Website Builder HostGator Review: Is the Gator Website Builder Worth Trying Out?

Are you looking for a reliable and affordable website builder that brings all the necessary features in one simple pack? If so, Gator can be your trusted partner. This website builder is a brainchild of HostGator hosting company that has made it especially for beginners with a limited budget.

HostGator is probably not the platform that comes to mind when looking for a website builder. That’s because, for nearly two decades, people of the U.S.A. have been using it to get the best hosting and domain services.

But HostGator then started this website builder, aiming at people with little technical expertise who like simple website design. The unique aspect of Gator is that it has a drag-and-drop editor along with impressive templates. You can further use the templates and put your spin on them.

Since Gator is affordable and comes with essential features required from a website builder, it’s trusted by so many people. To further simplify the website building process, it includes eCommerce, blogging, analytics, and marketing with each package.

So, it’s not wrong to say that Gator has multiple features, making it an ideal choice for personal sites, like blogs and even small businesses that need to advertise a service.

If you think Gator is the kind of website builder you are comfortable working with, keep scrolling to know its key areas. We have further discussed the pros and cons of this website builder review.

Gator Website Builder: Ease Of Use

Unlike other website builders, Gator is not difficult to understand. In fact, getting started with it is just like a piece of cake. All you have to do is sign up and then pick a template of your choice.

You can easily and quickly select the templates because this site builder smartly categorizes templates into industries. Not to mention, there is a search box that you can use to find any particular design in no time.

Once the template is selected, you can enter the editor. It uses pure drag-and-drop. What does it mean? Well, this means from the side panel, you can drag anything to your web pages. It lets you customize your website.

Moving items on Gator is as simple as moving things on PowerPoint. So, if you have ever moved the slides on PowerPoint, you can do it on Gator as well without any issue.

Just like this one, the website builders also come with similar options. That’s because this option is the easiest way to design a website.

Besides drag-and-drop, this website builder also comes with an onboarding tutorial to help you understand everything from the get-go. So, you can quickly understand how this website builder works.

Moving further to text, there is a quick option to resize, change fonts, and switch colors without any hassle. You can also use cool image features and embed things like blogs, social media posts, and videos to the website.

It’s not wrong to say that Gator is an easy website builder that anyone can use to create a website. So, now, you don’t need advanced computer knowledge because Gator has got your back.

Gator Website Builder: Pros and Cons

Pros

This website builder is user-friendly
Affordable sign-in prices
It delivers lightning-fast performance
It has excellent social integration

Cons

HostGator’s website builder cannot be used to build complex websites
It has a limited help center
Its price has increased after it was introduced
It has no built-in email marketing

Gator Website Builder: Templates and Customization

As we have already mentioned, Gator has a variety of templates for you to choose from. But have we mentioned that you could easily find templates for business & consultancy and music & entertainment? That means you can easily filter and select what you are looking for.

There is one more thing that you need to know about the templates offered by Gator. It’s that most of the templates are basic, and also, the template designs are limited. If you are not in the creative field, the available templates might be sufficient. But if you are into photography or a similar industry, you can check out Squarespace.

Coming to the editing template part, we have noticed that it can be easily edited. You can quickly move things around and resize them.

But if you are trying to add new content to the template, you need to do it carefully. That’s because, unlike other website builders, this one doesn’t automatically adjust the added content.

That means your content will overlap each other. But you can create space before adding more items to solve the issue. This way, your page won’t look messed up.

All in all, the templates available at this website builder are more than fit-for-purpose. You can use them to have a strong base to build off.

Gator Website Builder: Customer Support

The next thing that we are discussing is customer support. Fortunately, this website builder has friendly support staff who can offer you 24/7 via live chat, email, and phone call.

Besides this, Gator’s help center is also helpful. The only limitation with this search option is that you can only enter three search words. So, if you want to take the help of this option, you must not use complex or niche queries.

Remember that the support staff can get overwhelmed with requests. So, after raising a query, you should wait a while for a response.

If you, however, want to cut down the waiting time, sign up for Gator’s middle-priced plan or above. This way, you will receive priority support. It’s similar to purchasing queue jumps at a theme park. You’re definitely paying more, but you are getting premium services without waiting in line.

Since Gator’s interface is friendly and easy to understand, you might not have to touch the help and support services. And even if you do, you can rest assured because the customer care team will always be there for you.

Gator Website Builder Features: eCommerce, SEO, and More

As far as the business features are concerned, the HostGator website builder offers a wide selection, including social media integration, analytics, SEO, and eCommerce. We have briefly checked these features to understand them clearly.

First things first, Gator provides eCommerce plans. That means to express start an online store, visit the website’s edit page and select “Store” from the menu. Then you will find a quick startup guide. The guide comes with the essential information required to sell online.

