GoDaddy vs Weebly: Comprehensive comparison guide for 2024

Final verdict

GoDaddy and Weebly offer competitive features for individuals and businesses looking to build their online presence, but they excel in different areas.

GoDaddy (Overall Grade: 7.5/10)

is a versatile platform that shines with its extensive template collection, ease of use, and robust marketing features. It’s particularly suited for users who value a wide range of design options and integrated marketing tools in one place. GoDaddy’s strength in customer support and AI capabilities for ecommerce also makes it a strong contender for businesses looking to streamline their operations.
Weebly (Overall Grade: 7.3/10)

, on the other hand, stands out for its user-friendly website editor, superior website speed optimization, and stronger security measures. It’s an excellent choice for users prioritizing a straightforward building experience, fast-loading websites, and a secure online environment. Weebly’s edge in plugins and integrations further supports its appeal to users seeking extensive functionality through third-party apps.

	Overall grade: 7.5	Overall grade: 7.3
Design functionalities & templates	8.0	7.4
Ease of use	8.2	8.1
Ecommerce	7.2	7.1
Website Editors	6.7	7.6
Product testing options	8.1	8.3
Price	7.9	8.4
Hosting quality	7.8	7.7
Website speed optimization	7.6	7.9
Plugins and integrations	7.3	7.5
Marketing features	7.3	7.1
Customer support	8.5	7.3
Security	6.8	8.3
AI capabilities	7.5	1.8
User Management	7.3	6.5
Overall	7.5	7.3

Best for ecommerce

7.2

7.1

Verdict

: Both GoDaddy and Weebly offer solid ecommerce platforms, but with their close scores, the choice comes down to specific needs and preferences.

GoDaddy

: With a slightly higher ecommerce score, GoDaddy offers a robust platform with integrated marketing tools and a variety of payment processing options. It’s a good choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution with strong marketing support.
Weebly

: Weebly shines with its user-friendly interface and a strong focus on design and customization. It’s particularly suitable for those prioritizing ease of use and aesthetic appeal in their ecommerce solution, despite a slightly lower score.

Best for informational & business websites

7.9

Verdict

: With identical scores in this category, both GoDaddy and Weebly offer compelling features for informational business websites. Your choice may hinge on specific needs such as design flexibility, ease of use, or advanced functionalities.

GoDaddy

: GoDaddy shines with its vast array of templates and a user-friendly website builder, making it a strong contender for businesses looking to quickly establish an online presence. Its comprehensive platform also includes domain registration, hosting, and marketing tools, catering to a wide range of business needs.
Weebly

: Weebly stands out for its ease of use, thanks to a drag-and-drop interface that simplifies website creation. It offers a selection of high-quality, mobile-friendly templates, robust ecommerce features, and seamless third-party app integrations, making it ideal for businesses aiming for a balance between simplicity and functionality.

Detailed comparison

8.0

7.4

🏆

Winner: GoDaddy.

If you’re looking for a platform that offers a larger variety of templates and design, GoDaddy is the preferred choice.

GoDaddy provides an extensive collection of over 1500 website templates catering to diverse industries and design preferences. These templates cover business, ecommerce, creative, personal, and non-profit sectors, offering various styles such as modern, classic, bold, minimalist, and content-focused. With customization options, mobile responsiveness, and a combination of free and premium templates, GoDaddy aims to meet the needs of users seeking versatile and visually appealing website designs.

GoDaddy Themes

Compared to GoDaddy, Weebly offers a curated selection of templates, numbering in the low hundreds, which is fewer than some competitors. However, the emphasis is on high-quality, professionally designed templates covering various categories such as business, ecommerce, portfolio, blog, personal, and events. Weebly’s templates are praised for their clean, modern, and responsive design, with easy customization options for colors, fonts, layout, images, and content.

Weebly Themes

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8.2

8.1

🏆 Winner: GoDaddy

. With a score of 8.2, GoDaddy slightly edges out Weebly, which scored 8.1. GoDaddy’s user-friendly platform, particularly its website builder, is popular among beginners due to features like a drag-and-drop interface, WYSIWYG editor, and mobile-responsive templates.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: GoDaddy

. Both platforms offer a range of learning resources, but GoDaddy provides a more comprehensive set for its website builder, including online documentation, video tutorials, community forums, and live sessions.

