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GoDaddy vs Hostwinds
GoDaddy
Hostwinds
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and performance to help you choose the right hosting provider.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GoDaddy | Hostwinds |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Price | N/A | $4.54/mo |
| Renewal Price | N/A | $6.99/mo |
| Storage | 10 GB NVMe | Unlimited |
| Bandwidth | N/A | Unlimited |
| Websites | 1 | 1 |
| Free Domain | ||
| Free SSL | ||
| Server Locations | ||
| Regions | 4 ★ | 3 |
| Locations | US East, Ashburn Western Europe, Amsterdam Southeast Asia, Singapore US West, Phoenix, Arizona | US East, Dallas, Texas US West, Seattle, Washington Western Europe, Amsterdam |
| Plan Details | ||
| Limited plan details available | ||
| Free Migration | ||
| CDN | ||
| Money-Back Guarantee | ||
| Email Accounts | ||
Features | ||
CMS & Platforms (7) | ||
Languages & Frameworks (9) | ||
Databases (4) | ||
Developer Tools (8) | ||
Performance & CDN (4) | ||
| Caching | ||
| CDN | ||
| LiteSpeed | ||
| SSD Storage | ||
Security (6) | ||
| 2FA | ||
| Backups | ||
| DDoS Protection | ||
| Malware Scan | ||
| SSL | ||
| WAF | ||
Support (4) | ||
Extras & Guarantees (5) | ||
| Slight discrepancies are possible. We recommend verifying details on the provider's website. | ||
| Visit GoDaddy | Visit Hostwinds | |
Pricing & Plans
GoDaddy Plans
Hostwinds Plans
Pros & Cons
GoDaddy
Pros
- World largest domain registrar with 20+ million customers
- Free domain on annual plans
- Free SSL certificate on all plans
- Wide range of plans: shared, VPS, WordPress, website builder
- Up to 400 GB NVMe storage on Plus plans with dedicated CPU/RAM
- AI-powered tools for site building
- Global data center network
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Renewal prices are not publicly shown on pricing pages
- Aggressive upselling of add-ons during checkout
- Starter plans have limited storage (10 GB)
- No DDoS protection or WAF on shared plans
- Dedicated servers retired — VPS only
- All pricing requires a 3-year commitment for best rates
Hostwinds
Pros
- Affordable pricing with 35% first-cycle discount on most plans
- Unlimited bandwidth and disk space on all shared plans
- Free dedicated IP included on all shared and business plans
- Nightly backups included at no extra cost
- cPanel with Softaculous one-click installer
- Free SSL certificates on all plans
- 24/7/365 phone, chat, and ticket support
- Wide range of VPS tiers (1-16 vCPU, 1-96 GB RAM)
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Free website migration
Cons
- Significant price increase on renewal (35% discount is first cycle only)
- Shared hosting offers only annual billing (no monthly option)
- No dedicated server pricing publicly available (custom quotes only)
- Basic shared plan limited to 1 domain
- No managed WordPress hosting product
- VPS plans are monthly-only billing (no annual discount)
- Weebly builder is dated compared to modern alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
GoDaddy
What is web hosting and how does it work?
Web hosting is the storage space you need to save the files of your website (photos, videos, text, code, etc.), so they can be accessible on the Internet. Some compare web hosting to the land that a house is built on; with shared hosting, your service provider (i.e., the web host) sells or leases you space (land) on a server, where your web files (home/website) will be stored. Web hosts will expect you to own a domain that can be associated with your hosting services, and, if needed, they may he
Is shared hosting the right type of web hosting for my site?
Shared hosting is a popular hosting option where a provider hosts multiple websites on one physical web server. And because you're sharing resources — like neighbors in an apartment building — you spend less but have fewer options and less control. Shared hosting is typically for websites which require low resources (e.g., blogs, informational websites or smaller online stores). If your site is more resource intensive, or you need more control of your server, options like may be best for your ho
What content management systems are compatible with GoDaddy web hosting?
GoDaddy hosting can be used for self-installation of popular CMS, including WordPress, Joomla, Magento and Drupal. For more information on CMS read this help
When do you choose shared or dedicated vCPU and RAM resources?
