Strikingly
Strikingly is a website builder designed for individuals and small businesses needing a simple online presence quickly. It primarily focuses on single-page websites, though multi-page functionality is available. Unlike GoDaddy, Strikingly emphasizes simplicity and ease of use but lacks the customization and flexibility of platforms like UltimateWB. While it offers basic features like e-commerce, they are limited. Strikingly is ideal for quickly setting up basic single-page websites but is not suited for those seeking advanced design flexibility, scalability, or portability.
Who should use Strikingly?
Strikingly is best for:
- Individuals: Users needing a basic portfolio or personal website.
- Small Businesses: Those looking for a simple online presence with minimal effort.
- Beginners: Users new to website creation who want an intuitive platform.
Strikingly is ideal for simple, single-page sites with minimal design customization needs, but it is not suited for advanced users or complex websites.
Strikingly Features
Strikingly offers a limited but straightforward range of features:
Easy Website Creation:
- Simple Editor: Drag-and-drop interface, perfect for beginners.
- Single-Page Design: Focuses on single-page websites, with basic multi-page support.
- Pre-Designed Templates: A selection of basic templates for quick setup.
Basic E-commerce:
- Simple Store Functionality: Basic tools for setting up an online store.
- Product Management: Limited features for managing products and inventory.
- Payment Integrations: Works with Stripe and PayPal for payment processing.
Other Features:
- Blogging Platform: Basic blogging tools to share content.
- Form Builder: Easy-to-use tools for creating contact forms.
- Analytics: Basic tracking for monitoring site performance.
- Mobile Optimization: All websites are optimized for mobile devices.
💵 Pricing
Strikingly offers several plans with varying features and costs:
Free Plan:
- Features: Limited functionality for basic single-page websites. Includes Strikingly branding and limited templates.
- Custom Domain: Not included. You will use a Strikingly subdomain (e.g., yoursite.strikingly.com).
- E-commerce: Not available.
- Analytics and Blogging: Basic blogging available, but limited analytics features.
Limited Plan:
- Price: $8/month (billed annually) or $12/month (billed monthly).
- Features: Unlocks more customization options and features for a simple website.
- Custom Domain: Included. You can connect your own custom domain (e.g., yoursite.com).
- E-commerce: Basic store functionality with limited product management features.
- Additional: Limited access to analytics and email support.
Pro Plan:
- Price: $16/month (billed annually) or $20/month (billed monthly).
- Features: Adds advanced features like custom branding and the ability to remove Strikingly branding from your site.
- Custom Domain: Included.
- E-commerce: Enhanced store features like product management and basic payment processing (Stripe/PayPal).
- Additional: Access to premium templates, analytics, and email support.
VIP Plan:
- Price: $49/month (billed annually) or $59/month (billed monthly).
- Features: Full access to advanced features such as more comprehensive e-commerce tools, priority support, and advanced analytics.
- Custom Domain: Included.
- E-commerce: More advanced e-commerce options, including integration with third-party services and additional payment gateways.
- Additional: VIP support, detailed analytics, and custom integrations.
Additional Costs:
- E-commerce Add-Ons: Limited additional features are available for e-commerce, but the functionality is constrained compared to other platforms. Some premium templates may have additional costs.
👍Pros of Strikingly
Extremely Easy to Use:
- The platform is designed with beginners in mind, offering a simple drag-and-drop interface that's easy to navigate.
- Ideal for users with limited technical skills, enabling fast website creation with little effort.
Focus on Single-Page Websites:
- Perfect for users needing a basic, one-page website for personal projects, portfolios, or small businesses.
- Provides straightforward tools to build simple, visually appealing single-page layouts without unnecessary complexity.
Affordable Pricing:
- One of the most budget-friendly website builders available, with a free plan for basic use and reasonably priced paid plans.
- Offers a cost-effective solution for users who need a basic online presence without investing heavily in web development.
👎Cons of Strikingly
Limited Customization:
- The platform offers very few options for customizing the design and layout, limiting creative flexibility.
- Users who want complete control over the look and feel of their site may find Strikingly restrictive.
Not Very Flexible:
- While it’s great for quick, simple websites, Strikingly lacks the advanced features and customization that more powerful website builders provide.
- Users seeking highly customized or complex websites will find Strikingly less adaptable than other platforms like UltimateWB.
Limited E-commerce:
- The e-commerce functionality is basic, offering only minimal tools for product management and payments.
