Final verdict
SmugMug and Framer both offer unique strengths tailored to different user needs, but they cater to distinct audiences.
-
SmugMug (Overall Grade: 6.3/10)
is a specialized platform designed for photographers and creatives who want to showcase and sell their work online. It excels in providing customizable templates optimized for high-quality images and robust photo protection features. SmugMug’s ecommerce capabilities are tailored for selling prints and digital downloads, making it an excellent choice for photographers looking to monetize their art. However, it lacks some advanced features and transparency in hosting details compared to Framer. -
Framer (Overall Grade: 7.1/10)
stands out with its AI-driven design tools and extensive customization options, catering to both novices and experienced designers. It offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, real-time collaboration, and a comprehensive component library. Framer’s focus on high-fidelity prototyping and complex animations makes it ideal for users seeking a versatile and powerful design tool. While it lacks native ecommerce features, its integration with third-party tools like Ecwid provides a workaround for online selling.
![]() |
![]() |
|
---|---|---|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.1 |
8.5 |
Ease of use |
7.8 |
7.1 |
Ecommerce |
7.3 |
5.9 |
Website editors |
7.3 |
7.6 |
Product testing options |
7.4 |
6.2 |
Price |
7.8 |
7.7 |
Hosting quality |
5.0 |
7.1 |
Website speed optimization |
5.5 |
7.4 |
Plugins/extensions and integrations |
6.2 |
7.6 |
Marketing features |
3.8 |
7.2 |
Customer support |
7.9 |
5.6 |
Website security |
6.0 |
8.2 |
AI capabilities |
0 |
7.6 |
User management |
7.2 |
7.4 |
Best for ecommerce
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner1.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
Verdict
: SmugMug is better suited for photographers and creatives looking to sell their work online, while Framer is more versatile for general website design but requires third-party integrations for ecommerce.
-
SmugMug
: SmugMug excels in providing a platform for photographers to showcase and sell their work. It offers features like digital downloads, product pricing, and tax handling, making it ideal for creatives. However, when comparing SmugMug vs Framer, SmugMug’s ecommerce capabilities are more specialized and limited to photography-related products. -
Framer
: Framer offers a flexible design platform with the ability to integrate third-party ecommerce tools like Ecwid. This makes it suitable for a broader range of ecommerce needs, although it lacks native ecommerce features. For those who need extensive customization and are comfortable with integrations, Framer can be a powerful tool.
Best for informational & business websites
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
Verdict
: SmugMug and Framer both score 7.5 for informational and business websites, but they cater to different audiences. SmugMug is ideal for photographers and creatives, while Framer is better suited for those seeking advanced design and prototyping features.
-
SmugMug
: SmugMug is tailored for photographers and creatives who want to showcase and sell their work online. It offers customizable templates optimized for high-quality images and robust photo protection features. While it includes e-commerce capabilities, its primary strength lies in creating visually appealing photography websites. For those in the creative industry, SmugMug provides a user-friendly interface and essential tools for managing and protecting their work. -
Framer
: Framer excels in providing a diverse array of customizable templates and advanced design features. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, extensive customization through a comprehensive component library, and AI tools for content generation. Framer is ideal for users who need high-fidelity prototyping and complex animations. While it may have a learning curve for beginners, its robust design and prototyping capabilities make it a versatile choice for creating polished, user-centric websites. When comparing SmugMug vs Framer, Framer stands out for its advanced design functionalities and real-time collaboration features.
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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
🏆
Winner: Framer.
Framer offers a more diverse array of customizable website templates and designs, catering to various industries and project requirements. It stands out for its robust design and prototyping features, including responsive design capabilities, real-time collaboration, and extensive import options from other design tools.
SmugMug offers a variety of templates and designs, catering to the diverse needs of photographers and visual artists. Users can choose from an extensive collection of customizable templates, ensuring their website or portfolio reflects their unique style and brand.
![Smugmug templates](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/p_templates_page_smugmug.png)
![Smugmug template example](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/p_template_example_smugmug.png)
Compared to SmugMug, Framer offers a diverse array of over 1,000 customizable website templates and designs, catering to various industries and project requirements. It stands out for its robust design and prototyping features, including responsive design capabilities, real-time collaboration, and extensive import options from other design tools.
