SITE123 isn't the most powerful website builder we've used, but it gets beginners online quickly. Its section-based editor is extremely simplistic yet intuitive, and you can base your design on any of hundreds of templates. The integrated ecommerce, marketing, and blogging tools are all functional, but don't expect them to be overly powerful; The prices are fair and the forever free plan lets you try out most of the features.
PROS
- Very easy to use
- Excellent support
- Competitive price
CONS
- The editor is a bit limited.
- Unable to add custom code
SITE123 Video Review
Overview
SITE123 is a simple website building platform that has been in the space since 2015. It has quickly become a leading choice 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, beginner-friendly website builder, but look elsewhere if you need decent design flexibility, advanced eCommerce tools, or powerful marketing integrations.
How SITE123 Works
Getting started with SITE123 is easy. You'll be asked what type of site you want to create, what it's called, and a name, 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. But the expected tools are available and the navigation is intuitive. The editor is fast and responsive and we had no problems using it.
SITE123 Features and tools
Site123 offers a number of remarkable features that you can take advantage of when creating your new website, whether for personal use or to create your online store.
Plugins
There is a selection of plugins that you can use to integrate with third-party platforms or add additional features to your site. Most of them are free, but some of them will require you to pay.
Free domain name
All premium subscriptions of 12 months or more come with a free domain name for the first year.
Multilingual support
All SITE123 websites include multilingual support. Hundreds of languages are supported, and you can display your site in any combination of up to five of them.
How to Create a Website with SITE123
To open a new site, log into your SITE123 account and click the “New Site” button at the top right of the screen. Follow the instructions and wait a few seconds to be redirected to the editor. So far, so good.
There are 189 templates to base your site on and you can switch between them by clicking the Templates button at the top right of the editor. All designs are fully responsive and mobile-friendly, but you won't be able to change themes once your website is published.
SITE123 uses a basic section-based editor
Pre-designed blocks can be added or removed from each page, allowing you to add the elements you need. There are different layouts available for each block, but you cannot create your own custom layout.
Because of this, the editor is very easy to use and great for beginners, but the flexibility of the layout is certainly below the standard we would like to see. You can preview mobile, desktop, and tablet versions of your site, although it can only be edited in desktop mode.
Despite its reputation as a beginner-friendly website builder, SITE123 does not provide any real guidance in the website building process. We would have liked to see some tips or an editor's tour after our first entry, but there was none of that. Keyboard shortcuts are also missing and there is no layout assistant.
As a final note
As a final note,SITE123 does not allow site exports. This means that you can't leave the platform and take your website (or at least its code) somewhere else.
Overall, SITE123 lived up to our expectations. It markets itself as a beginner-friendly web builder, and it really is. You won't have access to advanced editing tools or a pixel-perfect drag-and-drop builder, but you will have what you need to get a beautiful website online with minimal fuss.
Adding Multimedia to Your SITE123 website
SITE123 allows you to add all popular image and video file types to your website. Add files to your media library by uploading them directly from your computer. Or connect to Facebook, Instagram, Google Photos, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or Flickr. You can also take pictures directly with your device's camera.
However, you can only upload one media file at a time, and the maximum file upload 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 hosting platforms.
There's also a basic image editor, but it's disappointing and oversimplified. Overall, SITE123's media management tools are good, but we've certainly seen better.
Marketing Functionality with SITE123 Websites
SITE123 includes email. There are templates available, but they are basic and customization is very limited.
There is also a blog section that you can add to any page of your website. The blog manager is extremely basic and you will have very limited post design and customization options. You can add media links to your site, but there are no other social media tools to speak of.
Both blogging and email marketing come with 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 ranking. The SEO Advisor can be accessed through the Settings menu in the main admin panel. It allows you to add home page meta tags, sitemap, favicon and custom domain name. You can also set up 301 redirects if needed.
The built-in SEO audit tool can be used to identify simple issues such as a lack of effective page description or title tags. Google Analytics integration is available, but the built-in analytics tools are quite limited.
Ecommerce
SITE123's eCommerce website builder is ideal for anyone who wants to sell online and wants to use one builder tool that can do it all. SITE123 allows users to create template-based websites, create 301 redirects to ensure old URLs point to new ones, and even includes settings to optimize mobile versions.
Currency Support & Payment Processing
Currency support and payment processing
More than 80 currencies are supported by SITE123's e-commerce capabilities.
SITE123 integrates with 3 payment gateways:
- 2 Pay
- the brain
- Strip
Users can connect Paypal and bank accounts to receive money.
SITE123 does not charge any transaction fees, but payment gateways do.
SITE123 Customer Support
offers 24/7 live chat support, but email and phone options are noticeably absent. A selection of self-help resources is available through the SITE123 Support Center. These include detailed video tutorials, well-written how-to guides, and various other informative articles. We'd like to see more integrated advice, but the support resources on offer are generally excellent.
SITE123 Pricing
Pricing & Special Offers
In addition to the limited free forever plan, there are 4 subscription options ranging from $12.80 per month to $34.80 for a 12-month term. Monthly payments are not available and prices are significantly higher with a minimum 3 month term. Introductory discounts are available from time to time and you can avail bigger discounts for 24 months, 36 months, 60 months and 120 months.
Bottom Line
SITE123 offers excellent website building solutions for those with little experience in the industry. Its intuitive, beginner-friendly editor allows users to connect immediately. Design flexibility is limited, but there is a decent selection of attractive templates and designs on which to base your site.
The integrated blogging, ecommerce, and marketing tools are pretty basic, but the basics are there. Prices are around the industry average and customer service is decent. Overall, we suggest you try SITE123 if you want to develop an online presence with the least amount of hassle.