Weebly Website Builder App Review
Weebly Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.5/5)
I’ve used Weebly prior to the test on a desktop and found it very good. My expectation when using it for the first time on a phone was that the app would be fully functional and simple to use.
I was impressed by the wide selection of themes (24), but more would still have been better. That said, I really liked the editor and how quick I was able to get to grips with the interface.
I found the app easy to navigate, but editing templates and building a website took longer than expected. This was mostly due to the app being slow and laggy in various places. It was frustrating to say the least.
Quick Overview
Tested On: Android
Tiers: Free Plan
App Version: 5.50.7
Available on: App Store, Google Play
Our Overall Rating: 3.5/5
⬇️ Download Weebly:
Download Weebly on Google Play
As one of the leading website builders on the market, Weebly positions itself as a mobile-friendly solution for small businesses and freelancers. But how well does the mobile app compare to the desktop version? And can you truly build a complete website using only your phone?
We found various limitations in customization, performance, stability, and usability that make it less than ideal if you plan to build a website entirely on your phone. Some of the tools failed to work as expected, making building a website with Weebly's app a frustrating experience at times.
We evaluated Weebly based on 7 key criteria to determine its effectiveness for mobile website creation.
Weebly Website Builder App - Home
1. Ease of Use & Clarity ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.5/5)
Weebly's app provides a clean and well structured interface with four main menu options – Build, Pages, Theme, and Preview – which help you navigate easily. These areas allow you to modify different aspects of your site with relative ease.
The onboarding process is also straightforward, with guided tool tips explaining key elements of the builder.
Various usability issues arose for us, with certain features being less than immediately intuitive, and often requiring some extra navigation. If you are new to website builders, you might find it challenging to find and modify key elements.
Pros:
- Simple and well designed app with four key sections.
- Guided tips provide explanations for menu options.
- Editing elements like titles and text is straightforward.
- Consistent navigation across different sections.
Cons:
- No option to start from scratch without a template.
- Some features are hard to find.
- Certain elements, like drag-and-drop functionality, can be unreliable.
- Challenging to adjust page layouts.
2. Features, Functionality & AI Capabilities ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.5/5)
Weebly offers a well-rounded set of core features, including text, images, buttons, and gallery slideshows. These are neatly categorized under the "Build" section, which allows you to tap and add elements to your site. The free version also includes both blogging and e-commerce capabilities (Store), which is rare for a mobile website builder.
While building our test website, we encountered instances where elements failed to save or disappeared after placement. This intermittent issue disrupted our workflow. The lack of an undo function makes correcting mistakes frustrating, especially when making multiple edits.
Pros:
- Core features like text, images, buttons, and slideshows are well-organized.
- Blogging and e-commerce capabilities are included in the free version.
- The workflow is initially intuitive and encourages easy editing.
- Pre-built page layouts help speed up website creation.
- Map and video embeds are available as elements in the app.
Cons:
- Some added elements do not save consistently.
- The workflow can be frustrating due to bugs.
- No undo functionality for correcting mistakes.
- Advanced features such as contact forms and analytics require paid upgrades.
Weebly - Choose A Theme
3. Design & Customization ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.5/5)
You have access to 24 templates with a color palette that allows for basic modifications. While you can adjust fonts and layouts, the options remain somewhat restrictive. A preview mode accurately reflects the published site, which helps you finalize your edits.
Unfortunately, the drag and drop positioning elements is problematic. At times you might need to exit and reopen the builder to successfully move elements into place.
You might also experience instances where pages fail to save properly, meaning you have to redo your work. Overall, design flexibility is limited. It's not easy to rearrange sections or adjust margins and padding for a truly custom look.
Pros:
- 24 templates covering various industries.
- Ability to adjust colors using a palette or hexadecimal codes.
- The preview mode accurately represents your final website.
- Responsive templates display well on different devices.
Cons:
- Drag-and-drop functionality can be buggy and unreliable.
- Limited customization options beyond basic font and color changes.
- Intermittent saving issues may result in lost work.
- No option to customize margins, padding, or section placement.
4. Performance & Speed ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
While the app generally runs smoothly, we experienced repeated issues with saving content. Sometimes changes don't persist after leaving the builder, and we didn't develop a feeling of reliability towards the app.
Pros:
- Smooth navigation and minimal lag when editing.
- A responsive interface when making adjustments.
- Websites display well on mobile devices.
Cons:
- Inconsistent saving behavior can cause lost progress.
- No visible performance optimizations.
- Websites load slower than some competitors.
Weebly Website Builder App - SEO
5. SEO Capabilities ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
SEO customization is available, but it’s not visible enough. You have to navigate to the advanced settings under the "Create & Reorder" section to add meta descriptions and titles. It works, but is not as intuitive as other builders, which integrate the SEO settings directly into the content editor.
On top of this, structured headings (H1, H2, H3) are not easily managed from within the app, which might impact your SEO rankings.
Pros:
- Allows customization of meta titles and descriptions.
- Supports SEO modifications at both page and site levels.
- Includes basic site visibility settings.
Cons:
- SEO settings are not prominently displayed.
- No control of structured headings.
- No built-in keyword optimization assistance.
6. Pricing & Value for Money ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Weebly’s pricing isn’t available directly within the app, so you have to visit the Weebly website for full details. Plans range from $10 to $26 per month, and offer features such as custom domains, advanced e-commerce capabilities, and priority support depending on the tier.
Although the free plan impresses by including both blogging and e-commerce, you have to leave the app to view and pay for upgrades. And while the paid plans offer useful integrations like map, video, and audio embeds, not everything is accessible in the mobile app.
Pros:
- The free plan includes both blogging and e-commerce options.
- Paid plans offer additional integrations and support, allowing for map, video, and audio embeds.
- Pricing is transparent on the Weebly website.
Cons:
- Pricing tiers are not viewable within the app.
- You must visit the website to compare plan details.
- Not all features are available in the app.
Weebly Pricing
7. Customer Support & Communication ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Support documentation is accessible via the app, but direct support options like chat and email aren’t included in the free version. Phone support is only available with the highest-paid plan.
Pros:
- Help documentation is available within the app.
- Basic troubleshooting guides are accessible.
Cons:
- No direct chat or email support with the free plan.
- Phone support is exclusive to top-tier paid plans.
- Response times may be slower if you’re using the free plan.
The Crusty Crumb Bakery Website
Final Thoughts
Weebly achieves several of the essentials of a mobile website builder, with an intuitive interface and responsive templates that work well across devices, but is undermined by bugs and limited access to the full feature set of Weebly in the app.
The Free Plan includes e-commerce and blogging features, making it a tempting option if those are your essential functions for your business or project. But whichever plan you choose, you are likely to encounter some challenges along the way. Saving issues, unreliable drag-and-drop functionality, and limited support options (especially in the free plan) can frustrate your work.
For many customizations and integrations, you'll find that you have to upgrade to a paid plan, leave the app and go to the website, or both.
Overall, Weebly is well-suited for those who want to build their website on a computer and use the mobile app for minor edits. It may not be for you if you want a fully mobile website building experience.
Can you build a website on your phone with Weebly Website Builder App?
Yes, you can build a website with Weebly's app. It provides a range of essential tools and features to create and manage your site directly from your mobile device.
However, be prepared for limitations, especially around advanced customization. You might also suffer technical hiccups that lead you to the desktop for a more reliable editing experience.
