Final verdict
Square Online and Network Solutions cater to different niches within the website builder market, with Square Online emerging as the more versatile and user-friendly option.
-
Square Online (Overall Grade: 7.2/10)
excels in providing a comprehensive solution for businesses, especially those in retail, restaurants, and services. It offers superior design functionalities, ease of use, ecommerce features, and customer support. Square Online’s integration with Square’s payment processing and business management tools makes it a seamless option for businesses looking to manage their online presence and sales efficiently. Its focus on AI capabilities and security further enhances its appeal to a broad range of users. -
Network Solutions (Overall Grade: 5.4/10)
, while offering a solid foundation for small businesses and individuals to establish an online presence, falls short in several key areas compared to Square Online. Despite its strengths in hosting quality and website speed optimization, Network Solutions struggles with user interface modernity, ecommerce versatility, and overall user satisfaction. It remains a viable option for those prioritizing specific hosting needs or seeking basic website building tools.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.4 |
7.2 |
|
Ease of use |
8.4 |
6.8 |
|
Ecommerce |
7.3 |
6.3 |
|
Website Editors |
6.6 |
6.3 |
|
Product testing options |
7.8 |
0.5 |
|
Price |
7.5 |
6.4 |
|
Hosting quality |
7.8 |
7.8 |
|
Website speed optimization |
6.2 |
6.7 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
7.6 |
4.8 |
|
Marketing features |
7.4 |
7.2 |
|
Customer support |
6.7 |
6.6 |
|
Security |
8.5 |
7.5 |
|
AI capabilities |
7.4 |
1.1 |
|
User Management |
5.2 |
3.2 |
| Overall |
7.2 |
5.4 |
Best for ecommerce
7.3
6.3
Verdict
: Square Online is better suited for businesses looking for an integrated solution with POS capabilities, while Network Solutions caters well to small businesses and individuals seeking a comprehensive online presence.
-
Square Online
: With a focus on seamless integration for retail, restaurants, and service businesses, Square Online offers a robust set of ecommerce features including advanced product listing, inventory management, and a variety of payment processing options. Its higher ecommerce score reflects its strength in providing a comprehensive solution for businesses aiming to expand online. -
Network Solutions
: Although it scores slightly lower in ecommerce capabilities, Network Solutions provides a solid foundation for small businesses and individuals to establish an online presence. It offers essential ecommerce features, including marketing tools and product listings, tailored to users seeking simplicity and efficiency.
Best for informational & business websites
7.4
7.4
Verdict
: With identical scores in the informational and business websites category, the choice between Square Online and Network Solutions comes down to specific needs and preferences. Both platforms offer robust solutions, but their strengths lie in different areas.
-
Square Online
: Square Online shines for businesses looking for an integrated solution that combines website building with comprehensive e-commerce capabilities and payment processing. Its ease of use, design functionalities, and strong customer support make it an excellent choice for businesses aiming to manage their online and offline sales seamlessly. -
Network Solutions
: Network Solutions is well-suited for users prioritizing a wide range of services including domain registration, email services, and hosting options. Its focus on hosting quality and website speed optimization, along with a solid foundation in security, makes it a reliable choice for businesses looking for a traditional web presence.
Detailed comparison
Design functionalities & templates
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
7.4
7.2
🏆
Winner: Square Online.
While both platforms offer a range of design functionalities and templates, Square Online edges out Network Solutions with a slightly higher score.
Square Online offers a flexible website builder with a focus on e-commerce, providing a variety of design options through integration with platforms like Weebly. Users can customize their sites extensively, choosing from themes and preset styles to best represent their 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 any screenshots of their templates, limiting the ability to preview their offerings.
Network Solutions Themes: No link available
Network Solutions templates: No image available
Network Solutions template example: No image available
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!
No credit card required
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.
