Creating a website used to demand extensive web design skills and a solid understanding of HTML and CSS.
However, the landscape has dramatically changed with the introduction of user-friendly web design platforms like Wix and Framer. These tools have democratized web design, making it accessible even for beginners.
Wix, with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, is perfect for users who want to create a professional-looking website without touching a line of code.
On the other hand, Framer offers a more flexible design environment, catering to those who are comfortable with code and desire more creative control over their projects.
So, which platform should you choose? In this detailed comparison, we will explore the pros and cons of Wix and Framer, focusing on their ease of use, pricing structures, features, and overall performance.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of which platform aligns best with your web design needs and goals.
Wix vs Framer: an in-depth comparison (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Overview of Wix and Framer
- Purpose of Comparison
- Ease of Use
- User Interface
- Learning Curve
- Customization Options
- Design Flexibility
- Templates and Themes
- Design Tools and Features
- Responsiveness and Mobile Optimization
- Functionality and Features
- Built-in Features
- Third-party Integrations
- E-commerce Capabilities
- Performance and Reliability
- Page Load Speed
- Up-time and Downtime
- SEO and Web Standards Compliance
- Pricing and Plans
- Cost Comparison
- Free vs Paid Plans
- Value for Money
- Customer Support
- Availability and Responsiveness
- Support Channels (Live Chat, Email, Phone)
- Community and Resources
- Target Audience
- Ideal Users for Wix
- Ideal Users for Framer
- Use Cases and Industries
- Pros and Cons
- Advantages of Wix
- Advantages of Framer
- Limitations of Both Platforms
1. Introduction
Overview of Wix and Framer
Wix
Wix is a popular website-building platform that allows users to create stunning websites with ease, thanks to its intuitive drag-and-drop editor.
Launched in 2006, Wix has grown to become one of the leading website builders, offering a wide range of templates, features, and integrations.
It caters to users of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced web designers, and provides tools for creating blogs, online stores, portfolios, and more.
Framer
Framer is a design tool focused on creating interactive and high-fidelity prototypes. Originally developed as a code-based tool, Framer has evolved into a visual editor that still retains the capability of integrating code for advanced customizations.
It is widely used by designers and developers to create complex animations, transitions, and user interfaces.
Framer is known for its powerful design capabilities and seamless collaboration features, making it a preferred choice for professional designers and teams.
Purpose of Comparison
The purpose of this comparison is to provide a comprehensive analysis of Wix and Framer, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, to help users decide which platform best suits their needs.
Both Wix and Framer offer unique features and capabilities, but they cater to different audiences and use cases.
By comparing their ease of use, design flexibility, functionality, performance, pricing, customer support, and target audience, this guide aims to give a clear understanding of what each platform offers and which one is the right choice for specific project requirements.
2. Ease of Use
User Interface
Wix
Wix boasts an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface that makes website building accessible to users of all skill levels. Its editor is visually oriented, allowing users to see changes in real-time as they build and customize their site.
Elements can be easily added, moved, and resized with simple drag-and-drop actions, making the design process straightforward and enjoyable.
The interface is clutter-free and organized, with tools and options clearly labeled and easily accessible.
Framer
Framer’s user interface is sleek and modern, designed for designers who are accustomed to working with professional design tools.
It provides a canvas for designing interactive prototypes with precision. While the interface is highly functional and offers a wide range of design tools, it may initially seem complex to users who are not familiar with advanced design software.
Framer balances between a visual editor and code integration, offering a powerful environment for creating detailed, interactive designs.
Learning Curve
Wix
Wix has a gentle learning curve, making it ideal for beginners. Its drag-and-drop editor is user-friendly and requires no coding knowledge, allowing users to create professional-looking websites quickly.
Wix provides numerous tutorials, guides, and an extensive help center to assist users in learning the platform. Most users can get a basic website up and running in a few hours.
Framer
Framer, on the other hand, has a steeper learning curve, especially for those who are not familiar with design principles or code.
While its visual editor simplifies many aspects of the design process, mastering the platform’s full potential requires understanding of advanced design concepts and, in some cases, JavaScript.
Framer offers detailed documentation, tutorials, and a supportive community to help users overcome the learning curve.
