Not to mention, websites open up the possibility of online shopping, allowing you to sell goods through your website.
One of the best ways of creating a website is through web hosting platforms (Also check out this amazing Web host – HostPapa!). When using a web hosting service, you won’t be alone.
Instead, you will have access to a technical support team that will help you solve any site-related issues.
Two of the most commonly used web hosting services are HostGator and GoDaddy. But which of them is better? This review will help you to decide which is best for you!
What Is HostGator?
HostGator is a major brand within the web hosting industry. Founded in 2002, HostGator is based in Houston, Texas. This business offers wonderful web hosting services. These services can be accessed via a range of different plans.
What Is GoDaddy?
GoDaddy is a web hosting platform with over 20 million users. It is also a domain name registrar. Founded in 1997, it predates HostGator. GoDaddy’s headquarters are located in Tempe, Arizona.
HostGator vs GoDaddy
To help decide which of these platforms is the best, we have broken them down into the main qualities that will affect the user experience. This way, you can also make up your mind as to which is the superior service.
We based these reviews on our experiences of these systems and the test results that we received.
Host Features
As two of the largest names in the industry, HostGator and GoDaddy provide high-quality features.
They both have exceptional uptimes. If you are unfamiliar with this term, uptime refers to a way of measuring the reliability of a system. GoDaddy has an uptime of 99.97% while HostGator’s uptime is an impressive 99.99%.
Both uptimes are impressive and ensure that the system is highly functional, though HostGator has a slightly higher uptime. Since uptime is subject to change, the minor difference between these uptimes likely won’t make much difference.
Moreover, both platforms are capable of integrating with WordPress. This is great news, as WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) on the market.
HostGator’s WordPress integration will only take a few minutes (Also check out Bluehost Vs HostGator). Unfortunately, GoDaddy’s integration is noticeably slower, usually requiring 24 hours to complete.
In terms of the other features that they provide, it’s difficult to compare HostGator and GoDaddy. This is because the features that customers can access will depend on which membership plan they have chosen (more on that later).
Security
When using a website hosting service, it is recommended that you opt for one with superb security. Otherwise, your data can be compromised.
GoDaddy offers greater security than HostGator. GoDaddy performs routine malware scans to detect any security threats. Meanwhile, daily backups ensure that your website is protected.
It’s important to note that you will have to pay slightly more for these GoDaddy security services, though we believe that the cost is worth it. As a major web hosting platform, GoDaddy is vulnerable to attacks.
Though HostGator also has decent security, it is not on the same level as GoDaddy. Though malware scans and backups are conducted, these only occur weekly. This is inferior to GoDaddy’s daily scans and backups.
User Friendliness
If you are new to the world of website building (You might want to check out Groovefunnels), it is important to invest in a web hosting service that’s easy to use.
Fortunately, both GoDaddy and HostGator are fairly simple to use. So regardless of whether you are a novice website builder or someone with more experience, both platforms should be sufficient for you.
If we had to pick one of these services, HostGator would be the better choice. This is simply because it is a little easier to use than GoDaddy.
Cost
Developing a website can be quite an expensive endeavor. Therefore, you will likely want an affordable website hosting service.
Both HostGator and GoDaddy have different membership prices, which cover different prices.
When it comes to web hosting, HostGator has three membership tiers, namely the Hatchling Plan, Baby Plan, and Business Plan. The Hatchling Plan is the most affordable but it offers the least features.
In comparison, the Business Plan is the most expensive tier. Yet, it offers the most immersive range of services. This includes free dedicated IP (internet protocol), unlimited websites, and complimentary SEO tools.
Meanwhile, GoDaddy also provides different membership options. Namely, these membership plans are Basic, Standard, Premium, and Ecommerce. The Basic Plan is the cheapest while the Ecommerce Plan is the most expensive.
GoDaddy’s eCommerce option costs more and offers the most services. Namely, it provides eCommerce services, such as fluid payments and product listings, that no other membership plan can access.
