Jimdo Website Builder Cost 2024: Is cost-effectiveness compromising features?

Previously, I discussed the Jimdo website builder and let you know whether it’s a reliable solution. However, that blog was too vast to explore the pricing plans individually. But then I thought, why not write a Jimdo website builder cost guide?

Selecting the right Jimdo subscription can be challenging, given that Jimdo offers 12 different pricing plans. 

While Jimdo is marketed as a website builder for small businesses, its higher-tier plans come with a steep price tag. Despite the cost, these premium plans don't include many advanced features or professional marketing tools that might justify the expense.

Sounds interesting? In this blog, I will discuss everything you need to know about Jimdo’s pricing plans. I will help you know which one is most feasible for you. 

Jimdo Website Builder Cost: Dolphin vs Creator

A few years ago, Jimdo launched a new, beginner-friendly AI-powered website builder called Jimdo Dolphin while retaining its original editor-based builder, Jimdo Creator, which allowed more manual customization. To date, more than 20 million websites have been built in Jimdo Dolphin.

When signing up for Jimdo, you're asked about the type of website you want to create. For a blog, you'll be automatically directed to Jimdo Creator. However, if you choose “website” or “shop,” you’ll encounter two options: Jimdo Dolphin and Jimdo Creator. 

Despite this, the way these options are presented can be somewhat misleading. Even though Jimdo Creator is positioned as a tool for coding-savvy users, it can build a website without requiring any coding skills. It offers the flexibility to modify the site’s HTML, CSS, or JavaScript if desired, but that step is optional.

Jimdo Creator also allows users to enhance websites with widgets like social share buttons, email signup forms, and slideshows, offering more customization options. In contrast, Jimdo Dolphin relies on its built-in features, providing a more straightforward but less flexible approach to site design.

The pricing structures for Jimdo Dolphin and Jimdo Creator differ significantly as well. A key distinction is that Jimdo Creator plans do not impose page limits, allowing for more extensive websites than some plans under Jimdo Dolphin.

Choosing between the two editors is essential, as switching between them after creating a site is impossible. Once you start with Jimdo Dolphin, you can't migrate to Jimdo Creator, and vice versa. However, both versions offer free plans, allowing users to test each before committing to a paid subscription.

Jimdo Dolphin (website) pricing plans 

When you visit the Jimdo website and go to the Jimdo website builder cost section, the Dolphin will be the first one to pop up. There are two sections: Website and Online Store. Let’s focus on the website part for now. 

The website offers three different pricing plans, including a free one. However, there’s one more that isn’t transparent. You need to contact the sales team, and they will create a customized quote that fits your business. Let’s take a look at them. 

1. Free

Previously known as the Play plan, the free plan is perfect for people who want to test Jimdo’s features. It is a great choice if you want to experiment and get a feel for building a website. 

Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone who’s tried before but found it too frustrating, you’ll quickly discover that establishing an online presence is much easier. 

Simply select a design, answer a few questions, and have a primary website draft quickly! From there, you can adjust and customize it using the editor without any programming skills.

However, this free plan isn't intended for professional projects. It comes with a few limitations—your site will display Jimdo advertisements, and you won’t be able to connect to a custom domain or email inbox. 

Speaking of the domain, the free plan will give you a Jimdo subdomain, which looks unprofessional. Another drawback is that you cannot use the SEO and marketing features. 

If you find these restrictions too limiting for your needs, consider upgrading to Jimdo START. This entry-level paid plan offers more features and a professional appearance.

2. Start

Jimdo START is ideal for small website projects, especially those that don’t require an extensive number of pages. It allows for a maximum of ten subpages, which might feel restrictive if you plan to expand your site. 

However, essential system pages like legal information, terms and conditions, and privacy policies don't count toward this limit. For personal or non-commercial websites, which often don’t require as many subpages, Jimdo START can be a perfect fit.

One of the best advantages of Jimdo START is that you can use a custom domain included in the plan for the first year (with options like .com, .net, or .org). After the initial year, the domain renewal costs $20 per year. Additionally, there won’t be any Jimdo’s ads.

