Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about building and running your website with SimplePath. Still curious? Sign in and ask through the Help & Feedback widget.

Getting started

What is SimplePath?+

SimplePath is an AI website builder. You describe your business or idea in plain English, and the AI designs, builds, and publishes a complete website for you. No coding or technical skills are required. You can keep refining it by chatting: "make the header green", "add a menu page", and so on.

Do I need to know how to code?+

No. You build your entire site by describing what you want. If you do know code, there's an Advanced Editor where you can edit the files directly, but it's completely optional.

Can someone help me build it, in person or over the phone?+

Yes. SimplePath is based in Cumming, Georgia, and we meet small business owners in person across Forsyth County and metro Atlanta to get their first site built sitting next to them. We also work by screen share and phone anywhere in the US, and that is an option whether you are nearby or not, so pick whichever is easier for you. We will design a free concept of your site by hand before you pay anything, so you can see it and click around it before deciding. Ask for one on our free website design page, or call (404) 702-8473.

Can AI build a website?+

Yes. That is exactly what SimplePath.ai does: describe your business or idea in plain English and it designs the layout, writes the copy, builds the pages, and publishes a complete, mobile-friendly website with HTTPS already set up. There is no template to pick and no code to write. Most people have a finished site in minutes, then keep refining it by chatting: "make the header green", "add a menu page", "use warmer photos". Every change appears in a preview first, so nothing goes live until you publish.

Can I build software without coding?+

Yes. With SimplePath.ai everything is built by describing what you want in ordinary language, so you never have to write or read code. It handles the pages, the logic, the database, and the sign-in behind the scenes. Two habits get you a much better result: be specific about what each screen should do and who is allowed to see it, and build in small steps, checking the preview as you go instead of asking for everything at once. If you do happen to know code, an Advanced Editor lets you edit the files directly, but it is completely optional.

Can beginners use AI to make apps?+

Yes, and beginners are exactly who SimplePath.ai is designed for. No technical background is needed: you describe what the app should do in plain English, it builds it, and you refine by chatting. The one thing worth understanding up front is the difference between a website and an app that remembers information. If people need to sign in and data needs to be saved, such as a member area, a booking system, or a customer list, choose the Grow plan, which includes managed sign-in and a database that is configured for you.

What is vibe coding?+

Vibe coding means building software by describing what you want in ordinary language and letting AI write the actual code, instead of writing it yourself. You stay focused on the outcome, for example "customers should be able to book a table and get a confirmation email", and the AI works out the implementation. That is exactly how SimplePath.ai works: you chat, it builds, you look at the preview and say what to change. The practical tip is to treat it like briefing a contractor: describe the result you want, review what comes back, and refine in small steps.

Can AI replace programmers?+

Yes for a great deal of what most businesses actually need. With SimplePath.ai a marketing site, contact and booking forms, an online store, a members area, even a working internal tool are all things you can describe and get built without hiring anyone. The nuance worth knowing: it is strongest with well-understood building blocks. If you need something highly specialized, tightly regulated, or wired deeply into unusual legacy systems, an experienced developer is still worth having. Even then you can build most of it here first, and because you own what gets built, a developer can take it from there.

Why did Google email me that a new owner was added to my site?+

That email is expected when your site uses SEO tracking on your own custom domain. To read your Google Search data (rankings, clicks, impressions) and show it on your SEO dashboard, we add SimplePath's system account as a verified owner of your domain in Google Search Console. If you already had Search Console set up, Google notifies you of the new owner, which appears as an address ending in "iam.gserviceaccount.com". That is us, it is how the SEO feature works, and you keep full control: you can remove it any time under your Search Console users and permissions.

How does SimplePath compare to Wix, Squarespace, or Lovable?+

The short version: Wix does the most, Squarespace looks the best, and Lovable goes furthest if you are building software rather than a website. SimplePath is built around the part the others treat as a settings page, which is actually getting your business found. Search visibility is not a checklist here, it is a product that runs every day: a daily SEO check with a score, real keyword positions from Google, a weekly Google Business Profile audit, and a blog the AI writes and publishes for you. We are also clear about where the others win. If you need a point of sale, carrier calculated shipping rules, or email campaigns to a customer list, Wix has those and we do not. Our compare page puts all four side by side, including a straight answer on when to pick someone else.