While these different plans are quite comparable, the HostGator plans are more affordable than the GoDaddy plans. So if you want a cheap plan that offers basic services, HostGator will be the superior option.
Free Trials
Free trials are fantastic as they give customers the chance to try these hosting services. Therefore, customers can see whether or not a platform is right for them before committing.
GoDaddy allows customers to trial its services for free, which will last for 30 days. This is the case with all 4 membership plans.
The HostGator free trial also covers 30 days. However, certain coupons will cover 45 days. We prefer the HostGator free trial thanks to the money-back guarantee, which is less limited than the GoDaddy guarantee.
Customer Support
When evaluating different web hosting platforms, you should pick one that has an accessible and helpful customer support team.
This is because the team will help you to overcome any problems that you might be experiencing. This is especially vital if you have limited experience with website hosting platforms.
In the United States, the GoDaddy customer service department is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All you have to do is dial +1 480 366 3549.
Aside from this, GoDaddy also offers a handy Help Center. This service allows you to find questions to some of the most commonly asked questions. These answers cover a wide assortment of topics, such as SSL certificates.
Overall, GoDaddy offers strong customer support. The Help Center is simple to use and provides helpful answers to the most common questions. Meanwhile, if a customer’s queries or complaints are more complex, the support team can easily be contacted via telephone.
Meanwhile, HostGator also provides solid customer service. There are three different ways of getting in contact with this department, namely through phone, live chat, or email (support@gator.com).
This allows customers to get in touch with this team in whatever way suits them best. However, it’s important to note that while the live chat option is available 24/7, the call team is only available between 11 am and 9 pm Eastern Time.
Therefore, if you need to contact the HostGator customer service team outside of these hours, it may be better to email them or use the live chat function. Interestingly, GoDaddy does not have a chat option.
Overall, though both GoDaddy and HostGator offer exceptional and convenient customer support, GoDaddy is the slightly better option. This is primarily because of the Help Center, which means that you won’t have to contact anyone to get answers to burning questions.
Reviews
Customer reviews are a great way of telling whether or not a web hosting platform is any good. This is because these reviews have been written by real customers, allowing you to get an impression of what the user experience is like.
Yet, these reviews can be a little biased, so it’s a good idea to read lots of user reviews instead of basing your decision on just one or two reviews.
Generally, both services seem to receive positive reviews. On the other hand, GoDaddy has a slight advantage. It has a Trustpilot score of 4.7, while HostGator has 4.2. GoDaddy also has received significantly more reviews, indicating that it is more widely used than HostGator.
Pros And Cons
To help you decide which of these services is better, we have created a list of the advantages and disadvantages. Here are the main pros and cons:
HostGator
Pros
Good customer reviews
A convenient customer support team that can be contacted in different ways
Affordable membership options
The Business Plan is brilliant for companies
Easy-to-use site builder
Cons
Certain features will cost extra
Costly membership renewal
GoDaddy
Pros
Positive customer reviews
Amazing customer service
A useful help center
Ecommerce services for more expensive membership plans
Cons
High costs for website restoration
No live chat option
Which Is Better?
Though GoDaddy and HostGator have their strengths and weaknesses, GoDaddy is the stronger web hosting provider.
This is because it doesn’t just provide web hosting services, but also other related features that are incredibly useful. This includes domain registration. So if you want to get the entire website building package, GoDaddy is the superior option!
Final Thoughts
Overall, both GoDaddy and HostGator are sensational services for web hosting. When it comes to our favorite, GoDaddy is the clear winner following our test results (Also check out this amazing Web host – JustHost!).
Of course, HostGator’s features may be of better use to your website. So it’s worth considering some of the aforementioned features before you decide whether to opt for HostGator or GoDaddy!
Hello, my name is Matthew Jacobs and I have made a living on various blogs and websites. But, trust me, I haven’t always been able to say that with such confidence.
Hopefully this website can teach others and help you in getting your blog out there, capitalizing on it as much as you can, and can serve as the kind of resource I wish I had had. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and make a name for yourself!
