Hostinger vs GoDaddy – “Choose this one …”

Hostinger vs GoDaddy

94.8 %

Overall Score

Hostinger vs GoDaddy

84.8 %

Overall Score

Hostinger is known for its affordable web hosting plans, offering a range of services including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and cloud hosting. It has a user-friendly interface and offers excellent customer support. Hostinger’s standout feature is its high-performance infrastructure with a focus on speed and uptime, making it a popular choice for budget-conscious users looking for reliable hosting.

GoDaddy, one of the largest web hosting providers globally, offers a comprehensive suite of services, including domain registration, website hosting, website builders, and online marketing tools. Known for its wide range of services, GoDaddy provides robust customer support, but its pricing can be higher compared to some competitors, especially for renewal rates. It is ideal for businesses looking for all-in-one solutions.

Both companies are competitive in terms of reliability, but Hostinger generally excels with more cost-effective pricing for basic hosting needs, while GoDaddy is more suitable for those seeking a larger variety of services, including professional email and marketing tools.

Hostinger

Performance: |5.0| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hostinger offers strong performance, particularly for its price range. With a global network of data centers, Hostinger ensures fast loading times and high uptime rates, typically around 99.9%. Its use of LiteSpeed web servers and optimization features like caching further boosts site speed, making it ideal for small to medium-sized websites.

Uptime: |4.9|⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hostinger guarantees a 99.9% uptime, and its performance consistently meets this standard. Users often report minimal downtime, thanks to its robust infrastructure, including SSD storage and multiple data centers worldwide, which help ensure high availability and reliability.

Customer Service: |4.8|⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hostinger is praised for its responsive customer support, offering 24/7 live chat assistance. The support team is knowledgeable and helpful, typically resolving issues quickly. Hostinger also provides a robust knowledge base and tutorials for self-service, making it easy for users to find solutions independently.

GoDaddy

Performance: |4.8| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

GoDaddy, while reliable, tends to be slightly slower compared to Hostinger in terms of raw performance. It offers solid uptime and speed but may not match Hostinger’s performance for more resource-intensive sites. GoDaddy’s performance is good for general business websites but might need more resources or upgrades for larger, high-traffic sites.

Uptime: |4.9|⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

GoDaddy also promises a 99.9% uptime guarantee, which it generally meets. However, some users have reported occasional dips in performance, particularly during peak times or with shared hosting plans. Despite this, GoDaddy remains a reliable choice for most business websites.

Customer Service: |4.7|⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

GoDaddy offers 24/7 support through phone, live chat, and email, with a strong reputation for customer service. While responses are generally quick, some users report that the quality of support can vary, with complex issues sometimes requiring more time to resolve. GoDaddy also has an extensive knowledge base for self-help.

Both companies provide reliable customer service, but Hostinger tends to receive higher marks for quick, efficient problem-solving, while GoDaddy may offer a wider range of support channels.

Overall Comparison Hostinger vs GoDaddy

You might expect GoDaddy to come out ahead in this comparison, given its widespread popularity and recognition. However, after testing both GoDaddy and Hostinger for several months, I can confidently say that GoDaddy falls short.

To fairly evaluate Hostinger vs. I looked at GoDaddy’s price, features, performance, security, and customer service. In every category, Hostinger emerged as the clear winner. It’s more affordable, significantly faster, and offers much more value-packed plans.

When compared to Hostinger—and many other hosting providers—GoDaddy provides less value for your money. Its shared hosting plans lack essential features, performance is subpar, and customer support is notoriously unreliable. While GoDaddy remains a solid option for domain registration, it’s far from an ideal choice for web hosting.

FeatureHostingerGoDaddy
PerformanceFast speeds, 99.9% uptime, LiteSpeed web servers Reliable performance, but can be slower on shared hosting
PricingAffordable, budget-friendly plansHigher initial prices with higher renewal rates
Customer Support 24/7 live chat support, helpful knowledge base 24/7 phone and chat support, good but variable quality
Hosting OptionsShared, VPS, Cloud Hosting Shared, VPS, WordPress, Business Hosting
User InterfaceSimple, intuitive control panel Easy-to-use control panel with additional tools
Security Features Free SSL, daily backups, strong DDoS protection Free SSL, daily backups, enhanced security options
Domain Services Offers domain registration with hosting plans Extensive domain registration and transfer services
Website Builder Available with specific plans Offers a website builder for users without coding experience
Additional Features Free email, caching tools, e-commerce support Email marketing, online store features, professional email services

1. Plans and Pricing

GoDaddy Is Overpriced Without Justification

Hostinger and GoDaddy both provide various web hosting options, including shared hosting, managed WordPress, and VPS plans. However, they are primarily recognized for their shared hosting, which features significant discounts for long-term commitments.

