SITE123 isn’t the most powerful website builder we’ve used, but it lets beginners quickly create their own website. Its section-based editor is extremely simple and intuitive, and you can base your design on any of its hundreds of templates. The built-in e-commerce, marketing, and blogging tools are functional, but don’t expect them to be overly powerful. The pricing is fair, and the free plan lets you try out most of the features.
PROS
- Very easy to use
- Excellent support
- Competitive pricing
CONS
- The editor is somewhat limited.
- Doesn’t let you add custom code
SITE123 Video Review
Overview
SITE123 is a simple website building platform that has been on the market since 2015. It has quickly become one of the leading options and is known for its easy-to-use and fast website building solutions.
Creating a website with SITE123 is a simple process, and there are plenty of video tutorials and articles to help you get started. Consider this platform if you’re looking for a simple and easy-to-use website builder for beginners, but look elsewhere if you need design flexibility, advanced e-commerce tools, or powerful marketing integrations.
How SITE123 Works
Getting started with SITE123 is easy. You’ll be asked what type of website you want to create, what you want to call it, and a username, email address, and password to create an account. You can also sign in with Google or Facebook.
The admin panel is a bit clunky, and the overall design feels a bit dated. However, the necessary tools are available and the navigation is intuitive. The editor is fast and responsive, and we didn’t have any issues using it.
SITE123 Features and tools
SITE123 offers a number of notable features that you can take advantage of when creating your new website, whether for personal use or building your online store.
Plugins
There are a number of modules that you can use to integrate with third-party platforms or add additional features to your site. Most of them are free, but some require payment.
Free domain name
All premium subscriptions of 12 months or more include a free domain for the first year.
Multilingual support
All SITE123 websites support multiple languages. Hundreds of languages are supported, and you can display your site in any combination of up to five languages.
How to Create a Website with SITE123
To create a new website, log in to your SITE123 account and click the “New Website” button in the top right corner of the screen. Follow the instructions and wait a few seconds until you are redirected to the editor. So far, so good.
There are 189 website templates to choose from as a base, and you can switch between them by clicking the “Templates” button in the top right corner of the editor. All designs are fully mobile-friendly, but you won’t be able to change the theme once your site is published.
SITE123 uses a simple, section-based editor.
You can add or remove pre-designed blocks from each page, allowing you to add the elements you need. There are different layouts for each block, but you can’t create your own custom layout.
The editor is therefore very easy to use and ideal for beginners, but the design flexibility is not up to the standard we would like to see. You can preview the mobile, desktop, and tablet versions of your site, although it can only be edited in desktop mode.
Despite its reputation as a website builder for beginners, SITE123 does not offer any practical guidance during the creation process. We would have liked to find some tips or an editor tutorial after the initial setup, but we could not find any. It also lacks keyboard shortcuts and a design wizard.
As a final note
Finally, it is worth noting that SITE123 does not allow site exports. This means that you cannot leave the platform and take your site (or at least its code) elsewhere.
Overall, SITE123 met our expectations. It is presented as a website builder for beginners, and it is indeed so. You won’t have access to advanced editing tools or a precise drag-and-drop visual editor, but you’ll have everything you need to create an attractive website with minimal hassle.
Adding Multimedia to Your SITE123 website
SITE123 lets you add all the most common image and video types to your site. Add files to your media library by uploading them directly from your computer. You can also connect to Facebook, Instagram, Google Photos, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or Flickr. You can even take photos directly with your device’s camera.
However, you can only upload one media file at a time, and the maximum file size is 100MB. There is integration with the Unsplash media library, but there doesn’t seem to be an easy way to add videos hosted on YouTube or other video platforms.
It also includes a basic image editor, but it’s disappointing and overly simplistic. Overall, SITE123’s media management tools are good, but we’ve certainly seen better.
Marketing Functionality with SITE123 Websites
SITE123 includes email marketing. There are templates, but they are basic, and customization is very limited.
There is also a blog section that you can add to any page on your site. The blog manager is very basic, and the design and customization options for posts are very limited. You can add links to multimedia content on your site, but there are no other social media tools.
Both the blog and email marketing include basic reporting tools.
SEO Functionality and Add-Ons with SITE123 Websites
SITE123 offers basic SEO tools that you can use to improve your search engine rankings. You can access the SEO Advisor from the Settings menu in the main control panel. It allows you to add meta tags to your homepage, sitemap, favicon, and custom domain name. You can also set up 301 redirects if necessary.
The built-in SEO audit tool can be used to detect simple issues, such as missing page descriptions or ineffective title tags. Google Analytics integration is available, but the built-in analytics tools are quite limited.
Ecommerce
SITE 123’s ecommerce website builder is ideal for those who want to sell online and are looking for a comprehensive tool. SITE123 lets you create template-based websites, 301 redirects to update outdated URLs, and even includes settings to optimize mobile versions.
Currency Support & Payment Processing
SITE123 supports over 80 currencies on its ecommerce platform.
SITE123 integrates with three payment gateways:
- 2Pay
- The Brain
- Strip
Users can link PayPal and bank accounts to receive payments.
SITE123 doesn’t charge transaction fees, but payment gateways do.
SITE123 Customer Support
SITE123 offers 24/7 live chat support, but no email or phone options. The SITE123 support center provides a selection of self-help resources. These include detailed video tutorials, well-written instructions, and a variety of informative articles. We would have liked to see more integrated advice, but the support resources available are generally excellent.
SITE123 Pricing
Pricing & Special Offers
In addition to a free plan with limited access, there are four subscription options, ranging from $12.80 per month to $34.80 per month for a 12-month contract. There are no monthly payments, and prices are significantly higher with a minimum 3-month contract. Welcome discounts are regularly offered, and you can get even bigger discounts with 24, 36, 60, and 120-month contracts.
Bottom Line
SITE123 offers an excellent website building solution for those with little experience in the field. Its intuitive and user-friendly editor allows users to get started right away. Design flexibility is limited, but it offers a good selection of attractive templates and designs to build your site.
The built-in blogging, e-commerce, and marketing tools are fairly basic, but they cover the basics. Pricing is about average for the industry, and customer support is acceptable. In summary, we recommend giving SITE123 a try if you want to grow your online presence with as little hassle as possible.
