SITE123 vs Web.com: Comprehensive comparison guide for 2024

Final verdict


SITE123 and Web.com cater to users with different needs, with SITE123 emerging as the more versatile and user-friendly option.


  • SITE123 (Overall Grade: 6.5/10)

    excels in providing a user-friendly experience with a wide range of templates, superior design customization, and robust ecommerce tools. It’s particularly suited for individuals and small businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform with comprehensive features. SITE123’s higher scores in ease of use, design functionalities, and product testing options underscore its appeal to users seeking simplicity and efficiency in website creation.

  • Web.com (Overall Grade: 5.8/10),

    while offering a solid platform with a focus on mobile responsiveness and ecommerce capabilities, falls short in areas such as ease of use and product testing options. It may appeal to users who prioritize specific ecommerce features and AI capabilities, but its overall lower scores suggest it may not be as accessible or versatile as SITE123 for the broader audience.

Best for ecommerce

7.0
6.3


Verdict

: SITE123 edges out Web.com with a slightly higher score and a more comprehensive set of ecommerce tools, making it better suited for users looking to build and manage online stores.


  • SITE123

    : With a score of 7.0, SITE123 offers a robust ecommerce platform that includes product management, payment gateway integration, and advanced features like shipping and tax management. Its user-friendly interface and variety of customizable templates make it a solid choice for those new to ecommerce.

  • Web.com

    : Scoring 6.3, Web.com provides essential ecommerce features and a selection of templates. While it offers a good foundation for starting an online store, its complex setup process and limited template variety may pose challenges for some users.

Best for informational & business websites

7.4
6.5


Verdict

: SITE123 is better suited for informational and business websites, offering a more user-friendly experience and a wider range of templates and design options.


  • SITE123

    : With a score of 7.4, SITE123 stands out for its ease of use and a broad selection of customizable templates, making it an excellent choice for users looking to create professional and effective informational websites without requiring extensive technical skills.

  • Web.com

    : Scoring 6.5, Web.com provides a solid platform for website creation, but it may not offer the same level of simplicity and design flexibility as SITE123, making it a less optimal choice for those prioritizing ease of customization and user experience in their informational or business website.

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.
7.2
6.4

🏆

Winner: SITE123.

SITE123 offers a wider variety of templates and designs, and it provides more creative design possibilities compared to Web.com.

SITE123 offers a wide variety of templates and designs for their website builder, with over 180 options to choose from. Their templates are organized by industry and category, making it easy to find the perfect design for your website. SITE123 also allows for customization of templates, giving users the ability to make their website unique and tailored to their brand.


SITE123 Themes

Site123 template
Site123 template example

On the other hand, Web.com offers over 100 website templates designed to cater to a broad spectrum of industries and personalization needs. These templates are structured to be straightforward in customization, allowing users to easily adapt their chosen designs to suit their unique brand identity through the platform’s editor.


Web.com Themes

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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.
8.1
6.4


🏆 Winner: SITE123

. With a score of 8.1, SITE123 stands out for its simplicity and user-friendliness, making it ideal for individuals and small businesses. Web.com, scoring 6.4, offers a wide range of templates and robust customization tools, but may not be the best fit for those seeking quick, simple website setup.


Learning Resources


🏆 Winner: SITE123

. SITE123 offers a live chat and a main support center full of informative guides and FAQs, providing detailed insights into important topics and issues. These resources are easily accessible within the editor, ensuring help is just a few clicks away. Web.com offers a range of AI-powered tools and a comprehensive knowledge base, but lacks a large community of users.

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
6.3

When it comes to ecommerce, SITE123 and Web.com offer different features and capabilities. SITE123 provides a more comprehensive set of ecommerce tools, including product management, payment gateway integration, shipping and tax management, and options for creating coupons and discounts. On the other hand, Web.com offers a suite of ecommerce features, including product listing, marketing features, shipping options, and payment gateways integration. However, it has been noted for its complex setup process and limited template variety.

SITE123 Logo
Web.com Logo

Ecommerce themes and templates

6.5

5.5

Product page customization

6.8

6.0

Payment processing and commissions

6.0

6.5

POS capabilities

5.0

4.0

Payment gateways

7.0

7.0

Product numbers

6.0

5.0

Additional ecommerce features

6.5

6.0

SITE123 ecommerce features:

  • Product Management
  • Payment Gateways
  • Shipping and Tax Configuration
  • SEO tools
  • Analytics
  • Social Media Integration

Site123 add a product

Web.com ecommerce features:

  • Product listing
  • Marketing Features
  • Shipping options
  • Payment Gateways integration

Ecommerce themes & templates

SITE123 offers a variety of ecommerce templates suitable for various types of businesses. These templates are designed to be professional and user-friendly, ensuring that your products stand out and that customers have a seamless shopping experience. In contrast, Web.com provides around 15 ecommerce templates designed to help businesses quickly launch and customize their online stores. While the exact number of eCommerce templates isn’t specified, the platform boasts “hundreds of built-in design layouts,” indicating a wide selection available for different business needs.