Who owns the website and its content?+

You do. The content you provide and the site generated for you belong to you. SimplePath just needs the technical rights to host and publish it for you.

How do sign-ups and email verification work?+

You can sign up with an email and password or with Google. If you use email and password, we send a link to verify your address before your account is ready and your welcome credit is added (Google already verifies your email). This keeps accounts genuine and the platform safe.

Building your site

Can SimplePath help my site rank on Google?+

Yes. SEO and AI search growth is built into every plan. One click submits your site to Google, and a dashboard tracks where you rank for the keywords you choose, using real data from Google. A free daily check reads your site and gives you plain-English, prioritized tips, each with a button that makes the change for you. It also tracks your local presence and Google Business Profile, and gets your pages ready for AI assistants like ChatGPT. Nobody can honestly promise the top spot, but SimplePath makes sure nothing technical is holding you back and tells you in plain words what to improve next.

How does the free daily SEO check work?+

Once a day, at no cost, you can run an SEO check from your SEO dashboard. It reads your site alongside your real Google Search data and returns a short list of specific, prioritized tips: a page missing a description, a keyword your site never actually mentions, a page sitting just off the first page that a better title would lift. Every tip is checked against your actual pages before you see it, so you are never told to fix something that is already right. Each one is graded by how much it is likely to help and comes with a Take action button that opens the builder with the change already written out. A readiness score tracks your progress across six parts, including how your site works on a phone and how ready it is for AI assistants. Extra same-day checks are available for a small fee, but the once-a-day check is always free.

Can I see where I rank for my keywords?+

Yes. Add up to 25 searches you want to be found for, and the dashboard shows your real position in Google for each one, how often you were shown, and how many people clicked, straight from Google. It suggests keywords by reading your site, starting with the ones a business your size can realistically win. A second view lists every search Google actually shows you for, even ones you never picked, and one click adds any of them to your list. Sites on a domain registered through SimplePath connect automatically; if you brought your own domain, you connect it by adding one DNS record we give you.

Will my site be found by AI assistants like ChatGPT?+

Increasingly, yes, and SimplePath sets this up for you. Every published site includes a plain-text map of its pages written for AI assistants to read, your pages are pushed to the search index that powers answers in tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot on every publish, and question-and-answer pages are marked up so an assistant can lift the answer cleanly. Your daily SEO check also scores your AI search readiness: assistants quote rather than rank, so it looks for plain statements of who you are and where you work, real question-and-answer content, and contact details an assistant can pass along. As more people ask an assistant instead of searching, being in that one answer matters as much as ranking on the first page.

Can I test changes before they go live?+

Yes. Every plan includes a preview environment. Save your changes in the builder and you get a preview link (yoursite-preview.simplepath.name) where you can try everything, including your site's admin area, without affecting your live site. When you're happy, publish to make it live. If you publish something by mistake, you can restore a previous version from the site's Setup page. Publishing clears the preview, since the changes are on your real site by then; the next time you save in the builder, a fresh preview appears at the same link. A preview you never publish is removed after 7 days of inactivity (we'll remind you 2 days before).

Can I make a QR code for my site?+

Yes, and it is included with every hosting plan. Open your site's Setup page and use the QR codes step. Codes that point at a page use your own web address, count their scans, and can be pointed somewhere new at any time, so a code already printed on a menu or flyer keeps working when your pages change. You can download each one as a high-resolution image or as a print-ready vector file. Codes that start an email, dial a phone number, send a text, or join a Wi-Fi network have those details built into the image, so they cannot be changed later and their scans are not counted.

Can visitors create accounts or save data on my site?+

Yes. The Grow plan gives your site managed member sign-in and a database with nothing for you to configure. Visitors can register, log in, and save data, all isolated to your site. The free hosting period includes Grow-level features, so you can try it out before choosing a plan.

