GoDaddy is a website builder, web host, and domain registrar. You can purchase a domain name, web hosting, and a website builder-everything you need to launch a small business website or online store. GoDaddy’s hosting services include shared, virtual private server (VPS), and dedicated hosting.
In this GoDaddy hosting review, we will discuss what it excels at and who it is best suited for. We examine the benefits, drawbacks, and costs of hosting your website with GoDaddy, one of the most popular web hosts available.
Pros:
Simple tool for creating websites
30-day money-back guarantee with free domain registration for the first term
24/7 customer support
There is a free plan available
Guaranteed uptime of 99.9%
Cons:
There is no free site transfer
Several upsells
Renewal rates are high
On lower-priced plans, there are no free backups
There is no free SSL certificate on lower-priced plans
Security on-site costs extra
GoDaddy In a Nutshell
Any GoDaddy web hosting review you read will almost certainly highlight three standout features:
- The free hosting plan, the website builder, and GoDaddy’s 24/7 support. The free plan is a great way to try out GoDaddy’s website builder and other features before committing.
- There are mixed reviews about its support team’s response time and support quality, but there is also a robust knowledge base that allows you to find an answer on your own. Some of the best web hosting companies provide 24/7 support, but not all include phone and live chat. GoDaddy provides support via these channels as well as email.
- Despite the few drawbacks we mentioned, GoDaddy remains one of the most popular options for individuals and small businesses worldwide. It also made our list of the top ten best web hosting services.
Pricing and Plans at GoDaddy
GoDaddy’s free web hosting plan sets it apart from the competition. Keep in mind that this plan is truly unlimited and not just a trial. The free plan, on the other hand, is severely limited.
For example, on GoDaddy’s domain, you must use a subdomain (yoursite.godaddysites.com). Nonetheless, it allows you to test GoDaddy’s website builder and view the templates available.
One of the most vexing aspects of GoDaddy is its pricing. It appears fair on the surface, but once you sign up for a paid plan, you’ll notice that GoDaddy’s pricing practises are far from transparent.
Here are the shared hosting plan tiers, introductory costs for various terms, and renewal rates.
Economy Deluxe Ultimate Maximum
36-month Term: Intro: $5.99/mo Intro: $7.99/mo Intro: $12.99/mo Intro: $19.9/mo
Renew: $8.99/mo Renew: $11.99/mo Renew: $16.99/mo Renew: $24.99
24-month term: Intro: $6.49/mo Intro: $8.99/mo Intro: $13.99/mo Intro: $21.99/mo
Renew: $8.99/mo Renew: $11.99/mo Renew: $16.99/mo Renew: $24.99/mo
12-month term: Intro: $6.99/mo Intro: $9.99/mo Intro: $14.99/mo Intro: $22.99/mo
Renew: $8.99/mo Renew: $11.99/mo Renew: $16.99/mo Renew: $24.99/mo
3-month term: Intro: $10.99/mo Intro: $12.99/mo Intro: $19.99/mo Intro: $28.99/mo
Renew: $10.99/mo Renew: $12.99/mo Renew: $19.99/mo Renew: $28.99/mo
You may notice that the only options in your cart are 3, 12, 24, and 36-month plans, but after you click the continue button, you can choose a hidden one-month plan. On the following page, you must select a month from the dropdown menu. If you aren’t looking for it, you might miss it, which seems extremely sneaky of GoDaddy.
Even with the cheapest shared hosting plans, keep in mind that you’re missing out on some features that other web hosts include as standard. For the Economy or Deluxe plans, there are no SSL certificates or malware scans. For top-tier plans, GoDaddy includes an SSL, but security is still an extra charge (that nearly doubles your total cost on the lowest plan).
GoDaddy also provides VPS hosting, which costs $4.99 to $99.99 per month, depending on the term length and discount. Dedicated hosting is also available, with prices ranging from $129.99 to $419.99 depending on term length and discount.
GoDaddy provides 24 hour support
GoDaddy’s 24/7 support does not apply to every country or support channel. However, many countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, offer phone support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And, while most live chat services are available 24 hours a day, some countries may have limited hours.
Wait times for phone or live chat are typically short, but we’ve been on hold for up to an hour for a representative. Customer feedback on GoDaddy web hosting is mixed.
The majority of negative reviews appear to be about renewal rates, refunds, and customers being unaware of how steep the renewal rates are. Positive feedback emphasises how hard many customer service representatives work to assist customers in resolving an issue or obtaining a refund.
Website Builder by GoDaddy
Anyone can easily use GoDaddy’s site builder. Choose from over 175 free templates, then customise with your own images, text, and business logo. The editor is simple to use, with point-and-click navigation available from the right-side menu.
If you want to use the GoDaddy site editor, the pricing and features will be slightly different. Standard hosting and site building costs $9.99 to $14.99 per month, and an online store costs $16.99 to $29.99 per month. These plans include an SSL certificate, SEO tools, and some marketing features.
Other Advantages
The free domain name registration is one of the most significant advantages of using GoDaddy as a web host. Many of GoDaddy’s competitors offer free domain registration for the first year, but GoDaddy goes above and beyond. Domain registration is free for the first full term, whether it is one year or three years.
Fine Print
Before you choose GoDaddy as your web hosting provider, carefully read the Terms of Service and contact customer support with any questions you may have. The free domain name offer, for example, is only valid for three years. If you pay for five years of service in advance, the first three years of domain registration are free, but the remaining years are discounted.
Read the refund policy as well, as it is quite restrictive. The majority of products are non-refundable. For example, if you sign up for a three-month web hosting plan with GoDaddy, you can only request a refund within the first 48 hours. Furthermore, some of the language is ambiguous: “If a Hosting Service has already been performed, it is non-refundable.”
Despite having a higher starting price than some of the other hosting companies, GoDaddy’s renewal rate is average. In addition, GoDaddy will provide you with a free domain name for up to three years. For certain terms and plans, some other hosting companies offers a lifetime renewal rate, so you have a good chance of locking in one of the best rates from one of the best web hosts around.
GoDaddy’s 100 GB storage limit is generous. The uptime is very good.
Is GoDaddy a good fit for you or your company?
Most small businesses would benefit from GoDaddy’s web hosting services. It’s critical that you understand what you’re getting into when you sign up for a GoDaddy plan. If you only need a domain name and web hosting, you’ll have to buy an SSL separately, but even so, it’s still a reasonably priced option. Those who want marketing and SEO tools, an SSL certificate, and a website builder will pay an extra dollar per month on average with GoDaddy.
Whatever plan you choose, there is the potential for significant savings if you keep renewal rates in mind. GoDaddy makes it simple to upgrade to a VPS or dedicated server as your site and traffic grow.
However, GoDaddy is not for everyone. The web host includes numerous upsells on its website, through its editor, and even through customer support. The quality and speed of support varies. And its pricing language and policies appear to be designed to be perplexing. If these potential pitfalls bother you, think about switching to another top-rated web host.