![Framer templates](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/p_templates_page_framer.png)
![Framer template example](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/p_template_example_framer.png)
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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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
🏆 Winner: SmugMug
. Scoring 7.8, SmugMug offers a user-friendly interface that caters to both beginners and professionals, making it easy to create and customize photo galleries. Framer, with a score of 7.1, offers an intuitive user interface but may present a learning curve for complete beginners due to its advanced animation and interaction features. If ease of use is a priority, SmugMug is the clear winner in this category.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Framer
. While both platforms offer solid learning resources, Framer goes a step further with its wide array of detailed courses and lessons on Framer Academy, making it easier for users to learn and adapt.
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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
SmugMug and Framer offer different approaches to ecommerce. SmugMug, designed specifically for photographers and creatives, provides a platform for users to sell prints and digital downloads directly from their website. It integrates with print labs for order fulfillment, enabling photographers to sell their work without handling the printing and shipping process themselves. Customers can purchase various products such as photo prints, wall art, and keepsakes directly from a SmugMug gallery. SmugMug also provides tools for pricing, sales management, and marketing to help photographers and creators maximize their revenue.
![]() |
![]() |
|
---|---|---|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
8.0 |
7.0 |
Product page customization |
6.5 |
5.5 |
Payment processing and commissions |
6.0 |
6.5 |
POS capabilities |
0.0 |
3.0 |
Payment gateways |
5.0 |
6.0 |
Product numbers |
9.0 |
6.0 |
Additional ecommerce features |
6.5 |
5.5 |
SmugMug ecommerce features:
- Digital Downloads
- Product Pricing
- Tax handling
- Discounts and Coupons
- Multiple Currencies support
Framer ecommerce features:
- Ecwid integration
Ecommerce themes & templates
Almost all of the templates of Smugmug are designed with ecommerce in mind, providing built-in shopping cart functionality. Framer offers 97 website templates specifically designed for eCommerce, providing a wide range of options for various business needs. These templates are highly customizable, allowing for easy adjustments to colors, fonts, layouts, and integration with essential eCommerce tools.
Product page customization
SmugMug prioritizes photography, offering a platform tailored for photographers to showcase and sell their work, despite having more limited product page customization compared to dedicated e-commerce platforms. It still provides enough functionality to detail digital and printed photography products effectively, enabling users to sell online with ease. This balance between showcasing art and facilitating sales makes SmugMug a suitable choice for photographers looking to professionalize their online presence and monetize their art efficiently.
Framer primarily focuses on expanding design possibilities for eCommerce. However, it lacks inherent eCommerce functionalities and instead heavily depends on integrating with platforms such as Shopify and Ecwid. Additionally, while Framer allows for some customization of product pages, these modifications are generally limited to design and layout alterations.
Payment processing
SmugMug has a unique approach to payment processing, payment processing for your sales is managed through your account settings, where you must complete a Tax & Payment form to set up your payment preferences. You can choose your profit payment schedule, with automatic monthly payments for balances over $500, or request payments for lower amounts. Your earnings are calculated as 85% of the markup on print prices or download sales, with SmugMug retaining 15% to cover various costs. Payments are made via ACH direct deposit for U.S. users or PayPal for international users, processed on the first business day after the 7th of each month for profits accumulated through the end of the previous month.
Framer supports Stripe for payment processing, enabling a wide range of payment options including one-time payments, subscriptions, and more, without requiring coding. While specific transaction fees were not mentioned, such fees typically depend on Stripe’s pricing. Framer’s focus is on online transactions and e-commerce integrations, and there’s no explicit mention of native POS functionality. For the most current details on fees and features, it’s recommended to consult directly with Framer or Stripe.
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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
🏆
Winner: Framer
. Framer, with a score of 7.6, is designed for high-fidelity prototyping and complex animations, catering to both designers and developers. It offers a robust set of tools for creating interactive and responsive designs, including a wide array of pre-built components, real-time collaboration features, and the ability to integrate with other design tools and workflows. Users can leverage Framer’s editor to craft detailed animations, fine-tune interactions, and test their designs across various screen sizes and devices. Additionally, its code export feature allows for seamless transition from design to development, making it a versatile choice for teams aiming to create polished, user-centric websites.
SmugMug’s website builder editor, scoring 7.3, offers a user-friendly interface that allows for the creation of visually appealing, professional-grade photography websites without the need for coding knowledge. Users can customize their site by choosing from a variety of templates, adjusting layouts, and incorporating their own branding elements like logos and colors. The editor also supports easy uploading, organizing, and showcasing of high-quality images, with robust privacy and security settings to protect content. Additionally, SmugMug provides tools for selling prints and digital downloads directly from the website, making it a comprehensive platform for photographers looking to display and monetize their work online.