That’s where the resemblance stops. Hostinger’s entry-level Single Shared Hosting plan costs about one-third of GoDaddy’s Economy plan during the initial term, offering far greater affordability.

Plan TypeHostinger GoDaddy
Shared HostingStarts at $1.99/monthStarts at $5.99/month
WordPress Hosting Starts at $1.99/monthStarts at $6.99/month
VPS HostingStarts at $3.99/month Starts at $19.99/month
Cloud HostingStarts at $9.99/month Starts at $9.99/month
Domain Registration Starts at $0.99/year Starts at $11.99/year
Renewal Rates Generally low, increases slightly after renewal Renewal rates tend to be higher

Hostinger’s entry-level Single plan provides double the storage space of GoDaddy’s equivalent and includes a free lifetime SSL certificate—unlike GoDaddy, which charges renewal fees after the first year. Why pay more for fewer resources?

For those needing additional resources, Hostinger’s Premium plan is 50% cheaper than GoDaddy’s Economy plan. It offers 100GB of storage, 100 websites, 100 email accounts, and unlimited bandwidth, making it a more comprehensive option.

While both hosts include one email address in their entry-level plans, GoDaddy only offers it free for the first year. Afterward, renewal is automatic unless canceled, potentially leading to unexpected charges.

For managed WordPress hosting, Hostinger remains the more affordable and feature-rich choice. GoDaddy lags behind with less storage, fewer websites, and additional costs for email after the first year. While GoDaddy does provide some enhanced security features like daily backups, it falls short in other crucial areas.

Hosting Management

FeatureHostinger GoDaddy
Control PanelCustom hPanel, user-friendly and intuitive cPanel (for some plans), custom control panel
Ease of Use Simple setup with easy navigationEasy setup, but may have a steeper learning
curve for beginners
Website BuilderBuilt-in website builder, drag-and-drop options GoDaddy Website Builder, templates available
One-Click Installers 1-click installers for WordPress and more1-click installs for WordPress, Drupal, etc.
Resource Management Resource monitoring, scaling options available Resource allocation tools, more limited scaling
Performance Optimization LiteSpeed caching, SSD storage for speed Performance management tools available,
but not as optimized as Hostinger
Backup Options Free daily backups with some plansPaid backups or available on higher-tier plans
Security Features Free SSL, DDoS protection, regular updates Free SSL, additional security tools on higher plans
Customer Support Access24/7 live chat support, responsive assistance 24/7 phone/chat support, some wait times for complex issues
Hostinger price
GoDaddy Hosting price

2. Features

Hostinger Provides More User-Friendly Tools

Both GoDaddy and Hostinger market their shared hosting plans as beginner-friendly, but when it comes to the client dashboard, Hostinger takes the lead.

GoDaddy uses the traditional cPanel control panel, which, while functional, isn’t the most intuitive. In contrast, Hostinger offers its proprietary hPanel, which is cleaner, better organized, and easier to navigate. WordPress and other well-known content management systems (CMS) can be installed with only one click on both hosts.

Additionally, Hostinger includes Git pre-installed on all its plans, something GoDaddy lacks. While Git is mainly a developer tool, even beginners can use it to track website changes or collaborate with others.

The comparison table below shows how Hostinger’s shared hosting plans stack up against GoDaddy’s.

FeatureHostingerGoDaddy
Hosting TypesShared, WordPress, cloud, VPSShared, WordPress, VPS, dedicated servers
Storage High-performance infrastructure with SSD storage Solid hosting options, but with higher renewal rates
Free DomainYesYes
Free SSL CertificateYesYes, for one year only
Disk Space50 – 200 GB25 – 100 GB
BandwidthUnlimitedUnlimited
Automatic BackupsYes, weekly on Single and Premium
plans, daily on Business plans
Yes, daily on all plans
Control PanelhPanelcPanel
Email Accounts1 – 1002 – 5, free for one year only
Free CDNYes, Business plan onlyYes
Free Site MigrationYes, DIY and DFYYes, DIY
Money-Back Guarantee30 days30 days
Number of websites1 – 1001 – 50
data centerMultiple data centers for global reach Limited data center locations
Support24/7 live chat support 24/7 support via phone, chat, and email

3. Performance

Hostinger Outperforms GoDaddy in Every Aspect

Hostinger’s infrastructure clearly outshines GoDaddy’s, even on paper. While GoDaddy relies on the older Apache web server, Hostinger uses LiteSpeed, which is notably faster and more reliable.

Both hosts offer multiple data center locations, but GoDaddy keeps its server locations vague. In contrast, Hostinger provides transparent options, allowing you to host your site in locations like the US, Brazil, the UK, the Netherlands, Lithuania, France, India, and Singapore. GoDaddy doesn’t go into further detail beyond mentioning servers in North America, Europe, and Asia.

