In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to regain access to your device. Whether you’ve completely forgotten your passcode or accidentally locked yourself out, we’ve got the solutions to help you unlock your iPhone and get back to using it in no time.

Understanding the Situation

If you enter the wrong passcode too many times, you’ll have to wait longer before you can try again. If you keep entering the wrong passcode, your iPhone will eventually become disabled.

To unlock it, you’ll need to erase your device, which deletes all of your data and settings, including the passcode. You can then restore your data from a backup.

Method 1: Using Recovery Mode

If you don’t have a backup, Recovery Mode allows you to restore your iPhone.

Here’s how to go into Recovery Mode in your iPhone:

1. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to a Mac or PC.
2. Enter Recovery Mode:

   For iPhone 8 or later: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.

   For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold the Volume Down and Sleep/Wake buttons simultaneously until you see the recovery mode screen.

   For iPhone 6s and earlier: Press and hold the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons simultaneously until you see the recovery mode screen.

3. Open iTunes (on Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (on macOS Catalina and later), then choose the option to Restore your iPhone.

Method 2: Restoring via iTunes or Finder

If you have previously synced your iPhone with iTunes or Finder, you can also use it to restore your device.

Here’s how:

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer you last synced with using a USB cable.
2. Launch iTunes (Windows users) or Finder and select your iPhone from the list.
3. In iTunes or Finder, click on the device or its icon, select “Back Up Now” to create the latest backup, then click “Restore iPhone.”

Method 3: Using iCloud to Erase Your Device

If you have Find My iPhone enabled, you can use iCloud to erase your device. To do that, follow the following instructions below:

1. Go to iCloud.com in a web browser.
2. Sign in using your Apple ID.
3. Click on “Find My” and select your iPhone from the device list.



4. Click “Erase iPhone” to remotely erase all data and settings, including the passcode, so you can restore from a backup.

Method 4: Contacting Apple Support

If none of the above methods work, or if you encounter issues, contacting Apple Support may be your last resort.

Apple technicians can provide additional support and may be able to assist you in unlocking your iPhone.

Preventing Future Lockouts

To avoid the hassle of forgetting your iPhone passcode in the future, consider doing the following:

• Enable Face ID or Touch ID: Skip memorizing a passcode by logging in using your face with Face ID or your thumbprint with Touch ID.
• Use a Memorable Passcode: Select a passcode that is both meaningful and secure yet easy to remember.
• Keep Backups: Ensure you have iCloud backup enabled, or regularly back up your iPhone to your PC via iTunes or Finder.

Final Thoughts

Forgetting your iPhone passcode can be highly inconvenient, but by following the methods outlined above, you can regain access to your device without much hassle.

It’s crucial to regularly back up your iPhone data and take preventive measures to avoid future lockouts, ensuring that your information is always safe and accessible.

The post What to Do If You Forget Your iPhone Passcode appeared first on Hongkiat.

Whether you are dealing with persistent glitches or planning to hand over your iPhone to a new owner, a factory reset ensures that all your personal data and settings are completely erased; think of it as returning your iPhone to its original state as you first got it.

This following guide will walk you through the process of a “clean reset” on your iPhone, ensuring you do it safely and efficiently.

When to Clean Reset Your iPhone?

• Resolving software glitches: If your iPhone is experiencing persistent software issues, a clean reset can often resolve these problems.
• Improving performance: Over time, your iPhone may slow down due to accumulated data and apps. A clean reset can help improve its performance.
• Selling or giving away your device: If you plan to sell or give away your iPhone, a clean reset ensures that your personal data is completely removed.
• Starting fresh: Sometimes, you might just want to start with a clean slate, free of apps and data.

How to Clean Reset an iPhone?

Follow these steps to ensure a smooth and effective reset of your iPhone.

1. Back Up Your Data

Before performing a factory reset, it’s essential to back up your iPhone data. This step ensures that you can restore all your important information later. You can back up your iPhone using iCloud directly on your device or use iTunes if you are using a Windows PC.

Check out our previous article for a more detailed guide on how to back up your iPhone data.

Using iCloud

1. Connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network.
2. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
3. Tap iCloud Backup.
4. Ensure that iCloud Backup is turned on.
5. Tap Back Up Now and wait for the backup process to complete.

Using iTunes

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer.
2. Open iTunes and select your device.
3. Click Summary in the left sidebar.
4. Click Back Up Now and wait for the backup process to complete.

2. Sign Out of iCloud and Apple Services

Signing out of iCloud and Apple services ensures that all Apple-related apps and features that use iCloud, such as Find My, are disabled.

1. Go to Settings > [your name].
2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out.



3. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off.
4. Select the data you want to keep a copy of on your device and tap Sign Out.

3. Erase All Content and Settings

Now that your data is backed up and you’ve signed out of Apple services, you can proceed to erase all content and settings.

1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.



3. If prompted, enter your passcode or Apple ID password.
4. Confirm that you want to erase your iPhone by tapping Erase iPhone.

4. Completion

Once the reset process is complete, your iPhone will restart and display the Hello screen. If your goal was to wipe all existing data and leave the phone as a new device, you are done here.

If you plan to set up your phone anew or restore it from a backup, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your iPhone.

The setup process will guide you through selecting your language, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and other initial configurations.

Additional Tips:

Here are some extra steps you might want to consider if your purpose is to completely wipe your phone for selling or handing it off to another person:

Ensure your iPhone is Fully Charged

Before starting the reset process, make sure your iPhone has sufficient battery life or is connected to a power source.

Update to the Latest iOS Version

If possible, update your iPhone to the latest iOS version before performing a clean reset. This ensures that you have the latest features and security updates.

Remove Your SIM Card

If you’re selling or giving away your iPhone, remember to remove your SIM card to protect your personal information.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, performing a clean reset on your iPhone involves a few straightforward steps: back up your data, sign out of iCloud and Apple services, erase all content and settings, and complete the setup process if necessary. This method ensures that your device is returned to its original state, free of personal data and settings.

If you’re resetting your iPhone for selling or giving it away, remember to double-check that iCloud is turned off. Failing to do so can prevent the new owner from using the device, as features like “Find My iPhone” will remain active and linked to your account.

The post How to Clean Reset an iPhone appeared first on Hongkiat.

However, the real magic of FilamentPHP lies in the growing ecosystem of plugins that extend its functionality, allowing you to tailor the platform to your specific needs.

In this article, we’ll explore 10 essential FilamentPHP plugins that can supercharge your admin panel, adding everything from advanced form fields to seamless integrations with third-party services or libraries. Whether you’re a seasoned FilamentPHP developer or just getting started, these plugins will help you unlock the full potential of your Laravel projects.

Here’s a quick view of what we’re featuring in the article.

Without further ado, let’s jump in to see the full list.

Tiptap Editor

The Tiptap Editor is a rich text editor plugin designed specifically for Filament Forms. It integrates the Tiptap JavaScript library seamlessly into Filament Admin and Forms.

This makes it easier to add an improved text editing experience for your application.

Get Tiptap Editor

Environment Indicator

Environment Indicator is a plugin for Filament that helps you easily distinguish between different environments by adding a colored border to the top of the admin panel and a badge next to the search bar.

This way, you can see whether you’re working in development, staging, or production. It also offers customization options to allow you to change it to suit your application.

Get Environment Indicator

Spatie Media Library

Spatie Media Library is an official Filament plugin that leverages the popular Laravel Media Library package from Spatie. It allows you to add media file management within your Filament admin panel.

This makes it easier for you to handle file uploads, associations, and storage in your applications.

Get Spatie Media Library

ActivityLog

ActivityLog is a Filament plugin built on top of Spatie’s Laravel Activity Log package. It provides database relations and a timeline feature.

Additionally, it allows you to customize both the logs and how they’re displayed, giving you a clear view of your application’s logs. This plugin makes it easy to track and understand what your users are doing within your application.

Get ActivityLog

Table Repeater

Table Repeater is a Filament plugin that offers a modified version of the standard Filament Forms Repeater. Instead of displaying items in a typical list format, it presents them in a table layout.

This makes it easier for you to view and manage multiple entries in a more structured manner.

Get Table Repeater

Breezy

Breezy is a Two-Factor Authentication plugin for Filament. It provides a customizable and extendable user profile page.

Users can update their passwords, manage avatars, and handle Sanctum tokens. A perfect plugin to improve the security of your applications and provide users with easy-to-manage, self-service options.

Get Breezy

Spotlight

Spotlight is a handy Filament plugin that allows you to quickly navigate your Filament Resources with Spotlight functionality. It supports navigation through pages, resources, and links directly from the user menu.

This makes it easier for your users to find what they need in the application admin.

Get Spotlight

Fabricator

Fabricator is a block-based page builder skeleton for Filament. It handles the database and frontend routing out-of-the-box, allowing you to focus on creating layouts and page blocks.

With Fabricator, you can build custom pages efficiently, making it easier for your users to create and manage content in your Filament applications.

Get Fabricator

Spatie Laravel Backup

Spatie Laravel Backup is a Filament plugin that adds a page to your Filament admin panel, allowing you to easily create backups of your application using the spatie/laravel-backup package.

It simplifies the process of managing and securing your application’s data by providing a user-friendly interface for handling backups directly within the application.

Get Spatie Laravel Backup

Impersonate

Impersonate is a Filament plugin that provides a simple way to authenticate and act as any user within your application.

It gives you the ability to troubleshoot, manage, and understand user experiences from their perspective directly within the Filament admin panel.

Get Impersonate

Wrapping up

In this article, we’ve explored a range of FilamentPHP plugins, each adding unique functionality to your Filament setup.

From enhancing text editing with Tiptap Editor to managing user authentication with Breezy, these plugins can help you get the most out of FilamentPHP, whether you’re working on a simple project or managing a complex backend system.

The post 10 FilamentPHP Plugins to Supercharge Your Laravel Admin Panel appeared first on Hongkiat.

No worries! We’ve compiled a list of impressive web-based tools to help you design dynamic and visually appealing presentations.

Zoho Show

Zoho Show is an excellent choice for creating dynamic slides and collaborating with team members. It allows you to import a variety of presentation formats for editing. The platform offers features like adding animations, transitions, and embedding videos or social media posts.

Once you’re finished, you can broadcast your presentation from anywhere or even embed it on your website.

Cost of Zoho Show

Zoho Show offers a Free Plan for individuals at S$0. For teams and organizations, the Professional Plan starts at S$3 per month.

Visit Zoho Show

Google Slides

Google Slides is another versatile tool that enables you to create, modify, and share presentations. It offers a variety of templates, font options, and multimedia embedding capabilities. However, when it comes to creating highly interactive presentations, it may not be as feature-rich as other options like Prezi and Visme.

