In this comparison, I’ll look at HostGator vs GoDaddy side by side. I’ll focus on their pricing, usability, performance, security, and customer service. After all, they are the primary items for which you are paying.
These two are most likely the most well-known individuals in the internet services industry. GoDaddy is the world’s largest domain registrar and web hosting service. And when it comes to web hosting, HostGator is one of the first alternatives for newbies.
So I’m not shocked you came up with this comparison.
However, popularity or promises made by the Hosting are never enough to make a judgement. So I purchased the accounts, established the webpages, and began researching.
I examined and assessed the cost, convenience of use, performance, security, and customer service in this comparison to learn everything I could about them. So let’s get right to it with a brief rundown of today’s contenders.
HostGator vs GoDaddy -- Overview
HostGator and GoDaddy are two famous website hosting providers. HostGator, on the other hand, provides lower prices and all-inclusive hosting packages. GoDaddy, on the other hand, is more costly and targets commercial users.
Here is a brief review of both suppliers. Choose an area of interest, or if you want to know the ultimate judgement, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
WINNER
HostGator
HostGator vs GoDaddy Pricing Review
HostGator is a less expensive choice than GoDaddy, with shared hosting options beginning at $2.75 per month. Meanwhile, GoDaddy’s more costly shared hosting options start at $1.99/month, with an extra reduction possible. The most costly GoDaddy shared hosting package is $19.99 per month. HostGator’s most comprehensive plan, on the other hand, starts at $5.25 per month.
Both service providers also have:
While there are other hosting options available, shared hosting is by far the most popular. So I chose to concentrate on that here.
There are several parallels between HostGator and GoDaddy’s strategies. Both companies provide free domain names for a year. However, only HostGator offers free SSL certificates with all of its plans. Both providers’ entry plans begin with a one-website restriction.
- HostGator’s Hatchling (2.75) – connects one website with unlimited SSD storage and bandwidth. There is also a free domain, unlimited email addresses, and free SSL certificates.
- GoDaddy’s Economy ($1.99/month) plan enables you the hosting of one website, 100GB SSD storage, and unlimited bandwidth. There is also a free domain and one free Microsoft 365 email account.
I should mention that GoDaddy periodically has exceptional discounts. These bargains are what make this company so appealing in terms of pricing.
Regardless of the price, it appears that HostGator comes out on top here. It is not only less expensive, but it also has more features, such as “unlimited” SSD storage and email accounts, as well as free SSL certificates. This begs the question, is HostGator better than GoDaddy in general?
It’s worth noting that GoDaddy only provides 100GB of SSD storage and one email account. And, while HostGator boasts that both are limitless, we all know that nothing genuinely infinite exists. There are always some constraints. Regardless, the advertised discounts are just for a limited time, and the renewal rates will be higher.
Overall, in terms of long-term value, HostGator is less expensive. Despite the fact that the initial payment would be greater. However, GoDaddy takes the crown for the greatest short-term value for money with a significant discount. High renewal rates are also not uncommon, and they are just inevitable. So, regardless of which provider or plan you select, rates will return to the usual price point after the trial time.
Just bear in mind that the lowest package is generally the most limited. It’s very likely that you’ll need more than one website at some time, which means you’ll have to upgrade.
Which plans are genuinely worth your attention if the cheapest ones simply appear to be wonderful in theory?
HostGator Pricing Review
To begin, HostGator provides three shared hosting plans ranging in price from $2.75 to $5.25 per month. That is when you select the 36-month billing cycle.
HostGator here gently (with a bright orange block) recommends that the Baby plan is the greatest value for money.
And I must concur. You can link as many websites as you like for an additional $0.75/mo when compared to Hatchling. The renewal of the Baby plan is likewise $5.00 less than that of the Business plan.
At the same time, if you want SEO tools and daily backups, Business provides the former for free, while the latter is charged with all plans.
Our Recommendation
Consider the Baby plan if you want to get the most out of HostGator. To get the first offer pricing, you must sign up for a 3-year membership. The first payment will be $126 for three years, and the renewal payment will be $358.20 for the same period.
GoDaddy Pricing Review
GoDaddy, on the other hand, offers three shared hosting options ranging from $1.99 to $14.99 a month. Again, access to these pricing requires a three-year membership. Renewal charges are also substantially higher – the lowest Economy plan costs $8.99 per month to renew.
