SiteGround vs GoDaddy: Which is Right for You?

Our independent research projects and impartial reviews are funded in part by affiliate commissions, at no extra cost to our readers. Learn more

4

out of 5

3.7

out of 5

When it comes to SiteGround vs GoDaddy, there’s little to separate the top providers.

But different sites have different needs, and hosting providers specialize in various things. GoDaddy scores solidly across features and help and support in our research, but you get what you pay for being the pricier option of the two. On the other hand, SiteGround has bad performance but is better value for money.

GoDaddy and SiteGround come in 6th and 9th in our list of the best hosting providers, scoring 4/5 and 3.7/5 respectively. Therefore it’s up to you to decide which provider is best for you. GoDaddy is a more reliable hoster, better for established businesses whereas SiteGround is better for startups or those on a budget. We go through both providers in detail so you can get fully informed, so sit back, get your popcorn and soda and let’s begin!

Swipe right to see more
0 out of 0

SiteGround

GoDaddy

Overall rating
3.7
Overall rating
4.0
Starting from

$2.99

Starting from

$6.99

Free backups
Free backups
Free domain
Free domain
Storage space

10GB – 160GB

Storage space

25GB – 100GB

SiteGround is better if you are on a budget...

SiteGround is a great option for those who would like a hosting provider for a startup or on a budget, and don’t mind sacrificing performance.

GoDaddy Hosting is better for those who want great support...

GoDaddy is a much more well-rounded hosting provider and gives its users great support across the board. Good for those already established.

SiteGround vs GoDaddy: Quick Comparison

For a more in-depth breakdown, read on. We’ll explore everything you need to know in order to make an informed decision between these two providers.

SiteGround GoDaddy Hosting
Features, Performance and Ease of Use
Winner: GoDaddy
SiteGround has one of the worst performances we've ever tested, a 0.9 out of 5. GoDaddy performs decently and has a great range of features, while also being easy to use. A solid all-rounder.
WordPress Integration
Winner: SiteGround
Has free expert migration, daily backups, and the joint highest score for security features. GoDaddy has it's own website builder, so it makes sense it would not have as detailed WordPress integration.
Help and Support
Winner: GoDaddy
While not having the worst support, it is just beaten by GoDaddy. GoDaddy takes the win by having 24/7 phone support on top of its live chat.
Pricing & Value for Money
Winner: SiteGround
Starting at $2.99/month, SiteGround remains on the affordable site with great value for money and this categories winner. GoDaddy is on the pricier side for a hosting provider, with a starting price beginning at $6.99/month.
Are You Ready? SiteGround GoDaddy

If you are still feeling confused, take our hosting quiz! Just answer four questions and you’ll be expertly recommend the hosting provider of your dreams.

What kind of website(s) do you have?

Find Your Hosting Provider

Features, Performance, & Ease of Use

GoDaddy logo
The Winner

GoDaddy has better Features, Performance & Ease of Use

It’s SiteGround ‘s performance that loses it in this battle, having not only the worst performance with a 0.9 out of 5 in our research but also having the slowest server response time. GoDaddy, on the other hand, has solid scores in features and performance across all its hosting options. Ol’ reliable GoDaddy takes the win.
Try GoDaddy Today

There are more features at play in hosting than just “hosting,” believe it or not. Factors like uptime, disk space, domain management, and more determine the strong services from the subpar ones.

SiteGroundGoDaddy
Free domainYesYes
Control panelOwn servicecPanel
Free backupsYesYes
Disk space10GBUnlimited
Uptime99.9%99%

While SiteGround has better uptime, it uses its own control panel service in favor of the industry standard cPanel like GoDaddy. SiteGround’s also comparatively meager disk space of 10GB is an eyebrow-raiser compared to GoDaddy’s 100GB, but bear in mind that most sites get nowhere near their caps anyway.

GoDaddy isn’t just a hosting company – they operate in domain registration and website building as well. Because of this, they can include features for free that SiteGround needs to add on top. Hosting plans with GoDaddy comes with a free domain and a fairly sophisticated website builder. Handy if you want everything in one place.

For website building, SiteGround integrates SiteBuilder, which is functional but far from the best out there. If, however, you plan to use more advanced content management systems like WordPress or Drupal, SiteGround’s integration is superb.

