The verdict
GoDaddy takes it, 5–2 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, GoDaddy takes 5 of 7 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Shopify if…
- • You want Shopify's edge on where you start designing and what adding a store costs
Choose GoDaddy if…
- • You want GoDaddy's edge on what it costs to start and trying it before you pay
Round by round
- Round 1What it costs to startGoDaddy winsShopify5/10
$29
Basic, per month billed yearly ($39 month to month)
- $29, against $9.99
Source: shopify.com ↗
GoDaddy8/10$9.99
Basic plan, per month on annual billing (renews at $16.99)
Source: websitebuilderexpert.com ↗
GoDaddy wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2Trying it before you payGoDaddy winsShopify5/10
3-day free trial
a three-day trial, then $1 a month for the first three months
- 3-day free trial, against Free plan
Source: shopify.com ↗
GoDaddy8/10Free plan
a free site that never expires, after a 7-day Premium trial
Source: godaddy.com ↗
GoDaddy wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 3What it costs to sell onlineGoDaddy winsGoDaddy8/10
$20.99
Commerce plan, per month on annual billing (renews at $34.99)
Source: websitebuilderexpert.com ↗
GoDaddy wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4Who picks up when you are stuckGoDaddy winsShopify5/10
24/7 live chat
live chat support on Basic, Grow and Advanced
- 24/7 live chat, against 24/7 phone, text and live chat
Source: shopify.com ↗
GoDaddy8/10chat, phone, or email
Support channels
- around-the-clock support, though the review found live chat slow to answer
Source: websitebuilderexpert.com ↗
GoDaddy wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 5Where you start designingShopify winsGoDaddy5/10
Not stated
No template count stated; page is now Airo AI Builder-focused (AI-generated designs, 'template prompts'). GoDaddy site search for 'templates' returned no product/template gallery pages.
- 200+ templates, against 1,000+ themes
Source: websitebuilderexpert.com ↗
Shopify wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 6What adding a store costsShopify winsGoDaddy5/10
+$15
Professional $24.99 vs Starter $9.99, per month (billed annually)
- +$11, against $0 extra
Source: godaddy.com ↗
Shopify wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 7What customers say on TrustpilotGoDaddy winsShopify5/10
1.3 out of 5
TrustScore from 5,164 reviews on Trustpilot
- 1.3 out of 5, against 4.4 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
GoDaddy wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
Side by side
- around-the-clock support, though the review found live chat slow to answer
- from $9.99 to $20.99 a month
- $29, against $17
- 3-day free trial, against Free plan
- 24/7 live chat, against 24/7 chat and callback, plus phone and email
- 1,000+ themes, against 2,000+ templates
- 200+ templates, against 2,000+ templates
- $20.99, against $16
- +$11, against $0 extra
- 200+ templates, against 1,000+ themes