Mobile editor/app
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/p_example_editor_mobile_smugmug.png)
🏆
Winner: SmugMug
. Both SmugMug and Framer offer mobile editing capabilities, but they differ in their functionality and ease of use. SmugMug offers a mobile editing app, but its functionality is limited to adding new photos and editing descriptions. Layout changes on the website are not possible through the app.
Framer, on the other hand, does not have a dedicated mobile editor app, but users can modify their website using a mobile browser, which comes with certain restrictions and is notably inconvenient.
In summary, considering these factors, SmugMug has a higher mobile editor score than Framer.
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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
Overall Result
:
SmugMug Wins
. SmugMug scores 7.4 in product testing options, while Framer scores 6.2. SmugMug offers a 14-day free trial during which users can test premium features. However, it does not offer a money-back guarantee. On the other hand, Framer offers a free version and allows users to test some features. It also offers a money-back guarantee, but only in some regions.
![]() |
![]() |
|
---|---|---|
Free Plan |
No |
Yes |
Trial Duration |
14 days | No |
Testing Premium Features |
During the free trial |
Some features with free version |
Money Back Guarantee |
No | Only in some regions |
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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
SmugMug and Framer have similar price scores, indicating that they offer comparable value for money.
SmugMug is specifically designed for photographers and creatives, with plans ranging from $15 to $45 per month, and an enterprise plan starting at $500. Framer, on the other hand, caters to both novices and experienced designers, with plans ranging from free to $30 per month, and a custom-priced enterprise plan. Both builders offer significant discounts for annual subscriptions, with SmugMug offering between 29% and 34% off, and Framer offering between 30% and 50% off, depending on the plan.
Price range |
![]()
|
![]()
|
---|---|---|
Free |
No offering at this amount. |
Free (Free/month): Allows 3 websites built on a framer.website subdomain with Framer branding in the footer. Limited to 1,000 traffic visitors and 1,000 CMS items. |
$0-$10 |
No offering at this amount. |
Mini ($10/month): Removes Framer branding, allows using a custom domain, includes collaboration with an additional cost for extra editors, custom code embedding, e-commerce support, and limited CMS items. Offers a monthly visitor limit of 2,000 and 1GB bandwidth. Value for price: 6.5 |
$15-$25 |
Power ($15.00/month): Best for the photographer who wants their entire photo catalog safe and shareable on their own terms. Unlimited storage, Seamless Lightroom integration Value for price: 6.5 |
Basic ($20/month): Offers all Mini features plus increased limits for CMS items (1,000) and traffic (10,000 visitors per month), along with 10GB bandwidth. Value for price: 7.5 |
$30-$40 |
Portfolio ($31.00/month): Best for the photographer who wants to start selling photos and keep their archive organized perfectly. All Power plan’s features, plus 21 premade templates, prints and digital downloads sales, Custom Watermarks, Payment integration for credit cards and PayPal, Integrated cart and checkout experience, Sales statistics. Value for price: 8.0 |
Pro ($30/month): Enhances Basic plan features with a significant increase in CMS items (10,000), traffic (100,000 visitors per month), and bandwidth (100GB), among other advanced features. Value for price: 8.5 |
$40-$50 |
Pro ($45.00/month): Adds to Portfolio with custom price lists and coupons, Platform access for assistant or second shooter, Full control over client downloads, Branded packaging and thank you notes for print sales, coupon creator. Value for price: 8.5 |
No offering at this amount. |
$500+ |
Venture (Starts with $500/month): All Pro features, plus dedicated support contacts and account representative for all Smugmug needs, Design, workflow, and organization consultation and support. |
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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
🏆
Winner: Framer
Framer offers more transparency and features in its hosting services, including cloud hosting, a 99.9% uptime, an uptime guarantee for enterprise plans, and 4 global data centers. SmugMug, while offering hosting, lacks detailed information about its hosting features, making it difficult to assess its quality. This lack of transparency results in a lower rating for SmugMug.
![]() |
![]() |
|
---|---|---|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes, but lacks details |
Yes, included in all plans |
Data Centers: |
No information available |
4 globally: 2 in US, 1 in Ireland, 1 in Singapore |
Type of hosting: |
No information available |
Cloud Hosting |
Uptime: |
No information available |
99.9% |
Uptime Guarantee: |
Yes, 99.9% |
Only for enterprise plan, 99.99% |
Website Speed Optimization
Website Speed OptimizationEvaluates optimization of website loading timesScore Components:
- PageSpeed Score (30%): Google’s score indicating performance optimization.
