shopify vs godaddy website builder

Shopify vs GoDaddy: Best Ecommerce Website Builder

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There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing an online store builder. Shopify vs GoDaddy is a common debate among ecommerce entrepreneurs.

Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce website builders because of its ease of use and wide range of features. GoDaddy, on the other hand, primarily known for domain names and web hosting, does have useful ecommerce website features.

So, which one is the best online store builder? It depends on your needs and budget. For small business owners and startups just starting. In short, Shopify is the better option for those purely focused on building an ecommerce website.

Shopify vs GoDaddy: What is Shopify?

Shopify is a Canadian ecommerce company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario. Shopify is one of the leading ecommerce platforms used by businesses of all sizes to create online stores and sell their products.

Shopify offers users a wide range of features, including a customizable checkout process, inventory management, and shipping options. Shopify also provides users with 24/7 customer support and a 14-day free trial.

Shopify vs GoDaddy: What is GoDaddy?

GoDaddy is an American publicly traded Internet domain registrar and web hosting company headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. As of December 2020, GoDaddy has over 19 million customers and 77 million domains under management. 

The company offers various services, including domain name registration, website builder, online marketing, and web hosting. GoDaddy also provides 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Shopify vs GoDaddy: best ecommerce website builder

Shopify vs Godaddy: Pros and Cons

Shopify pros:

  • Shopify’s ecommerce platform functionality has the most extensive ecommerce functionality compared to other ecommerce website builders.
  • You can use Shopify to sell physical or digital products.
  • Shopify is easy to use and has many features, such as accepting credit card payments, tracking inventory, and shipping.
  • Shopify app store has thousands of apps and plugins to add more functionality to your store and help increase your sales.
  • Over 100+ Shopify themes are available to design your Shopify store easily. These include both free and paid themes.
  • Shopify also has a lot of themes and templates to choose from, so you can create a shop that looks professional.
  • Integrates with Shopify POS system for brick and mortar retailers.
  • Excellent 24/7 customer support.
  • Shopify mobile app to manage your online store from anywhere.

Shopify Cons: 

  • The cost of Shopify can be expensive if you need to use additional features and plugins.
  • More advanced themes and templates can be costly.
  • You need to be proficient in HTML/CSS if you want to make significant changes to your store’s theme.
  • When first building your online store, Shopify can have a bit of a learning curve.

GoDaddy pros:

  • A very affordable option for ecommerce start-ups
  • A free version lets you test their editor without spending money.
  • GoDaddy is a Trusted web hosting service provider and custom domain names.
  • Mobile app available so you can edit your website from anywhere.
  • 24/7 customer support
  • GoDaddy’s templates offer a straightforward way to design your online store.

GoDaddy cons:

  • GoDaddy website builder has limited ecommerce features compared to other ecommerce platforms and website builders.
  • Some users find the editor difficult to use and lacking in creative freedom.
  • Websites created with GoDaddy don’t have the design capabilities that most other platforms have.
  • Not the best online store builder for digital products

Shopify vs Godaddy: Features

Shopify and GoDaddy are two of the most popular online store builders. They offer a range of features to help you create an online store, including templates, payment processing, shipping, and customer support.

So, which one is the best option for your online business? To decide, it’s essential to understand the key differences between Shopify and GoDaddy.

GW Features

Shopify Features

Shopify is a comprehensive ecommerce platform that offers everything you need to create an online store and sell online. It provides more ecommerce features than any other platform.

Shopify Themes

Shopify offers a wide range of professionally designed themes to choose from. There are over 100 Shopify themes to choose from, so you’re bound to find one that suits your store’s look and feel. You can use the simple Shopify drag-and-drop editor to customize the look of your store. So if you’re looking for a great way to get started with Shopify, be sure to check out their themes.

Shopify Marketing Tools

Shopify comes with some great marketing tools to help you advertise your products effectively. You can use blog capabilities and SEO tools to improve your ranking in search engines, and promotions through Google and Facebook Ads can help you reach a wider audience. The reporting tools also allow you to track the success of your marketing efforts so you can continue to improve your results.

Inventory Management

Shopify offers inventory management tools that help you keep track of your products and stock levels, both online and offline. With Shopify, you can create unlimited product listings and track all your inventory in one place. This makes it easy to see which products sell well and which need more promotion. Additionally, the Shopify dashboard provides information on shipping, payments, marketing, and more, so you can easily stay on top of your business. This way, you can focus on growing your online business, knowing that your inventory is in good hands.

