Pricing
If you are interested in making mobile apps with ShoutEm, take note that while you can avail of their free trial, to continue the service you will have to subscribe to a plan. They have different tiers to choose from, based on what you need; and you can either pay month to month, or prepay for an annual subscription.
| Subscription Tier | What You Get | Monthly | Annually |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | HTML5 App No iOS acct. required | $22.90 | $19.90 |
| Advanced | iPhone App Android App HTML5 App Push notifications | $58.90 | $49.00 |
| Unlimited | iPad App iPhone App Android App HTML5 App Push notifications API access / data sync | $139.90 | $119.90 |
Their Basic plan, for starters, gives you the ability to build an HTML5 app only. If you want to be able to put your app up on Apple’s or Google’s respective app stores, you will have to at least get the Advanced plan. This plan also gives you access to push notifications. If you want to get access to the features of the previous two plans plus the ability to create an iPad app, as well as access their API and data sync features, the Unlimited plan is what you need.
Finally, if you want to get access to custom content modules, custom page layouts, CMS (Content Management System) integration, on-site staff training, and a dedicated support person, ShoutEm has something called the Enterprise plan, which has no set subscription fee. You will have to contact ShoutEm first to get a price quote.
1st Place9.8 out of 10
Optional Services
Beyond their subscription plans, ShoutEm also offers two optional packages that are geared towards those who would rather have professionals build their app for them. The first option, the Professional Setup, costs $950. For that much money, the company will build your app for you, complete with a round of design made by their designers. Beyond that, they will also manually import your content, whether it be from third party API, or video streaming sites like YouTube or Vimeo.
If you need a bit more meat, the Enterprise Setup might be right up your alley. It offers all the benefits of the Professional Setup, plus an hour of training via web conference, 12 hours’ worth of importing your content and setting up custom modules, and guaranteed support response time for 4 hours. In addition to these, you also have the option to buy more designer or developer hours if you need more work to be done. All of these will set you back a hefty $2,900. For most people, the cost might be too steep; but this is more suited to large companies or, as the name suggests, enterprises.
Reseller Program
Meanwhile, if you want to utilize the power of ShoutEm’s platform to build apps for your clients, they also provide a stellar White Label Reseller Program. Through this program, you will get access to a bevy of outstanding features that can help establish and elevate your personal brand in the app developer world. For instance, the program will give you the power to provide your customers your very own branded dashboard hosted on your own domain, and you can even give your clients secure accounts so they can easily and conveniently manage their app–from moderating content to sending push notifications and beyond.
Flexibility and Ease of Use
While this DIY app maker company offers a ton of really great features, one of the best things about ShoutEm is the sheer flexibility offered by their platform, which allows companies of all shapes and sizes to build an app that is uniquely suited to the nature of their business. You can, for instance, create a loyalty app for your retail shop, an app to complement your blog, an app to promote your events, and many more.
All of this is made possible by ShoutEm’s easy to use app designer tool. Their tool, like all great DIY app maker platforms, utilizes a drag-and-drop interface that anyone can quickly pick up and learn. Their editor tool also allows you to easily preview your work without having to go through the process of compiling it just to be able to see it. The best part about building apps using ShoutEm’s designer tool is that you do not need any coding or design skills whatsoever in order to build a stunning and fully functional app from the ground up–it is that simple.
CMS Functionality
Another notable feature of ShoutEm’s platform is a powerful CMS that allows you to import content from various sources–such as WordPress, Foursquare, Pocket, Facebook, and more. Of course, you can also create your own content. You can, for instance, create a mobile eCommerce app (thanks to a Shopify integration feature); create an event app; or embed into your app directions, menu, operating hours, deals, and other important information about your business. You can also create a bustling community (complete with activity feeds, checkins, status updates, comments, and the like), organize your content into catalogs, and even enhance your app with location-based features.
Monetization
ShoutEm also offers built-in analytics and monetization features. The former allows you to analyze how your users interact with your app so you can get a better idea on how to optimize and improve upon your app’s services in the future, while the latter allows you to recoup your initial investment by turning your app into a money-making machine with the help of various mobile ad networks.
More Features Needed
One small gripe is that ShoutEm lacks some features that have long been standard in other platforms, such as in-app subscriptions and multi-language support. That said, it seems that they are committed to continuously improve their offerings–as evidenced by their most recent feature additions.
New Additions
For starters, users can now make use of scheduled push notifications, allowing you to set messages to be sent on a weekly or monthly basis. Next, segmented push notifications allow you to send out messages to specific users only–giving you a way to effectively target them better.
They also made improvements to the Instagram integration feature, which now allow you to display unlimited photos in the stream. Meanwhile, their News and Events module has also undergone improvements. You can now highlight and pinpoint Events so the most important ones stay visible to all until you decide otherwise–helping you promote special promos, events, and the like more effectively.
DIY Code Customization
In terms of customization, ShoutEm now allows you to access and edit the CSS of apps, giving more freedom to tweak your app. They also added a client settings page that opens up more options, and composite pages, which allows you to create more complex app structures.
Customer Support
As of this writing, you can only contact ShoutEm’s customer support by filling out an online contact form; phone, live chat, or direct email options are currently non-existent. However, do take note that if you are subscribed to their higher tier reseller plans, do get premium phone support thrown in. All resellers, meanwhile, also get priority email support, while Enterprise subscribers get dedicated support person assigned to their account.
While that may be good news for resellers only, the fantastic thing about ShoutEm is their dedication to providing unparalleled response times for any and all customer queries–regardless of which plan or program you go with. As such, expect your questions to be answered by their team within 24 hours. Finally, another thing worth noting is that they do offer a robust Support Center that features a great deal of articles that can easily get you up and running in no time.
What's the Verdict on ShoutEm?
ShoutEm Review 2019 – Conclusion
While ShoutEm is at the very top of contemporary app builders, it has its downsides–as most of them do–though it truly provides an exceptional service. From offering an intuitive drag-and-drop app designer tool, to monetization features, to a bevy of incredibly useful features that come standard on all of their plans, to a fantastic White Label Reseller program for those looking to build apps for clients, this robust and flexible app maker platform allows you to easily create a wide variety of apps that can boost your business in no time at all. ShoutEm also offers a no-risk free trial option; why not check them out for yourself today?
2 Comments
Is this the best app maker in 2018? How can we know if the platform will stay forever and not go out of business?
So far, yes. ShoutEm provides a lot of bang for your buck, and they’ve got the experience to back it up. We obviously can’t say whether they’ll outlast other companies out there or not. But they’ve been in the mobile app making business since 2011 (and are still going strong), so that should tell you a lot about them.