At a GlanceExpert's Rating
Pros
- Solid start
- simple website creation
- good range of features
- reliable email
- excellent support from award winning ISP and Mac specialists MacAce
- up to 100GB storage space
- reasonably priced.
Cons
- Default 10GB storage may be too little for some
- bugs and quirks during the beta, test period
- isn’t pitched or offered as a replacement for Apple’s iCloud
- online email interface is dated
- no option for multiple sites in one package yet.
Our Verdict
MacMate is a simple and affordable way of having an online presence that doesn’t look cheap or feel compromised, while offering some useful online storage space and reliable email. Launched officially in beta, everything points to MacAce developing MacMate functionality further, fine tuning and adding new features and enhancements to what is very much a solid and secure start.
Since its launch in April 2012, MacMate from award winning UK based ISP MacAce, has been touted as a suitable replacement for Apple’s discontinued MobileMe service. MacMate now offers a similar package, including web hosting, cloud storage, Galleries and email. MacMate isn’t a MobileMe clone, which for some frustrated users will be a blessing, but is familiar enough to make the switch a painless process. It’s also worth mentioning that you don’t need to have any previous web hosting package to have a website up and running fairly quickly with MacMate.
Included in the package is MacMate Launcher, a desktop based icon, which resembles an external hard drive. From here you can drag and drop, open and save all sorts of files and give others access via shared folders. Sharing is also key to the new Galleries, which while a little dated looking, allows you to share photos and videos with minimal fuss. Hosting is also a simple process, with MacAce working hard to ensure the process is stable, speedy and secure. Users can point unlimited domains to a website hosted by the company, while the package also includes access to live stats and Google Analytics data. Lastly, MacMate comes with “business class” email, which as a longtime MacAce customer has proved a reliable option, with built in spam and virus protection.
MacMate costs £79 per annum, but is often discounted further, regularly available on “special offer.” When you sign up, addition cloud storage can be purchased based on a sliding scale, which is just as well, as the default 10GB of storage can be stretched some way, covering hosting, cloud storage and email. Despite some bugs spotted during the beta, test period, MacMate’s own newsletters and FAQ point to a wealth of enhancements and new features available in future updates.