How Much Does a Strikingly Website Cost?
A Strikingly website costs between $0 and $49 per month, with most small business owners spending $16-$24 per month for a professional site. The platform offers four pricing tiers: Free ($0), Limited ($8month), Pro ($16/month), and VIP ($49/month) when billed annually. If you need professional design services rather than DIY, expect to add $300-$2,500 for a freelance designer or $3,000-$10,000 for agency work. Here's exactly what you'll pay at each level and how to maximize your Strikingly investment.
How Much Are Strikingly Pricing Plans?
Strikingly offers four distinct pricing tiers, each designed for different user needs. The platform uses a freemium model where the Free plan provides basic functionality while paid plans unlock essential business features like custom domains and e-commerce capabilities.
| Plan | Monthly Cost (Annual) | Monthly Cost (Monthly) | Annual Savings | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | N/A | Personal projects, testing |
| Limited | $8/month | $12/month | $48/year | Simple business sites |
| Pro | $16/month | $20/month | $60/year | Growing businesses, portfolios |
| VIP | $49/month | $59/month | $120/year | E-commerce, high-traffic sites |
Free Plan Features:
- Strikingly subdomain (yoursite.mystrikingly.com)
- 500MB bandwidth per month
- 1 product in Simple Store
- 5GB total storage
- Strikingly branding displayed
Limited Plan ($8/month) includes:
- Connect custom domain
- 50GB bandwidth per month
- 5 products in Simple Store
- Remove Strikingly branding
- 1GB storage per site
Pro Plan ($16/month) adds:
- Free custom domain (first year)
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 300 products in Simple Store
- Site membership features
- Password protection
- Custom fonts
- 3GB storage per site
VIP Plan ($49/month) includes everything plus:
- Priority support response
- Unlimited products in Simple Store
- Multiple sites (up to 5)
- App store access
- Newsletter sending (2,000 emails/month)
- 10GB storage per site
Choosing annual billing over monthly saves between $48 and $120 per year depending on your plan tier. The Pro plan offers the best value for most small businesses, combining essential features like unlimited bandwidth and a free domain with reasonable monthly costs.
How Much Does Strikingly Website Design Cost?
Strikingly is built around do-it-yourself website creation, making professional design optional rather than required. The platform provides over 200 mobile-responsive templates across categories including business, portfolio, personal blog, and online store designs.
DIY Design: $0
Strikingly's template-based editor requires no coding knowledge. The drag-and-drop interface includes:
- 200+ professionally designed templates
- Built-in section layouts (headers, galleries, contact forms)
- Mobile responsiveness automatic on all templates
- Real-time preview while editing
Freelance Designer Costs:
| Designer Level | Cost Range | Turnaround | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | $300-$800 | 1-2 weeks | Template customization |
| Mid-level | $800-$1,500 | 2-3 weeks | Custom layouts, branding integration |
| Senior/Specialist | $1,500-$2,500 | 2-4 weeks | Complex portfolios, conversion optimization |
Agency Design Costs:
| Service Level | Cost Range | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic package | $3,000-$5,000 | Custom design, 5-10 pages, basic SEO |
| Standard package | $5,000-$8,000 | Strategy, design, copywriting, 10-20 pages |
| Premium package | $8,000-$10,000 | Full branding, custom features, training |
Strikingly's simplicity means most users can create professional-looking sites without hiring designers. The platform's templates handle responsive design automatically, eliminating a common pain point that drives designer costs on other platforms.
How Much Does Strikingly Website Development Cost?
Strikingly requires minimal technical development for most use cases. The platform handles hosting, security, and core functionality without coding. However, custom functionality may require developer involvement.
