Final verdict
GoDaddy and Format serve distinct niches within the website builder market, each with its own strengths and areas for improvement.
-
GoDaddy (Overall Grade: 7.5/10)
excels as a comprehensive platform offering a wide range of services including domain registration, web hosting, and a user-friendly website builder. It stands out for its extensive collection of templates, ease of use, robust ecommerce features, and strong customer support. GoDaddy is particularly suited for beginners and non-technical users looking for an all-in-one solution for website creation and management. -
Format (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
, designed specifically for creative professionals, offers customizable templates tailored to showcase portfolios. While it provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and features like an integrated online store and blogging tools, it falls short in areas like ecommerce capabilities and user management compared to GoDaddy. Format is best for photographers, artists, and designers seeking a platform that emphasizes visual appeal.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
8.0 |
7.0 |
|
Ease of use |
8.2 |
8.3 |
|
Ecommerce |
7.2 |
5.2 |
|
Website Editors |
6.7 |
7.5 |
|
Product testing options |
8.1 |
8.3 |
|
Price |
7.9 |
7.9 |
|
Hosting quality |
7.8 |
5.0 |
|
Website speed optimization |
7.6 |
5.0 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
7.3 |
4.9 |
|
Marketing features |
7.3 |
5.3 |
|
Customer support |
8.5 |
7.0 |
|
Security |
6.8 |
7.4 |
|
AI capabilities |
7.5 |
0.0 |
|
User Management |
7.3 |
2.8 |
| Overall |
7.5 |
5.8 |
Best for ecommerce
7.2
5.2
Verdict
: GoDaddy is better equipped for a broader range of ecommerce needs, offering more comprehensive features and higher flexibility, making it suitable for various businesses. Format, while tailored for creatives, offers basic ecommerce functionalities that might appeal to niche markets.
-
GoDaddy
: With a score of 7.2, GoDaddy stands out for its versatile ecommerce solutions, including advanced payment processing, shipping options, and marketing tools. It’s designed to support businesses of all sizes with its user-friendly platform and diverse ecommerce features. -
Format
: Scoring 5.2, Format is specialized for creative professionals, providing essential ecommerce tools within a platform focused on showcasing portfolios. Its ecommerce capabilities are basic, catering primarily to artists and photographers looking to sell their work online.
Best for informational & business websites
7.9
7.2
Verdict
: GoDaddy slightly edges out Format for informational and business websites, offering a more versatile platform with a higher score in this category.
-
GoDaddy
: With a score of 7.9, GoDaddy is a robust choice for businesses looking for a comprehensive platform that combines ease of use with a wide range of features. Its extensive template collection and versatile website editor make it suitable for creating diverse types of informational websites. -
Format
: Scoring 7.2, Format is tailored for creative professionals and excels in showcasing portfolios. While it offers a highly visual and user-friendly platform, it may not provide the same level of versatility as GoDaddy for a broader range of business and informational sites.
Detailed comparison
Design functionalities & templates
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
8.0
7.0
🏆
Winner: GoDaddy.
If you’re looking for a platform that offers more creative control, a wide array of design features, and a larger collection of templates, 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.
Compared to GoDaddy, Format is a website builder specifically designed for creatives, offering nearly 100 customizable templates tailored for various artistic disciplines. It emphasizes high-quality imagery and mobile-friendly designs, ensuring portfolios look professional on any device. While it offers easy-to-use features and e-commerce tools for selling work directly, some users find its interface less intuitive and its feature set somewhat limited for broader website needs.
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Ease of use
Ease of useReflects the platform’s overall user-friendliness.Score
Components:
- Learning curve (40%): Quickness and ease of getting started.
- Interface design (30%): Simplicity and intuitiveness of layout.
- User guidance (20%): Quality of tutorials and support.
- Flexibility (10%): Adaptability to various user skills.
8.2
8.3
🏆 Winner: Format
. With a score of 8.3, Format edges out GoDaddy (8.2) in terms of ease of use. Format’s user-friendly platform, designed specifically for creative professionals, offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and a range of customizable templates. GoDaddy, while also user-friendly, is more suited for beginners and non-technical users looking for a comprehensive platform for website creation and management.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: GoDaddy
. GoDaddy offers a wider range of learning resources, including online documentation, video tutorials, community forums, and live sessions. Format, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive help center with a wide array of articles and maintains an official YouTube channel featuring tutorials and updates.
For ecommerce
EcommerceMeasures the platform’s effectiveness in supporting online business activities.Score Components:
- Ecommerce themes and templates (20%): Variety and design of templates.
