GoDaddy is THE godfather of all domain registrars. Aside from registering domain names, GoDaddy also offers hosting services as a potential add-on for unsuspecting businesses. Considering some unfavorable stories you’ve heard about their hosting services, you might want to beg off their hosting offer and find our list of the top 8 alternatives handy in picking the right hosting solution for you based on your needs and budget.
For you to build a successful website, you should have a solid foundation. And that is why you need a reliable web hosting provider.
What happens if you choose a web host that’s not right for you? Well, you just put yourself into risks such as negative SEO rankings, low traffic, and most importantly, lackluster revenues. Your best option might be to migrate your website to another host.
Things to consider in purchasing a web hosting provider
Let’s talk about the things that you need to look for in a web host.
First and foremost, what are you using your website for? What’s its purpose? Why do you want to build it? Your hosting provider requirements depend on what kind of website you are trying to create.
If you are just starting up a blog, you can go for a free hosting such as Blogger and WordPress. I don’t encourage using a free web host, though.
If you have a small website and don’t need advanced web host features, then choose shared hosting.
If you want a bigger and more flexible hosting, then VPS (virtual private server) might be the one you’re looking for.
If you’re building an eCommerce website and expecting to get high traffic, you would need a dedicated server hosting.
Now, here are some factors that you should consider before deciding for a web hosting provider:
- Web hosting cost
- Money back guarantee
- Customer support
- Load time
- Uptime
- Ease of use
Why and Why Not GoDaddy
So, let’s see some of the reasons why or why not go for GoDaddy.
Advantages
- Affordable – Its pricing plan starts as low as $1 per month.
- Quick WordPress install – You can quickly build a WordPress website with its WordPress automatic install.
- Pre-built website builder – You can build your website even if you are a beginner with its pre-built sites and drag-and-drop builder.
- Free domain – You’ll get a free domain with its annual plan.
- 99.9% Uptime
Disadvantages
- Slow – GoDaddy has also been refered to as CrapDaddy because websites hosted on their service tend to be very slow.
- Cost – You can get cheaper web hosting services from other providers. You can only get the discounts with GoDaddy when you purchase a 3-year plan.
- Space limitations – Your disk space and database are limited.
- Lack of eCommerce support – GoDaddy doesn’t provide support for eCommerce as compared to other web hosting solutions.
- No export function – If you started on a GoDaddy website builder, and you want to transfer your website to WordPress, it can be challenging to do so.
Now, what are some of the best web hosting alternatives to GoDaddy?
While these are some great GoDaddy alternatives, some services are better than others. My hosting recommendation is Siteground because they offer incredible speed for your website and lightning fast support.
Adam @ WPCrafter
1. Bluehost
Bluehost is officially recommended by WordPress.org and one of the most popular web hosting service providers in the market today, with more than 2 million subscriptions.
What can you get from Bluehost?
- Free domain
- Free SSL certificate
- 1-click WordPress install
- 24/7 access to their customer support
- 30-day money back guarantee
However, if you want to start a non-WordPress website, Bluehost does not offer a website builder of its own.
Pricing starts at $2.75 per month. Very affordable to get your website up and running, right?
2. SiteGround
If you want a fast website, then definitely go for SiteGround. It’s also one of the most popular web hosting service providers, and it offers different services such as WordPress hosting, WooCommerce hosting, and cloud hosting.
With SiteGround’s 24/7 support, website builder, website transfer service, free backups, and Cloudflare CDN, and free email accounts, it’s worth the cost.
SiteGround also guarantees you to have a 99.9% uptime of your website.
Regular pricing starts at $11.95 per month.
3. HostGator
For newbies, another popular and yet reliable web hosting service provider that you need to check out is HostGator.
It offers services such as website builder, WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting.
You can get started quickly with its website builder that has drag-and-drop functionality. You can choose from its pre-built themes and sections that you can easily customize according to your branding requirements.
If you already have an existing website, not to worry because HostGator can help you migrate your existing content to its platform. It also offers 24/7 support, 45-day money back guarantee, and 99.9% uptime.
Regular pricing starts at $3.84 per month.
4. RedSwitches
RedSwitches is a top web host for companies seeking dedicated servers. Known for its robust infrastructure and reliable hosting solutions, RedSwitches delivers high performance, extensive network capabilities, and competitive pricing.
