Format Reviews

Pros

There’s nothing I don’t like about about this software. I can’t wait to be completely switched over from my current website provider. My favorite thing about this service is the ability to easily manipulate my website from the app.

Cons

Honestly I can’t think of a single thing I don’t like about Format. Other than maybe the fact that everything in life can’t be this easy and friendly.

Pros

It seemed to be really designed with creative professionals in mind. I liked that I didn't have to skim through tons of templates and features for blogs and other non-portfolio based website structures. It also has a great design sensibility. I felt I could easily create a clean looking portfolio that emphasized my artwork, as opposed to distracting the user with a flashy design.

Cons

For the price I was paying, I felt that I wasn't getting the most out of my investment. The caps on the number of images or projects I could include felt very limiting, but the next tier of subscription felt above my budget and was filled with other perks and features that I didn't need and didn't want to be paying for.

Pros

I like the software quite a bit although like anything there is a learning curve and you have to have some design and web experience to get the most out of it. I know that I could never afford the one-off coding that went into their system.

When people complain about boring templates they don't realize that the Format app allows you to drastically change the look and feel of each template, enough so that you can be unique and make it your own. I think the customization of their templates is their most powerful attribute.

Cons

While the mobile versions look good on most phones, not so much with tablets. And while you can use the mobile app to possible correct a typo (maybe) you really can't design a full website from your phone.

Pros

GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL, and CREATIVE themes made for artists. The themes feel like you walked into a web site gallery! No unnecessary clutter that distracts the viewer from the artwork. The software is kept up to date and its easy to use.

Cons

No problems , I like it once I learned how to navigate it.

Pros

This is a great visual software that showcases my work really well

Cons

The best photography display option for me does not go fully across the screen- it would be great to have a bit more flexibility with the software to enable this and other updates so that the display matches the current trends.

Pros

Easy to use, simple, designs up to date and responsive

Cons

Even though the company is based in Canada (Toronto), there is no option to be charged in $CAD.

Pros

I used Format to set up a photo portfolio site for someone who is very technology-phobic. He uses Lightroom to edit photos and wanted something easy that integrated with LR and allowed him to upload photos directly to the app. Format does this - and has nice enough galleries.

Cons

Don't use Format if you want to do much customization. There are limits on everything, and it seems that the people who created it don't truly understand the needs of photographers who want something a little beyond the box. While you can change font sizes and such, you are stuck with their minimal design options and if you like something from one design/theme, you can't have it in another.

Pros

I love that this website is catered to creatives and allows for maximum options for refining the website to your needs.

Cons

Better options for the online store within their price plans. I would like to see a partnership with external online shops (e.g. SmugMug)

Pros

The best thing about this software is the price, I went from livebooks to format and will never go back.

Cons

There is very very little I don't like about the software. It is very easy to use. If I had a complaint it would be for more variety and more options but this is minor.

Pros

The main factor that brought us to Format was the ability to easily setup and maintain an online store to sell our products. All the payments go thru Paypal, so there is no worries of unsecured transactions happening! Format also makes it really easy to set up discount codes for customers to use.

The price per year is also really hard to beat for the features that are included.

Cons

I've been using Format for about 4 months and haven't ran into any issues so far!

Pros

Format is a very good website creation software. Supported by web hosts like hostinger

Cons

No problem encountered in the use of this software I highly recommend

Pros

I love the different premise layouts for the websites. The layouts are clean, modern, and they have a variety to choose from. If I ever have a problem, the customer service is always top notch. They go above and beyond to help with every single question I've had. They really care about the customers. You can do prettt much whatever you like with your website. It's very straightforward with how to set everything up.

Cons

There's not much, if anything, that I have a problem with. I'd like to have a video as the opening/home page, but you might be able to do that now (I'm not sure).

Pros

Their customer service is great and I am very pleased. Also, I like the fact that I can customized most of the template. The templates are specialized for photographers and that is something I appreciate a lot.