- Not ideal for users looking to build large, feature-rich online stores.
Very Basic Templates:
- The available templates are simplistic, offering little room for design innovation.
- Users looking for highly unique or professionally designed templates may be disappointed by the limited selection.
Site Lock-In:
- Websites built on Strikingly are tied to their platform, meaning transferring to another host or builder is not possible without losing your website’s structure.
- This lack of portability may be an issue for users who need flexibility for future growth or migration.
Limited Scalability:
- Strikingly is not suitable for large-scale websites with complex requirements or high traffic.
- Best suited for small, simple projects, rather than businesses or enterprises looking to expand.
→ Conclusion
Strikingly is an excellent choice for beginners seeking a simple, quick online presence with minimal customization needs. Focused primarily on single-page websites, it excels at providing fast website creation with minimal cost. However, it lacks the flexibility and advanced features offered by more robust platforms like UltimateWB. If your needs are basic and you require an easy, affordable way to create a simple website, Strikingly may be a good fit. For more complex websites or those requiring greater customization and scalability, other platforms are more suitable.
🔑Key Takeaways:
- Extremely Easy to Use: Very simple interface, perfect for beginners.
- Focus on Single-Page Websites: Ideal for creating simple, single-page websites.
- Affordable Pricing: A cost-effective solution for users with a tight budget.
- Limited Customization: Offers very basic design customization options.
- Not Very Flexible: Lacks the flexibility of more advanced website builders.
- Limited E-commerce: Basic e-commerce tools that may not meet all needs.
- Site Lock-In: Websites are tied to Strikingly, with no easy way to transfer.
- Limited Scalability: Not suitable for websites that need to grow or scale extensively.
Recommendation:
Strikingly is a great option for beginners and non-technical users who need a very basic, single-page website. It's an affordable choice for those seeking a simple online presence. However, if you require greater flexibility, customization, scalability, or advanced features, you may want to explore other platforms.
Rating:
Ease of Use: 4/5
Strikingly offers an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it accessible for beginners. However, some users have found the template editor "clunky," which can be confusing for new users.
Flexibility & Customizability: 2/5
The platform provides limited design customization options, which may not meet the needs of users seeking advanced flexibility.
Features: 2/5
Strikingly includes basic features suitable for simple websites, such as a drag-and-drop editor, social media integrations, and basic e-commerce tools. However, it lacks the extensive range of features offered by more advanced website builders.
SEO: 3/5
Basic SEO tools are available, including custom URLs, titles, meta descriptions, and alt text. However, there are no advanced SEO features or support for schema markup, making it less robust for SEO needs.
Responsive / Cross Browser & Platform Compatibility: 4/5
Websites built on Strikingly are responsive and mobile-optimized. However, due to the simplicity of the design tools, some finer elements might not be as customizable for advanced responsive needs.
Stability & Security: 4/5
Strikingly provides stable performance with secure hosting and SSL encryption, which is good for a basic website. It lacks the advanced security options and features of more enterprise-focused platforms.
Scalability: 2/5
Strikingly is not designed for large-scale websites or businesses that require high scalability. It is ideal for small, single-page websites, but can quickly become limiting for growing sites.
Speed (Clunky vs Sleek Design to Support fast website speeds): 4/5
Strikingly's simplicity leads to fast loading speeds, especially for basic single-page websites. However, as the site grows in complexity, the speed may decrease due to limited optimization options.
Web Hosting Choice / Website Portability: 1/5
All websites are locked into Strikingly’s platform, with no option for external hosting or easy portability. Users cannot transfer their site to another platform, which could be a major drawback for those who want more control.
Pricing: 4/5
Strikingly's pricing is affordable for simple websites, but the value offered by the paid plans is somewhat limited considering the basic features included. The free plan is very restricted, while the paid plans—though reasonably priced—do not provide significant advanced functionality. For users who need more customization or scalability, Strikingly may not be the most cost-effective option in the long run.
Support: 3/5
Strikingly offers decent customer support, including a knowledge base and email support. However, it lacks more extensive support options such as live chat or phone support, which some competitors provide.
Overall Rating: 3/5
Strikingly is an excellent option for beginners who need a simple, budget-friendly website. However, its limitations in customization, scalability, and features make it less suitable for users looking for more flexibility or advanced options.
1 Rating
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Simple but very limiting.