GoDaddy only includes Cloudflare with its managed WordPress plans, while Hostinger offers Cloudflare integration on all but its starter plan, ensuring excellent global performance.

When it comes to caching, GoDaddy offers it but barely mentions it, while Hostinger incorporates LiteSpeed caching on every plan, including its entry-level shared hosting.

Page Performance of Hostinger

Hostinger Performance

Page Performance of GoDaddy

Overall, uptime is reliable with both Hostinger and GoDaddy, but GoDaddy’s poor loading speeds make it less appealing. This is especially true when a more affordable option like Hostinger performs so much better.

4. Ease of Use

Hostinger

Intuitive Control Panel: Hostinger uses a custom hPanel that’s designed to be user-friendly and simple, even for beginners.

Simple Setup: New users can easily set up hosting and websites through quick-start wizards.

Website Builder: The drag-and-drop builder makes creating a website easy, with no coding knowledge required.

One-Click Installers: Installs apps like WordPress or Joomla with just one click, simplifying website management.

Streamlined Account Management: A clean interface for managing domains, hosting, and email accounts.

GoDaddy

Familiar Control Panel: GoDaddy primarily uses cPanel for its shared hosting plans, which may require a learning curve for new users.

Easy Setup Process: Setup is quick and easy, though beginners may need guidance for more advanced features.

GoDaddy Website Builder: A user-friendly builder with templates, ideal for users without coding skills.

Comprehensive Dashboard: Centralized dashboard for managing domains, hosting, and email, but can feel cluttered for some users.

Guided Assistance: Offers tutorials and support for users to easily navigate through more complex tasks.

Hosting Provided

What Our Customers Have to Say?

 Hostinger

Affordable Pricing: Customers appreciate the low-cost hosting plans, especially for beginners and small businesses.

Excellent Performance: Many users praise Hostinger for fast loading speeds and reliable uptime.

User-Friendly Interface: The custom hPanel is frequently mentioned for being easy to navigate and setup.

Responsive Customer Support: Positive feedback for the 24/7 live chat support, which is often considered quick and helpful.

Value for Money: Customers often highlight that they get a lot of features and performance for the price.

GoDaddy

All-in-One Services: Customers like the wide range of services offered, such as domains, hosting, and website builders.

Reliable Hosting: Many users report good uptime and decent performance, especially for small businesses.

Easy Website Building: Users appreciate GoDaddy’s website builder, which is easy for non-technical users to design a site.

Helpful Support: While generally positive, some users mention that support can sometimes be slow for complex issues.

Renewal Rates: Some customers express dissatisfaction with high renewal rates after the initial discount period.

Advantage of Hostinger and GoDaddy

Hostinger GoDaddy
Affordable pricing with great value for money Wide range of services (domains, hosting, marketing)
High-performance infrastructure and fast speeds Reliable hosting with solid uptime
User-friendly custom control panel (hPanel) Strong presence in domain registration and transfer
24/7 responsive customer support Extensive knowledge base and self-help options
Free daily backups with higher-tier plansAll-in-one platform for businesses and websites
Multiple data centers for global reach Easy-to-use website builder with templates

Disadvantage of Hostinger and GoDaddy

Hostinger GoDaddy
Higher renewal rates after the first termHigher initial prices and renewal rates
Limited advanced features on lower-tier plans Customer support can be slow for complex issues
Limited data center locations in certain regions The control panel can be less intuitive for beginners
No phone support for lower-tier plansLimited customization options on website builder
Some features like backups are limited to higher plans Upselling of additional services can be overwhelming

5. Support

Hostinger’s Support Isn’t Perfect, but GoDaddy’s Is Worse

Both Hostinger and GoDaddy provide 24/7 customer support, with Hostinger offering live chat and email, while GoDaddy offers live chat and phone support. Unfortunately, both hosts have their drawbacks in this area.

Hostinger’s support relies heavily on its knowledge base. You can easily contact support via the hPanel by clicking on the speech bubble icon, and they’ll guide you to relevant articles based on your issue. While the knowledge base is comprehensive, with video tutorials and step-by-step guides, it doesn’t cover everything. If the articles don’t solve your issue, you can use live chat for further help.

When I reached out for help with setting up Cloudflare CDN, it took 14 minutes to get a response, and the agent mostly sent me more knowledge base links instead of offering detailed assistance.

Hostinger

24/7 Live Chat: Hostinger offers around-the-clock support through live chat, which is quick and helpful for most inquiries.

Knowledge Base: A well-organized knowledge base with tutorials, FAQs, and guides to help users resolve issues independently.

Ticketing System: For more complex issues, Hostinger uses a ticketing system, and responses are typically fast.

