Shopify vs GoDaddy – which one’s better for an eCommerce site?
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Miglė Šeikytė
Content Lead
Shopify and GoDaddy help users to build their online stores and business presence. While each has a different approach, they both offer easy-to-navigate interfaces, quality templates, and excellent tools.
Shopify is a popular and very powerful eCommerce machine with tons of professional features. Over a million businesses and massive names, like Heinz, The Economist, and Fitbit, are among Shopify’s clientele.
Meanwhile, GoDaddy is a veteran in all things website-related. eCommerce-wise, it offers an excellent platform that combines ample business features with a simple website builder.
Since both are prime options for online stores, I don’t blame you if you’re stuck comparing Shopify vs GoDaddy. But, don’t worry – I have your back.
For this GoDaddy vs Shopify comparison, I’ve done a deep dive and tested both extensively. Let’s find out which web builder is the better fit for your online store.
| GoDaddy | Shopify | |
| Rating | ||
| Ease of use | A simple website-building interface, suited for beginners | One simple way to make a website |
| Templates | 20 multipurpose templates | 10 free eCommerce-ready templates |
| eCommerce | Basic eCommerce features for smaller sites | Powerful built-in features for all types of users |
| Marketing | All the essentials are built-in | Essentials are built-in but very simplistic |
| Performance | Excellent, 5-star performance | Performance fits the industry standard |
| Pricing | Plans start at $9.99/month | Plans start at $29.00/month |
| Website | www.godaddy.com | www.shopify.com |
Shopify vs GoDaddy: a case study
I’ve built demo websites with both Shopify and GoDaddy and put the duo to good use to suss out the better option. Shopify has a steeper learning curve but it offers more eCommerce-specialized features. Whereas GoDaddy is easier to use but its simplicity limits design customizations.
Let’s take a look at the 2 websites I made. You can click on the images to open the sites in full.
This is what my Shopify site looks like:
And, here’s my GoDaddy site:
This is how it went down.
Ease of use: are both equally easy to use?
GoDaddy is the simpler of the two, but both builders have streamlined their experiences. Shopify is intuitive yet limited unless you have the technical know-how. Meanwhile, in exchange for GoDaddy’s beginner-friendliness, you have to sacrifice customization options.
If website builders have 1 job, it’s to simplify the website-making process. So, let’s check out how Shopify vs GoDaddy fares in terms of:
Getting started with Shopify vs GoDaddy
Getting started with both Shopify and GoDaddy is effortless, with GoDaddy’s process being faintly more straightforward. Both just involve answering some simple questions. Plus, the pair’s dashboards are well organized and functional, but Shopify's interface houses slightly more features.
With Shopify, the first step is to click on “Start free trial.” Next, you’ll need to fill in personal information, basic questions about your site, and your billing address.
Once done, meet your Shopify dashboard – with tips on how to start listing your products right smack in the center:
Meanwhile, getting started with GoDaddy is even easier and faster. Click on “Start for Free” and you’ll be prompted to pick 2 things: your site’s category and its name.
And, that’s it. You’re essentially done and ready to edit.
Overall, it’s extremely easy to get started with both. The only distinct difference between Shopify and GoDaddy is that Shopify asks more questions while the latter lets you sail through with only the basics.
Editing storefront
Both builders offer easy section-based editing. Shopify is the more flexible of the pair and has more editing options. GoDaddy's editor is simplistic and user-friendly but allows for very few customizations.
To edit with Shopify, you first pick a theme, which will provide a pre-designed site with multiple sections. Based on your online store's vision, you can add additional sections like product listing, recommended products, email sign-up, and many more.
However, note that Shopify doesn’t offer drag-and-drop features. So, there’s not much freedom for artistic expression or pixel-perfect editing with your sections. But, you can toggle to hide or rearrange the sections and elements via the menu on the left.
And, of course, things like fonts and color schemes are customizable. For any other changes, though, you need to either switch themes or get cracking with HTML/CSS.
GoDaddy, on the other hand, is more beginner-friendly. And, the main factor of its simplicity is the fact that it doesn’t allow many editing options.
So, if you’re a rookie, you might find comfort in the limitations as there’s less margin for error. But, the restrictive editor might be an issue if you want to flex your creative muscles.
