GoDaddy Review

GoDaddy Pros & Cons

Evaluating GoDaddy: A Breakdown of Performance, Security, and Other Key Features

Founded in 1997 by entrepreneur Bob Parsons, GoDaddy emerged as a powerhouse in web hosting and domain registration. Originally known as “Jomax Technologies,” it swiftly rebranded to “GoDaddy” in 1999. GoDaddy’s rise to prominence was fueled by bold marketing campaigns, including memorable Super Bowl ads, solidifying its position as one of the world’s largest domain registrars. Under the leadership of Aman Bhutani, who assumed the CEO role in 2011, the company embarked on global expansion and diversified its product offerings.

In 2015, GoDaddy made history with its IPO debut on the New York Stock Exchange, signaling a new chapter in its journey. Today, GoDaddy continues its trajectory of international expansion, strategic acquisitions, and unwavering support for small businesses, cementing its status as an industry leader.

In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at how GoDaddy performs across critical areas like hosting speed, server security, customer support, and overall value.

What Can You Expect from GoDaddy in Terms of Speed & Uptime Performance?

While GoDaddy offers essential performance features, its speed and uptime may not match the top-tier hosting providers. Key performance-enhancing features offered include:

• NVMe Storage in shared hosting plans, providing faster data retrieval for better performance under traffic spikes.

In short, GoDaddy provides reasonable speed and uptime for basic needs, but may not be the best option for users with demanding performance requirements.

Is Your Website Safe with GoDaddy’s Security Measures?

Yes, websites hosted at GoDaddy are safe. The hosting provider implements a range of security measures designed to protect your data and ensure website reliability. Key server security features include:

• DDoS protection, which shields your site from malicious traffic.
• Web Application Firewall (WAF), which blocks potential threats before they reach your site.
• Automatic Malware Scanning, which identifies and removes harmful code to prevent damage.

Daily backups are included as a standard feature, allowing for quick restoration of your website in case of any issues. Additionally, GoDaddy offers free SSL certificates with an easy installation system, enabling users to secure their websites effortlessly. This encrypts communication and protects the data exchanged between your site and its visitors.

With these measures in place, you can trust that your website is well-protected against online risks.

What Can You Expect from GoDaddy’s Customer Support?

GoDaddy offers a range of 24×7 customer support options to ensure users get timely assistance. Help is available via phone, live chat, and email. Additionally, you can also access the knowledge base for self-help guides and troubleshooting. User feedback on customer support is overwhelmingly positive, with fast response times and knowledgeable representatives consistently praised for their effectiveness in resolving issues.

Is GoDaddy’s Pricing Justified by the Value and Features It Offers?

No.

Lower-tier Plans are Expensive

GoDaddy divides their shared hosting solutions into two tiers: Standard Performance and High Performance plans. Overall, the standard plans offers limited resources despite the higher-than-average market price. For example, the entry-level plan under ‘Standard Performance’ costs $5.99 per month but only supports a single website with 10 databases and very limited server resources. You can get similar features and server resources at 50% lower cost in many other budget hosting providers.

Higher-tier Plans are Okay

Conversely, GoDaddy’s higher-tier plans present a more attractive value proposition. For instance, their Web Hosting Plus plan costs less than $60 but allows hosting up to 200 websites with 400 GB of NVMe storage, 32 GB of RAM, and 16 vCPU cores. These specifications are competitive and considered a good deal in the current market.

A similar pricing structure applies to GoDaddy’s VPS plans. While the lower-performance standard plans are relatively expensive, the higher performance plans offer reasonable prices and good deals, providing better value for customers seeking more robust hosting solutions.

But Then Again…

The biggest issue with GoDaddy is that it has grown too large to prioritize the needs of individual users. Every support request must pass through multiple layers of verification and several support agents, which makes resolving even simple issues with our account feel like a marathon. This structure is not only ineffective but also frustratingly inefficient.

Moreover, GoDaddy’s approach to product sales further complicates things. The company offers a vast range of products, and its infrastructure is clearly designed to encourage users to buy more of these services. In some cases, this is merely a minor inconvenience, but for essential services like SSL certificates, it can be a real nightmare.

Take for example the case of SSLs. Today, every website needs an SSL certificate for secure data transmission and better SEO ranking. Yet, GoDaddy’s emphasis on selling its own SSLs has led to a system that seems almost intentionally difficult for users who want to install free SSL certificates. This push for upselling creates a barrier for users seeking cost-effective security solutions, making GoDaddy less user-friendly overall.

How is GoDaddy Rated Based on Overall Market Satisfaction?

GoDaddy’s been around for so long that it seems to attract a particular crowd. These are typically driven by bargain deals and basic, easy-to-use services. In this, GoDaddy delivers. Sadly, such bargain deals have led to limited support capabilities, thus driving up dissatisfaction.

For additional insights, please refer to the user reviews section below.

Is GoDaddy Suitable for Beginners?

