Final verdict
Zoho Sites and Web.com cater to different user needs, with Zoho Sites emerging as the more versatile and user-friendly option.
-
Web.com (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
is tailored for users with intermediate design skills, offering a range of templates and a platform that emphasizes mobile responsiveness and eCommerce capabilities. Despite its strengths in AI capabilities and a suite of plugins and integrations, Web.com falls short in areas like product testing options, hosting quality, and website speed optimization compared to Zoho Sites. -
Zoho Sites (Overall Grade: 7.6/10)
stands out for its ease of use, diverse template collection, and strong integration with Zoho’s ecosystem, making it a better choice for beginners and small businesses. It excels in hosting quality, website speed optimization, and offers superior customer support, security, and marketing features. Zoho Sites provides a more comprehensive and user-friendly experience, especially for those looking to integrate their website with other business tools.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Design functionalities & templates |
6.4 |
7.4 |
Ease of use |
6.4 |
7.0 |
Ecommerce |
6.3 |
7.4 |
Website Editors |
6.6 |
7.5 |
Product testing options |
0.2 |
8.8 |
Price |
7.4 |
8.6 |
Hosting quality |
5.9 |
8.0 |
Website speed optimization |
5.8 |
7.1 |
Plugins and integrations |
6.7 |
7.3 |
Marketing features |
7.0 |
7.6 |
Customer support |
7.3 |
8.3 |
Security |
7.6 |
8.1 |
AI capabilities |
7.3 |
7.5 |
User Management |
5.2 |
7.3 |
Overall |
5.8 |
7.6 |
Best for ecommerce
Verdict
: Zoho Sites takes the lead in ecommerce over Web.com, offering a more robust platform for online store management and integration capabilities.
-
Web.com
: Provides essential ecommerce features with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. It’s suitable for small businesses looking to start selling online but may face limitations as they scale. -
Zoho Sites
: Stands out with its higher ecommerce score and integration with Zoho Commerce, making it a better choice for businesses seeking comprehensive ecommerce solutions and scalability.
Best for informational & business websites
Verdict
: Zoho Sites is the superior choice for informational and business websites, offering a more user-friendly experience, better design options, and superior support and security features.
-
Web.com
: Web.com provides a solid foundation for building informational websites, with a focus on mobile responsiveness and SEO tools. However, it falls short in comparison to Zoho Sites, especially in terms of design flexibility and ease of use. -
Zoho Sites
: With a higher score for informational and business websites, Zoho Sites stands out for its extensive collection of customizable templates, user-friendly editor, and comprehensive features that cater to a wide range of website needs. Its emphasis on responsive design, along with better customer support and security measures, makes it a more appealing option for businesses looking to establish a strong online 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.
🏆
Winner: Zoho Sites.
Zoho Sites offers a more diverse collection of templates, greater customization flexibility, and more creative design possibilities.
Web.com offers over 100 website templates designed to cater to a broad spectrum of industries and personalization needs. These templates are structured to be straightforward in customization, allowing users to easily adapt their chosen designs to suit their unique brand identity through the platform’s editor.
On the other hand, Zoho Sites offers a diverse collection of over 150 templates, thoughtfully categorized into industries like Restaurants, Architecture, Health, and more. Each template provides a pre-designed layout with responsive design for various screen sizes. Customization options include visual elements such as colors, fonts, and images, as well as the ability to modify layouts and content using the visual editor.
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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.
🏆 Winner: Zoho Sites
. With a score of 7.0, Zoho Sites is more user-friendly than Web.com, which scored 6.4. Zoho Sites offers a clean interface, logical workflows, and helpful guides, making it suitable for beginners and small businesses. Web.com, on the other hand, is more suitable for intermediate designers seeking to enhance their design capabilities.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Zoho Sites
. Both platforms offer a range of learning resources, but Zoho Sites provides a wider range of high-quality resources, including a detailed beginner’s guide, comprehensive user guides, video tutorials, blogs, FAQs, community forums, and webinars.
Community of Users
🏆 Winner: Zoho Sites
. Zoho Sites has a larger community of users, with over 100,000 members engaging in discussions on the Zoho Community platform, numerous Facebook groups, and a dedicated subreddit. In contrast, Web.com lacks a large community of users across various platforms.
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.
