A web builder makes it possible for individuals with no technical knowledge of website design and development to build their own sites. It lowers the barrier to entry into ecommerce and digital marketing for startups and small businesses that have limited marketing budgets. There are tons of options out there, and the choice of site builder can spell the difference between the success or failure of a website project.
In 2017, domain registrar GoDaddy introduced a website builder that is marketed for beginners. It promises to simplify the website building process and help brands set up their sites without the need to learn code. GoDaddy is a relatively new entrant into the free web builder market. Let’s see how it compares with Strikingly, one of the top 10 free web builders catering to startups, small businesses, and novices in web design.
Ease of Use
Image take from Strikingly product
Both website builders feature a user-friendly interface that is great for beginners. Both have an easy sign-up process that lets you get started with creating your website in a few clicks. GoDaddy starts by asking the user what type of site he intends to build and then take him through a collection of themes to choose from. Users can choose to preview a template before committing to it but, unlike Strikingly’s template preview that allows the user to see the different design elements of the theme to help the user decide if he is making the right choice.
GoDaddy’s preview is limited to a view of the first half of the webpage. From there the user is taken to another page for customizing the theme and selecting pages or sections to be added to the site.
Because the page elements are not on the same panel, it takes a few clicks to finally edit the content on the website on GoDaddy’s free web builder. Getting around the interface takes a bit of getting used to. Strikingly, on the other hand, allows you to edit the content on your webpage without having to scroll through different panels. The left side panel of the editor contains all the sections of the site, so you can access each area and make edits without going through different panel settings.
Website Builder
Image take from Strikingly product
According to Website Builder Expert, 76% of their participants found that GoDaddy was easy to use as a website builder. It’s also fast and uncomplicated, which makes it perfect for beginners. Many GoDaddy users also stated how they liked the fact that they could edit their websites using only their phones.
One of the downsides of GoDaddy in terms of web hosting and website building is that it hinders complete creative freedom. In one review, a user stated that GoDaddy offers templates that “are not groundbreaking”. GoDaddy also doesn’t have an undo function which would have been useful in a website builder.
Strikingly’s best advantage over GoDaddy is its drag and drop function. It’s simple, clear, and easy to understand. Just like GoDaddy, Strikingly is also beginner-friendly.
Domain Name Registration
Image take from Strikingly product
Web hosting services often offer domain name registrations. Without a doubt, GoDaddy’s domain name registration is one of the most popular choices among website owners. In a website hosting review, Business.org highlighted its low starting price and a wide suite of website products.
On the downside, the same web hosting review stated that GoDaddy has aggressive upselling tactics. In addition, their renewal price is significantly high too.
With Strikingly, a website owner can buy a domain starting at $24.95 each per year. Alternatively, they can connect a domain in an existing paid plan. However, this is still a slightly more expensive option as there are other services like Namecheap, where domains are relatively cheaper. On the bright side, you can actually register your domain for up to 10 years with Strikingly! You can even buy one even on a free plan.
Languages Available
Image take from Strikingly product
A great gauge for the best web hosting site is the language flexibility. Web hosting isn’t isolated in one region alone. When you’re creating a website, you want a service that allows you to reach a worldwide audience. And we all know that there are many languages out there that you need to cater to.
GoDaddy’s editor and dashboard are available mostly in English. But you can switch it to a different language. However, you cannot create a multilingual website with it.
On the other hand, Strikingly’s editor is available in 10 different languages. Fortunately, you can also create a multilingual website with it. Strikingly has an amazing Multi-Language feature that adds a language switcher to your website. The only downside is, this feature doesn’t come with our free plan. You have to be a Pro user to access this feature.
Ecommerce
Image take from Strikingly product
Web hosting services today are also equipped with tools and features to run an ecommerce site smoothly. Why is this important in web hosting? It’s because ecommerce has basically taken over the world, and it’s already part of our lifestyle. It’s also a great business venture for budding online entrepreneurs.
GoDaddy might be the best web hosting out there, but it falls flat in terms of ecommerce. The great thing is that you can add a PayPal payment option regardless of your plan. But you can also get an online store if you have the highest plan, which in fact, costs a lot of money, especially for start-ups.
Strikingly allows you to sell online on a basic plan. But of course, for a limited number of products only. Fortunately, you can add your own ecommerce shop using our “Simple Store” section. Through this, you can sell physical goods, services, and digital downloads. You can also add payment options like PayPay, Stripe, and other offline payment.
Templates and Customization
Image take from Strikingly product
Both allow users to customize their selected templates in terms of color schemes and typeface. Some people may find the customization options a bit limited on GoDaddy compared to Strikingly, which also allows users to upload custom fonts or Google web builder fonts. Color schemes on Strikingly also enable you to select up to two colors - one main color and a neutral secondary color.
In terms of template options, both feature mobile-responsive templates, so you don’t need to edit your chosen theme’s CSS to make the website adjust to different screen sizes. However, if you’re looking for a bit more variety in site designs, Strikingly is the best web builder for you with its wider range of templates suited for various industries. GoDaddy’s templates are all modern looking, and they seem to all look the same. Both platforms allow you to switch to a different template mid-way through editing and even after publishing your website, however.
Strikingly has an integrated app store where users can add site features such as payment gateways, document upload, and music playlists. GoDaddy does not have an app store, but it does provide in-house apps for basic features and a Paypal integration for ecommerce. Strikingly also has an integrated SEO tool and web analytics tool, so you can get started with digital marketing campaigns right away.
Pricing
Image take from Strikingly product
Both GoDaddy web builder and Strikingly have free accounts, so you can try the platform before investing in a paid account. The only caveat is that GoDaddy’s ecommerce and digital marketing features are only available for paid subscriptions.
Paid accounts on GoDaddy start at $10/month for basic non-ecommerce sites. If you’re looking to build an online store, expect to spend about $300 per year on this platform. Strikingly offers a more affordable basic plan of $8/month. Our ecommerce platform, Simple Store, is available for free accounts as well which would be great for single product sites. Upgrade to a Pro plan to be able to sell more products on your site.
Customer Satisfaction
Image take from Strikingly product
Which one between GoDaddy and Strikingly offers the best tools to provide customer satisfaction? Making sure customers are satisfied is extremely imperative, so you need the right services that will provide this to your customers.
GoDaddy allows you to have a sophisticated contact form. You can also add a “Message us on Whatsapp” button to your website. You can also add a map for directions.
Strikingly has a 24/7 chat feature that allows real-time chats without queueing. They also have email support which you can get regardless of your plan. Through this, customers can send an email and expect a reply within 15 minutes or less.
Other Features
Here are some more features that GoDaddy has:
- Widgets
- Monetization
- Blog
- SEO
- Visitor Statistics
- Contact Form
- Password Protection
- Add HTML Code
- Newsletter Tool
- Unlimited Storage Space
- Backup and Restore
Here are other features that Strikingly offers:
- Memberships
- Pop-Ups
- Contact Form
- Add HTML Code
- Unlimited Storage Space
- Newsletter Tool
- Password Protection
- Visitor Statistics (through Google Analytics)
- Blog
- SEO
- Monetization
- Live Chat
- Email Support
Have you made up your mind yet about which one between GoDaddy and Strikingly should you use? Make sure that you make the right decision in choosing an excellent website builder that offers the best value for your money. Join the GoDaddy or create your Strikingly account today so you can get started with your first website.