- Loading Time (30%): The average time until a website is fully interactive.
- Mobile Optimization (15%): Optimization effectiveness for mobile devices.
- Resource Optimization (15%): Optimizing images, scripts, and other heavy resources.
- CDN Usage (10%): Use of CDN to enhance speed across geolocations.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
🏆 Winner: Framer
Both SmugMug and Framer prioritize website performance and page speed, but Framer’s comprehensive approach to speed optimization gives it an edge over SmugMug.
![]() |
![]() |
|
---|---|---|
Focus |
Mobile Responsive design |
Code Minification, Pre-Rendering, Caching, Image optimization |
Performance Tools |
Not specified |
Not specified |
Key Strategies |
Mobile Responsive design |
Code Minification, Pre-Rendering, Caching, Image optimization |
Load Times |
Varies widely, depending on the optimization, website complexity |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
Page Speed Scores Range |
Varies widely, depending on the optimization, website complexity |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not specified |
Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements |
Framer’s approach to enhancing site speed includes code minification, pre-rendering, caching, and image optimization. These strategies, combined with an emphasis on improving Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID, CLS), give Framer a comprehensive approach to speed optimization. However, the actual load times and PageSpeed scores can vary depending on the optimization and complexity of the website.
On the other hand, SmugMug’s strategy for speed optimization is focused on mobile responsive design. This approach ensures that websites built with SmugMug perform well on mobile devices. However, like Framer, the load times and PageSpeed scores for SmugMug websites can vary widely depending on the optimization and complexity of the website. SmugMug does not provide any specific information on improvements to Core Web Vitals.
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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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
🏆 Winner: Framer.
Framer, with a score of 7.6, offers a variety of plugins that cater to different needs such as forms, video & animation, social media integration, audio, and utility functions. These plugins include integrations with platforms like Vimeo, MP4, Lottie, GIPHY, Instagram, Twitter, Google Maps, Trustpilot, Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Music, and more. The plugins are designed to enhance the functionality of websites created with Framer, allowing users to drag and drop these features onto their web pages, customize them, and connect them to their content or service.
On the other hand, SmugMug, scoring 6.2, supports integrations with several photo-hosting services, enhancing its functionality for photographers. These integrations include Dropbox, Adobe Lightroom, Google Photos, Flickr, and Amazon Drive. This capability allows for efficient and easy importation of photos directly from these services to SmugMug, bypassing the need to first sort through or store photos on a computer. Additionally, SmugMug offers a free Adobe Lightroom plugin, catering especially to professional photographers by enabling the creation and management of SmugMug galleries within Lightroom, even while offline.
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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
🏆
Overall Winner: Framer
. Framer offers a more comprehensive set of marketing features, including SEO tools, email marketing through third-party integration, blogging, social media integration, and analytics and reporting. SmugMug, while offering basic SEO tools, social media integration, and analytics and reporting, lacks in email marketing, blogging, and ads and promotions features.
![]() |
![]() |
|
---|---|---|
SEO Tools |
Basic |
|
Email Marketing |
|
✓ (through third-party integration) |
Blogging |
|
|
Social Media Integration |
|
|
Analytics and Reporting |
Google Analytics integration |
Available only on higher plans |
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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
🏆 Winner: SmugMug
. In the SmugMug vs Framer comparison, SmugMug takes the lead with a customer support score of 7.9. SmugMug provides robust support through email and chat, available 364 days a year, ensuring users can get help when they need it. Additionally, SmugMug offers specialized support for enterprise customers, including dedicated account representatives and tailored assistance for professional photographers and businesses.
Framer, with a customer support score of 5.6, primarily offers self-help options through its community forum and knowledge base. While users can email Framer’s support team for assistance, the lack of detailed information about their availability and enterprise support options makes it less comprehensive compared to SmugMug. This makes SmugMug a more reliable choice for users seeking extensive and accessible customer 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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
🏆
Winner: Framer
. Framer’s security measures are more comprehensive and transparent than SmugMug’s. Framer uses Amazon Web Services for hosting, ensuring data is encrypted and environments are separated for additional security. They also have a bug bounty program and security training for all employees, demonstrating a proactive approach to security.