Also, check out our posts on:

• Websites to Download Free Google Slides Themes
• 15 Google Slides Tips

Cost of Google Slides

Google Slides is available for free. For business use, the Business Starter plan is $6 USD per month, the Business Standard plan is $12 USD per month, and the Business Plus plan is $18 USD per month.

Visit Google Slides

Prezi

Prezi elevates customization with its extensive template library, allowing users to create interactive and engaging presentations. The platform also enables you to track viewer engagement through detailed analytics and control your presentations remotely using your mobile device.

With Prezi, you can create unlimited presentations while maintaining full privacy control. The platform supports video uploads, presenter notes, and offers specialized online training to enhance your presentation skills.

Check out our tips and tricks to become a Prezi pro.

Cost of Prezi

Prezi offers a free 14-day trial. The Standard plan for personal use is $7 per month, the Plus plan is $19 per month, and the Premium plan is $29 per month.

Visit Prezi

Visme

Visme empowers you to craft compelling visual stories through beautiful presentations and infographics. It transforms ordinary data into captivating narratives that draw in your audience.

With access to over 100 fonts and millions of free images, Visme allows you to enrich your presentations with diverse multimedia. You can also upload audio and video files, adding even more layers of engagement to your content.

Visme provides full control over privacy settings and offers unlimited storage. Presentations can be viewed directly in your browser or downloaded for offline use.

Cost of Visme

Visme offers a Basic plan for free. The Starter plan is US$12.25 per month, and the Pro plan is US$24.75 per month.

Visit Visme

Emaze

Emaze is a user-friendly software that transforms traditional PowerPoint presentations into interactive, storytelling projects. The platform offers a wide array of presentation templates and video backgrounds, allowing you to create visually stunning content.

In addition to templates, Emaze lets you integrate various media forms, including GIFs and live social feeds. Special effects like pan, zoom, and transitions can be applied to make your presentations more interactive and engaging.

As a cloud-based tool, Emaze provides the flexibility to access your projects from any location. It supports 2D and 3D slides, and you can view or edit your presentations on any device. The platform also allows you to share presentations in multiple languages with an automated translation feature, and you can download them as PDFs for offline use.

Cost of Emaze

Emaze offers a Basic Plan for free. The Pro Plan starts at $9 per month.

Visit Emaze

Piktochart

Piktochart enables you to design infographics that can be displayed as slideshows. The platform offers over 600 professionally designed templates, along with a variety of fonts and color styles to make your projects stand out.

With Piktochart, you can easily incorporate charts and maps to enhance your presentations. Additionally, the platform provides access to industry-specific icons. You can either use stock photos from Piktochart’s library or upload your own images and videos for a personalized touch.

Data can be imported from Google Sheets and SurveyMonkey forms, and your final project can be shared online or downloaded and printed in multiple formats, including PDF, JPG, and PNG.

Cost of Piktochart

Piktochart offers a free plan. The Pro Plan is $14 per member per month, and the Business Plan is $24 per member per month.

Visit Piktochart

Genial.ly

Genial.ly is a unique platform that allows you to add interactive effects and animations to your presentations. The tool integrates content from external services like Spotify, YouTube, Google Maps, and Amazon, making your slides more engaging.

Genial.ly offers a variety of premium templates, enabling you to create an unlimited number of presentations. You can upload your own media files or use in-built resources to enhance your content.

All projects can be shared via email or social media platforms, including WhatsApp. Additionally, presentations can be embedded directly onto your website. For those interested in tracking performance, analytics can be enabled for each presentation.

Cost of Genial.ly

Genially offers a free plan. The Pro Plan is USD 7.49 per month, and the Master Plan is USD 20.82 per month.

Visit Genial.ly

Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck is a straightforward tool for creating presentations, though its user interface may feel a bit dated. It offers a variety of fonts, sleek layouts, and image filters that contribute to a professional appearance. The platform provides access to over 40 million stock images, making it versatile for almost any project.

Your slides are stored online, allowing access from any device. Haiku Deck includes features such as PDF downloads and PPTX exports.

For educational settings, Haiku Deck offers a ‘Haiku Deck Classroom’ subscription, which includes all standard features and allows a teacher and multiple students to use the tool in a bundled package.

Cost of Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck offers a basic version for free. The Pro plan is $9.99 per month or $119.88 billed annually. The Premium plan is $29.99 per month or $359.88 billed annually.

Visit Haiku Deck

PowerPoint Online

PowerPoint Online provides all the essential features, including image handling, transitions, animations, and a variety of templates. You can download your presentations as PDFs for offline access or share them online. While user-friendly and familiar, PowerPoint Online lacks some of the advanced features found in other tools like Prezi or Emaze.

Cost of PowerPoint Online

PowerPoint Online is available for free.

Visit PowerPoint Online

Canva

Canva offers a drag-and-drop interface with numerous impressive layouts for various subjects. You can select images, fonts, and colors that align with your brand. Canva provides access to over a million high-quality stock photos and also allows for custom image uploads.

With Canva, you can choose from over 120 different fonts to give your presentation a unique style. The platform enables easy editing and updating of slides, application of striking filters and text options, and sharing directly on social media. Canva also features a ‘Presentation Mode’ that allows you to present directly from your account.

Cost of Canva

Canva offers a free plan. For more premium content, Canva Pro is available at USD 120 per year.

Visit Canva

Flowvella

Flowvella is an adaptable tool designed to make your presentations more interactive and engaging. You can seamlessly integrate various types of media, including images, videos, text, hyperlinks, galleries, and even PDFs.

What sets Flowvella apart is its unique Kiosk Mode, which allows you to securely display your presentation on a digital screen, protected by a PIN code. Additionally, you can share your content through a personalized URL, making it accessible both online and offline.

Cost of Flowvella

Flowvella offers a free plan. The Premium plan is $10 per month, and the Pro plan is $20 per month.

Visit Flowvella

Slides

Slides is an all-in-one platform that ensures compatibility across any device. The tool offers various features, including the ability to add multimedia elements from platforms like YouTube, Google Maps, and Vimeo. It also supports SVG images for enhanced visual quality.

Choose from a wide range of layouts and templates, utilize Google fonts, and easily embed or share your presentations on blogs or websites.

Cost of Slides

Slides offers a free basic plan. The Lite plan is $5 per month, the Pro plan is $10 per month, and the Team plan is $20 per month.

Visit Slides

Slidebean

Slidebean is a powerful tool that enables you to create eye-catching presentations in just minutes. The platform offers a wide variety of professional templates, images, and even GIFs that you can customize to align with your brand.

Once your presentation is ready, you have the option to present it remotely and monitor viewer engagement through its activity metrics.

Cost of Slidebean

Slidebean offers an All-Access plan for $12 per month. The Accelerate plan, which includes additional support for pitching to investors, is $99 per month.

Visit Slidebean

Pitch Deck

Pitch Deck simplifies the presentation design process with its easy-to-use, drag-and-drop templates. You can include various elements such as graphs, images, videos, and even interactive polls.

After completing your presentation, you can effortlessly share it and view it on any device. Additionally, you’ll have access to real-time analytics to assess the impact of your presentation.

Cost of Pitch Deck

Pitch Deck provides two pricing options: the Single Desk plan for $99 per year and the Premium plan for $199 per year. Both options come with a 14-day trial.

Visit Pitch Deck

The post 15 Online Presentation Tools to Win Over Your Audience appeared first on Hongkiat.

Your iPhone could get dropped, accidentally submerged in water, or become completely unresponsive. Our iPhones hold vast amounts of personal and professional data, making iPhone data loss a potentially devastating issue.

Thankfully, preventing data loss is simple; all you need to do is perform regular iPhone backups. In this guide, we’ll show you the best ways to back up iPhone data, ensuring your information is always safe and retrievable.

Note: If your primary concern is backing up iPhone photos and videos, check out our post on how to back up iPhone photos to your Mac.

Why Backup Your iPhone?

Key reasons to back up your iPhone regularly include:

• Recover data if your device is lost or damaged.
• Ensure a smooth transition to a new device.
• Restore data after resolving major issues.
• Protect against data corruption or malware attacks.

Methods to Backup iPhone Data

Backup with iCloud

1. Ensure your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network.
2. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on your name at the top of the settings menu.



3. Select iCloud from the list of services.



4. Scroll down and select iCloud Backup.



5. Turn on the iCloud Backup toggle, or tap “Back Up Now” to start the backup immediately.

Backup with iTunes/Finder

1. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer.
2. Open iTunes if you’re using a PC or Finder on macOS Catalina and later.
3. In iTunes, click on the iPhone icon or select your iPhone from the sidebar in Finder.



iPhone icon in iTunes



iPhone in Finder, under Location
4. Under the “Backups” section, select “This Computer” to store the backup locally.
5. For added security, check “Encrypt iPhone Backup” and set a password (optional).
6. Start the backup process by clicking “Back Up Now.“



Back up iPhone via iTunes



Back up iPhone via Finder

Backup with Third-Party Software

First, select a reliable third-party backup software, such as Dr.Fone or iMazing. These apps are well-regarded for their efficiency and ease of use. Check out our previous review on Dr.Fone.

Next, download, install, and launch the chosen software on your computer. Ensure you follow the installation prompts to complete the setup process correctly.

After installing the software, use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer. The software should automatically detect your device and prompt you with the next steps.

Follow the on-screen instructions provided by the software to back up your data. The process may vary slightly depending on the software you choose, but generally, it will guide you through the necessary steps to ensure your iPhone data is safely backed up.

Final Thoughts

Whichever method you choose – whether using Finder on macOS, iTunes on Windows, or backing up directly to iCloud from your phone – the key is to make sure you back up your iPhone regularly.

The post How to Properly Backup Your iPhone Data appeared first on Hongkiat.

It’s a nightmare scenario, but one that can be easily avoided with the right backup solution in place. For anyone managing a WordPress site, whether it’s a personal blog or a full-scale business, having a reliable backup is crucial.

This post highlights some of the best WordPress backup plugins available, focusing on their key features and how they can protect your site from unexpected data loss, security threats, and other digital disasters.

Let’s take a closer look at how these tools can help keep your WordPress site secure and your data intact.

BlogVault

BlogVault is a robust WordPress backup plugin that’s ideal for business-critical websites. It offers features like incremental backups, secure cloud storage, and one-click restore, making sure your site can bounce back quickly from any issues. With a strong track record of successful backups, BlogVault provides the reliability you need.

What sets BlogVault apart is its strong data security, with encrypted backups stored across multiple data centers. The plugin also makes it easy to create staging sites, so you can test changes before making them live. Its migration tool is another standout feature, allowing you to move your site to a new host with minimal effort.