Product page customization

SITE123 offers extensive customization options for ecommerce product pages, suitable for both physical and digital goods. Adding products is streamlined through the Website Editor, under the ecommerce (Store) page within the Pages section. Products can be organized into categories for better navigation. Detailed product pages can include essential information like product name, description, images, videos, pricing options, SKUs, brands, and additional descriptions, with customizable SEO settings to improve online visibility.

Web.com’s website builder offers a suite of tools for e-commerce stores, including product category management for organizing inventory and improving navigation, and product listing features for adding detailed product information and images. Users can create and manage product variants to accommodate items with multiple options, enhancing the customer shopping experience. The platform also supports various fulfillment types, allowing store owners to specify shipping or pickup options. Lastly, products can be easily published and integrated across different sales channels, facilitating broader market reach.

Payment processing

When it comes to payment processing, SITE123 supports various payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and Amazon Pay, enabling seamless online transactions without charging sales commissions. Users can expect payment processing fees around 3%, which are standard across ecommerce platforms. The platform offers a 14-day money-back policy on certain package purchases, with detailed terms around invoicing, taxes, and refunds.

The Web.com website builder facilitates eCommerce activities by supporting popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and all major debit and credit cards, ensuring a wide array of payment options for customers. Details on transaction commissions, particularly whether Web.com imposes additional fees on transactions processed through these gateways, were not clearly stated in the reviewed sources. Typically, the payment gateways themselves may charge transaction fees; however, the presence of any supplementary commissions from Web.com remains unspecified.

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.
7.0
6.6

🏆

Winner: SITE123

. SITE123, with a score of 7.0, is a straightforward and user-friendly website builder designed for individuals without coding or design expertise. It offers a selection of ready-made templates, mobile responsiveness, free hosting, and SEO tools, alongside ecommerce capabilities for users willing to subscribe to higher plans. However, customization is somewhat limited due to the inability to access template source codes or integrate external templates, and advanced features may incur additional costs.

Site123 editor

Web.com’s website builder, scoring 6.6, offers a user-friendly platform with a variety of templates and a drag-and-drop interface for easy customization, albeit with some creative limitations due to its row-based layout. It supports basic e-commerce capabilities suitable for small businesses, alongside features like analytics, social media integration, and email services. However, for more advanced functionalities like promotional pop-ups, calendars, or comprehensive blogging tools, the platform may fall short unless users are willing to add custom code.

Mobile editor/app

5.5
0

🏆

Winner: SITE123

. Neither SITE123 nor Web.com offer a dedicated mobile app for website editing. However, SITE123 allows users to edit their websites on a mobile browser, providing some level of convenience for on-the-go adjustments. On the other hand, Web.com does not provide any information about mobile editing capabilities.

SITE123, therefore, takes the lead in this category due to its mobile browser editing feature.

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.
6.4
0.2


Overall Result

:

SITE123 wins

. SITE123 scores 6.4 in product testing options, significantly higher than Web.com’s 0.2. SITE123 offers a free version and allows testing of premium features during a 14-day refundable period. In contrast, Web.com does not offer a free or trial version, and it’s not possible to test any of the features before purchasing any of their plans.

SITE123 Logo
Web.com Logo

Free Plan

Yes
No

Trial Duration
No (14-day refundable period) No

Testing Premium Features

Yes, during refundable period
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.
6.2
7.4


Web.com offers a wider range of pricing options and a significant discount on annual billing, while SITE123 has a simpler pricing structure with no discounts.

SITE123 Logo


Offerings

Web.com Logo


Offerings


Free

Free ($0/month):

250 MB storage, 250MB bandwidth, SITE123 branding, basic SEO for homepage. This plan allows to manage 1 website and there is no limitation on number of pages. It offers hosting with 250MB storage and bandwidth. However, it does not offer ecommerce features, has limited templates and does not have AI website builder.

No offering at this amount.

$0-$10

Premium ($7.8/month):

3 GB storage, 3 GB bandwidth, connect your domain, remove SITE123 floating tag. This plan allows to manage 1 website and there is no limitation on number of pages. It offers hosting with 3GB storage and bandwidth. However, it does not offer ecommerce features, has limited templates and does not have AI website builder.

Value for price:


6.5

No offering at this amount.

$10-$20
No offering at this amount.

Website ($19.99/month):

AI-powered Website Builder. Free domain & domain privacy for 1 year. Professional email for 3 months. SSL Certificate for 1 month. 1 hour expert design support. Social & email marketing tools.

Value for price:


6.5


$20-$30
No offering at this amount.

