Website Builder
Top Companies in 2024
Fasthosts Website Builder vs Shopify Website Builder
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- Secure protection
- Access to free stock photos for visual enhancement
- Robust eCommerce options for growing businesses
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free trial available
- Abandoned checkout recovery
- 24/7 support
- Discount codes and gift cards
- Pricier than competitors
- Storage limitations on the essential plan
- Limited server locations
- Expensive higher-tier plans
- No additional staff accounts on the basic plan
- Free trial limited to 3 days
- Limited free theme options
Founded in 1998 in Gloucester, UK, Fasthosts brings over 25 years of expertise in delivering reliable hosting solutions. They specialize in domain registration, website building, shared hosting, email hosting, VPS, and dedicated servers. Fasthosts is known for their eco-friendly data centers powered by renewable energy and top-tier security standards, which ensure reliable and secure hosting services. Their features include a free domain name for the first year on most hosting plans, mobile-optimized websites, built-in website analytics, 24/7 UK-based customer support, and marketing tools like SEO optimization and ad management. Fasthosts is praised for their ease of use and excellent customer support. Positive reviews highlight the platform’s user-friendly design and responsive service. However, some customers have noted limitations in customization and storage on lower-tier plans.
Founded in 2006 in Ottawa, Canada, by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake, Shopify has grown into a global powerhouse in eCommerce, supporting millions of businesses across more than 175 countries. Known for their versatile features, Shopify offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, mobile-ready themes, advanced search and filtering options, and AI-driven tools like Shopify Magic that enhance SEO, automate customer service, and analyze customer behavior. The platform provides a range of pricing plans tailored to different business needs: the Basic plan starts at $32 per month ($24 if billed annually), the Shopify plan at $92 per month ($69 annually), and the Advanced plan at $399 per month ($299 annually). For large enterprises, Shopify Plus starts at $2,300 per month, with each plan offering increasingly advanced features such as custom reports, enhanced support, and additional staff accounts. While customer opinions vary, many appreciate their ease of use, customization options, and powerful integrations. However, some raise concerns about their pricing and customer support. Shopify continues to be a popular choice for businesses aiming to build and scale their online presence.
- Free Plan : Available
- Price : $1.32
- Free Domain : Available
- Storage Allowance : Unlimited
- E-Commerce Plan : Available
- BBB Rating : N/R
- Customer Experience : Good
- Trustpilot Score : 4.7 out of 5
- Free Plan : False
- Price : Starting at $24 a month
- Free Domain : Unavailable
- Storage Allowance : Undisclosed
- E-Commerce Plan : Available
- BBB Rating : A+
- Customer Experience : Fair
- Trustpilot Score : 1.5 out of 5
- £1 for the first 3 months on all eCommerce plans
- Robust themes
- Green data centers
- Mobile app availability
- Scalable
- Extensive third-party integrations
- $1 for the first month on all plans
- Access to App Market
- AI-Powered Features
- Blogging Tools
- Built-in SEO Tools
- Custom Domain
- Customizable Templates
- Drag-and-Drop Editor
- E-Commerce Capabilities
- Integrated Analytics
- Inventory Tracking
- Mobile App
- Mobile Optimization
- Real-Time Reports
- Social Media Integration
- Unlimited Bandwidth—Undisclosed
- Unlimited Storage
- Access to App Market
- AI-Powered Features
- Blogging Tools
- Built-in SEO Tools
- Custom Domain
- Customizable Templates
- Drag-and-Drop Editor
- E-Commerce Capabilities
- Integrated Analytics
- Inventory Tracking
- Mobile App
- Mobile Optimization
- Real-Time Reports
- Social Media Integration
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Unlimited Storage
- Accounting Software
- Analytics Tools
- CRM Software
- Email Marketing Tools
- Live Chat Services
- Marketing Automation
- Payment Gateways
- Point-of-Sale (POS)
- Shipping & Fulfillment
- Social Media Management
- Accounting Software
- Analytics Tools
- CRM Software
- Email Marketing Tools
- Live Chat Services
- Marketing Automation
- Payment Gateways
- Point-of-Sale (POS)
- Shipping & Fulfillment
- Social Media Management