Learn GoDaddy

Learn Weebly

7.2

7.1

GoDaddy and Weebly both offer a range of ecommerce features, but they differ in their approach to themes and templates, product page customization, and payment processing.


Ecommerce themes and templates	6.5	6.5
Product page customization	6.0	6.8
Payment processing and commissions	7.5	7.0
POS capabilities	6.0	6.0
Payment gateways	7.0	7.5
Product numbers	7.0	7.0
Additional ecommerce features	6.5	6.7

GoDaddy ecommerce features:

Payment processing
Shipping options
SEO tools
Email marketing features
Social media integrations
Detailed reports

Godaddy add a product

Weebly ecommerce features:

Unlimited products
Inventory management
Product reviews and ratings (Paid plans)
Secure checkout
Shipping options
Abandoned cart recovery (Paid plans)
Basic analytics
SEO tools
Marketing integrations (Paid plans)

Weebly add a product

Ecommerce themes & templates

GoDaddy offers around 70-80 ecommerce themes, covering diverse industries and styles. While generally mobile-friendly with basic customization options, these themes may lack the niche variety and cutting-edge designs found on dedicated ecommerce platforms. On the other hand, Weebly provides ecommerce-specific themes with a decent range of styles, offering built-in features like product galleries and optimized checkout flows. However, Weebly’s customization options are limited compared to dedicated platforms, potentially requiring additional costs for premium themes with advanced features.

Product page customization

GoDaddy’s ecommerce platform offers users basic customization options like editing content, adding images, and adjusting layouts. For advanced customization, coding knowledge is required. Weebly allows a decent level of product page customization through its user-friendly interface, offering options for layout, colors, fonts, backgrounds, and content. Advanced customization, including custom CSS and app integrations, is available with paid plans.

Payment processing

GoDaddy Payments provides a versatile solution for online, in-person, and phone payments with a tiered pricing structure. Generally, online transactions have the lowest fees (2.3% + 30¢), while in-person and manually entered transactions have slightly higher rates. Weebly seamlessly integrates with popular payment processors such as Square, Stripe, PayPal, and others, enabling secure and convenient online transactions for your store. Users can choose their preferred gateway, set up payment processing within Weebly’s settings, and benefit from features like secure checkout and, on paid plans, options for recurring payments and international transactions.

6.7

7.6

🏆

Winner: Weebly

. Weebly, with a score of 7.6, stands out for its drag-and-drop simplicity, catering to beginners with an intuitive interface and visual editing. The editor features a range of pre-designed templates, customization options, and content management tools, making it accessible for users without coding knowledge. While offering ease of use, it has some limitations in design flexibility and advanced features, with certain functionalities requiring a move to paid plans.

Weebly editor

GoDaddy’s editor, scoring 6.7, is a user-friendly drag-and-drop tool enabling website creation without coding. It offers pre-designed templates, a mobile-friendly interface, basic SEO tools, and ecommerce integration, making it accessible for beginners, with affordable pricing plans and an all-in-one solution. However, it has some design limitations, basic features compared to dedicated platforms, a learning curve for extensive use, and potentially limited third-party app integrations.

Godaddy editor

Mobile editor/app

5.5

8.1

🏆

Winner: Weebly

. Both GoDaddy and Weebly offer mobile capabilities for managing your website, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. GoDaddy does not offer a dedicated mobile app for editing websites built with their Website Builder. Users can log into their GoDaddy account and access the website builder through a mobile web browser, but the experience might be slightly more constrained on a smaller screen.

Weebly, on the other hand, offers a mobile app that allows users to manage and make basic edits to their websites on the go. While it offers features like content management and basic design customization, it has limitations, such as no advanced editing capabilities or extensive design flexibility, making it best suited for quick content updates rather than major design changes.

In summary, Weebly receives a higher rating due to its dedicated mobile app and the ability to make basic edits on the go, while GoDaddy lacks a dedicated mobile app for website editing.

8.1

8.3

Overall Result

:

Weebly wins

. Weebly scores slightly higher than GoDaddy with a score of 8.3 compared to GoDaddy’s 8.1. Both platforms offer a free version and a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to test premium features. However, Weebly’s slightly higher score indicates that it might provide a better user experience in this aspect.