Payment Gateway and Shopping Cart

Shopify also offers a payment gateway and shopping cart. With Shopify Payments, you can accept payments from major credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also set up automatic tax calculations. And if you need to ship your products, Shopify has integrated shipping rates with major carriers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL.

Shopify makes it simple to start accepting payments directly through your online store.

Shipping

Shipping with Shopify is quick and easy, whether you’re fulfilling orders yourself or using a fulfillment service. With Shopify’s shipping labels, you can print labels for your orders right from your Shopify admin. And with our partnerships with DHL, UPS, and USPS, you get access to discounted shipping rates. Plus, you can use Shopify’s built-in order tracking to keep tabs on all your shipments in one place. Shipping has never been so simple.

Shopify Apps and Integrations

Shopify offers a comprehensive app store with over 4,000 integrations. You can find everything from drop shipping tools to social media plugins. This gives you great control over your store’s capabilities. If you’re looking for more ways to optimize and streamline your shop, consider adding some popular apps to your app store. From one-click upsells to product bundler apps, you’ll find a large assortment of apps to help increase sales in your Shopify store.

Customer Support

Shopify customer support is fantastic! Shopify customer support is available 24/7 via email, live chat, and phone. They are always willing to help and answer any questions you may have. Even if you are not a Shopify customer, they will still be more than happy to help you and get you started.

Reporting and Analytics

The Reporting and Analytics features on Shopify provide valuable insights into your business’s performance. You can use these insights to make informed decisions about where to invest your time and resources.

The Dashboard is the first thing you see when you log in to Shopify. It gives you an overview of your recent activity, including sales, orders, and products.

The Reports section contains detailed information about your shop’s performance. You can use the built-in reports or create custom reports.

The Analytics section provides insights into your customers’ behavior. You can use this information to improve your marketing and sales strategies.

GoDaddy Features

Themes

Godaddy templates include 22 main themes that can be customized to fit your specific needs. Their drag and drop editor makes it easy to change things up until you get it right. Plus, if you need some inspiration, they have a variety of industry-specific categories to choose from. So no matter what type of website you’re building, GoDaddy has you covered.

Inventory Management

If you sell your products through multiple channels, tracking your inventory levels is important, so you don’t oversell an item. GoDaddy can help by integrating with an online marketplace (such as Amazon, Etsy, eBay, etc.) and syncing your inventory across all sales channels. This way, you’ll always know exactly what items you have in stock.

Payment Processor and Shopping Cart

You’ll have to use PayPal, Square, and Apple Pay to accept payments on GoDaddy.

Shipping

Godaddy offers shipping via USPS or ups, and you’ll be able to choose whether to charge flat rate shipping, weight based shipping, or free shipping. When you add products to your store, you’ll be able to set the weight and dimensions for each item. This is important for shipping because the shipping cost is based on the size and weight of the package. If you plan to offer free shipping, you can set a minimum order amount, so you don’t lose money on shipping small orders. You can also set shipping rates for different countries if you sell internationally.

Booking Appointments

If you offer appointment scheduling, customers can book and pay for them through your GoDaddy website. You can set recurring appointments, charge deposits or cancellation fees, and collect payments. This is a great way to streamline your business and make it easier for customers to book appointments with you.

Reporting and Analytics

GoDaddy Insight is an excellent tool for tracking your website’s performance. It gives you industry-specific recommendations and integrates easily with Google Analytics. Simply set your business goals to get started, and the tool will do the rest.

Shopify vs GoDaddy: Pricing Plans

Shopify and GoDaddy offer various pricing plans to suit the needs of different businesses.

Godaddy Pricing

godaddy pricing

There are four different plans that you can choose from depending on the ecommerce features you want and need to build your ecommerce store.

GoDaddy offers 4 pricing plans for their website builder service.

  • Basic – 6.99$ per month: For personal use
  • Standard – 10.49$ per month: For new businesses
  • Premium – 13.99$ per month: For growing businesses
  • eCommerce – 14.99$ per month: For selling online

The Basic plan is perfect for personal use and only costs $6.99 per month. The Standard plan is excellent for new businesses and costs $10.49 per month. If you’re looking for more features, the Premium plan is perfect for growing businesses and costs $13.99 per month. Finally, if you want to create a fully-functional online store, the eCommerce plan is what you need, and it only costs $14.99 per month.

No matter which plan you choose, GoDaddy has everything you need to get your business or personal website up and running in no time!

