Final verdict
WordPress and iPage cater to different needs and audiences, with WordPress offering extensive customization and iPage focusing on simplicity and user-friendliness.
-
WordPress (Overall Grade: 7.1/10)
excels as an open-source content management system, offering unparalleled flexibility and customization through themes and plugins. It’s ideal for users who require a robust platform for blogs, business sites, and online stores, and are willing to navigate its steeper learning curve. WordPress’s extensive ecosystem and strong community support make it a powerful choice for those looking to build a highly customized website. -
iPage (Overall Grade: 6.1/10)
, on the other hand, provides a more streamlined experience, making website creation accessible to those without technical expertise. It offers a range of templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and integrated hosting solutions, targeting small businesses and personal projects. While it may not offer the same level of customization as WordPress, iPage’s user-friendly approach and comprehensive services make it a solid option for users seeking simplicity and efficiency.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
9.0 |
7.0 |
|
Ease of use |
7.2 |
7.6 |
|
Ecommerce |
8.4 |
5.7 |
|
Website Editors |
8.5 |
6.8 |
|
Product testing options |
8.1 |
2.5 |
|
Price |
5.9 |
7.3 |
|
Hosting quality |
0 |
7.7 |
|
Website speed optimization |
6.5 |
7.4 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
8.8 |
6.3 |
|
Marketing features |
8.0 |
7.2 |
|
Customer support |
5.0 |
6.9 |
|
Security |
6.7 |
7.5 |
|
AI capabilities |
6.1 |
3.0 |
|
User Management |
8.8 |
3.2 |
| Overall |
7.1 |
6.1 |
Best for ecommerce
8.4
5.7
Verdict
: WordPress is the superior choice for ecommerce due to its flexibility, extensive plugin ecosystem, and scalability. iPage offers simplicity and ease of use, which may appeal to smaller businesses or those just starting out.
-
WordPress
: With its open-source nature and the powerful WooCommerce plugin, WordPress excels in providing a customizable and scalable ecommerce platform. It’s suited for businesses of all sizes, offering extensive features like multiple payment gateway support and ecommerce analytics. -
iPage
: Targets small to medium-sized businesses with a more straightforward, user-friendly approach. While it may not offer the same level of customization and scalability as WordPress, it remains a viable option for those seeking simplicity in their ecommerce solution.
Best for informational & business websites
9.2
7.2
Verdict
: WordPress is the superior choice for informational and business websites, offering unmatched customization and a vast ecosystem of themes and plugins.
-
WordPress
: With a score of 9.2, WordPress stands out for its flexibility and extensive customization options. It’s ideal for users who need a robust platform capable of supporting a wide range of informational and business needs, from simple blogs to complex business sites. -
iPage
: Scoring 7.2, iPage offers a user-friendly platform that’s easy to manage, making it a good option for small businesses and personal projects. However, it lacks the customization depth and versatility that WordPress provides, making it less suitable for those looking to extensively tailor their site.
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.
9.0
7.0
🏆
Winner: WordPress.
If you’re looking for a platform that offers more creative control and a wide array of design features, WordPress is the preferred choice.
WordPress offers an extensive variety of templates and designs, catering to a wide range of website types beyond just blogs or ecommerce. Its open-source nature allows for high customization and creative freedom, appealing to diverse user needs. While WordPress itself doesn’t sell premium templates, numerous third-party theme shops offer sophisticated and specialized design choices, expanding the possibilities for users.
Compared to WordPress, iPage offers a wide variety of templates and designs, catering to users with diverse needs and preferences. With hundreds of options available, ranging from simple and elegant to complex and dynamic, users can easily find a template that suits their specific project or business requirements. These templates are also customizable, allowing for a high degree of personalization in terms of layout, color schemes, and functionality. Whether you’re building a personal blog, a business website, or an online store, iPage provides a rich selection of designs to ensure your site stands out and effectively communicates your message.
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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.
7.2
7.6
🏆 Winner: iPage
. Scoring a 7.6, iPage is designed with simplicity in mind, making it highly accessible for users with no prior web development experience. WordPress, with a score of 7.2, offers great flexibility and power, but it can be less intuitive for beginners compared to simpler website builders. If ease of use is a priority, iPage is the clear winner in this category.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: WordPress
. While both platforms offer solid learning resources, WordPress goes a step further with its wide array of detailed documentation, community forums, online tutorials, and courses, making it easier for users to learn and adapt.
For ecommerce
EcommerceMeasures the platform’s effectiveness in supporting online business activities.Score Components:
- Ecommerce themes and templates (20%): Variety and design of templates.