Who should use this?

BlogVault is perfect for businesses that need reliable backups, especially if downtime is not an option. It’s also great for developers who need staging environments or anyone who wants comprehensive backup and security for their WordPress site.

Visit BlogVault

Solid Backups

Previously known as BackupBuddy, Solid Backups has been around since 2010, helping WordPress users keep their sites safe. This plugin allows you to back up your entire site, including your database and files, with just a few clicks. You can choose to back up everything or only specific files and folders, and send these backups to secure locations like Amazon S3, Dropbox, or even your email.

Solid Backups also makes it easy to restore your site, whether you need to recover a single file or roll back your database. You can set up automatic backups on a schedule that works for you, so you don’t have to worry about losing any data.

Who should use this?

Solid Backups is ideal for anyone who wants a dependable and user-friendly backup solution. It’s particularly useful if you manage multiple sites or prefer to set up backups once and let the plugin handle the rest.

Visit Solid Backups

UpdraftPlus

UpdraftPlus is a widely trusted WordPress backup plugin, known for its reliability and ease of use. Whether you’re looking to create a complete backup of your website or just want to save specific parts like plugins, themes, or databases, UpdraftPlus makes it simple. You can choose to store your backups locally on your computer or in the cloud, with support for services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Amazon S3.

This plugin offers both scheduled and on-demand backups, giving you the flexibility to secure your site whenever needed. While the free version covers essential features, upgrading to the premium version unlocks advanced options like incremental backups and seamless site migration. The straightforward setup ensures that even beginners can quickly get started with protecting their WordPress site.

Who should use this?

UpdraftPlus is a good choice for anyone looking for a reliable backup plugin that’s easy to use. Whether you’re new to WordPress or have been using it for years, this plugin can help keep your site’s data safe, especially if you want to store backups in more than one place.

Visit UpdraftPlus

Jetpack VaultPress Backups

Following UpdraftPlus, Jetpack VaultPress Backups offers a robust solution for WordPress and WooCommerce sites, prioritizing data safety and easy recovery. Unlike many backup options, it provides real-time backups stored securely in the Jetpack Cloud, ensuring that every change on your site is instantly protected.

If your site encounters an issue, you can restore it swiftly with just a few clicks, even if your hosting service is experiencing downtime. With automated backups and a 30-day archive, Jetpack VaultPress Backups delivers peace of mind, making it a dependable choice for those who require continuous site protection.

Who should use this?

This plugin is particularly well-suited for users who prioritize security and need a hands-off, automated backup solution, especially those managing online stores or frequently updated sites.

Visit Jetpack VaultPress Backups

BackWPup

As you explore backup solutions, BackWPup stands out as a straightforward yet powerful plugin for WordPress users. It simplifies the backup process, allowing you to easily secure your entire site, with storage options ranging from Dropbox to S3 and FTP. Additionally, BackWPup includes restore capabilities in its free version, making it a comprehensive choice for safeguarding your site.

Designed with ease of use in mind, BackWPup caters to both beginners and experienced users alike. You can schedule automatic backups and choose your preferred storage locations, ensuring that your site’s data remains safe and accessible whenever you need it.

Who should use this?

BackWPup is great for anyone looking for a straightforward backup and restore plugin, whether you’re running a small blog or managing several sites.

Visit BackWPup

The post 5 Best WordPress Backup Plugins for Data Security (2024) appeared first on Hongkiat.

The CSS @property is a powerful feature that brings more control and flexibility to custom properties, also known as CSS variables.

It is introduced as part of the CSS Houdini project, which is designed to provide developers with deeper access to the browser’s rendering engine. The @property rule allows you to define custom properties with specific types, default values, and even the capability to animate CSS properties.

In this article, we’ll explore what the @property rule is, why it’s useful, and how you can leverage it in your web projects.

What is @property for?

CSS custom properties, also known as CSS variables, have made styles more reusable. It allows you to define a value once and use it throughout your stylesheet.

However, one limitation has been the inability to specify a property’s type or set default values directly in CSS. This means any value can be assigned to a custom property, which can lead to unexpected results and make it harder to maintain your styles in some situations.

This is where the @property rule comes in. It allows you to set a default value, provides a fallback value that will be used if the custom property is not explicitly set, enables custom property animation, and defines a type for a custom property.

This ensures that a variable can only accept a specific data type, such as a length, color, or number.

The type of the property is defined with the syntax property. It accepts a string value defining the CSS type value, as follows:

Example

Let’s say we have a button component. We’d like to define some defaults on this component. Traditionally, we could use custom properties to define the background color and border radius of the button component, like so:

.button {
  background-color: #fff;
  border-radius: 8px;
}

Or, use CSS variables to define the values once and reuse them throughout the stylesheet:

:root {
  --button-bg: #fff;
  --button-rounded: 8px;
}

But, what if we want to ensure that the background color is always a valid color value, and the border radius is always a valid length value?

We can use the @property rule to define the type of these custom properties and set default values.

To do so, we could create a couple of custom properties defined with the following options in the @property rule:

@property --button-bg {
  syntax: '<color>';
  initial-value: #0D74CE;
  inherits: false;
}
@property --button-rounded {
  syntax: '<length>';
  initial-value: 8px;
  inherits: false;
}

In this example, we have two custom properties defining the background color and border radius of the button component.

We use the syntax property to define the type of the custom property, while the initial-value property sets the default value.

We also use the inherits property to specify whether the custom property inherits its value from its parent element, in which case we set them all to false to avoid inheritance.

Once they are set, we can now use these custom properties in our styles, like so:

.button {
  background-color: var(--button-bg);
  border-radius: var(--button-rounded);
}

See the Pen CSS @property by HONGKIAT (@hkdc) on CodePen.

Wrapping up

The CSS @property rule brings a significant step forward to CSS custom properties, or CSS variables. All major and latest browsers already support the CSS @property rule.

To sum up, the CSS @property rule is a powerful feature and a great addition to the CSS language that can help you write more maintainable and type-safe stylesheets. If you haven’t already, give it a try in your next project!

The post Getting Started with CSS @property Rule appeared first on Hongkiat.

Let’s explore and see what’s new this month.

e18e

e18e is a community-driven initiative focused on improving the JavaScript ecosystem. It aims to bring together people who are passionate about JavaScript by sharing knowledge, contributing ideas, and collaborating.

It has three key areas of focus: cleaning up and modernizing dependency trees, speeding up core packages and frameworks, and offering modern, lighter alternatives to core packages.

FreeFaces Gallery

FreeFaces Gallery is a curated collection of fonts available under various free licenses. It provides a range of typefaces, including Cursive, Display, Monospace, Sans Serif, Serif, and Slab.

It’s a valuable resource if you’re searching for high quality free fonts.

AppMotion Design

AppMotion is a mobile motion design gallery that showcases the best, hand-picked examples of app motion design. The gallery allows you to explore various design elements, such as checkboxes, pinch, spin, morph, and more.

A useful resource if you’re looking for inspiration in mobile app animations.

LogoIpsum

LogoIpsum is a tool that provides a collection of abstract, flexible SVG logos in various compositions—vertical, horizontal, small, and large. These logos are suitable for any graphic, UI, or layout style.

It’s a perfect resource for designers needing temporary placeholder logos before the final design is ready.

ShaderGradient

ShaderGradient is a tool for creating dynamic, moving gradients that can be customized for various designs. It’s available as a React component and can be used in design tools like Figma and Framer.

A handy tool to bring your designs to life with vibrant gradients.

Shots

Shots.so is a free online tool that helps you create beautiful mockups quickly. Simply upload your screenshot, select from scenes with the latest Apple devices, and customize the details.

It also offers browser, laptop, and mobile scenes to highlight your work.

SneakPeekit

SneakPeekit provides printable wireframe templates for designers to sketch ideas and capture insights on paper. It offers various sizes for both desktop and mobile.

If you prefer planning apps or websites with pencil and paper, these templates help speed up the creative process.

SVGMagic

SVGMagic is an open-source package for Next.js projects that simplifies the use of SVGs. It supports both SVG code and .svg files with seamless integration with TypeScript and MDX.

It makes it easy to deliver your creativity in SVG while also improving your development workflow.

Giscus

Giscus is an open-source comment system for websites that uses GitHub Discussions for storing comments and reactions. It offers privacy with no tracking or ads and will always be free.

It also supports custom themes, multiple languages, and automatic updates from GitHub. It is a flexible and secure choice if you’re looking to add a comment system to your site.

Orbit

Orbit is a GitHub Action specifically designed for a Laravel development environment, enabling simple and safe zero-downtime deployments. It offers an easy way to configure your deployment process through a special file, Orbit.toml.

This allows you to deploy your Laravel sites to your server quickly while ensuring that your site remains live throughout the process.

Glaze

Glaze is a utility-based animation library for the web, built on top of GSAP. It provides a powerful way to create complex animations with minimal code using a utility-first approach like TailwindCSS.

It supports responsive design and allows you to easily define animations for different screen sizes. A handy tool for adding dynamic animations to your web projects.

Motion Number

MotionNumber is a React.js component built on top of Framer Motion, designed to smoothly transition, format, and localize numbers.

It’s a handy library to create dynamic and visually appealing number animations in your projects.

Zen Browser

Zen is a new browser built on Firefox’s engine. It aims to provide a fast, secure, and privacy-focused web browsing experience.

This browser is designed to ensure your data remains private and secure. A good choice if you’re looking for an alternative browser that respects your privacy.

Ky

Ky is a lightweight library for modern environments. It aims at improving the native fetch API with a simpler interface, method shortcuts, error handling, retries, and JSON support.

It also offers customization through instances and hooks and includes TypeScript support for better type safety. It’s a great alternative for handling HTTP requests in your projects.

TailwindCSS Course

This free YouTube course by Chris Sev will help you learn TailwindCSS. Alongside learning Tailwind, it also covers essential CSS concepts.

This course is a comprehensive guide if you’re looking to both master TailwindCSS and understand the fundamentals of design with CSS.

Pines

Pines is a UI library designed for Alpine and Tailwind projects. It provides a collection of ready-to-use animations, and components like sliders, tooltips, accordions, modals, and more.

It also allows you to easily copy and paste these elements into your projects. A convenient resource if you want to quickly add interactive elements to your site.

PHP CSS Parser

PHP-CSS-Parser is a PHP library that parses CSS files, allowing you to extract them into a data structure. It allows you to manipulate the CSS and then output it as optimized CSS.

A very useful library if you need to work with and modify CSS programmatically in your PHP application.

Noodle

Noodle is an open-source app created to help students stay organized with their studies. It is designed to provide a single platform that meets all the needs of students, much like GitHub does for developers.

