Reviews
Leaders Merchant Services
Though it has a less-than-stellar track record amongst merchants, Leaders Merchant Services (LMS) has recently made a push to turn things around. For the most part, this effort has been successful. A 98% approval rate, essential but reliable features, and top-tier customer service make LMS one of the best credit card processors around, even if some past frustrations remain...
Shopify
Shopify is simply fantastic for any retail-oriented business and loaded with features. The cheapest plan is more than enough to get your online business started. That said, some other e-commerce platforms make it easier to customize your site, at the same price points. It’ll come down to individual features, and which of those you think are better for your business.
Smartsheet
If you don't mind a crude UI, Smartsheet is a powerful software that’s good for managing both small and large projects. You can use it to organize a team, create stunning reports, and optimize your schedule. However, Smartsheet can take a while to learn. And unlike most other project management software, it doesn’t have a free plan.
PaymentCloud
PaymentCloud has earned a reputation for high approval rates, helpful customer support, and features for both e-commerce and physical transactions. Your contract comes with free equipment, and reprogramming of existing hardware is also an option. Although it can be difficult to figure out exactly how much you'll pay before contacting sales, rest assured its plans are...
Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects definitely looks good, and it offers fantastic value for its price. It’s a particularly excellent software if you are familiar with the Zoho ecosystem or you manage a small-to-medium-sized team. But while there’s much to love about Zoho, it can get complicated to use if you manage large, complex projects. Read on to see what I mean.
InterServer
InterServer’s offering is very clear: unlimited resources at low rates. While it delivers on this promise, there aren’t many standout features beyond this. Also, it only has data centers within the US, so it’s not the ideal provider for an international site. If you’re willing to look past that, though, InterServer provides excellent performance and complete flexibility at...
IONOS Website Builder
MyWebsite Now from IONOS is a dead-simple site builder with very low prices. If you want to get a website up and running very quickly, it could be just right. It also has a nifty e-commerce feature in case you’re starting an online store. Just be aware that the English version is not available in all countries. If you’re in the right region, it’s worth a glance!
ScalaHosting
ScalaHosting offers outstanding performance and feature variety, especially for its prices. You might find that its shared hosting plans don’t stand out much when compared to other providers, but its cloud and VPS hosting plans are its best-value offerings. If you’re looking for a provider that can grow along with your website(s), ScalaHosting is a very good choice.
FastComet
FastComet’s worldwide data centers make it a solid choice for reaching locations like East and South Asia. It also provides every basic feature you’d expect from a quality host (even if it doesn’t come with many extras). When you add excellent customer support and a user-friendly interface, FastComet is an excellent choice for beginners looking to reach a worldwide audience.
Kinsta
If you have great expectations for your website, Kinsta’s cloud-based managed WordPress hosting delivers incredible performance worldwide. It also gives you useful hosting tools and a user-friendly dashboard. It’s an ideal choice for far-reaching and continuously evolving websites, but its high price won’t suit everyone.
Web.com Website Builder
2025 Update: Web.com is now part of Network Solutions. This review is based on Web.com’s former features and pricing. Read our expert Network Solutions review for more details.
TeamGantt
TeamGantt is extremely easy to use thanks to its great-looking user interface (UI). It's an attractive tool if you're an inexperienced manager or can't wait to get your project up and running. But unlike other project management software, TeamGantt doesn’t provide much beyond the basics. For small, simple projects, that’s more than enough. For larger projects, it’s a...
Luminous Payments
Luminous Payments’ (surprisingly) low prices, top-notch merchant support, and variety of POS offerings make it an exciting prospect for small- to medium-sized businesses that deal primarily with card-present transactions. That said, Luminous Payments is pretty new to the world of credit card processing, and its inexperience might be off putting to some merchants.
HostGator
To put it plainly: HostGator’s services just aren’t as good as they should be. I was disappointed with the support and the limited feature selection. And unless you sign up for several years, the plans aren’t all that affordable, either. If you want better value for your investment, I recommend you check out Hostinger's cheap plans.
Scoro
Scoro is a huge platform that includes project management, expense management, CRM, and much more. This vast feature set makes it ideal for large-scale enterprises, but its size and an intense, corporate-looking interface may alienate users. Balancing ease-of-use with that many features is always a complicated act. Does Scoro pull it off? Almost.
Blog Posts
10 Best FREE Website Builders for Personal Trainers in 2026
Personal trainers are used to putting in the hard work, but building your website shouldn’t be harder than hitting a new PR. I did the heavy lifting, and I found the best free website builders for personal trainers. These platforms will help you grow your business and get you earning at no cost. There are plenty of low-quality “free” options out there, but they often...
FTC Launches Probe Into AI Chatbots Over Child Safety Concerns
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched investigations into several AI chatbot suppliers over the potential risks their products could have on kids and teenagers, as announced on September 11. “The FTC inquiry seeks to understand what steps, if any, companies have taken to evaluate the safety of their chatbots when acting as companions, to limit the products’ use by...
9 Best Cheap WordPress Hosting (Reliable + Safe) in 2026
There are far too many hosting services that promise you the world; exceptional performance, strong security, and of course, low, low prices. It's even worse for beginners, since a lot of them don’t even try to simplify the techy jargon that usually follows. A lot of seemingly cheap hosts offer awful services that end up costing you in the long run. Not to mention that...
40%+ of Agentic AI To Be Canceled by 2027, Study Finds
AI research and consultancy firm Gartner recently published a study predicting that over 40% of agentic AI projects will be scrapped by 2027. The June 25 study cites rising costs, unclear business value, and “inadequate risk controls” as the top reasons behind the expected cancellations. Projects to develop or partner with agentic AI (also referred to as AI personal...