Website + Marketing ($24.99/month):

All features in the Website plan. Enhanced marketing tools. Appointment scheduling.

Value for price:


7.0


$30+
No offering at this amount.

eCommerce ($34.99/month):

All features in the Website + Marketing plan. Online store with secure checkout. Sell on multiple marketplaces like Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, eBay, etc.

Value for Price:


8.5

In some cases companies have different prices based on various components like a
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.

Hosting quality

Hosting
quality
Examines 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.
7.0
5.9

🏆

Winner: SITE123

SITE123 offers managed hosting with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, although they do not disclose information about their data centers. Web.com, on the other hand, provides shared hosting with unlimited storage and daily backups, but does not provide uptime statistics or guarantees, and also does not disclose the locations of its data centers. SITE123’s commitment to uptime reliability gives it the edge in this comparison.

SITE123 Logo
Web.com Logo

Do they offer hosting?

Yes

Yes

Data Centers:

Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Type of hosting:

Managed Hosting

Shared hosting

Uptime:

99.9%

Not provided

Uptime Guarantee:

Yes, 99.9%

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.
5.8
5.8


🏆 Winner: Tie

. Both SITE123 and Web.com have the same score for website speed optimization. They both use similar strategies for speed optimization, including CDN, image optimization, caching, and minification of CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. However, neither platform provides any information about their Core Web Vital improvements.

SITE123 Logo
Web.com Logo

Focus

CDN, Image Optimization, Caching, Minification of CSS, JavaScript, and HTML, Use of Asynchronous Loading, Database Optimization

Mobile Optimized design, Code Minification, Caching, Image Optimization

Performance Tools

Not specified

Not specified

Key Strategies

CDN, Image Optimization, Caching, Minification of CSS, JavaScript, and HTML, Use of Asynchronous Loading, Database Optimization

Mobile Optimized design, Code Minification, Caching, Image Optimization

Load Times

Varies widely, depending on the optimization and user’s location

Varies depending on optimization and website complexity

Page Speed Scores Range

Varies widely, depending on the optimization and user’s location

Varies depending on optimization and website complexity

Core Web Vitals Improvement

Not disclosed

Not provided

SITE123 is a user-friendly website builder that uses a variety of strategies for speed optimization, including CDN, image optimization, caching, and minification of CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. However, both load times and PageSpeed scores vary widely, depending on the optimization and user’s location. SITE123 does not disclose any information about Core Web Vital improvements.

Web.com’s website builder also uses similar strategies for speed optimization, including mobile optimized design, code minification, caching, and image optimization. Like SITE123, load times and PageSpeed scores vary depending on optimization and website complexity. Web.com does not provide any information on their 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.
7.1
6.7


🏆 Winner: SITE123.

With a score of 7.1, SITE123 offers a wider range of plugins and extensions compared to Web.com, which scores 6.7. SITE123’s over 250 apps and easy integration with popular third-party tools like Google Analytics and Mailchimp give it an edge. Web.com, on the other hand, provides a suite of plugins and integrations, including features for email marketing, social media engagement, analytics, and eCommerce capabilities. However, more sophisticated features or premium plugins might require an upgrade to higher-tier plans or involve additional fees.

SITE123 Applications

Site123 app market

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.
6.0
7.0

🏆

Overall Winner: Web.com

. Web.com offers a more comprehensive suite of marketing tools, including advanced SEO features, integrated email marketing, and a range of promotional tools. SITE123, while offering a solid range of features, falls short in terms of advanced functionalities.

SITE123 Logo
Web.com Logo

SEO Tools







Email Marketing

Basic email marketing with limited customization options

Integrated email marketing

Blogging

Comprehensive blogging features

Basic blogging features

Social Media Integration

Basic linking with accounts, enhanced through app integrations

Comprehensive social media integration

Analytics and Reporting

Basic analytics, more detailed insights on higher plans

Basic website analytics, easy Google Analytics setup

Ads and Promotions

Limited direct marketing tools, some features on premium plans

Comprehensive suite of promotional tools

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.
7.3
7.3


🏆 Winner: Tie

. Both SITE123 and Web.com offer 24/7 customer support, ensuring that users can get help whenever they need it. SITE123 provides support in 16 languages during normal business hours, which is a significant advantage for non-English speakers. However, Web.com’s phone support is free with all plans and is recommended for immediate assistance.

Neither SITE123 nor Web.com offer dedicated support for enterprises, which might be a drawback for larger businesses. Overall, both platforms provide reliable customer support, making this category a tie.

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.
7.5
7.6

🏆

Winner: Web.com

. Web.com slightly edges out SITE123 in terms of security score. Web.com’s partnership with SiteLock Security provides robust website security measures, including daily malware scans, automatic malware removal, and DDoS protection. Their focus on private data storage and protection, with features like website staging environments and secure email solutions, further enhances their security offerings.

