Why Many Website Owners Move Away From GoDaddy: A Fact-Checked Look

If you search tech forums, Reddit threads, BBB complaints, and past news coverage, you’ll find recurring pain points GoDaddy customers report: surprise renewal prices, aggressive upselling, rough transfer experiences, and several high-profile security and reliability incidents. Below is a concise, sourced summary to help you make an informed decision.

1) Sticker shock at renewal time

A common theme is low intro pricing followed by much higher renewals. Customers regularly post about 2x to 4x price jumps and unusually high renewal fees for certain TLDs. Reddit+3Reddit+3Reddit+3

Independent review roundups and user review aggregators also flag aggressive upsells and higher-than-expected ongoing costs as frequent dislikes. G2+1

2) Aggressive upselling and support experience

Numerous user reports describe support interactions that focus on add-ons rather than solving the original problem. This “upsell first” feel is a persistent complaint in recent customer discussions. Reddit+2G2+2

3) Domain transfers and “lock-in” friction

Several threads detail frustrations transferring domains away from GoDaddy, including denials or confusing extra steps that slow the process. While transfer policies can be complex across registrars, customers frequently cite GoDaddy as particularly difficult. Reddit+2Reddit+2

4) DNS reliability and record integrity concerns

Some customers say DNS records “disappeared” or were deleted. Even GoDaddy’s own help docs warn that deleted DNS records “can’t be recovered,” so mistakes or unexplained changes can be painful. Regardless of fault, multiple posts advise moving DNS to a more stable provider to avoid repeat incidents. Reddit+1

GoDaddy has also had notable DNS-related outages. In September 2012, a large outage took many sites and email offline for hours. Initial speculation blamed an attack, but GoDaddy later said the root cause was internal technical issues that corrupted router tables. WIRED+1

5) Security incidents affecting Managed WordPress

GoDaddy has disclosed serious security incidents in its Managed WordPress environment. In November 2021, a filing reported unauthorized access affecting about 1.2 million Managed WordPress customers. Later reporting summarized multi-year intrusions beginning in 2020 that involved malware, code theft, and site redirects. These incidents highlight the risk concentration when many sites share a single managed platform. WIRED+4SEC+4MalCare+4

6) General complaint volume and patterns

The Better Business Bureau lists thousands of complaints tied to GoDaddy’s headquarters and corporate-owned locations. The themes include billing disputes, refunds, and support friction. These pages provide a window into the kinds of issues customers escalate. Better Business Bureau+3Better Business Bureau+3Better Business Bureau+3

What these patterns mean for small businesses

  • Renewal surprises can eat into budgets unexpectedly. If your host leans heavily on intro discounts, build realistic long-term cost models up front. Reddit+1
  • Aggressive upselling can distract from solving problems quickly. Consider providers known for straightforward plans and support that focuses on resolution first. Reddit+1
  • DNS stability matters. Even one bad change can take down your site or email. Separating DNS from your registrar or using a DNS provider with strong versioning and rollback can reduce risk. GoDaddy
  • Managed platforms centralize convenience and risk. If your provider suffers a breach, the blast radius can be wide. Weigh convenience against provider security history and transparency. SEC+1

A more personal alternative: why many choose a smaller host

If you prefer clear pricing, human support, and DNS handled with care, a smaller, long-established provider can be a better fit. At Twilight I.T., we focus on:

  • Transparent monthly pricing with managed care included – plans start at $25 to $37 per month, designed to be predictable without the surprise jumps.
  • Hands-on DNS stewardship – changes are documented and verified to prevent outages.
  • Security-first managed hosting – patching, monitoring, and practical backup strategies tuned to small-business needs.
  • Real relationships – we’ve served clients for decades and measure success by long-term retention, not upsell quotas.

Sources and further reading

BBB complaint listings: overall complaint volumes and themes. Better Business Bureau+3Better Business Bureau+3Better Business Bureau+3

Customer reports of renewal increases and pricing frustration: Reddit threads in r/godaddy and r/Domains. Reddit+3Reddit+3Reddit+3

Review aggregators and editorials flagging upsells and costs: G2 user reviews and independent reviews. G2+1

Upselling and support experience complaints: Reddit reports. Reddit

Transfer friction examples: Reddit threads in r/webhosting and r/godaddy. Reddit+2Reddit+2

DNS issues and deletion guidance: Reddit discussion and GoDaddy help article. Reddit GoDaddy

Major outage coverage and root cause clarification: Wired’s reporting and follow-ups. WIRED+1

Managed WordPress security incidents: GoDaddy SEC filing and summaries by reputable security/hosting blogs and tech media. WIRED+4SEC+4MalCare+4