Want to learn more about getting online as a retailer or a business?

Best Ecommerce Software – Check out our review

What is Web Hosting? – Our complete beginner’s guide to the ins and outs of web hosting

Best Web Hosting Providers – Research-driven rankings of the best all-round hosting providers

GoDaddy logo

Does GoDaddy's Performance Deserve A Standing Ovation?

GoDaddy pulled ahead of SiteGround with its great features and solid performance. It’s also easy to use! Why not give it a try today?

Which has Better WordPress Integration?

siteground logo
The Winner

Siteground has better WordPress Integration

SiteGround is better for WordPress than GoDaddy. Recommended as one of the top three web hosting providers by WordPress itself, SiteGround is the cream of the crop here. It offers one-click installation, advanced features, and automatic updates.
Try SiteGround Today

According to WordPress.org, considered by many to be the leading authority on WordPress.org, Bluehost, DreamHost, and SiteGround are “some of the best and brightest of the hosting world.” We’re not going to argue otherwise (though we do think Bluehost is the best of the bunch).

The proof’s in the pudding. SiteGround’s WordPress plans manage WordPress updates for you and provide support for more advanced features like WP-Cli. SiteGround also offers a one-click installation, while GoDaddy installations take up to 24 hours to take effect. It’s a minor difference in the grand scheme of things, but it does highlight how much more seriously SiteGround takes WordPress hosting. GoDaddy ticks all the essential boxes, but it doesn’t go the extra mile as SiteGround does.

But if we’re being honest, once a simple WordPress site is up and running it’s almost immaterial who you’re hosting with.

More Information:

WordPress Review – Everything you need to know about the CMS powering 1/3rd of the internet

Best WordPress Hosting Provider – A closer look at the strengths of Bluehost for WordPress

How to Install WordPress with Bluehost – Our step by step guide to installing Bluehost on WordPress

siteground logo

SiteGround: Part Of The Integration Nation!

SiteGround is third on WordPress’ own list of best providers. As hosting experts, sometimes it’s best to listen to the source, so we won’t argue with WordPress!

SiteGround Support vs GoDaddy Support

GoDaddy logo
The Winner

GoDaddy has better help and support

Both offer a wide range, from knowledge centers to phone help, and SiteGround gets points for its tech ticket system, but the lack of 24/7 phone support means it is less accessible than GoDaddy, making it the winner.
Try GoDaddy Today

While SiteGround’s offerings are not bad, GoDaddy beats it by having the best overall coverage, with both 24/7 phone and chat support, as well as comprehensive knowledge centers.

SiteGroundGoDaddy
24/7 ChatYesYes
24/7 PhoneNoYes
Knowledge CenterYesYes
TicketsYesNo

SiteGround stands out for having tech tickets, which allow you to receive personalized professional support for any issues you’re having.

Tickets are a really useful option to have for finicky technical issues, and SiteGround’s 10-minute reply guarantee is a rarity.

Do You Want Great Help & Support?

GoDaddy offers 24/7 phone and live chat, meaning you can talk to an actual human being when experiencing a tech issue. Often just knowing someone is there trying to help can be the difference. Try it today!

Pricing & Value for Money

siteground logo
The Winner

Siteground is better value for money

SiteGround offers better value for money than GoDaddy. While SiteGround doesn’t provide as many hosting services as GoDaddy, it’s a great provider to use if you’re trying to make that investment. GoDaddy, on the other hand, simply can’t compete with the pricing of its peers in the smaller-site game.
Try SiteGround Today

Comparing the pricing of two providers like SiteGround and GoDaddy can be tricky, since they’re ultimately targeting different people. SiteGround is ultimately the cheaper option, but starter plans with both providers are super affordable – both come under $10 for shared hosting.

As you can see below, it’s when you move up the plans that the differences become apparent.

Monthly Rates (based on 12 months)

Shared hosting is the cheapest plan offered by both GoDaddy and SiteGround. SiteGround’s $2.99 – $7.99 a month plan provides great affordability for those on a budget, but don’t expect much scalability for smaller sites. You may need to trade up the provider, but you have enough features to support up to 10,000 monthly visitors. GoDaddy’s $6.99 – $22.99/month plans are better suited for bigger sites and provide a free domain.