Then set up your store by adding your products. This builder allows you to insert a CSV file and move from another platform. You can even add products manually.

There are also advanced features that you can use to do integrated shipping. You can also offer global variants and various product categories. And lastly, you can offer discount coupon codes that reflect discount at the checkout page.

Considering all the aspects, we can conclude that the Gator website builder has basic eCommerce features, but it’s surely worth trying. The most expensive sub-$10 plan is the cheapest way to get a proper online shop. That’s because it does not ask for additional transaction fees.

Product Management

Another reason we like Gator is that managing products on it is very easy. You can quickly do everything in just a few steps.

Open your store’s Home Page. Then you can select Products from the left-hand menu.
Then add the products. You can do this by clicking on the blue + button, which is present at the bottom of the page.
At last, you need to enter all the necessary information on the Add Product page, such as product names and images. It’s the same page where you can mark your product as digital or physical.

To further simplify the product categorizing section, Gator offers a product variant option. Thus, you don’t have to worry about adding multiple products in different colors or sizes. Using this option, you can quickly make individual products or global variants on your site.

That means now you don’t have to spend your time removing the same product because you can avoid crowding your store’s page. And at the end, you can quickly save the changes and make your website visible to your customers.

SEO and Marketing

Did you know that almost all of Gator’s plans include SEO tools? Also, they include free marketing tools. You will really like how this HostGator website builder sets up everything. Without any hassle, you can make a campaign right from the dashboard.

Also, there is a simple way to edit everything. One thing that separates them is that you can make functional and better emails here.

Not to mention, this website builder also features an SEO settings section. This section makes it easy to edit the post. Thus, you can control the posts on search results and social media. The available editing option includes title, description, and URL.

Long story short, we like how this Gator website builder offers SEO tools and emails. And the fact that these features are included in all plans makes this builder even more reliable and trustworthy.

Other Business Features

Till now, you might have understood that Gator is an excellent website builder for small businesses. That’s mainly because it has all the necessary eCommerce plans and marketing tools. But that’s not it.

Besides this, Gator also offers other business features, which includes:

Custom Domain: The best thing about this website builder is that it offers a free custom domain once you have signed up and selected a web hosting plan. Once your selected plan expires, you get an option to keep your domain for the same term or longer. This way, you can give your website a personalized and professional touch.
Professional email: After selecting a custom domain and making your online store, you can have an email address. To set up the email address, you can choose anything from Gmail Workspace, Thunderbolt email, Mac Mail, or even Microsoft Outlook.
Logo Maker: After custom domain and professional email comes the logo maker that lets you design a logo for your store. A logo is crucial because it helps customers to recognize you easily. The Gator’s built-in logo maker option has an extensive gallery of images and layouts. You can use the layouts and designs to create the right web design for you and your brand.
Social Media Integration: If you want to generate more website traffic, use this option. You can use social media by adding or updating your social media links.
Contact Forms: This feature helps your customers to contact you easily.
Image Gallery: With the help of an image library, you can show your business in the best possible light.

Gator Website Builder Alternatives

#1 Wix

Wix is the first alternative because it comes with a drag-and-drop option, making it easy for you to create a professional website. This site builder has multiple tools and templates that you can use to make your website even more friendly and attractive.

Besides drag-and-drop, Wix’s customer care support is also brilliant. But this builder doesn’t let you switch templates.

#2 Squarespace

The next website builder is Squarespace, which comes with a 14-day free trial. With the help of this builder, you can create a highly professional and good-looking business site.

#3 Zyro

The last alternative to Gator is Zyro, which comes with its own hosting. It’s affordable, offers express site performance, is user-friendly, and comes with multiple payment processing options. But it has complex domain handling.

HostGator Website Builder: FAQs

Is HostGator’s Gator website builder suitable for small businesses?

It depends on what the business is. Gator is perfect if your express store needs image galleries or lots of media content. But remember, it does not have built-in email marketing.

Can I build an online store with Gator?

Of course! Gator’s ‘eCommerce’ is created especially for that purpose. Through it, you can sell products and process payments. Also, you can keep track of everything.

What should I look for in a website builder?

An ideal website builder is one that meets your needs and requirements. Also, you must consider features, price, discount, and customer support.

HostGator Website Builder Review: Conclusion

HostGator’s Gator is user-friendly and comes with pre-designed templates. It also offers unlimited bandwidth and storage space. And lastly, the prices are very reasonable.

That means Gator is an excellent option to create a website. It’s like a simple DIY solution. This website builder is ideal for service-based sites and companies that need big gallery sections.

If you liked this builder review, take Gator for a spin yourself, and see what you think.

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