Final verdict
Between SmugMug and Network Solutions, each platform has its strengths tailored to different user needs.
-
SmugMug (Overall Grade: 6.3/10)
excels as a niche website builder for photographers and creatives, offering specialized features like robust photo protection, customizable templates optimized for high-quality images, and e-commerce capabilities for selling prints and digital downloads. Its user-friendly interface, coupled with strong customer support and specific integrations for photography, makes it a solid choice for professionals in the visual arts. -
Network Solutions (Overall Grade: 5.4/10),
while scoring lower overall, provides a broader range of services including website building, hosting, and domain registration, catering to small businesses and individuals seeking an all-in-one online presence solution. Despite facing criticism for outdated features and customer service issues, it offers competitive marketing features, security services, and website speed optimization strategies.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.1 |
7.2 |
|
Ease of use |
7.8 |
6.8 |
|
Ecommerce |
7.3 |
6.3 |
|
Website Editors |
7.3 |
6.3 |
|
Product testing options |
7.4 |
0.5 |
|
Price |
7.8 |
6.4 |
|
Hosting quality |
5.0 |
7.8 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.5 |
6.7 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
6.2 |
4.8 |
|
Marketing features |
3.8 |
7.2 |
|
Customer support |
7.9 |
6.6 |
|
Security |
6.0 |
7.5 |
|
AI capabilities |
0 |
1.1 |
|
User Management |
7.2 |
3.2 |
| Overall |
6.3 |
5.4 |
Best for ecommerce
7.3
6.3
Verdict
: For creatives and photographers looking to sell their work, SmugMug offers specialized ecommerce features. Network Solutions, while more versatile, caters to a broader range of small to medium-sized businesses with its ecommerce capabilities.
-
SmugMug
: Tailored for photographers and creatives, SmugMug provides essential ecommerce features like digital downloads and tax handling, making it easier for artists to sell their work online. Its focus on high-quality image display and protection features also stands out for visual-centric sellers. -
Network Solutions
: Offers a more generalized ecommerce solution suitable for a variety of businesses. With features like marketing tools and product listings, it’s designed to support small to medium-sized businesses in establishing their online stores. However, it may not offer the same level of specialized features for photographers as SmugMug does.
Best for informational & business websites
7.5
7.4
Verdict
: With nearly identical scores for informational and business websites, SmugMug slightly edges out Network Solutions, making it a marginally better choice for users focused on visual content.
-
SmugMug
: Tailored for photographers and creatives, SmugMug shines with its customizable templates optimized for showcasing high-quality images. Its focus on visual content and robust photo protection features make it an excellent choice for informational websites that rely heavily on imagery. -
Network Solutions
: Offering a broad range of services including website building and hosting, Network Solutions caters well to small businesses and individuals. Its comprehensive solution and variety of templates make it a solid choice for creating professional-looking informational websites, though it slightly lags behind SmugMug in this specific category.
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.
7.1
7.2
🏆
Winner: Network Solutions.
Although the scores are close, Network Solutions edges out SmugMug with a slightly higher score.
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.
On the other hand, Network Solutions offers a wide variety of templates and designs tailored to meet the diverse needs of its users. Whether you’re setting up a website for a small business, a personal blog, or a large e-commerce platform, you’ll find an extensive selection of options to choose from. However, Network Solutions does not provide a link to their themes page or screenshots of their templates and template examples.
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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.
7.8
6.8
🏆 Winner: SmugMug
. With a score of 7.8, SmugMug edges out Network Solutions, which scored 6.8. SmugMug’s user-friendly interface and focus on photography make it an excellent choice for photographers and visual artists. Network Solutions, while offering a simple and accessible platform, may feel a bit outdated compared to modern competitors.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Network Solutions
. Both platforms offer learning resources, but Network Solutions provides high-quality tutorials, FAQs, and customer support, making it a more comprehensive resource for 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.
7.3
6.3
SmugMug and Network Solutions both offer ecommerce capabilities, but they cater to different needs. SmugMug is specifically designed for photographers and creatives who want to sell their work online, while Network Solutions is more suited for small to medium-sized businesses looking to establish an online store.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
8.0 |
6.5 |
|
Product page customization |
6.5 |
6.8 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
6.0 |
6.0 |
|
POS capabilities |
0.0 |
5.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
5.0 |
7.0 |
|
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
Network Solutions ecommerce features:
- Marketing Tools
- Personalized Email
- Product Listings
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, Network Solutions offers a variety of ecommerce templates designed to cater to businesses of different sizes and industries. Their templates are crafted to be responsive, ensuring a seamless shopping experience across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
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.
Network Solutions offers a range of ecommerce product page customization options to enhance the online shopping experience. Users can personalize product descriptions, images, and videos to showcase their items effectively. Additionally, the platform allows for the customization of product options such as size, color, and material, enabling a more interactive and tailored shopping experience for customers.
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. 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.
