GoDaddy Pricing – What You’ll Pay in 2025

If you’re looking at GoDaddy for a domain or a hosting plan, the first thing you want to know is the price. GoDaddy advertises cheap first‑year rates, but the real cost shows up when you renew or add extra services. Below we break down the main fees, point out where extra charges hide, and give you practical tips to keep the bill low.

Domain Name Costs

Buying a .com for the first year usually costs $0.99 to $2.99, but that’s a promotional price. The renewal fee jumps to $12‑$18 per year for most popular extensions. Premium names can be $50, $100, or more, and the price is set by the seller, not GoDaddy.

Things that add to the total:

• Privacy protection – about $9‑$12 per year if you want WHOIS data hidden.
• Domain lock – a small fee (often $0) but some extensions charge $3‑$5.
• Auto‑renew – make sure it’s on, otherwise you risk losing the domain.

Tip: Register for two or three years upfront. GoDaddy gives a 10‑15% discount on multi‑year renewals, and you avoid the price jump after the first year.

Hosting Plans & Add‑Ons

GoDaddy’s shared hosting starts at $5.99 per month for the first term. After the promotional period, the price usually rises to $8.99‑$11.99 per month. If you need more power, the WordPress‑optimized plans cost $9.99‑$24.99 per month, again with higher renewal rates.

Common add‑ons that can creep up the bill:

• Site backup – $2‑$5 per month.
• SSL certificate – free on many plans, but a premium SSL can be $30‑$70 per year.
• Website builder – $4‑$9 per month if you use GoDaddy’s Website Builder instead of a CMS.

Tip: Choose the “essential” plan that matches your traffic. If you’re just starting a blog or a small business site, the basic shared plan is enough. Upgrade only when you see real growth.

Another hidden cost is the “setup fee” on some reseller plans. It’s a one‑time charge of $9‑$12, but many users overlook it. Always read the fine print before you click “Buy”.

Overall, GoDaddy can be a solid choice if you keep an eye on renewal dates and avoid optional extras you don’t need. Compare the total annual cost with alternatives like Namecheap or Google Domains – they often have lower renewal rates for similar features.

For a deeper look at GoDaddy’s pros and cons, check out our post “Is Buying a Domain from GoDaddy Worth Your Money? Pros, Cons, and Real Facts”. It walks through real user experiences, support quality, and how the pricing stacks up against the competition.

Bottom line: The first‑year price looks tempting, but the true cost is the renewal fee plus any add‑ons you enable. Plan ahead, lock in multi‑year rates, and only add services that truly benefit your site. That way you get the domain you want without surprise bills later.