At the time of this writing, Noodle is currently in development, but you can follow the project on GitHub to stay updated on its progress.

Omi

Omi is a web components framework. It provides a wide range of features with over 100 templates, form components, and icon sets, with support for both object-oriented and data-oriented programming.

It is written in JSX, integrates seamlessly with modern tools like TailwindCSS, and provides everything you need for building web applications, including routing and styling through Constructable Stylesheets.

The post Fresh Resources for Web Designers and Developers (August 2024) appeared first on Hongkiat.

Whether you want to connect your site with platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, or need an all-in-one solution for social sharing and following, choosing the best WordPress social media plugins can make a world of difference. In this post, we’re looking into the top plugins that can help you maximize social interaction on your WordPress site, making it more shareable, more engaging, and ultimately more successful.

Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons

For those who want more flexibility in adding social share icons to their website, this plugin is an excellent choice. It supports a wide range of social media platforms and gives you control over the placement of icons—before or after posts, in sidebars, or even as floating buttons. You can choose from 16 different design styles and add animations or pop-ups to make the buttons more engaging. The plugin also includes share counts and allows you to reorder the icons to fit your preferences.

The free version comes with all the essential features, while the premium version unlocks additional options like themed designs, mobile-optimized displays, and more advanced pop-up and lightbox features. You can also integrate email subscriptions, allowing visitors to easily subscribe to your site. Whether you stick with the free version or upgrade, this plugin provides a robust solution for social sharing.

Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed

If you want to showcase Instagram photos on your WordPress site, this plugin makes it simple. It allows you to display posts from one or multiple Instagram accounts in a fully responsive feed that looks great on any device. Customization is easy, with options to control the size, layout, and style of your feed. You can also add multiple feeds across different pages of your site, each with its own unique look and feel.

Beyond displaying photos, this plugin helps boost social engagement by encouraging visitors to follow your Instagram account directly from your website. It’s also a time-saver, automatically updating your site with new Instagram posts. The Pro version offers even more features, like hashtag feeds, carousels, and shoppable posts, making it a powerful tool for integrating Instagram into your WordPress site.

AddToAny Share Buttons

Enhancing your site’s social sharing capabilities is easy with AddToAny. This plugin offers versatile sharing options, allowing visitors to share your content across a wide range of platforms, including Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp. You can choose between standard and floating share buttons, customize their appearance, and even add follow buttons to connect with your social media profiles. The plugin also supports fast and official share counts to help you track engagement.

What’s great about AddToAny is its flexibility. It integrates seamlessly with Google Analytics for tracking shares and supports URL shorteners like Bitly. The plugin is optimized for performance, loading asynchronously to keep your site fast, and it works well with a variety of themes, WooCommerce, and multilingual sites. Plus, it’s mobile-ready, with sharp SVG icons and responsive design, making it a reliable choice for boosting social media interaction on your site.

Nextend Social Login and Register

Simplify the registration and login process on your WordPress site with Nextend Social Login and Register. This plugin lets your visitors log in using their social media profiles from platforms like Facebook, Google, and X (formerly Twitter). It eliminates the need for lengthy registration forms, making it easier for users to access your site without having to remember multiple usernames and passwords. The plugin integrates smoothly with your existing WordPress login and registration forms, and users can connect multiple social accounts to a single profile.

Nextend Social Login offers plenty of features in its free version, including one-click registration, customizable redirect URLs, and the ability to use social media profile pictures as avatars. If you need more, the Pro addon expands compatibility with plugins like WooCommerce and BuddyPress and supports additional providers such as LinkedIn and Amazon. With various options for customizing user roles and login layouts, this plugin is a versatile solution for enhancing user experience on your site.

Simple Share Buttons Adder

Sometimes, simplicity is key, and the Simple Share Buttons Adder plugin delivers just that. It allows you to quickly add social share buttons to your WordPress posts and pages without any hassle. The plugin offers a “Modern Share Buttons” tab, which lets you customize your buttons using CSS-based settings. This gives you control over the colors and hover effects of your buttons, allowing them to blend seamlessly with your site’s design. You can also upload and use your own custom images as share buttons for a personalized touch.

The user-friendly interface makes it easy to manage and position your share buttons exactly where you want them. Whether you’re looking to increase social engagement or just need a straightforward way to add share buttons, Simple Share Buttons Adder provides a flexible and reliable solution. For those who want more, the plugin’s dedicated website offers additional resources and customization options.

Social Chat

Engage your visitors directly through WhatsApp with the Social Chat plugin. This handy tool allows customers to start a conversation with you via WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business by simply clicking a button on your site. You can pre-set the first message to streamline communication, making it easier for visitors to reach out. With WhatsApp being one of the most popular messaging apps globally, this plugin can help turn casual visitors into leads by offering them a familiar and direct way to contact you.

The plugin is highly customizable, allowing you to choose different button layouts, colors, and even add a contact information box with a personalized message. For WooCommerce users, there’s a feature to add a WhatsApp button on product pages, making customer support even more accessible. The premium version expands on these features with multiple WhatsApp numbers, custom chatboxes, and integration with Google Analytics, offering a comprehensive solution for customer communication via WhatsApp.

Simple Social Media Share Buttons

When you need a flexible and easy-to-use social sharing solution, the Simple Social Media Share Buttons plugin has you covered. It allows you to place social media buttons in various locations on your site, such as inline with your content, in sidebars, on images, or even as popups and fly-ins. With support for popular platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, this plugin ensures your content is easily shareable across the most important social networks.

The plugin is fully customizable, offering options to hide buttons on mobile devices, display share counts, and apply animations to grab your visitors’ attention. It’s also compatible with the NextGEN Gallery plugin, allowing you to add share buttons to your photo galleries. The premium version adds even more features, including advanced positioning, color customization, and additional display options like popups and fly-ins, making it a versatile choice for boosting social engagement on your site.

Social Media Feather

If you’re looking for a lightweight and efficient way to add social sharing and following buttons to your WordPress site, Social Media Feather is a great option. This plugin focuses on simplicity and performance, allowing you to quickly integrate social media buttons into your posts, pages, and custom post types without slowing down your site. It supports all major platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and more, helping you extend the reach of your content across various social networks.

One of the standout features of Social Media Feather is its full support for Retina and high-resolution displays, ensuring that your buttons look sharp and professional on any device. The plugin also offers widgets and shortcodes for greater customization, allowing you to control the appearance and placement of your social buttons. For those who want to keep things simple while still providing essential social sharing features, Social Media Feather is a reliable and effective solution.

The post Best Social Media Plugins for WordPress (2024) appeared first on Hongkiat.

In this comprehensive guide, we will share valuable tips, tricks, and best practices to help you build an outstanding eCommerce app.

Get ready to elevate your eCommerce app to new heights with our ultimate guide.

Why Building an eCommerce App Is Important?

In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is crucial for any eCommerce business. While a well-designed website is essential, a dedicated eCommerce app can significantly expand your reach, allowing access to a global customer base beyond local boundaries.

Building an eCommerce app offers numerous advantages that can greatly boost your sales, enhance customer engagement, and drive overall business growth.

Here are some of the core benefits of having an eCommerce app:

Increasing Preference for Mobile Shopping

With over 70% of online shopping now being conducted on mobile devices, the preference for mobile shopping continues to grow. This trend highlights the importance of optimizing eCommerce apps for mobile users to capture and retain this significant portion of the market.

Seamless and Personalized Shopping Experience

Customers today expect a seamless experience when browsing, searching, and purchasing products on the go. A dedicated eCommerce app provides a tailored user experience, allowing for easier navigation and a more personalized shopping journey, which can lead to higher customer satisfaction and retention.

Enhanced Features and Functionalities

Modern eCommerce apps are equipped with enhanced features such as push notifications, in-app messaging, and location-based services. These functionalities help engage customers in real-time, offer timely updates, and create a more interactive and dynamic shopping experience.

Improved Customer Engagement and Connectivity

Staying connected with customers is key to driving repeat business. Through an eCommerce app, businesses can promote new products and offers directly to their users, while also providing personalized recommendations based on their shopping habits. This increased connectivity helps build stronger relationships with customers.

Increased Engagement and Personalization

By leveraging personalized content and targeted marketing strategies, eCommerce apps can expand their customer base and achieve higher conversion rates. This level of personalization not only improves customer engagement but also contributes to the overall success and growth of the eCommerce business.

To streamline the app development process and deliver a high-quality user experience, consider using a Bootstrap Admin Template. These templates offer pre-designed components and a responsive layout, making it easier to build a professional and attractive eCommerce app that meets modern standards and customer expectations.

Understanding the Key Features of a Successful eCommerce App

Building a successful eCommerce app requires a deep understanding of the key features and functionalities that customers expect. These features not only enhance the user experience but also contribute to the overall success and profitability of your app.

User-Friendly and Intuitive Interface

An eCommerce app must have easy navigation to allow users to move effortlessly through the app. Quick product search functionality is essential for helping users find what they’re looking for without frustration.

A seamless purchase process, combined with a clean and visually appealing design, enhances the overall user experience. Additionally, a well-organized product catalog and a straightforward checkout process contribute to a user-friendly interface, ensuring that customers can complete their purchases smoothly and efficiently.

A Robust Product Search and Filtering System

A robust product search and filtering system is critical for improving the shopping experience. This feature allows for easy product searches, enabling users to filter items by categories, brands, or specific attributes. Sorting results based on individual preferences further enhances usability, allowing for quick product discovery.

Moreover, a well-designed search and filtering system can reduce cart abandonment by helping users find exactly what they want with minimal effort.

Secure and Convenient Payment Options

Providing a variety of payment methods, including credit/debit cards, mobile wallets, and digital payment platforms, is essential for accommodating different customer preferences. Implementing robust security measures ensures the protection of customer data, which is crucial for maintaining trust.

Overall, offering secure and convenient payment options contributes to a safe and trustworthy shopping experience, encouraging customers to complete their purchases with confidence.

You can explore eCommerce examples for inspiration.

Researching Your Target Audience and Competition

Before you start building your eCommerce app, it’s crucial to research your target audience and understand their needs, preferences, and pain points. This research will help you design an app that resonates with your customers and gives you a competitive edge in the market.

How to Do It?

• Analyze Customer Base: Gather demographic (age, gender, location, income) and psychographic (interests, values, shopping behavior) data to create user personas.
• Study Competition: Analyze key players’ eCommerce apps to identify successful features, shortcomings, and opportunities for differentiation.
• Gather User Feedback: Conduct surveys, focus groups, or interviews to understand customer pain points, preferences, and expectations. Use these insights to inform app design and features.

Choosing the Right Platform for Your eCommerce App

Choosing the right platform for your eCommerce app is crucial for its success, influencing the development process, features, and user experience.