Web Hosting plans provide shared processing and memory resources across all tenants. For sites that are complex, run on a content management system or receive high traffic, our Web Hosting Plus plans offer guaranteed processing and memory resources.
What is cPanel Hosting and what are its benefits?
cPanel is a web hosting control panel that provides a web hosting customer/owner a user interface intended to help them easily manage their website and shared server. It allows users to create websites using a variety of content management systems (CMS) including WordPress, Drupal, Magento and Joomla.With cPanel hosting, you can benefit from accessing all the hosting features and settings you need with this industry-standard control panel, including:CloudLinuxKeep your site online with truly bal
Can I migrate my existing website to GoDaddy’s shared web hosting?
Yes, and it's free to do so. Moving your current website to GoDaddy Web Hosting is a simple process. As part of the new account onboarding process, you can choose to migrate your existing site to your GoDaddy Web Hosting account using our free Site Auto Migration Tool. Just answer a few simple questions and we'll move your site. You can also follow step-by-step instructions mentioned in this If you have any questions, our 24/7 support team is here to assist you. We can help determine the best me
Can I change my web hosting plan if my website grows, and I need more space?
Yes. You can easily upgrade to a new web hosting plan when you require more processing power or storage space. Upgrading your plan can make your website faster and more resilient as your traffic increases.You can find more information in our Help article on
How do I get the domain and SSL that’s included with my shared hosting plan?
When you select your Web Hosting plan of choice, your free SSL certificate is automatically added to your cart. Once you continue to cart, you will have the option to search for a domain to include in your purchase. You can also on our domains page and add it to the cart from there.IMPORTANT: Be sure to include the domain in your cart before you complete the purchase of your Web Hosting plan.
What is AutoSSL and how does it work?
AutoSSL is free and included in your hosting plan as an alternative to paid SSL certificates. Once you purchase a GoDaddy Web Hosting plan, AutoSSL automatically assigns a DV SSL Certificate by Sectigo to websites created or managed within your cPanel hosting account. Your SSL certificate stays up-to-date, and will auto-renew on your behalf, so you don't have to worry about it expiring as long as you keep your GoDaddy Web Hosting current.
What is Managed Hosting for WordPress?
Managed Hosting for WordPress is a type of web hosting that’s specifically designed so that WordPress websites can achieve maximum speed, performance and security. It pays special attention to the technical and security requirements of WordPress and usually offers a simple, 1-click installation or migration.With Managed Hosting for WordPress, GoDaddy as your hosting provider takes care of the technical aspects of your hosting environment, such as server-level caching and maintenance, security pa
Who is Managed Hosting for WordPress ideal for?
Our Managed Hosting for WordPress is the ideal solution for bloggers, small businesses, designers, and professionals who want a powerful, yet hassle-free WordPress experience. Focus on your content and business while we handle server updates, security, and performance. Our 24/7 award-winning support is always here to assist you as you grow your brand online with WordPress.
How much does Managed Hosting for WordPress cost?
GoDaddy offers three different Managed Hosting for WordPress plans at affordable prices. The current monthly cost for those who sign up for an annual plan are:Basic – /monthDeluxe – /monthUltimate – /monthWhat makes GoDaddy's Managed Hosting for WordPress solution a great value is that we manage the maintenance, installation, and performance optimization at no extra cost, ensuring your site runs quickly and smoothly.
Why should I buy Managed Hosting for WordPress from GoDaddy?
Our Managed Hosting for WordPress is up to 2x faster than the competition via Cloudflare CDN, so your site performs at lightning speeds. Plus, we make WordPress Hosting easy. With GoDaddy, you don’t have to stress about doing any heavy lifting or keeping up with WordPress core updates. We do it all for do it for you, key features of our plans include: uptime guarantee and money-back guarantee.Pre-built sites and startup support.Free 24/7 support.Automatic WordPress core software and security upd
Does GoDaddy offer free site migrations?
Yes. You can migrate your site over to GoDaddy Managed Hosting for WordPress using our simple site migration wizard during your initial onboarding experience. You have the option to move it to your domain name or place it on a temporary domain. After a quick review, your site will be ready to publish.