Built-in Features (No Coding Required):
- Contact forms with email notifications
- Simple Store e-commerce (up to 300 products on Pro)
- Blog functionality
- Social media integration
- Google Analytics integration
- Email signup forms
- Embedded videos and maps
Custom Development Options:
| Development Type | Cost Range | Example Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Custom CSS styling | $100-$500 | Advanced visual customization |
| Third-party integrations | $200-$1,000 | CRM connections, booking systems |
| Custom code sections | $300-$1,500 | Interactive elements, custom calculators |
| API integrations | $500-$2,500 | Payment gateways, inventory sync |
Developer Hourly Rates:
| Location | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| North America | $75-$150/hour |
| Western Europe | $60-$120/hour |
| Eastern Europe | $35-$75/hour |
| Asia/South America | $25-$50/hour |
Strikingly's "Custom Code" section (available on Pro and VIP plans) allows HTML, CSS, and JavaScript injection. This enables advanced customization without leaving the platform, though most small business owners won't need custom development.
How Much Does Strikingly Hosting Cost?
Strikingly includes hosting in all subscription plans, making it a true all-in-one platform. There are no separate hosting fees to pay, and the infrastructure handles security certificates, server maintenance, and uptime monitoring automatically.
What's Included in Strikingly Hosting:
| Feature | Free | Limited | Pro | VIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSL Certificate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CDN (Content Delivery) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bandwidth | 500MB/month | 50GB/month | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Storage per Site | 5GB total | 1GB | 3GB | 10GB |
| Uptime Guarantee | Standard | Standard | Standard | Priority |
Limitations to Consider:
- Cannot migrate to external hosting
- No server-side code execution (PHP, Python)
- Storage limits may restrict large media libraries
- No database access for custom applications
True Hosting Cost Calculation:
Since hosting is bundled with Strikingly subscriptions, the effective hosting cost breaks down as:
- Free plan: $0/month (with significant limitations)
- Limited plan: ~$8/month hosting value
- Pro plan: ~$10/month hosting value
- VIP plan: ~$15/month hosting value
Compared to self-hosted solutions requiring separate hosting ($10-$50/month) plus SSL certificates ($0-$100/year), Strikingly's bundled approach typically saves $120-$400 annually for small business users.
How Much Does a Strikingly Domain Cost?
Strikingly offers multiple domain options ranging from free subdomains to custom domain registration. Understanding these options helps you budget accurately for your website's professional identity.
Free Subdomain:
All Strikingly accounts receive a free subdomain: yoursite.mystrikingly.com. While functional for testing, free subdomains lack professionalism for business use and don't support SEO authority building.
Custom Domain Options:
| Option | Cost | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Free subdomain | $0 | Any plan |
| Connect external domain | $0 (+ external registrar cost) | Limited plan or higher |
| Free domain (1st year) | $0 first year | Pro or VIP plan |
| Strikingly domain registration | $24.95/year (.com) | Limited plan or higher |
External Domain Connection:
You can purchase domains from registrars like Namecheap ($8.88/year), Google Domains ($12/year), or GoDaddy ($11.99/year first year) and connect them to Strikingly. This often costs less than Strikingly's native domain registration.
Domain Costs by Extension:
| Extension | Strikingly Price | External Average |
|---|---|---|
| .com | $24.95/year | $10-$15/year |
| .net | $24.95/year | $12-$15/year |
| .org | $24.95/year | $12-$15/year |
| .co | $29.95/year | $25-$30/year |
Pro and VIP plans include a free domain for the first year, valued at $24.95. After the first year, domain renewal costs apply at standard rates.
How Much Do Strikingly Apps and Integrations Cost?
Strikingly's App Store provides additional functionality through both free and premium integrations. Unlike platforms like Shopify or WordPress, Strikingly has a more limited but focused app ecosystem.
Free Apps and Integrations:
- Google Analytics
- Facebook Pixel
- Mailchimp integration
- Google Maps embed
- Social media feeds
- Live chat (basic)
- Contact forms
Premium Apps and Add-ons:
| App/Feature | Cost | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Site Membership | Included in Pro+ | Member-only content areas |
| Simple Store (expanded) | Included in Pro+ | Up to 300 products |
| Newsletter | Included in VIP | 2,000 emails/month |
| Form Builder Pro | $5-$10/month | Advanced form features |
| Scheduling tools | $15-$30/month | Calendly, Acuity integrations |
| Advanced analytics | $10-$50/month | Hotjar, Crazy Egg |
Typical Monthly App Spend:
| Business Type | Monthly App Cost |
|---|---|
| Personal blog | $0-$10 |
| Small business | $10-$30 |
| E-commerce store | $30-$75 |
| Service business | $25-$50 |
Strikingly's native features cover most small business needs without additional apps. The platform's simplicity means fewer integration requirements compared to WordPress or Shopify, though this also limits advanced functionality options.