There are many eCommerce platforms out there that you can consider, such as:

• Squarespace: Best Overall E-Commerce Platform
• Square Online: Best for Omnichannel Selling
• Ecwid: Best for Existing Sites
• Shopify: Best for Dropshipping
• Wix: Best Drag-and-Drop Editor
• Weebly: Best Value
• BigCommerce: Best for Boosting Sales
• WooCommerce: Best for Versatility
• Big Cartel: Best for Creatives

Parameters to Consider When Choosing the Best Platform for Your App:

• Compatibility: Integrates with existing systems (CMS, inventory, payment gateways).
• Scalability: Handles growth and allows adding features easily.
• User-Friendliness: Offers an intuitive interface and robust development tools.
• Ease of Use: User-friendly interface and intuitive design.
• Customization: Flexibility in design and functionality.
• Payment Options: Variety and security of payment gateways.
• SEO Features: Tools to optimize for search engines.
• Mobile Optimization: Responsive design for mobile devices.
• Customer Support: Availability and quality of support services.
• Cost: Pricing structure and overall affordability.
• Security: Robust security measures and compliance standards.

Designing a User-Friendly and Visually Appealing App Interface

The design of your eCommerce app is a critical factor in its success. A well-designed, user-friendly interface can not only enhance the overall customer experience but also increase conversion rates and customer loyalty.

As shown in the image above, Blinkist has used brand colors to add appeal and convey brand value. Its sleek, minimalistic interface focuses on core features, with intuitive navigation that makes it easy for users to find what they need.

To achieve similar results:

• Prioritize simplicity and ease of use: Ensure a clean, uncluttered layout with intuitive navigation, prominent search functionality, and a streamlined checkout process.
• Maintain visual appeal: Use consistent branding, color schemes, typography, and imagery that resonate with your target audience. This builds trust and recognition. Utilize UI Kits to streamline your design process.
• Use responsive design principles: Deliver a user-friendly experience across all devices and screen sizes, improving accessibility and overall user experience.

Implementing Secure Payment Gateways and Data Protection Measures

Ensuring the security and privacy of your customers’ personal and financial information is of utmost importance when building an eCommerce app. Customers expect a safe and trustworthy shopping experience, and any breach of their data can have severe consequences for your business.

• Use a PCI-Compliant Gateway: Ensure end-to-end encryption, tokenization, and fraud detection.
• Encrypt Data: Apply strong encryption for storage and transmission.
• Implement Access Controls: Use role-based access and multi-factor authentication.
• Update Security Protocols: Regularly apply security patches.
• Perform Security Audits: Conduct vulnerability assessments and breach tests.
• Communicate Privacy Policies: Clearly inform customers about data protection practices.
• Maintain Transparency: Provide updates on security measures and incidents.

Optimizing Your App for Search Engines and App Stores

In the competitive world of eCommerce apps, being discoverable is vital for driving traffic and increasing your customer base. Optimizing your app for search engines and app stores can significantly improve its visibility and help you attract the right audience.

When it Comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

• Focus on optimizing your app’s metadata, including the title, description, and keywords.
• Conduct thorough keyword research to identify the terms and phrases your target audience uses to search for products or services like yours.
• Utilize these keywords strategically throughout your app’s metadata to improve its ranking in search engine results.

Additionally, consider creating a dedicated landing page for your eCommerce app, complete with engaging content, visuals, and calls to action. This landing page can be optimized for search engines to drive more traffic to your app, increasing downloads and conversion rates.

When it Comes to App Store Optimization (ASO)

• Pay close attention to your app’s title, icon, screenshots, and reviews.
• Use catchy titles and icons that accurately represent your brand and offerings.
• Craft compelling app descriptions that highlight your app’s key features and benefits.
• Encourage your customers to leave reviews, as these can significantly impact your app’s visibility and download rates.

Utilizing Push Notifications and In-App Messaging for Customer Engagement

Keeping your customers engaged and informed is crucial for the success of your eCommerce app.

Push notifications and in-app messaging are powerful tools that can help you stay connected with your customers, promote new products and offers, and drive repeat business.

Push Notifications

Push notifications are a powerful tool to grab attention with timely updates about sales, new products, or personalized recommendations.

However, it is essential to strike a balance in frequency and content to avoid overwhelming customers, which can lead to app fatigue and reduced engagement.

In-App Messaging

In-app messaging allows you to deliver contextual, interactive content while customers are actively using your app.

This can include product recommendations, educational content, or feedback requests, all of which help to maintain engagement and ensure that your messages are well-received by users.

Personalize Notifications and Messages

Personalizing notifications and messages based on a user’s browsing and purchasing history, as well as their app usage patterns, can significantly enhance customer engagement.

By tailoring content to individual preferences and behaviors, you can boost conversion rates and create a more satisfying user experience.

Testing and Optimizing Your eCommerce App for Performance and Usability

Ensuring the performance and usability of your eCommerce app is crucial for providing a seamless customer experience. Regular testing and optimization should be integral to your app development and maintenance.

Conduct usability testing to identify pain points in your app’s user experience. This includes user testing sessions and collecting feedback through in-app surveys and reviews. Use these insights to improve your app’s design and functionality.

Monitor performance metrics such as load times, crash rates, and battery usage. Optimize code, use caching and compression, and optimize media assets to provide fast performance across all devices and network conditions.

Interesting Stats on the eCommerce Industry Worldwide

88% Consumers Hate Bad UX

Studies show that 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad user experience. This highlights the importance of delivering a seamless and enjoyable user experience to retain customers.

[Source: Sweor]

Up to 200% Better Conversion Rates

A seamless and intuitive interface can improve conversion rates by up to 200%. Investing in user-friendly design and functionality is key to maximizing sales and customer satisfaction.

[Source: Forrester Research]

94% of First Impressions Are Design-Related

Design is crucial to eCommerce success, with 94% of first impressions being design-related. A visually appealing website creates a positive initial impact on visitors.

[Source: ResearchGate]

86% Pay More for Better UX

Customer experience is directly tied to brand loyalty, with 86% of buyers willing to pay more for a better user experience. Focusing on customer satisfaction builds lasting relationships and drives repeat business.

[Source: Walker Information]

Over 5 Billion Global Internet Users

As of 2024, there are over five billion internet users globally, providing unparalleled opportunities for eCommerce businesses to connect with customers worldwide.

[Source: Internet World Stats]

3 Trillion USD in eCommerce Sales

Global retail eCommerce sales are projected to exceed 3 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024, highlighting the growing dominance of eCommerce in the retail sector.

[Source: Statista]

50.6% of Consumers Motivated by Free Shipping

Free shipping is the top motivator for online shopping, cited by 50.6% of consumers. Understanding consumer preferences like this helps reduce cart abandonment and increase sales.

[Source: SellersCommerce]

These statistics emphasize the critical importance of user experience, design, and customer loyalty in the success of eCommerce businesses globally.

Conclusion

Remember, the work doesn’t end once your eCommerce app is launched. Continuous monitoring, testing, and optimization are essential for maintaining a competitive edge and ensuring the ongoing success of your app.

Stay agile, adaptable, and responsive to your customers’ needs, and your eCommerce app will continue to be a valuable asset for your business.

Continuous testing and optimization are crucial as your app evolves. Regularly update your app based on customer feedback, industry trends, and new technologies to keep it relevant and engaging.

So, review the above points regularly. I hope you find this article helpful.

The post Things to Consider While Developing an eCommerce App in 2024 appeared first on Hongkiat.

You’ve chosen a booming industry, maybe even the mobile sector, and assembled a competent team.

You’re all set to start!

But before you hit the ground running, let me share one crucial insight with you. It’s the final piece of the puzzle, the billion-dollar paradox that no one seems to talk about. Without understanding this paradox, your chances of becoming a billionaire are slim. Grasp it, use it, and you’ll be one step closer to massive wealth!

First, let’s set the stage. We need to dive into the intricacies of the business world – understand its hidden dynamics and how its players interact. We’ll start by exploring a few smaller paradoxes that lead to the big one. Ready? Let’s dive in.

Paradox #1: Entrepreneurs Dislike Traditional Jobs

It’s true – most entrepreneurs aren’t natural businessmen or managers. Consider a typical businessman for a moment. He thrives in a structured 9-to-5 job, enjoys the corporate environment, and loves departmentalization with tidy labels like H.R. or R&D. Businessmen also relish working with accountants – it’s just how they’re wired.

Now, don’t get me wrong – businesspeople are essential. However, you probably don’t aspire to be one of them. You want to be an entrepreneur, right?

The Entrepreneurial Mindset

Entrepreneurs typically couldn’t care less about the structured corporate world. They despise the illusion of security that a 9-to-5 job brings.

Entrepreneurs are often outspoken leaders. They’re dynamic, chaotic, and diverse. Because of this, they usually hate accounting and other routine tasks. Entrepreneurs are far more excited about starting new ventures and taking risks compared to businessmen.

They value the real-world impact of their businesses more than quarterly profits or shareholder returns. As a result, investors have a complicated relationship with entrepreneurs, often preferring to trust their money to corporate businessmen.

Paradox #2: Entrepreneurs Struggle with Long-Term Growth

While being an entrepreneur is thrilling, it comes with a paradox. Entrepreneurs often find it challenging to manage long-term business growth because of their inherently volatile nature. If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re constantly itching to start something new, grow a fresh business, or invest in a groundbreaking idea that could change the world. This approach is exciting, but it can – and often does – backfire.

The “screw it, let’s do it” mentality, popularized by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, sounds fantastic for startups. However, it’s less effective when managing a medium-sized or large business, which requires focus and a cautious approach.

Running a large company involves overseeing dozens or even hundreds of employees and managing millions in venture capital. You can’t afford to gamble with that. And yet, another paradox emerges: despite these challenges, entrepreneurs are more likely to become incredibly wealthy than most would assume.

Paradox #3: Most Billionaires Are Entrepreneurs

Indeed, most of the world’s billionaires are entrepreneurs, not traditional businesspeople. They’ve learned how to transform their ventures from hands-on jobs into automated systems. They achieve this by hiring a skilled businessman as CEO and letting him run the company while they move on to their next venture. This cycle is what keeps the momentum going.

Make no mistake, billionaires dislike the idea of a ‘job’ as much as anyone else. So, why not hire a businessman who thrives in that environment?

Successful entrepreneur-billionaires have mastered the art of working with businessmen. They know how to recruit them, place them at the helm of their growing startups, and leverage their skills to automate the business. This is how they turn their ‘startup job’ into a self-sustaining enterprise.

This is precisely how they become billionaires!