- Product management (25%): Ease of managing and organizing products.
- Payment options (25%): Variety and convenience of payment methods.
- Ecommerce features (20%): Features for managing an ecommerce store.
- Integration (10%): Compatibility with external e-commerce tools and services.
8.4
5.7
WordPress, with its open-source nature and extensive plugin ecosystem, offers a flexible and customizable ecommerce solution, especially with the WooCommerce plugin. iPage, on the other hand, provides a more straightforward and user-friendly approach to ecommerce, suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. However, it may not scale well for larger enterprises or those with complex ecommerce needs.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
9.2 |
5.5 |
|
Product page customization |
9.0 |
5.0 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.5 |
6.0 |
|
POS capabilities |
6.5 |
3.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
8.5 |
6.5 |
|
Product numbers |
7.0 |
4.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
8.0 |
5.5 |
WordPress ecommerce features:
- WooCommerce Integration
- Multiple Payment Gateway Support
- Abandoned Cart Recovery
- Ecommerce Analytics
- SEO Optimization Tools
- Extensive Plugin Ecosystem
iPage ecommerce features:
- Inventory Management and Tracking
- Coupon Codes and Promotions
- SEO Tools
- PayPal Integration
Ecommerce themes & templates
WordPress offers hundreds to potentially thousands of ecommerce and WooCommerce specific themes and templates, both free and premium. This vast selection allows for extensive customization and unique store designs. iPage, on the other hand, offers a variety of ecommerce-specific templates integrated with features such as shopping carts, product catalogs, and payment processing options. However, the customization options and advanced ecommerce functionalities might be somewhat limited compared to WordPress.
Product page customization
WordPress, with WooCommerce, offers extensive customization for eCommerce product pages, including quality product images, detailed descriptions, and effective add-to-cart buttons. Advanced features like product tabs, upsells, and related products are customizable. However, heavy plugin use may affect site performance. iPage offers a range of ecommerce product page customization options, including various templates, layouts, and multimedia elements. However, it may offer less flexibility in advanced customization or coding.
Payment processing
WordPress doesn’t handle payments directly but offers plugin options for payment processing, including popular gateways like PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.Net, and Square. iPage supports several payment options for eCommerce, including major gateways like PayPal and Stripe, catering to a wide range of currencies and countries. However, it does not explicitly mention integrated POS capabilities for in-person transactions.
Considering the features, availability, cost, and flexibility, WordPress appears to be a more robust and flexible ecommerce solution compared to iPage. However, if you are looking for a more straightforward and user-friendly option, iPage might still be worth considering.
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.
8.5
6.8
🏆
Winner: WordPress
. WordPress, with a score of 8.5, offers a user-friendly interface with block-based editing, extensive styles customization, template management, page editing/creation, distraction-free modes, versatile saving options, and accessibility for users of varying skill levels. It also provides a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface, allowing users to see the final look of their website while editing.
iPage’s editor, scoring 6.8, is designed for ease of use, catering to both beginners and those with some web design experience. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to easily add, remove, and customize elements on their web pages without needing to code. However, compared to WordPress, iPage might offer fewer features and less refined design capabilities.
Mobile editor/app
8.1
5.0
🏆
Winner: WordPress
. Both WordPress and iPage offer mobile editing capabilities, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. WordPress has a dedicated mobile app that allows users to manage their website on the go, including creating and editing posts, managing comments, scheduling content, and analyzing website traffic. However, it has some limitations compared to the web-based editor, including fewer advanced options, restricted code access, and limited design customization.
iPage, on the other hand, does not have a dedicated mobile editor app. Users can edit their website on a mobile browser, but this comes with some limitations. Given these factors, WordPress scores higher in the mobile editor category due to its dedicated mobile app and the range of features it offers.
In summary, WordPress receives a higher rating due to its dedicated mobile app and the range of features it offers, while iPage does not have a dedicated mobile editor app and users can only edit their website on a mobile browser with some limitations.
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.
8.1
2.5
Overall Result
:
WordPress Wins
. WordPress scores 8.1 in product testing options, significantly higher than iPage’s 2.5. While WordPress does not offer a trial version or the possibility to test premium features, it does offer a free version. iPage, on the other hand, does not offer a free or trial version, but allows testing of all features during the 30-day refundable period and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
Yes (open source software) |
No |
|
Trial Duration |
No | iPage does not have free trial |
|
Testing Premium Features |
No |
All features can be tested during the 30-day refundable period |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
As WordPress is open source CMS, there are no payments required |
30-day money back guarantee |
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.