8.4
6.8
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. With a score of 8.4, Square Online offers an intuitive and user-friendly website building experience, making it accessible for users without coding skills. Network Solutions, scoring 6.8, provides a simple and reliable platform, but some users may find the interface a bit outdated compared to more modern competitors.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. Both platforms offer solid learning resources, but Square Online’s comprehensive guides, video tutorials, active community forums, and accessible customer service make it a more robust learning 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
Square Online and Network Solutions both offer a range of ecommerce features, but they cater to different business needs. Square Online is particularly tailored for retailers, restaurants, and service businesses, aiming to provide a seamless transition from brick-and-mortar operations to online sales. Network Solutions, on the other hand, is more suited to small businesses and individuals looking to establish an online presence.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
6.8 |
6.5 |
|
Product page customization |
7.6 |
6.8 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.9 |
6.0 |
|
POS capabilities |
9.0 |
5.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
7.5 |
7.0 |
|
Product numbers |
7.0 |
6.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
7.2 |
5.5 |
Square Online ecommerce features:
- Product Listing and Inventory management
- Payment Processing and POS features
- Shipping and Fulfillment
- Marketing features
Network Solutions ecommerce features:
- Marketing Tools
- Personalized Email
- Product Listings
Ecommerce themes & templates
Square Online offers a range of eCommerce templates designed to meet various business needs, enabling users to customize their sites to match their brand identity. It includes dynamic styling tools, personalized user experiences, and integrated payment solutions, including Square’s own payment gateway. 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
In Square Online, you can add up to 250 variations per item, like different sizes or versions, through “Selectable Options” in the item details section of your online store. Additionally, “Item Modifiers” allow for further customization by letting customers choose options or input custom text, such as engraving names on jewelry, without affecting inventory levels. 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
When it comes to payment processing, Square’s website builder supports a variety of payment options including Square Pay, Apple Pay, Cash App Pay, Google Pay, and Afterpay, catering to diverse customer payment preferences. The platform charges a transaction fee of 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction for its free plan, with a discounted fee available on the Premium plan. Network Solutions’ website builder offers 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.
6.6
6.3
🏆
Winner: Square Online
. With a score of 6.6, Square Online’s website builder is designed for businesses looking to establish an online presence with ease, focusing on e-commerce functionality. It offers limited customization options, aiming to simplify the design process, yet includes essential e-commerce and marketing tools suitable for a variety of business needs. The platform supports an unlimited number of products and integrates with Square’s payment processing, albeit with limited external payment options.
Network Solutions, scoring 6.3, offers a comprehensive suite of tools for website creation and management, catering to businesses and individuals alike. It 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.
Mobile editor/app
5.5
0
🏆
Winner: Square Online
. Neither Square Online nor Network Solutions offer a dedicated mobile editor app. However, Square Online does allow users to manage and edit their website using the mobile browser version, albeit with certain limitations. This gives Square Online a slight edge over Network Solutions, which does not provide any mobile editing capabilities. Therefore, if mobile editing is a priority for you, Square Online may be the better choice.
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.
7.8
0.5
Overall Result
:
Square Online Wins
. Square Online scores 7.8, offering a free version and a 30-day free trial where users can test premium features. Network Solutions, scoring only 0.5, does not offer a free trial and only allows access to features after purchasing a plan.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
Yes |
No |
|
Trial Duration |
30 days |
No free trial |
|
Testing Premium Features |
Yes, during 30-day free trial |
Only after purchasing a plan |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
No |
Yes, 30 days (conditions apply) |
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.
7.5
6.4
Square Online and Network Solutions offer different pricing structures, with Square Online focusing on providing a comprehensive solution for businesses of all sizes, while Network Solutions offers more affordable options for small businesses and individuals.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free |
Free ($0/month): For businesses who want to start selling online fast. Online payments with 2.9% + 30¢, basic-site layouts and design controls, tax calculation, unlimited items, SEO tools, blog feature, Facebook ads. |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$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+ |
Plus ($29/month): For businesses looking to drive online growth and streamline operations. Includes all the features of the free plan, plus, free custom domain for a year, professional branding, custom embed code, manage multiple sites, pre-orders, abandoned cart recovery, free shipping and delivery progress bar, product reviews, discounts, website statistics. Value for price: 7.5 |
Online Marketplaces ($19.95/month): Includes all features from the Online Store plan, Sell on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, & more. Value for Price: 8.5 |
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.
7.8
7.8
🏆
Winner: Network Solutions
Network Solutions edges out Square Online with a 99.99% uptime guarantee and a variety of hosting options, including shared, VPS, and WordPress hosting. Square Online, while offering unlimited bandwidth, does not specify the type of hosting it provides and does not offer an uptime guarantee. Both platforms do not disclose the locations of their data centers.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes, with unlimited bandwidth | Yes, offers shared, VPS, and WordPress hosting |
|
Data Centers: |
Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
|
Type of hosting: |
Not specified | Shared Hosting, VPS hosting, WordPress Hosting |
|
Uptime: |
99.96% | 99.99% |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
No | 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.
6.2
6.7
🏆 Winner: Network Solutions
Both Square Online and Network Solutions have strategies in place for website speed optimization, but Network Solutions takes the lead with its focus on Core Web Vitals improvements.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Lazy Loading, Code Minification, Caching, Image optimization |
CDN, Web Caching, Image Optimization, SEO optimization |
|
Performance Tools |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Key Strategies |
Lazy Loading, Code Minification, Caching, Image optimization |
CDN, Web Caching, Image Optimization, SEO optimization |
|
Load Times |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
Varies depending on the optimization, hosting type, and website complexity |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
No information provided |
Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements |
Network Solutions, a website builder and hosting service, focuses on website speed optimization through CDN, web caching, image optimization, and SEO optimization. It also emphasizes improvements in Core Web Vitals, specifically LCP, FID, and CLS. However, the load times and PageSpeed scores can vary widely, depending on the optimization, hosting type, and website complexity.