Network Solutions’ website builder is designed for online stores, small businesses, and personal websites, offering essential e-commerce features including a built-in shopping cart and support for a wide range of payment options such as PayPal, PayFlow, USA ePay, CyberSource, PlugNPay, making it convenient for businesses to process transactions. Network Solutions does not mention that they charge commissions on transactions, commissions are charged by the gateways themselves.
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.
7.3
6.3
🏆
Winner: SmugMug
. SmugMug, with a score of 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.
Network Solutions’ editor, scoring 6.3, provides an intuitive website editor that allows users to design, edit, and publish their websites without needing advanced technical skills. With a wide array of templates and customization options, users can create professional-looking websites that are responsive and optimized for search engines. However, some users may find the interface a bit outdated and less intuitive compared to more modern website builders.
Mobile editor/app
7.5
0
🏆
Winner: SmugMug
. Both SmugMug and Network Solutions have their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to mobile editing. 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.
On the other hand, Network Solutions does not have a dedicated mobile editor app. Despite its limitations, SmugMug is the clear winner as it offers some mobile editing capabilities, unlike Network Solutions.
Product testing options
Product Testing OptionsAssesses the options for trying out platform features before commitment.Score Components:
- Trial quality (40%): Extent and usefulness of the trial or free version.
- Feature accessibility (30%): How many features are available to test.
- Trial duration (20%): Length of the trial period.
- Ease of transition (10%): Smoothness of moving from trial to paid plans.
7.4
0.5
Overall Result
:
SmugMug Wins
. SmugMug scores 7.4, significantly higher than Network Solutions’ 0.5. SmugMug offers a 14-day free trial during which users can test all premium features. Network Solutions, on the other hand, does not offer a free trial and users can only access features after purchasing a plan. While Network Solutions offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, it’s noted that getting refunds may be difficult in some cases.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
No | No |
|
Trial Duration |
14 days | No free trial |
|
Testing Premium Features |
During the free trial |
Only after purchasing a plan |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
No | 30 days (refunds may be difficult) |
Price
PriceLooks at the cost-effectiveness and value for money of each platform.Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
7.8
6.4
SmugMug offers more premium pricing plans, targeting professional photographers and creatives, while Network Solutions provides more affordable options for small businesses and individuals.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
$0-$5 |
No offering at this amount. |
Website ($4.95/month): Easy-to-use website builder, Domain & Domain Privacy: 1 Year Free, Professional Email: 3 Months Free, SSL Certificate: 1 Month Free, 1-hour expert design support. Value for price: 6.5 |
|
$5-$9 |
No offering at this amount. |
Website + Marketing ($7.95/month): Includes all features from the Website plan, Sell services, Appointment scheduling, Social and email marketing, AI copywriting tool (NEW). Value for price: 7.5 |
|
$9-$10 |
No offering at this amount. |
Online Store ($9.95/month): Includes all features from the Website + Marketing plan, Sell products and services, Sell on Facebook & Instagram. Value for price: 8.0 |
|
$10-$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 |
Online Marketplaces ($19.95/month): Includes all features from the Online Store plan, Sell on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, & more. Value for price: 8.5 |
|
$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 |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$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.
5.0
7.8
🏆
Winner: Network Solutions
Network Solutions offers a variety of hosting options including shared, VPS, and WordPress hosting, with features like unlimited data transfer and scalable cloud-based environments. Their hosting plans come with significant storage options and free on-demand cloud backups. However, they face criticism for outdated features, confusing pricing structures. SmugMug, on the other hand, does not provide detailed information about their hosting features, making it difficult to assess their hosting quality.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes, but no detailed information on their hosting features |
Yes, offers a variety of hosting options including shared, VPS, and WordPress hosting |
|
Data Centers: |
No information provided | Network Solutions doesn’t publicly disclose any information about its data centers |
|
Type of hosting: |
No information provided |
Shared Hosting, VPS hosting, WordPress Hosting |
|
Uptime: |
No information provided |
99.99% |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
Yes, 99.9% |
Yes, 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.
5.5
6.7
🏆 Winner: Network Solutions
Both SmugMug and Network Solutions prioritize website performance and page speed, but Network Solutions takes the lead with a more comprehensive approach to speed optimization.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Mobile Responsive design |
CDN, Web Caching, Image Optimization, SEO optimization |
|
Performance Tools |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Key Strategies |
Mobile Responsive design |
CDN, Web Caching, Image Optimization, SEO optimization |
|
Load Times |
Varies widely, depending on the optimization, website complexity |
Varies widely, depending on the optimization, hosting type and website complexity |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not specified |
Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements |
Network Solutions takes a comprehensive approach to website speed optimization, employing strategies such as Content Delivery Network (CDN), web caching, image optimization, and SEO optimization. This approach ensures that websites built with Network Solutions load quickly and perform well, regardless of their complexity or the type of hosting used. Network Solutions also focuses on improving Core Web Vitals (CWV), specifically Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS), which are key factors in Google’s page experience ranking.
On the other hand, SmugMug’s approach to speed optimization is more focused on mobile responsive design. While this is an important aspect of website performance, it does not cover all the bases when it comes to speed optimization. SmugMug does not provide specific information on load times, PageSpeed score ranges, or Core Web Vitals improvements, making it difficult to assess the overall performance of websites built with this platform.
