SmugMug vs HostGator: What's the Best Builder in 2024?

SmugMug vs HostGator: Final verdict

SmugMug and HostGator both offer unique strengths, catering to different user needs.

SmugMug (Overall Grade: 6.3/10)

is tailored for photographers and creatives, offering robust photo protection features and ecommerce capabilities for selling prints and digital downloads. It excels in providing customizable templates optimized for high-quality images, making it an ideal choice for users looking to showcase and sell their visual work online. However, its focus on photography may limit its versatility for other types of websites.
HostGator (Overall Grade: 6.2/10)

provides a more general-purpose website builder with a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, making it suitable for a wide range of website types, including blogs, business sites, and ecommerce stores. It offers a variety of customizable templates and comprehensive customer support, making it a good option for users seeking an easy-to-use platform with diverse design options. However, it may not offer the same level of specialized features for photographers as SmugMug.

	Overall grade: 6.3	Overall grade: 6.2
Design functionalities & templates	7.1	7.9
Ease of use	7.8	8.0
Ecommerce	7.3	6.3
Website Editors	7.3	7.3
Product testing options	7.4	2.6
Price	7.8	6.2
Hosting quality	5.0	8.0
Website speed optimization	5.5	6.2
Plugins and integrations	6.2	7.3
Marketing features	3.8	6.9
Customer support	7.9	7.3
Security	6.0	7.4
AI capabilities	0	2.6
User Management	7.2	3.2

Which one is the best for ecommerce: SmugMug or HostGator?

7.3

6.3

Verdict

: SmugMug is tailored for photographers and creatives, while HostGator offers a more general ecommerce solution with broader marketing features.

SmugMug

: SmugMug is ideal for photographers and creatives looking to sell their work online. It offers specialized features like digital downloads, product pricing, and robust photo protection. However, when comparing SmugMug vs HostGator, SmugMug’s ecommerce capabilities are more niche and may not cater to a wide range of ecommerce needs.
HostGator

: HostGator provides a versatile ecommerce solution suitable for various types of businesses. It includes features like secure online payments, unlimited products, and multi-channel inventory management. While it may not have the specialized focus of SmugMug, it offers a more comprehensive set of marketing tools and broader ecommerce functionalities.

Which one is the best for informational and business websites?

7.5

7.4

Verdict

: SmugMug and HostGator both offer unique advantages for informational and business websites, but HostGator slightly edges out due to its broader range of templates and ease of use.

SmugMug

: SmugMug is tailored for photographers and creatives, offering customizable templates optimized for high-quality image display. Its robust photo protection features and e-commerce capabilities make it ideal for visual artists looking to showcase and sell their work. However, its focus on photography may limit its versatility for other types of informational websites. SmugMug scores 7.5 in this category.
HostGator

: HostGator provides a powerful website builder with a drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for users with no technical background. It offers a variety of customizable templates suitable for different types of websites, including business sites and blogs. HostGator’s comprehensive hosting services and 24/7 customer support further enhance its appeal for business websites. HostGator scores 7.4 in this category.

SmugMug vs HostGator: Detailed comparison

7.1

7.9

🏆

Winner: HostGator.

If you’re looking for a platform that offers more creative control and a wide array of design features, HostGator is the preferred choice.

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. The platform continuously updates its design offerings, incorporating the latest trends and user feedback, to provide a rich selection of modern, sleek, and professional layouts.

SmugMug Themes

Compared to SmugMug, HostGator website builder provides a substantial variety of design templates, catering to different user needs and preferences. It offers over 200 different mobile-friendly themes. This vast collection ensures that users have a wide range of design options to choose from, whether they seek simplicity for a professional presence or more intricate designs for complex websites.

Get a head start on website creation with AI

Create a custom website tailored to your business needs 10X faster with 10Web AI Website Builder!

Generate Your Website

No credit card required

7.8

8.0

🏆 Winner: HostGator

. With an ease of use score of 8.0, HostGator’s website builder, Gator, is known for its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, making it suitable even for those who are not tech-savvy. SmugMug, scoring 7.8, offers a user-friendly interface that caters to both beginners and professionals, but its focus on photography and visual content means it may not be as versatile for other types of websites.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: HostGator

. Both platforms offer learning resources, but HostGator’s Gator Builder provides a range of features tailored for both beginners and those with some website creation experience, alongside comprehensive customer support available 24/7.