Despite the fact that GoDaddy picked the Ultimate plan as its top suggestion, it is not worth the price. In truth, GoDaddy’s plans are all fairly expensive for the capabilities they provide.
Consider other options if you require more powerful plans. Meanwhile, no one beats the Economy plan for learning how web hosting works and creating a modest website. It costs $1.99/month with a 12-month paying cycle. Despite being an entry-level package, you are assured unmetered bandwidth.
Our Recommendation
You should choose the Economy plan to get the cheapest pricing. For the first year, it is only $1.99 each month. The package will cost you $107.88 after renewal.
HostGator vs GoDaddy Pricing Review -- Summary
It appears that getting the same resources with GoDaddy as with HostGator is simply too expensive. As a result, you must forego some features in order to obtain a lower price. Furthermore, the GoDaddy discount is only accessible for one year.
Furthermore, GoDaddy provides the normal 30-day money-back promise, but HostGator provides a 45-day money-back guarantee. Just bear in mind that you will be charged a non-refundable domain cost by both providers. Furthermore, HostGator’s return policy only applies to shared hosting services. To acquire a refund from GoDaddy, you must first contact customer service and request one.
Finally, I must note that HostGator’s pricing structure is far more enticing than GoDaddy’s. Its shared hosting is substantially less expensive and provides superior long-term value. Furthermore, the plans are more extensive, with even the most basic HostGator plan including an SSL certificate. However, when it comes to short-term value, GoDaddy outperforms HostGator. For any first-time customer seeking for a low-cost, non-binding plan, the $14.99/month pricing point for a year is highly appealing.
WINNER
hostgator
HostGator vs GoDaddy -- Ease Of Use
When it comes to simplicity of use, there aren’t many distinctions between HostGator and GoDaddy. Both providers provide customised dashboards for configuring the most critical parameters. For more complex adjustments, cPanel interfaces are also available. Both provide sophisticated and user-friendly in-house website builders.
The ease of use is vital since you want to spend as little time as possible setting up the fundamentals. This allows you to concentrate on the actual website construction. As a result, I opted to compare HostGator vs GoDaddy first in terms of functionality and convenience of use.
Let’s have a look at what I found and see which host provides the best user experience.
Account management dashboard
Both HostGator and GoDaddy have user interfaces that are suitable for beginners. From their primary dashboards, both companies provide access to a plethora of management tools.
First, I studied HostGator’s user interface. It contains links to a variety of handy tools. SSL management, WordPress installation, and email accounts are all accessible from your dashboard. The menu on the left of the screen also provides access to the majority of other basic tools. A cPanel connection is also supplied for more sophisticated management.
This user dashboard enables you to rapidly install WordPress, generate a professional email address, and encrypt everything with an SSL.
However, GoDaddy’s user interface is as amazing. It’s laid up a little differently, and the primary dashboard shows the products and services you’ve subscribed to.
You can also quickly build up your entire website from here. GoDaddy will ensure that you have installed WordPress and have a functional domain the first time you log in to your account. Following that, it serves as a centre for navigating your account.
Assume you wanted to manage your hosting account and websites. On the Web Hosting tab, simply click the “Manage” button. It will launch a new window.
You may then manage your files, PHP settings, and examine server and account details. This is also where you’ll find the cPanel login button.
Overall, both hosts provide highly logical and simple-to-use user dashboards. When deciding between the two, GoDaddy needs a little more clicking, but it really boils down to personal choice rather than a difference in functionality.
Let’s see whether their control panels are a major differentiator.
Control panel comparison
cPanel control panels are used by both HostGator and GoDaddy. HostGator, on the other hand, utilises a minimally changed version of it, whilst GoDaddy uses the traditional cPanel interface.
Although HostGator has added a little amount of personalization, the interfaces appear to be fairly similar, if not identical. The only modifications are the layout of the cPanel sections and the colour design.
Having said that, GoDaddy’s cPanel is… similar.
All required tools, such as a file manager, email, and domain administration, are provided. You can monitor basic server information via the panel on the left of the screen, much as with HostGator.
Website migration
When it comes to website migration, both HostGator and GoDaddy provide it. One makes it slightly easier than the other. If you are a first-time user, HostGator will transfer your website for free. This service will be paid for by GoDaddy.
