Softwr

Web Development · head to head

PHP vs Strikingly

PHP logo

PHP

Web Development

A popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development

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: PHP distributed under the Modified BSD License, also called the PHP License version 4, per php.net/license/; there is no paid tier or vendor price to compare; Strikingly strikingly is optimized for single-page sites and is not well suited to building large, multi-section websites.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PHP and Strikingly actually diverge.

Attributes where PHP and Strikingly differ
AttributePHPStrikingly
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
FoundedUnknown2012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), 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 PHP

Nothing recorded that Strikingly does not also cover.

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.

PHP

  • Server-side web developmentnot Strikingly
  • Content management systemsnot Strikingly
  • API backendsnot Strikingly

Strikingly

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

Where each one falls short

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

PHP

  • Distributed under the Modified BSD License, also called the PHP License version 4, per php.net/license/; there is no paid tier or vendor price to compare
  • PHP 8.2 lost active support on 31 Dec 2024 and enters full end of life on 31 Dec 2026, with only security fixes since, per php.net/supported-versions.php (Aug 2026)

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

PHP

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PHP review.

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 PHP if

  • You want to start without paying.
PHP 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 PHP or Strikingly better?
Neither clearly leads. PHP 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, PHP or Strikingly?
PHP starts at Free and Strikingly at Free.
Does PHP or Strikingly run on more platforms?
PHP runs on Web. Strikingly runs on web.
Can I use PHP for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is PHP best used for?
PHP is most often used for server-side web development, content management systems, api backends. Of those, server-side web development and content management systems are not what Strikingly is typically brought in for.
What can PHP do that Strikingly cannot?
Strikingly covers Drag-and-drop editor, Simple Store, Blogging, Forms and live chat.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PHP: Is PHP free to use?

Yes, PHP is completely free and open-source software under the PHP Foundation governance. There are no licensing fees or paid tiers.

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
PHP: Does the PHP Foundation offer paid support?

The PHP Foundation accepts voluntary donations to support long-term development, but donations are optional and not required to use PHP.

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
Share

Related pages

More on PHP

More on Strikingly

Keep looking

Other head to heads