Finding the Right Person

The final challenge you’ll face, should you choose this path to billions, is supervising the businessman you’ve hired. Ensure he’s doing a great job. It’s a win-win situation: you’ll have more free time to pursue new ventures, and the businessman gets what he wants – a secure 9-to-5 job.

Keep Innovating!

While overseeing your chosen CEO, restart the cycle. Grow as many businesses as you can. Experiment and see what works. If one venture grows to the point where your “screw it, let’s do it” management style no longer applies, start searching for CEO-like businessmen to bring on board.

Unfortunately, those CEOs will likely never become billionaires. But you will. I genuinely hope you do. Soon, you’ll have multiple automated businesses, generating substantial wealth. But remember, it’s not all about the money, right? Or… is it?

The post Avoid This Costly Mistake in Entrepreneurship appeared first on Hongkiat.

There are several tools available within the Laravel ecosystem, such as Homestead, Valet, Sail, and Herd, as well as tools outside their ecosystem like MAMP.

Each tool offers unique features and benefits, catering to different needs and workflows. In this article, we’ll compare these tools to help you choose the best one for your local Laravel development.

Homestead

Laravel Homestead is an official Vagrant box that provides a ready-to-use development environment with PHP, Nginx, MySQL, and Redis pre-installed.

Homestead runs on a virtual machine, ensuring that your development setup is consistent, no matter where you work, and does not affect configurations or other applications on your machine. Homestead also supports multiple PHP versions, making it easy to switch between them. You can configure and manage your setup using a simple Homestead.yaml file.

Homestead is a great option for developers working on projects that require a full-featured virtual machine. Otherwise, lighter options might be preferable.

Pros

• Provides a full-featured development environment out of the box
• Isolated environment prevents conflicts with other local software
• Supports multiple sites and projects

Cons

• Requires Vagrant and VirtualBox, which can be resource-intensive
• Setup can be more complex compared to other tools

Valet

Laravel Valet is a lightweight development environment designed for macOS users. It automatically sets up your Mac to run Nginx in the background and uses DnsMasq to route requests on the *.test domain to your local sites.

Though it is not intended as a replacement for more robust environments like Homestead, it offers a quick, flexible setup. It also supports a variety of other frameworks and CMSs, such as WordPress, Symfony, and Drupal, straight out of the box.

It is perfect for macOS users who prefer a fast and lightweight setup with minimal configuration.

Pros

• Lightweight and fast, with minimal resource usage
• Supports multiple PHP versions
• Seamless integration with other tools like Ngrok and Expose to share your local sites

Cons

• Limited to macOS
• Apache is not supported
• Less isolation compared to virtualized environments, which may cause conflicts with other software on your machine

Sail

Laravel Sail is a Docker-based development environment that provides a simple command-line interface for interacting with Docker.

It comes with pre-configured services like MySQL, Redis, MeiliSearch, and more, making it easy to get started with Laravel projects. Since it is based on Docker, you can easily configure your environment or add any other services that you may need but are not included by default through the compose.yml file.

It is best for developers who prefer Docker-based workflows and want an easily configurable environment.

Pros

• Consistent development environment across different platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Fast and simple CLI to start and stop projects
• Easily customizable

Cons

• Requires Docker, which can be complex for beginners
• Requires WSL to run on Windows
• Performance can be an issue on some systems

Herd

Laravel Herd is a desktop app designed to create a fast, lightweight, and user-friendly local development environment for Laravel applications. It offers a simple, zero-configuration setup and includes everything you need to get started, such as Composer, the Laravel installer, a debugger, and essential services like MySQL.

Additionally, Herd provides a seamless migration tool from Laravel Valet, and it allows you to manage different versions of Node.js and PHP. You can also manage SSL certificates and other services easily through its user-friendly interface.

A great application if you prefer ease of use with a nice UI.

Pros

• Comes as a desktop app with a user-friendly interface
• Lightning-fast since it directly includes the PHP and Composer binaries
• Node.js and SSL management

Cons

• Limited to macOS
• Full features only available in the paid version

MAMP

MAMP is a popular tool for creating a local server environment on macOS and Windows. While it’s not specifically designed for Laravel, you can configure MAMP to run Laravel applications.

It provides an easy way to set up PHP, MySQL, and Apache or Nginx, as well as other tools on your local machine. It also includes features like PHP version switching and a user-friendly interface. This makes it a convenient option for developers who want to work on Laravel projects and other PHP projects without needing to install and configure everything manually.

Suitable for those who need a cross-platform solution and work with various PHP applications outside Laravel.

Pros

• Simple and user-friendly interface
• Suitable for various PHP applications, not just Laravel
• Supports both Apache and Nginx

Cons

• Less tailored to Laravel-specific needs, so manual configuration might still be required in some cases

Conclusion

Choosing the right tool for running Laravel on localhost depends on your development needs, preferences, and operating system. Consider your specific requirements and workflow to choose the best option for your Laravel development.

The post Laravel Development Environment Compared appeared first on Hongkiat.

Building on concepts from our previous discussions on margin:auto and CSS Floats, this post provides a detailed examination of pseudo-classes. We’ll explore what pseudo-classes are, how they function, how they can be categorized, and how they differ from pseudo-elements.

Understanding Pseudo-Classes

A pseudo-class is a keyword added to CSS selectors to define a specific state of an HTML element. You can add a pseudo-class to a CSS selector using the colon syntax :, like this: a:hover { ... }.

A CSS class is an attribute applied to HTML elements to enforce the same style rules, such as for top menu items or sidebar widget titles. Essentially, CSS classes group or classify HTML elements that share common traits.

Pseudo-classes are similar to CSS classes because they also apply style rules to elements with shared characteristics. However, while standard classes are user-defined and visible in the source code (e.g., <div class="myClass">), pseudo-classes are applied by user agents (e.g., web browsers) based on the current state of the HTML element.

Pseudo-classes and pseudo-elements can be used in CSS selectors but do not exist in the HTML source code. Instead, they are “inserted” by the user agent under certain conditions for use in style sheets. – W3C

The Role of Pseudo-Classes

The purpose of regular CSS classes is to classify or group elements. Developers group elements based on intended styling, creating classes like “menu-items,” “buttons,” or “thumbnails” to ensure consistent design across similar elements. These groupings are based on characteristics defined by the developers.

For example, a developer might use a <div> as a thumbnail and classify it with a “thumbnail” class.

 <div class="thumbnail">[...]</div>

However, HTML elements possess inherent characteristics based on their state, position, nature, and interaction with the page and user. These traits are not typically marked in HTML code, but can be targeted with pseudo-classes in CSS. Examples include:

• An element that is the last child within its parent element
• A link that has been visited
• An element that has gone fullscreen

These are the types of characteristics typically addressed by pseudo-classes. To better understand the difference between classes and pseudo-classes, let’s consider using the class .last to identify the last elements in various parent containers.

 <ul>
 <li>item 1</li>
 <li>item 2</li>
 <li>item 3</li>
 <li class="last">item 4</li>
 </ul>
 
 <select>
 <option>option 1</option>
 <option>option 2</option>
 <option>option 3</option>
 <option class="last">option 4</option>
 </select>

You can style these last-child elements with the following CSS:

 li.last {
   text-transform: uppercase;
 }
 
 option.last {
   font-style: italic;
 }

But what happens when the last element changes? You’ll need to manually update the .last class from the previous last element to the new one.

This hassle of updating classes can be avoided for certain common characteristics. For example, using a predefined :last-child pseudo-class is highly beneficial. With this, there’s no need to mark the last element in the HTML code, and you can still style it with the following CSS:

 li:last-child {
   text-transform: uppercase;
 }
 
 option:last-child {
   font-style: italic;
 }

Main Types of Pseudo-Classes

CSS offers a variety of pseudo-classes that allow developers to target elements based on specific characteristics that might otherwise be difficult to access. You can find a comprehensive list of standard pseudo-classes on MDN.

1. Dynamic Pseudo-Classes

Dynamic pseudo-classes are applied to HTML elements dynamically, based on the state they transition into due to user interactions. Some examples include :hover, :focus, :link, and :visited, all of which are commonly used with the <a> anchor tag.

 a:visited {
   color: #8D20AE;
 }
 
 .button:hover,
 .button:focus {
   font-weight: bold;
 }

2. State-Based Pseudo-Classes

State-based pseudo-classes are applied to elements when they are in a specific static state. Common examples include:

• :checked for checkboxes (<input type="checkbox">)
• :fullscreen to target any element currently displayed in full-screen mode
• :disabled for elements that can be disabled, such as <input>, <select>, and <button>.

The :checked pseudo-class is particularly popular, as it indicates whether a checkbox is selected.

 .checkbox:checked + label {
   font-style: italic;
 }
 
 input:disabled {
   background-color: #EEEEEE;
 }

3. Structural Pseudo-Classes

Structural pseudo-classes target elements based on their position within the document structure. Some of the most commonly used examples include :first-child, :last-child, and :nth-child(n). These can be used to style specific child elements based on their position within a container. Another example is :root, which targets the highest-level parent element in the DOM.

4. Miscellaneous Pseudo-Classes

There are also pseudo-classes that don’t fit neatly into other categories, such as:

• :not(x), which selects elements that don’t match the specified selector x
• :lang(language-code) for targeting elements based on the language of their content
• :dir(directionality), which selects elements with content in a specific directionality (e.g., left-to-right or right-to-left).

 p:lang(ko) {
   background-color: #FFFF00;
 }
 
 :root {
   background-color: #FAEBD7;
 }

nth-child vs nth-of-type Pseudo-Classes

One of the most challenging aspects of pseudo-classes is understanding the difference between the :nth-child and :nth-of-type pseudo-classes.

Both of these are structural pseudo-classes that target specific elements within a parent element (container), but they do so in distinct ways.

Assume n is 2. The :nth-child(n) selector targets an element that is the second child of its parent element, regardless of the type of element. On the other hand, :nth-of-type(n) targets the second occurrence of a specific type of element (e.g., a paragraph) within the parent element.

Let’s take a look at an example to illustrate this difference:

 /* Styles the second child element inside its parent, which can be of any type */
 p:nth-child(2) {
   color: #1E90FF; /* Light blue */
 }
 
 /* Styles the second paragraph inside its parent element */
 p:nth-of-type(2) {
   font-weight: bold;
 }

Now, let’s see how this CSS affects the HTML in two different scenarios.

Case 1

In Case 1, the second element inside a <div> is an unordered list, so the :nth-child(2) rule does not apply to the paragraphs. Although the unordered list is the second child, it is not a paragraph.

If, however, the parent element contains a second paragraph, the :nth-of-type(2) rule will apply, since this rule specifically targets <p> elements and ignores other types of elements (like unordered lists) within the parent element.