US Court of Appeals Blocks Click-To-Cancel Rule
On July 10, the US Court of Appeals blocked a “click-to-cancel” rule initially proposed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The rule would have required companies operating in the US to make canceling a subscription service as easy as signing up for it. The rule, which was set to take effect on July 14, was blocked after the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis...
Claude AI Used in “Unprecedented” Hacking Spree
On August 27, AI company Anthropic reported that hackers “weaponized” the Claude large language model (LLM) to carry out an “unprecedented” cyberattack. According to the report, Claude has also been used to create ransomware and to facilitate fraudulent employment schemes by different malicious actors. According to Anthropic, the hacker used Claude to target at least 17...
Google Hit With EU Antitrust Lawsuit Over AI Overviews
A coalition of independent publishers from the European Union (EU) and the UK has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, arguing that its new AI overviews could cause “irreparable harm,” as initially reported by Reuters. It also requested that interim measures be taken while the case is pending in court. The coalition, comprising the groups Foxglove, the Independent...
EU Bans High-Risk AI Systems as AI Act Comes Into Effect
February 2nd marked the first compliance deadline for the EU’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, meaning that bloc regulators can now ban the use of AI systems deemed an “unacceptable risk.” The act, originally proposed in 2021, officially came into effect in August of last year. According to the official legislation, the purpose of the AI Act is to “improve the functioning...
Hostinger vs. STRATO – Close Match, but Only One Winner [2026]
At first glance, there’s a lot that Hostinger and Germany-based STRATO have in common: a wide range of hosting options, proprietary AI-powered tools, and big promises about the cheapest prices on the market. Under the hood, however, there are some significant differences between the two. Differences that can make a big impact on your business. That’s why I decided to test...
Italy Becomes First EU Country To Pass AI Regulation Law
On September 17, the Italian parliament issued its final approval for a law covering the use, development, and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within the country. Out of all EU countries, Italy is the first to pass AI regulations into law in line with the EU’s AI Act. Titled “Provisions and delegations to the Government regarding artificial intelligence,” the law’s...
10 Best SiteGround Alternatives: Fast Budget Hosting in 2026
As you’re probably aware, Siteground’s cost increases dramatically after your first renewal. It’s also no longer listed by WordPress as one of its official recommendations. However, it's easy to get overwhelmed by alternatives that appear cheaper or more attractive, only to discover much too late that they can be harder to manage, are less reliable, or just too slow for the...
10 Best Web Hosts for New Zealand Websites (2026 Update)
If most of your website visitors are from New Zealand, you might be tempted to sign up with a local web host. But hear me out – I’ve spent the past few months testing the most popular providers in New Zealand as part of Website Planet’s massive web hosting comparison project, and I was mostly disappointed by what I found. Normally, I expect local companies to offer better...
6 Best Free AI Website Builders: Launch Your Dream Site in 2026
I still remember a time when a quality website was reserved for professional designers or those with the money to hire them. Although website builders have come a long way since, the ones with the best customization still involve a big time investment and a learning curve. With AI builders, however, you don’t have to choose between ease of use and creative freedom. Of...
10 Best Cheap Website Builders (That Are Actually Good) – 2026
Building a website on a budget can often mean risking hidden costs or missing features. Many "cheap” website builders lure you in with free plans, then hit you with hidden fees, limited customization, and essential features locked behind paywalls. If you’re looking for an affordable option, you don’t just want the lowest price – you want the best value. Even though we’re...
6 Best Website Builders for Insurance Agencies: Tested in 2026
Your insurance agency website should let visitors know that they are in friendly, knowledgeable, and secure hands right from the start. That means you need a website builder that offers both design flexibility and essential industry features – like secure client portals, claim submission tools, and easy contact options. Since you’re handling sensitive client information,...
Guides
Wix Starter Guide 2026
The most detailed, step-by-step guide for small business owners and freelancers who want to build a branded website with Wix and avoid the “Wix template” look. All modules are free, illustrated, and created in collaboration with a Wix web designer.
Module 7: Going Live
Time to go live and share your site with the world!
Before We Leave: Pre-Launch Checklist and Parting Words
Module 1: Quick Prep
Decide on the structure and purpose of your website. Gather the necessary brand assets, including a logo, images, and copy.
Module 2: Your Homepage – Portfolio Site
Design and build a beautiful, effective homepage that says: “This is my brand!” rather than “This is a Wix template.”
Module 7: SEO Basics – Local Business
Set up internal links, CTA links, and your SEO metadata. Connect a custom domain to publish your site, or publish using a free Wix domain.
Module 6: Refinement & Customization – Portfolio
Ensure every part of your site functions correctly. Revisit any items that may need extra attention and refine them as necessary.
Module 6: Refinement & Customization – Salon
Ensure every part of your site functions correctly. Revisit any items that may need extra attention and refine them as necessary.
Module 6: Refinement & Customization – Agency
Ensure every part of your site functions correctly. Revisit any items that may need extra attention and refine them as necessary.
Module 8: Testing and Refining – Local Business
Make sure all the different elements of your site work as they should. Return to any items on your list that may need additional work and refine accordingly.
Module 8: Testing and Refining – Agency
Make sure all the different elements of your site work as they should. Return to any items on your list that may need additional work and refine accordingly.
Module 8: Testing and Refining – Portfolio Site
Make sure all the different elements of your site work as they should. Return to any items on your list that may need additional work and refine accordingly.
Module 7: SEO Basics – Agency
Set up internal links, CTA links, and your SEO metadata. Connect a custom domain to publish your site, or publish using a free Wix domain.
Module 7: SEO Basics – Portfolio Site
Set up internal links, CTA links, and your SEO metadata. Connect a custom domain to publish your site, or publish using a free Wix domain.
Module 6: The Gallery Page – Local Business
Create a gallery to showcase your best products and add a map to guide visitors to your business.