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Web Development · head to head

esbuild vs Strikingly

esbuild logo

esbuild

Web Development

Extremely fast JavaScript bundler written in Go

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Strikingly logo

Strikingly

Web Development

One-page website builder for small businesses and creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: esbuild deliberately does not type-check TypeScript, only strips types, so tsc still runs separately; Strikingly strikingly is optimized for single-page sites and is not well suited to building large, multi-section websites.
  • They diverge on capability: esbuild covers Very fast builds, Strikingly covers Drag-and-drop editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which esbuild and Strikingly actually diverge.

Attributes where esbuild and Strikingly differ
AttributeesbuildStrikingly
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windowsweb
FoundedUnknown2012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Web Development).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in esbuild

  • Very fast builds
  • TypeScript support
  • Tree shaking and minification
  • Simple API

Only in Strikingly

  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Simple Store
  • Blogging
  • Forms and live chat
  • Traffic analytics
  • Social feed integration
  • HTTPS/SSL

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

esbuild

  • Build pipelines where bundle time is the bottlenecknot Strikingly
  • Libraries and tools needing a fast, embeddable bundlernot Strikingly
  • Replacing slower bundlers where the plugin ecosystem is not needednot Strikingly

Strikingly

  • Personal portfolio or resume sitenot esbuild
  • Single-product or small online storenot esbuild
  • Event or landing pagenot esbuild
  • Small business brochure sitenot esbuild

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

esbuild

  • Deliberately does not type-check TypeScript, only strips types, so tsc still runs separately
  • Plugin API is far narrower than webpack or Rollup, and complex builds hit its limits
  • Code splitting support has historically lagged the more established bundlers
  • Frequently used indirectly through Vite, so direct use is a narrower need than the download numbers suggest

Strikingly

  • Strikingly is optimized for single-page sites and is not well suited to building large, multi-section websites.
  • Transaction fees of 2-5% apply to store sales on lower-tier plans in addition to payment processor fees.
  • Design customization is limited compared to code-based site builders, since sites are built from fixed templates.
  • The free plan does not support a custom domain, limiting its use for professional or commercial sites.

Pricing, plan by plan

esbuild

Free
  • esbuildFree
    • Full functionality
    • Commercial use permitted
    • Community support

Strikingly

Free
  • Limited$8/month
    • 2 sites
    • 1 GB storage per site
    • Up to 5 pages
  • Pro$16/month
    • 3 sites
    • 20 GB storage per site
    • Up to 100 pages
  • VIP$49/month
    • 5 sites
    • 100 GB storage per site
    • Up to 500 products

Which should you pick?

Choose esbuild if

  • You need very fast builds.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want typescript support.
esbuild review

Choose Strikingly if

  • You need drag-and-drop editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web.
  • You also want simple store.
Strikingly review

Questions people ask

Is esbuild or Strikingly better?
Neither clearly leads. esbuild starts at Free and Strikingly at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, esbuild or Strikingly?
esbuild starts at Free and Strikingly at Free.
Does esbuild or Strikingly run on more platforms?
esbuild runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. Strikingly runs on web.
Can I use esbuild for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is esbuild best used for?
esbuild is most often used for build pipelines where bundle time is the bottleneck, libraries and tools needing a fast, embeddable bundler, replacing slower bundlers where the plugin ecosystem is not needed. Of those, build pipelines where bundle time is the bottleneck and libraries and tools needing a fast, embeddable bundler are not what Strikingly is typically brought in for.
What can esbuild do that Strikingly cannot?
esbuild covers Very fast builds, TypeScript support, Tree shaking and minification, Simple API. Strikingly covers Drag-and-drop editor, Simple Store, Blogging, Forms and live chat.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

esbuild: Is esbuild free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

Strikingly: Does Strikingly have a free plan?

Strikingly offers a free tier for getting started, with paid plans beginning at $8/month (billed yearly) adding a custom domain, more storage, and lower transaction fees on store sales.

Source
esbuild: Does esbuild type-check TypeScript?

No. It strips types for speed and does not check them. Run tsc separately if you need type checking.

Strikingly: Does Strikingly charge transaction fees on store sales?

Yes. The Limited plan charges a 5% transaction fee, the Pro plan charges 2%, and the VIP plan removes the transaction fee entirely, in addition to any payment processor fees.

Source
esbuild: Do I need esbuild if I use Vite?

You already have it. Vite uses esbuild internally for dependency pre-bundling and transforms.

Strikingly: What payment methods can I use to sell products?

Strikingly's built-in Simple Store supports accepting payments through PayPal and Stripe.

Source
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