In our example, the :nth-of-type(2) rule will style the second paragraph, which is Child 3 in this case.

 <!-- Case 1 -->
 <div>
   <p>Paragraph 1, Child 1</p>
   <ul>Unordered List 1, Child 2</ul>
   <p>Paragraph 2, Child 3</p>
 </div>

Case 2

In Case 2, we move the unordered list to the third position, placing the second paragraph before it. Now, both the :nth-child(2) and :nth-of-type(2) rules will apply, as the second paragraph is both the second child of its parent <div> and the second <p> element.

 <!-- Case 2 -->
 <div>
   <p>Paragraph 1, Child 1</p>
   <p>Paragraph 2, Child 2</p>
   <ul>Unordered List 1, Child 3</ul>
 </div>

To explore the differences between :nth-child and :nth-of-type further, CSS Tricks has a great post on the topic. If you use SASS, Family.scss can help you create complex nth-child based elements.

Pseudo-Classes vs Pseudo-Elements

When discussing pseudo-classes, it’s crucial to understand how they differ from pseudo-elements to avoid confusion.

Pseudo-elements, like ::before and ::after (see this tutorial on how to use them), are also added by user agents and can be targeted and styled with CSS in a manner similar to pseudo-classes.

The key difference is that pseudo-classes are used to select HTML elements that already exist in the document tree, though they may not be explicitly marked, while pseudo-elements allow us to style elements that don’t typically exist in the DOM on their own. Examples include ::before and ::after, or parts of existing elements like ::first-letter and ::placeholder.

There is also a difference in syntax: pseudo-elements are generally written with double colons ::, while pseudo-classes use a single colon :. This can be confusing because, in CSS2, pseudo-elements were also marked with a single colon—browsers still support this older syntax.

Additionally, there are differences in how we can target pseudo-classes and pseudo-elements with CSS.

1. Their Place in the CSS Selector Sequence

Pseudo-elements must appear after the sequence of selectors, while pseudo-classes can be positioned anywhere within the CSS selector sequence.

For instance, you can target the last list item in a <ul> element in two different ways:

<ul>
  <li class="red"></li>
  <li></li>
  <li class="red"></li>
  <li class="red"></li>
</ul> 

ul > :last-child.red {
  color: #B0171F;
}

OR

ul > .red:last-child {
  color: #B0171F;
}

The first selector targets the last child inside the <ul> element that has the class .red, while the second selector targets the last child among the elements that possess the .red class inside <ul>. As you can see, the position of the pseudo-class can vary.

Let’s attempt something similar with pseudo-elements.

ul > .red::after {
  display: block;
  content: 'red';
  color: #B0171F;
}

The CSS above is valid, and the text “red” will appear after the <li> items with the class .red.

However, the following code will not work because we cannot change the position of a pseudo-element within the selector sequence.

ul > ::after.red {
  display: block;
  content: 'red';
  color: #B0171F;
}

2. Number of Occurrences in a Selector Sequence

Only one pseudo-element can be used per selector, whereas pseudo-classes can be combined as long as the combination makes sense. For example, to target first-child elements that are also read-only, you can combine the pseudo-classes :first-child and :read-only as follows:

:first-child:read-only {
  color: #EEEEEE;
}

jQuery Selector Extensions

Not all selector syntax that includes a : is a proper CSS pseudo-class. If you’ve used jQuery, you might be familiar with selectors like $(':checkbox'), $(':input'), and $(':selected').

It’s important to note that these are not CSS pseudo-classes being targeted by jQuery. Instead, they are known as jQuery selector extensions.

jQuery selector extensions allow you to target HTML elements with simpler keywords. Many of these extensions are shorthand for combinations of standard CSS selectors, represented by a single keyword.

/* Change the font of all input-related HTML elements,
   like button, select, and input */
 
$( ":input" ).css("font-family","courier new");

The post Comprehensive Guide to CSS Pseudo-Classes and Their Usage appeared first on Hongkiat.

This can be done in a number of different ways, but usually involves making a decision about whether to seek out new clients or upsell and strengthen your relationships with the clients you already have. We go over the pros and cons of each strategy so that you can determine which is right for you.

In the meantime, check out some of these freelancer-client relationship posts previously published:

• 5 Ways To Tame Difficult And Problematic Clients
• How To Work Better With Your Clients
• 5 Ways You Are Losing Your Clients
• What To Do When Your Clients Turn Against You
• How Bad Chemistry With Clients Can Break Your Career

Market Health

In the past decade, the design industry has been both a buyer’s and a seller’s market. More individuals and businesses are seeking professional design services, while the number of working designers has also increased. This creates abundant opportunities for designers who specialize in a specific niche.

To refine your client base, regularly assess whether your current clients align with your desired market niche. If they don’t, it might be time to let them go and focus on attracting clients that better fit your expertise and goals.

Finding the right clients is essential for business growth. Explore trust-building strategies for small businesses to establish strong relationships. Additionally, consider implementing strategies for attracting ideal clients that align with your design niche. With countless potential clients out there, the right approach can help you thrive in the competitive design market.

Focusing Outward

Focusing on acquiring new clients requires more time and effort in terms of marketing and reaching out. But it can result in a more lucrative freelance career. Not just because you can raise your prices with ease as you accrue experience, but also because you’re constantly exposing yourself to new people to work for, who also bring with them new possible opportunities.

Say you do some work for a brand new client that’s really nothing special. But that client happens to be closely associated with another influential person in your niche that you’ve been dying to be introduced to for a while, but who has eluded you thus far.

Well, impress client A enough and scoring an introduction to potential client B will be a breeze.

Shrinking Budgets

Sometimes, clients cut back on the number of design services they accept due to financial reasons. In this situation, it’s helpful to seek out new clients, rather than simply hoping your current clients pick up steam again.

This way, you’re not left hanging if one of your important sources of income suddenly dries up, which I’ve seen happen to a lot of designers. The moment you catch a whiff of things heading south, dust off your business cards and find some new business.

However, do keep in mind that the best clients are always the ones you form real relationships with. If you’re not doing your best to provide value and create a raving fan in each new client, then there’s no point in seeking out new business.

You’ll get stuck with one-offs and clients who don’t really care about you. They see you as merely a commodity – an Adobe technician for hire – which is the absolute worst place for a designer to be. Commodities can’t negotiate or make a good impression, and they always must take whatever work or compensation is offered.

Getting Referrals

Don’t overlook the potential of your existing clients when it comes to growing your business. You can encourage them to refer you to others by providing additional value that shows appreciation for their loyalty.

Since you already have established relationships with your current clients, it’s easier to request client referrals. However, many designers hesitate to ask, fearing rejection or feeling it’s an imposition. In reality, most clients are willing to help when they’ve received exceptional service.

Occasionally, you might encounter a client who is reluctant to refer you, which can be a sign to reassess the relationship. Remember, leveraging client testimonials and asking for referrals are integral parts of the freelance process. If a client is unwilling to provide this support after benefiting from your services, it might be time to move on and focus on clients who recognize your value.

Conclusion

In conclusion, choosing between new clients and existing clients is a matter of personal preference and what makes sense for you. It all depends on your individual situation and the relationships you have with your clients. However, it’s wise to always maintain a watchful eye for new opportunities, so you won’t fall victim to any sudden, nasty surprises.

The post Which Clients Matter More: New vs. Existing? appeared first on Hongkiat.

With AI-powered tools like photo enhancers and image upscalers, you can easily fix common issues such as blurriness, noise, poor lighting, shaky camera effects, and low resolution – all without losing quality. Best of all, you don’t need to be an expert to use them.

Explore the 10 best AI photo enhancers below.

Overview:

1. HitPaw Photo Enhancer

HitPaw Photo Enhancer is a powerful AI-based software available for both Windows and Mac. It leverages advanced AI techniques to improve the quality and resolution of digital images, effectively reducing blurriness and noise without compromising the image quality.

Key Features:

• Auto enhancement option for quick photo improvements without manual adjustments.
• AI upscaling that converts low-resolution images into high-quality, poster-sized prints.
• Restore clarity to old photos, even those from the early 90s.
• Colorize black-and-white photos in under 30 seconds – tested and proven to work like magic.

Android App Features:

The Android app version offers additional capabilities:

• AI face enhancer to retouch photos, removing blemishes, wrinkles, and other imperfections with one click.
• Transform photos into anime or cartoon styles.
• Colorize vintage photos.
• Upscale and de-noise images effectively.

Pricing:

HitPaw Photo Enhancer offers a free trial so you can test its capabilities. If you’re satisfied with the results, the software is available for purchase at a promotional price of $17.99. Additionally, the app version is available on Google Play, making it easy to enhance your photos on the go.

2. Styldod

Styldod’s AI Image Enhancement tool is a web-based solution, eliminating the need for any additional software. While many image enhancement tools focus on portrait images, Styldod specializes in enhancing photos of interior spaces, making it particularly useful for real estate professionals.

This tool is designed for quick and efficient image enhancement. It sharpens details, reduces noise, fine-tunes colors, and performs a range of adjustments to upscale your images with ease.

Using the tool is simple: select an image from your local storage, upload it to the Styldod platform, and let the AI-driven enhancer work its magic.

Styldod’s capabilities are comprehensive. It can upgrade image resolution, remove visual noise, sharpen blurry elements, and handle color correction and calibration. This ensures that your images not only look aesthetically pleasing but are also of the highest quality.

Enhance Images with Styldod

3. SnapEdit

SnapEdit is a user-friendly online photo editor that leverages AI to make enhancing and refining your images simple and effective. With features like object removal, background editing, and photo quality improvement, SnapEdit enables users to achieve professional results with ease. Whether you’re restoring old photos, adjusting lighting, or adding realistic shadows, this app provides a comprehensive set of tools that cater to both beginners and advanced users.

Beyond image enhancement, SnapEdit also offers file format conversion, image compression without quality loss, and customizable watermarking to protect your photos.

Key Features:

• Removal of objects, text, and wirelines
• Background removal, editing, and blurring
• Enhancement of photos and artwork, including anime, manga, and drawings
• Shadow effects and sky replacement
• Photo restoration and automatic light adjustment
• Image conversion and compression
• Customizable watermarking

Pricing:

SnapEdit offers two pricing plans:

Free Plan – $0

• Basic editing features with resolution limits (1280×1280 or 1600×1600)
• Access to the web photo editor with AutoAI and one-touch object removal

Pro Plan – $6/month

Includes a 3-day free trial with:

• Unlimited access to all features
• No ads or watermarks
• Pro app access on iOS & Android
• Batch processing for up to 1000 images per month

Enhance Images with SnapEdit

4. Fotor’s Photo Enhancer

Fotor’s Photo Enhancer is a web-based tool that uses AI algorithms to enhance the quality of your photos. It automatically detects and corrects lighting and color, sharpens images, upscales photos, and repairs blurriness, all with minimal effort.