Learn SmugMug

Learn HostGator

7.3

6.3

SmugMug and HostGator both offer ecommerce capabilities, but they cater to different user needs. SmugMug is specifically designed for photographers and creatives who want to sell their work online, while HostGator is a more general website builder that also includes ecommerce features.


Ecommerce themes and templates	8.0	7.0
Product page customization	6.5	6.5
Payment processing and commissions	6.0	6.0
POS capabilities	0.0	5.0
Payment gateways	5.0	5.5
Product numbers	9.0	4.5
Additional ecommerce features	6.5	6.5

SmugMug ecommerce features:

Digital Downloads
Product Pricing
Tax handling
Discounts and Coupons
Multiple Currencies support

HostGator ecommerce features:

Secure Online Payments
Unlimited Products
Product Search & Filtering
Wishlists & Gift Cards
Multi-Channel Inventory Management
Shipping Labels

Ecommerce themes & templates

Almost all of the templates of SmugMug are designed with ecommerce in mind, providing built-in shopping cart functionality. On the other hand, HostGator’s website builder caters to eCommerce needs by offering a broad selection of free templates, all designed with mobile responsiveness in mind. These templates are equipped with essential eCommerce features such as product catalogs and payment processing options.

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.

HostGator Website Builder offers basic features for customizing product pages, enabling users to add products with details such as name, price, description, and images. It supports product variants and categorization to enhance customer navigation. Advanced settings include inventory management, discount options, and the ability to set products as shippable or downloadable.

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.

HostGator Website Builder integrates with PayPal as a payment gateway for processing transactions. This is particularly highlighted in their offerings, suggesting that PayPal is a primary option for e-commerce activities within the platform. The platform charges a 3% transaction fee on Express Store and Express Site plans, no transaction fees are charged on higher Express Store plan.

7.3

Winner: Tie

. Both SmugMug and HostGator scored 7.3 for their website editors, indicating similar levels of functionality and ease of use.

Smugmug website editor

SmugMug’s editor is specifically designed for photographers and creatives, offering a range of features for showcasing and selling high-quality images online. It provides a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and robust photo protection features. However, it may not be as intuitive for beginners due to its wide range of customization options and advanced features.

Hosgator website editor

On the other hand, HostGator’s editor is more general-purpose, offering a drag-and-drop interface and a variety of customizable templates suitable for different types of websites. It is designed to be user-friendly, catering to both beginners and those with more experience in website development. However, some beginners might encounter a learning curve when first navigating through its features and options.

Mobile editor/app

7.5

4.0

🏆

Winner: SmugMug

. Both SmugMug and HostGator offer mobile capabilities, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. SmugMug offers a mobile editing app, but it’s limited to adding new photos and editing descriptions. Layout changes on the website are not possible through the app. However, it still provides a way for users to manage their content on the go, which can be a significant advantage for photographers who need to update their portfolios frequently.

On the other hand, HostGator does not have a mobile editor app. It is possible to make some small changes using a mobile browser, but this is not as convenient or efficient as having a dedicated mobile app. Therefore, SmugMug is the winner in this category due to its dedicated mobile app, despite its limitations.

7.4

2.6

Overall Result

:

SmugMug Wins

. SmugMug scores 7.4 in product testing options, significantly higher than HostGator’s 2.6. SmugMug offers a 14-day free trial during which users can test all features, including premium ones. HostGator, on the other hand, does not offer a free trial but allows users to test all features within a 30-day refundable period. However, the refund policy has several exceptions, which may limit the testing options.


Free Plan	No	No
Trial Duration	14 days	No trial
Testing Premium Features	During the free trial	Within 30-day refundable period

7.8

6.2

SmugMug and HostGator offer different pricing plans to cater to different user needs.

SmugMug’s plans are more expensive but they are specifically designed for photographers and creatives who want to showcase and sell their work online. HostGator’s plans are more affordable and are designed for users who want to create their websites easily and efficiently.

	Offerings	Offerings
$10-$14	No offering at this amount.	Express Start ($12.95/month): Includes hosting, basic analytics dashboard, 3 email campaigns per month, up to 3 products. Value for price: 6.0
$14-$20	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	Express Site ($14.98/month): Offers hosting, advanced analytics dashboard, 5 email campaigns per month, up to 10 products. Value for price: 7.0
$20-$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	Express Store ($26.98/month): Comprehensive plan including hosting, advanced analytics dashboard, 10 email campaigns per month, unlimited products. 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.