5.9
7.3
iPage offers a range of pricing plans with different features, while the cost of using WordPress depends on the hosting provider and website builder chosen.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free |
Free Plan ($0/month): WordPress is open source software that is free. WordPress does not provide hosting services; so, it is necessary to purchase a domain, web hosting, and website builder subscriptions separately. While WordPress lacks built-in ecommerce, plugins like WooCommerce offer a solution. WordPress offers an extensive variety of templates and designs. WordPress lacks a built-in AI-assisted builder, but its open-source nature allows for an ecosystem of plugins and themes incorporating AI for website building. |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$10-$20 |
No offering at this amount. |
Basic ($15.99/month): Simple website or blog, 1 website, 10 GB SSD, free domain, managed WordPress, free SSL for 1st year. Value for price: 6.5 |
|
$20-$30 |
No offering at this amount. |
Choice Plus ($27.99/month): Multiple sites with storage, security, backups, 3 websites, 40 GB SSD, daily backups, domain privacy, malware scanning. Value for price: 7.5 |
|
$30-$34 |
No offering at this amount. |
Online Store ($32.99/month): Online selling with eCommerce tools, 3 websites, 40 GB SSD, store features like unlimited products and secure payments. Value for price: 8.0 |
|
$34+ |
No offering at this amount. |
Pro ($34.99/month): High traffic sites, advanced storage, 5 websites, 100 GB SSD, optimized for high traffic, enhanced security and backups. 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.
0
7.7
Winner: iPage
. iPage offers a range of affordable hosting services including shared, WordPress, and VPS hosting, with unlimited storage and bandwidth for various website needs. However, its performance speed and scalability features may not meet the expectations of all users, particularly those with high-traffic sites. Additional costs for backups, security features, and significant price increases upon renewal are potential downsides. On the other hand, WordPress, being an open-source content management system, does not directly provide hosting services.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
No, WordPress itself does not directly provide hosting services. | Yes, iPage offers a range of affordable hosting services including shared, WordPress, and VPS hosting, with unlimited storage and bandwidth for various website needs. |
|
Data Centers: |
Data centers depend on hosting providers | 2 data centers: US, Europe |
|
Type of hosting: |
WordPress itself isn’t a hosting platform, there are various options when choosing the type of hosting for websites built with WordPress, such as: Shared Hosting, VPS Hosting, Dedicated Server Hosting, Managed WordPress Hosting, Cloud Hosting | Managed WordPress Hosting |
|
Uptime: |
Uptime & uptime guarantee depends on hosting provider | 99.9% |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
Depends on hosting provider | No |
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.
6.5
7.4
🏆 Winner: iPage
Both WordPress and iPage prioritize website performance and page speed, but iPage takes the lead with its comprehensive speed optimization strategies and better average load times and PageSpeed scores.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Learning resources for optimization |
Web Server optimizations, Caching, CDN |
|
Performance Tools |
Core Web Vitals, WP Rocket, Hummingbird |
Database optimization, SEO optimization |
|
Key Strategies |
No specific strategy |
Web Server optimizations, Caching, CDN |
|
Load Times |
Varies widely, dependent on optimization |
2.6s average |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Scores vary; influenced by apps, images |
72/100 average |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Analyze CWV, optimize images, use CDN |
LCP, FID, CLS improvements |
WordPress, an open-source content management system, does not have a specific strategy for website speed optimization. However, it provides numerous learning resources on how to optimize your website. These resources include tips on analyzing Core Web Vitals (CWV), choosing a reliable host, optimizing images, minimizing plugins, using lazy loading, and employing a Content Delivery Network (CDN). Tools like Core Web Vitals, WP Rocket, and Hummingbird are recommended for optimization. The load times and PageSpeed scores for WordPress websites can vary widely, depending on the optimization.
On the other hand, iPage, a user-friendly web hosting and site builder platform, has a comprehensive strategy for website speed optimization. This includes web server optimizations, caching, using a CDN, database optimization, and SEO optimization. iPage websites have an average load time of 2.6 seconds and an average PageSpeed score of 72/100. iPage also focuses on improving the Core Web Vitals (CWV), specifically the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
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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.
8.8
6.3
🏆 Winner: WordPress.
With a score of 8.8, WordPress outperforms iPage, which scores 6.3. WordPress offers over 60,000 free plugins, providing extensive customization options across various domains. iPage, on the other hand, offers a variety of plugins and extensions with varying pricing options, allowing users to customize their websites according to their needs and budget. However, the sheer volume and versatility of WordPress plugins give it a clear edge.
Marketing Features
Marketing featuresAssesses tools and options available for marketing.Score Components:
- SEO tools (40%): Effectiveness of SEO features.
