Hostgator Vs GoDaddy – Hosting Comparison 2023 Edition

In this article, we’re going to comparing HostGator vs GoDaddy; two of the most popular hosting providers around.

Choosing the right web hosting company will make it easy for you to update and maintain your own website. It will also give you peace of mind knowing that your new blog or website is in safe hands.

Of course, you can switch hosting providers in the future if you need to, but making the right choice now will simply give you one less thing to worry about further down the road.

If you’re unsure which of these hosting companies would be best for you, you’re not alone. Although they are both great hosts, there are quite a few differences between the two that may mean one will suit you better than the other.

This article will give you everything you need to know to make the right choice for your business. We are going to review the hosting services of both HostGator and GoDaddy, to see which is better overall. We will be looking at all of the features these two companies offer, as well as their customer support, reviews, usability, and of course their plans and pricing.

What to Look For In A Hosting Provider

Many people underestimate the importance of choosing a great host when they are creating a website. Building your website is the first step when it comes to creating a successful business online. And although it seems like a small step in comparison to the other steps you need to take to succeed online, it’s definitely one of the most important.

There are a few things that you should be looking for when you are choosing a hosting provider for your website.

1. Speed – What facilities do they have in place to ensure the fastest possible page loading speeds for your site?
2. Uptime – What are their average uptime statistics for the past 12 months?
3. Security & Backups – Do they offer free automatic backups for your website?
4. Customer support – How can you contact them if you have a problem? How quickly do they respond?
5. Ease of Use – Is their platform intuitive and easy to use?
6. Scalability – Are there bigger plans with more data and traffic allowances that you can move to as your site grows?
7. Pricing – Are they providing good value for the price?

HostGator Vs GoDaddy – Everything You Need to Know

Before we dive into the main review of these two hosting companies, let’s learn a little bit more about who they are, and what their main offerings are.

About Hostgator

HostGator is a global provider of web hosting and domain services. They were founded back in 2002 in a Florida dorm room by their founder, Brent Oxley. Fast forward to today and they now have offices around the world and are an official WordPress recommended hosting supplier.

As well as offering a range of hosting plans, HostGator offers domain registration services and domain transfers. They also have their own (very easy to use) website builder, which is perfect for anyone who needs a great-looking website up and running quickly.

The Main Services Offered by HostGator

These are the main services on offer from HostGator:

• Shared Hosting
• Website Builder
• WordPress Hosting
• Dedicated Hosting
• VPS Hosting
• Domain Registration

HostGator is owned by the Endurance International Group (EIG) and mainly focuses on web hosting services. As you can see, they have a range of different offerings to suit businesses of all sizes.

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy was founded in 1997, giving it a total of 5 more years on HostGator. GoDaddy is proud to be the largest platform for online services for entrepreneurs around the world with a huge community of over 20 million customers. They are a huge company with over 9,000 employees based around the world

GoDaddy is the world’s largest ICANN-accredited registrar, managing more than 82 million domain names.

The Main Services Offered by GoDaddy

These are the main services on offer from GoDaddy:

• Domain registration
• Domain Auctions
• Website Builder
• Domain name generator
• Expert services: Web design, Maintenance, and SEO Services
• WordPress Hosting
• VPS Hosting
• Dedicated Servers
• Email and office services

As you can see, GoDaddy has a huge range of services designed to help entrepreneurs and businesses online. To sum it up, GoDaddy is a one-stop shop for all of your online business needs.

HostGator vs GoDaddy – Which is Better Overall?

Based on the type of website you are running, there may be certain features that are more important to you than others. To help you decide which web host is right for you, we are going to compare each hosting feature offered by GoDaddy and HostGator separately.

Let’s see how these two measure up when it comes to their uptime and page loading speeds.

HostGator vs GoDaddy Uptime – ( HostGator WINS )

Both HostGator and GoDaddy offer excellent uptime statistics of over 99.9% overall.