Free Plan	Yes	Yes
Trial Duration	30 days money back guarantee	30 days money back guarantee
Testing Premium Features	Yes, within 30-day refund window	Yes, within 30-day refund window

7.9

8.4

Weebly’s pricing is slightly more affordable than GoDaddy’s, but GoDaddy offers a wider range of plans to cater to different needs.

	Offerings	Offerings
Free	Free ($0/month): Build a basic website with limited templates, storage, and features. Ideal for testing the platform.	Free ($0/month): Basic template selection, 500MB storage, Weebly ads, limited features.
$0-$8	Basic ($5.99/month): More templates, custom domain support, email marketing, SEO tools, social media integrations, analytics. Ideal for personal websites and small businesses. Value for price: 6.5	Personal ($6/month): Custom domain, unlimited storage, ad-free, limited SEO and email marketing tools. Value for price: 6.0
$8-$15	Premium ($9.99/month): All Basic features + blog, ecommerce with product listings and payments, advanced marketing tools, and analytics. Ideal for businesses with online sales or growing web presence. Value for price: 8.0	Professional ($12/month): Advanced design options, blog membership features, advanced SEO tools, form analytics. Value for price: 7.5
$15-$18	Commerce ($15.99/month): All Premium features + advanced ecommerce tools like cart recovery, discounts, reviews, memberships, and unlimited products. Ideal for businesses with significant online sales and complex product offerings. Value for price: 9.0	No offering at this amount.
$18+	Pro ($19.99/month): All Commerce features + priority support, higher bandwidth, website security, and CDN. Ideal for businesses with high traffic and critical online presence. Value for price: 9.5	Performance ($26/month): Advanced ecommerce features, lead capture tools, custom code injection, marketing automation. Value for Price: 9.0

In some cases companies have different prices based on various components like a
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.

7.8

7.7

Winner: GoDaddy

. Both GoDaddy and Weebly offer hosting included in all their plans, with GoDaddy providing a variety of hosting types and Weebly offering unlimited storage and bandwidth on its paid plans. However, GoDaddy edges out with a slight advantage in hosting quality score and a more transparent disclosure of their data center locations.


Do they offer hosting?	Yes, included in all paid plans	Yes, included in all paid plans
Data Centers:	Data Centers in USA, France, Germany and UK Cloud Services Through AWS	Weebly leverages a global network of data centers to deliver reliable and efficient website hosting. However, they do not publicly disclose, the specific locations of their data centers due to security and technical reasons.
Type of hosting:	Shared Hosting, VPS Hosting, Dedicated, WordPress Hosting	Shared Hosting, Cloud Based Hosting, Managed Hosting
Uptime:	99.9%	99.9%
Uptime Guarantee:	Yes, 99.9%	Yes, 99.95%

7.6

7.9

🏆 Winner: Weebly

Both GoDaddy and Weebly have made significant strides in website speed optimization, but Weebly edges out GoDaddy with a slightly higher score.


Focus	CDN, Automatic Maintenance, Resource Optimization	Load balancing, CDN
Performance Tools	Infrastructure upgrades, caching mechanisms, image optimization tools, automatic minification of code files	Automatic image optimization, lazy loading for content, code minification, caching
Key Strategies	CDN, Automatic Maintenance, Resource Optimization	Load balancing, CDN
Load Times	Shared Hosting: 2-4 seconds, VPS Hosting: 1-2 seconds, Dedicated Server: 0.5-1.5 seconds	2s to 4s
Page Speed Scores Range	Shared Hosting: 50-70/100, VPS Hosting: 70-85/100, Dedicated Server: 80-95/100	Average 80+/100
Core Web Vitals Improvement	Improved server infrastructure and data centers, effective caching mechanisms, image optimization tools, automatic minification of code files	Automatic image optimization, lazy loading for content, code minification, caching

GoDaddy has enhanced its platform through infrastructure upgrades, including improved server infrastructure and data centers, resulting in faster loading times. Additionally, the implementation of effective caching mechanisms, image optimization tools, and automatic minification of code files contribute to a smoother user experience and improved Core Web Vital metrics. The website builder features optimized templates and code structures for efficient rendering, further enhancing overall performance.

Weebly, on the other hand, has significantly enhanced its Core Web Vitals performance by implementing measures such as automatic image optimization, lazy loading for content, code minification, and caching. These improvements, along with streamlined JavaScript usage and an enhanced server infrastructure, aim to boost website loading speed and responsiveness. This has resulted in an average PageSpeed score of 80+/100 and load times ranging from 2 to 4 seconds.

