IM Creator - Detailed Review
Design Tools
IM Creator - Product Overview
IM Creator Overview
IM Creator is a user-friendly website builder that simplifies the process of creating professional and responsive websites, even for those without any coding skills.Primary Function
IM Creator’s primary function is to enable users to build and publish websites quickly and easily. It offers a drag-and-drop editor and pre-designed templates, making it accessible to a wide range of users, from individuals to small businesses.Target Audience
The target audience for IM Creator includes general users, particularly those who lack HTML programming skills. It is ideal for individuals who want to build websites for their businesses, events, or personal projects. IM Creator also extends its services to non-profits, students, and artists by offering them a free license to use their platform.Key Features
Editors
IM Creator offers two main editors:- XPRS Editor: This editor uses a unique technology called Polydoms or “Stripes,” which allows users to build websites in layers, similar to building with Lego blocks. It provides a drag-and-drop interface but with a more structured approach to content placement.
- Classic Creator Editor: A traditional drag-and-drop editor that gives users full creative control over the placement of page elements such as images, text, and more.
Templates
IM Creator boasts a wide variety of stylish and polished templates categorized by industries like business, creative arts, health, e-commerce, and more. These templates are pre-populated and can be customized to get a website up and running quickly.Responsive Design
All websites created with IM Creator are responsive, meaning they automatically adjust and look good on different screen sizes, from mobile devices to desktop computers.E-commerce Capabilities
IM Creator allows users to add an online store to their websites, supporting various payment methods and currencies. However, its e-commerce features are basic and may not be as powerful as those offered by other platforms like Ecwid or WooCommerce.SEO Tools
The platform includes SEO tools to help improve the visibility of the website on search engines. Users can edit meta tags, page URLs, and add alt text to images.Hosting and Domain
IM Creator provides hosting for the websites built on their platform and allows users to connect their site to a domain name, either a new one or one they already own.Additional Features
- Widgets and Elements: Users can add various widgets and elements such as social feeds, counters, forms, and search bars to their websites.
- Google Analytics: Integration with Google Analytics to track visitor data and make informed marketing decisions.
- Unlimited Hosting and Bandwidth: IM Creator offers unlimited hosting and bandwidth, ensuring that websites can handle traffic without limitations.
IM Creator - User Interface and Experience
User Interface Overview
The user interface of IM Creator is characterized by its simplicity and user-friendly design, making it accessible to a wide range of users, including those without any coding knowledge.Ease of Use
IM Creator features a drag-and-drop editor that allows users to easily place elements such as text, images, and buttons onto their web pages. This intuitive interface enables users to create and customize their websites with minimal effort. The platform also offers pre-designed elements and sections that can be added and arranged effortlessly, which simplifies the website-building process.Templates and Customization
The platform provides a wide range of professionally designed templates, categorized by industries like business, creative arts, health, and e-commerce. These templates are fully customizable, allowing users to adapt them to their specific needs. Users can choose a template that closely matches their vision and then customize it by inserting their own content, such as texts, pictures, and videos, with just a few clicks.Responsive Design
All websites created with IM Creator are responsive, meaning they automatically adjust and look good on different screen sizes, from mobile devices to desktop computers. This ensures a consistent and professional appearance across various devices.Additional Features
IM Creator also includes features like e-commerce capabilities, allowing users to add an online store to their websites with support for various payment methods and currencies. The platform includes SEO tools to help improve the website’s visibility on search engines, and it offers hosting and domain services, making it a comprehensive solution for website creation.Overall User Experience
The overall user experience with IM Creator is streamlined and efficient. The platform is geared towards beginners but is also useful for professional web designers who need to complete projects quickly. The support team is available to help users overcome any difficulties they might encounter, ensuring a smooth and supportive experience throughout the website-building process.Conclusion
In summary, IM Creator’s user interface is easy to use, intuitive, and well-suited for both beginners and professionals, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to create a professional-looking website without the need for extensive technical knowledge. IM Creator - Key Features and Functionality
IM Creator Overview
IM Creator is a user-friendly website-building platform that offers a range of features to help users create professional and responsive websites without needing to know how to code. Here are the main features and how they work:
Drag-and-Drop Editor
IM Creator uses a drag-and-drop editor, which allows users to easily place elements such as text, images, and buttons onto their web pages. This editor is intuitive and user-friendly, making it simple for anyone to create a website in just a few minutes.