In any case, the menu on the right houses most of the editing options. Similar to Shopify, there’s also no drag-and-drop editor but you can move/delete sections as well as change layouts. You can also add sections like a contact form, product listings, or recommended products.
When it comes to freedom of editing, you can customize fonts and their sizes.
In brief, Shopify allows for more editing customizations while GoDaddy gives up flexibility in exchange for simplicity.
Shopify vs GoDaddy ease of use: main takeaways
It’s extremely easy to get started with both Shopify and GoDaddy. Design-wise, Shopify is more flexible, which can make the learning curve steeper. Meanwhile, GoDaddy is more straightforward but a little more limiting with what you can do.
GoDaddy is the winner of this category: Use GoDaddy if you're looking for ease of use
Templates: are all equally eCommerce optimal?
Shopify has over 80 professional and beautiful templates, of which all are optimized for eCommerce and cover 10+ industries. Meanwhile, GoDaddy settles for only 20 general templates. While very simple, the templates are clean and functional.
Shopify is all about quality rather than quantity. So, you won’t see hundreds of templates like what you’d see with Wix. Instead, you’ll find 80 themes – and only 10 of them free.
But, since Shopify is made for eCommerce, any of the free templates would do for your online marketplaces. And, if you like to play by the rules, you can even filter them by categories like clothing and fashion, food and drink, and more.
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Whether free or paid, the templates are all modern, beautiful, and professional. Plus, they do a great job of putting your products front and center to boost sales.
But, since free templates are scarce, there’s a high chance that your store looks similar to others. In which case, you might want to cough up for a premium template, which could cost anywhere from $150 to $350. Alternatively, Shopify also allows third-party templates and you can shop for a deal on platforms like ThemeForest.
One of my favorites from Shopify is Dawn. It’s free and looks contemporary as well as attractive. Beyond that, it comes with an adaptable layout, image-optimized pages, and cross-selling capabilities.
GoDaddy, meanwhile, comes with only 20 options to choose from. However, do note, all of them are free.
While the builder doesn’t categorize them into industry or niches, they all are suited for online stores.
Design-wise, GoDaddy may not offer the biggest variety and the most outstanding designs. However, all builders' themes are modern-looking and functional.
I particularly like LUXE for its clean-cut and minimalistic design.
Plus, you can easily swap between the different themes without messing up your entire site. However, if you’re expecting grand changes, you’re going to be disappointed. The only distinct difference between them is the layout.
Shopify vs GoDaddy templates: main takeaways
Overall, Shopify takes the crown when it comes to templates. Not only is Shopify’s selection more extensive but its templates also look better and are fully optimized for eCommerce.
Shopify is the winner of this category: Choose Shopify to enjoy eCommerce-optimized templates
eCommerce comparison
If we’re talking about Shopify vs GoDaddy eCommerce capabilities, Shopify is the clear winner. The builder is optimized for selling online and has all the tools in one place. Whereas GoDaddy doesn’t focus solely on selling online. So, beyond the very basic, you’ll either have to pay for more features (which isn’t financially sound) or they’re simply not available.
Now, we already know that Shopify is the winning candidate in the GoDaddy eCommerce vs Shopify eCommerce battle. So, the only questions that remain are whether GoDaddy put up a good fight and to what extent.
Let’s zero in on:
Basic eCommerce features
All basic eCommerce tools for product and inventory management are equally easy with Shopify and GoDaddy. Plus, the duo allows you to sell various items – covering physical and digital goods/services.
For Shopify, the main dashboard is where the magic is at. This is where you can find all your basic but vital eCommerce features. And, Shopify rightfully keeps things powerful but very simple here.
For starters, you can easily and quickly add products. Additionally, all sorts of customizations are allowed, including country of origin, weight, and whether you want to continue selling if an item is out of stock.
Product management is also a breeze with features like inventory tracking, incoming inventory management, and collection organizations.
Plus, Shopify also supports the sale of digital products and services in addition to physical ones. So, there are also convenient features like easy issuing of gift cards, subscription management, and more.
Other essential features found include:
- Abandoned cart recovery,
- Product listings and its organization options,
- Automated taxes,
- Customer account management.
Adding products with GoDaddy is equally as straightforward, and all necessary details are clearly labeled. The entire process should take just minutes.
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And, just like with Shopify, there are multiple customization options for each product. This includes backorder, add-ons, and limited edition tags.