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7.3

7.5

🏆 Winner: Weebly.

Weebly scores slightly higher than GoDaddy with a score of 7.5 compared to GoDaddy’s 7.3. Weebly’s extensive array of integrations, known as plugins, empowers users to enhance their websites with diverse features. From marketing and analytics tools for SEO optimization and email marketing to ecommerce solutions such as shopping carts and product recommendations, Weebly provides a wide range of functionalities.

GoDaddy, on the other hand, offers a more focused set of built-in features with the option to extend functionalities through limited plugins. However, users of GoDaddy Managed WordPress Hosting and Unmanaged WordPress Hosting have access to a vast WordPress plugin repository with over 59,000 plugins, covering diverse categories such as SEO, security, performance, ecommerce, forms, page builders, social media, backup, analytics, and more.

GoDaddy Applications

Weebly Applications

Weebly plugins

7.3

7.1

🏆

Overall Winner: GoDaddy

. GoDaddy edges out Weebly with a slightly higher score in marketing features. Both platforms offer similar features, but GoDaddy’s integrated marketing tools and robust analytics give it a slight advantage.


SEO Tools
Email Marketing
Blogging
Social Media Integration	Tools for social media linking and content sharing	Easy link to social media accounts and share buttons
Analytics and Reporting	Basic analytics with more detailed insights on higher plans	Built-in analytics for tracking site performance
Ads and Promotions	Features to create and track online ads, including Google Ads	Integrated marketing tools for creating and managing ads

8.5

7.3

🏆 Winner: GoDaddy

. GoDaddy takes the lead in this category with a customer support score of 8.5. It offers 24/7 phone support in multiple languages, live chat, and email assistance. Additionally, GoDaddy provides a 24/7 community forum and social media support. For enterprise customers, GoDaddy offers dedicated account managers, priority routing for quicker issue resolution, and access to advanced technical expertise.

Weebly, on the other hand, offers a variety of support options, including an extensive online help center, a community forum, and email support. Live chat is available during limited hours, and phone support is offered to Pro and Business plan users in the US and Canada during specific hours. For businesses with enterprise-like requirements, Weebly provides a dedicated account manager, priority phone support, and enhanced onboarding and training resources. However, with a customer support score of 7.3, it falls behind GoDaddy in this category.

6.8

8.3

🏆

Winner: Weebly

. Weebly’s security score of 8.3 outperforms GoDaddy’s 6.8, indicating a more robust security infrastructure. Weebly prioritizes user data privacy and security, with secure data centers, compliance with data privacy regulations, encryption, access controls, and regular backups. In contrast, GoDaddy provides limited options for private data storage protection, which may not be sufficient for compliance with regulations like HIPAA or GDPR.

In terms of website security, both platforms offer SSL certificates, malware scanning, and firewalls. However, Weebly goes a step further with PCI compliance for secure transactions, automatic malware scans, spam prevention measures, robust password protection, optional two-factor authentication, and user permission controls. These measures collectively ensure a secure and reliable environment for individuals and businesses utilizing Weebly for website creation.

7.5

1.8


AI Builder
AI Ecommerce features	AI-generated product descriptions, customer service tool, and digital ad creation
AI content generation	AI-generated product descriptions, customer service messages, and social media ads	Third-party tools for AI-powered content creation
Additional AI features		Third-party AI powered plugins

🏆 Winner: GoDaddy

. GoDaddy, with a score of 7.5, utilizes AI mainly to enhance the ecommerce experience and content generation. Its AI features focus on generating product descriptions, customer service messages, and social media ads. While GoDaddy’s AI capabilities are limited, they are more comprehensive compared to Weebly’s lack of native AI capabilities.

No image available

Weebly, with a score of 1.8, does not offer native AI capabilities. However, it allows the integration of third-party AI-powered plugins for content creation. This flexibility can be beneficial for users who prefer to use specific AI tools, but it also means that users need to rely on external resources for AI capabilities.

7.3

6.5

🏆 Winner: GoDaddy

. Both GoDaddy and Weebly offer different levels of user management based on the hosting plan and website building tool.

