Updated October 15, 2026: Sparkle is now called Sitely. The developer announced the rebrand on November 19, 2024; the current product is Sitely 7, a visual website builder for Mac and iPad. This page retains its original Sparkle 5 URL to help readers find the renamed product.
Image: original AI-generated editorial illustration for GPTOnline, showing the Sparkle-to-Sitely name change. It is not a product screenshot.
What happened to Sparkle 5?
In its Sitely 5.6 announcement, the developer said the company and team stayed the same and only the product name changed. Sparkle 5 is an older version, so its feature set should not be confused with the current Sitely release. The rebrand announcement does not mean every old license includes later major upgrades.
What does Sitely do?
Sitely lets you arrange website content visually, with native apps for Mac and iPad. It is useful for portfolio sites, small-business websites and campaign landing pages where you want direct control over the layout. The current product supports text, images, galleries, forms, animation and other page elements.
- AI-assisted starting point: the AI Website Generator uses your business name and a description of your activity to produce an outline and page content. You can then edit the result manually.
- Visual design across devices: Sitely 7 supports Mac and iPad, and projects can be kept in iCloud to continue work on either device.
- Website checks: the Website Assistant checks areas such as page titles, descriptions, links, mobile compatibility and image descriptions. These checks help you review the site; they do not guarantee search rankings.
- Publishing flexibility: Sitely generates website files and can publish to a web host or export them to disk. Hosting is a separate requirement, not an included all-in-one service.
Pricing and free access
The Sitely web store lists a Pro annual subscription, a Pro one-time purchase and a Personal one-time purchase. It offers a 14-day Pro trial with no credit card required and says the trial does not automatically become a paid subscription. Subscriptions include updates; one-time licenses have a different upgrade model.
The official App Store listing says creating sites on iPad is free, while publishing requires a Pro subscription or one-time license. Mac-only, iPad-only and combined subscriptions are listed separately. Check the plan for your device, local price, taxes and upgrade eligibility before buying; do not assume an old Sparkle license unlocks every current platform or feature.
How to get started
- Choose the Mac or iPad download from the official Sitely website and check the device requirements.
- Create a project and add your own content, or use the AI generator to draft a starting structure. Review generated text for accuracy and replace placeholder material.
- Arrange the layout, preview it at different screen sizes, and run the Website Assistant. Test navigation and forms before launch.
- Arrange hosting, then follow the publishing and exporting guide to upload the site or export its files.
Example evaluation: for a photographer portfolio, build a sample gallery page and a contact page. Preview the gallery on phone and desktop layouts, then send a test inquiry through the published contact form and check that it arrives. This is a suggested trial task, not a test we performed.
Things to consider
Sitely suits people who want a visual editor in an Apple-device workflow. Confirm that the license covers the devices and publishing features you need. Hosting and any external payment or booking services can add separate costs and setup work. AI output still needs editing, and a visually finished page should be checked on mobile before publication.
This overview is based on the developer’s website, documentation and App Store listing, checked October 15, 2026. It is not a hands-on product test. To compare other approaches, browse our AI website builder directory.