Although Jimdo START doesn’t have a built-in professional email inbox, it offers free email forwarding as an alternative. If you need a full email solution, you can integrate Google Workspace for an additional $6 per month per user.

Jimdo START also includes basic search engine optimization (SEO) features, allowing you to edit page titles and meta descriptions to enhance visibility on Google. The Jimdo Boost app further assists with optimizing your website content, making improving your ranking in search results easier.

For those interested in tracking their website's performance, Jimdo START includes a statistics tool, which helps you gain insights into visitor behavior and overall site activity, making monitoring your website’s growth and engagement easier.

3. Grow

Jimdo GROW is designed for users who need a bit more room for their website, allowing the creation of up to 50 subpages. This expanded capacity is complemented by increased storage space (15 GB) and bandwidth (20 GB). 

While Jimdo might not be the best choice for large-scale projects, this plan offers more than enough for most small businesses or personal websites that need more room to grow.

Additionally, Jimdo GROW includes the ability to set up five email forwarding addresses, making it suitable for small companies that need multiple email aliases for different functions, such as info@, support@, or sales@.

Another excellent feature of Jimdo Grow is the support system. In case you face problems, you will receive high-priority customer support within four hours. 

Apart from these, Jimdo GROW maintains the same benefits as the Jimdo START plan. This means you still get a custom domain included for the first year, ad-free pages, basic SEO capabilities, etc. Jimdo START.

4. Unlimited

This is the plan I was talking about earlier. You won’t see this plan when you visit the website. You must contact the customer support team, who will provide you with a quote for your business. 

The all-inclusive UNLIMITED package is available if the other Jimdo plans don't provide enough storage space or bandwidth. This plan removes any limits on storage and bandwidth. While the plan offers extensive features, it has some limits—email forwarding is capped at a maximum of 20 addresses rather than unlimited.

One of the Jimdo UNLIMITED plan's standout benefits is its priority support. With this plan, you’re guaranteed a response from the support team within one hour. This is a significant advantage compared to other plans.

Jimdo UNLIMITED also includes a design expert's one-time professional analysis of your website. While the experts won't directly change your site, they will offer valuable insights and suggestions. This added support can help you refine your website’s aesthetics and functionality.

Jimdo Dolphin (online store) pricing plans

Now, it’s time to discuss the online store pricing plans. Don’t be confused. The previous pricing plans were about creating a simple website using Jimdo. 

But now, I will focus on its online store or eCommerce pricing plans. Like the website pricing plan, the online store pricing plans are also cost-effective. You know what I mean if you read my eCommerce website builder blog. 

1. Basic

There’s no point in highlighting the basic or free plan since Jimdo stopped it. Again, don’t be confused. Jimdo stopped the free plan for the online store or eCommerce aspect only. But I thought, why not let you know what we are missing? 

If you’re considering opening an online shop, Jimdo BASIC is the minimum plan you’ll need. However, it’s important to note that while Jimdo does not limit the number of products you can list, the platform is primarily geared toward small online shops. 

If you aim to manage a store with several hundred items, other platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce might offer better support and scalability.

However, Jimdo BASIC can be a suitable option for small shops. The plan includes 10 GB of storage, which should be more than enough for maintaining a small inventory. 

It’s important to remember that Jimdo only supports the sale of physical products, with delivery or collection options. Unfortunately, it does not support digital product sales, so you won't be able to sell items like e-books, digital downloads, or video courses through this platform.

One advantage of using Jimdo for e-commerce is that it does not charge commission fees on sales. While platforms like eBay and Amazon typically take a percentage of each sale, and even Shopify may charge transaction fees under certain conditions, Jimdo allows you to keep all your profits.

The BASICplan comes with a single, pre-set shop design, which may limit your ability to customize the look of your online store. However, it does include one-to-one support through email, providing direct assistance when you need help. 