- Product management (25%): Ease of managing and organizing products.
- Payment options (25%): Variety and convenience of payment methods.
- Ecommerce features (20%): Features for managing an ecommerce store.
- Integration (10%): Compatibility with external e-commerce tools and services.
7.2
5.2
GoDaddy and Format offer different ecommerce capabilities, with GoDaddy providing a more comprehensive set of features suitable for a wide range of businesses. Format, on the other hand, caters specifically to creatives and photographers, offering basic ecommerce functionalities.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
6.5 |
4.0 |
|
Product page customization |
6.0 |
5.5 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.5 |
4.5 |
|
POS capabilities |
6.0 |
0.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
7.0 |
6.5 |
|
Product numbers |
7.0 |
5.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
6.5 |
3.5 |
GoDaddy ecommerce features:
- Payment processing
- Shipping options
- SEO tools
- Email marketing features
- Social media integrations
- Detailed reports
Format ecommerce features:
- Inventory management and tracking
- Discounts
- Multiple currency options
Ecommerce themes & templates
GoDaddy offers around 70-80 ecommerce themes that cover 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, Format does not offer ecommerce specific templates, reflecting its focus on portfolio websites rather than extensive ecommerce operations.
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. Additional features include managing product variations, organizing information with tabs, and implementing discount codes and promotions directly on the page. Format offers limited specific details on product page customization directly, but its e-commerce features suggest a focus on showcasing products through high-quality imagery and detailed descriptions.
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 (2.3% + 0¢). The Format website builder offers integration with major payment gateways, including Paypal and Stripe. It charges a 15% commission on the Pro plan and 5% on the Pro Plus plan. However, the platform does not have built-in POS (Point of Sale) capabilities.
Website Editors
Website EditorsEvaluates the platforms’ website building and editing capabilities.Score Components:
- Customization tools (40%): Range and power of editing features.
- Editor usability (30%): User experience within the editor.
- Design flexibility (20%): Freedom in layout and design changes.
- Update and maintenance ease (10%): Simplicity of updating and maintaining the site.
6.7
7.5
🏆
Winner: Format
. With a score of 7.5, Format’s website editor offers a variety of features for creating online portfolios. It provides nearly 100 professionally designed templates and thousands of design variations without requiring any coding. Users can express creativity with custom pages, incorporating unique gallery layouts, colors, text formatting, and custom code embeds. The templates and pages are fully responsive, ensuring a mobile-first experience.
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.
Mobile editor/app
5.5
4.0
🏆
Winner: GoDaddy
. Neither GoDaddy nor Format offer a dedicated mobile app for editing websites. However, GoDaddy allows users to log into their account and access the website builder through a mobile web browser. While the experience might be slightly more constrained on a smaller screen, it still provides a level of convenience for on-the-go adjustments.
On the other hand, Format’s mobile browser interface is the same as the desktop version, making it difficult to use on a smartphone. This lack of a mobile-optimized editing interface can be a significant drawback for users who prefer to make quick edits or updates to their website from their mobile device.
In summary, while both platforms could improve their mobile editing capabilities, GoDaddy offers a slightly better experience in this category.
Product testing options
Product Testing OptionsAssesses the options for trying out platform features before commitment.Score Components:
- Trial quality (40%): Extent and usefulness of the trial or free version.
- Feature accessibility (30%): How many features are available to test.
- Trial duration (20%): Length of the trial period.
- Ease of transition (10%): Smoothness of moving from trial to paid plans.
8.1
8.3
Overall Result
:
Format wins
. Format scores slightly higher than GoDaddy with a score of 8.3 compared to GoDaddy’s 8.1. While both platforms offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, Format provides a 14-day free trial where users can test premium features. GoDaddy, on the other hand, offers a free version but does not provide a trial version.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
Yes | No |
|
Trial Duration |
No (30-day money-back guarantee) |
14 days |
|
Testing Premium Features |
Yes, within 30-day refund window |
Yes, during free trial |
Price
PriceLooks at the cost-effectiveness and value for money of each platform.Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
7.9
7.9
GoDaddy and Format have the same price score, indicating similar value for money.