Customization Options
Wix
Wix offers extensive customization options within its drag-and-drop editor. Users can choose from hundreds of templates and customize every aspect, including fonts, colors, images, and layouts.
Wix’s App Market provides additional functionality through third-party apps, enabling users to add features like forms, galleries, and e-commerce capabilities.
However, customization is somewhat limited to what the platform supports; users cannot access or modify the underlying code.
Framer
Framer excels in customization, offering unparalleled control over design and functionality. Users can create highly interactive and dynamic designs using its visual editor, and for those comfortable with coding, Framer allows for custom code integration to achieve unique effects and behaviors.
This flexibility makes Framer a powerful tool for designers who need to push the boundaries of standard web design.
The ability to combine visual design with code makes Framer a versatile platform for creating bespoke digital experiences.
3. Design Flexibility
Templates and Themes
Wix
Wix offers a vast collection of over 500 professionally designed templates spanning various categories such as business, e-commerce, photography, music, and more.
These templates are fully customizable, allowing users to change colors, fonts, layouts, and other elements to match their brand identity.
However, once a template is chosen, users cannot switch to a different template without rebuilding their content, which can be a limitation for those looking for flexibility in their design choices.
Framer
Framer does not offer traditional templates in the same way Wix does. Instead, it provides a starting point with design kits and components that users can build upon.
This approach allows for greater creativity and flexibility, as users are not confined to predefined templates.
Framer’s design system encourages users to create custom designs from scratch or use reusable components, making it ideal for unique and highly customized projects.
Design Tools and Features
Wix
Wix provides a comprehensive set of design tools that cater to both beginners and advanced users. Its drag-and-drop editor includes features like image galleries, video backgrounds, custom fonts, and animations.
Wix also offers advanced design functionalities such as Wix Code (Velo), which allows users to add custom code to their sites for more complex interactions and data-driven applications.
Additionally, Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) can create a personalized website based on user inputs, further simplifying the design process for novices.
Framer
Framer stands out with its advanced design tools, tailored for professional designers and developers.
It supports vector editing, advanced animations, and interactive components, enabling users to create high-fidelity prototypes with intricate details.
Framer’s integration of code (JavaScript) allows for the creation of custom interactions and dynamic content.
Collaboration tools are also a significant feature, enabling real-time collaboration and feedback within design teams. The platform’s flexibility makes it a powerful choice for creating unique, interactive, and visually stunning projects.
Responsiveness and Mobile Optimization
Wix
Wix ensures that all templates are responsive and mobile-friendly. Users can customize the mobile view of their websites separately, providing control over how their site appears on different devices.
Wix automatically optimizes websites for mobile performance, but users can manually adjust elements to ensure the best possible user experience across all devices.
This dual-editing feature is particularly beneficial for ensuring that the mobile version of the site meets specific design and functionality requirements.
Framer
Framer offers robust tools for creating responsive and adaptive designs. Its layout tools include features like auto-layout and constraints, allowing designs to adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes.
Framer’s approach to responsiveness is highly flexible, as users can define custom breakpoints and behaviors for different devices.
This level of control ensures that designs not only look good on all devices but also function correctly, providing an optimal user experience regardless of the screen size.
4. Functionality and Features
Built-in Features
Wix
Wix comes with a robust set of built-in features designed to meet the needs of a wide range of users. Key features include:
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: An intuitive editor that allows users to add, move, and customize elements easily.
- SEO Tools: Built-in tools for optimizing on-page SEO, including meta tags, alt texts, and URL customization.
- Blogging Platform: A comprehensive blogging system with customizable layouts, tagging, and scheduling.
- Media Galleries: Integrated media management for images, videos, and documents.
- Social Media Integration: Widgets and tools for connecting to social media platforms.
- Analytics: Built-in analytics and visitor tracking tools to monitor site performance.
Framer
Framer offers advanced design and prototyping features tailored for professional use. Key features include:
- High-Fidelity Prototyping: Tools for creating detailed, interactive prototypes with animations and transitions.
- Code Integration: Ability to add custom JavaScript for advanced functionality and interactions.
- Vector Editing: Powerful vector design tools for creating custom graphics and icons.
- Collaboration Tools: Real-time collaboration features for team projects, including comments and version control.