After I purchase Managed Hosting for WordPress, how do I get started?
Your hosting plan is seamlessly connected to the latest version of WordPress. All you need to do is log in, and you can start creating a site directly from your control panel. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact our award-winning 24x7 support team. Our in-house WordPress experts can guide you through creating, updating, or promoting your website or blog.
Can I publish my WordPress staging site without any downtime?
Yes. Our one-click staging makes it easy to push changes live with little to no disruption. You can test updates safely before they reach your visitors. For larger sites, syncing may take a few minutes.
Does GoDaddy guarantee my WordPress website's uptime?
Yes. GoDaddy’s Managed Hosting for WordPress is backed by our uptime guarantee.What our uptime guarantee means for you:Peace of Mind: We are committed to keeping your site online and running fast, so you can be confident that your business is running smoothly online.Powerful Infrastructure: We keep your site online with a powerful system that has multiple layers of protection. Our servers are in secure facilities all over the world, and we have backup equipment ready to go instantly. In addition
What is GoDaddy's backup frequency for WordPress sites? Can I do on-demand backups?
GoDaddy offers daily automatic backups with all plans and lets you run on-demand backups anytime you want, for example, before updating plugins, installing themes, or making major content changes.Our backup features includeAutomatic Daily Backups: Backups are performed daily without requiring user intervention.30-Day Retention: Backups from the previous 30 days remain accessible.On-Demand Backups: Users can create backups at any time as needed.One-Click Restore: Quickly and efficiently restore y
Do GoDaddy's hosting plans for WordPress support WooCommerce?
Yes, all our Managed Hosting for WordPress plans are fully compatible with the WooCommerce plugin. Whether you're just starting out or running a high-traffic online store, our Managed Hosting for WordPress plans provide the speed, security, and support you need to succeed with WooCommerce, one of the most popular e–commerce plugins.If you have any questions about picking the right plan for your store, our award-winning GoDaddy Guides are here to help you when you need it.
What hosting options for WordPress does GoDaddy offer agencies or freelancers who manage multiple client websites?
The is a free program specifically designed for freelancers and agencies who build and manage client websites. It offers Managed Hosting for WordPress, exclusive tools, partner pricing, rewards, priority support, and The Hub, a single dashboard for managing multiple clients and sites. Streamline your workflow and grow your business by applying today.
Hostwinds
What is Shared Web Hosting?
Shared Web Hosting is a perfect place to start your web hosting. It is the most affordable option and has many features to help you build and manage a website.Our Shared Web Hosting servers come with SSD's (Solid State Drives). They are ideal if you need fast, secure, and affordable web hosting for your portfolio, personal site, or small business website.When you get started with any of our Shared Web Hosting plans, your website will live on a server with other websites. You will receive your ow
Do I need to have any technical experience or knowledge to get started with a Shared Web Hosting plan?
Technical knowledge is not required to use Shared Web Hosting. As soon as you order your service, we will send you your login details in addition to information about beginning your web hosting journey.We also offer you 24/7/365 support through Live Chat or ticket to ensure we answer any questions you have along the way.Once you receive your cPanel login details, you can begin managing all aspects of your website.This includes the ability to use the Weebly drag-and-drop Website Builder, install
Can I upgrade my package later?
You can always upgrade your package through your Hostwinds Client Area. Upgrading is a quick process, and there is no downtime.If you register more domains or need to use your account to host more websites, upgrading your package to Advanced or Ultimate web hosting can be done in a few clicks.Once you have upgraded your plan and paid the invoice, you can begin adding more domains immediately.
What is Business Web Hosting?
Business Web Hosting is a web hosting solution that is perfect for businesses of all sizes. Our Business Hosting packages are all hosted on Solid State Drives (SSDs) for optimum performance. We additionally increase Business Hosting performance further by utilizing LiteSpeed Web Server.We differentiate our Business Hosting services by provisioning our plans on robust servers, with fewer clients sharing the resources. We provide more resources than Shared Web Hosting plans, including higher inode
Is Business Web Hosting only for businesses?
