Head-to-head
GoDaddy vs Namecheap
The two domain giants compared as hosts: marketing muscle against honest pricing.
Easy start
GoDaddyGoDaddy Inc.
GoDaddy
The domain giant, hosting included.
Our pick
Easy start
NamecheapNamecheap Inc.
Namecheap
The domain giant with surprisingly cheap hosting.
GoDaddyNamecheap
Our score3.7 / 54.2 / 5
PriceFrom $5.99/moFrom $1.98/mo
Free planNoNo
Best forDomain-first convenienceTight budgets
CategoryStarter hostingStarter hosting
ProviderGoDaddy Inc.Namecheap Inc.
Our verdict
Both built their names on domains, but as hosts they could not be more different. Namecheap keeps its promise of fair pricing into hosting: cheap promos and renewals that stay cheap, with a clean checkout. GoDaddy pairs higher prices with aggressive upsells and unremarkable performance. Namecheap wins comfortably; it is the better deal at every point in the customer journey.
“The biggest name in domains will happily host your site too, and for a simple site it works. But the renewal prices, the upsells, and the cluttered dashboard make better-value rivals easy to recommend.”Editorial team, on GoDaddy
“Better known for domains, but the Stellar hosting is remarkably cheap even at renewal. Not the fastest servers in this lineup; for a simple site, the price is hard to beat.”Editorial team, on Namecheap