Now in terms of functionality of GoDaddy online store vs Shopify, GoDaddy supports both physical and digital goods/services, too.
Additionally, other basic management features are available. For instance, product reviews and text notifications. More so, in terms of GoDaddy shopping cart vs Shopify, the former also includes cart recovery functionality.
All things considered, there’s no clear winner with both online store builders. Both contenders cover all the basic features required for an eCommerce site.
Payment options
Shopify offers 100+ payment options while GoDaddy provides only 40+ options, so there's not much of a competition here. Let’s take a closer look.
Shopify offers more than 100 options:
- Shopify Payments accepts major credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more but is only available in certain countries. Charges between 2.4% – 2.9% + $0.30 per online transaction.
- PayPal at a fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, yet rates differs in each country.
- 100+ payment gateways including Atome, Coinbase Commerce which accepts cryptocurrency, and more – they can be implemented by 3rd party apps.
- Offline payments method via check and in-person with Shopify POS.
On the other hand, GoDaddy offers fewer options:
- GoDaddy Payments accepts major credit/debit cards at 2.3% + $0.30 per transaction.
- Square accepts major credit/debit cards plus Apple Pay at 2.9% + $0.30 per online transaction.
- Stripe accepts major credit/debit cards alongside Apple Pay and Google Pay. There’s a fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per online transaction.
- PayPal charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction with rates varying from country to country.
- Offline payments method via check and in-person with GoDaddy POS.
Overall, both Shopify and GoDaddy cover all the basic solutions, especially with their in-house options. However, Shopify races ahead with its support of 100+ third-party payment gateways.
Shipping options
The pair provide 3 main shipping options. Plus, their methods are also largely similar featuring shipping, local delivery, and in-person pickup.
Shopify offers 3 main options:
- Shopify Shipping where you can connect your account with shipping carriers such as USPS, UPS, and Canada Post.
- Local delivery.
- Local pickup where customers can collect their orders, including contact-free curbside pickup.
Mirroring Shopify, GoDaddy also offers 3 options:
- Integrated with Shippo to provide free and weight/dimension-based shipping.
- Local delivery for local addresses.
- In-person pickup.
To put it briefly, both Shopify and GoDaddy have all your basic shipping options covered to make things easier for your customers. There’s no clear winner here as both builders offer very similar options.
Point of sale
Your Shopify online store comes with Point of Sale (POS) and it’s arguably one of the most sophisticated ones offered by builders. Strike that, make it 2 POS app subscriptions: Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro. Meanwhile, GoDaddy needs an extension for POS.
Lite is free and already included in your plan. Its features are quite elaborate and include omnichannel selling (in-store and online), payment customizations, products management, and customer management software solutions.
But, if you want more advanced options like staff management and smart inventory management, you need to upgrade to Pro. It costs $89/mo per location.
GoDaddy, on the other hand, doesn’t come with a POS already integrated. Instead, you’ll need to purchase either its Smart Terminal ($249) or Card Reader ($49) if you want to sell in person.
Alternatively, you can also accept payments with the GoDaddy Mobile App. It’s free for all GoDaddy Payments users.
All things considered, Shopify trounces GoDaddy when it comes to POS. It’s free, already integrated with your online store, and comes with extensive features – making it easier to sell everywhere.
Dropshipping
The biggest difference between GoDaddy vs Shopify dropshipping is that Shopify offers tools for it but GoDaddy doesn’t. Sure, Shopify requires additional integrations but that’s still better than GoDaddy’s radio silence.
To start, Shopify doesn’t have in-house tools for dropshipping but it does have a native app for it – Oberlo. The app centers around AliExpress, with extensive category and product options.
Oberlo is free for up to 500 products, which is plenty for most online sellers. If you need more, the paid plan will give you that for $29.90/mo.
Other dropshipping integrations include Spocket, Printful, and DSers. In fact, at last check, Shopify offers 300+ dropshipping-related apps.
Meanwhile, GoDaddy has no dedicated tools for dropshipping. That said, dropshipping isn’t entirely impossible with the builder.
To get around this, what you can do is accept orders with its built-in tools and then pass them onto your suppliers. Bothersome but doable.
Hence, Shopify is ideal if your business is dropshipping-focused as it has plenty of convenient integrations. However, GoDaddy could still work if dropshipping is just a small part of your venture.