Key Features:

Here are some of the primary features and applications of Fotor’s Photo Enhancer:

• AI-driven tools to instantly clear up blurry images.
• Enhancement options tailored for e-commerce, improving product photo quality for online platforms, social media, and websites.
• Specialized AI tools for photography and portrait enhancement, ensuring your photos stand out.
• Real estate photo enhancement to make property listings more appealing to potential buyers.
• A professional-level toolkit with advanced features for enhancing photos like a pro.

Fotor’s toolkit is versatile and suitable for various purposes, including e-commerce, photography, and real estate. Its pro-level tools are easy to use, making it an excellent choice for both professionals and amateurs.

Pricing:

Fotor’s Photo Enhancer offers a free 3-day trial, after which the service costs $8.99 per month.

Enhance Images with Fotor’s Photo Enhancer

5. PicWish Image Enhancer

PicWish Image Enhancer is an advanced online tool powered by AI technology to improve your photos. It transforms regular images into visually appealing ones by addressing common issues such as blurriness and image noise. PicWish offers a range of features designed to enhance image quality without losing detail.

Key Features:

• Effective at enhancing blurry, pixelated, and low-resolution photos.
• Automated photo improvements requiring no expert editing skills.
• Quickly upgrades images to HD quality.
• Ideal for e-commerce businesses looking to improve product image quality.
• Skilled at enhancing portrait images and restoring vintage photos.
• Compatible with bulk enhancement on Windows, Android, and iOS devices.

Pricing:

One of PicWish Image Enhancer’s most attractive aspects is its accessible pricing model. It offers five free uses per day upon login, with the Pro version starting at $0.008 per credit.

Enhance Images with PicWish

6. Zyro’s Image Upscaler

Zyro’s AI Image Upscaler allows you to effortlessly enhance the resolution and quality of your images. This web-based tool uses AI-powered technology to upscale and enlarge your images with minimal effort, ensuring there is no loss of quality.

Key Features:

The main features of this tool include:

• AI-based image upscaling to increase resolution and improve image quality.
• Support for JPG and PNG image formats.
• Free to use, with integration capabilities via the Zyro API.
• Also serves as a platform for entrepreneurs to build websites and online stores.

Pricing:

Zyro’s Image Upscaler is completely free to use.

Enhance Images with Zyro’s Image Upscaler

7. Smart Upscaler by Icons8

Icons8 offers an AI-powered image enhancer that can upscale your low-resolution images up to 8 times. Without needing to log in, you can simply drag-and-drop or upload the image on the website to upscale it. The enhanced images are stored on the site, and there’s an API available for batch image enhancement or integrating the tool into your products.

Key Features:

Some standout features of the Smart Upscaler tool include:

• Enhance the quality of images up to 8 times.
• All enhanced images are saved on the site, allowing you to review your history or redownload them.
• No login or signup is required to use the tool.
• API available for integrating the tool into your products.
• The site prioritizes user privacy and does not use the uploaded images for machine learning.

Pricing:

• Trial: 3 free upscales.
• Prepaid: $0.2 per image.
• Limited subscription (monthly): $9 (up to 100 images per month).
• Limited subscription (yearly): $90 (up to 100 images per month).

Enhance Images with Smart Upscaler

8. DeepImage AI

DeepImage AI is a powerful photo enhancer designed to improve the quality of your images. With capabilities like image upscaling, artifact removal, and overall quality enhancement, DeepImage AI provides a comprehensive set of tools to help make your photos look their best.

Key Features:

Some of the notable features of DeepImage AI include:

• Upscale images: Increase the resolution of images, making them sharper and clearer.
• Remove artifacts: Eliminate unwanted noise and artifacts from images, enhancing overall quality.
• Light and color correction: Automatically detect and correct lighting and color issues.
• Background removal: Easily remove backgrounds to isolate the subject of the photo.
• API integration: Integrate DeepImage AI into popular eCommerce platforms and software via DeepAPI or DeepImage’s API.

Pricing:

• Trial: 5 credits – Free.
• Bronze: 100 credits – $7.50/month.
• Silver: 300 credits – $20.75/month.
• Gold: 500 credits – $32.50/month.

Enhance Images with DeepImage AI

9. VanceAI

VanceAI is a robust AI-based photo enhancement tool offering a wide range of features to improve the quality of your images. With capabilities like AI upscaling, sharpening, and enhancing, VanceAI boosts productivity in photo processing across various industries, including graphic design, photography, printing, and e-commerce.

Key Features:

Some of the standout features of VanceAI include:

• AI-driven tools for enhancing images, including anime portraits, background removal, old photo repair and colorization, image sharpening, denoising, portrait retouching, and JPEG artifact removal.
• Available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
• Operates on a credit system with flexible pricing plans.
• Offers a 7-day money-back guarantee.

Pricing:

VanceAI is accessible via web, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS platforms, making it easy to use from any device. It operates on a credit system where processing one image equals one credit.

The most affordable plan offers 100 credits for $4.95, while higher plans go up to 1000 credits for $17.95. Although there is no free trial, a 7-day money-back guarantee is available.

With VanceAI’s comprehensive suite of photo processing tools, you can create high-quality images for websites, blogs, banners, or products with ease.

Enhance Images with VanceAI

10. AVC AI

AVC AI is an image enhancement tool that uses deep learning algorithms to automatically and effortlessly improve and restore photo quality. It offers features like image resolution upscaling, denoising, sharpening, facial retouching, colorization, and more.

Key Features:

Notable features of AVC AI include:

• Utilizes deep learning algorithms to enhance and restore photo quality automatically.
• Super Resolution technology for image resolution upscaling and quality improvement with a single click.
• Facial recognition technology for enhancing facial details in images.
• Available as a web-based tool, on Google Play, Windows, and macOS.
• Additional features include background removal, colorizing old photos, and image calibration.
• Upscales all types of images for larger screens, prints, web, and other uses.
• Automatically deletes uploaded images after 24 hours to ensure privacy.

Pricing:

AVC AI operates on a credit-based system, with plans ranging from 100 credits for $9.95 per month to 500 credits for $39.95 per month.

You can earn free credits by following them on social media and leaving reviews on Trustpilot and Alternativeto.

Enhance Images with AVC AI

11. LetsEnhance

LetsEnhance is an online image enhancement service that uses AI technology to improve image quality. It can increase the resolution, remove noise and artifacts, and enhance details in your images.

Available as a web-based tool, LetsEnhance also offers an API for developers to integrate into their applications. It can upscale images by 2x, 4x, or even 8x, and supports batch processing for multiple images at once, making it ideal for e-commerce, photography, and graphic design.

With LetsEnhance.io, you can effortlessly enhance your images, giving them a professional look.

Key Features:

Some of the features include:

• AI image upscaling.
• Fixes pixelation and blur.
• Color and lighting correction.
• JPEG artifacts removal.
• Batch editing capabilities.
• One-click presets for quick enhancements.
• Convert small photos to HD, 4k, 8k, or higher resolutions.
• Upscale images up to 500 megapixels with 300+ DPI.

Pricing:

You receive up to 10 free credits to try the product. If you choose to subscribe, 100 credits will cost $9 per month when paid annually.

Enhance Images with LetsEnhance

12. Cutout.pro

Cutout Pro’s AI Image Enlarger & Enhancer is a powerful online tool designed to improve image quality. It utilizes advanced AI technology to super-enlarge images by up to 200%, sharpen blurred images, denoise grainy photos, enhance portraits with AI face recognition, improve underexposed night scenes, and repair and colorize old photos.

This tool is ideal for photographers, illustrators, real estate professionals, e-commerce entrepreneurs, and those needing high-quality image prints.

Key Features:

Some of the main features of Cutout Pro’s AI Image Enlarger & Enhancer include:

• Super enlargement, upscaling images by up to 200%.
• Sharpening of blurred images.
• Denoising of grainy images.
• AI face recognition for portrait enhancement.
• Enhancement of underexposed night scenes.
• Repair and colorization of old photos.
• Available as a web-based tool.
• Applicable across various industries, including e-commerce, photography, and graphic design.

Pricing:

Cutout Pro offers a free account with 5 credits, plus the option to invite friends to earn 5 additional credits. Subscription plans start at 40 credits for $5 per month, with options up to 1200 credits for $69 per month. Users can also choose pay-as-you-go options, starting with 3 credits for $2.99.

Enhance Images with Cutout.pro

13. Adobe Express

Adobe Express is a free online photo editing app from Adobe that offers a variety of features to enhance and edit your photos. One of its standout features is the photo enhancer, which uses advanced AI technology to automatically improve image quality. With just a few taps, you can adjust the lighting, color, and sharpness of your photos to make them look their best.

Key Features:

Adobe Express is essentially a streamlined version of Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. While it doesn’t upscale or enhance image resolution, it offers a range of useful features for quick editing on the go:

• Add shapes, text, and other design elements similar to Photoshop.
• Access to various templates to kickstart your design.
• Adjust backgrounds using thousands of free and premium collections.
• Access to Adobe’s stock photo library.
• And many more…

Pricing:

Adobe Express is free to use.

Enhance Images with Adobe Express

14. ACVLabs Photo Enhancer AI

ACVLabs Photo Enhancer AI is a robust tool that leverages advanced AI technology to enhance your photos. It offers features such as upscaling resolution, noise and grain removal, face refinement, background removal, and color calibration to help elevate your images.

Key Features:

Some of the standout features of ACVLabs Photo Enhancer AI include:

• AI-powered photo upscaling to improve resolution.
• Noise and grain removal to fix blurry images.
• AI face refinement for portraits and selfies.
• AI Photo Colorizer to colorize black-and-white photos.
• AI Color Calibration for fixing color issues.
• AI Background Removal to create transparent backgrounds.
• Available on Windows and macOS.

Pricing:

ACVLabs offers a free trial. After that, you can subscribe for $19.95 per month, $79.95 per year, or opt for a lifetime plan at $159.90.

Enhance Images with ACVLabs

Conclusion

There’s a wide array of AI image-enhancing tools available today, perfect for everyone from professional photographers to e-commerce entrepreneurs to casual users looking to improve their photos.

The 14 tools we’ve covered in this post are some of the best options out there, offering features like resolution upscaling, noise reduction, portrait retouching, and colorization of black-and-white photos. Each tool has something unique to offer, catering to various needs and budgets.

Whether you’re looking to enhance product photos for your online store or create stunning prints of your personal memories, these AI tools can help you achieve impressive results.

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