Templates
The platform provides a wide range of pre-designed templates categorized by industries like business, creative arts, health, e-commerce, and more. These templates are fully customizable, allowing users to personalize their websites quickly and efficiently. The templates are stylish, trendy, and polished, and they come pre-populated in an “almost done” state, so users can get their website up and running quickly.
Responsive Design
All websites created with IM Creator are responsive, meaning they automatically adjust and look good on different screen sizes, from mobile devices to desktop computers. This ensures that the website is accessible and visually appealing across various devices.
E-commerce Capabilities
IM Creator allows users to add an online store to their websites. It supports various payment methods and currencies, and includes features like payment processing and inventory management. However, it’s worth noting that the e-commerce features, powered by ShopRocket, are relatively basic and may not offer the advanced customization options available in other e-commerce platforms like Ecwid or WooCommerce.
SEO Tools
The platform includes SEO tools to help improve the visibility of the website on search engines. Users can edit meta tags, page URLs, and add alt text to images. Additionally, IM Creator supports integrations with Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel to enhance search visibility and tracking.
Hosting and Domain
IM Creator provides hosting for the websites built on their platform, with unlimited hosting and no bandwidth restrictions. Users can also connect their site to a custom domain name, either a new one or one they already own, though this feature is available with Premium or Creator PRO accounts.
AI Integration
While the primary resources do not detail extensive AI integration within the core features of IM Creator, the platform does offer a modern editor called XPRS, which uses a technology called Polydoms. This involves building websites using pre-made content blocks known as “Stripes,” which can be seen as a form of AI-driven content organization. However, this is more about structured content blocks rather than deep AI-driven automation.
Widgets and Elements
IM Creator allows users to add various elements and widgets to their websites. Elements include areas, lines, pictures, text, videos, and more. Widgets can display information or interact with visitors, such as social feeds, counters, forms, and search bars. These elements can be arranged in layers to ensure proper functionality, especially for clickable elements.
Presets and Backgrounds
Users can use presets, which are ready-to-use background designs, to customize the look of their website. These presets can be applied as the background for each page, and users can also add different backgrounds for each page if needed.
Conclusion
In summary, IM Creator is a versatile and user-friendly platform that offers a range of features to help users create professional, responsive, and functional websites without requiring coding skills. While it may not have the most advanced e-commerce features, it is well-suited for a variety of website needs, from small portfolios to larger, more complex sites.
IM Creator - Performance and Accuracy
Performance and Accuracy Evaluation
When evaluating the performance and accuracy of IM Creator in the design tools and website building category, several key points and limitations come to light.
Design and Customization
IM Creator boasts a unique approach to website building using dynamic objects that are automatically responsive, thanks to its Polydom web building software. This system allows for highly responsive templates that adjust seamlessly to different screen sizes, including laptops, tablets, and phones.
However, the platform lacks an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, which is a significant drawback compared to competitors like Wix and Squarespace. Users must click on existing elements to change them, which can be restrictive and less user-friendly.
Ease of Use
IM Creator is not ideal for beginners due to its complicated design experience. The absence of prompts or visual cues and the lack of a widget dashboard make it difficult for new users to create a website. This platform is better suited for users with some web design experience.
Template Flexibility
While IM Creator offers beautifully designed templates, there are significant limitations. Once a template is chosen and the website is published, changing the template requires starting from scratch and re-inserting all content. Additionally, users cannot access the HTML or CSS codes to make custom edits.