Although Business Web Hosting is ideal for businesses, it is certainly not exclusively for business owners.Our Business Hosting platform is perfect for performance-driven individuals who want the best and fastest possible experience for their website.If you are not happy with your current hosting and want something faster, then any of our business packages will be a great fit. We will even migrate your site to your Business Web Hosting account free of charge!
Does this include everything I need to get my company online?
Once you have your domain name and signed up for web hosting, your company's website technically has everything it needs to launch.We understand that launching a new business venture can be daunting. This is why our Business Web Hosting plans provide you with more assistance than you would generally receive with a web hosting account. We offer a full range of utilities to help you create and manage your website. These tools make it easy to create a great-looking website to represent your busines
Do I need to have technical knowledge to use your business hosting?
Not at all. That's what our enterprise support team is here for. Our Support Experts are available 24/7/365 to resolve technical issues or answer any questions you may have.We are always here for you if you need any assistance at all. We hope to become a valuable asset to you and your business.
What is the difference between Business Web Hosting and Shared Web Hosting?
Our Business Web Hosting plans come with more resources than Shared Web Hosting plans. Business plans also offer higher PHP Memory Limits, higher inode limits, and an increased outbound email limit.When you have a Shared Web Hosting account, you share dedicated resources with more individuals than you would as a Business Web Hosting client.Furthermore, our Business Web Hosting plans utilize LiteSpeed Web Server, which gives your viewers faster loading times when they visit your website.
How is your Reseller Web Hosting different than your Shared or Business Hosting?
Reseller Web Hosting is unique to Shared or Business Web Hosting. You become the hosting provider as a Reseller Web Hosting client. You sell hosting services to others rather than employing the hosting services of a web hosting company.When you sign up for Reseller Web Hosting, you rent Hostwinds server space, sell Hostwinds services, and our team handles everything else.
How is Reseller Web Hosting different than White Label Reseller Web Hosting?
White Label Reseller Web Hosting is different from Reseller Web Hosting for a few reasons. First, White Label Reseller Web Hosting allows you to sell all of the products and services that Hostwinds offers to your clients under your brand. In contrast, Reseller Web Hosting allows you to sell shared services under Hostwinds. It does not include WHMCS or the ability to sell other products and services. Both are great offerings, and your choice is entirely dependent on your needs as a reseller.
Does your team handle the technical details for me?
YES! Reseller Hosting is particularly fantastic because you can launch your very own web hosting company without knowing anything about server management. Hostwinds technicians take care of all the technical details for you, so all you have to do is grow your hosting business.
Can I upgrade my accounts after purchasing?
Yes, you can! You can upgrade all of your accounts to increase the number of domains capable of being hosted, and upgrades happen instantly upon ordering. If one or more of your clients need additional room for more websites, upgrading is instant and straightforward.
What is a Linux VPS?
A Linux VPS hosting service includes dedicated resources including CPU Cores, RAM, and Disk Space exclusively reserved for you.You can think of it as your own personal Linux computer, with its own set of dedicated resources. This gives you massive benefits over shared hosting, as you are much less likely to be impacted by "noisy neighbors". You also benefit from much-improved security by having your operating system environment completely separate from other users.Linux Virtual Private Servers a
Will you help me migrate from my old provider to Hostwinds?
We are happy to help you migrate your content to any new service so you can get started with your Hostwinds account as soon as possible.We have helped many new clients move their Linux VPS web hosting services from other providers. We are proud to offer this complimentary service for any new orders.Once you have submitted a migration request, our migration experts will begin with the transfer and communicate with you throughout this process.We also have lots of experience migrating from other pl
What is included in Full Server Management?
Our tiers of support include 24/7/365 support via Live Chat and support tickets. We also offer a 99.9999% network uptime guarantee, a 99.9999% power uptime guarantee, ongoing server maintenance, and the setup of automated tasks upon request.More included offerings: operating system updates, virus scans, mitigation of load problems or sluggishness, troubleshooting for network-related issues, assistance if a server fails to boot, help with hardware failures, package installations, and much more!Ch
Ready to Choose?
Both providers offer great features. Visit their websites to see the latest deals and pricing.
US East, Ashburn
Western Europe, Amsterdam
Southeast Asia, Singapore