App stores
Shopify has 6494 apps covering 9 areas in its app store at last look. Meanwhile, GoDaddy doesn’t exactly have an app store where you can view all the apps. Instead, you’ll see third-party apps cropping up where GoDaddy allows integration.
Shopify’s app store is massive! Its 6000+ apps are categorized according to the different aspects of an online store. For instance, conversion, fulfillment, and shipping and delivery.
There are slightly more free apps than paid ones and about 30 of these apps are made by Shopify. However, the majority of them are third-party options.
What about GoDaddy? Well, there’s no app store per se. But, you’ll see suggestions to “Connect” with apps on the dashboard where the builder allows it.
From what I can see, the options are limited to a few free and paid third-party apps.
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Overall, Shopify’s app store is absolutely impressive with 6,400+ apps – all for eCommerce. Meanwhile, GoDaddy keeps things simple and offers only a few selected apps where necessary.
Shopify vs GoDaddy eCommerce: main takeaways
Unsurprisingly, Shopify emerges as the better option in almost every eCommerce-related aspect. Offering advanced solutions at every turn, it’s perfect whether you’re just starting out or well into your millionth sale. Contrastingly, GoDaddy covers only the basics. But, if you want something fuss-free and don’t have the most advanced needs, it’s up for the job.
Shopify is the winner of this category: Choose Shopify for streamlined eCommerce tools
Marketing your business with Shopify vs GoDaddy
Both Shopify and GoDaddy go all out to make marketing for your online store easier. Shopify turns to a combination of built-in tools and its humongous app selection to deliver all the features you need. On the other hand, GoDaddy relies almost solely on its built-in features for marketing.
An essential component of eCommerce, marketing can make or break your online store. So, let’s see how Shopify vs GoDaddy fares in this regard:
SEO tools
Shopify’s in-house SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tools are limited to just the basics and, for everything else, you need the app store. On the flip side, GoDaddy has more built-in optimizations.
With Shopify, you don’t get sophisticated built-in features but you can definitely do things like adding/editing titles and meta descriptions. Plus, you also get a search engine result preview.
So, if you’re a beginner or just need the essentials, you’ll appreciate its simplicity. But, it can be extremely frustrating if you want more control over your business’ SEO.
Luckily, Shopify has plenty of apps for SEO. A word of warning though, premium versions can cost you a pretty penny.
GoDaddy, meanwhile, keeps things in-house. First, GoDaddy Insight provides a report on where your site stands in terms of engagement and online presence as well as how to improve.
And, on premium plans, you get the SEO wizard. It’ll help you to choose the right keywords, add keywords to content, and more.
Nothing magical or groundbreaking but certainly helpful.
In a nutshell, Shopify covers the basics and lets third-party integrations manage the rest while GoDaddy handles SEO internally.
Email marketing
Both Shopify and GoDaddy offer in-house email marketing tools. Shopify allows you to send up to 2,500 emails/mo for free and charges $0.001 per additional email. Meanwhile, you can send 100 - 25,000 free emails/mo with GoDaddy, depending on your plan.
Shopify Email gives you 2,500 free marketing emails/mo and every additional 1,000 costs $1.00/mo. A pretty good deal since you can manage it directly on your dashboard and it even comes with pre-designed templates.
The templates cover all sorts of needs, including announcements, promotions, and more. Plus, they conveniently already reflect your logo and branding.
GoDaddy’s Email Marketing is also already integrated with your account. It’s free but your send limit is decided by your plan. Management can be done right from your dashboard.
That’s not all. It comes with a bunch of templates, a stock photo gallery, and a WYSIWYG editor, too. A steal, really as you get to have more creative freedom.
Overall, both Shopify’s and GoDaddy’s email marketing features pass muster. Integrated for convenience, easy to use, and free – I’ll happily take them!
Analytics
Shopify’s analytics is built-in and covers all the basics. But, you can only access advanced features with the Advanced Shopify plan or via third-party apps. On the flipside, analytics is only available with GoDaddy if you connect your account to Google Analytics.
First, analytics with Shopify is comprehensive, and you can see how your store is performing across all channels. But, you can only unlock all available analytics features, like advanced reporting, if you’re on its Advanced Shopify plan.