Features and Functionality
IM Creator lacks several key features that are standard in other website builders. It does not offer an app store, image editing tools, or email marketing capabilities. The social media integration is also limited, allowing only links to social media pages without custom widgets.
Customer Support
The customer support provided by IM Creator is basic and relies on a ticketing system with an average response time of under 12 hours. While this is commendable, the lack of live chat support and phone support options is a notable limitation. The Pro & Whitelabel plan offers more comprehensive support, including 24/7 assistance and a dedicated business consultant, but this comes at a higher cost.
Pricing and Plans
IM Creator offers various pricing plans, including a free plan for students, artists, and non-profits, and a Premium plan starting at $5.95 per month (depending on the subscription duration). The Pro & Whitelabel plan is the most expensive, costing $350 per year. However, there is no free trial available for any of the paid plans.
SEO and Ecommerce
IM Creator provides comprehensive SEO tools, including tracking for Google Analytics and Facebook pixels, which can help increase website engagement and traffic. For ecommerce needs, it offers features like credit card checkout and analytics, but the ecommerce and blogging functionalities are not very scalable in the long term.
Areas for Improvement
- Intuitive Interface: The platform needs to improve its user interface to make it more accessible for beginners.
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: Implementing a drag-and-drop editor would significantly enhance the user experience.
- Template Flexibility: Allowing users to change templates without losing existing content would be a major improvement.
- Additional Features: Adding an app store, image editing tools, and email marketing capabilities would make IM Creator more competitive.
- Customer Support: Expanding customer support to include live chat and phone options would enhance user satisfaction.
Conclusion
In summary, while IM Creator offers some unique features like responsive templates and a sleek design aesthetic, it falls short in terms of ease of use, template flexibility, and the availability of key features compared to other website builders. Addressing these limitations could make IM Creator a more viable option for a broader range of users.
IM Creator - Pricing and Plans
IM Creator Pricing Plans
IM Creator offers a clear and structured pricing plan, catering to various user needs. Here’s a breakdown of the different tiers and the features associated with each:
Free Plan
This plan is exclusively available for students, artists, and non-profit organizations. To qualify, you need to provide written proof and a description of why you need a website. Here are the key features of the free plan:
- Unlimited hosting
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Connection to your own domain
- Access to all templates
- Basic customer support
- Hosting on a subdomain of IM Creator (e.g., imxprs.com/free/yourusername)
- Up to 50MB of data hosting
Premium Plan
This plan is suitable for businesses and individuals who need more advanced features. The pricing varies based on the subscription period:
- 3-year plan: $5.95/month
- 2-year plan: $6.95/month
- 1-year plan: $7.95/month
- 6-month plan: $9.95/month
Features include:
- Connection to any domain
- Unlimited hosting and bandwidth
- Up to 10 customized email addresses
- Access to the entire template collection
- Premium 24/7 support
Pro & Whitelabel Plan
This plan is designed for web design agencies, web hosting companies, and designers who want to create websites for clients under their own brand.
- Annual cost: $350
- Features include:
- Removal of IM Creator branding
- Unlimited licenses to build client websites
- Reseller control panel and tracking
- Pro support
- Ability to offer a fully branded website building solution to clients
Summary
In summary, IM Creator provides a free plan for specific groups, a Premium plan with scalable pricing based on the subscription period, and a Pro & Whitelabel plan for businesses that need a branded solution. Each plan is designed to meet different user needs, from basic to advanced requirements.
IM Creator - Integration and Compatibility
Integration with Other Tools
IM Creator, while primarily a website builder, can be integrated with several external tools to enhance its functionality. One of the most notable integrations is with 123FormBuilder, which allows users to add smart online forms to their IM Creator websites. This integration enables features such as managing databases, interacting with clients, automating email marketing campaigns, and processing payments through payment processors like Square, PayPal, and Stripe.
