GoDaddy assessment
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GoDaddy hosts millions of websites around the world as a giant in the hosting and domain name selling game. The long product list has almost everything you need to get a website up and running on a budget, at least for the first year.
After much research, comparison, and thought it is safe to say that GoDaddy will meet most of your website needs, especially if this is your first time building a website and you want affordable VPS hosting.
On top of that, and like any other web hosting and domain name provider, there are solid pros and cons with their plans and packages too.
GoDaddy vs Best Cheap Web Hosting
I've compiled a top list of affordable web hosting providers so that you know your options when you're starting a website on a budget. GoDaddy is one of the best options if you want hosting that goes a step beyond shared hosting with its affordable VPS hosting plan. For the price some hosting providers would charge for shared hosting, you can get VPS hosting through GoDaddy.
However, if you're trying to find a more robust web hosting solution for your web project, GoDaddy quickly gets expensive. Because of this, I think it's a great option for starter websites that can use either shared or dedicated hosting and that don't require a lot of server power to run properly.
However, you don't have to make a rush hosting decision. Check out all of my top tips to help you make a more informed decision.
Who is GoDaddy best for?
GoDaddy is ideal for novice website users who want an affordable and convenient start to their large storage websites. GoDaddy does well for 24/7 security monitoring too, but perks like SSL Certificates are add-ons that you need to purchase as extras.
Because of this, it's a great hosting option for smaller websites and websites for beginners who are on a budget and don't need too many robust website solutions.
GoDaddy: the pros and cons
No question about it, GoDaddy is one of the biggest names as far as it can be recognized. It is also home to most of the domains in the world, with over 17 million domain names on its list.
However, choosing GoDaddy as your web hosting provider has advantages and disadvantages. Here are the most important ones to consider.
benefits
24/7 support: GoDaddy makes sure it's always within reach if you ever need a hand or have problems with your website. You can either reach them by phone or use the handy chat support option.
Lots of storage space: If you look through and compare GoDaddy's hosting plans, it's generous with its unmeasured all-tier bandwidth feature.
Affordable .com Domain: GoDaddy gives you the option to purchase a domain for just 99 cents for the first year, which can save you money to start with.
Unlimited site hosting: Most GoDaddy plans let you host an unlimited number of websites, with the exception of the cheapest economy plan.
Convenience: Because you can manage your domain and website in one place, GoDaddy makes it easy to manage both domains from one dashboard.
disadvantage
Constant upsells: GoDaddy is notorious for upsells in every step of the checkout process. While pricing for each tier is considered when that's all, it's a quick way to suggest add-ons and additional features that you may not need.
Expensive renewal rate: This is one of the reasons I think GoDaddy is great for beginner websites who just want to get foot in the door with hosting. Once the first year is up, GoDaddy renewal rates can get expensive for what you get.
Add-on fees: For example, other hosting providers offer free domain registration for the first year or include free SSL certification in their plans. GoDaddy doesn't always offer these features depending on the plan you choose and may charge additional fees for them.
Inconsistent customer support: Support for GoDaddy isn't always top notch when it comes to convenience and reliability. There is always the possibility of long waiting times to be connected to the right person.
GoDaddy pricing
GoDaddy's pricing can be broken down into two main categories: domain name purchases and hosting plans.
Domain names
One of GoDaddy's strengths is its huge list of domain extensions. The cheapest .com option, which is also one of the most popular extensions, is affordable for just 99 cents the first year.
If you go for a hosting plan that doesn't include a free domain name, a 99 cent .com extension isn't a terrible price to pay for.
GoDaddy makes it easy to create, search, or check the availability of your domain name. GoDaddy has some of the most affordable domain name plans in terms of introductory pricing.
Hosting plans
Here's a closer look at GoDaddy's hosting plans:
Web hosting
- Economy – $ 5.99 per month
- Deluxe – $ 7.99 per month
- Ultimate – $ 12.99 per month
- Maximum – $ 19.99 per month
WordPress hosting
- Basic – $ 6.99 per month
- Deluxe – $ 9.99 per month
- Ultimate – $ 12.99 per month
- Ecommerce – $ 15.99 per month
WordPress Ecommerce Hosting – Starting at $ 15.99 per month
Business hosting
- Shared hosting – $ 5.99 per month
- Business Hosting – $ 19.99 per month
- VPS hosting – $ 4.99 per month
VPS hosting
- 1 vCPU – $ 4.99 per month
- 2 vCPU – $ 19.99 per month
- 4 vCPU – $ 39.99 per month
- 8v CPU – $ 69.99 per month
Dedicated server
- DS 32 – $ 129.99 per month
- DS 64 – $ 169.99 per month
- DS 128 – $ 299.99 per month
- DS 256 – $ 399.99 per month
Windows hosting – Starts at $ 5.99 per month
- Economy – $ 5.99
- Deluxe – $ 7.99
- Ultimate – $ 12.99
Reseller Hosting – Starts at $ 39.99 per month
- Improved – $ 39.99
- Grow – $ 49.99
- Expand – $ 64.99
- Established – $ 89.99
It's safe to say that GoDaddy has a ton of hosting plans to cover everything you might need. A huge list of 27 different hosting plans leaves little to be desired.
I strongly recommend that you spend the time carefully going through each hosting option and level according to your website's needs.
If you know that you will be using WordPress as your CMS, then you should pay special attention to WordPress solutions. They are geared towards SEO compatibility, speed, and ease of use once you sign up for a hosting account.
I want to highlight GoDaddy's VPS hosting plan as it is one of the cheapest on the market. Other well-known hosting providers are nowhere near as cheap as GoDaddy's VPS hosting plans. You can't beat a price tag of $ 4.99 for a self-managed virtual private server plan.