What Are the Hidden Costs of Strikingly?
Strikingly's straightforward pricing makes hidden costs less common than on other platforms, but several expenses can surprise new users.
Transaction Fees:
Strikingly charges transaction fees on Simple Store sales based on your plan:
| Plan | Transaction Fee |
|---|---|
| Free | 10% per sale |
| Limited | 10% per sale |
| Pro | 5% per sale |
| VIP | 0% |
These fees are in addition to payment processor fees (Stripe/PayPal typically charge 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).
Example: $100 Product Sale
- Free/Limited plan: $10 (Strikingly) + $3.20 (Stripe) = $13.20 in fees
- Pro plan: $5 (Strikingly) + $3.20 (Stripe) = $8.20 in fees
- VIP plan: $0 (Strikingly) + $3.20 (Stripe) = $3.20 in fees
Other Hidden Costs:
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domain renewal (year 2+) | $24.95/year | After free year on Pro/VIP |
| Premium templates | $0 | All templates free (unlike some competitors) |
| Email forwarding | $0 | Included with custom domain |
| Professional email (Google Workspace) | $6-$18/user/month | Optional but recommended |
| Additional bandwidth (overages) | N/A | Throttling, not charges |
| Site migration | $0-$500+ | Manual process, may need help |
Platform Lock-in Considerations:
Strikingly doesn't offer standard export options. If you decide to leave the platform, you'll face:
- Manual content recreation
- SEO ranking disruption
- Potential designer/developer costs to rebuild
Design Refresh Timeline:
Plan to refresh your website design every 2-3 years. Budget $500-$2,000 for professional redesign or allocate 10-20 hours for DIY updates.
How Much Does Strikingly Cost Per Month? Real Examples
Understanding real-world costs helps you budget accurately. Here are four example scenarios with itemized monthly and annual breakdowns.
Example 1: Personal Portfolio (Hobby)
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 | $0 |
| External domain (optional) | $0.83 | $10 |
| Total | $0-$0.83 | $0-$10 |
Best for: Artists, students, personal projects with minimal traffic.
Example 2: Small Business Website
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Plan | $16 | $192 |
| Domain (included year 1) | $0 | $0 |
| Domain (year 2+) | $2.08 | $24.95 |
| Google Workspace (1 user) | $6 | $72 |
| Total Year 1 | $24 | $288.95 |
Best for: Consultants, local services, professional portfolios.
Example 3: E-commerce Store (Simple Store)
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| VIP Plan | $49 | $588 |
| Domain (included year 1) | $0 | $0 |
| Google Workspace (2 users) | $12 | $144 |
| Scheduling tool | $15 | $180 |
| Accounting software | $15 | $180 |
| Transaction fees (est. $2,000 sales) | $0 | $0 |
| Payment processing (2.9% + $0.30) | ~$62 | ~$744 |
| Total Year 1 | ~$153 | ~$1,836 |
Best for: Small product sellers, artists selling prints, service businesses with bookings.
Example 4: Professional with Design Services
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Plan | $16 | $192 |
| Professional design (one-time) | - | $1,500 |
| Domain | $0 | $0 (year 1) |
| Google Workspace (1 user) | $6 | $72 |
| Premium integrations | $20 | $240 |
| Total Year 1 | ~$167 | ~$2,004 |
Best for: Professionals wanting polished presentation without ongoing design costs.
How Does Strikingly Compare to Other Website Builders?