- Component Library: A library of reusable components and design systems for efficient workflow.
Third-party Integrations
Wix
Wix supports a wide range of third-party integrations through its App Market, offering tools for enhancing website functionality. These include:
- E-commerce Solutions: Integration with payment gateways, shipping providers, and inventory management systems.
- Marketing Tools: Email marketing, social media tools, and CRM systems.
- Booking and Reservations: Apps for managing appointments, reservations, and events.
- Customer Support: Live chat, contact forms, and help desk integrations.
- Analytics and Tracking: Integration with Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and other tracking tools.
Framer
Framer allows for extensive customization and integration with third-party tools, primarily through its code capabilities and plugins. Key integrations include:
- Design Tools: Integration with design tools like Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD for importing designs.
- Development Tools: Compatibility with GitHub, VS Code, and other development environments for seamless collaboration.
- APIs and Data Sources: Ability to connect to APIs and external data sources for dynamic content and interactions.
- Analytics: Integration with analytics tools like Google Analytics and Mixpanel for tracking user behavior.
E-commerce Capabilities
Wix
Wix offers comprehensive e-commerce capabilities, making it a popular choice for online stores. Key e-commerce features include:
- Product Management: Tools for adding, organizing, and managing products, including digital products.
- Payment Gateways: Support for multiple payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and offline payments.
- Shipping and Tax: Options for managing shipping rates, taxes, and fulfillment services.
- Storefront Customization: Customizable storefront templates and layouts to match branding.
- Marketing Tools: Integrated marketing tools like email campaigns, discount codes, and abandoned cart recovery.
- Mobile Optimization: Mobile-friendly shopping experiences with dedicated mobile management apps.
Framer
Framer does not provide built-in e-commerce features like Wix. However, its flexibility allows for custom e-commerce solutions through code integration and third-party services.
Users can create custom shopping experiences by integrating APIs and building custom payment and product management systems.
This approach requires more technical expertise but offers unlimited customization potential for unique e-commerce solutions.
5. Performance and Reliability
Page Load Speed
Wix
Wix sites are generally optimized for performance, but the platform’s reliance on heavy JavaScript can sometimes lead to slower load times, especially for highly customized pages with many elements.
Wix uses a global CDN (Content Delivery Network) to ensure faster delivery of content across different regions. However, users have limited control over the backend infrastructure, which means that optimizing for speed can be somewhat constrained by the platform’s inherent architecture.
Framer
Framer is designed with performance in mind, allowing users to create highly optimized, efficient designs.
Since Framer’s projects are often more code-centric, designers and developers can implement best practices for performance optimization, such as lazy loading, efficient asset management, and optimized animations.
This control over the design and code allows for potentially faster load times and better performance, especially for interactive and complex web applications.
Up-time and Downtime
Wix
Wix provides reliable hosting with a strong track record of up-time. The platform guarantees 99.9% up-time, backed by robust infrastructure and regular maintenance.
Wix handles all server management, security updates, and backups, ensuring that websites remain online and operational with minimal downtime.
In the event of an issue, Wix’s support team is available to address and resolve problems swiftly.
Framer
Framer’s reliability is also high, though it is dependent on how users choose to deploy their projects.
Framer projects can be exported and hosted on various platforms, allowing users to select hosting providers known for excellent up-time and reliability. This flexibility means that up time can be as good as, or better than, Wix, depending on the hosting solution chosen.
Users have control over their deployment environment, which can enhance the reliability and performance of their projects.
SEO and Web Standards Compliance
Wix
Wix offers a range of SEO tools to help users optimize their websites for search engines. These tools include customizable meta tags, alt text for images, URL structure management, and integrated analytics.
Wix also follows web standards and best practices to ensure sites are SEO-friendly. However, the platform’s reliance on JavaScript can sometimes pose challenges for SEO, as search engines may have difficulty indexing certain dynamic content.
Framer
Framer’s flexibility allows users to implement advanced SEO strategies and ensure compliance with web standards. By providing control over the code, users can optimize their sites for search engines more effectively.
Framer supports clean, semantic HTML, and allows for detailed meta tag customization, structured data implementation, and more. This control ensures that projects adhere to web standards and best practices, which can positively impact SEO and overall site performance.
