 9.0 |
|
$29+ |
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 |
Professional ($20/month): For professionals needing ecommerce enhancements and larger storage. Value for price: 8.0 |
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.
5.0
5.4
🏆
Winner: Pixpa
Both Format and Pixpa offer hosting services, but Pixpa provides more detailed information about its hosting, which is managed cloud hosting utilizing Amazon Web Services. This offers scalable and reliable cloud hosting with varying levels of storage and unlimited bandwidth. On the other hand, Format does not provide detailed information about its hosting services.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Type of hosting: |
Not specified |
Managed Cloud Hosting |
|
Uptime: |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Data Centers: |
Not specified |
Not specified |
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.
5.0
3.0
🏆 Winner: Format
Both Format and Pixpa prioritize website performance and page speed, but Format has a slight edge due to its focus on image and video optimization.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Image and video optimization |
Code Minification, CDN, HTML caching, Server Side Rendering, SEO optimization |
|
Performance Tools |
Not disclosed |
Not disclosed |
|
Key Strategies |
Image and video optimization |
Code Minification, CDN, HTML caching, Server Side Rendering, SEO optimization |
|
Load Times |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
No data available |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Not disclosed |
No data available |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not disclosed |
Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements |
Format, a website builder designed for creative professionals, prioritizes image and video optimization to enhance website speed. However, it does not disclose specific information about its load times, PageSpeed score ranges, or Core Web Vital improvements.
On the other hand, Pixpa, an all-in-one platform for creatives and small businesses, focuses on code minification, CDN, HTML caching, server-side rendering, and SEO optimization to improve website speed. It emphasizes on improving Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) scores. However, there’s no data available on Page Speed Scores and load times for websites built with Pixpa.
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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.
4.9
6.7
🏆 Winner: Pixpa.
Pixpa scores 6.7, offering over 100 plugins to enhance website functionality, including advanced e-commerce functionalities, marketing tools, and social media integrations. Format, with a score of 4.9, offers a limited selection of plugins/integrations, including Adobe Lightroom, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics. However, Pixpa’s broader range of plugins and higher score give it the edge in this category.
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.
5.3
7.4
🏆
Overall Winner: Pixpa
. Pixpa stands out for its comprehensive marketing tools, especially in SEO, email marketing, and social media integration. Format, while offering a range of marketing features, is somewhat limited in its capabilities compared to Pixpa.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
Basic SEO tools for managing page titles, meta descriptions, and image alt tags |
Comprehensive SEO features for better indexing and ranking |
|
Email Marketing |
Basic email marketing features with integration of branded email at an additional cost |
Robust email marketing features with customizable templates and analytics tools |
|
Blogging |
Basic blogging features with blog posts and comments |
Advanced blogging features with RSS feed, integrated commenting system, post scheduling, and SEO optimization |
|
Social Media Integration |
Direct Instagram integration for displaying Instagram feed on the website |
Comprehensive social media integration with linking of social media accounts, embedding of social media feeds, and social sharing buttons |
|
Analytics and Reporting |
Integration with Google Analytics for tracking visitor traffic and page views |
Comprehensive analytics and reporting tools with integration with Google Analytics and built-in SEO tools |
|
Ads and Promotions |
Basic promotional features with discounts and discount codes |
Comprehensive promotional tools with integrated SEO tools, social media integration, email marketing feature, and creation of discount coupons and gift cards |
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.
7.0
7.0
🏆 Winner: It’s a tie
. Both Format and Pixpa offer 24/7 customer support via email or live chat, ensuring that users can get help whenever they need it. However, neither Format nor Pixpa provides specific support for enterprises. This means that both platforms are equally equipped to assist their users, regardless of the time of day.
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.
7.4
8.3
🏆
Winner: Pixpa
. Pixpa takes the lead in security with a score of 8.3, compared to Format’s 7.4. Pixpa emphasizes private data storage and protection through robust security measures. It employs SSL encryption to secure user data transmission, implements regular backups to prevent data loss, and adheres to stringent privacy policies to ensure user information is safeguarded against unauthorized access. Pixpa’s compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations reflects its commitment to maintaining high standards of privacy and security for its users’ data.
On the other hand, Format also emphasizes the security of user data through encrypted data storage, both in transit and at rest, and employs strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive information. The platform regularly updates its security measures to protect against new threats and complies with data protection regulations like GDPR. However, specific details about Format’s security measures were not directly mentioned, the website builder does offer SSL security across its plans, which is a fundamental security feature for any website.
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.
0.0
0.0
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Builder |
|
|
|
AI Ecommerce features |
|
|
|
AI Content Generation |
|
|
|
Additional AI features |
|
|
🏆 Winner: Tie
. Both Format and Pixpa do not have any AI capabilities. They focus on providing a user-friendly interface and customizable templates for users to create and manage their websites. However, they lack AI tools that could potentially enhance the user experience and website functionality.
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.
2.8
7.3
🏆 Winner: Pixpa
. Pixpa offers more flexibility in user management compared to Format.
- Format allows only one user to manage and edit websites, which can be limiting for teams or collaborative projects.
- Pixpa, on the other hand, offers a Users and Permissions feature allowing multiple users on Professional plans (up to 5 users) and Advanced plans (unlimited). The site owner can grant edit access to sections like General, Store, Client Galleries, Marketing, Settings, and Administration, customizing permissions based on user roles. The site owner can manage user permissions, suspend or reactivate users, and permanently remove them, but irreversible actions should be approached with caution.
Unfortunately, there is no information available about the specific user roles and access levels for both Format and Pixpa.
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
Format is highly praised by its users 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.
Pixpa stands out for its exceptional customer service, easy-to-use interface, and affordable pricing. Users appreciate the variety of templates and customization options available, allowing them to create professional-looking websites tailored to their needs. The responsive and helpful customer support, coupled with the platform’s features like online forms and integrations, make Pixpa a valuable tool for individuals and businesses seeking to establish a strong online presence. Despite some minor issues like limited options for third-party integrations and mobile layout adjustments, Pixpa remains highly recommended for its versatility, professionalism, and overall value.
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 creative professionals, Format or Pixpa?
Can I sell products on both Format and Pixpa?
Which platform offers better customer support?
How do Format and Pixpa compare in terms of website speed and optimization?
Are there any AI capabilities in Format or Pixpa?
Which platform is more affordable?
Can I manage multiple users on either platform?
Do Format and Pixpa offer mobile responsiveness?
Which platform is recommended based on user feedback?
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