Strikingly competes in the simple website builder market. Here's how it stacks up against major alternatives.
| Platform | Starting Price | Best Plan for Business | E-commerce | Design Freedom | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strikingly | $0 | $24/month (Pro) | Basic | Limited | Simple one-page sites |
| Wix | $0 | $27/month (Business) | Strong | High | Creative flexibility |
| Squarespace | $12/month | $27/month (Business) | Strong | Medium | Design-focused brands |
| Weebly | $0 | $12/month (Professional) | Basic | Medium | Budget-conscious users |
| Wordpress | $0 | $25/month (Business) | Via plugins | Very High | Bloggers, scalability |
| Shopify | $29/month | $29/month (Basic) | Excellent | Medium | Dedicated e-commerce |
Strikingly Advantages:
- Simplest learning curve among all builders
- One-page website focus with excellent mobile results
- Fastest time to launch (often under 1 hour)
- Clean, modern templates with consistent quality
- Competitive pricing for basic needs
Strikingly Disadvantages:
- Limited to single-page architecture primarily
- Smaller app/plugin ecosystem
- Less design customization than Wix or WordPress
- E-commerce features basic compared to Shopify
- No content export functionality
- Limited SEO tools compared to competitors
Choose Strikingly if:
- You want the simplest possible website creation
- One-page design suits your needs
- You prioritize mobile appearance
- Time-to-launch matters more than customization
Consider alternatives if:
- You need multi-page complex navigation
- Advanced e-commerce is essential
- SEO is a primary growth strategy
- You may need to migrate platforms later
How Can You Reduce Your Strikingly Website Cost?
Strategic choices can significantly lower your Strikingly expenses without sacrificing functionality.
1. Choose Annual Billing Annual plans save $48-$120 per year compared to monthly billing. The Pro plan at $16/month annually costs $192/year versus $240 with monthly billing-a $48 savings.
2. Use External Domain Registration Register your domain through Namecheap ($8.88/year) or Porkbun ($9.73/year) instead of Strikingly's $24.95/year. Save $15-$16 annually after connecting to your Strikingly site.
3. Start with the Limited Plan If you don't need e-commerce or membership features, the Limited plan at $16/month provides custom domain support and brand removal. Upgrade to Pro only when needed.
4. Maximize Free Trial Strikingly offers a 14-day free trial on paid plans. Build your complete site during the trial to ensure the platform meets your needs before committing.
5. DIY Design with Templates Strikingly templates are professionally designed and mobile-optimized. Unless your brand requires custom design, templates can save $500-$5,000 in design costs.
6. Use Free Native Integrations Before paying for third-party apps, explore Strikingly's built-in features:
- Contact forms instead of Typeform
- Simple Store instead of separate e-commerce
- Built-in analytics before Google Analytics premium
7. Consider VIP for High-Volume E-commerce If you sell more than $500/month through Simple Store, the VIP plan's 0% transaction fee saves money despite higher subscription cost. Breakeven point: ~$490/month in sales.
Is Strikingly Worth the Cost?
Strikingly delivers strong value for specific use cases while falling short for others. Consider your needs carefully before committing.
Strikingly is worth it if you:
- Need a professional website online quickly (hours, not days)
- Prefer one-page or simple multi-section layouts
- Value mobile-first design without extra effort
- Want predictable, straightforward pricing
- Run a simple business without complex e-commerce needs
- Prioritize ease of use over customization options
- Need a portfolio, landing page, or event website
Consider alternatives if you:
- Need extensive multi-page site architecture
- Require advanced e-commerce features (inventory, variants, shipping rules)
- Want maximum design flexibility and customization
- Prioritize SEO with advanced tools and control
- May need to migrate your site to another platform later
- Need complex membership or community features
- Want access to extensive third-party integrations
Bottom Line:
Strikingly costs $0-$49/month depending on your needs, with most small businesses spending $24-$32/month for a complete professional presence. The platform excels at simplicity and speed, making it worth the cost for users who value these qualities over advanced features. For basic websites, portfolios, and landing pages, Strikingly delivers excellent value. For complex sites or serious e-commerce, platforms like Squarespace, Wix, or Shopify offer more capability despite similar or slightly higher costs.