Additionally, you can access Jimdo’s help database, which answers a wide range of common questions, helping you manage your shop more effectively.

2. Business

Opting for Jimdo BUSINESS gives you more flexibility in managing your product range and shaping your sales strategy. With this plan, you can create product variations, such as different T-shirt sizes (S, M, L, XL), allowing customers to choose options that suit their needs. 

Additionally, you can offer discounts—on the total purchase price or delivery costs—which can be a great way to attract customers with special offers and promotions.

A key advantage of the BUSINESS plan is its live chat support. This feature allows you to get real-time assistance from the support team, providing a faster response to any questions or issues you might encounter, unlike other plans where you might wait one or two working days for a reply.

The plan includes 15 GB of storage space, which is more than enough for most small to medium-sized shops, ensuring you have ample room for product images and other assets. 

While the BUSINESS plan includes a few variations of shop designs, they are similar to the standard template, so if you want a highly distinctive design, you might need to look at more customizable platforms. 

3. VIP

The all-inclusive package from Jimdo offers access to the platform's features. For $28 per month, you get a range of benefits, including priority support with responses within an hour, unlimited subpages, the ability to create trade listings, and a one-time professional design analysis to help refine your site’s aesthetics.

The standout advantage of this package is undoubtedly the swift customer support, which ensures that any issues or queries you have are addressed promptly. 

However, managing expectations is essential—this plan does not inherently make your website load faster or give it a competitive edge in design or performance. The improvements are more about service and support than technical enhancements.

If you’re unsure whether you need all the features this package offers, you might consider starting with a more basic plan like BASIC. This approach allows you to explore the platform and assess your needs. 

You can upgrade to the all-inclusive package later if your growing business or website requires the additional features and support it provides. Upgrading is straightforward and allows flexibility as your site evolves.

Jimdo Creator pricing plans

Jimdo Creator operates similarly to other website builders like Wix, SITE123, and Squarespace by allowing users to select and customize a template. However, it lacks features compared to these alternatives. 

One notable limitation is the lack of apps or extensions, making finding add-ons to enhance your site’s functionality challenging.

If you’re determined to use Jimdo and want to create a blog, Jimdo Creator is your sole option. Five different plans are available under Creator, allowing you to set up an online store. This flexibility suits users who want to combine blogging with e-commerce.

1. Free

The free plan on Jimdo Creator has some limitations, such as the absence of a custom domain and any customer support. Additionally, it tends to be more challenging to navigate than Jimdo Dolphin. 

However, one of the major advantages is the inclusion of a blog feature and the absence of page limits, allowing for greater flexibility in content creation. Users also gain access to all of Jimdo’s mobile-ready templates, which can enhance the site's appearance on various devices.

Moreover, Jimdo Creator provides a convenient app for Android and iOS, enabling users to manage orders, update content, and even design their site from scratch using the intuitive drag-and-drop builder. This functionality makes it easier to maintain your website on the go.

Overall, the free plan can be an excellent fit for bloggers, hobbyists, and small nonprofits looking to create an informative website without incurring costs. It allows users to share their ideas or promote their causes while working within a limited budget.

2. Pro

With a Pro subscription, you get several valuable features, including access to customer support, analytics tools, and a free domain for the first year. Additionally, this plan removes Jimdo’s advertisements from your site, giving it a more professional appearance.

The Pro plan is particularly well-suited for online stores offering a limited product selection. It allows you to manage your inventory effectively while maintaining a polished online presence. One of the notable features of this subscription is the Facebook Promote tool, which enables you to leverage Facebook advertising to drive traffic and boost sales directly through your social media channels.

Overall, the Pro subscription provides essential features for small e-commerce operations, making it a solid choice for those looking to enhance their online store's capabilities while maintaining a budget-friendly approach.

3. Business

The Business plan on Jimdo provides unlimited capabilities, making it an excellent choice for small businesses looking to establish a well-stocked online store. This plan includes all the features in the Pro plan while offering additional functionalities to enhance your e-commerce experience.