Additionally, users can leverage Zapier to connect their IM Creator forms with thousands of other applications, further expanding the capabilities of their online forms and streamlining business operations.
However, it’s important to note that IM Creator’s native platform does not support a wide range of third-party app integrations beyond these specific cases. The XPRS and Classic Creator editors do not allow for the integration of other third-party apps, which might limit the functionality for users needing more advanced features.
Compatibility Across Devices
IM Creator is highly praised for its responsive design capabilities. Any content added to a website built with IM Creator will automatically adjust to be responsive across various devices, including laptops, tablets, phones, and even wearables like smart watches and Oculus devices. This ensures that the website looks and functions well on any device, providing a seamless user experience.
SEO and Analytics Tools
IM Creator also offers comprehensive SEO tools that help increase site traffic, engagement, and conversions. These tools include tracking for Google Analytics and Facebook pixels, which are compatible with the responsive design of the websites created on the platform.
Multilingual and White-Label Support
IM Creator supports the creation of multilingual websites, which can be beneficial for businesses targeting international audiences. Additionally, it offers white-label solutions, allowing users to create websites that are fully branded to their needs without any IM Creator branding.
In summary, while IM Creator has some limitations in terms of integrating with a wide range of third-party apps, it excels in providing responsive and SEO-optimized websites that are compatible across a variety of devices. The integration with tools like 123FormBuilder and Zapier adds significant value for users needing advanced form and automation functionalities.
IM Creator - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support Options
IM Creator offers several customer support options and additional resources to help users effectively use their website builder tool.Contact Options
For immediate assistance, you can contact IM Creator through several channels:- The best email to use is support@imcreator.com, which 95% of customers prefer for addressing their issues and concerns.
- You can also call their customer service number at (212) 843-5905. The longest wait times are typically on Mondays, while the shortest wait times are on Fridays, with an average call time of about 1 minute.
Support Resources
IM Creator provides a variety of resources to help you get the most out of their platform:- Knowledge Centre: This section includes tips, guides, and detailed information to help you use the website builder effectively.
- Videos: There are video tutorials available that can guide you through the process of building and managing your website.
- Help Section: You can access this section to find answers to common questions, view tips, and get additional support.
Additional Features
Editor 101 and Web Design Tutorials
IM Creator offers an “Editor 101” guide that explains the different elements of the site, such as areas, lines, pictures, text, videos, and widgets. This guide helps users take full advantage of the editor’s features.Template Switching and Design Flexibility
If you need to change the design of your website, IM Creator’s system allows for easy template switching. You can disconnect the current template from your domain and attach it to a new one, giving your site a fresh look without much hassle.Premium Support
Depending on the plan you choose, you can get different levels of support. The premium plan offers premium support, which includes more comprehensive assistance compared to the basic support provided with the free plan. By leveraging these support options and resources, you can easily create, manage, and maintain your website using IM Creator’s intuitive and user-friendly platform. IM Creator - Pros and Cons
Pros of IM Creator
Visually Stunning Templates
IM Creator offers a wide variety of beautiful, trendy, and polished templates that are perfect for users with an eye for design but no coding skills. These templates are highly customizable and can help you create a sleek, functional website quickly.User-Friendly Interface
While it may have some limitations, IM Creator’s interface is generally beginner-friendly, especially with its XPRS editor that uses pre-made content blocks called “Stripes.” This editor allows you to build your website in layers without needing HTML or CSS skills.Customization Options
The XPRS editor provides a unique way of building websites using content blocks, giving users a degree of creative freedom. Additionally, IM Creator offers various widgets and tools, such as image galleries, logo sliders, and social media chat buttons, to enhance your website’s functionality.Support Resources
IM Creator provides several support resources, including a downloadable user guide, step-by-step tutorials, FAQs, and a support portal where you can submit tickets. The average response time for support queries is under 12 hours, which is relatively quick.Domain and Storage