Multilingual Support: Provides support in multiple languages, making it accessible for a global audience.

User Feedback: Generally praised for being responsive and resolving issues quickly, with many users noting helpful and friendly agents.

GoDaddy

24/7 Phone Support: GoDaddy is known for offering 24/7 phone support, which many users find convenient for resolving issues in real-time.

Live Chat: Also offers live chat support, although response times may vary depending on volume and complexity.

Email Support: Provides email support for non-urgent issues, though response time can be slower.

Extensive Knowledge Base: GoDaddy offers an extensive library of articles and tutorials for self-service troubleshooting.

Mixed Customer Reviews: While many customers appreciate the support, some report long wait times for phone or chat support, especially for more complicated issues.

Next, I tested GoDaddy’s chat support, hoping for help with their poor GTmetrix loading speeds. I was told that the 2-second load time I was experiencing was the best I could expect. According to GoDaddy, I was loading at maximum speed and shouldn’t expect any improvements.

Ultimately, my advice is to explore the knowledge base thoroughly at both Hostinger and GoDaddy before reaching out to support. At least with Hostinger, you stand a chance of getting useful help. GoDaddy’s support, on the other hand, is pretty much hopeless.

6. Security

Hostinger offers more comprehensive security features than GoDaddy. With Hostinger, you get free unlimited Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates on all plans, automated weekly backups (daily on the Business plan), BitNinja security, and Cloudflare protection. These tools help safeguard your site from DDoS attacks, malware, brute force attacks, and more.

Conversely, GoDaddy offers 24/7 monitoring and minimal DDoS protection, but requires you to use cPanel’s AutoSSL or pay more for an SSL certificate. Many GoDaddy customers express dissatisfaction with AutoSSL. Additionally, malware scanning and removal require an additional fee for their Securi-based Website Security program.

GoDaddy pushes you to buy add-ons for essential security features, while I believe it’s better to choose a host that includes these protections without extra charges.

Security FeatureHostinger GoDaddy
SSL CertificatesFree SSL on most plansFree SSL with most plans
DDoS Protection Strong DDoS protection included in all plansEnhanced DDoS protection available on higher-tier plans
Firewalls Built-in firewall protection Advanced firewall protection on premium plans
Malware Scanning Daily malware scans included Malware scanning on higher-tier plans
Backups Free daily backups on higher-tier plans Backup options available, but not free on all plans
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)Available for account login Two-factor authentication available
Security Updates Regular software and security updates Automatic security updates on most plans
Website Protection ModSecurity and BitNinja for security Web application firewall (WAF) on advanced plans
Custom Security Tools Limited on lower-tier plans More customizable security features on higher plans

Final Recommendation

Criteria Hostinger GoDaddy
Best for Budget users, beginners, small businesses Businesses needing all-in-one services
Pricing More affordable, especially for basic plans Higher initial and renewal prices
Performance Fast speeds, high uptimeReliable, but slower on shared hosting
Customer Support Quick, 24/7 live chat 24/7 phone/chat, but longer wait times
Ease of Use User-friendly, intuitive tools Easy, but cPanel may require more learning
Security Strong features, free SSL, DDoS protection Good security, advanced options on higher plans
Hosting Features Wide range with performance boosts Comprehensive, with extra business tools
Website Building Easy drag-and-drop builder Website builder with templates
Overall Best for affordable, reliable hosting Best for those needing a full service package

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Hostinger: Shared hosting plans are ideal for beginners due to their affordability and ease of use.
  • GoDaddy: The basic shared hosting plan is good for beginners, with an easy setup process.
  • Some of Hostinger’s premium hosting plans, including the yearly WordPress hosting plan, come with a free domain.
  • GoDaddy’s customer support is generally reliable, offering 24/7 phone and chat support. However, wait times may vary for complex issues.
  • Hostinger offers free SSL certificates, daily backups, DDoS protection, and regular security updates to safeguard your site.
  • Yes, Hostinger provides free website migration for WordPress sites with its premium plans.
  • Yes, GoDaddy provides VPS hosting with different plans depending on the resources and scalability you need.
  • Hostinger’s easy setup process allows users to have their website up and running in as little as 30 minutes, especially with the website builder.
  • Yes, GoDaddy offers a website builder with templates that can be customized easily for beginners.

Hostinger’s renewal rates are generally affordable and do not significantly increase after the first term.

  • Yes, GoDaddy provides a free SSL certificate with most hosting plans, though some higher-tier plans offer more advanced SSL options.

Yes, Hostinger offers email hosting with its business and premium hosting plans.

  • Yes, GoDaddy offers specialized hosting for e-commerce, including integrations with tools like WooCommerce and its own online store builder.



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