Data from Pingdom shows that for the past 7 days, HostGator has had an impressive uptime of 100%. In the last 12 months, HostGator’s uptime has fallen below 99.9% once, when dipped just slightly below this to 99.5%.

In the past 7 days, GoDaddy’s uptime has been recorded at 99.97%, slightly below HostGator’s score, but impressive nonetheless. In the last 12 months, GoDaddy has fallen below 99.9% a total of three times.

HostGator offers a 99.9%  uptime guarantee to all of its customers. This means that if their uptime falls below 99.9%, they will credit your account with one month of free hosting services.

GoDaddy also offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee. If your website’s uptime falls below the promised 99.9% you can contact them and they will credit you with 5% of your monthly hosting fee. You can only use this credit to purchase more services from GoDaddy.

Overall, HostGator is the winner when it comes to uptime. Not only do they have slightly higher uptime statistics overall, but they also offer a better guarantee if your uptime should fall below 99.9%.

Performance and Speed – ( DRAW – Both Hostgator & Godaddy are level in this feature )

Page loading speeds are more important than you think. In fact, your page loading time can have a huge effect on your bottom line, losing you money and driving away potential customers if it’s too slow.

Every second counts when it comes to your website’s page loading speed and even a delay of a second or two can lose you customers. This goes for downtime too.

Don’t believe me? According to research by Think With Google, The probability of bounce increases to a massive 32% as page load time goes from 1 second to 3 seconds.

Scary, right?

That’s why it’s so important to consider page loading speeds when choosing a hosting service for your website.

Luckily, both HostGator and GoDaddy excel when it comes to speed and performance.

HostGator’s servers run on Dual Xeon, while GoDaddy’s servers run on Intel Core i7 processors. Both of these allow you to opt for either Linux or Windows hosting.

Your site is likely to deliver strong performance with minimal downtime in either case. Thus, there is no clear winner in terms of response time, but from my experience with both hosts, I personally would go with HostGator on this one.

Security and Backups – ( HostGator WINS )

You will want to know that your site is in safe hands, with your chosen hosting provider. With cybercrime on the rise, security is more important than ever.

HostGator takes the security of its customers very seriously. The servers are monitored 24/7, 365 days a year, so if there are any issues they can be stopped in their tracks.

HostGator also works in the background to provide regular automatic backups for its customers. This means if anything goes wrong, you will always have access to a recent backup of your site, and can get things back up and running as soon as possible.

GoDaddy does well in this area too, and has even won awards for its security features. The security team works 24/7 to scan for malware, monitor suspicious activity and deflect DDoS attacks. With GoDaddy, you can enable 90-day backups and you have the option to schedule, create on-demand and download them as you need to.

Both HostGator and GoDaddy offer free SSL certificates with their hosting plans, so you can be sure any personal data that is stored on your website is secure.

Overall, HostGator wins this round. Although both companies provide state-of-the-art security features, HostGator wins when it comes to backups. HostGator takes care of site backups on autopilot, so you never have to think or worry about it, whereas with GoDaddy, you need to enable and set up backups yourself.

Customer Support – ( IT’S A DRAW )

There’s nothing more frustrating than having to wait for support when there’s a technical issue with your website.

Therefore, a solid customer support team is priceless for any webmaster.

If you run into any issues with HostGator, you can contact them 24/7, 365 days a year by telephone, live chat, email (ticketing), or Twitter.

HostGator also has an extensive knowledge base and blog where you can find answers to common questions, and step-by-step tutorials to fix any small issues you might be having. There is also a huge library of video tutorials that you can follow if you’re having trouble getting started.

Similarly, GoDaddy offers customer support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can contact them by phone (they offer a global directory of different numbers you can call, depending on where you are based), as well as live chat and WhatsApp.

GoDaddy also has a help center where you can find answers to frequently asked questions and solve small issues on your own.

When it comes to customer service, both of these companies provide a great service. Wherever you are in the world you will be able to contact them 24 hours a day with any issues you are having.

GoDaddy and HostGator are both Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited companies, which means that they are committed to resolving consumer issues and complaints in a systematic manner.