With the Business plan, you can create custom order confirmations, generate discount codes, and access various shipping options, giving you the tools to manage your online sales effectively. You can also integrate Stripe, allowing for seamless payment processing.

The business plan also offers the option of keeping your site private. However, visitors cannot create accounts, so you must share the password with anyone who needs access to the site.

Overall, the Business plan provides a robust platform for small businesses aiming to grow their online presence and streamline their sales process while enjoying flexibility and control over their store.

4. SEO Plus

The Business plan and the SEO plan are quite similar, with the key distinction being access to the external SEO tool called rankingCoach in the latter. This tool offers tailored tips and detailed reports designed to help improve your website's search engine rankings. 

Additionally, rankingCoach includes step-by-step video tutorials specifically for Jimdo users, making it easier to implement best practices for SEO directly on your site.

Upgrading to the SEO plan can be wise if your website has difficulty attracting organic traffic. RankingCoach's insights and guidance can assist you in optimizing your content and improving your visibility in search engine results. This plan could support you if you're serious about enhancing your online presence and reaching a broader audience.

5. Platinum

The Platinum plan offers a unique benefit for users willing to invest more each month, granting access to one of Jimdo’s design professionals. This expert can provide personalized advice on enhancing your site's visual appeal.

However, since this is the sole advantage of the Platinum plan, it might be best considered a last resort. If you have an established Jimdo site that appears outdated or unappealing and are unsure how to revamp it, this plan could provide the solution you need. 

Nevertheless, exploring other plans offering a broader range of functionalities may be more beneficial for users looking for more comprehensive features or support.

Are there any hidden charges?

While I admit Jimdo’s pricing structure is a bit complicated, fortunately, there are no hidden charges. They maintain top-notch transparency, and you pay for what you see. However, there are some effective ways to save money when choosing Jimdo. 

1. 24-month discounts

Jimdo provides options for both 12-month and 24-month contracts, allowing users to choose the duration that best fits their needs. If you opt for a two-year commitment, you can enjoy a small discount as a reward for your loyalty. While Jimdo does not publicly advertise these discounts, the percentage varies depending on the plan.

When you commit to a 24-month subscription, you typically receive approximately 10% off the Basic plan and around 13% off the Business plan. 

This discount can significantly reduce overall costs, making it a worthwhile consideration for users looking to save while enjoying Jimdo's features over an extended period.

2. Exchange rates

Jimdo maintains consistent pricing across different regions without adjusting for exchange rates. For example, if a plan is priced at €15 in Europe, it remains at $15 in the US. This approach means that users in the eurozone can potentially save money, given the dollar's current strength against the euro.

Some savvy users may take advantage of this pricing structure by using a VPN to mask their location, allowing them to access the more favorable pricing available in the US. 

This could result in significant savings for those in the eurozone looking to sign up for Jimdo’s services while circumventing the effects of fluctuating currency values. However, users should consider the terms of service and potential implications of using a VPN.

3. Cancellation deadlines

When you sign up for any of Jimdo’s plans, you can cancel within 14 days for a full refund, providing a risk-free trial period to evaluate the service. 

However, if you decide to cancel your plan as the end of your contract approaches, it’s crucial to do so at least 28 days before the renewal date. Failing to give this notice will result in an automatic charge for the next year or two, depending on your original subscription term.

It is essential to keep this cancellation policy in mind to avoid unexpected charges and ensure you have adequate time to make any necessary adjustments to your subscription.

Ready to use the Jimdo website builder?

As you can see from my Jimdo website builder cost review, the pricing plans are quite affordable. But the top-tier plans are worth the money, given the features you get. However, the basic plans will be perfect for small businesses creating a simple website. 

But more often than not, the expensive plans may not be the best option. I mean, you could get more features in the same pricing segment from Wix, Squarespace, SITE123, etc. Especially Wix, which is one of the best website builders. 

I hope you found the best pricing plan based on your needs. What’s your thought on my blog? Make sure you let me know in the comments below. 

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