Stan vs. Universe

Jessica Li
Chief of Staff

Link-in-bio products are crucial for online creators as they centralize all their courses, digital products, and bookings, making it easier to manage their creator business. We'll compare Stan and Universe to determine which platform offers the best features and ease of use for creators.

A Quick Overview of Stan and Universe

What is Stan?

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Stan is an all-in-one creator store that allows users to host courses, digital products, and bookings within their link-in-bio. Unique features include no coding required, 1-tap checkout, and integration with third-party apps. The platform offers a 14-day free trial and emphasizes ease of use, allowing creators to set up their store in just a few minutes.

What is Universe?

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Universe is a visual, no-code website builder that allows users to create websites using a drag-and-drop interface. It offers features like AI-generated website elements, built-in analytics, and e-commerce capabilities. Universe is designed for ease of use from any device and provides various pricing plans to suit different needs.

Comparing Stan and Universe: Features and Pricing

Stan Features

Stan offers several unique features that make it a compelling choice for creators.

  • All-in-one creator store for courses, digital products, and bookings.
  • No coding knowledge required to set up the store.
  • 1-Tap Checkout to maximize conversion rates.
  • Integration with various third-party apps.
  • 14-day free trial for new users.

Universe Features

Universe is a visual, no-code website builder that you can use from any device.

  • Drag and drop blocks to construct your pages on your phone, tablet, or computer.
  • Use AI to generate website elements in minutes, build on top of designer templates, or start from scratch.
  • Sell anything, from physical goods to digital downloads.
  • Grow your audience with built-in analytics and powerful integrations.
  • Build your site visually with our drag and drop editor. No HTML, no CSS. Just arrange your content on the Grid.

Stan and Universe Similarities

Stan and Universe both aim to simplify the online presence for creators, offering tools to monetize their content and manage their businesses efficiently. Here are the biggest similarities in features between the two platforms:

  • Drag-and-Drop Editor: Both platforms allow users to build their sites visually without any coding knowledge.
  • E-commerce Capabilities: Users can sell both physical and digital products seamlessly.
  • Templates and Customization: Access to professionally designed templates with options for customization.
  • Analytics and Integrations: Built-in tools to track site traffic and integrate with social media platforms.

Stan and Universe Differences

While Stan and Universe both offer robust tools for creators, they cater to different needs. Here are the biggest differences in features between Stan and Universe:

  • Stan: Focuses on an all-in-one creator store for courses, digital products, and bookings.
  • Universe: Specializes in a visual, no-code website builder with AI-generated elements.
  • Stan: Provides a 1-tap checkout feature to maximize conversion rates.

Stan and Universe Pricing

Stan offers a 14-day free trial but does not provide specific pricing details on its website. This makes it challenging to compare its cost directly with Universe. On the other hand, Universe provides clear pricing with four plans: Free, Base at $12/month or $72/year, Pro at $25/month or $200/year, and Complete at $50/month or $500/year. Each plan includes various features tailored to different user needs.

Given the transparent pricing and range of options, Universe appears to offer better deals, especially for those looking for flexibility and detailed plan features.

Why Choose One Over the Other?

Why Choose Stan Over Universe

Consumers who need an all-in-one solution for selling courses, digital products, and bookings will find Stan more suitable due to its comprehensive business management features. This platform is ideal for content creators, coaches, and influencers who want a simple, no-coding-required setup with a streamlined 1-tap checkout process.

Why Choose Universe Over Stan

Universe is perfect for users who prioritize ease of use and flexibility, offering a drag-and-drop interface and AI-generated website elements. This platform is best suited for non-technical users, creatives, and small business owners who need a visually appealing website that can be built and managed from any device.

Considering Beacons vs. Stan and Universe

What is Beacons

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Beacons is the all-in-one creator platform designed to help you manage and monetize your online presence effortlessly. With millions of users worldwide, Beacons offers unique features like AI-generated content, customizable link-in-bio, email marketing, and an online store, all from a single, easy-to-use platform.