On the other hand, Square Online, a comprehensive website builder, uses strategies such as lazy loading, code minification, caching, and image optimization for website speed optimization. However, it does not provide any information on their Core Web Vitals improvements. The load times and PageSpeed scores can also vary depending on the level of optimization and website complexity.
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!
No credit card required
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.
7.6
4.8
🏆 Winner: Square Online.
With a score of 7.6, Square Online offers a wide array of app integrations that facilitate various aspects of business operations, including eCommerce, accounting, marketing, and employee management. These integrations range from free options to premium services, allowing businesses to tailor their Square setup to their specific needs.
On the other hand, Network Solutions, scoring 4.8, offers a variety of plugins/extensions to enhance the functionality of websites built through their platform. However, it focuses more on providing an all-in-one solution with built-in features rather than a wide range of third-party plugins or extensions.
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.
7.4
7.2
🏆
Overall Winner: Square Online
. Square Online edges out Network Solutions with a slightly higher score, thanks to its comprehensive suite of marketing tools and capabilities. However, Network Solutions also offers a robust set of marketing features, making it a competitive choice for businesses looking to build and manage their online presence.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
|
|
|
Email Marketing |
|
|
|
Blogging |
|
|
|
Social Media Integration |
|
|
|
Analytics and Reporting |
|
|
|
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.
6.7
6.6
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. Square Online edges out Network Solutions in this category with a customer support score of 6.7 compared to Network Solutions’ score of 6.6. Square Online provides customer support through phone, live chat, and email, with availability ranging from 6 AM to 6 PM Pacific Time on weekdays for general inquiries. Additionally, the customer success team is accessible for account issues Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM EST. The level of support varies by subscription tier, with more extensive support available for higher tiers. Premium plan users benefit from 24/7 phone support in English, alongside weekend support hours from 8 AM to 5 PM PST.
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.
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.
8.5
7.5
🏆
Winner: Square Online
. Square Online’s security measures are comprehensive, with a focus on user privacy and data security. They employ encryption, adhere to industry standards, and constantly monitor their security. They also comply with GDPR for EU and UK users, ensuring users’ rights to data privacy are respected. Additionally, they provide free SSL security for every site created with their platform, which is crucial for encrypting data transferred between web servers and browsers.
Network Solutions also takes several steps to protect customer data, including encryption, safeguarding data centers, and managing access to data. They offer a range of security services to protect websites, including SSL certificates for secure connections, malware scanning and removal, and possibly DDoS protection. However, their overall security score is lower than Square Online’s, making Square Online the winner in this category.
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.
7.4
1.1
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Personalized Recommendations |
AI algorithms for personalized product suggestions |
|
|
AI Content Generation |
AI-generated photo environments, email copy, website content |
AI copywriting tool on higher plans |
|
Additional AI Features |
Team announcements, auto-imported services, kitchen categories |
|
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. With a score of 7.4, Square Online offers a range of AI features that enhance the shopping experience and increase operational efficiency. These include personalized product recommendations, AI-generated content, and additional features aimed at improving communication and streamlining operations.
Network Solutions, scoring only 1.1, provides an AI copywriting tool on higher plans but lacks other AI features. This makes it less competitive in terms of 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.
5.2
3.2
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. Both Square Online and Network Solutions offer user management features, but they differ in their approach and functionality.
- Square Online allows multiple staff accounts, however the platform does not specify how many accounts are supported.
- Network Solutions’ website builder offers very limited multi-user functionality and access levels compared to other platforms.
Given the user management score, Square Online (5.2) outperforms Network Solutions (3.2) in this category.
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 Square Online for its ease of setup, no initial payment requirement for registration, and dependable payment processing. The platform is lauded for its simple user interface, which allows for quick product sales and efficient inventory management. However, some users express dissatisfaction with the limited design customization options and the simplicity of the store layouts, noting that they do not match the design quality of competitors like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify. Additionally, limitations in scheduled order processing and a desire for more advanced features and better support for custom HTML and SEO were highlighted.
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 ecommerce, Square Online or Network Solutions?
Can I use Square Online or Network Solutions for a non-ecommerce website?
How do Square Online and Network Solutions compare in terms of design and customization?
Which platform offers better customer support, Square Online or Network Solutions?
Are there any significant differences in pricing between Square Online and Network Solutions?
Which platform is more user-friendly for beginners?
How do Square Online and Network Solutions handle website security?
Can I manage multiple users with either Square Online or Network Solutions?
Build a website with AI in one minute
Build a website with AI in one minute
Create your dream website with 10Web AI Builder and take your business online!