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Alternatively, many analytics integrations with advanced features are available for free on its app store. This will come in extremely handy for small businesses and those on a budget.
For GoDaddy, the only option for analytics is to connect with Google Analytics. While the lack of built-in features is a little disappointing, Google Analytics is a very useful tool.
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It’s powerful, free, and provides plenty of data – what’s not to like?
While both offer analytics, Shopify offers an in-house option to cover the basics while GoDaddy counts on Google Analytics.
Blogging
Blogging is essential for SEO as it engages your site’s visitors, shares information, and solidifies your business’ presence. So, it’s a good thing that both builders offer the service. Bonus: they keep things simple and intuitive while covering the essentials.
Shopify’s built-in blogging tools are basic at best. You can create and manage posts, that’s mainly it. Oh, and also some simple optimizations like changing metadata, titles, and descriptions. A little basic, but gets the work done.
And, since it’s barebones with limited editing options, Shopify’s blogging is extremely straightforward and beginner-friendly.
GoDaddy’s blogging tools are even more… Basic. You can simply create and manage posts, no editing metadata, titles, descriptions – nothing.
So, when I say that GoDaddy’s blogging is simple and easy enough for newbies, I really mean it.
While both platforms have easy basic blogging tools, Shopify does a little more in terms of a smooth blogging experience. Meanwhile, GoDaddy’s solution is rudimentary.
Marketing with Shopify vs GoDaddy: key takeaways
Overall, Shopify leads the race for better marketing tools. The website builder relies on apps (which could mean paying more) to offer advanced solutions but its integrated in-house tools are reliable and still cover the essentials. Meanwhile, GoDaddy is not too far behind with its quite extensive SEO tools, Google Analytics integration, and email marketing.
Shopify is the winner of this category: Pick Shopify for a more extensive set of marketing tools
Customer support: will you get help fast?
In terms of customer service, both builders offer a 24/7 live chat option, an extensive knowledge base, and phone support, although, with GoDaddy, phone support is available only during business hours. Additionally, Shopify’s support can be reached via emails.
Shopify’s wait time for live chat is around 10 minutes each time I’ve reached out – not exactly snappy, but also not frustrating enough to involve hair-pulling. Once you do get in touch, its support team is amazing. Efficient, knowledgeable, and friendly – the agents are quick to help you out.
But, if you don’t feel like human contact, head to Shopify Help Center. Here you’ll find a massive collection of documents on everything from how to migrate to Shopify to how to sell cross-border. The articles are detailed, well-written, and chock full of information.
As for GoDaddy, its agents are quick to respond on live chat. But, your experience could be smooth sailing or a tornado, depending on the agents you get. The agents are helpful but aren’t exactly knowledgeable about its products and have problems understanding queries.
Most days, I settle for GoDaddy’s knowledge base instead. Although, fair warning, the articles/guides can be pretty outdated or are meant for its hosting service. So, you have to weed it out for yourself.
Overall, both have a variety of support channels. But, there’s no competition. Shopify easily overwhelms GoDaddy with its top-notch support and knowledge base.
Performance: we have a clear winner
When it comes to performance, GoDaddy has an overall faster loading time of 1.3 seconds, while Shopify lagged behind with 3.7 seconds. This is good news for GoDaddy, as good performance is vital for a lower bounce rate, which could translate to better sales conversion.
When analyzing the performance, there are 2 main factors to focus on – Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and Fully Loaded Time. For best search engine search result rankings and an excellent customer experience, these measures should be under 2.5s and 3s, respectfully.
It took Shopify 2.9s to load the largest chunk (LCP) on the screen. This isn’t ideal as 2.9s is slightly above the undesired 2.5s.
Shopify also took 3.7s to fully load. Again, it should be lower, under 3s, for the best user experience for your customers.
Where Shopify falters, GoDaddy shines. Its LCP of 960ms is well below Google’s threshold of 2.5s. That should give a boost to your site’s search engine ranking.
As for Fully Loaded Time, GoDaddy gets 2 thumbs up, too, as it took only 1.3s. That’s far faster than both Shopify’s results and the industry standard.
All things considered, Shopify has decent performance, yet it was no match to GoDaddy’s fast loading times.
