Namecheap vs GoDaddy: Which One Is Best?

IT Published on Date: May 14th 2025

GoDaddy and Namecheap are the most popular names for domain registrations and hosting services. They offer various hosting products, including both WordPress and generic web hosting. 

If you are looking for domain or hosting services, you may have trouble selecting between them. Let’s walk through a detailed comparison of Namecheap vs. GoDaddy and check which is best in 2025.

Understanding Namecheap 

Namecheap is a well-known domain registrar and web hosting provider founded in 2000 by Richard Kirkendall. It is known for its affordability, user-friendly interface, and advanced security features. Namecheap serves beginners and experienced users and provides a wide range of services, including web hosting, domain registration, and website builder. Namecheap is considered the cheapest hosting provider. The hosting plan is $1.48 and has a 99.99% uptime guarantee. 

Understanding GoDaddy

GoDaddy was founded in 1997 in Arizona by Bob Parsons. It has over 20 million clients worldwide. GoDaddy is a massive hosting giant in the industry. 

GoDaddy Web hosting’s basic plan costs $5.99/mo. It offers eight primary services: web hosting, WordPress hosting, Domain registration, eCommerce solutions, website builder, SSL certificates, and professional email. 

Therefore, if you are building websites for the first time, you can get everything you require with a shared web hosting package from GoDaddy to start and develop your website.

Namecheap vs GoDaddy: Service Comparison 

Service	Namecheap	GoDaddy
Domain	Domain name search	gTLD domain extensions
	Domain transfer	Transfer domain names
	New TLDs	Auctions for domain names
	Handshake domain	Appraise domain name value
	Bulk domain search	Discount domain club
	WHOIS lookup	Generate domain names
	Premium DNS	WHOIS lookup
	Free DNS	Domain broker service
WordPress	Managed WordPress hosting	Managed WordPress hosting
	Migrate to WordPress	Migrate to WordPress
Email	Business email	Email hosting
	Migrate email
	Anti-spam protection
Marketing tools	Business starter kit	Growth tools
	Business formation	Design tools
	Growth tools	unified Inbox
	Design tools

Namecheap vs GoDaddy: TLD Comparison 

TLD	Namecheap		GoDaddy
	Registered domains	Share %	Registered domains	Share %
.com	12,131,887	52.70%	61,941,002	70.41%
.net	932,520	4.05%	3,995,406	4.54%
.org	973,197	4.23%	3,560,544	4.05%
.in	92,856	0.40%	1,580,161	1.80%
.co	324,657	1.41%	1,304,857	1.48%
.info	616,332	2.68%	1,123,322	1.28%
.xyz	828,205	3.60%	746,336	0.85%
.us	215,247	0.94%	686,265	0.78%
.ai	169,750	0.74%	55,044	0.06%
.tech	43,823	0.19%	57,508	0.07%
.shop	783,916	3.41%	633,243	0.72%
Other	59,06,164	21%	1,22,82,117	10.58%

TLD Distribution Overview 

	Namecheap	GoDaddy
TLDs the registrar works with	490	490
Registered domains	23,018,554	87,965,805
Global market share	3.02%	11.53%
Registrar ID assigned by ICANN (IANA ID)	1068	146

(Source:  Namecheap stats, GoDaddy stats )

Namecheap vs GoDaddy: Hosting Plans 

Plans	Namecheap	GoDaddy
Managed WordPress hosting	✅	✅
Shared web hosting	✅	✅
VPS hosting	✅	✅
Reseller hosting	✅	✅
Dedicated server	✅	❌

Both are popular hosting plans that offer robust hosting services. Now, let’s compare the pricing of each hosting plan.

Namecheap vs GoDaddy: Hosting Plan Pricing 

Plans	Namecheap	GoDaddy
Managed WordPress hosting	$6.88/mo (30-day free trial) renews at $6.88/mo	$7.99/mo  renews at $155.88/yr
Shared web hosting	$1.48/mo renews at $48.88/year	$5.99/mo    renews at$459.63/3 yr
VPS hosting	$6.88/mo renews at $82.56/year	$8.99/mo    renews at $431.64/3yr
Reseller hosting	$19.88/mo renews at $19.88/mo	$10.00/mo renews at $ 0.84/2 yr

Namecheap vs GoDaddy: Domain Pricing

Regarding domain registration, GoDaddy offers a .com domain starting at $0.01/mo, while Namecheap offers a .com domain starting at $6.49/yr.   