SITE123 also prioritizes security, providing SSL/HTTPS encryption and modern firewalls to protect against cyber threats. They offer free domain privacy protection, demonstrating their commitment to user privacy and data security. However, their security score is slightly lower than Web.com’s, placing them in second place in this comparison.

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.
2.8
7.3
SITE123 Logo
Web.com Logo

AI Builder




Web.com offers an AI website builder

AI Ecommerce features




Web.com provides AI ecommerce features

AI Content Generation

SITE123 offers AI-powered content generation

Web.com has an AI Writer for versatile content creation

Additional AI features




Web.com offers AI tools like AI Domain Generator and AI Logo Builder


🏆 Winner: Web.com

. With a score of 7.3, Web.com’s AI capabilities are more comprehensive and user-friendly. It offers an AI website builder, AI ecommerce features, an AI Writer for content creation, and additional AI tools like AI Domain Generator and AI Logo Builder.

On the other hand, SITE123, with a score of 2.8, only offers AI-powered content generation. It does not have an AI builder, AI ecommerce features, or additional AI capabilities.

Site123 AI feature

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.
6.3
5.2


🏆 Winner: SITE123

. Both SITE123 and Web.com allow multiple users to manage and edit the website, but SITE123 provides a more structured approach with defined user roles.

  • SITE123 allows multiple users to have two different roles: Admin and Contributor, each with its own set of permissions. However, there is no mention of limitations on the number of users who can edit the website on Site123.
  • Web.com allows multiple user accounts, however the platform does not specify how many accounts are supported.

Web.com User Roles and Access Levels:

Role Description Access Highlights
Primary The main account holder or primary user. Edit primary user info Purchase products Manage and renew products and services
Admin Users with administrative privileges besides the primary. Edit payment information Add/Edit/Delete user roles Manage and renew products and services Edit WHOIS Admin and Tech user info
Tech Users with technical responsibilities. Manage and renew products and services Edit WHOIS Admin and Tech user info

Additional Features

SITE123 Logo
Web.com Logo

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

SITE123
11 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Web.com
0 reviews
0 out of 5 stars

SITE123 seems to offer a user-friendly platform with drag-and-drop features, making website building quick and easy. Users appreciate its wide library of free images and templates, mobile responsiveness, and excellent customer support. However, some users find its customization options limited, especially in the free version, and wish for more robust features like additional plugins and payment methods tailored to different regions. Overall, SITE123 appears beneficial for those seeking to create professional-looking websites without extensive coding knowledge, though it may lack certain advanced functionalities for more specialized needs.

Unfortunately, there is no user feedback available for Web.com on the G2 platform, so a comparison cannot be made at this time.

The making of this blog

We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.

FAQ

Which platform is easier to use, SITE123 or Web.com?

SITE123 is generally considered easier to use, with a user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop functionality. It scores higher in ease of use, making it ideal for beginners or those looking for a straightforward website-building experience.

Can I create an ecommerce website with SITE123 and Web.com?

Yes, both platforms offer ecommerce capabilities. SITE123 provides a more comprehensive set of ecommerce tools, making it better suited for users looking to build and manage online stores. Web.com also supports ecommerce but may require a more complex setup process.

How do SITE123 and Web.com compare in terms of design and customization?

SITE123 offers a wider variety of templates and more creative design possibilities compared to Web.com. With over 180 templates, SITE123 allows for greater customization, making it easier to create a unique and tailored website.

Which platform offers better value for money?

Web.com offers a wider range of pricing options and significant discounts on annual billing, potentially offering better value for some users. However, SITE123’s simpler pricing structure and comprehensive features at each price point may represent better overall value for others.

How do the hosting quality and website speed optimization compare between SITE123 and Web.com?

SITE123 offers managed hosting with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, while Web.com provides shared hosting without specific uptime statistics. Both platforms use similar strategies for website speed optimization, but SITE123’s commitment to uptime reliability gives it an edge in hosting quality.

Which platform has better customer support?

Both SITE123 and Web.com offer 24/7 customer support, with SITE123 providing support in multiple languages. The choice between the two may depend on specific support needs and preferences.

Are there any differences in security features between SITE123 and Web.com?

Web.com slightly edges out SITE123 in terms of security, offering robust measures like daily malware scans and DDoS protection through its partnership with SiteLock Security. SITE123 also prioritizes security but scores slightly lower than Web.com.

Which platform is better for users looking for AI capabilities?

Web.com offers more comprehensive AI capabilities, including an AI website builder and AI ecommerce features. SITE123 provides AI-powered content generation but lacks the broader range of AI tools available on Web.com.

Can I manage multiple users on both SITE123 and Web.com?

Both platforms allow multiple users to manage and edit the website. SITE123 offers a more structured approach with defined user roles, potentially making it easier to manage team access and permissions.

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