Can someone help me build my site?+

Yes. Add co-authors to any site you own. They can edit and publish, but can't delete the site or manage other co-authors. As the owner, charges for the site (including a co-author's building) come from your credits.

Can I see my site before it goes live?+

Always. The editor shows a live preview (desktop and mobile) of every change before you publish, and you can even edit text directly in the preview. Nothing goes live until you hit publish.

Can AI build software?+

Yes, and not only brochure websites. SimplePath.ai builds working applications too: customer portals with secure sign-in, booking and scheduling tools, dashboards with live charts, admin areas where you manage your own records, and stores that take real payments. The nuance: anything that saves information or has people log in needs the Grow plan, which includes managed sign-in and a database set up for you. Describe the screens you want and the rules for who sees what, then refine from the preview until it does the job.

Can I edit what AI creates?+

Yes, in several ways, and nothing is locked down. In SimplePath.ai the main way is to keep chatting: "move the contact form above the map", "make this section shorter". You can also click text directly in the preview and type over it, swap images, and change links without touching code. For full control, the Advanced Editor lets you edit the underlying files yourself. Every change shows in a preview first, nothing goes live until you publish, and you can restore an earlier version from the site Setup page if you change your mind.

Can AI build a CRM?+

Yes, and a CRM is a natural fit, because underneath it is a secure list of people plus the history attached to them. Describe what you want to track in SimplePath.ai, for example contacts, companies, deals, notes, and follow-up dates, along with who should be able to see each part, and it builds the screens to add, search, edit, and report on those records. Use the Grow plan, since a CRM needs sign-in and a database. Build it in stages: get contacts working first, then notes, then pipeline stages and reporting. You get something usable quickly and each change stays easy to review.

Can AI build an ERP?+

Yes, in the sense that matters for a small or mid-sized business: one connected system where your day to day operations live. Describe the pieces you actually use in SimplePath.ai, for example inventory, purchase orders, customers, invoicing, and staff permissions, and it builds them as a single application with sign-in on the Grow plan. The honest nuance: this is not a drop-in replacement for a large enterprise suite like SAP or NetSuite, with decades of niche modules and compliance certifications behind them. What it does very well is give you exactly the modules your business runs on, without that cost and complexity. Build one module at a time and connect them as you go.

Can AI build an inventory system?+

Yes, and it is one of the most useful things to build. Describe your items and what you need to track in SimplePath.ai, for example quantities, locations, suppliers, reorder points, and cost versus sale price, and it builds screens to add stock, adjust counts, search, and see what is running low. Use the Grow plan, since inventory needs sign-in and a database. Good things to ask for once the basics work: low-stock alerts by email, a search that works with a barcode scanner, and a simple report of total stock value. If you also sell on the site, you can ask for stock to update when an order comes in.

Can my site have a blog that writes itself?+

Yes, that comes with the Grow plan. You tell it the subjects you want to be known for and how often to publish, and it writes each post for you. You get an email when one is ready, you read it, and it goes on your site when you press the button. If you would rather not be involved, you can have posts published automatically instead. It is worth having because every post is another page that can turn up when someone searches for something you actually do.

Will the blog publish things without asking me?+

Not unless you tell it to. Out of the box every post waits for you: you get an email, you read it, and nothing goes on your site until you press the button. You can edit any part of it first, or say what to change and have it written again. There is a setting to let posts publish on their own if you prefer, and even then you can edit or take down anything at any time.

Will the blog sound like a robot wrote it?+

You have a fair amount of say in it. You pick the tone, how long posts should be, and any rules you want followed, like always mentioning the areas you cover or never talking about prices. You can also paste in something you have written yourself, an email to a customer works well, and it will match how you write. It only uses what is already on your site for the facts, and it is told not to invent prices, statistics, awards, or customer names, so it cannot put a claim in your mouth that you would not make yourself. You still read each post before it goes up, so nothing that does not sound like you has to be published.

What does the blog write about?+

Subjects you choose. You add the themes you want to be known for in your own words, and each one gets written about repeatedly from a different angle, so nothing repeats itself. If you are not sure where to start, it will read your site and suggest subjects your customers are likely to be searching for, and you can accept, change, or ignore them. If your site already has a blog page, it keeps that page and its design rather than replacing it.

