Webnode Review: From Vision to Website
Updated On: August 14, 2024
Building a professional website can often feel overwhelming, especially for those without technical expertise. Webnode offers a solution by providing a user-friendly platform that enables anyone to create a stunning website without coding knowledge. Whether you're a small business, freelancer, or hobbyist, Webnode makes it easy to get online quickly. With features like customizable templates, mobile-ready designs, and SEO tools, Webnode equips you with everything needed to build a professional website efficiently, all while ensuring your site is secure and optimized for search engines.
Pros
Cons
Content
Quick Stats
At a Glance
Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, Webnode has been a global website builder company since their establishment in 2008. With a major development hub in Brno, Czech Republic, the company is led by a mission to make website creation accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise. Over their 16 years of experience, they've empowered over 45 million users to create their websites. The platform caters to individuals, small businesses, and nonprofits, continuously innovating to meet the evolving needs of their users.
Features & Services
Easy widget integration: Webnode allows you to seamlessly embed HTML codes, allowing you to customize your website with widgets like social media feeds or interactive maps.
Free professional photos: The company offers access to an extensive royalty-free photo gallery, helping you enhance your website's visual appeal without additional costs.
Secure hosting with SSL: Webnode ensures secure hosting with SSL encryption, protecting your visitors' data and guaranteeing fast loading speeds.
Private domain registration: The company offers anonymous domain registration to protect your privacy and keep personal information hidden from public records.
Professional email accounts: Webnode allows businesses to create up to 100 professional email accounts, each with 1 GB of space, which is ideal for establishing a formal communication channel.
Mobile-ready website design: The company's responsive templates automatically adjust to any screen size, ensuring your website looks great on smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
SEO tools for enhanced visibility: These built-in search engine optimization (SEO) tools make optimizing your website's search engine ranking and improving your online visibility easier.
Modern templates with parallax scrolling: Webnode allows you to choose from a wide range of templates, including parallax scrolling—a design technique where background images move slower than the foreground content as you scroll down the page. This creates an illusion of depth and a more dynamic browsing experience, making your site more visually engaging and interactive.
Restore previous versions of your website: Their backup feature allows you to create regular backups and restore earlier versions of your website as needed, keeping your content safe and easily recoverable.
Free domain name for one year: Webnode offers complimentary domain registration for the first year when you purchase a Mini or higher Premium Plan. This feature is crucial for establishing a professional and credible online presence, as it allows you to choose from a wide selection of private and public domains that reflect your brand or business without any additional upfront costs.
Money-back guarantee: The company allows users to request a full refund within 15 days of purchasing a premium plan. This applies to premium packages, but domain name purchases are generally non-refundable as third-party registrars handle them. To request a refund, users should contact Webnode's customer support within the specified timeframe.
Plans & Pricing
Webnode provides four tailored plans to suit different needs, along with multiple payment methods. They also offer a free version, allowing you to test their services before committing to a paid plan.
Limited
For just $4.50/month, the Limited plan offers 200 MB of storage, 1 GB of bandwidth, and the ability to connect a custom domain with Webnode branding. It includes essential features like 5 form builder fields and website statistics showcasing the clicks and activities of the last 30 days.
Mini
At $8.50/month, the Mini plan provides 1 GB of storage, 3 GB of bandwidth, a custom domain, and one email address—all without Webnode ads. It also offers basic statistics tracking and customizable design options, making it an excellent choice for personal or small business websites.
Standard
The Standard plan, priced at $12.90/month, includes 3 GB of storage, 10 GB of bandwidth, premium support, detailed website statistics, site backup functionality, and 20 email accounts. This plan is ideal for small businesses or freelancers who require more advanced features.
Profi
For those seeking the best, the Profi plan is available for $22.90/month. It provides 7 GB of storage, unlimited bandwidth, priority support, 100 email accounts, enhanced statistics, and multilingual website support. With premium features such as advanced customization options, order management features, unlimited backups, and multilingual capabilities, this plan is tailored for professional businesses and e-commerce platforms.
Advantages & Perks
AI integration
Webnode harnesses the power of AI to enhance website creation, management, and user experience. Their AI-driven tools offer personalized design suggestions and assistance with content generation, making it easier for users to build professional websites without specialized knowledge. The platform also includes AI-powered SEO optimization, which connects to your Google analytics account and provides actionable insights to improve search engine rankings. Additionally, Webnode supports AI-based chatbots for real-time customer support and personalized user experiences, helping businesses engage with visitors more effectively.
Free domain name for 1 year
With the purchase of a Mini or higher Premium Plan, Webnode offers free domain name registration for the first year. This benefit allows you to establish a professional online presence without the upfront cost of purchasing a domain. This feature provides a seamless and cost-effective way to secure your preferred domain, giving your business or personal project a polished and professional start.