6. Pricing and Plans
Cost Comparison
Wix
Wix offers a range of pricing plans designed to cater to different needs, from personal websites to professional online stores:
- Free Plan: $0/month. Includes Wix branding, limited storage, and bandwidth.
- Combo Plan: $16/month. Suitable for personal use, removes Wix ads, includes a custom domain, 2GB bandwidth, and 3GB storage.
- Unlimited Plan: $22/month. Ideal for entrepreneurs and freelancers, it includes unlimited bandwidth, 10GB storage, and additional features like site boosters and visitor analytics.
- Pro Plan: $27/month. Includes everything in the Unlimited Plan plus professional logo design and social media logo files.
- VIP Plan: $45/month. Provides priority support and a 24/7 customer care hotline.
For e-commerce:
- Business Basic: $27/month. Includes secure online payments, customer accounts, and 20GB storage.
- Business Unlimited: $32/month. Adds advanced features like subscriptions, multiple currencies, and 35GB storage.
- Business VIP: $59/month. Includes priority support and 50GB storage.
Framer
Framer offers a more streamlined pricing model with options suitable for individual designers and teams:
- Free Plan: $0/month. Includes unlimited public projects, basic design tools, and access to community resources.
- Pro Plan: $20/month per editor (billed annually) or $23/month per editor (billed monthly). Includes unlimited private projects, advanced prototyping features, code components, version history, and integrations.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing. Tailored solutions for large teams and organizations, including advanced collaboration tools, dedicated support, and custom integrations.
Free vs Paid Plans
Wix
- Free Plan: Offers basic features with Wix ads and a Wix-branded domain. Suitable for exploring the platform or creating simple personal sites.
- Paid Plans: Remove ads, allow for custom domains, and offer additional features and resources like increased storage, bandwidth, and professional tools.
Higher-tier plans provide advanced functionalities such as e-commerce capabilities, premium support, and additional marketing tools.
Framer
- Free Plan: Allows users to create unlimited public projects, making it ideal for personal portfolios or small projects where privacy is not a concern. Access to basic design tools and community resources is included.
- Paid Plans: Enable private projects, advanced design and prototyping features, version history, and code integration. The Pro plan is designed for professional designers and teams who need more robust features and privacy.The Enterprise plan offers additional collaboration tools and dedicated support for large teams.
Value for Money
Wix
Wix offers excellent value for money, especially for users who need an all-in-one website builder with hosting, templates, and integrated features.
Its tiered pricing plans provide flexibility for various needs and budgets, from personal sites to complex e-commerce platforms. The extensive template library, built-in SEO tools, and ease of use make it a cost-effective solution for non-technical users and small businesses.
However, the inability to switch templates without rebuilding the site and the limited backend control can be seen as drawbacks for more advanced users.
Framer
Framer provides significant value for professional designers and teams who require advanced design capabilities and customization.
The ability to create high-fidelity prototypes, integrate custom code, and collaborate in real time makes it a powerful tool for complex projects.
While the cost is higher compared to basic website builders, the advanced features and flexibility justify the price for users who need more control over their designs and functionality.
The Free plan is a great starting point for exploring Framer’s capabilities, and the Pro plan offers substantial benefits for professional use.
7. Customer Support
Availability and Responsiveness
Wix
Wix offers a range of customer support options, ensuring users can find help when needed. The support team is generally available 24/7, with responsive assistance provided through various channels.
Wix is known for its prompt resolution of issues, particularly for users on higher-tier plans who receive priority support. Users can expect timely responses to their queries, especially through live chat and phone support.
Framer
Framer also provides robust customer support, particularly for users on the Pro and Enterprise plans. While response times can vary, Framer is known for its dedicated support team, which offers personalized assistance.
Enterprise users receive priority support and can expect faster response times. Framer’s support team is responsive and knowledgeable, often providing detailed solutions to complex issues.
Support Channels (Live Chat, Email, Phone)
Wix
- Live Chat: Available for users on premium plans, providing immediate assistance for common issues.
- Email: Users can submit support tickets through the Wix Help Center, with responses typically within 24 hours.
- Phone: Phone support is available for users on higher-tier plans (VIP and Business VIP), offering direct access to support representatives for urgent issues.
- Help Center: An extensive online help center with articles, tutorials, and FAQs covering a wide range of topics.
Framer
- Live Chat: Available for Pro and Enterprise users, offering real-time assistance for design and technical queries.
- Email: Support tickets can be submitted via email, with detailed responses typically provided within 24-48 hours.
- Phone: Enterprise users can access dedicated phone support for urgent or complex issues, providing direct communication with support representatives.
- Documentation: Comprehensive online documentation, including guides, tutorials, and FAQs, is available to all users.
Community and Resources
Wix
- Community Forum: An active community forum where users can ask questions, share tips, and get advice from other Wix users.
- Wix Blog: Regularly updated with articles on website design, marketing tips, and platform updates.
- Wix Academy: offers video tutorials and courses to help users make the most of the platform.
- Wix Marketplace: A platform where users can hire Wix experts for custom design, development, and SEO services.
Framer
- Community Forum: A vibrant community forum where users can discuss design techniques, share projects, and get feedback from other designers.
- Framer Blog: Provides insights into design trends, platform updates, and case studies.
- Framer Education: Offers tutorials, webinars, and online courses to help users master Framer’s tools and features.
- Community Events: Regularly hosts webinars, workshops, and meetups for users to learn from experts and connect with other designers.
8. Target Audience
Ideal Users for Wix
Wix is designed to cater to a broad audience, including individuals, small businesses, and professionals who seek an easy-to-use platform for building websites without the need for coding skills. Ideal users for Wix include:
- Small Business Owners: Wix provides a comprehensive solution for creating business websites with features like online booking, e-commerce, and contact forms.
- Entrepreneurs and freelancers: Those who need a quick and professional online presence can benefit from Wix’s ease of use and variety of templates.
- Creative Professionals: Artists, photographers, musicians, and designers can showcase their portfolios and sell their work through Wix’s visually appealing templates and media management tools.
- Bloggers: Wix offers a robust blogging platform with customizable layouts and SEO tools to help bloggers create and manage content.
- Non-technical Users: Individuals with no prior web development experience will find Wix’s drag-and-drop editor intuitive and straightforward.
Ideal Users for Framer
Framer is tailored for professional designers, developers, and design teams who require advanced prototyping and design capabilities. Ideal users for Framer include:
- UX/UI Designers: Professionals who need to create high-fidelity, interactive prototypes and designs with detailed animations and transitions.
- Product Designers: Those who design digital products and require a tool that can integrate with their development workflow for seamless handoff.
- Design Teams: Teams that collaborate on design projects and need real-time collaboration tools, version control, and feedback integration.
- Developers: Framer’s code integration allows developers to create custom components and interactions, making it suitable for those who combine design and development.
- Startups and Tech Companies: Organizations that prioritize unique, high-quality user experiences and need a flexible tool to experiment with new design ideas.
Use Cases and Industries
Wix
- E-commerce is ideal for small to medium-sized online stores looking to sell products and manage inventory with ease.
- Hospitality: Hotels, restaurants, and event venues can use Wix to manage bookings, reservations, and customer interactions.
- Personal Branding: Individuals seeking to build personal websites or portfolios to showcase their work or professional background.
- Nonprofits and Community Organizations: Wix offers tools for creating informational websites, event management, and fundraising campaigns.
- Education: Teachers, tutors, and educational institutions can create course websites, manage schedules, and share resources.
Framer
- Tech and SaaS companies are suitable for creating interactive prototypes and user interfaces for software applications and services.
- Creative Agencies: Design agencies that work on diverse projects and need a versatile tool to create custom, high-fidelity designs.
- Marketing and Advertising: Professionals who create engaging, interactive landing pages and marketing materials.
- Healthcare: UX/UI designers in the healthcare industry who need to create intuitive and user-friendly applications for patients and healthcare providers.
- Finance: Financial institutions and fintech companies design user interfaces for complex data visualization and user interaction.
9. Pros and Cons
Advantages of Wix
1. User-Friendly Interface:
- Ease of Use: Wix’s drag-and-drop editor makes it easy for anyone to create and customize a website without any coding knowledge.
- Templates: A wide range of professionally designed templates cater to various industries and styles.
2. Comprehensive Features:
- Built-in Tools: SEO tools, analytics, social media integrations, and an app market with additional functionalities.
- E-commerce Capabilities: robust features for online stores, including product management, payment gateways, and marketing tools.
3. All-in-One Solution:
- Hosting Included: Hosting is integrated, so users do not need to worry about third-party hosting services.
- Customer Support: 24/7 support with multiple channels, including live chat and phone support for premium plans.
4. Affordability:
- Cost-effective Plans: Multiple pricing tiers to fit different budgets, from free plans to premium options with advanced features.
5. Regular Updates:
- Constant Improvements: Wix frequently updates its platform with new features and enhancements.
Advantages of Framer
1. Advanced Design Capabilities:
- High-Fidelity Prototyping: Allows for the creation of detailed, interactive prototypes with complex animations and transitions.
- Code Integration: Enables the addition of custom code for unique functionality and interactions.
2. Professional Tools:
- Collaboration Features: real-time collaboration tools, version control, and feedback integration are essential for design teams.
- Component Library: A library of reusable components and design systems for efficient workflow.
3. Flexibility:
- Custom Design: Full control over the design process, making it ideal for creating bespoke, high-quality user interfaces.
- Integration with Other Tools: Seamlessly integrates with other design tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD, as well as development environments like GitHub and VS Code.
4. Performance Optimization:
- Optimized Code: Ability to implement best practices for performance, resulting in potentially faster load times and better site performance.
5. Enterprise Solutions:
- Scalability: customizable plans and dedicated support for large teams and organizations, ensuring scalability and tailored solutions.
Limitations of Both Platforms
Wix
1. Limited Customization:
- Template Lock-in: Once a template is chosen, switching to a different template requires rebuilding the site.
- Backend Control: Limited access to backend code, which restricts advanced customization.
2. Performance:
- Page Load Speed: Heavy use of JavaScript can result in slower load times for highly customized sites.
3. E-commerce Limitations:
- Scalability: suitable for small to medium-sized stores, but may not be ideal for very large, complex e-commerce operations.
Framer
1. Learning Curve:
- Complexity: More advanced features and capabilities mean a steeper learning curve, particularly for those without coding experience.
2. Cost:
- Higher Pricing: The Pro and Enterprise plans can be more expensive compared to other website builders, reflecting the advanced features offered.
3. E-commerce:
- Lack of Built-in E-Commerce: Requires custom development for e-commerce functionality, which may not be suitable for users looking for an out-of-the-box solution.
4. Dependency on External Hosting:
- Hosting Management: Users must manage their hosting, which can be a drawback for those seeking an all-in-one solution.
Conclusion
The comparison between Wix and Framer revealed each platform’s strengths and weaknesses in 2024. While Wix offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of templates, Framer stands out for its advanced design capabilities and customization options.
Both platforms have unique features catering to different user needs and preferences. Ultimately, the choice between Wix and Framer will depend on each project’s specific requirements and the user’s skill level.
As technology continues to evolve, staying informed about the latest updates and innovations in website-building tools is crucial for making informed decisions. Consider your goals carefully before selecting a platform to ensure you are making the best choice for your project.
Frequently Asked Question
Q: What is the difference between Wix and Framer in 2024?
A: Wix is a popular website builder that focuses on ease of use and offers a wide range of templates and features for building websites. Framer, on the other hand, is a powerful design tool that allows for more intricate and customized website designs.
Q: How do Wix Studio and Framer compare when it comes to website creation?
A: Wix Studio offers a comprehensive set of tools and templates for creating websites quickly and easily. Framer, on the other hand, provides more advanced design capabilities for those looking for a more customized and unique website.
Q: Which platform offers better SEO capabilities, Wix or Framer?
A: Wix provides built-in SEO features that make it easy to optimize your website for search engines. Framer, while not a website builder focused on SEO, allows for more control over certain SEO elements due to its design flexibility.
Q: Can I use Google Maps with both Wix and Framer?
A: Yes, both Wix and Framer allow for the integration of Google Maps into your website to provide location-based services and information to your visitors.
Q: What additional features does Wix offer compared to Framer?
A: Wix offers a wide range of features beyond website design, such as e-commerce capabilities, marketing tools, and website analytics. Framer, on the other hand, focuses more on design and collaboration features.