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.

5.0

8.0

Winner: HostGator

. HostGator offers a variety of hosting types including shared, managed WordPress, VPS, and dedicated hosting, with unlimited storage and bandwidth. They also provide a 99.9% uptime guarantee and have data centers in multiple locations. SmugMug, on the other hand, does not provide detailed information about their hosting features, uptime, or data centers, which makes it difficult to assess the quality of their hosting services.


Do they offer hosting?	Yes	Yes
Data Centers:	Not provided	4: US(Texas, Utah), India(Mumbai), China(Hong Kong)
Type of hosting:	Not provided	Shared, Managed WordPress, VPS, Dedicated
Uptime:	Not provided	99.9%
Uptime Guarantee:	Yes, 99.9%	Yes, 99.9%

5.5

6.2

🏆 Winner: HostGator

Both SmugMug and HostGator understand the importance of website speed optimization, but HostGator takes the lead with its strategies and emphasis on Core Web Vital improvements.


Focus	Mobile Responsive design	Browser Caching, CDN
Performance Tools	Not specified	Not specified
Key Strategies	Mobile Responsive design	Browser Caching, CDN
Load Times	Varies widely, depending on optimization and website complexity	Varies widely, depending on optimization, website complexity and the chosen hosting plan
Page Speed Scores Range	Not specified	Not specified
Core Web Vitals Improvement	Not specified	Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements

SmugMug, a website builder designed for photographers and creatives, focuses on mobile responsive design for speed optimization. However, it does not provide specific information on load times, PageSpeed score ranges, or Core Web Vital improvements.

On the other hand, HostGator, a well-known web hosting company that also offers a website builder tool, uses strategies like browser caching and Content Delivery Network (CDN) for speed optimization. It also provides guidance on understanding and improving Core Web Vitals (CWV) for websites, with an emphasis on Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) improvements. However, it does not provide specific information on load times or PageSpeed score ranges, which can vary widely depending on the optimization, website complexity, and the chosen hosting plan.

Get a head start on website creation with AI

Create a custom website tailored to your business needs 10X faster with 10Web AI Website Builder!

Generate Your Website

No credit card required

6.2

7.3

🏆 Winner: HostGator.

With a score of 7.3, HostGator offers a wider range of plugins and integrations, catering to diverse needs such as advertising, website analytics, integrating social media, managing appointments, and conducting email marketing. SmugMug, scoring 6.2, also provides useful integrations, especially for photographers, but falls short in comparison to the versatility offered by HostGator.

However, if you are a photographer or creative professional, SmugMug’s specific integrations with photo-hosting services like Dropbox, Adobe Lightroom, Google Photos, Flickr, and Amazon Drive might be more beneficial for your specific needs.

Hostgator plugins

3.8

6.9

🏆

Overall Winner: HostGator

. HostGator offers a more comprehensive set of marketing features, including email marketing, blogging, and ads and promotions, which are not available in SmugMug.


SEO Tools	Basic SEO tools	Comprehensive SEO tools
Email Marketing
Blogging
Social Media Integration
Analytics and Reporting	Basic analytics with Google Analytics integration	Comprehensive analytics with Google Analytics integration
Ads and Promotions		Google Ads and Bing Ads integration

7.9

7.3

🏆 Winner: SmugMug

. In the SmugMug vs HostGator comparison, SmugMug takes the lead with a customer support score of 7.9. SmugMug offers email and chat support available 364 days a year, ensuring rapid response times. For higher-tier business subscriptions, phone support is also available. This makes SmugMug a reliable choice for photographers and creatives who need consistent and accessible support.

HostGator, with a customer support score of 7.3, provides 24/7 support through email, phone, and live chat. While HostGator’s round-the-clock availability is commendable, it lacks the specialized enterprise support that SmugMug offers. HostGator’s support is suitable for a wide range of users, but it may not meet the specific needs of professional photographers and businesses looking for tailored assistance.

6.0

7.4

🏆

Winner: HostGator

. HostGator takes a comprehensive approach to security, with measures such as SiteLock for malware scanning, custom firewall rules, mod security rule sets, and regular password audits. They also offer additional security services for enhanced protection, including daily malware scans, automatic malware removal, Web Application Firewall, and DDoS protection. This ensures that websites hosted on HostGator are well-protected against various threats.