All pricing plans allow you to connect your own domain, and the Premium plan offers unlimited storage and bandwidth, making it a good value for money.Special Features for Specific Users
IM Creator offers free accounts for students, artists, and non-profit organizations, which is a significant advantage for these groups. It also includes features like donate buttons and stock imagery, which can be particularly useful for charity websites.Cons of IM Creator
Limited Ease of Use
Despite its beginner-friendly aspects, IM Creator can be difficult to use, especially for those without some web design experience. The lack of a drag-and-drop editor and the restrictive interface can make the website-building process cumbersome.No Free Trial
IM Creator does not offer a free trial for its paid plans, which can be a significant drawback for users who want to test the platform before committing to a subscription.Restrictive Template Changes
Once you publish your website, you cannot change the template without re-inserting all your content, which can be a major inconvenience.Limited Ecommerce and Blogging
IM Creator’s ecommerce and blogging functionalities are not very scalable long-term, making it less suitable for users who need advanced features in these areas.No Access to HTML/CSS
Users cannot access or edit the HTML or CSS codes of their website, which can be frustrating for those who want to make custom edits.Limited Advanced Features
IM Creator lacks advanced features such as an app store, image editing tools, and email marketing, which are commonly available on other website builders.Basic Support
While the support is generally good, it lacks live chat and phone support options, which can be a disadvantage for users who need immediate assistance.SSL Certificates
Basic plans do not include free SSL certificates, which is a significant security oversight. In summary, IM Creator is a good option for creatives, students, and small businesses who value visually appealing templates and a relatively easy-to-use interface. However, it falls short in terms of advanced customization options, ecommerce functionality, and support features compared to other website builders in the market. IM Creator - Comparison with Competitors
When Comparing IM Creator
When comparing IM Creator to other website builders and design tools in its category, several key features and differences stand out.
Unique Features of IM Creator
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: IM Creator uses a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, allowing users to easily place elements such as text, images, and buttons onto their web pages without needing any coding skills.
- Responsive Design: All websites created with IM Creator are responsive, meaning they automatically adjust and look good on different screen sizes, from mobile devices to desktop computers.
- E-commerce Capabilities: IM Creator includes robust e-commerce features, enabling users to set up an online store, manage inventory, process payments, and track analytics.
- SEO Tools: The platform offers built-in SEO tools to improve the visibility of the website on search engines, including the ability to edit meta tags, page URLs, and add alt text to images.
- Hosting and Domain: IM Creator provides unlimited hosting with no bandwidth restrictions and allows users to connect their site to a custom domain name.
- Free License for Non-Profits, Students, and Artists: IM Creator stands out by offering a free license to non-profit organizations, students, and artists, making it an attractive option for these groups.
Alternatives and Comparisons
WordPress
WordPress is a popular alternative that offers a wide range of customizable templates and plugins. While it is highly flexible, it may require more technical knowledge compared to IM Creator. WordPress is particularly good for blogs and content-heavy websites.
Wix
Wix is another user-friendly website builder that offers a drag-and-drop editor and a variety of templates. It is known for its supportive tools, such as online chat for customer engagement. Wix is a good option for those who need quick setup and ease of use.
Shopify
Shopify is specialized in e-commerce and offers a wide range of features tailored for online shopping. While it is excellent for creating and managing online stores, it can be more expensive than IM Creator. Shopify is ideal for those focusing primarily on e-commerce.
Elementor
Elementor is a page builder tool specifically for WordPress websites. It offers more flexibility and variety for custom-coded websites but can be tricky to use for beginners. Elementor is a good choice if you are already using WordPress and need advanced page-building capabilities.
Hostinger
Hostinger is known for its easy setup and reasonable prices. While it is not a website builder per se, it offers hosting services that can be used in conjunction with other website builders. Hostinger is a good option if you are looking for affordable hosting solutions.