When it comes to HostGator, it makes the migration procedure quite simple. You may access the migration form directly from your main dashboard by clicking the “Request Migration” link in the Quick Links section.
You only need to fill out a form and you’re ready to start. WordPress and cPanel migrations may be handled by HostGator.
When it comes to GoDaddy, things get a little more complicated. GoDaddy does not offer the option of simply filling out a form, like HostGator offers.
Because the provider is not forthcoming about its website migration requirements, you will need to contact customer service to learn more. The representative will explain the laws and restrictions, as well as the price (about $99) that will be charged for the move.
In a nutshell, both hosting providers provide website migration. HostGator does it for free, but GoDaddy charges for it.
Website builder experience
Both HostGator and GoDaddy provide beginner-friendly website builders with which to create your site. If you go with HostGator, you’ll get a restricted version of the Gator builder. You may create a single-page website with GoDaddy’s Websites+Marketing builder.
If you’re a HostGator customer, I’d recommend checking out the Gator website builder. You will only have access to the somewhat limited Basic Website Builder plan, which is enough for modest projects. With its versatile drag-and-drop editing interface, you may construct a website with up to six pages.
Simultaneously, the Gator Builder includes over 100 current design templates. If you simply want to get your site live quickly, you may try creating it on top of one of these.
However, if we are being impartial, HostGator’s website builder is superior. It’s still limited, but it permits you to establish a 6-page site, as compared to GoDaddy’s single-page restriction.
Overall, both companies are really simple to use. HostGator’s native control dashboard is comprehensive and simple to use. GoDaddy’s account management panel was significantly more complicated but equally functional. When it comes to the cPanel and website builder, providers were even more comparable. However, GoDaddy’s one-page website construction limit was little disappointing. Furthermore, HostGator outperforms Godaddy with its free website transfer service.
WINNER
HostGator
HostGator vs GoDaddy -- Performance
In terms of performance, GoDaddy and HostGator were neck and neck. Both ISPs are extremely dependable and have exhibited extremely quick site load times. The largest disparity was in response times, with HostGator at 525ms and GoDaddy at 341ms.
I obtained these findings by creating a basic website with both providers and performing testing for two months while continuously monitoring the outcomes.
Uptime and response time
Unfortunately, HostGator’s average response time of 525ms is concerning. It’s obviously on the upper side, as the reaction time jumped many times above 750ms. The findings, however, are still slower than the market average of 600ms. Only slightly.
On the other hand, GoDaddy’s 99.98 percent uptime is as impressive. This site also experienced three outages, totaling 16 minutes of downtime. It does, however, provide the same 99.9% uptime guarantee as HostGator, which appears to be of little consequence.
Fortunately, my GoDaddy server had a fantastic average response time of 341ms. The greatest reaction time was only 447ms. These findings are excellent and have helped to restore my faith in GoDaddy.
As a result, both HostGator and GoDaddy appear to be quite dependable, delivering even greater than claimed uptime rates. However, GoDaddy had a faster average response time – 341ms vs. HostGator’s 525ms.
Website loading time
Loading speed is equally as crucial as uptime and reaction time. Website users expect websites to load in 3 seconds or less. If not, the bounce rate of the site rises dramatically with each consecutive second.
So, to check how quick these two are, I compared the load speeds of GoDaddy and HostGator fully constructed WordPress websites. I installed the Astra theme on each provider and paired it with the “Tech Startup” template.
Keep an eye out for the following metrics to better understand the results:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – the time it takes to load the largest piece of content (picture or text). This time should be less than 2.5 seconds.
- TTFB (time to first byte) – this measure indicates how long it takes the server to respond to a visitor’s request to open the page. This time should be roughly 200ms.
- Fully Loaded Time -the time when the webpage is completely loaded and interactive. This time should be less than 3 seconds.
Here, we pay special attention to LCP and TTFB. These are just a handful of the numerous factors that Google takes into account when ranking a website on the search results page.
It’s just that simple: the better your outcomes, the better your chances of ranking higher.
Keeping that in mind, HostGator definitely displayed considerable quickness. It has a Largest Contentful Paint time of 1.1s and a Fully Loaded Time of 1.2s.
GoDaddy, on the other hand, was a close second. The Largest Contentful Paint with GoDaddy was the same as the Fully Loaded Time – a very quick 1.5s.
