Website options table
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F&T School hub |
WordPress + hosting |
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Summary |
Not a full website option, but an easy place to start if you only need a journal function. You can control the visibility of your posts, and you can export them to other WordPress installations when you leave. |
Very quick and easy, free version will do everything needed for a student site. No mobile app, so updating on mobile is not ideal. |
Generally functional and usable. Free version will do everything needed for a student site except upload video. Can’t organise files which makes reuse more difficult, but otherwise acceptable option for getting started. |
Well regarded, used by several staff. Free version will do everything needed for a student site. Other than prominent ad, free version is very functional and good option for getting started. |
The most widely used website software in the world, therefore plenty of scope for support and extension. Free version will do everything needed for a student site, and best option for blog posting, very easy. Otherwise, set up and navigation less intuitive than others and some experience with website building is an advantage. Good free first option if you think you’ll want to scale up your website in time |
The most widely used website software in the world, therefore plenty of scope for support and extension. Hosting and site set up requires more time and expertise than other options. Good option to move to when you’re ready to scale up your website. Very extensible. |
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Price |
Free |
Free version with upgrade option. Cheapest annual plan: AUD$14.42/mth |
Free version with upgrade option Cheapest annual plan: AUD$7/mth |
Free with upgrade option Cheapest annual plan: USD$10/mth |
Free with upgrade option. Cheapest annual plan: USD$4/mth |
Free software, paid hosting Reclaim hosting personal account – USD $30/year |
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Set up |
No set up required. Blog functionality only |
Super easy – no template choice |
Easy. Theme selector based on the purpose of the website |
Easy. Theme selector based on the purpose of the website |
Reasonably easy, limited theme choices |
Moderate. Easy to find a host, many have WordPress already installed. Some familiarity with WordPress an advantage |
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Advertising? |
No |
Site ad in footer Email and Pop up notifications are relentless |
Fly out ad at bottom |
Prominent ad at the top of the page |
Yes. Site ad in footer, sometimes in blog posts |
No |
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Ease of Use |
Very easy for posting. Not suitable for building web pages. Some page layout options available. No theming available. |
Very easy. Page builder |
Easy. Page builder |
Easy. Page builder |
Moderate. Rudimentary Page builder Not overly difficult, but not as intuitive as others. |
Moderate. |
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Domain |
Default: N/A Custom: Not available |
Default: terrible 5e2540f48bb5e.site123.me Custom: Included in plan cost for 1st year. |
Default: ok yoursitename.weebly.com Custom: Included in annual plans for 1st year. |
Default: not great youraccountname.wixsite.com/ Custom: Included in plan cost for 1st year. |
Default: ok yoursitename.wordpress.com Custom: Included in plan cost for 1st year. |
Default: N/A. Default depends on webhost selected Custom: Often included in plan cost for 1st year. |
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Extensibility |
No |
Not much with free site. Extensible to e-commerce on plan |
Yes. Free and paid apps available to extend functionality |
Yes. Free and paid apps available to extend functionality |
Not on free version |
The world is your oyster if you have the skills to claim it |
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Portability |
Yes – to other WordPress installations |
no |
no |
no |
Yes – to other WordPress installations |
Yes – to other WordPress installations |
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Privacy |
Can restrict views to only logged in, certain groups or one or more individuals. Public posts can be password protected. |
Can hide blog page from users but linking doesn’t work unless the blog link is available somewhere. |
Can hide blog page from users but still send links to blog posts |
Can hide blog page from users but still send links to blog posts |
Can make password protected posts. |
? |
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Storage |
Limited |
Free version: 500MB |
Free version: 500MB + 10MB per image |
Free version: 500MB |
Free version: 3GB |
? |
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File/asset organisation |
Yes |
No file manager. File organisation and storage must happen offline |
No file manager. File organisation and storage must happen offline |
File manager. Buildable file/folder structure |
File manager function. Not fully configurable |
File manager function. |
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Support |
How to Videos |
Chat function. Convenient, but thinly disguised advertising |
Knowledge base |
In-editor knowledgebase and step by step videos |
Knowledgebase, video tutorials etc. |
? |
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mobile friendly? |
For viewing. Wouldn’t edit that way. |
No app. Posting via mobile browser is possible, but painful |
Yes. App for iPhone and Android |
Yes. App for iPhone and Android |
Yes. App for iPhone and Android |
? |
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Upload of video |
Yes but video really always should go to streaming Service |
Yes |
Only on paid plans |
Yes |
Yes |
? |
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Post tags /categories |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
? |
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Submission of URLs to Canvas |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
? |
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Examples |
stuff |