SiteGroundGoDaddy
Shared Hosting$2.99 – $7.99$6.99 – $22.99
WordPress Hosting$2.99 – $7.49$8.99 – $20.99
VPS Hosting$5.99 – $83.99
Dedicated Hosting$259.98 – $559.98
Cloud Hosting$90 – $380
Overwhelmed by all the money math?

No worries, we’ve written a full breakdown of website hosting costs.

Whenever we look at pricing, we think it’s important to clarify that what you’re seeing is the bare minimum of each plan – with no add-ons and a plan that’s 1 year paid in advance. Throw in a couple of features, or sign up for a shorter contract, and you can expect to pay at least a couple of dollars more each month.

Both providers offer 30-day money-back guarantees, so there’s a very low risk of getting tied into a contract that doesn’t serve your needs.

Until March 31st, SiteGround is celebrating its birthday by offering up to 86% off with prices starting from $1.99 per month!

siteground logo

SiteGround's Prices Are Down To Earth

SiteGround provides a simple service for an affordable price. If you don’t need great performance and just want something cheap and cheerful, SiteGround is the way to go.

SiteGround vs GoDaddy Hosting: Conclusion

Overall, we think that GoDaddy Hosting provides the best service of the two. While on the more expensive side, GoDaddy has amazing features and the all-in-one convenience of hosting, website building, and domain registration in one place.

SiteGround may be better value for money, but its weak performance score in our research of 0.9 out of 5 really hampers it, putting it a whole 2.8 points behind the next lowest! Additionally, GoDaddy offers multiple hosting options from shared to VPS and dedicated, whereas SiteGround only really provides shared, making its weak performance score even more noticeable.

SiteGround is better if you are on a budget...

SiteGround is a great option for those who would like a hosting provider for a startup or on a budget, and don’t mind sacrificing performance.

GoDaddy Hosting is better for those who want great support...

GoDaddy is a much more well-rounded hosting provider and gives its users great support across the board. Good for those already established.

They’re both great providers, just be sure they’re great for you.

GoDaddy Hosting is our choice of the better hosting provider. It provides a more reliable service and is less likely to leave you having to swap later down the line. Try it out for a 30-day trial today!

SiteGround vs GoDaddy: the FAQs

Definitely SiteGround. WordPress itself recommends SiteGround as one of the best hosting providers for WordPress websites. One-click installation, automatic updates, and support for more advanced features all show that SiteGround goes that extra mile for its WordPress users.

Our top recommended hosting provider is Bluehost – check out our SiteGround vs Bluehost comparison to find out which one you should pick.

GoDaddy is better suited for smaller businesses. It has more affordable price plans because it’s aimed more at everyday users.

SiteGround has a bigger focus on smaller and less developed sites. It is more affordable but bad for scalability,  which may put off a small business on a budget.

If you want to find out the top three providers for your small business, read our review of the Best Web Hosting for Small Businesses to find your perfect match.

SiteGround and GoDaddy are both leading brands that have earned their reputations. But when we carried out research on the best hosting providers, they didn’t come right at the top of the list.

See our breakdown of the top hosts in our review of the Best Web Hosting Providers to see how GoDaddy and SiteGround compare to its competitors.

Want even more info? Check out our full Bluehost Review to find out why it claimed the top spot, or read our detailed HostGator Review to learn why it came in second place.

Website Builder Expert aims to provide you with honest data. That’s why we conduct our own research and obtain direct, personal insight. Analyses and graphics in this article are based on authentic sources cross-validated by our in-house experts.

We take great care to ensure the information we publish is reliable and accurate. However, WBE takes no responsibility for any inaccuracy in information supplied to us by users, research participants, or other entities.

Please note the insight contained within this article is for general information purposes only. We’re glad to answer any questions you may have about this article and its supporting research. For further information, please contact Website Builder Expert directly via email at info@websitebuilderexpert.com.

Written by:
I know from experience that building a website is only as hard as you make it. The internet is more accessible than it’s ever been, with all the resources you need to join in and stand out. Anyone can get online. I’m here to help you do that.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *