One of the downsides to shooting video and content creation is the sheer amount of kit you have to carry; even the most pared-back setups require a plethora of accessories. Beyond that, how many different microphones might you need to cover a range of situations? It's an issue that's effectively addressed by the Boya Magic, a 4-in-1 wireless mic that's designed to be a jack of all trades.
Lavalier (lapel), on-camera, handheld and desktop are all forms the Boya Magic mic can take. The mic is available in several kits, but if you opt for the most comprehensive and still competitively priced of the three you can connect the mics to smartphones, computers and cameras using USB-C, Lightning, and 3.5mm TRS, making it a significant upgrade over the Boya Mini and potentially one of the best wireless mics.
Since this is a multi-purpose mic, we could discuss its performance and characteristics at length, but we’ll delve into those later. Focusing on the lavalier mics, which are the transmitters in all configurations, and the backbone of the mic, these two tiny 7g units can be attached to clothing with clips or magnets, and produce impressive 24-bit sound quality. They’re incredibly easy-to-use with excellent noise cancellation to boot.
I have to admit that when I first received the Boya Magic, I was sceptical about its performance, but I've been impressed while testing the mic in all four configurations, attached to my smartphone, computer and my camera.
The Boya Magic lavalier mics are tiny (Image credit: James Abbott)Boya Magic: price and release dateThe Boya Magic is available from the Boya website and Amazon. The USB-C kit costs $93 / £89 / AU$159, the USB-C & Lightning kit costs $140 / £119 / AU$209 and the USB-C, Lightning & 3.5mm TRS kit costs $151 / £129 / AU$229. All in all, it’s extremely good value for money, given the versatility of the mic.
One slightly frustrating aspect of the Boya Magic is that you have to purchase the Boya Mini Tripod separately, and this is required for tabletop and on-camera use of the mic. It’s not the end of the world, and it only costs $30 / £20 / AU$46 (currently reduced to $20 in the US), but it would be better if it were included in at least the kit option with the 3.5mm TRS.
The Boya Magic comes in a handy case (Image credit: James Abbott)Boya Magic: specsDimensions
Magic TX 35 x 15.2 x 13mm, 3.5mm TRS RX 42.2 x 30 x 19.4mm, USB-C / Lightning RX 19.55 x 24 x 21mm, Charging Case 141.3 x 26.5 x 21mm
Weight
Magic TX 7g, 3.5mm TRS RX 16g, USB-C / Lightning RX 5g, Charging Case 62.5g
Transmission range
Up to 100m
Connectivity
USB-C, Lightning or 3.5mm TRS
Battery
Six hours / 30 hours total with the charging case
Audio
24-bit
Noise cancelling
Yes, one-click
Handheld mic with the foam cover attached (Image credit: James Abbott)Boya Magic: DesignThis 4-in-1 mic system is built around a compact charging case that triples up as the on-camera, handheld and desktop mic, with a foam and dead-cat wind cover in the kits. This measures just 141.3 x 26.5 x 21mm and weighs 62.5g. The lavalier mics are stored and charged inside, behind a clear plastic door. When used in these modes, it’s the lavalier mic at the top of the case, in the first slot, that records sound through holes in the glass door and at the top of the charging case.
The lavalier mics are the backbone of the system, and in my opinion, the most impressive; and for content creators who are using lavalier mics as handheld mics, this system provides a much more comfortable and professional-looking solution.
The two lavalier mics are incredibly compact and lightweight at just 35 x 15.2 x 13mm and 7g. There’s a clip on the rear for attaching the mics to clothing, as well as a magnet plate on each clip to increase the options for attaching the mics to your clothes in more imaginative ways, although I fear that these may be easy to lose over time. The kits come with a couple of clip-on dead-cat wind covers for the mics.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: James Abbott)The build quality of all of the components is great, and the small carry-bag accommodates everything safely and neatly. The overall design of the kit is innovative, while operation is incredibly simple, with just a single button on each mic and the charging case. This can be used to switch the mics on and off, and to switch the AI noise cancellation on and off.
The USB-C and Lightning receivers are small and lightweight, slot neatly into your phone’s port, and are powered by the phone. The 3.5mm TRS attaches to the camera hotshoe and offers six hours of battery life. It’s designed simply, with just a power button, a volume/gain button and a 3.5mm jack. There’s no Bluetooth connectivity as in some mics, beyond a Bluetooth connection to the receivers, so these receivers are essential.
Boya Magic: PerformanceSetting up the mic, from unpacking the kit to first use is incredibly easy. This is one of the more intuitive wireless mics I’ve used, and you can use the BOYA Central app to adjust settings including AI noise cancellation, the EQ, AI noise cancellation, and the limiter, and to apply camera gain presets and firmware updates.
The mics are omnidirectional, so they will pick up sound from all directions. This causes no issues when recording in quiet environments, but when there’s background noise you often need to use the AI noise cancellation, which is available with two strength settings depending on the level of background noise.
AI noise cancellation is powered by deep neural networks (DNNs) trained on over 700,000 real-world noise samples and 20,000 hours of deep learning. Boya claims it can separate voices from noise in milliseconds, with up to -40 dB suppression. In use, the AI noise cancellation is undoubtedly impressive, and it doesn’t distort voices or make them sound robotic.
Sound quality is fantastic, with audio recorded in 48 kHz/24-bit with an 80dB signal-to-noise ratio, a 144 dB dynamic range, and a frequency response from 20Hz to 20kH. You can set sound levels manually, but there’s also a handy built-in smart limiter to protect your audio from peaking. In addition, a second safety track is recorded at a lower (-12 dB) volume to ensure nothing is lost.
The transmission range is up to 100m without obstacles, and 10m with obstacles. During testing the connection was solid, and I never experienced any issues with any of the four mic configurations. Battery life is up to six hours per mic, with 30 hours in total available with the charging case. This is average, and is plenty of battery power for most situations.
Should I buy the Boya Magic?Buy it if…You use different types of mics
If you carry several different types of mics in your kit bag, you can whittle everything down to a single versatile package.
You need tiny lavalier mics
In lavalier mic mode, the lavalier mics are compact and lightweight at just 35 x 15.2 x 13mm and 7g.
You value simplicity
The Boya Magic is incredibly easy and intuitive to use, making it an attractive option for everyone from beginners through to seasoned experts.
Don’t buy it if…You only need an on-camera mic
If you only need an on-camera mic, it would be more cost-effective to buy a traditional cabled on-camera microphone.
You’d prefer connectivity without receivers
Some wireless mics can be connected to devices via Bluetooth, which may be more convenient for those who don’t want to have to use receivers.
You’d like the best
The Boya Magic is fantastic across the board, but you can get better-quality wireless mics if you have a larger budget.
Boya Magic: also considerBoya Mini
The Boya Mini wireless mics are, as the name suggests, tiny, but they do come with some limitations: they can only be used with USB-C and Lightning compatible devices, and offer only 16-bit audio. On the plus side, they're enticingly inexpensive and have decent battery life, and sound quality is better than you'd expect for 16-bit.
Read our Boya Magic review
DJI Mic Mini
These mics come with DJI ease of use and reliablity, not to mention 24-bit audio and and Bluetooth connectivity. This means you don't have to use a receiver for some devices, while a 3.5mm receiver allows for use with cameras.
Read our DJI Mic Mini review
(Image credit: James Abbott)How I tested the Boya MagicI tested the Boya Magic over several weeks in all four configurations: lavalier, on-camera, handheld, and desktop mic. I also attached the mic to my smartphone, computer and camera so that I could assess performance across the board in real-world situations.
I was sent the complete kit, which includes the USB-C, Lightning and 3.5mm TRS receivers. I recorded audio in different environments to see how well the mics perform with and without AI noise cancellation. I also used the Boya Central app to access settings and assess the overall ease of use.
Weebly is a functional, affordable, and easy-to-use website builder, but it is no longer considered one of the best website builder platforms on the market.
While it has a unique advantage with its free plan that includes basic ecommerce, the platform has not seen any major feature updates since 2018, making it an outdated option for more advanced online stores.
Offering simplicity and a low cost, Weebly does rank amongst the best small business website builders. But if you want robust features, you won't find them here.
What is Weebly?Weebly is a website builder that helps anyone create websites without coding. You drag and drop elements like text, images, buttons, and forms onto your page. Weebly takes care of the coding behind the scenes.
Founded in 2006 by three college students at Pennsylvania State University, Weebly was supposed to help students build online portfolios. Now, it’s owned by Block, Inc. (formerly Square) and has become a complete website solution. It includes hosting (where your site lives), domain registration (your website address), and design tools all in one place.
What makes Weebly easy for beginners is its What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editor. Changes you make in the editor are exactly what visitors see on your live site. You start with about 50 pre-designed templates and customize them with your content. Weebly manages technical details like mobile responsiveness (making your site look good on phones) and security, so you can focus on your content.
Weebly also supports ecommerce, letting you set up an online store to sell products directly. A standout feature is that you can sell unlimited items even on the free plan—something many competitors don’t offer. This is especially appealing for small businesses or entrepreneurs testing online selling without a big investment.
Weebly: 2-minute reviewWeebly is a budget-friendly website builder that has been around since 2006. However, it has stagnated since Square (now Block, Inc.) acquired it in 2018. It makes website creation simple for beginners, but its limited customization and outdated templates aren't enough to support professional designs.
The platform shines in ecommerce, though. It allows selling unlimited products, even on the free plan. It could appeal to small businesses on tight budgets or entrepreneurs testing new business ideas. Still, there are key drawbacks, like transaction fees on lower-tier plans and limited integration with payment platforms.
There's basic SEO tools, but they lack the depth of competitors. Its marketing features are also disappointing compared to more modern options. Competitors like Wix and Squarespace provide more modern features, better designs, and stronger growth potential — though at a higher price point.
FeaturesWeebly provides a reliable set of features, but they feel outdated and insufficient for anything but the most basic websites. (Image credit: Weebly)Weebly provides a reliable set of features, but they feel outdated and insufficient for anything but the most basic websites. That said, we were impressed with the ecommerce options. You can sell unlimited products even on the free plan, making it a great option for new stores that rely on volume sales. The platform also offers tools for inventory management, product reviews, shipping calculators, and coupon creation.
However, since its acquisition by Square (now Block, Inc.) in 2018, updates have been rare. This leaves Weebly trailing behind competitors like Wix, which now offers AI tools, advanced editing options, and many more templates.
Weebly's App Center offers some flexibility with 350+ apps and integrations across various categories, like ecommerce and social. But, we found the selection still pretty limited compared to competitors. There are fewer big-name integrations, though ecommerce users can access the larger Square App Marketplace.
Weebly is still one of the best blogging sites out there, thanks largely to its affordable price tag and simple to use blogging tools.
At a starting price of $10/month for paid plans, Weebly provides decent value, especially for beginners or small businesses with basic needs. Yet, the value declines for advanced users who may need richer features from competitors.
ToolsWeebly offers customizable templates, mobile-responsive designs, and analytics that track opens and clicks. (Image credit: Weebly)Weebly offers various tools to help users create and manage websites easily. Our testing showed these tools are mostly user-friendly, but they lack the advanced features of newer competitors. Here’s a summary of Weebly's main tools:
Drag-and-drop editor
Weebly's drag-and-drop editor is central to its website building experience. You can add content like text, photos, maps, and videos by dragging them into place. The editor uses a row-based structure, which is great for symmetry but limits creative freedom.