SmugMug, on the other hand, focuses on privacy settings and controls that allow users to manage who can access their content. They also employ data protection practices to safeguard user information and content. However, they do not disclose detailed information about their website security measures, which makes it difficult to compare their security level with that of HostGator.

2.6


AI Builder		Basic AI capabilities in the new website builder
AI Ecommerce features
AI Content Generation
Additional AI features

🏆 Winner: HostGator

. HostGator, with a score of 2.6, has announced the launch of a new website builder with basic AI technologies. However, it does not have AI ecommerce features or AI content generation features.

SmugMug, with a score of 0, does not have any AI capabilities. It does not have an AI builder, AI ecommerce features, AI content generation features, or any additional AI features.

7.2

3.2

🏆 Winner: SmugMug

. SmugMug and HostGator have different approaches to user management.

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. The number of users and the extent of their permissions depend on SmugMug’s current offerings.
HostGator mentions the possibility to have multiple users for its hosting solutions, however there’s no mention whether the mentioned users have the permission to edit the websites built with their website builder.

SmugMug User Roles and Access Levels:

Role	Description	Access Highlights
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.

HostGator does not provide information about user roles and access levels for their website builder.

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

SmugMug vs HostGator: User Feedback

SmugMug

33 reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars

HostGator

244 reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars

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.

HostGator’s website builder receives mixed reviews from users, highlighting both its strengths and areas for improvement. Users appreciate the platform for its ease of use, making it accessible even for novices to build professional-looking websites, and for its range of web services that facilitate website creation and management, including domain registration and SSL certificates. However, concerns are raised regarding its customer support, which is often described as slow or unresponsive, potentially impacting users requiring timely assistance. Additionally, some users find the pricing structure to be high, particularly for small-scale developers or those needing only basic services.

The making of this blog

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

Our Ranking Criteria

SmugMug vs HostGator: FAQ

Which platform is better for photographers, SmugMug or HostGator?

SmugMug is specifically designed for photographers and creatives, offering specialized templates, robust photo protection features, and tailored ecommerce capabilities for selling prints and digital downloads. It’s the preferred choice for professionals in the visual arts who need a platform that emphasizes high-quality image display and photographer-specific functionalities.

Can I use HostGator for a photography website?

Yes, HostGator can be used for a photography website. It offers a versatile website builder with a wide range of templates and comprehensive ecommerce features. While it caters to a broader audience, including ecommerce, it can still support photography websites through its customizable templates and features.

How do SmugMug and HostGator compare in terms of ecommerce capabilities?

SmugMug shines for creatives who need a platform that emphasizes the visual aspect of their products, offering robust photo protection and ecommerce capabilities designed for selling prints and digital downloads. HostGator, scoring lower in ecommerce, provides a broader set of tools suitable for various types of online stores, including drag-and-drop interface, unlimited products, and multi-channel inventory management.

Which platform offers better customer support, SmugMug or HostGator?

SmugMug edges out HostGator in customer support with a higher score, providing support mainly through email and chat, available 364 days a year, with rapid response times. HostGator offers various customer support channels, including email, phone, and live chat support for instant assistance, but does not offer specialized support for enterprises like SmugMug.

Are there any AI capabilities in SmugMug or HostGator?

HostGator has announced the launch of a new website builder with basic AI technologies, scoring a 2.6 in AI capabilities. SmugMug does not have any AI capabilities, focusing instead on providing a platform tailored for photographers and creatives without the integration of AI builder or content generation features.

Which platform is more suitable for building a general-purpose website?

HostGator is more suitable for building a general-purpose website, offering a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, a wide range of templates, and comprehensive ecommerce features. It caters to a broader audience, making it well-suited for businesses and individuals looking to establish a general online presence.

How do the platforms compare in terms of hosting quality and website speed optimization?

HostGator takes the lead in both hosting quality and website speed optimization, offering a variety of hosting types including shared, managed WordPress, VPS, and dedicated hosting, with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. It uses strategies like browser caching and Content Delivery Network (CDN) for speed optimization. SmugMug focuses on mobile responsive design for speed optimization but does not provide detailed information about their hosting features or uptime.

What are the pricing options for SmugMug and HostGator?

SmugMug’s plans are more expensive, specifically designed for photographers and creatives. HostGator’s plans are more affordable, designed for users who want to create their websites easily and efficiently. HostGator offers a broader range of pricing options, including budget-friendly plans suitable for various needs.