GoDaddy Deals
GoDaddy hasn't gotten as big as it has before without offering an extensive list of website building and hosting options. Once you land on the homepage, knowing where to start can be overwhelming and difficult.
To simplify the long list of plans and tools, there are three main categories that the product offering falls under. Let's take a closer look at each one and how they stack up.
GoDaddy Name & Protect
GoDaddy Name & Protect has some useful domain tools:
- Transfer of domain names
- Domain name generator
- Domain Name Search and Whois tools
- SSL certification
- Website backup tools
- Protect yourself from malware and site attacks
When you start a website you know you need a domain name and this is where GoDaddy shines. It's the largest domain name repository and it's sure to have the domain name you are looking for.
If you happen to want a domain name that has been taken over, you can try the domain brokerage services or use the domain name generator to create a new site name.
Like any other reputable hosting provider, GoDaddy offers SSL certification, website backup tools, and your standard protection from malicious cyber attacks.
Because GoDaddy has many domain tools to use, it is often ranked as one of the most popular hosting providers out there.
But the fun doesn't stop there. GoDaddy also offers tons of tools for building and growing websites.
Go Build Dad & Grow
GoDaddy's Build & Grow product offering includes:
- Website builder
- Online store builder for ecommerce websites
- A wide range of hosting options
- Email and Microsoft 365 tools
- Second cell phone number
- Digital Marketing Suite
- GoDaddy Marketing Services
If I were to list every single tool GoDaddy offers its customers, we would be here forever. As a web host and domain name registrar, GoDaddy seems to have taken the path of going far rather than delving into its key features and offerings.
This can either address you as a customer or switch you off from other hosting providers. It all depends on what you appreciate about a web host and what you are willing to invest or need to successfully manage your website.
The most important feature in GoDaddy's Build & Grow product offering is the buffet of web hosting options. You can find a closer look at each of them here.
Web hosting: GoDaddy's simplest hosting plan starts at $ 5.99 per month. Not quite as cheap as other beginner friendly hosts, but still very affordable and great for starter sites looking to grow their online presence.
WordPress hosting: WordPress hosting is specially optimized for WordPress users in terms of speed and accessibility. WordPress plans start at $ 6.99 for basic hosting perks, including 30GB of storage along with a free domain, free business email, and a free SSL certificate. This plan works for you when your website crosses the 25,000 visitor mark. With three additional WordPress tiers, the deal only gets sweeter the more you pay per month.
WordPress E-Commerce Hosting: GoDaddy also offers e-commerce hosting solutions. Plans start at $ 15.99 per month, along with free WooCommerce extensions. Once you've signed into one of the WooCommerce levels, you can easily download and install WordPress and WooCommerce together to be up and running in no time.
Business hosting: A business hosting plan has more dedicated resources but a simplified control panel so you don't need a full IT team to manage your website. Shared hosting plans start at $ 5.99 per month, which you may be able to upgrade as your website grows.
VPS hosting: GoDaddy's self-managed virtual private hosting plan is definitely one of its redemption offers as it is affordable for developers and system administrators who want a more hands-on approach to their websites with plenty of customizable options. The plans start at just $ 4.99 per month and come with a CPU core, one GB of RAM, and 100 GB of SSD storage. This is a steal when compared to what other websites charge for similar VPS hosting plans.
Windows hosting: Another solid GoDaddy option for Windows fans that starts at $ 5.99 a month and includes a free domain, 100GB of storage, and free Office365 email for your first year. If you're already using Windows products, this can be a good plan to incorporate with what is already working.
Reseller hosting: Are you a reseller looking for reliable hosting resale options? GoDaddy lets you build your own hosting business using its servers from just $ 39.99 a month. If you find yourself in a unique position where you need more hosting options, then you need to give them a call to sign up with the sales team.
Dedicated server: GoDaddy has more than eight powerful dedicated server plans for you to choose from. Each plan has its own set of isolated resources. This is perfect for system developers and agencies looking for fast and reliable server functionality.
Plans can start as low as $ 129.99 per month. If this is your first time building a website as a beginner, such plans are not required to successfully build and grow your website. However, it's still good to know that you have the option to use powerful dedicated servers if you need them in the future.
GoDaddy doesn't hold back when it comes to offering you plenty of customized web hosting options. However, it is up to you to decide which levels are right for you as per your website goals.
This is what makes GoDaddy so beginner-friendly. It fulfills basic hosting needs as well as advanced options with specific server requirements.
GoDaddy Pro
Developers and resellers can manage client projects from the GoDaddy Pro dashboard. A hub to manage all of your tools, content, support, discounts, and get in touch with GoDaddy support.
Since I recommend GoDaddy as a great beginner hosting provider, the GoDaddy Pro Dashboard may not be a necessary tool for you if you are not a webmaster or a reseller. However, it's a free option if you want to sign up for it. And it's another way to get in touch with support.
The best cheap web hosting provider
My team and I have made an in-depth review of the best cheap web hosting providers out there that you want to read before making any real hosting decisions that you can see here. Here is a quick summary:
- Hostinger – Best Web Hosting Plan Under $ 1
- Bluehost – The best value in web hosting
- A2 hosting – – The best customer service
- HostGator – The best cheap cloud hosting
- iPage – Best Cheap Web Hosting Features
- GoDaddy – The Best Cheap Hosting For Beginners
Overall, GoDaddy is a great, cheap hosting provider for beginner websites who want affordable VPS hosting, especially for their first year. It's a more budget-conscious option than others, and it has tons of add-ons to add to your plan so you'll never be without the hosting tools you need to be successful.
Once you've decided on a hosting plan, GoDaddy is where you can start.
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