Ecommerce tools
Most of Weebly's standout features lie in its ecommerce tools. You can manage inventory, display product reviews, and handle sales. We liked the inventory tracker, which updates shoppers when items run out. There are shipping and tax calculators too. A coupon builder lets you create custom discounts, while automated emails help with order confirmations and shipping updates.
Marketing suite
Weebly Promote is the platform's email marketing tool. It integrates smoothly with your website to turn visitors into customers. The system offers customizable templates, mobile-responsive designs, and analytics that track opens and clicks. Our tests revealed that the email editor is easy to use, with many options to import and segment contacts. While it may not match dedicated email marketing platforms, it offers enough for small businesses.
SEO features
Weebly offers basic SEO tools for customizing URLs, title tags, meta descriptions, and image alt texts. It supports 301 redirects and automatically compresses large images to boost page load speed. We liked that you can manage product SEO settings right in the product popup window. This keeps SEO in focus. The dashboard shows basic analytics to track site performance, but it doesn’t match the depth of dedicated analytics platforms.
App center
The App Center enhances Weebly with over 350 apps and integrations in five areas: e-commerce, communication, marketing, social media, and site tools. We found good filtering options and a helpful search function. While the selection is smaller than most rivals, it still offers basic options for adding social feeds, managing contact forms, using live chat, etc.
Ease of useWeebly is built for simplicity, making it one of the easiest website builders currently on the market. It has a live editor that lets you preview changes in real time. For beginners, this makes website creation less intimidating. We built basic pages within minutes of signing up, without needing tutorials or help docs.
The user interface has a clean design. All elements are easy to reach from a fixed sidebar on the editor page. Unlike some competitors that hide options in nested menus, Weebly keeps everything visible with a single click. But clicking any element opens up a few more customization options. The content is organized in rows, which helps beginners, though it feels like a dated approach.
Weebly also offers an All-in-One Accessibility App through Skynet Technologies, a third-party developer. It includes important features like screen readers, voice navigation, and keyboard accessibility, supporting WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 guidelines. But this app needs separate installation and costs more after a free trial.
Weebly’s design prioritizes simplicity, which can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, the structured editor helps beginners avoid messy layouts. On the other, experienced designers will be frustrated by the limitations. We also noticed that changing themes can misplace or distort elements, and some formatting options aren’t customizable. Also, the platform sometimes has glitches that require refreshing the page, and the mobile app has very limited functionality compared to the desktop version.
Despite these drawbacks, Weebly’s usability is its strongest point. The company was founded by three college students who wanted to help people create online portfolios without coding. This philosophy still shines through in the product's design. For users who want to get online quickly with little learning, Weebly offers a straightforward experience that few competitors can match.
Weebly plans and pricing Weebly offers three paid plans and a free plan (Image credit: Weebly)Weebly offers plenty of plans to choose from. For just $10/month (when billed annually) or $13 per month, you can get access to most of the features needed to launch a basic online store with a custom domain name.
If you want even more customization and control over your website, the Professional plan for $12 per month is a better choice. Serious users can also consider the Performance plan, which lets you accept payments through PayPal, automate abandoned cart emails, include item reviews, and get priority support. It costs just $26 per month billed annually or $29 month-to-month.
SecurityWeebly offers one-click SSL certificates for free with all of its plans. (Image credit: Weebly)Weebly offers one-click SSL certificates for free with all of its plans. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) provides an encrypted connection between the server and the browser, so any information sent from the user's computer is kept secure.
This encryption helps protect your private data from potential hackers or other malicious actors who might try to steal it. It also helps build trust between visitors and the website owner, as customers feel more confident providing their information when they know it’s encrypted.
Weebly also provides DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) mitigation services. A DDoS attack occurs when multiple computers flood a server with requests in an attempt to overwhelm it and take it offline. By having DDoS protection in place, Weebly can help protect against these malicious attacks and keep any site available to its visitors no matter what kind of traffic is coming in.