Both have also received the highest possible BBB rating of A+. HostGator has gone out of its way to being a part of green hosting and it even purchases certified Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).

HostGator vs GoDaddy: Customer Reviews – (GoDaddy Wins)

Although we have experienced both of these hosting services ourselves, it’s always good to look at reviews from other customers to get a well-rounded view of how other people feel about them.

We’re using Trustpilot and Trustradius to see what people are saying about HostGator and GoDaddy.

Overall, GoDaddy is doing very well when it comes to customer reviews. They have a very respectable 4.5 out of 5 stars rating on Trustpilot, and a score of 7.3 out of 10 on TrustRadius.

Hostgator has a score of 3.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. This is a little lower than GoDaddy, but still not a bad score overall. On TrustRadius they have a score of 7.3 out of 10, which is exactly the same as GoDaddy’s score.

Overall, it’s a close call here, but due to the slightly higher score on Trustpilot, GoDaddy wins this round.

Control Panel – ( DRAW )

HostGator and GoDaddy both provide you with access to the industry-standard cPanel with your Linux hosting account.

This control panel is extremely user-friendly and you will be able to start using it almost instantly. You will be able to install multiple applications required for your site with just a single click on both these hosting platforms. You can conveniently manage file transfer, databases, and so on.

If you opt for windows hosting from any of these two hosts, you get Parallel Plesk as your control panel.

Money-Back Guarantee – ( HostGator WINS )

If you sign up for a hosting provider and don’t get the service you had hoped for, it’s good to know that there is a money-back guarantee in place to protect you.

HostGator offers a 45-day money-back guarantee. To receive this you will need to cancel your plan within the first 45 days of purchase. Once your plan is canceled you should receive a refund within 15 days.

GoDaddy offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. To receive your money back you will need to cancel your plan by contacting customer service. This must be done within 30 days of your purchase for annual plans and within 48 hours of purchasing a month-to-month plan.

Overall, HostGator wins this round, because they offer a longer period on their money-back guarantee. The extra time makes a big difference here as it can take a while to get used to using a new service.

HostGator vs GoDaddy: Ease of Use – (HostGator Wins)

When it comes to ease of use, it’s a tough call. Both HostGator and GoDaddy are easy for beginners to use, even if you’re completely new to building websites. Overall it has to be said that HostGator is slightly more intuitive to use and easier to navigate.

Both companies have their own website builders with beautiful premade templates that are easy to use. These are a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to use WordPress. HostGator’s website builder is slightly simpler to use, making it easy to get a website, blog, or e-commerce site up and running in an hour or less.

If you’re a WordPress user, it’s easy to set up a WordPress site on both GoDaddy and HostGator. Both companies offer WordPress hosting, and even on their regular hosting plans you can still install WordPress with just one click.

HostGator wins this round, on account of its superior website builder. However, they’re both very easy to use, even if you’re a newbie!

HostGator vs GoDaddy: The Pros and Cons

There are lots of different hosting options out there, and each one will have its own pros and cons. It’s important to look at these and decide if any of them will affect you, and whether or not they are dealbreakers for you. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of HostGator and GoDaddy.

HostGator Pros and Cons

Pros – HostGator

• Affordable hosting plans
• User friendly
• 45-day money-back guarantee
• 99.9% Uptime guarantee
• Fast and reliable hosting
• Regular automatic backups
• Helpful customer support
• Great website builder

Cons – HostGator

• Sometimes it can take a while to get a response from customer support

GoDaddy Pros and Cons

Pros – GoDaddy

• One of the largest domain and hosting providers in the world
• Affordable hosting plans
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• 99.9% uptime guarantee
• 90-day backups
• Excellent customer support
• ​Easy to set up email accounts

Cons – GoDaddy

• Lots of upsells and add-ons during the checkout process
• Slightly more expensive than its competitors
• The website builder isn’t the best

When it comes to looking at the pros and cons of these two companies, it has to be a personal decision based on your needs. For example, GoDaddy’s website builder isn’t the best website builder out there, but this won’t be important to you at all if you are planning on creating a WordPress website.