GoDaddy offers a wider range of plans, including a free option and a Pro plan for businesses with high traffic and critical online presence. Format, on the other hand, is specifically designed for creative professionals and offers three plans with features tailored to this audience. Both platforms offer significant discounts for annual subscriptions, with Format offering up to 60% off depending on the plan. GoDaddy also offers enterprise plans for larger organizations with advanced requirements, while Format does not have an enterprise plan.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free |
Free ($0/month): Build a basic website with limited templates, storage, and features. Ideal for testing the platform. |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$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 |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$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 |
Basic ($12.00/month): Offers core services like mobile-optimized site, up to 10 web pages, and up to 70 high-resolution images. 3 client galleries, up to 2GB file transfers. No video uploads or custom code editor. Value for price: 5.0 |
|
$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-$25 |
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 |
Pro ($24.00/month): Includes all from Basic, plus unlimited web pages, 1500 high-resolution images,15 mins video hosting, 100GB cloud storage, a free custom domain, Online Store with up to 15 products, 50 client galleries and up to 5GB file transfers. Value for price: 7.5 |
|
$30+ |
No offering at this amount. |
Pro Plus ($36.00/month): Adds on Pro features with priority support, unlimited pages and high-res images, 120 mins video hosting, and 1TB cloud storage. Online Store with up to 1000 products, 250 client galleries and 10GB file transfers. Value for Price: 8.5 |
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.
Hosting quality
Hosting
qualityExamines the reliability and performance of the hosting solutions.Score Components:
- Uptime (40%): Consistency and reliability of website availability.
- Speed (30%): Loading times and performance.
- Bandwidth and storage (20%): Sufficiency of resources provided.
- Data centers (10%): Quality and distribution of hosting infrastructure.
7.8
5.0
Winner: GoDaddy
. GoDaddy offers a variety of hosting types, including shared, VPS, dedicated, and WordPress hosting. They also have a 99.9% uptime guarantee and data centers in multiple locations. Format, on the other hand, does not provide detailed information about its hosting services, which makes it difficult to assess its quality.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes, included in all paid plans |
Yes |
|
Data Centers: |
Data Centers in USA, France, Germany and UK Cloud Services Through AWS |
Information not disclosed |
|
Type of hosting: |
Shared Hosting, VPS Hosting, Dedicated, WordPress Hosting |
Information not disclosed |
|
Uptime: |
99.9% |
Information not disclosed |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
Yes, 99.9% |
No |
Website Speed Optimization
Website Speed OptimizationEvaluates optimization of website loading timesScore Components:
- PageSpeed Score (30%): Google’s score indicating performance optimization.
- Loading Time (30%): The average time until a website is fully interactive.
- Mobile Optimization (15%): Optimization effectiveness for mobile devices.
- Resource Optimization (15%): Optimizing images, scripts, and other heavy resources.
- CDN Usage (10%): Use of CDN to enhance speed across geolocations.
7.6
5.0
🏆 Winner: GoDaddy
Both GoDaddy and Format have strategies in place for website speed optimization, but GoDaddy’s comprehensive approach and higher website speed optimization score give it the edge.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
CDN, Automatic Maintenance, Resource Optimization |
Image and video optimization |
|
Performance Tools |
Infrastructure upgrades, caching mechanisms, image optimization tools, automatic minification of code files |
Not disclosed |
|
Key Strategies |
CDN, Automatic Maintenance, Resource Optimization |
Image and video optimization |
|
Load Times |
Shared Hosting: 2-4 seconds, VPS Hosting: 1-2 seconds, Dedicated Server: 0.5-1.5 seconds |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Shared Hosting: 50-70/100, VPS Hosting: 70-85/100, Dedicated Server: 80-95/100 |
Not disclosed |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Enhanced platform through infrastructure upgrades, improved server infrastructure and data centers, effective caching mechanisms, image optimization tools, and automatic minification of code files |
Not disclosed |
GoDaddy has a comprehensive approach to website speed optimization, including the use of a Content Delivery Network (CDN), automatic maintenance, and resource optimization. It 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.
On the other hand, Format focuses on image and video optimization for website speed optimization. However, it does not disclose any information on their Core Web Vitals improvements or specific load times and PageSpeed scores, making it difficult to assess the effectiveness of their optimization strategies.
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Plugins and integrations
Plugins and integrationsMeasures the range and effectiveness of additional plugins and integrations.Score Components:
- Variety of options (40%): Range of available add-ons.
- Integration smoothness (30%): Ease of integrating plugins into the site.
- Quality of plugins (20%): Functionality and reliability of the options.
- Custom integration capabilities (10%): Support for custom or third-party integrations.
7.3
4.9
🏆 Winner: GoDaddy.
With a score of 7.3, GoDaddy offers a more extensive range of plugins and integrations compared to Format, which scores 4.9. GoDaddy’s versatility is evident in its diverse integrations, spanning marketing, ecommerce support, and business productivity tools. On the other hand, Format’s capabilities for expansion through plugins and integrations are notably limited, offering support for a limited selection of plugins/integrations.