Customer supportWeebly provides tiered customer support based on your subscription. (Image credit: Weebly)Weebly provides tiered customer support based on your subscription. Free and Personal plan users can access email support and the help center. Professional and Performance subscribers enjoy live chat. Performance users also have phone support. Our tests showed reasonable response times. Email queries were usually answered within 24 hours. Chat support was available within minutes during business hours.
Support quality was generally good for basic issues. Representatives showed solid knowledge of the platform's core features. However, for complex design challenges or integration questions, we often got generic responses. These typically directed us to help documentation instead of offering specific solutions. The help center is comprehensive and well-organized. It includes clear articles and video tutorials for most common questions, making it a good self-service resource.
One key limitation is Weebly's support hours. They are Monday through Friday, 6 am to 6 pm PT, and Saturday to Sunday, 8 am to 5 pm PT. Users with urgent issues outside these hours may face delays. Also, phone support is available only in English, which may be difficult for international users. Overall, Weebly's support is adequate for a budget-friendly platform. However, it lacks the 24/7 availability and depth of expertise found in premium competitors like Wix or Squarespace.
AlternativesWeebly is in a tough spot right now. It once held about 13.7% market share, making it the third-largest website builder after WordPress and Squarespace in 2021. However, it has lagged behind since Square bought it in 2018. Weebly is best for absolute beginners on tight budgets or small businesses trying ecommerce with low investment.
Wix is Weebly's closest competitor and our top pick for most users. It has far more templates (over 900 compared to Weebly's 50+) and better design tools. Wix also gets regular updates, including AI features that Weebly does not have.
Check out our Wix review to learn more about what the platform has to offer.
For users prioritizing design quality, Squarespace offers more elegant templates and better customization than Weebly. This makes it a great choice for creatives and service-based businesses wanting a strong visual impact.
Our Squarespace review covers the platform in more detail.
For serious ecommerce, platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce offer stronger selling features, though at higher prices. Even WordPress with WooCommerce provides more scalability and customization for growing businesses, but it does have a steeper learning curve.
Weebly review: SummaryWeebly is a budget-friendly website builder for beginners and small businesses. It's great for those wanting to explore ecommerce without spending too much. It’s easy to use and starts at just $10 a month. Weebly offers strong ecommerce features, like selling unlimited products even on the free plan.
However, the templates feel outdated, there are no new features, and customization options are limited. So, Weebly is a good choice for users who want simplicity and low cost. But businesses aiming for long-term growth might find better options in Wix or Squarespace.
Weebly review: FAQsIs Weebly free or paid?Weebly offers both free and paid options depending on your needs. The free option provides access to basic features such as templates, drag-and-drop design tools, etc.
However, if you want access to more advanced features such as custom domain name registration, website analytics, email marketing tools, SEO tools, etc., then you need to upgrade to one of its paid plans.
Which is better, Wix or Weebly?It really depends on what kind of website you're trying to build. If you're looking for something simple and straightforward with limited customization options, then Wix might be the better choice. However, if you want something more advanced with greater design capabilities and flexibility, then Weebly is likely the way to go.
What is the difference between Weebly and the Square website builder?When you visit the Weebly website you will notice a small Square logo sitting under the Weebly logo. This can be a little confusing as Square offers its own website builder, so allow us to explain
Square is a payment processing platform. In 2018, Square bought Weebly and therefore gained access to its website building platform. However, Square also decided to build its own website builder platform.
Now Square offers a website builder via Weebly and under the Square brand. Although both website builders have some of the same features, they also differ in their offering.
Since Weebly was purchased by Square in 2018 it hasn't seen any major updates. That means that the more recent tools you would find on the best website builders, such as AI website builders, AI text writers, and AI image/video creators, are all missing from the platform.
It doesn't look like Weebly plans on adding them any time soon, either, so if you want them, you will need to look elsewhere.