In terms of loading speed, both providers are good. With Fully Loaded Times of 1.2s and 1.5s, HostGator and GoDaddy have ample wiggle space to avoid exceeding the 3-second barrier.
Their TTFB was a bit further apart, with HostGator at 154ms and GoDaddy at 224ms. Regardless of the differences, it appears that servers with either supplier are quite competent and well-maintained.
As a result, it’s difficult to say that one provider is “better” than the other in terms of performance.
Stress testing results
As the final nail in the coffin, I wanted to check how much traffic each provider could manage. I’ve sent 50 virtual visitors to each site as a starting point.
As 50 bots travel about your site at the same time, that is a lot of traffic. A less powerful server might quickly be slowed or even overwhelmed as a result of this. So, how did these two handle it?
When it came to handling such traffic, HostGator excelled.
I even believe it couldn’t tell the difference between one and fifty visitors. Simply glancing at the graph demonstrates this. The blue line (reaction time) remained extremely consistent, with the exception of one leap, as the number of visitors rose (grey line).
GoDaddy comes in second, just like it did in the speed test. But wait a second. It failed the test with 50 visitors, therefore I reduced the number by 5 and ran the test again to determine its limitations. The first pass had 40 people.
And 40 visits is an excellent outcome. If this amount of people stayed on the site every day for a month, there would be tens of thousands of monthly visitors.
With that many visits, the server did not slow down, and it answered in an average of 121ms. When you look at the reaction time, this becomes quite evident (blue line). It stayed relatively constant, with little to no effect from the amount of visits (grey line).
And, while GoDaddy performed admirably, HostGator easily outperformed the competition.
Overall, both HostGator and GoDaddy have delivered excellent outcomes in regards of performance. The suppliers were extremely dependable, with uptimes that exceeded the promise. The loading speed was excellent, and the traffic flowed practically flawlessly.
WINNER
HostGator
HostGator vs GoDaddy -- Security
When it comes to security, both providers are rather basic. Even in this category, HostGator outperforms GoDaddy by including free SSL certificates in all of its plans. However, don’t leap to conclusions too quickly. Let’s have a look at what each of them has to offer.
First, although HostGator offers free SSL with even the most basic plans, GoDaddy does not. Even greedy. Only the Ultimate and Maximum plans provide a free certificate. Even yet, on the Ultimate plan, it is just for a year.
The SSL certificate is now $4.75 per month with GoDaddy. Sure, the bundle includes a firewall and a virus check, but the whole thing is ridiculous to me. It costs more than the hosting bundle itself! Especially because it should be free but has the hubris to charge renewal costs ($7.99) after a year.
The backups of the website are the second most crucial element. However, neither supplier provides automated backups:
- HostGator offers three backup options, starting at $2.76/mo and rising to $8.33/mo (free with the Business plan).
- For automatic backups, GoDaddy costs $2.99 per month.
I should mention that both of them allow you to manually generate backups using your cPanel. But that is totally your responsibility. Having automatic backups removes the strain entirely.
Finally, unlike HostGator, GoDaddy only offers a server-level firewall as part of the premium website security package stated above. That’s the one with SSL. That one still irritates me.
In terms of security, HostGator is somewhat more suited than GoDaddy. Regardless, neither is very security-conscious by default.
WINNER
HostGator
HostGator vs GoDaddy -- Support
When it comes to customer service, both suppliers give the same 24/7 live chat and phone assistance. However, HostGator offers ticket help for more difficult issues, whereas GoDaddy does not. The representatives at HostGator appear to be much more professional, whereas GoDaddy has a very active community forum.
To begin, I investigated HostGator’s customer service. If you live in the United States, you will have access to toll-free, 24-hour phone assistance. International clients can obtain a phone number, however it is not free.
Fortunately, HostGator’s live chat service is outstanding. I was instantly contacted with a person, and I inquired about the security protections provided in the Baby shared hosting package. The answers came from the support representative I was conversing with in minutes.
The person even talked me through the different security services and how to configure them.
Unfortunately, my experience with GoDaddy’s live chat assistance was far from satisfactory. For one thing, I had to wait 34 minutes before speaking with an agent.
I asked them a similar query concerning the security protections provided with the Deluxe shared hosting package, and their response disappointed me.
All they could do was copy-paste information from the GoDaddy website – information that had nothing to do with the package I was enquiring about!