Marketing Features
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
7.3
5.3
🏆
Overall Winner: GoDaddy
. GoDaddy offers a more comprehensive set of marketing tools, including advanced SEO features, a user-friendly email builder, a built-in blog, robust social media integrations, detailed analytics and reporting, and powerful advertising tools. Format, while offering similar features, is more basic and tailored for creative professionals.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
|
|
|
Email Marketing |
|
|
|
Blogging |
|
|
|
Social Media Integration |
Tools for social media linking and content sharing |
Basic social media integration |
|
Analytics and Reporting |
Basic analytics with more detailed insights on higher plans |
Basic analytics through Google Analytics integration |
|
Ads and Promotions |
Features to create and track online ads, including Google Ads |
Basic promotional features |
Customer Support
Customer supportEvaluates the quality and availability of support options.Score Components:
- Response time (40%): Speed of support responses.
- Support quality (30%): Effectiveness and helpfulness of the support.
- Availability (20%): Range of support channels (phone, chat, email).
- Resource richness (10%): Quality of self-help and educational materials.
8.5
7.0
🏆 Winner: GoDaddy
. GoDaddy takes the lead in this category with a customer support score of 8.5, compared to Format’s score of 7.0. GoDaddy offers 24/7 phone support in multiple languages, live chat, and email assistance. They also have a community forum and social media channels for additional support. For enterprise customers, GoDaddy provides dedicated account managers, priority routing for quicker issue resolution, and access to advanced technical expertise.
On the other hand, Format offers 24/7 customer support through email and live chat. However, they do not provide any specific support for enterprise customers.
Security
SecurityLooks at the platforms’ security measures and data protection.Score Components:
- Data protection (40%): Safeguards for user and customer data.
- SSL and encryption (30%): Implementation of secure connections.
- Compliance (20%): Adherence to industry security standards.
- Regular updates (10%): Frequency of security updates and patches.
6.8
7.4
🏆
Winner: Format
. Format takes the lead in security with a score of 7.4 compared to GoDaddy’s 6.8. Format emphasizes the security of user data through encrypted data storage, both in transit and at rest, and employs strict access controls. The platform regularly updates its security measures to protect against new threats and complies with data protection regulations like GDPR.
On the other hand, GoDaddy, while offering encryption and adhering to security standards, provides limited options for private data storage protection. However, it does deliver robust website security with plans offering features like SSL certificates, malware scanning, and web application firewalls.
AI Capabilities
AI capabilitiesMeasures the effectiveness of AI-driven features and tools.Score Components:
- Automation efficiency (40%): Impact of AI on streamlining processes.
- Personalization (30%): AI-driven customization for users or customers.
- AI-Assisted design (20%): Role of AI in website design and functionality.
- Data analysis (10%): Use of AI in interpreting user data and analytics.
7.5
0.0
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
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 |
|
|
Additional AI features |
No additional AI features apart from the mentioned ones |
|
🏆 Winner: GoDaddy
. GoDaddy, with a score of 7.5, utilizes AI mainly to enhance the ecommerce experience. Its AI features focus on generating product descriptions, customer service messages, and social media ads. While GoDaddy’s AI is not extensive, it is more business and data-centric compared to Format, which does not have any AI capabilities.
User Management
User ManagementAssesses the platforms’ capabilities in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility.Score Components:
- Role Customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of Management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access Control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
7.3
2.8
🏆 Winner: GoDaddy
. GoDaddy and Format offer different levels of user management capabilities.
- GoDaddy allows multiple users to edit a website based on the hosting plan and website building tool. The free plan permits one user, 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.
- Format, on the other hand, allows only one user to manage and edit websites.
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. |
Format does not provide information about user roles and access levels.
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 users generally appreciate its affordability, reliability, and user-friendly interface, especially for 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, Format is highly praised by its users, particularly for its user-friendly website builder. Users appreciate the ease of adding images, the effectiveness of customer service, and the variety of modern templates. The platform is especially popular among photographers and other creatives for its ability to provide a professional online presence easily and efficiently. However, some users have expressed a desire for more customization options, particularly for mobile views, and have noted minor limitations in template flexibility and SEO functionality.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
FAQ
Which platform is better for creative professionals, GoDaddy or Format?
Can I use GoDaddy for ecommerce?
How do GoDaddy and Format compare in terms of ease of use?
Which platform offers better customer support?
How do the platforms compare in terms of website speed optimization?
Which platform is more secure?
Do either GoDaddy or Format offer AI capabilities?
Which platform is recommended for users with no coding knowledge?
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