Pricing: single option vs a variety of choices
When it comes to pricing, the pair go pretty separate ways as Shopify falls among premium website providers. Meanwhile, while GoDaddy can also be considered a premium option, in comparison to Shopify, the builder is quite affordable.
Shopify plans
Shopify has 3 eCommerce plans – starting from $29.00/mo. But, before you commit, there’s a free trial. Now let’s take a look at each plan specifically:
| Plan | Features |
| Basic Shopify plan ($29.00/mo) | Comes with all the essentials, like unlimited products, a free SSL, numerous sales channels (including an option to sell on any social media platform), and 2 staff accounts. More so, it charges 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee. |
| Shopify plan ($79.00/mo) | On top of the Basic plan’s offerings, you get 5 staff accounts, inventory locations, shipping options, professional reports, and global selling tools, plus a lower transaction fee of 2.6% + $0.30. |
| Advanced Shopify plan ($299.00/mo) | Shopify plan’s features, plus 15 staff accounts, advanced professional reports, third-party calculated shipping rates, and an even lower transaction fee of 2.4% + $0.30. |
Shopify isn’t exactly affordable or budget-friendly, especially if you’re a small business owner. But it is a powerful platform that is worth investing in if you’re after a functional and customizable online store.
Additionally, also bear in mind the transaction fee. If you’re selling more, it makes sense to keep the transaction fees lower. So, do weigh if the cheaper plan will cost you more in terms of transaction fees.
Shopify’s $79.00/mo plan is the best deal for most businesses as it offers plenty of value for your buck. But, you might need to upgrade to Shopify Advanced if you have a bigger business – lower transaction fees often pay off when you sell more.
GoDaddy plans
GoDaddy has 4 paid plans with prices starting at just $9.99/mo. But keep in mind, each plan can be tested out for free first.
Now for this comparison, I’ll be talking about the eCommerce ($16.99/mo) plan since that’s the only eCommerce-specific option.
Ecommerce plan ($16.99/mo) – the package comes with a free SSL, a custom domain, online store functionalities, GoDaddy Insights, email marketing, and allows to sell up to 5 000 products.
$14.99/mo for a website builder with eCommerce capabilities is pretty affordable. But keep in mind that while GoDaddy doesn’t charge transaction fees, the payment gateways you’ll end up using do. GoDaddy Payments charges 2.3% + $0.30 per transaction while others charge 2.9% + $0.30 for every transaction.
If you’re looking for full eCommerce functionality, GoDaddy offers a single Ecommerce plan. To save your wallet and get the best value, opt for it to be billed yearly.
Now that we know what to expect from each provider, let’s see how their pricing plans stack up against each other.
Shopify Basic Shopify vs GoDaddy Ecommerce
These are Shopify and GoDaddy’s cheapest eCommerce plans. Well, actually, it’s also GoDaddy’s only eCommerce plan. Both are similar in many regards except that GoDaddy has more limitations. It’s considerably cheaper and, thus, allows fewer products.
| Feature | Shopify Basic Shopify plan | GoDaddy Ecommerce plan |
| Price | $29.00/mo | $16.99/mo |
| Transaction fee | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction | 2.3% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Products | Unlimited | 5,000 |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Yes | Yes |
| Discount codes/gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Selling on all channels | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple currencies | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple languages | Yes | No |
Both plans cater to smaller online stores. But, where Shopify focuses on those who are willing to spend big for more allowances, GoDaddy zeroes in on those looking for a budget-friendly option. In any case, most small businesses would likely find GoDaddy’s Ecommerce makes more sense financially.
Shopify plan vs GoDaddy Ecommerce
Since this is a battle between a mid-tier Shopify plan and GoDaddy’s sole contender, you’ll naturally see a wider gap in price differences. But, you’ll also see a drop in Shopify’s transaction fees.
| Feature | Shopify plan | GoDaddy Ecommerce plan |
| Price | $79.00/mo | $16.99/mo |
| Transaction fee | 2.6% + $0.30 per transaction | 2.3% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Products | Unlimited | 5,000 |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Yes | Yes |
| Discount codes/gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Selling on all channels | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple currencies | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple languages | Yes | No |
With this plan, Shopify is targeting mid-sized online stores with higher sales volume. Considering its lower transaction fees and the additional features, Shopify is doing a great job meeting these stores' needs. Meanwhile, GoDaddy Ecommerce is still honing in on those with a budget. Although, if push comes to shove, the plan could still (barely!) work for mid-sized stores.