When it comes to ecommerce, Zoho Sites outperforms Web.com with a score of 7.4 compared to 6.3. While Web.com offers a suite of ecommerce features aimed at simplifying the creation and management of online stores, it has been noted for its complex setup process and limited template variety. On the other hand, Zoho Sites, while lacking built-in ecommerce features, seamlessly integrates with Zoho Commerce, a dedicated platform designed for online store management.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
5.5 |
6.5 |
Product page customization |
6.0 |
7.0 |
Payment processing and commissions |
6.5 |
6.8 |
POS capabilities |
4.0 |
5.5 |
Payment gateways |
7.0 |
7.2 |
Product numbers |
5.0 |
6.0 |
Additional ecommerce features |
6.0 |
7.3 |
Web.com ecommerce features:
- Product listing
- Marketing Features
- Shipping options
- Payment Gateways integration
Zoho Sites ecommerce features:
- Product and Inventory management
- Order management
- Payment Processing
- Marketing and Promotions
- SEO and Analytics
- Security
Ecommerce themes & templates
Web.com offers around 15 ecommerce templates designed to help businesses quickly launch and customize their online stores. These templates are compatible with Web.com’s website builder, facilitating straightforward customization and integration for digital storefronts. In contrast, Zoho Sites offers a range of eCommerce website templates and themes designed to cater to various industries and business needs. These templates are customizable, allowing businesses to tailor their online stores to their brand and product offerings.
Product page customization
Web.com’s website builder offers a suite of tools for e-commerce stores, including product category management for organizing inventory and improving navigation, and product listing features for adding detailed product information and images. On the other hand, Zoho offers extensive product page customization options, allowing users to tailor the display of their products. This includes features like image galleries, sliders, and video integration, enabling businesses to present their products in a visually appealing manner.
Payment processing
Web.com supports popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and all major debit and credit cards, ensuring a wide array of payment options for customers. Zoho Sites, in conjunction with Zoho Commerce, offers robust payment processing capabilities and supports integration with multiple payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Square, facilitating secure online transactions.
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.
🏆
Winner: Zoho Sites
. Zoho Sites, with a score of 7.5, offers a user-friendly website builder that enables both businesses and individuals to create professional, responsive websites without coding skills, through its drag-and-drop interface. Integrated within the Zoho ecosystem, it offers customizable templates, SEO tools, social media integration, and ecommerce features, along with connectivity to other Zoho applications for enhanced functionality.
Web.com’s website builder, scoring 6.6, offers a user-friendly platform with a variety of templates and a drag-and-drop interface for easy customization. It supports basic e-commerce capabilities suitable for small businesses, alongside features like analytics, social media integration, and email services. However, for more advanced functionalities like promotional pop-ups, calendars, or comprehensive blogging tools, the platform may fall short unless users are willing to add custom code.
Mobile editor/app
🏆
Winner: Zoho Sites
. Neither Web.com nor Zoho Sites offer a dedicated mobile editor app. However, Zoho Sites allows users to edit the visual aspects of the mobile version of their website, such as font size, color, background, and shadow. This feature provides some level of convenience for users who want to make quick visual adjustments to their website on the go.
On the other hand, Web.com does not offer any mobile editing capabilities, which can be a significant drawback for users who prefer to manage their website from a mobile device.
In summary, Zoho Sites scores higher in this category due to its limited but present mobile editing capabilities.
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.
Overall Result
:
Zoho Sites Wins
. Zoho Sites scores 8.8, significantly higher than Web.com’s 0.2. Zoho Sites offers a free version and a 15-day free trial that allows testing of all features of each plan. In contrast, Web.com does not offer a free or trial version, and it’s not possible to test any of the features before purchasing any of their plans.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Free Plan |
No |
Yes |
Trial Duration |
No |
15 days |
Testing Premium Features |
Not possible |
All features during free trial |
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.
Zoho Sites offers a better price score than Web.com, indicating better value for money.