- Marketing automation (30%): Availability and quality of marketing tools.
- Social Media integration (20%): Ease and depth of social media connectivity.
- Email marketing (10%): Quality and usability of email marketing tools.
8.0
7.2
🏆
Overall Winner: WordPress
. WordPress stands out for its extensive customization options through themes and plugins, making it suitable for blogs, business sites, and online stores. iPage, on the other hand, offers a user-friendly web hosting and site builder platform, with comprehensive services including hosting, domain registration, and e-commerce solutions.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
|
|
|
Email Marketing |
|
|
|
Blogging |
|
|
|
Social Media Integration |
Plugins for direct linking, automatic posting, and social feeds display |
Integrated social media buttons and features such as Facebook messenger, Instagram, Whatsapp, etc. |
|
Analytics and Reporting |
In-depth analysis via plugins like Google Analytics for WordPress |
Option to integrate Google Analytics for comprehensive analytics |
|
Ads and Promotions |
Support for Google Ads and ad management through various plugins |
Offers SEO, social media integration, email marketing, and promotional discounts |
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.
5.0
6.9
🏆 Winner: iPage
. iPage takes the lead in this category with a customer support score of 6.9, compared to WordPress’s score of 5.0. iPage provides 24/7 customer support through phone, email, and live chat, ensuring that customers can receive help whenever they need it, regardless of the time or day.
On the other hand, WordPress, due to its open-source nature, lacks direct customer support. Users have to rely on community forums, the WordPress codex, hosting provider support, and plugin and theme support for assistance. This can be a drawback for users who prefer direct, immediate 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.
6.7
7.5
🏆
Winner: iPage
. iPage takes the lead in security with a score of 7.5, compared to WordPress’s 6.7. iPage offers robust security measures including SiteLock, a comprehensive security suite that scans for vulnerabilities and threats, and SSL certificates for data encryption. Their Domain Privacy Protection service also adds an extra layer of privacy and security.
WordPress, while offering numerous security plugins, relies heavily on the user’s choice of hosting provider and plugins for security. This can lead to varying levels of security, making it less consistent compared to iPage’s built-in security measures.
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.
6.1
3.0
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Builder |
AI Site Builder and Zita plugins for AI-assisted building |
Built-in AI-powered website builder |
|
AI Ecommerce features |
AI plugins for marketing, personalization, content management |
|
|
AI Content Generation |
AI Engine, GetGenie for content writing |
|
|
Additional AI features |
Wide range of AI plugins for improved performance |
AI features for efficient website setup |
🏆 Winner: WordPress
. With a score of 6.1, WordPress offers a more versatile AI experience through its open-source nature and the availability of various AI plugins for website building, ecommerce, and content generation. Although iPage, with a score of 3.0, offers a built-in AI-powered website builder, it lacks in AI ecommerce features and content generation tools.
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.
8.8
3.2
🏆 Winner: WordPress
. WordPress offers a more sophisticated user management system compared to iPage.
- WordPress provides user roles ranging from Super Admin to Subscriber, each with different levels of permissions. Additional controls such as role management plugins and revision control offer further customization for specific editing rights and collaboration.
- iPage’s website builder, on the other hand, offers very limited multi-user functionality and access levels.
WordPress User Roles and Access Levels:
| Role | Description | Access Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Super Admin | Manages the entire network in WordPress Multisite. | Network admin, manage sites, users, plugins, themes. |
| Administrator | Full access within a single site. | Manage plugins, themes, users, all posts/pages. |
| Editor | Manages and publishes content, including others’ posts. | Edit/publish all posts, manage comments, categories. |
| Author | Publishes and manages their own posts. | Write, edit, publish own posts, upload files. |
| Contributor | Writes and edits their own posts but cannot publish. | Write, edit own posts (no file uploads or publishing). |
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
WordPress receives high praise for its user-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, extensive themes and plugins, customization options, and supportive community. However, users mention technical challenges, security concerns, a learning curve, and a lack of direct support. Despite these challenges, it remains a widely used and versatile platform, especially beneficial for startups and small businesses.
Unfortunately, there is no available user feedback for iPage on the G2 platform, making it difficult to gauge user satisfaction and experiences with this website builder.
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, WordPress or iPage?
Can I build a professional business website with iPage?
Is WordPress difficult to use for beginners?
How do WordPress and iPage compare in terms of website speed and performance?
Which platform offers better customer support, WordPress or iPage?
Are there any significant differences in the security features of WordPress and iPage?
Which platform is more suitable for users looking for AI capabilities?
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