AI-Driven Design Tools
While IM Creator is not primarily an AI-driven design tool, there are other tools that integrate AI more heavily:
Adobe Sensei and Firefly
Adobe’s AI tools, such as Sensei and Firefly, automate repetitive tasks and generate new content like images and text effects. These tools are integrated into Adobe’s Creative Cloud applications and are more focused on creative professionals who need advanced AI-driven features.
Lummi AI
Lummi AI generates design concepts, provides layout suggestions, and offers creative prompts. It is useful for overcoming creative blocks and quickly visualizing different design directions. However, it is more focused on the initial design process rather than the entire website building experience.
Conclusion
In summary, IM Creator stands out with its ease of use, responsive design, and comprehensive e-commerce features, making it a strong choice for those who want to build professional-looking websites without coding skills. However, depending on your specific needs, alternatives like WordPress, Wix, Shopify, and Elementor might offer additional features or specializations that could be more suitable.
IM Creator - Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about IM Creator, along with detailed responses to each:
What are the different plans offered by IM Creator?
IM Creator offers several plans to cater to different needs. The Free Plan is available for students, artists, and non-profits, requiring proof and a description of why a website is needed. This plan includes a subdomain (imxprs.com/free/username/), up to 50MB hosting, access to all templates, and basic support. The Premium Plan is geared towards businesses and starts at $9.95/month for a biannual subscription, $7.95/month for a yearly subscription, $6.95/month for a two-year subscription, and $5.95/month for a three-year subscription. This plan includes the ability to connect your own domain, unlimited hosting and bandwidth, up to 10 customized email addresses, and premium 24/7 support. The Pro & Whitelabel Plan costs $350 per year and is designed for web design agencies. It allows you to remove IM Creator branding, use your own branded website builder, and build unlimited client websites.How do I get started with IM Creator?
Getting started with IM Creator is straightforward. You can choose a design from their template collection, insert your content, and publish your website. The process is simple and does not require any coding. You can start by selecting a template, adding sections using their unique Polydoms system, and customizing the content and layout to your liking.What is the Polydoms system in IM Creator?
The Polydoms system is IM Creator’s proprietary technology that allows you to build websites using dynamic, responsive content blocks. These blocks can be added, mixed, and customized easily, making the website-building process intuitive and flexible. This system ensures that your website looks sharp on all devices, including PCs, tablets, and mobile phones.Does IM Creator offer free hosting and bandwidth?
Yes, IM Creator provides free unlimited hosting and bandwidth, even on their free plan for eligible users. For premium users, this feature is included in all paid plans, ensuring that your website can handle large amounts of traffic without any additional costs.Can I connect my own domain to an IM Creator website?
Yes, you can connect your own domain to an IM Creator website, but this feature is only available with the Premium Plan. Connecting your own domain helps in building your brand identity and makes your website look more professional.What kind of support does IM Creator offer?
IM Creator offers different levels of support depending on your plan. The free plan includes basic support, while the Premium Plan offers 24/7 premium support. The Pro & Whitelabel Plan also includes PRO support, which is more comprehensive.Are IM Creator websites responsive and SEO-friendly?
Yes, websites built with IM Creator are fully responsive and automatically adjust to different devices such as laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. Additionally, these websites are web standards-compliant and optimized for SEO, ensuring they look great and perform well on various devices and browsers.Can I use IM Creator for eCommerce and blogging?
Yes, IM Creator supports both eCommerce and blogging. You can create a website that includes online store functionality and blogging features, all within the same platform.How does the Pro & Whitelabel Plan work?
The Pro & Whitelabel Plan is designed for web design agencies and other businesses that want to create websites for clients under their own brand. This plan removes IM Creator branding, allows you to build unlimited client websites, and provides a reseller control panel and tracking features. It costs $350 per year.Can I change templates after I’ve built my website?
Changing templates on IM Creator can be a bit tricky. If you decide to change templates after you’ve already built your site, you will have to start from scratch, as changing templates wipes out your existing content. This can be inconvenient, so it’s best to choose a template carefully before starting to build your website.