SmugMug, while offering privacy settings and data protection practices, does not provide detailed information about its website security measures. This lack of transparency may be a concern for users who prioritize security.
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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
![]() |
![]() |
|
---|---|---|
AI Builder |
|
Framer offers an AI website builder |
AI Ecommerce features |
|
|
AI content generation |
|
Framer AI offers content generation and localization |
Additional AI features |
|
Framer AI provides AI Style and AI Photo Generating and Editing tools |
🏆 Winner: Framer
. Framer, with a score of 7.6, offers several AI capabilities including an AI website builder, content generation and localization, text rewrite functionality, headline generator, AI style, and AI photo generating and editing tools. These features make website design and management accessible and efficient.
SmugMug, on the other hand, does not have any AI capabilities. It is a premium website builder specifically designed for photographers and creatives who want to showcase and sell their work online. It offers a range of customizable, easy-to-use templates that are optimized for displaying high-quality images. However, it lacks the AI features that Framer provides.
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.
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/smugmug_inner.png)
![](https://10web.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/framer_inner.png)
🏆 Winner: Framer
. Both SmugMug and Framer offer user management features that facilitate collaboration and control over website management. However, Framer’s more extensive role definitions and granular access control give it a slight edge.
- SmugMug allows the primary account holder full control over the account, with the ability to add additional users through “Shared Account Management” for Portfolio and Pro level accounts. These additional users can be given various roles with different permissions, enabling them to manage or edit the website without full access to billing or account settings.
- Framer supports team collaboration with different plans allowing a varying number of editors; the Team Basic plan allows up to 5 editors, while the Team Pro plan supports up to 10 editors. These plans come with additional features like live collaboration, comments, file storage, and extended version history.
SmugMug User Roles and Access Levels:
Role | Description | Access Highlights |
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Owner | The primary account holder who has full control over the site. | Complete access to all features, settings, content management, and billing. |
Admin | Users granted almost the same level of access as the owner, minus some critical billing or account settings. | Manage content, order prints, access to stats, and settings except for account and billing changes. |
Contributor | Users who can upload and manage content in specific galleries. | Upload content to assigned galleries, edit captions, and keywords. Limited access to settings. |
Framer User Roles and Access Levels:
Role | Description | Access Highlights |
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Designer | Focuses on the aesthetic and UI/UX aspects of the website. | Can create and modify design elements, utilize animation libraries like Framer Motion, and implement accessibility settings. |
Content Editor | Manages and curates content for the website, including text, images, and other media. | Can edit CMS content, use localization features for different regions, and modify SEO settings. |
Developer | Works on more technical aspects, such as custom code and integrations. | Has access to deploy options, can use custom domains, manage project permissions, and apply custom code for further optimization. |
Project Manager | Oversees the project, coordinating between different roles and ensuring the project meets its deadlines and goals. | Can invite collaborators, assign roles and permissions, and manage versions and rollbacks for efficient site management. |
Collaborator (General) | A role that can encompass various levels of access based on project needs, including design, content, and deployment tasks. | Access can be customized to include a mix of design, content, and deploy permissions based on the project’s needs and the individual’s role within the team. |
Additional Features
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SSL Certificate |
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Custom Domain |
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Free Custom Domain Included |
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International Domains |
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Mobile Responsive |
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Page Speed |
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Website Builder Mobile App |
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Convert a Website To An App |
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Website Analytics |
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Multilingual Sites |
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Multiple Users |
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User Feedback
Users appreciate SmugMug for its reliability, ease of use, and the platform’s ability to securely host and share high-resolution photographs and videos. Highlights include seamless mobile device syncing, excellent gallery features for showcasing assets, and robust customization options minus JavaScript support. However, some users desire improvements in facial recognition technology for automatic album creation, expanded asset management capabilities beyond primarily photos, and more advanced search functionalities. Concerns about rising costs and the platform’s intuitiveness were also mentioned. Overall, SmugMug is valued for its central storage solution, privacy features for client photos, and its ability to simplify file sharing and photo sales.
Framer receives high marks for its user-friendly, no-code approach to web and prototype design, offering extensive tutorials, templates, and drag-and-drop functionalities that expedite the design process. Users appreciate its integration with tools like Figma, AI-generated responsive designs, and real-time collaboration features. Critiques focus on a steep learning curve for newcomers and limitations in customer support and features without premium access. Despite these drawbacks, Framer is lauded as a powerful design tool that enhances creativity and efficiency in web development.
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 photographers, SmugMug or Framer?
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