- Android
- Cloud-Based
- iOS
- MacOs
- Windows
- Android
- Cloud-Based
- iOS
- MacOs
- Windows
- Backup and Restore
- DDoS Protection—Undisclosed
- Password Protection
- SSL Certificate Included
- Two-Step Verification—Undisclosed
- Website Security Monitoring
- Backup and Restore
- DDoS Protection—Undisclosed
- Password Protection—Undisclosed
- SSL Certificate Included
- Two-Step Verification—Undisclosed
- Website Security Monitoring—Undisclosed
- Annual Subscription
- Free Trial
- Freemium
- Money-Back Guarantee
- Monthly Subscription
- Annual Subscription
- Free Trial
- Freemium
- Money-Back Guarantee
- Monthly Subscription
- Amazon Pay
- Apple Pay
- Cash
- Debit or Credit Cards
- Google Pay
- PayPal
- Amazon Pay
- Apple Pay
- Cash—Undisclosed
- Debit or Credit Cards
- Google Pay
- PayPal
- Community Forum
- FAQs
- Help Guides
- Live Chat
- Multilingual Customer Support—Undisclosed
- Phone
- Social Media
- Ticketing System
- Community Forum
- FAQs
- Help Guides
- Live Chat
- Multilingual Customer Support
- Phone
- Social Media
- Ticketing System
Shopify vs. Fasthosts
Shopify and Fasthosts are two prominent players in the website-building industry, catering to businesses of various sizes. While Shopify is widely known for its eCommerce capabilities, Fasthosts excels in providing versatile website-building solutions with a focus on security and ease of use. This comparison will explore their service ranges, ease of use, security, and pricing to help you decide which platform best fits your needs.
Service range and customization options
Shopify and Fasthosts provide website-building and hosting services with eCommerce capabilities. Both platforms feature customizable drag-and-drop editors, marketing tools, and domain registration, making them accessible to beginners. Shopify emphasizes extensive third-party integrations and advanced AI tools, enhancing scalability and customization. In contrast, Fasthosts focuses more on security and reliable customer service.
Ease of use and integration
Both Shopify and Fasthosts offer user-friendly interfaces with drag-and-drop editors and responsive themes. They integrate well with tools like Google Analytics and social media channels. Shopify stands out with a vast app ecosystem, providing greater integration options tailored to eCommerce needs. Fasthosts, however, has fewer integrations, limiting its versatility compared to Shopify.
Security and compliance
Security is a priority for both Shopify and Fasthosts. Shopify is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant, providing robust security measures that protect customer data and ensure safe transactions. They also offer SSL certificates and regular security updates to keep online stores secure. Fasthosts, on the other hand, operates ISO 27001-certified data centers, emphasizing strict security standards, including free SSL certificates and advanced TLS encryption technology. Both platforms are committed to safeguarding their users’ data, providing secure environments for online business operations.
Pricing
Shopify and Fasthosts both offer tiered pricing to suit various business needs. Fasthosts’ pricing ranges from £7.50 ($9.90) per month for the Essential plan to £60 ($79.34) per month for the eCommerce Expert plan. Fasthosts offers a special introductory rate of £1 per month for the first three months on all their eCommerce plans, making them an attractive option for new businesses. After the promotional period, their plans cater to various needs, offering flexibility in terms of storage, features, and support levels, ensuring that businesses of all sizes can find a suitable plan.
Shopify's pricing starts at $32 per month for the Basic plan, scaling up to $2,300 per month for the Plus plan, which targets large enterprises with advanced needs. Shopify’s plans are generally more expensive but offer extensive app integrations and advanced features that cater specifically to eCommerce businesses, justifying the higher cost for those looking to scale quickly.
Conclusion
Both Shopify and Fasthosts provide robust website-building solutions, but their strengths cater to different types of users. Shopify excels in eCommerce with extensive integrations and scalability, making it ideal for businesses focused on online sales. Fasthosts offers a more budget-friendly, secure platform with a focus on ease of use and reliable support. Your choice between these platforms will ultimately depend on your specific needs, budget, and the level of customization required for your business.