HostGator vs Godaddy: Plans and Pricing – ( HostGator Wins )

Now we’re going to compare the pricing and plans of HostGator and GoDaddy, to see which one offers the best value to its customers.

Types of Hosting Plans

Both companies offer a range of plans, including: Shared Hosting Plans, VPS Hosting Plans, Dedicated Hosting Plans, reseller hosting, and WordPress Hosting Plans.

To keep things fair for this comparison, we are going to be comparing the shared hosting plans for both companies. Shared hosting plans are popular for both bloggers and small businesses. These plans include all the features, speed, and reliability you need at an affordable price point.

Hostgator Pricing

HostGator has three main shared hosting plans available.

First up is the Hatchling plan, which is designed for single websites. This plan starts at $2.75/month if you sign up for a 36-month plan, and renews at $6.95/month. This plan includes one-click WordPress installs, Free transfers from another hosting provider, unmetered bandwidth, free SSL certificate, and a free domain name.

Next up is the Baby plan, which includes everything from the Hatchling plan, but also allows you to have an unlimited number of websites. This plan starts at $3.50/month for a 36-month plan, and auto-renews at $9.95/month.

Last but not least is the Business plan. This plan gives you everything from the previous two plans, as well as a free upgrade to Positive SSL, a free dedicated IP, and free SEO tools. The Business plan starts at $5.25/month on a 36-month plan, and auto renews at $14.95/month.

If you want to give HostGator a try, head over to their website to check out their hosting plans in more detail.

GoDaddy Pricing

GoDaddy has four different shared hosting plans available, depending on your business needs.

All four plans include:

• 1-click domain name setup
• 24/7 security
• 1GB database storage
• 1-click install on over 150 free apps
• Easy to use C-panel

The Economy plan starts at $4.49/month for a 36-month plan, and renews at $8.99/month. This plan includes standard performance, one website, 100GB storage, 10 databases, unmetered bandwidth, and free 1-click WordPress installation.

The Deluxe plan starts at $7.49/month for a 36-month plan, and renews at $11.99/month. This plan includes everything from the Economy plan, as well as unlimited websites, unlimited storage, and 25 databases.

The Ultimate plan starts at $8.49/month for a 36-month plan, and renews at $16.99/month. It includes everything from the Deluxe plan, as well as increased processing power, unlimited databases, and a free SSL certificate.

The Maximum plan starts at $19.99/month for a 36-month plan, and renews at $24.99/month. The Maximum plan includes everything from the previous plans. It also includes free unlimited SSL certificates for all of your websites.

If you want to give GoDaddy a try, head over to their website to check out their hosting plans in more detail.

Overall, HostGator wins when it comes to plans and pricing. Not only do they offer a better deal initially, but even after the renewal period, they are still the more affordable option.

HostGator vs GoDaddy: The Verdict –

HostGator All Day Long!

After comparing HostGator and GoDaddy head-to-head, it’s clear that HostGator is the overall winner here!

HostGator offers better value, even after the initial special offer period. It’s also more intuitive to navigate and easier to use. If you’re not happy with it, they offer a 45-day money-back guarantee, so there’s nothing to lose.

That’s not to say that GoDaddy isn’t a great choice, it simply depends on your personal needs. If you are looking for a hosting company that delivers lots of other services in addition to hosting, then GoDaddy could be perfect for you. GoDaddy has the advantage of being a larger company, but HostGator stands out as an excellent competitor to this global brand.

Want to give HostGator a try? Head over to their website to check out their hosting plans in more detail.

If you feel like GoDaddy hosting might be a better option for you, you can find out more about what they have to offer and check out their plans here.

If you are still undecided on which hosting provider is right for you, you might want to check out Siteground. Siteground is an industry-leading hosting provider that provides excellent customer support and affordable hosting packages. Read our SiteGround review to find out more.

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