Cons

Latest changes and new home page (where you login), I do not like the videos they put there. Template should become even more minimalistic. They way Pages are displayed could be improved, maybe on a different arrange of list. It would also be great to have a built-in app that help creating high quality GIF animations or flash videos.

Pros

The ease of use and functionality - beautiful templates! I was able to quickly figure out how to select a template, alter the template, etc. even without any type of quide. I've used Squarespace and Format is so much more intuitive to me. Also I love the simplicity of most of the templates and amount you can alter them. The Proofing site is a HUGE plus as well.

Cons

Was missing a type of template that I really wanted that most photographers use (via Squarespace). They had all the pieces separately across other templates but didn't put them together.

Pros

The design templates, simplicity, very intuitive. The best part is customer service: everyone is extremely responsive and helpful. I love a real time chat feature to solve problems.
My favourite features: proof pages, sales area and customised pages.
I also get a lot of positive feedback on my website from my clients. I must say, the looks perfectly reflects my brand.

Cons

There are no cons at the moment - everything seems to work properly. One feature I would love to see in the future is having a quality full screen video on the home page.

Pros

I like how I am able to have a sleek website design at an affordable price. And how easy it is to customize it

Cons

There's not much I don't like about it but if I were to say it would be that I wish there were more design options

Pros

Very simple builder, takes a lot of the work out of the building.

Cons

While the customer service is exceptional, connecting an existing domain is far more complicated than it should be.

Pros

I like the templates in Format and the ability to be able to use them and customise the different options. I like the way they work on mobiles and different formats.

Cons

I don not like the way the Videos are embedded on either Youtube or Vimeo, I would like them to be native to format. Also better options for Video style formats.

Pros

The crisp design and layout! I love how easy it is to upload images. This system is easy to use and I am not a tech person. I truly believe I'm getting an awesome value for my money!

Cons

I would like to have stats about visits to my page and useage. I need to know who is visiting my page and how.

Pros

The interface is very easy and intuitive, but still offers ways to customize templates to fit your needs. I had found other web building sites daunting, but Format is clean, professional, and lets me focus on actually doing art, instead of biting my nails over web design. I appreciate the frequent updates, and very fast customer service.

Cons

The price could be a deterrent to some people, but honestly, I'll probably never move my two websites to a different host.

Pros

The possibility to change site style so rapidly and yearly subscription as well is a great opportunity to review your work

Cons

What I think must be improved is the flexibility in fonts choise and the quantity as well; also the pictures positioning should be more simple and with more options

Pros

They constantly innovate to enrich the client & end user experience. They help when needed and staff are awesome.
Value for money is a no-brained with Format: it is excellent.

Cons

There is very little to say about the downside of this software. I love it and would change.nothing about it.

Pros

The easyness of approach in the construction of a webpage available for people like me, that know nothing about html language or programming. The possibility of choosing between different themes to give the best professional look at the galleries showing my photographic works.

Cons

There are very few things that I like the least of this software, mostly technical.
But as I wrote above I have little knowledge of programming.
Would love to have more flexibility in fonts and writing parts. And more possibilities to create a cover to start the webpage.

Pros

Usability is key in the template designs and it gives me freedom of polishing the design to my own needs. The information/help is good and I think the helpdesk chat is very good. I'm always taken seriously and the answers are always straight and not packed in commercial sales type wording. Compared to the big other sites they don't change things dramatically into something I don't need or pay for. It's value for money.

Cons

ssl is still not available but it's on the list of high priority. Sometimes photos loading time is a bit too slow on broadband lines and 4g. Some of the design tweaking brings in some trial and error which slows down the proces but I can live with that.

Pros

Easy to set up and nice templates and they set up and linked my domain name that I found extremely helpful

Cons

Format is easy to use with nice templates but the ease is also because the choices of things you can control are limited this for me was mostly an asset so I did not get lost in a sea of choices but a pity I could not implement a few more design features like centering text in the additional text boxes, making a subtitle in a special font and adding call to action buttons