Studies 
Studies
Our studies cover a range of trending topics and deliver original, reliable data you can't get anywhere else on the web.
By: Laura Bernheim
Editor: Lillian Castro
Reviewer: Cristian Lopez
| OVERALL RATING |
4.7
/ 5.0
★★★★★
|
|---|---|
| Features | 4.8 / 5.0 |
| Ease of Use | 4.9 / 5.0 |
| Pricing | 4.6 / 5.0 |
| Reliability & Support | 4.8 / 5.0 |
| See Deals |
Disclosure: When you sign up through links on our site, we often earn referral fees from partners. For more information, see our ad disclosure and review policy.
As a sleek, modern website builder, MotoCMS is right on par with other well-known platforms, including Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace. We actually prefer the MotoCMS interface for its uncanny ability to pack in hundreds of features and options without losing the user-friendly, easy-to-navigate persona.
Users can choose from more than 2,500 templates, all of which have impressive, unique designs that boast mobile-friendly responsiveness, more than 100 customizable content blocks, and built-in blogging and eCommerce tools.
Unlike other builders, however, MotoCMS is a standalone platform that requires installation on a separate hosting account. Although we appreciate the flexibility and control given to users, the attribute adds an extra layer of complexity for the traditional website builder audience of beginners and first-time site owners.
The company affords users a 14-day free trial to get a head start on crafting a design and interacting with the template and will save uploaded content and customizations for a week after the trial expires. Moving the content to a permanent hosting solution, however, is sure to trip up inexperienced customers who might not want to spend $50 to have a MotoCMS technician take care of the installation.
All in all, MotoCMS is a fantastic option that stands apart in the crowded website builder market. Stunning templates and a modern interface are sure to impress novices, but the platform's best niche is with more developer-minded folks who can handle the more technical installation process and appreciate the nuanced designs.
"We haven't evaluated MotoCMS for this type of hosting service — yet. Either the company didn't offer this option at the time this review was written or this section of the review hasn't made it to the top of our editorial queue just yet. Either way, check back later, as we're always working to keep our reviews up to date and as comprehensive as possible!"
"We haven't evaluated MotoCMS for this type of hosting service — yet. Either the company didn't offer this option at the time this review was written or this section of the review hasn't made it to the top of our editorial queue just yet. Either way, check back later, as we're always working to keep our reviews up to date and as comprehensive as possible!"
"We haven't evaluated MotoCMS for this type of hosting service — yet. Either the company didn't offer this option at the time this review was written or this section of the review hasn't made it to the top of our editorial queue just yet. Either way, check back later, as we're always working to keep our reviews up to date and as comprehensive as possible!"
In an effort to curry favor with the most technology-averse customers, many site builders opt for ultra-simple designs and tools that appeal to the mass market or first-time site owners. MotoCMS, however, wraps complex flexibility and functionality in a platform that is extremely easy to use and navigate. The end result is a website builder that is intuitive enough for beginners while also giving more experienced developers a chance to extend their website's functionality without starting from scratch.
We particularly loved how seamlessly MotoCMS integrates online store management with the rest of the website builder platform. Store owners can quickly view analytics, manage orders, and update product listings with just a few flicks, meaning MotoCMS truly provides a one-stop-shop for all website management needs.
Customers can expect to spend around $200 for a template license and the MotoCMS site builder, although the company frequently slashes prices to less than $150. Yes, the one-time fee seems steep, especially when considering you'll also need to purchase a separate hosting plan and domain name to house your site. However, the one-time fee lasts as long as you want to use that particular theme and includes a year of technical support and free updates. In addition, customers can try out templates with a 14-day free trial to see if MotoCMS is worth the investment.
Similar to WordPress, Joomla, and other popular content management systems, you will need to purchase a separate web hosting plan to use MotoCMS. The company recommends InMotion Hosting and Bluehost, two titans of affordable and reliable web hosting. Although we love both of those hosting options, customers can shop around to find even cheaper options. MotoCMS requires support for PHP versions 5.4, 5.5, and 5.6, Zend Guard Loader, and MySQL databases.
Major improvements to the MotoCMS server base a few years ago now enable the company to pledge the standard 99.9% network uptime guarantee most hosting customers will find with providers across the industry. Uptime with MotoCMS ensures a stable environment in which to customize your templates and websites, along with always-available access to the administrative control panel for managing an online store, boosting the site's search engine optimization, and studying traffic metrics and behaviors.
To track uptime, MotoCMS equips customers with an available uptime monitor subscription that tracks site availability and notifies customers by email when something is amiss or running slowly. Customers can then use the notification to alert their hosting provider, and MotoCMS will let the site owner know when everything is back online. Uptime monitors cost $1 per month for one website, up to $4 per month to monitor unlimited MotoCMS sites.
Overall, we were impressed by the number of resources available to customers, including engaged community forums and several helpful knowledgebase articles. The template and builder come with a year of engaged live support through tickets, live chat, or phone callbacks, which we appreciate and wish the company would extend longer, but we imagine most users will fare perfectly well after the introductory period.
Laura Bernheim
Hosting Expert:
MotoCMS provides an interesting, visually appealing alternative to site owners and developers wanting to look beyond the likes of the open-source content management systems or full-service website builders, such as Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace. The company provides the intuitively usable and headache-free creativity tools on par with most drag-and-drop editors, while adding more impressive theme options. With dedicated platform technical support and the ultimate hosting flexibility, MotoCMS even outshines the likes of WordPress and Joomla. Users certainly pay a bit of a premium for the level of support and design, but businesses that need more help getting off the ground will appreciate the extra assistance.
|
Overall Rating
4.7 / 5.0
★★★★★
|
HostingAdvice.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free for users, we receive advertising compensation from the hosts listed on this page. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where hosts appear on the page (including, for example, the order in which they appear). HostingAdvice.com does not include listings for all web hosts.
Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.