Shopify Pricing

shopify pricing

Shopify Lite

The Shopify Lite plan is perfect for those who want to go beyond just setting up their website! You can create a complete online shopping experience on your Shopify store using a buy button. In addition, you can sell directly on Facebook & Messenger selling options so that customers are always aware of what they’re looking at – even when browsing through social media posts instead of navigating through your website.

The best part about this service: It only takes minutes from start-to-finish (including design time).

Shopify Basic Plan – $29 per month

The basic Shopify plan is an excellent option if you’re looking to get started with an online store. It’s simple to use and easy to set up, so you can start selling your products immediately. Plus, it includes all the essential features you need to run a successful online store.

Here’s what you’ll get with the Basic plan:

– An online store that’s optimized for search engines

– The ability to sell unlimited products

– 24/7 support from Shopify experts

– A mobile-friendly checkout experience for your customers

– A secure checkout process

– Up to 2 staff accounts

– Credit card processing fee with Shopify Payments is 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction.

So if you’re ready to start selling online as a startup or small business owner, the Basic plan is a great option.

Shopify Plan – $79 per month

The Shopify plan is designed for growing businesses that need access to more features. The Shopify plan includes everything in the basic plan plus :

-The ability to register five staff accounts

-Professional reports

-Connection with up to five physical locations

-The ability to create and sell gift cards

-Up to 72% shipping discounts

-Reduced Credit card transaction fees with Shopify Payments is 2.6% + 30 cents per transaction.

The Shopify plan is a great option for your online store for growing businesses that need more staff accounts and features.

Advanced Shopify Plan – $299 a month

The advanced Shopify plan is aimed to help businesses that are expanding and employing a team. This plan includes everything you’ll get with the Shopify plan, plus the following features:

  • Access to 15 staff accounts
  • Advanced report builder
  • Connection with up to 8 physical locations
  • Up to 74% shipping discounts
  • Reduced Credit card transaction fees with Shopify Payments is 2.4% + 30 cents per transaction.

With this plan, you’ll be able to take your ecommerce business to the next level. So, the Advanced Shopify Plan is the way to go if you want to scale up your operation.

Shopify vs GoDaddy: FAQs

Does Shopify or GoDaddy offer free trials?

Shopify can be used for free with a 14 Day Free Trial. GoDaddy currently has no free options.

Is it easier to build a Shopify store or a GoDaddy store?

Although GoDaddy is simpler to use, the ecommerce functionality of a Godaddy online store is very limited. Shopify stores have more ecommerce tools and capabilities.

Can I connect my GoDaddy domain with Shopify?

Yes, store owners can connect any third-party or custom domain to your Shopify store. Customers will see your custom domain (www.yourdomain.com) and not a “myshopify” domain when they visit your site.

Do Shopify and Godaddy offer free SSL certificates?

GoDaddy and Shopify provide a free SSL certificate for your online store.

Shopify vs GoDaddy: Which One is Right for Your Online Store?

FeaturesShopifyGodaddyWinner
Marketing FeaturesEmail autoresponders and essential email marketing tools. Also offer analytics, Meta pixel setup, and Google analytics integration.Fantastic email marketing capabilities, SEO features, and essential blogging.No Clear Winner
Ecommerce CapabilitiesVast ecommerce features. Almost endless features are available for ecommerce sales, shipping, and inventory management.Basic ecommerce features with limited shipping and inventory management options.Shopify
Apps and pluginsOver 7000+ apps are available on the Shopify app store, including free apps.No plugins or apps are availableShopify
Customer SupportOffers comprehensive customer service. 24/7 customer service via live chat, email, and phone support. Shopify has social media responses and a large forum for questions and support.24/7 customer service through live chat, email, and phone support.Shopify

Now that you know more about Shopify and GoDaddy, it’s time to decide which one is right for you. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that’s easy to use and comes with all the features you need to succeed, Shopify is the clear winner.

As the leading ecommerce platform, Shopify lets you create a complete online shopping experience on your site. In addition, you can sell directly on Facebook & Messenger selling options so that customers are always aware of what they’re looking at – even when browsing through social media posts instead of navigating through your website.

The best part about this Shopify platform is: It only takes minutes from start to finish (including design time) to build your ecommerce store.

So if you want an all-in-one solution that’s easy to use and comes with everything you need to build your successful ecommerce empire, then Shopify is the best ecommerce platform for you.

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Cam Morales
Cam Morales

Cam is the Founder & CEO of Brandafy.com, Bix Marketing.com and EcomUpstart - he built two 7 figure businesses since he started his entrepreneurship journey in 2016. He now helps others launch ecommerce stores and other online businesses.

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