Beacons's Pricing

Beacons Pricing Packages

At Beacons, we offer a range of pricing packages to suit different needs and budgets:

  • Free Plan: $0 (Free forever)
  • Creator Pro: $8.33 per month (billed annually) or $10 per month (billed monthly)
  • Store Pro: $25 per month (billed annually) or $30 per month (billed monthly)
  • Business Pro: $75 per month (billed annually) or $90 per month (billed monthly)

Comparing Beacons to Stan and Universe

Choosing Beacons over Stan and Universe offers a comprehensive solution for creators looking to maximize their online presence and business efficiency.

  • All-in-One Platform: Unlike Stan and Universe, Beacons integrates multiple tools such as email marketing, invoicing, and an online store into one cohesive system.
  • AI-Powered Features: Beacons leverages AI for custom insights and automation, simplifying tasks like generating product descriptions and email subject lines.
  • Cost-Effective: Save money by using Beacons' all-inclusive platform instead of subscribing to multiple separate tools.
  • Customizable Link-in-Bio: Tailor your link-in-bio to fit your brand, offering more flexibility than Stan and Universe.
  • Automatic Data Synchronization: Ensure all your tools work seamlessly together, eliminating the need for manual updates.
  • Mobile App Convenience: Easily manage and customize your online presence from any device, making it more versatile than Stan and Universe.

For a more detailed comparison, visit Beacons.

What Are the Customers Saying?

Stan Reviews

Overall, users have given Stan a mixed to negative rating of 3.0 out of 5. While some appreciate the video quality and ease of use, many are frustrated by frequent stalling and issues with the casting feature.

Great for Watching Olympics - 5/5 - Earl Digby

"Still a bit clunky given time to release. But did ok with a lot of moving content streams. Until I worked out how to force refresh live feeds I was getting old event statuses. Video quality great, worked out how to correct that thing when you start a stream (live game streams in particular) and it starts at low res at first, force max res by a quick one-tap rewind & boom. Was easy to pause, rew, fwd etc."

Terrible Experience - 1/5 - Cheryl Kam

"Its just terrible... signed up after a couple of years break (it was bad last time) to watch a couple of tv series and it just keeps stalling or pausing to load. Its even worst now .. real waste of time having to add an extra 20mins per episode for it stall and load every 2-3 minutes! The casting feature also breaks and struggles to reconnect, having to either restart phone or turn tv off/on or disconnect chromecast from the tv / power source physically to reconnect..."

For more reviews, visit Universe Website Builder Reviews.

Universe Reviews

Overall, users have given Stan a mixed rating of 3.0 out of 5. While some appreciate the good video quality and ease of use, many are frustrated by frequent stalling and issues with the casting feature.

Great for Watching Olympics - 5/5 - Earl Digby

"Giving Stan 5 stars because I got Stan to watch the olympics on my big TV (&mobiles). Still a bit clunky given time to release. But did ok with a lot of moving content streams. Video quality great, worked out how to correct that thing when you start a stream (live game streams in particular) and it starts at low res at first, force max res by a quick one-tap rewind & boom. Was easy to pause, rew, fwd etc."

Terrible Experience - 1/5 - Cheryl Kam

"Its just terrible... signed up after a couple of years break (it was bad last time) to watch a couple of tv series and it just keeps stalling or pausing to load. Its even worst now .. real waste of time having to add an extra 20mins per episode for it stall and load every 2-3 minutes! The casting feature also breaks and struggles to reconnect, having to either restart phone or turn tv off/on or disconnect chromecast from the tv / power source physically to reconnect..."

For more reviews, visit Universe Website Builder Reviews.

Beacons reviews

Overall, users have given Beacons an impressive rating of 4.9 out of 5.

Incredible App - 5/5 - "Incredible app with a bunch of useful creator business tools. Love the email marketing and store apps!" - Christopher Wong

Most Useful Tool for Creators - 5/5 - "This is the most useful tool for creators especially when they are starting out. The fact that it is free and paid parts are just things you will need as you grow and gain income is such a perfect example of what these tools should look like." - Bearded IT Guy

Final Decision: Stan, Universe, or Beacons?

Whether you choose Stan, Universe, or Beacons, each platform offers valuable tools to help online creators grow their audience and manage their business. However, Beacons stands out as the all-in-one solution, combining ease of use with powerful features like AI-generated content and customizable link-in-bio options. For creators looking to streamline their workflow and maximize their online presence, Beacons is the way to go.

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