Wix and GoDaddy are two of the largest web hosting and website builders in the industry. But which is better? This Wix vs GoDaddy review program answers that question.
We put their core functionality, design flexibility, SEO and customer support under the microscope to help you understand which (if any) platform is better for your needs.
But first, setting the stage is essential. Both providers claim to offer cheap, fast and easy website building solutions without any technical knowledge. So, let's take a quick look at who these companies are...
Who is Wix?
wix website builder homepage - wix vs godaddy
Wix is a website builder (read our Wix Website Builder review ) that puts a lot of emphasis on user-friendly creativity and customization. Its drag and drop editor is very intuitive. Wix provides everything a small business needs to create a professional-looking website, with hundreds of free customizable templates to choose from.
Founded in 2006, Wix has extensive experience providing top-notch service to website owners. Fast forward to today and Wix is trusted by over 19 billion users in 200 countries. Impressive, right?
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Who is GoDaddy?
godaddy website builder homepage - wix vs godaddy
Instead, GoDaddy is primarily a web domain registrar, offering a site builder as an add-on service. In 2014 GoDaddy launched its GoCentral e-commerce solution, hybrid website builder and online shopping cart host. Like Wix, GoDaddy's website building tools (including its Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI)) are best described as user-friendly.
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Wix vs GoDaddy: Ease of Use
Ease of use is critical for many people, including you. Let's see how Wix and GoDaddy compare:
GoDaddy
If quick results are the goal, then the GoDaddy website builder may have an advantage. Users claim that GoDaddy's website builder is simple and straightforward, making it easy and quick to go live. However, this may be because GoDaddy offers less functionality and design flexibility than Wix.
GoDaddy uses ADI to populate your custom website in minutes. You just need to give them some information and let them do the rest!
However, when it comes to editing the design of your GoDaddy website, that's when things get a little tricky. GoDaddy is more restrictive in what you can modify, so editing specific website elements is challenging.
Wix
That said, Wix is also very easy to navigate. Still, unlike GoDaddy, this doesn't come at the expense of creative freedom.
As far as website creation is concerned, you have two options:
Wix ADI
Wix EditorX
Like GoDaddy, Wix ADI will ask you a few questions and then give you a customized site based on your answers. From there, you email list can edit the final website design.
Alternatively, Editor X focuses on its drag-and-drop functionality. This is what it says on the tin. You are free to choose a template to start with. From there, just click on the website elements you want to use, drag, and drop them into place. Simple, right?
As we've already hinted, going live may take more than GoDaddy due to the multitude of features available. Still, Wix is by no means difficult for newbies to navigate.
Winner: Wix
It's hard to choose because both platforms are very user friendly. But the ultimate winner is Wix. Wix's website editor brings more features than GoDaddy's at the same time.
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Wix vs GoDaddy: Pricing Plans
The part you've been waiting for - great value for money: Wix or GoDaddy?
Wix
Wix offers a free plan, GoDaddy doesn't. Here you can build, create and publish your own website for free. Of course, you have to live with Wix's subdomains and branding on your site. Therefore, this is not suitable for professional quality websites. Still, it's certainly a great way to test the platform to see if you like what Wix может предложить.
If you find Wix's freemium version too restrictive, there are seven paid plans to choose from. These range from $14 per month to $49 per month. Only the three highest programs allow online sales, so keep that in mind. This will remove Wix's branding; you can use a custom domain and enjoy at least 1 GB of bandwidth.
Further reading:
Wix Pricing – Everything You Need to Know
Wix Ecommerce Pricing – Guide to Wix Ecommerce Fees
GoDaddy
GoDaddy offers a one-month free trial before you have to commit to a paid plan. There are four paid plans to choose from, ranging from $9.99 to $24.99 per month, billed annually.
If you want to create a basic personal website, their basic plan is perfect for you. However, if you're growing your business, consider GoDaddy's Standard or Premium plans. However, whichever plan you choose, GoDaddy Insight is included, which provides advice on how to improve your online presence.
Winner: Wix
When it comes to pricing, Wix wins overall. Although GoDaddy offers cheaper plans; and Wix, you'll pay more in terms of features. Also, they offer a free perpetual package.
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Wix vs GoDaddy: Design and Customization Options
We've talked about design above, but it's so important that we're digging deeper and dedicating an entire section to design flexibility:
Wix
wix templates - godaddy vs wix
Wix has an impressive 500+ templates to choose from - but don't feel overwhelmed; they're organized into easy-to-navigate categories to help you find the right template for your needs.
Some Wix website template categories include:
meeting plan
photography
music
online store
Preferred restaurant
…and a blank page option, which might come in handy if you want to design your site from scratch.
You can play with these templates using Wix's drag-and-drop editor and preview them before committing to using them for your website. Unfortunately, once you publish your website, you cannot switch templates. If you do, you'll have to re-add everything and start from scratch. So, choose your template carefully!
You can also access an impressive library of stock photos (over 1,000) from Unsplash and Shutterstock. Some of them are of such good quality that they are definitely worth browsing!
Wix Editorial Department X
wix edit x - godaddy vs wix
This February 2020, Wix released its Editor X (read our full review here ). Although still in beta mode, this feature has gotten a lot of hype. Editor X still features Wix's drag-and-drop interface, as well as a host of responsive design capabilities, including:
Text Scale : You can create scalable font sizes
Grid Layout : A CSS-based system that enables you to anchor elements as the user's viewpoint changes. You can also scale and stack media for a more responsive, seamless design
Elastic Layout : This automatically reconfigures the content
Custom Breakpoints : Here you can customize the design according to any point of view, regardless of device.
Best of all, you can access these advanced web design features without having to delve into CSS coding yourself. The result: You can create designer-level websites without having to be a tech whiz.