Shopify Advanced Shopify vs GoDaddy Ecommerce
Shopify’s Advanced Shopify and GoDaddy’s eCommerce plans cater to very different clients, which explains their massive difference in price point. But, to be fair, you’ll also see a plunge in Shopify’s transaction fees.
| Feature | Shopify plan | GoDaddy Ecommerce plan |
| Price | $299.00/mo | $16.99/mo |
| Transaction fee | 2.4% + $0.30 per transaction | 2.3% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Products | Unlimited | 5,000 |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Yes | Yes |
| Discount codes/gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Selling on all channels | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple currencies | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple languages | Yes | No |
Advanced Shopify is meant for online stores that are ready to go all out and establish their business in the market. And, Shopify aptly targets them with tons of e-commerce features and its lowest transaction fees. GoDaddy’s Ecommerce will not be able to sustain a store of this size and ambition. Hence, it’s a good thing it’s sticking to what it knows best: smaller sellers on a budget.
Shopify vs GoDaddy pricing: key takeaways
GoDaddy is cheaper than Shopify plus it features lower transaction fees on most of the plans. Meanwhile, Shopify is more expensive due to the fact that it's a dedicated eCommerce platform with more functionalities available. However, when it comes to the basics – GoDaddy has all the essentials to start and even grow an online store.
GoDaddy is the winner of this round: Pick GoDaddy if you're on a budget
Additionally, be sure to check out our list of best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to score a good discount.
Shopify vs GoDaddy: comparison summary
Both Shopify and GoDaddy have their strengths and drawbacks. Whether you end up with a GoDaddy or Shopify depends on your needs. However, this comparison did highlight one biggest difference - Shopify is a web builder, entirely dedicated to eCommerce sites, while GoDaddy is a multipurpose builder.
| Features | Winner | Verdict |
| Ease of use | GoDaddy | GoDaddy comes with a custom panel that is very easy to use, while Shopify has a steeper learning curve because of its many customization options. |
| Templates | Shopify | Shopify has 10 free, professional, and sophisticated templates designed for eCommerce. GoDaddy comes with 20 template options, yet non are eCommerce-specific. |
| eCommerce | Shopify | Shopify is an exclusive eCommerce platform that comes with many advanced tools for an online business. At the same time, GoDaddy offers all the necessary basic eCommerce solutions for an online store. |
| Marketing | Shopify | Both have the essentials. But, where Shopify relies on apps to plug any gaps left by the built-in tools, GoDaddy comes with quite a few useful in-house developed solutions. |
| Customer support | GoDaddy | Both website builders come with live chat and phone support channels. Shopify additionally offers support via emails. |
| Performance | GoDaddy | GoDaddy had a significantly faster load time of 1.3s, compared to Shopify’s 3.7 seconds. |
| Pricing | GoDaddy | GoDaddy offers cheaper prices - $16.99/mo, while Shopify prices range between $29.00/mo and $299.00/mo. However, GoDaddy only has 1 plan for eCommerce. |
With its affordable prices, advanced features, and ease of use, GoDaddy is the overall winner. While the provider is not entirely eCommerce-oriented, the additional variety allows you more freedom in customizing you site.
At the same time, Shopify is a better fit if you’re serious about your online store and have the budget for it.
More Shopify comparisons for you to check out
More GoDaddy Builder comparisons for you to check out
Shopify vs GoDaddy FAQs
Can I switch from GoDaddy to Shopify?
Yes, you can switch from GoDaddy to Shopify. However, you can only transfer your domain names and data. Design changes will not be transferred to Shopify.
How much does GoDaddy charge for eCommerce?
GoDaddy charges $16.99/mo for its eCommerce plan. It also has transaction fees of between 2.3% + $30 and 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Can you do eCommerce on GoDaddy?
Yes, you can do eCommerce on GoDaddy. But, selling online is only available on its Ecommerce plan.
Can I add Shopify buy button to my GoDaddy website?
If you are running a WordPress site on your GoDaddy services, you can add the Shopify buy button to it.
Can I import GoDaddy products to Shopify?
Yes, you can migrate the GoDaddy website to Shopify. For that, you will need to use Shopify’s in-house app – Transporter.
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