Multi-language website support
Webnode's Multi-Language Website Support is a standout feature, allowing you to create websites in up to 24 languages. This capability particularly benefits businesses and organizations looking to reach a global audience or cater to diverse linguistic markets. With this feature, you can easily manage multiple language versions of your website from a single platform, ensuring consistency across all versions. It's an ideal solution for expanding your brand's reach internationally, providing your visitors with a localized experience that feels familiar and accessible, no matter where they are.
Backup and restore functionality
Webnode's Backup and Restore Functionality provides an essential safety net for your website by allowing you to create regular backups and easily restore previous versions when needed. This feature ensures that your content and data are protected against accidental changes, errors, or unexpected issues. Whether you need to recover from a mistake or revert to a prior version, Webnode's backup system simplifies the process. However, this functionality is only available with the Standard and Profi plans.
Fast and simple editing in your browser
Webnode's platform allows you to edit your website directly in your browser without needing any software downloads or installations. This convenience ensures you can update and manage your site from any device with internet access.
Detailed traffic overview
Webnode provides comprehensive website statistics that give you insight into your traffic, including one-time and repeated visits and the most popular pages. This feature helps you better understand your audience and tailor your content accordingly.
GDPR-friendly features
Webnode offers a range of GDPR-friendly features designed to help your website comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These tools include adding data consent fields to forms and ensuring you collect user data transparently and with explicit permission. You can also customize cookie consent bars to inform visitors about tracking technologies and obtain their consent before any data is collected. Additionally, Webnode provides options for users to manage their personal data, such as requesting data access or deletion, which are essential requirements under GDPR.
Disadvantages
No template switching after publishing
One major drawback is that once you've published your website using a selected template, you can't switch to a different template without starting over. This can be frustrating if you want to refresh your website's look or find that your initial choice doesn't meet your long-term needs.
Low storage capacity
Another significant disadvantage is the limited storage capacity. Even on their best plan, Webnote only provides 7GB of storage. This can be quite restrictive, especially for users who need to upload a large number of high-resolution images, videos, or other media files. It might also pose a challenge for businesses with extensive content needs, forcing them to look for additional storage solutions or consider alternative platforms with more generous storage offerings.
Lack of Phone Support
Webnode relies on email and online forms for customer support, which may lead to slower response times compared to companies that provide phone-based customer service. This limitation can be frustrating for users who encounter urgent issues or are less comfortable with written communication.
Customer Reviews
Webnode has received a mix of reviews from their users, with an overall rating of 3.3 on Trustpilot and a rating of 4.1 on G2. Most reviews are positive, particularly highlighting their ease of use and affordability, though some users have expressed significant concerns, particularly with customer service and technical issues.
Positive reviews
Many customers praise Webnode for their intuitive interface and affordability, making them a popular choice for small businesses and individuals who want to create a website without hiring a professional. Users often highlight how easy it is to create and customize websites without needing any technical expertise, which makes the platform ideal for beginners. Webnode's affordability is frequently mentioned, with many feeling they receive good value for their money, especially considering the ecommerce features offered. Users also appreciate the simplicity of editing and maintaining websites without relying on external help, with some noting that even those with no prior experience can manage a professional-looking site using Webnode's predefined design templates and AI website tools.
Negative reviews
Not all customers share the same positive experiences. Negative reviews frequently criticize Webnode's customer service as slow and unresponsive, with users often facing long wait times that can stretch over days or even weeks, which is particularly frustrating when dealing with urgent issues. Technical problems are another common complaint, with users reporting recurring errors on their websites and difficulties in making basic edits or updates. Additionally, concerns about the platform's transparency and reliability are raised, as some users feel they were not adequately informed about service disruptions or other issues. For example, one customer expressed disappointment after waiting over two weeks to design a website due to unresolved issues and delayed responses from the support team. Another user described recurring errors and poor customer service even with a premium plan.
How Can I Contact Webnote?
If you need to contact Webnode, there are several options available. For general inquiries and support, you can search for answers in their help center or use their contact form. For legal issues or press inquiries, you can email them at [email protected]. Additionally, the press department can be reached at [email protected]. Webnode's main offices are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and Brno, Czech Republic. Lastly, stay connected with them on social media through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
Conclusion
Since their establishment in 2008, Webnode has grown into a global platform, enabling over 45 million users to create websites easily. Known for their intuitive interface and affordability, the company is particularly popular among small businesses, individuals, and nonprofits. The platform offers various plans with features like AI integration, multi-language support, and secure hosting, but it also has limitations, such as low storage capacity and the inability to switch templates after publishing. While customer reviews highlight the platform's ease of use and value for money, some users express dissatisfaction with slow customer service and technical issues. Despite their disadvantages, Webnode remains a strong contender for those looking to build a professional website without needing extensive technical knowledge.
If you're exploring more website builder options, we recommend checking out our list of top companies. For more detailed insights and trends in the industry, be sure to visit our blog. If you're torn between a few candidates, use our comparison tool to help you make the best decision.