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Web Development · head to head

Nginx vs Strikingly

Nginx logo

Nginx

Web Development

High-performance web server and reverse proxy

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: Nginx open-source nginx has no admin API for changing arbitrary config at runtime; dynamic reconfiguration requires editing the config file and reloading via 'nginx -s reload'; Strikingly strikingly is optimized for single-page sites and is not well suited to building large, multi-section websites.
  • They diverge on capability: Nginx covers High-performance web server, Strikingly covers Drag-and-drop editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nginx and Strikingly actually diverge.

Attributes where Nginx and Strikingly differ
AttributeNginxStrikingly
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linuxweb
Founded20112012

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 Nginx

  • High-performance web server
  • Reverse proxy
  • Load balancing
  • HTTP caching
  • SSL/TLS termination
  • Gzip compression
  • Rate limiting
  • Static file serving

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.

Nginx

  • HTTP web server and static file servingnot Strikingly
  • Reverse proxy and load balancernot Strikingly
  • TLS/SSL termination (SNI, HTTP/2, HTTP/3)not Strikingly
  • Content cachingnot Strikingly
  • Kubernetes Ingress Controller backendnot Strikingly
  • TCP/UDP stream proxyingnot Strikingly

Strikingly

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

Where each one falls short

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

Nginx

  • Open-source nginx has no admin API for changing arbitrary config at runtime; dynamic reconfiguration requires editing the config file and reloading via 'nginx -s reload'
  • No official built-in GUI or dashboard for management or live metrics in the open-source edition
  • Advanced capabilities such as active health checks, dynamic upstream reconfiguration without reload, and a full API gateway feature set are exclusive to the paid NGINX Plus product, not open-source nginx
  • No published list price for NGINX Plus on the current F5 product page; pricing requires contacting sales

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

Nginx

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Web server
    • Reverse proxy
    • Load balancing

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 Nginx if

  • You need high-performance web server.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want reverse proxy.
Nginx 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 Nginx or Strikingly better?
Neither clearly leads. Nginx 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, Nginx or Strikingly?
Nginx starts at Free and Strikingly at Free.
Does Nginx or Strikingly run on more platforms?
Nginx runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Strikingly runs on web.
Can I use Nginx for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Nginx best used for?
Nginx is most often used for http web server and static file serving, reverse proxy and load balancer, tls/ssl termination (sni, http/2, http/3), content caching. Of those, http web server and static file serving and reverse proxy and load balancer are not what Strikingly is typically brought in for.
What can Nginx do that Strikingly cannot?
Nginx covers High-performance web server, Reverse proxy, Load balancing, HTTP caching. Strikingly covers Drag-and-drop editor, Simple Store, Blogging, Forms and live chat.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nginx: How much does nginx cost?

nginx is free and open source software distributed under the 2-clause BSD License. Enterprise distributions, commercial support, and training are available from F5 Inc. at custom pricing.

Source
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
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
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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