While Web.com offers up to 70% discounts on annual billing, Zoho Sites offers discounts ranging from 16% to 37.5% depending on the plan. Neither platform has a specific enterprise plan, but Zoho Sites offers options suitable for enterprise needs through their Agency Plan and add-on packs.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
$0-$10 |
No offering at this amount. |
Starter ($8.00/month): Offers basic features suitable for small websites, including 5 pages, 500MB storage, 10GB bandwidth/month, SSL hosting, domain connection, ad-free experience, and more. Ideal for personal blogs or small business websites. Value for price: 6.5 |
$10-$20 |
Website ($19.99/month): AI-powered Website Builder. Free domain & domain privacy for 1 year. Professional email for 3 months. SSL Certificate for 1 month. 1 hour expert design support. Social & email marketing tools. Value for price: 6.5 |
No offering at this amount. |
$20-$30 |
Website + Marketing ($24.99/month): All features in the Website plan. Enhanced marketing tools. Appointment scheduling. Value for price: 7.0 |
Pro ($23.00/month): Upgrades significantly on the Starter plan, offering 50 pages, 100GB storage, unmetered bandwidth, 50 forms, and advanced features like social share button, audio player, comment box, scheduled blog post, and dynamic content. Best suited for professional sites that require more resources and functionalities. Value for price: 8.0 |
$30+ |
eCommerce ($34.99/month): All features in the Website + Marketing plan. Online store with secure checkout. Sell on multiple marketplaces like Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, eBay, etc. Value for price: 8.5 |
Agency ($32.00/month): Tailored for agencies managing multiple sites, providing a bundle plan that offers significant savings and flexibility. Includes all Starter features with the option to add Pro features as needed. Value for price: 9.0 |
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.
Winner: Zoho Sites
. Zoho Sites offers managed hosting with a focus on speed and efficiency, backed by a 99.9% uptime guarantee and a network of 12 global data centers. Web.com, on the other hand, provides shared hosting with unlimited storage and daily backups, but does not disclose its uptime statistics or data center locations. This lack of transparency gives Zoho Sites the edge in this category.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes, with unlimited storage and daily backups | Yes, with scalable storage and bandwidth options |
Data Centers: |
Not disclosed | 12 globally: Canada(Montreal and Toronto), US(Quincy and Dallas), India(Mumbai and Chennai), Australia(Sydney and Melbourne), China(Beijing and Shanghai), Japan(Tokyo and Osaka) |
Type of hosting: |
Shared hosting | Managed Hosting |
Uptime: |
Not disclosed | 99.9% |
Uptime Guarantee: |
No | Yes, 99.9% |
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.
🏆 Winner: Zoho Sites
Both Web.com and Zoho Sites prioritize website performance and speed, but Zoho Sites has a higher website speed optimization score and provides more detailed information about their strategies and improvements.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Focus |
Mobile Optimized design, Code Minification, Caching, Image Optimization |
Regularly testing and implementing updates, Optimized code and libraries, Cache balancing |
Performance Tools |
Not specified |
Not specified |
Key Strategies |
Mobile Optimized design, Code Minification, Caching, Image Optimization |
Regularly testing and implementing updates, Optimized code and libraries, Cache balancing |
Load Times |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
Below 2-5 seconds average |
Page Speed Scores Range |
Not specified |
70-80/100 average |
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not specified |
Implementing various performance optimization techniques |
Zoho Sites focuses on regularly testing and implementing updates, optimizing code and libraries, and balancing cache for speed optimization. The platform has an average load time of below 2-5 seconds and an average PageSpeed score of 70-80/100. Zoho Sites also emphasizes the implementation of various performance optimization techniques for improving Core Web Vitals.
On the other hand, Web.com’s strategies for speed optimization include mobile-optimized design, code minification, caching, and image optimization. However, the platform does not provide specific information about their load times, PageSpeed score ranges, or Core Web Vital improvements.
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Plugins and integrations
Plugins and integrationsMeasures the range and effectiveness of additional plugins and integrations.Score Components:
- Variety of options (40%): Range of available add-ons.
- Integration smoothness (30%): Ease of integrating plugins into the site.
- Quality of plugins (20%): Functionality and reliability of the options.
- Custom integration capabilities (10%): Support for custom or third-party integrations.
🏆 Winner: Zoho Sites.
Zoho Sites scores 7.3, offering a diverse range of plugins and extensions spanning various categories like marketing, design, social media, SEO, payments, and more. Web.com, with a score of 6.7, provides a suite of plugins and integrations for websites built on its platform, including features for email marketing, social media engagement, analytics, and eCommerce capabilities. However, Zoho Sites’ approach of integrating many extensions into their paid plans, providing users with access to more features as they upgrade, gives it the upper hand.
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.