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Plugins and integrations
Plugins and integrationsMeasures the range and effectiveness of additional plugins and integrations.Score Components:
- Variety of options (40%): Range of available add-ons.
- Integration smoothness (30%): Ease of integrating plugins into the site.
- Quality of plugins (20%): Functionality and reliability of the options.
- Custom integration capabilities (10%): Support for custom or third-party integrations.
6.2
4.8
🏆 Winner: SmugMug.
With a score of 6.2, SmugMug offers integrations with several photo-hosting services, enhancing its functionality for photographers. Network Solutions, scoring 4.8, provides an all-in-one solution with built-in features rather than a wide range of third-party plugins or extensions.
However, it’s worth noting that Network Solutions might be a better choice for those looking for an all-in-one solution, while SmugMug is more suitable for photographers who need specific integrations.
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.
3.8
7.2
🏆
Overall Winner: Network Solutions
. Network Solutions offers a more comprehensive set of marketing features, including SEO tools, email marketing, blogging, social media integration, analytics and reporting, and ads and promotions. SmugMug, while offering some of these features, lacks in areas such as email marketing, blogging, and ads and promotions.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
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 |
|
Comprehensive ads and promotions 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.
7.9
6.6
🏆 Winner: SmugMug
. SmugMug takes the lead in this category with a customer support score of 7.9, compared to Network Solutions’ score of 6.6. SmugMug provides customer support mainly through email and chat, available 364 days a year, with rapid response times. Users can contact support by submitting a form via the “Contact Us” button on any page of their help center. Additionally, chat support offers an immediate response option through their help portal. While these support options are widely accessible, phone support is available exclusively for users with a higher-tier business subscription.
On the other hand, Network Solutions provides 24/7 live chat support. However, they do not provide enterprise support as they don’t have an enterprise plan. This could be a disadvantage for larger businesses that require more comprehensive 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.
6.0
7.5
🏆
Winner: Network Solutions
. Network Solutions has a higher security score and offers a more comprehensive range of security services to protect websites. This includes SSL certificates for secure connections, malware scanning and removal, and possibly DDoS protection among other services. They also take several steps to protect customer data, focusing on keeping data secure through encryption, safeguarding data centers with strict security measures, and managing who can access data with careful controls.
SmugMug, on the other hand, takes privacy and security seriously, ensuring private data storage and protection through various measures. They implement strict privacy settings and controls that allow users to manage who can access their content. However, they do not disclose detailed information about their website security measures, apart from the possibility to change privacy settings to protect website content with passwords and hiding account owner information.
AI Capabilities
AI capabilitiesMeasures the effectiveness of AI-driven features and tools.Score Components:
- Automation efficiency (40%): Impact of AI on streamlining processes.
- Personalization (30%): AI-driven customization for users or customers.
- AI-Assisted design (20%): Role of AI in website design and functionality.
- Data analysis (10%): Use of AI in interpreting user data and analytics.
0
1.1
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Builder |
|
|
|
AI Ecommerce features |
|
|
|
AI Content Generation |
|
AI copywriting tool available on higher plans |
|
Additional AI features |
|
|
🏆 Winner: Network Solutions
. Although both SmugMug and Network Solutions have minimal AI capabilities, Network Solutions slightly edges out with a score of 1.1 due to its AI copywriting tool available on higher plans. SmugMug, with a score of 0, does not offer any AI capabilities.
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.
7.2
3.2
🏆 Winner: SmugMug
. SmugMug and Network Solutions 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.
- Network Solutions’ website builder offers very limited multi-user functionality and access levels compared to other platforms.
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. |
Additional Features
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SSL Certificate |
|
|
|
Custom Domain |
|
|
|
Free Custom Domain Included |
|
|
|
International Domains |
|
|
|
Mobile Responsive |
|
|
|
Page Speed |
|
|
|
Website Builder Mobile App |
|
|
|
Convert a Website To An App |
|
|
|
Website Analytics |
|
|
|
Multilingual Sites |
|
|
|
Multiple Users |
|
|
User Feedback
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.
User reviews of Network Solutions are mixed, with some praising its prompt customer support and variety of domain management options. However, there are widespread complaints about the platform’s outdated business practices, high costs, and poor customer service. Users often find the website’s layout confusing and report instances of misleading promises regarding refunds. Overall, while Network Solutions has some positive attributes, its drawbacks suggest that users may want to consider alternatives.
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 Network Solutions?
Can I sell products on both SmugMug and Network Solutions?
Which platform offers better customer support, SmugMug or Network Solutions?
How do SmugMug and Network Solutions compare in terms of website speed and hosting quality?
Are there any AI capabilities on SmugMug or Network Solutions?
Which platform is more user-friendly for creating a website?
Can I manage multiple users on both platforms?
What are the main differences in pricing between SmugMug and Network Solutions?
Which platform offers better marketing features?
How do the platforms compare in terms of security?
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