GoDaddy’s dashboard is easy to use, which may appeal to beginners, but the platform’s aggressive upselling and costly entry-level plans are notable drawbacks. Many of the add-ons and upgrades are heavily promoted and somewhat misleading – which creates a potentially overwhelming and pricey experience for new users. It seems like GoDaddy leverages its brand name to attract less-informed users, potentially leading them into paying more than necessary for basic features readily available with other hosts.

Is GoDaddy Suitable for Small Businesses?

For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), GoDaddy could be a reasonable choice, as it offers a full suite of services beyond hosting. From domain auctions and digital marketing tools to SEO services and online store solutions, GoDaddy’s wide range of products can simplify managing multiple business IT needs on a single platform. This one-stop-shop approach may be convenient for SMBs seeking an all-inclusive digital toolkit.

Is GoDaddy Suitable for Web Developers?

Developers have to consider things carefully where GoDaddy is concerned. While support may not be necessary, GoDaddy’s basic plans aren’t very dev-friendly. VPS plans cost more, and finding better bargains elsewhere for stripped-down hosting services is recommended.

Is It Possible to Host Custom Email with GoDaddy?

Yes, you can host your own email accounts with GoDaddy. This significantly reduces your costs by eliminating the need for expensive third-party email services.

How Easy Is the Onboarding Process with GoDaddy?

Overall Godaddy website is easy to navigate and their product offerings are clear. So getting onboard and started with GoDaddy is not difficult.

That said, however, content in GoDaddy’s help center seems more promotional than helpful. That, coupled with features that may or may not work, can lead to a tumultuous onboarding process.

Does GoDaddy Offer a Free Trial?

Yes, GoDaddy offers a 30-day free trial period. If you are not satisfied with their services for any reason, you can cancel within this period and receive a full refund.

Try now: Visit & Sign Up at GoDaddy Official Website

GoDaddy Plans & Pricing

GoDaddy has streamlined their offerings, no longer providing Windows, Reseller, and Dedicated Hosting through their website. While this indicates a shift in their service strategy, existing users might still retain their current hosting plans. However, there is some uncertainty about the continuity of these services for existing customers, making it essential to stay updated with GoDaddy’s announcements.

• Shared Hosting: Starting from $5.99 – $54.99 per month
• VPS Hosting: Starting from $8.99 – $199.99 per month
• WordPress Hosting: Starting from $5.99 – $12.99 per month

Web hosting prices are subject to change, and promotional rates may only be available for a limited time or for new customers. To ensure you get the most accurate and current pricing details, we recommend visiting the official GoDaddy website.

Consider Renewal Prices When Choosing

When evaluating hosting options, keep in mind that many providers offer substantial discounts during the initial signup period, but prices can rise significantly upon renewal. It’s crucial to research and compare renewal rates alongside introductory offers to get a clear picture of the long-term cost.

To help you in making an informed decision, we have prepared a summary table below comparing the initial signup and renewal costs of GoDaddy services with several other providers we monitor.

Compare GoDaddy’s Signup Cost Against Competitors

Web Host	Shared Hosting Signup Fees	Shared Hosting Renewal Fees	VPS Hosting Signup Fees	VPS Hosting Renewal Fees
GoDaddy	$5.99 – 54.99/mo	$9.99 – 109.99/mo	$8.99 – 199.99/mo	$14.99 – 339.99/mo
Vice Temple	$6.00 – 44.00/mo	$6.00 – 44.00/mo	$28.00 – 418.00/mo	$28.00 – 418.00/mo
A2 Hosting	$2.99 – 14.99/mo	$12.99 – 29.99/mo	$2.99 – 99.99/mo	$8.99 – 239.99/mo
Hostalia	$1.06 – 1.06/mo	$5.35 – 16.08/mo	$ – /mo	$ – /mo
SiteGround	$3.99 – 10.69/mo	$17.99 – 44.99/mo	$ – /mo	$ – /mo
HostPapa	$2.95 – 12.95/mo	$12.95 – 34.99/mo	$19.99 – 249.99/mo	$19.99 – 249.99/mo

Caution: Prices May Vary Web hosting prices can change frequently. For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing information, Please visit the official GoDaddy Website.

Final Thought: Is GoDaddy Right for You?

For many users, GoDaddy’s long-standing reputation and extensive product range can be impressive. The company’s brand recognition and breadth of offerings give it an edge in attracting newcomers and those looking for an all-in-one provider.

Yet, having the most products doesn’t necessarily mean that a web host has paid full attention to all of them. Like any gigantic coperations, they can be a little slow to adapt to the latest technology and lack personal touch in their service offerings.

While GoDaddy’s hosting services may be convenient for some, we find that the overall experience often falls short. The aggressive upselling, high prices on entry-level plans, and limited support for alternatives like free SSLs can create obstacles for users seeking flexibility and value. As a result, we recommend GoDaddy primarily for its domain registration services, though even here, it tends to be pricier than options like NameCheap.