Editor's opinion
Lorienz Galarpe
I am a website designer and developer for over 7 years now, and I worked with several hosting companies in the past for each website project I handle.
First impression
GoDaddy is a web host and domain provider that offers multiple website plans and features. One of the largest domain-hosting companies, GoDaddy also provides multiple add-on services and 24/7 customer support.
GoDaddy started back in 1997 when founder Bob Parsons decided to found a company. He wanted the name “Big Daddy,” but found the domain was taken, so opted for GoDaddy instead.
GoDaddy is a web host and domain registrar. It offers affordable introductory rates and some free features in the first year. Many of its features come with extra costs that can add up quickly.
It’s just very easy to register and manage your account at Godaddy, just click the register button on the top menu or simply purchase any of their services and you'll be redirected to the cart page and automatically generate your account for you ofcourse after you provide your email address.
Also they do have a user friendly account dashboard and are easy to manage with. You can add services, manage client accounts, add websites etc.
Trial period
As of now Godaddy does not offer a free trial on any of their services but they do have a 60 Days Money Back Guaranteed. They are 100% dedicated to providing the very best in Web Hosting and stand by in their commitment with a 60 day Money Back Guarantee.
Billing cycle
GoDaddy offers introductory promotional prices, but you’ll have to pay the regular price when your account renews. Also, although the prices are listed by month, GoDaddy charges annually. The promotional and standard costs are:
- Starter: $4.99 a month, then $4.99 a month on renewal;
- Economy: $6.99 a month, then $9.99 a month on renewal;
- Deluxe: $9.99 a month, then $13.99 a month on renewal;
- Ultimate: $14.99 a month, then $17.99 a month on renewal.
Each plan also offers a free domain for your first term. The Ultimate and Maximum plans include a free SSL certificate.
Control panel
In addition to the native interface, GoDaddy still remains faithful to cPanel for more advanced website management tasks. It uses the standard version of it, so you can easily find all the main management modules – file manager, email accounts, domains, software, and databases.
Setting up GoDaddy is simple whether you choose to go with the site builder option or you want the classic cPanel dashboard. Assuming you opt for shared hosting on a Linux server, just fill out a form when prompted with a username and password and GoDaddy will set up WordPress for you (it’s the CMS the web host suggests).
Limits
The economy plan from GoDaddy is more generous than even some of the best hosting services—25GB goes quickly, though. You can upgrade to one of the higher-priced tiers for 50GB, 75GB or 100GB, respectively.
Along with some web hosts today, GoDaddy doesn’t label its bandwidth allowance as “unlimited,” rather it’s unmetered. This means that it isn’t going to monitor how much data transfer you’re using unless it becomes a problem for others on the same server as your website. If you do use more than what GoDaddy deems appropriate for your plan level, it may request you upgrade your service or the company could suspend your website.
Website Builder
Goddady offers a free Website Builder tool, their Website Builder's designer-made templates make it easy to create the site you've always wanted in minutes, while built-in marketing tools help your business get found in all the right places.
Their website builder tools are also very much easy to navigate, just a drag and drop option you can now build your very own web page design layout or simply use a pre-built theme.
Security
GoDaddy includes a few security features for your website in its web hosting plans, but they’re minimal. You get a basic SSL certificate for free for the first year, daily backups and GoDaddy provides network security for its own servers (24/7 monitoring), but if you want more security, you’ll have to pay.
There are three site security plans that include tools such as malware scan, backup recovery, site cleanups and a web application firewall. These range in price from $6.99 per month to $19.99 per month, with a two-year contract (renewal costs $9.99 per month to $29.99 per month).
OS
Their hosting services offer Linux, Windows, and MAC operating service servers.
Support
If you bump into a problem or want to get an answer to your question, you can get help in GoDaddy in four different ways:
- Live chat support. If you want to get in touch with an agent via the live chat, you’ll have to enable Support Cookies and feedback tools. Then, the system will connect you with the chatbot, and if it doesn’t help – you can get in touch with an agent within a few minutes.
- Phone support. GoDaddy focuses on delivering excellent customer service via their 24/7 phone line. The website has a list of 47 countries with contact numbers to reach the customer service via the phone. The call doesn’t cost you anything, unless you call to/from a different country.
- Help center. GoDaddy comes with a comprehensive help center that includes guides, how-tos, videos, to help all the questions that may arise if you decide to host with this provider. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, GoDaddy refers to calling their award-winning support.
Their live chat support agent is very responsive and knowledgeable. GoDaddy mentions its award-winning customer support several times across the website, therefore, we’ve tested it out to see if it’s true.
Conclusion
GoDaddy is a reliable and affordable web hosting service that offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, a no-hassle money-back guarantee and lots of free extras with all hosting plans.
Pros |
Cons |
- Free domain registration for first term;
- 60-day money-back guarantee;
- 24/7 support;
- 99.9% uptime guarantee;
- Modern and easy to use interface;
- Servers location choice in the US, Europe, Asia;
- Fast and reliable server performance;
- Fast setup time.
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- Prices could be lower;
- Free SSL certificates only in more expensive plans;
- No free site transfer;
- High renewal rates;
- Extra cost for backup.
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GoDaddy is one of the most commonly used web hosts and domain registrars in the industry. That said, the company has mixed customer reviews — many don’t appreciate its high renewal fees, and GoDaddy charges extra for several features other hosts offer at no cost. If you’re looking for a web host and domain registrar, make sure to shop around before committing.
FAQ:
❔What is GoDaddy used for?
GoDaddy is mostly used for domain registration and management services. It also has a big choice of web hosting plans, a website builder, and several built-in marketing tools. To sum this up, GoDaddy is a giant in the online services market and is used for building an online presence.
✅Can I get a free domain with GoDaddy?
Yes, you can get a free domain with GoDaddy when you are purchasing web hosting or website builder services. A free domain is included in all of their plans. You can pick from .com, .biz, .club, co.uk, .net, .org, .co, .info, .rocks, .spce, and other popular top-level domains.
✴️Is GoDaddy safe?
GoDaddy ensures basic security only. It provides you with protection from fraud, viruses, and spam. However, it lacks advanced measures, such as DDoS protection and a regular site backups option. Considering that such hosting providers as Hostinger include all of these features with its plans, GoDaddy could use an upgrade in terms of security.