You can build a website with the Instant app, but the experience is much better on the desktop version. In my opinion there are better apps with more templates and which are more intuitive on the market.

Some of the apps I reviewed give you the impression in the app store that you can build a website when you in fact can’t. Instant on the other hand provides a clear description of what you can expect before you install.

What I disliked most in the Instant App is the welcome dashboard. It was focused more on getting you to upgrade to a paid plan than actually helping and educating you, or giving you access to the editor so that you can start making changes. The interface is fairly simple to use, but somehow I never got used to it.

Tested On: Android
Tiers: Free Plan - 30 day trial
App Version: 5.68
Available on: Google Play
Our Overall Rating: 3.3/5

⬇️ Download Instant:

Download Instant on Google Play

Instant Website Builder is a mobile-first website builder designed for individuals, freelancers, and small businesses looking for a way to create and manage their websites directly from their phones. 

With over 1 million downloads and a 4.3-star rating on the Play Store, the app is marketed as an intuitive and accessible solution for beginners. Users can select themes, add content, and publish their websites with minimal effort.

However, while the app performs well in terms of setup and ease of use, it has several limitations. Customization options are basic, certain advanced features require a paid upgrade, and SEO tools lack depth. 

This review evaluates Instant Website Builder based on the 7 key criteria outlined in our Testing Process to see if website creation is truly possible with just a smartphone.

Instant's app provides a well-structured and intuitive interface that makes website creation fairly easy, even for beginners. One downside is that the menu is loaded with so many items that newcomers to website building may find it overwhelming.

You have to provide personal/business information before getting full access to the website editor. This information is used in structuring some of the content of the site.

While the stability of the app is good and no bugs were encountered, it would have been nice to see more in-depth tutorials and tooltips to help first time users quickly get accustomed to the interface.

Pros:

• Simple interface with a well-organized menu.
• Fast and smooth onboarding process.
• Stable performance with no major crashes or bugs.

Cons:

• Requires personal details before accessing the editor.
• Lacks in-depth onboarding tutorials.
• Some elements are harder to edit post-setup.

Instant supports multi-device editing, allowing users to manage their website from both mobile and desktop.

The app provides essential website-building elements, including sections, text, images, buttons, and a blogging feature known as "Updates." Understanding how the various features of the app work can be slow to begin with, because the main menu is overpopulated. Once you understand where everything in the app is, and overcome the short learning curve, you can assemble pages and publish content quickly and easily. 

Customization options are somewhat limited, with advanced widgets like Google Maps, custom forms, and e-commerce functionality, as well as multilingual websites, only available in the paid plans. 

The app lacks AI features and so you have to build your site around the template you selected and manually work out how to organize it. It would be nice to have AI incorporated into the app to advise on content and design.

Pros:

• Basic website elements (text, images, buttons) are easy to use.
• Blogging feature is straightforward and functional.
• Multi-device editing adds flexibility.
• Fast workflow allows quick website creation.

Cons:

• Advanced features like forms, maps, and e-commerce require a paid plan.
• No AI assistance for guiding users in building the site.

Instant Website Builder provides 36 templates catering to different use cases and industries. The real-time preview is a helpful feature which allows you to switch between templates to see how your site will look before publishing changes.

Once you have applied the template you can modify fonts, colors and layouts within certain constraints.

Some templates feel outdated, however, and the ability to customize layouts is limited. For example, you can't adjust sections or move elements beyond pre-set placements.

Pros:

• Offers various templates for different business needs.
• Allows basic customization of text, colors, and fonts.
• Real-time preview feature ensures accuracy before publishing.

Cons:

• Some templates feel outdated.
• Limited flexibility in adjusting page structure.

Instant Website Builder app is not completely free; it comes with a 30-day free trial, which was not clear at the time of installation.

The pricing is otherwise transparent and you can view the available options in the menu via the "Buy Subscription" item, with full details provided in the app, including basic information about pricing plans and upgrade options. 

Pricing plans start at around $10/month for basic features, while higher-tier plans with advanced integrations and e-commerce capabilities go up to $40/month; which seems expensive compared to some of the competition. Users looking for more professional features will need to upgrade.

Pros:

• Free plan allows for basic website creation.
• Paid plans offer savings for long-term commitments.
• Mostly transparent pricing model.

Cons:

• Free version has limited features.
• The "Free" version is not entirely free, as the 30-day trial was not clearly communicated during onboarding.

The Instant Website Builder App features an easily accessible customer support chat, which is clearly displayed on the home screen via a green icon in the bottom right corner.

Users can connect with AI chat support for immediate assistance, and there's also a comprehensive collection of FAQs and video tutorials that offer step-by-step guidance. Although the app provides an AI support agent, you are not able to ask your own questions, which limits its usefulness.

Additional support is available through an in-app help center that provides extensive documentation and resources to address common questions.

For further assistance, call and email support is available on the website, but only in paid versions.

Pros:

• In-app help center provides useful documentation and self-guided support materials.

Cons:

• No live (human) chat or email support is available in the free version.
• Limited access to direct assistance.
• The AI support chat does not allow users to ask their own questions.

Instant Website Builder is a solid choice for individuals and small businesses looking for a straightforward website creation tool. The free trial provides enough features to build a basic website, but its limitations in customization, integrations, and SEO features may frustrate users who need more flexibility.

Those requiring advanced tools and customizations will need to upgrade to a paid plan. Despite these drawbacks, the app remains a great starting point for users who want a simple, mobile-first website builder.

It is not entirely clear whether the website you build under the free plan remains completely free or if it is only available during the 30-day free trial period. The ambiguity is certainly enough to make you question the value of building a site without upgrading.

Can You Build a Website on Your Phone with the Instant Website Builder App?

Yes, you can build a website on your phone using Instant Website Builder. The app is designed with a mobile-first approach, and lets you choose themes, add content, and publish sites directly from a smartphone.

While the process is streamlined for mobile use, limitations in customization and advanced features mean that power users might eventually require a computer or an upgrade to a paid plan for more professional functionality.