GoDaddy also offers phone help in 51 countries across the world. Among these are the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. However, I wouldn’t expect it to be much better than live chat.
Fortunately, GoDaddy has an excellent information base and community forum. Users can use these to discover solutions to their own questions. I really enjoy GoDaddy’s knowledge base because of its simple, beginner-friendly structure. The built-in search bar is really handy, and the material is highly classified by subjects and categories.
Having said that, HostGator’s knowledge library is as remarkable. It also includes a wealth of articles, videos, and how-to material to assist you in setting up and managing your website.
HostGator far outperforms GoDaddy in terms of customer care. Both companies have great knowledge libraries and phone assistance, but HostGator’s live chat outperforms GoDaddy’s.
WINNER
HostGator
HostGator vs GoDaddy -- Our Recommendations
Ultimately, HostGator outperforms GoDaddy at every stage of the comparison. It should be obvious that it is a superior provider for nearly all consumers since it provides better value for money, better customer service, and a little faster page loading speed.
However, if you’re a first-time user seeking to explore the web hosting world on the cheap, GoDaddy is a terrific alternative. The $2.99/month discount for the first year puts it on par with HostGator.
WINNER
HostGator
HostGator and GoDaddy Alternatives
Although HostGator and GoDaddy are two of the most prominent participants in the web hosting industry, there are countless choices for individuals seeking something a bit different. InMotion Hosting is a comparable service with excellent scalability. Hostinger is a significantly more affordable option for individuals looking for low-cost shared hosting. And Bluehost is an excellent choice for newcomers.
Bluehost
Bluehost’s costs are somewhere in the centre of those of HostGator and GoDaddy. The most affordable shared hosting plan starts at $2.95 per month.
Bluehost primarily provides WordPress hosting. It has a highly user-friendly hosting administration panel and several amazing scalability capabilities, like staging. It’s a fantastic alternative regardless of your degree of hosting experience. If you want to operate a commercial website or a personal blog, this is the platform for you.
Hostinger
Are you on a tight budget? Then Hostinger is the most affordable solution. Its entry-level package starts at $2.59 per month. In comparison, Bluehost charges $2.95 per month and SiteGround charges $2.99 per month. You just cannot. Furthermore, it lets you to select one of its seven data centre locations, making it an excellent choice if your target audience is in a certain place.
When you see pricing like these, you might wonder, “What gives?” Nothing, it appears. Hostinger provides fantastic speed that I can vouch for, a bespoke control panel called hPanel that is simple to use, and trustworthy 24/7 customer service.
DreamHost
DreamHost, like SiteGround and Bluehost, is a WordPress-focused service that has been endorsed by the platform’s designers. It’s a less expensive option, with costs beginning at $2.59 per month.
Simultaneously, DreamHost introduces new security features like as daily backups and domain privacy. Consider this web host if you need a dependable and safe web host at a low cost.
InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting is a versatile solution for nearly any website building project. The service provider is well-known for its dependable performance and wide range of hosting options.
You may select from shared, WordPress, dedicated, and VPS hosting options. If you want traditional cPanel hosting, shared hosting options beginning at $2.29/month are ideal.
HostGator vs GoDaddy FAQs
Is it preferable to host with HostGator or GoDaddy?
HostGator provides more security features. However, neither provider is exceptional. The lowest shared hosting plan from HostGator provides a free SSL certificate and rudimentary virus detection. With its lowest shared plan, GoDaddy provides no security features at all. Both companies promote a slew of security add-ons.
Which host is best for domain registration?
GoDaddy provides the most reliable domain registration services. It offers a wide range of tools as one of the world’s major domain registrars. However, it is a bit pricey. HostGator provides significantly lower domain registration prices, however its other services are fairly restricted.
Which hosting provider is best for business websites?
For business websites, HostGator is the finest option. It offers a very dependable service with a high uptime. It also provides a number of excellent scalability features that you may use when your website expands. And, despite GoDaddy’s claim to specialise on business websites, the lack of free security features makes it less tempting.
Which is better for managed WordPress hosting: HostGator or GoDaddy?
For managed WordPress hosting, GoDaddy is superior. Both vendors provide straightforward, semi-managed solutions. GoDaddy’s plans, although being somewhat more expensive, contain far superior WordPress-specific tools and functionality.