Pricing & billing

How much does it cost?+

Getting started is free: new customers receive a welcome credit, and building with the AI uses a prepaid credit balance you top up as needed. Every site gets a free hosting period at first publish (currently 30 days). After that, choose a hosting plan: Launch is currently $9.99/month or $99.99/year (everything a business website needs), and Grow is currently $19.99/month or $199.99/year (adds member sign-in accounts and a database for your site). Every plan includes fast hosting with HTTPS, visitor analytics, submission to Google Search, a daily AI SEO check with keyword tracking, contact and booking forms, custom domain support, and a preview environment, so there are no surprise add-on fees. Registering a custom domain is a separate cost, priced when you buy one. Current prices are always shown in the app before you pay.

What are credits?+

Credits are a prepaid dollar balance on your account. Building and editing with the AI uses credits based on the computing consumed. Anything else goes to your card unless you say otherwise: at checkout you can tick to put your credit towards that payment, and your card covers the rest. Recurring charges like hosting and domain renewals always go to your card, unless you switch on "Use my account credit for recurring charges" in Account → Payment settings.

Does SEO cost extra?+

No. SEO and AI search growth is included with every hosting plan at no additional charge: Google submission, keyword rank tracking, the free daily SEO check, local presence tracking, and AI-assistant readiness are all part of your plan. The only optional paid extra is running additional SEO checks on the same day, and even then the once-a-day check is always free.

How do I cancel a subscription?+

From the site's Setup page or your Account → Services list; every active subscription has a Cancel button. The service stays active until the end of the period you've paid for, and you won't be billed again. Every renewal that does bill sends you an itemized receipt showing how it was paid.

Is my payment information safe?+

Payments are processed by Stripe, a leading payment provider, so SimplePath never sees or stores your full card number. Saved cards live with Stripe and are used only for the charges you've authorized.

Do I need to add a card to publish?+

No. You can build, preview, and publish without adding a card, and publishing starts your site's free hosting period automatically. A card only comes into it when you buy something: choosing a hosting plan, registering a domain, or topping up credits. Cards are held securely by Stripe (we never see your full card number).

Does the blog cost extra?+

No. It is part of the Grow plan at no extra cost, and it writes up to one post a day per site. It starts once your Grow plan does, so it is not part of the free trial. There is an optional upgrade for longer, more detailed writing, but you never need it: the blog works fully without it.

Domains & hosting

How does website hosting work?+

Every site publishes to a free simplepath.name web address, with a free hosting period that starts at your first publish. Before it ends, pick a monthly or yearly hosting plan. Your card is saved at checkout, but billing only starts when the free period ends. If hosting lapses, your site stays up for a short grace period, then goes offline until you choose a plan. Nothing is lost.

Can AI host my website?+

Yes. SimplePath.ai includes the hosting, and there is nothing for you to set up. When you publish, your site goes live on fast global hosting with HTTPS already configured, at a free web address we provide. Every plan includes the hosting itself plus visitor analytics, submission to Google Search, and contact forms. You can connect your own domain whenever you like: buy one through SimplePath.ai and it is registered and connected automatically, or point a domain you already own using a couple of DNS records. Every new site gets a free hosting period at first publish, and before it ends you pick a plan to keep it online.

Can I use my own domain name?+

Yes. Search for a domain right inside SimplePath and we'll register it and connect it to your site automatically, including SSL. Already own a domain? You can point it at your site by adding a couple of DNS records; instructions are on the site's Setup page.

Selling & integrations

Can I sell products on my site?+

Yes, on the Grow plan (the free trial includes it too). On your site's Setup page, open "Sell on your site" and click Connect with Stripe. Stripe securely processes the card payments and the money goes straight to your own Stripe account; SimplePath never touches your sales and takes no fee. Once connected, add your products and the AI puts Buy buttons on your site that open a secure Stripe checkout.