GoDaddy allows one user for the free plan, while Deluxe and Ultimate plans allow up to five users with full editing permissions. In WordPress Hosting, there’s default support for unlimited users, each with customizable permission levels controlled through the WordPress dashboard.
Weebly’s Free Plan allows only one user, while the Personal Plan accommodates two users. The Professional Plan permits up to 10 users, and the Business Plan offers unlimited user access.

GoDaddy User Roles and Access Levels:

Role	Description	Access Highlights
Account Holder	The primary owner of the GoDaddy Website Builder account.	Full access to all website builder features, domain management, hosting settings, and account settings.
Delegate Access	Users granted permission by the account holder to access specific parts of the GoDaddy account.	Can be given varying levels of access, from managing domains and products to making purchases on behalf of the account holder.
Website Editor	Users with permissions to edit and update the website through the Website Builder interface.	Can customize the website, add or edit sections (e.g., image galleries, menus), and update content.
Online Store Manager	Specifically for websites with e-commerce capabilities, managing product listings, orders, and payments.	Access to manage the online store, including product listings, coupons, shopping cart, shipping, and payments.

Weebly User Roles and Access Levels:

Role	Description	Access Highlights
Owner	The primary account holder and creator of the Weebly site.	Full access to all site features, including design, pages, settings, store management, and analytics.
Admin	Users granted significant control over the site by the Owner.	Can edit and publish site content, manage store orders, view analytics, and access most site settings, except for site ownership transfer and account deletion.
Author	Users with limited permissions, typically focused on content creation.	Can create and edit blog posts, manage comments, and sometimes edit specific pages if granted permission.
Store Manager	Specifically focused on e-commerce aspects of the site.	Access to manage and fulfill orders, view store analytics, and edit product details, but cannot change site design or settings.

Additional Features


SSL Certificate
Custom Domain
Free Custom Domain Included
International Domains
Mobile Responsive
Page Speed
Website Builder Mobile App
Convert a Website To An App
Website Analytics
Multilingual Sites
Multiple Users

User Feedback

GoDaddy

838 reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars

Weebly

458 reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars

GoDaddy is generally appreciated by users for its affordability, reliability, and user-friendly interface, especially in the areas of domain registration and hosting services. However, some users have expressed concerns about occasional interface changes, perceived slowness in website hosting, and dissatisfaction with pricing increases.

On the other hand, Weebly (now Square Online) receives positive reviews for its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface and quick website development features, making it suitable for small businesses. Users highlight its role in efficient appointment booking, saving time in coordination and scheduling. However, some users wish for more advanced building tools and better pricing. The platform is recognized for streamlining website and payment operations, though opinions on customer service and design limitations are mixed. Overall, it is considered a good, affordable solution for small businesses.

The making of this blog

We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.

Our Ranking Criteria

FAQ

Which platform is better for beginners, GoDaddy or Weebly?

GoDaddy is slightly better for beginners due to its higher ease of use score (8.2) and comprehensive learning resources. It offers a user-friendly platform with a drag-and-drop interface, making website creation accessible for users with no technical background.

Can I use both GoDaddy and Weebly for ecommerce?

Yes, both platforms offer solid ecommerce features. GoDaddy has a slightly higher ecommerce score and is known for its integrated marketing tools and variety of payment processing options, making it suitable for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution. Weebly, with its user-friendly interface and focus on design, is ideal for those prioritizing ease of use and aesthetic appeal.

How do GoDaddy and Weebly compare in terms of website speed and security?

Weebly stands out in website speed optimization and security, with higher scores in both categories. It focuses on fast-loading websites and robust security measures, including secure data centers and compliance with data privacy regulations. GoDaddy, while offering reliable hosting and security features, falls slightly behind Weebly in these aspects.

What are the major differences in pricing between GoDaddy and Weebly?

Weebly’s pricing is slightly more affordable, with a higher value for price score in its lower-tier plans. GoDaddy offers a wider range of plans, catering to various needs from basic websites to advanced ecommerce solutions. Both platforms provide a free plan and a 30-day money-back guarantee for premium features testing.

Which platform offers better customer support, GoDaddy or Weebly?

GoDaddy takes the lead in customer support with a higher score, offering 24/7 phone support in multiple languages, live chat, email assistance, and a community forum. Weebly provides a variety of support options, including an online help center, community forum, email support, and phone support for specific plan users, but GoDaddy’s more comprehensive support gives it an edge.