Ready to launch your business site but not sure where to host it? GoDaddy is a well-known web hosting service with plenty of plans. I know how overwhelming it can be to compare platforms, especially when unsure about the features included, whether you need them, and if the price fits your budget.
That’s why I’m diving into GoDaddy pricing today—to help you determine which plan is the perfect fit for your business website.
A detailed GoDaddy Pricing structure
GoDaddy provides one of the most extensive service selections, allowing me to pick exactly what I need to build or manage a website. While they offer prepackaged plans, I can also opt for individual services “a la carte,” such as purchasing just a domain or hosting from them.
Before adding extra services or digital products to my GoDaddy cart, it’s essential to understand this flexibility. It’s also helpful when evaluating their unique pricing categories, which I’ll explore further.
For businesses, GoDaddy offers bundled packages to help save on website startup and maintenance costs. However, some bundles might still require additional web hosting fees, so I make it a point to double-check what’s included in any package I consider. If I ever have doubts, I rely on GoDaddy Guides, their virtual assistant, to clarify what’s included based on my selections.
In the next sections, I’ll take a closer look at GoDaddy’s four main pricing options:
1. Shared hosting
GoDaddy isn’t just a website builder—it’s also a web hosting service provider. This means I can host and operate my website on various server options tailored to my needs.
Overall, I’ve found that GoDaddy offers excellent value for the money. Unsurprisingly, it ranks as our verified number two choice among the best web hosting services available.
Plus, if I’m already using GoDaddy for domains or other website services, managing everything under one platform is incredibly convenient, making it easier to get my entire business up and running seamlessly.
Shared hosting is an excellent starting point for basic web hosting needs, and GoDaddy makes it both fast and reliable. It’s ideal for simple websites that require standard performance, offering a low-cost entry since my site shares a server with others.
Even with shared hosting, GoDaddy delivers impressive features like 99.9% uptime, optimized servers that run 40% faster, and a free SSL certificate for every site I host under this plan. It’s a solid choice for launching and maintaining straightforward websites.
2. Managed WordPress hosting
For simpler websites, GoDaddy integrates seamlessly with WordPress hosting, offering several options to fit different needs:
With Managed WordPress hosting, I gain access to faster load times, enhanced technical support, tens of thousands of plugins, and much more to optimize my website's performance.
It’s also worth noting that GoDaddy provides hosting options beyond WordPress. For example, their Web Hosting Economy plan starts at just $6.99/month (billed annually for the first year). The WordPress-specific hosting is simply a bonus for those looking to build or transfer their site to the WordPress.org platform.
3. VPS hosting
GoDaddy’s VPS hosting is tailored for larger websites or those requiring more technical control than basic sites like blogs. It’s ideal for high-traffic sites or businesses needing enhanced performance and customization. There are four VPS hosting tiers available:
It’s important to remember that VPS hosting is a significant investment designed for demanding websites or enterprise-level operations. Naturally, these plans' monthly costs are higher than basic shared hosting, reflecting their advanced capabilities.
4. Dedicated hosting
At the moment, GoDaddy doesn’t offer dedicated server hosting. However, a support agent mentioned that this is something their team is working on and plans to introduce in the future—so it’s worth keeping an eye out for updates.
This is an important consideration if I’m managing a very large site. If I outgrow a VPS hosting plan, the lack of dedicated server options could limit my ability to scale further.
5. Website builder
GoDaddy offers three website builder pricing plans: the Basic plan at $9.99/month, the Premium plan at $14.99/month, and the Commerce plan at $20.99/month. All plans allow me to build a customizable website with access to GoDaddy’s user-friendly themes and templates.
Considering these options, GoDaddy’s pricing plans (including its freemium version) place it among our top five website builders.
Each pricing plan has features that make creating a website from scratch easy. With GoDaddy, I can:
GoDaddy’s website builder uses a “start for free” approach. While the free version is appealing, it has storage, security, customizations, and domain protection limitations. If I continuously build and enhance my site, it’s worth upgrading to at least the Basic plan to connect a custom domain and gain access to built-in SEO tools to grow my site.
For a closer look at GoDaddy’s highest-tier website builder, be sure to check out our detailed GoDaddy Ecommerce review.
6. Domain renewal
To understand GoDaddy’s domain pricing, it’s important to know the different domain services they offer:
If I’m a beginner and concerned about the process, I don’t need to worry—securing and registering a new domain is simple, especially with a trusted platform like GoDaddy. Domain brokering and negotiation are typically more relevant for site owners or those flipping websites for profit.
Here’s what I should know: If I’m only looking for a domain name, prices can start at $0.01 for the first year with a .com domain on a 3-year contract paid upfront. However, once the promo period ends, subsequent years will cost more.
This is an excellent deal if I need a domain, but I should explore other bundles for additional services like hosting or website creation.
Additionally, certain GoDaddy hosting packages, such as Shared Hosting, include a free domain for the first year of the hosting plan. GoDaddy also guarantees free domain privacy for the duration of my domain contract.
7. Email
GoDaddy’s email service options are designed for busy site owners who want to present their website communications professionally and trustworthy. This allows me to send emails from a domain-based address (like you@yourdomain.com), which helps build credibility. With a personalized opening line, you could see at least 35% open rate.
GoDaddy also integrates email with Microsoft 365 apps like Teams, offering mobile access and the ability to manage communications from anywhere. Their plans provide 10-50GB of storage for messages, contacts, calendars, and more.
One of the main advantages of signing up for email services through GoDaddy is the convenience of managing everything in one place. There’s no need to handle multiple licenses through Microsoft.
How to use GoDaddy for free?
GoDaddy offers a free plan that includes a basic website builder, and they promise that users won’t have to pay for a website on this free plan.
However, there are several limitations that may become an issue as your site grows, such as the presence of display or banner ads, which can look unprofessional, and the inability to choose a custom domain—this can be a significant setback if you want to build a recognizable brand or business identity.
If I’m in the early stages of site creation and want to try things out before committing to a premium plan, I can start with the free version and easily upgrade later. GoDaddy simplifies this transition, ensuring I won’t lose any work on sites I've already created.
What about hidden costs?
Hidden costs with GoDaddy pricing typically arise from opt-ins or renewals, and sometimes, I may need to agree to pay extra monthly. While GoDaddy isn't intentionally hiding these costs, they can still catch users off guard if they’re unprepared or aware of what to expect.
If I'm using GoDaddy to run an online store or buy and sell, I should be aware that GoDaddy charges minimal transaction fees. Specifically, for eCommerce transactions, there’s a flat 2.7% fee.
Occasionally, I might find myself facing technical questions and in need of additional guidance. Luckily, GoDaddy provides expert support directly on the platform. However, it's worth noting that website design services come with a significant one-time cost—up to $499 for a site build.
Plus, I won’t have to worry about finding and hiring a separate contractor. GoDaddy will handle everything, ensuring my site is up and running with the design I want.
Ready to use GoDaddy?
As you can see, GoDaddy is one of the most cost-effective hosting platforms you can find in the market. Even though its primary focus is on domain registration, both the GoDaddy website builder and hosting plans are more than enough to capture your attention.
However, if you're looking for a versatile or relevant hosting platform, Bluehost can also cater to your needs. However, the pricing will be slightly higher than that of GoDaddy.
I hope you found this blog informative. What's your opinion on my GoDaddy pricing guide? Let me know in the comments below.