🏆
Overall Winner: Zoho Sites
. Zoho Sites edges out Web.com with a slightly higher marketing features score and more detailed features in areas such as blogging and analytics.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
SEO Tools |
|
|
Email Marketing |
|
|
Blogging |
Basic blogging features |
Advanced blogging features with multi-author support and content scheduling |
Social Media Integration |
Basic social media integration |
Advanced social media integration with tools for embedding social media feeds and buttons |
Analytics and Reporting |
Basic analytics and reporting with Google Analytics integration |
Detailed analytics and reporting with Google Analytics integration |
Ads and Promotions |
Tiered selection of marketing tools across different packages |
Tools for creating and managing Google Ads campaigns and promoting special offers |
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.
🏆 Winner: Zoho Sites
. Zoho Sites takes the lead in this category with a customer support score of 8.3, compared to Web.com’s score of 7.3. Zoho Sites offers 24/7 customer support through various channels including live chat, email, and phone. They also provide a comprehensive knowledge base and community forum where users can find answers to common questions and interact with other users.
Web.com also offers comprehensive customer support for its users, providing assistance through various channels including email, live chat, and phone support, available 24/7. However, they do not offer customer support for enterprises, unlike Zoho Sites which provides dedicated support for enterprise customers.
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.
🏆
Winner: Zoho Sites
. Zoho Sites takes the lead in security with a score of 8.1, compared to Web.com’s 7.6. Zoho Sites provides secure private data storage and protection through advanced encryption and access controls. The platform uses SSL encryption to protect data transmission and offers two-factor authentication for added security. Regular software updates are also part of Zoho Sites’ commitment to security, addressing any potential vulnerabilities.
Web.com, on the other hand, offers a range of services focused on private data storage and protection, including website staging environments and email solutions. They also provide website security measures through their partnership with SiteLock Security, which offers cloud-based security services that scan websites for malware and vulnerabilities. Despite these measures, Web.com falls slightly short in comparison to Zoho Sites in terms of overall security score.
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.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
AI Builder |
Web.com’s AI builder simplifies website creation |
|
AI Ecommerce features |
Personalized product recommendations, automated inventory management, customer service chatbots, and data analysis tools |
Unique and targeted product recommendations, sales predictions, workflow automation, and customer service enhancements |
AI Content Generation |
AI Writer for versatile content creation in multiple languages |
Zia Content Assistant for engaging and optimized landing page content |
Additional AI Features |
AI Domain Generator and AI Logo Builder for website design and branding |
Zia for productivity, sales, and customer service enhancements |
🏆 Winner: Web.com
. With a score of 7.3, Web.com’s AI capabilities are more comprehensive, offering a dedicated AI builder, versatile content generation, and additional features for website design and branding.
Zoho Sites, scoring 7.5, does not have a dedicated AI builder but leverages its AI assistant, Zia, for content generation, ecommerce features, and additional productivity enhancements.
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.
🏆 Winner: Zoho Sites
. Both Web.com and Zoho Sites offer multiple user accounts, but Zoho Sites provides more detailed information about the number of users who can edit a website and their access levels.
- Web.com allows multiple user accounts, however the platform does not specify how many accounts are supported.
- The number of users who can edit a Zoho Sites website and their access levels depend on the chosen plan. The Free Plan allows only the owner to edit, while paid plans like Pro, Business, and Enterprise offer access for up to 10, 25, and 50 users respectively.
Web.com User Roles and Access Levels:
Role | Description | Access Highlights |
---|---|---|
Primary | The main account holder or primary user. | Edit primary user info Purchase products Manage and renew products and services |
Admin | Users with administrative privileges besides the primary. | Edit payment information Add/Edit/Delete user roles Manage and renew products and services Edit WHOIS Admin and Tech user info |
Tech | Users with technical responsibilities. | Manage and renew products and services Edit WHOIS Admin and Tech user info |
Additional Features
|
|
|
---|---|---|
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
Unfortunately, there is no user feedback available for Web.com as it is not listed on the G2 platform.
On the other hand, Zoho Sites receives mixed reviews, with users praising its user-friendly interface, extensive template library, and seamless integration with other Zoho products, which simplifies website development and management for small businesses. However, some users express dissatisfaction with its limited design flexibility and the inability to create custom features. Overall, Zoho Sites addresses the need for cost-effective website solutions, particularly for those without coding knowledge, offering a one-stop-shop for building and managing websites with varying degrees of customization and integration with other business tools.
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 beginners, Web.com or Zoho Sites?
Can I use both Web.com and Zoho Sites for ecommerce?
How do Web.com and Zoho Sites compare in terms of design flexibility and customization?
What are the major differences in pricing and value between Web.com and Zoho Sites?
Which platform offers better customer support, Web.com or Zoho Sites?