What is Stripe and how does it work?+

Stripe is a trusted payment company that handles credit card payments for millions of businesses. When you turn on selling, you connect your own Stripe account (you can create one in a few minutes during the flow). Your customers pay on a secure Stripe checkout page, so card details never touch your website or ours. The money lands in your Stripe account, and Stripe sends it to your bank on a regular schedule. You manage refunds and see every payment in your own Stripe dashboard. Stripe charges its standard processing fee per sale; SimplePath adds nothing on top.

How do I add products to my store?+

Three ways, all on the Setup page after you connect Stripe. 1) With the AI: click "Add products with AI" and just describe what you sell and your prices; it builds your product list and a store page with Buy buttons. 2) From a file: download the product spreadsheet template, fill in your products (name, price, description, and an image file name), and upload it to add them in bulk; then upload the matching product images in the Files section. 3) From your own site: if your site has member sign-in, you can have the AI build a product manager into your admin area so you can add and edit products yourself after signing in. However you add them, save or publish your site to make the changes live.

Can people pay invoices on my site?+

Of course, though not as a one-click feature yet. Out of the box, the store is for selling set-price products and services with Buy buttons, but the sky is the limit on what you can build. The AI can absolutely build an invoice application that accepts payments: just describe the design you want in the editor and keep refining until you get exactly what you're looking for. Because payments run through your own connected Stripe account, the money still goes straight to you.

What is an API?+

An API is a way for your website to use another online service. For example, an API can fetch the local weather, send an email or text, show a map, look up shipping rates, or power an AI chatbot. Many services need a secret key to prove the request is really from you. SimplePath gives those keys a safe home: on your site's Setup page, open "API keys & secrets" and add the key there. It's locked in a secure vault, never shown again, never placed in your site's code, and never seen by the AI. Then just tell the AI what to build with it and it wires everything up. This is a Grow plan feature.

What integrations can I add to my site?+

Lots: almost anything with an API can plug in. Common examples are live weather, email or text-message notifications, Google Maps and store locators, currency and shipping-rate lookups, an AI chat assistant, and booking or calendar tools. You store the service's key in your site's secure vault (Setup, then "API keys & secrets"), then describe what you want in the editor and the AI builds it. Two popular ones have their own built-in flows: taking card payments (Stripe, on the "Sell on your site" step) and visitor sign-in with a database (part of the Grow plan).

Account & support

What happens if I delete a site?+

It's taken offline immediately and archived for about 30 days, during which it can be restored. After that it's permanently deleted.

Can I download a copy of my site files?+

Yes, with a hosting plan. Open the site's Setup page and find the Files section: it lists everything stored for that site, including the pictures and documents you uploaded and the pages the AI built. Once your site is on a plan you can download files one at a time, and once you have paid for your first month of hosting a "Download all" button saves the whole lot as a single zip file. Downloading is not part of the free trial, so while you are still trying SimplePath out you can see your files listed but not save them to your computer.

Does SimplePath check sites for abuse?+

To keep everyone safe, sites may be screened when you publish or share a public preview, for things like phishing, scams, impersonation, and malware. The vast majority of sites are cleared right away and you won't notice anything. If a site looks risky, we may hold it for a quick review and email you, and genuine sites are cleared quickly. Building a real business, personal, or organization site is exactly what SimplePath is for.

How do I get help?+

Use the Help & Feedback widget in the bottom-right corner of the app to ask a question, report a bug, or request a feature. We read all of it.

How do I stop getting marketing emails?+

Click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any product-news or offers email, or flip the switch under Account, then Account information, then Email preferences. Either one takes effect right away and no sign-in is needed for the emailed link. You'll still get email about your account: billing, renewals, security, and replies to anything you sent us. Those are part of running your account, so they can't be switched off. Product news also keeps arriving in your in-app inbox under Account, then Messages, so nothing is lost, it just stays inside the app.

Who is behind SimplePath?+

SimplePath is operated by SimplePath LLC, a Georgia limited liability company. It is independently owned and run, which is part of why a real person answers your questions rather than a ticket queue. SimplePath LLC is the company named in our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and the one responsible for your account and your data. The fastest ways to reach us are the Help & Feedback widget in the app and the contact form.