The company offers extensive server customization options using the latest technologies.
You get the flexibility to create your own solution with a 99.9% uptime guarantee.
Key Features:
- 24/7 Omnichannel support: Accessible around the clock through multiple channels.
- Managed and unmanaged servers: Options for different levels of control and support to suit various business needs.
- 10Gbps network: High-speed connectivity for fast data transfer.
- Cost-effective high performance: Optimal server performance without the high costs.
- 20+ data center locations: Multiple locations worldwide to reduce latency and enhance service delivery.
RedSwitches plans start at just €30 euros per month for a fully configurable dedicated server.
5. iPage
iPage is perhaps one of the cheapest yet very reliable web hosting service providers out in the market. However, it only offers one hosting plan unlike GoDaddy, which offers many.
What can you get from an iPage service? Literally, everything that you can get from a more expensive web hosting service.
- Free domain
- Free email address
- Website builder
- Pre-built website templates
- Free SSL certificate
- Free domain transfer
- 24/7 support
- 30-day money back guarantee
Another good thing about iPage is that it’s an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) green power partner, which means that its data centers and web servers contribute to reducing carbon footprint as they are powered by wind energy.
You can get an iPage hosting plan at a special introductory price of $1.99 per month. Isn’t it great?
6. DreamHost
Another great player when it comes to all thing web hosting is DreamHost. It offers services such as WordPress hosting, shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated hosting, and cloud hosting.
What are the inclusions you can have from purchasing a DreamHost plan?
- Free domain
- Free SSL certificate
- Website builder
- 1-click WordPress install
- 24/7 support
Do you know that it offers the most extended money back guarantee? If you’re not satisfied with their service, you can request a full refund within 97 days. Yes, 97 days, more than three months of trying out their hosting service. That’s cool, huh?
Pricing starts at $2.59 per month.
7. A2 Hosting
If you’re concerned about whether using a host that operates on Windows or Linux, then A2 Hosting is a developer-friendly solution for you. It offers different hosting services such as shared hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting.
Also, A2 Hosting is well-known for having an ultra fast and reliable web hosting service that uses up to 20x faster servers for your website.
You can also rely on its 24/7 support team, and you can even ask for a refund with its anytime money back guarantee.
Another best things you can get from A2 Hosting are:
- Free SSL certificate
- Free SSD
- Unlimited disk space
- High-performance turbo servers
Pricing starts at $3.92 per month.
8. GreenGeeks
I’ve mentioned that iPage is an eco-friendly web hosting service provider. So is GreenGeeks. It’s the #1 green energy web hosting provider.
It offers web hosting, reseller hosting, and WordPress hosting.
What can you get from a GreenGeeks plan?
- Free drag-and-drop website builder
- Free email accounts
- Free website migration
- 24/7 support
- Free domain
- 30-day money back guarantee
Pricing starts at $2.95 per month. Plus, there are no hidden fees.
9. InMotion Hosting
Experienced bloggers and webmasters choose InMotion Hosting due to its reliability and desirable features. It’s capable of supporting all your web hosting needs as they provide different services such as shared hosting, reseller hosting, dedicated server hosting, and VPS hosting.
What are some desirable features you can get from InMotion Hosting?
- Smooth and fast web experience
- Free SSL certificate
- Free SSD
- Free website transfer
- 1-click app installer
- Drag-and-drop website builder
- Free automated backups
- 24/7 support
Also, InMotion Hosting offers a 90-day money back guarantee. So, if you don’t like their service, you can get a full refund.
Plus, it’s also dedicated to reducing carbon footprints by opening a green data center in Los Angeles, CA and by partnering with Trees for the Future, a non-profit organization that plants trees to improve carbon footprint.
Not only you get a reliable hosting service — you also contribute to saving the environment. You can get an InMotion Hosting plan starting from $4.99 per month.
Conclusion
Just because GoDaddy is very popular in the world of web hosting doesn’t mean that it’s the best option. You can choose from one of the alternatives I’ve mentioned above.
But, as a reminder, evaluate your requirements first. What do you really need in a website? Once you’ve done that, then try out our list and take into consideration the factors that you need to look for in a web hosting service.