Domain	Namecheap	GoDaddy
.com	$6.49/yr	$0.01/1st yr
.net	$12.98/yr	‬‪$0.01/ 1st yr
.org	$7.48/yr	$9.99/‬/1st yr
.io	$34.98/yr	$59.99‬/1st yr

Namecheap offers mostly more stable and transparent pricing. For instance, a .com domain costs $6.49 in the first year and renews at $14.58/yr, whereas GoDaddy offers an enticing $0.01 first-year price. 

For .NET domains, Namecheap charges $12.98 for the first year, while GoDaddy offers $0.01. The .org domain is more cost-effective than Namecheap, at $7.48 for the first year. 

Regarding the .io domain, a popular choice for tech startups, Namecheap is significantly more affordable at $34.98/yr, while GoDaddy charges $59.99/yr. In summary, while GoDaddy’s $0.01 first-year deals may be tempting for short-term projects, Namecheap provides long-term value, lower renewal prices, etc. 

Disclaimer: Prices mentioned are subject to change. Please check with the provider for the latest details.

Variety of Domain Extensions

Regarding domain extensions, GoDaddy offers 554 options, while Namecheap offers 519 possibilities. Most people mostly use the com domain extension for their website; the limited supply of website names allows for alternative possibilities like .co, .org, .net, and others. 

Although these other extensions are mostly less popular, they can also help you with branding options in different ways. For instance, a .org domain will ensure your website looks more credible if you operate a nonprofit. Similarly, if your website exclusively serves users in the UK, then. co.uk can make you look more credible.

Namecheap vs GoDaddy: Uptime Speed

Both Namecheap and GoDaddy offer robust speed and performance. Well, as per GTmetrix test. Namecheap’s quickest load time is 523ms, and its overall performance is 94% with Grade A. 

GoDaddy Performance

Well, GoDaddy also offers 99.99% uptime. But as per GTmetrix, GoDaddy’s performance is showing low. This can vary, but according to our insights, GoDaddy’s performance and speed are low compared to Namecheap. GoDaddy’s quickest load time is very low, and the overall performance rate is only 60%. You can refer to the image below. As this performance keeps changing, you can check it from the website.

 

Namecheap vs GoDaddy: Customer Support

Namecheap customer support offers different ways to connect with its experts. It provides 24/7 live chat and a ticket-based support system, ensuring that users get timely assistance. While it does not offer phone support, its live chat is quick and efficient. 

GoDaddy customer support has various phone numbers depending on your location. It also has WhatsApp support numbers for 14+ countries, including France, India, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, and more.

Namecheap vs GoDaddy: Server Locations

Namecheap and GoDaddy have a global presence, with servers in different data centers worldwide. GoDaddy server locations include San Jose, Dallas, Texas, London, England, Washington, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Miami, Singapore, Amsterdam, Chicago, and Sofia.  

Namecheap’s server locations include Phoenix, Arizona, Amsterdam, Singapore, and the UK, while GoDaddy has more.

Namecheap vs GoDaddy: Privacy & Security  

Features	Namecheap	GoDaddy
DDoS Protection	✅	✅
Free SSL certificate	✅	✅
Daily Backups	✅	✅
Cloudflare	✅	✅
Malware Scans	✅	In add-on service
WAF	✅	✅

Namecheap includes security features in all hosting plans, including free SSL, WordPress auto-updates, malware guardian, hackguarding, and auto-clean protection. It also includes DDoS protection, code guards, virus scanners, and more.    

Well, GoDaddy’s plans include a free SSL certificate, which is utilized with GoDaddy Web Application Firewall (WAF) to allow HTTPS encryption on your website. This demonstrates that your website is relevant and that any data they communicate with it is encrypted, protecting it from suspicious activity. 

Namecheap vs GoDaddy: Summing Up

Namecheap and GoDaddy are reliable and well-established providers offering a wide range of domain and hosting services. Suppose you’re looking for budget-friendly domains, transparent renewal pricing, and value-added features like free backups and SSL certificates.  On the other hand, GoDaddy shines with its global infrastructure, extensive customer support (including phone and WhatsApp options), and larger storage allocations, which can benefit users with resource-heavy websites or specific regional needs. Therefore, the final choice between Namecheap and GoDaddy depends on you and your demands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is Namecheap better than GoDaddy for domain registration?  

Ans. Regarding Domain registration, Namecheap is a better option due to its low prices, value-added features, and budget. 

Q2. Which is cheaper: Namecheap or GoDaddy?

Ans. Namecheap is cheaper as it offers low prices for domain registration and WordPress hosting plans. 

Q3. Does Namecheap offer a renewal promo code?  

Ans. Yes, occasionally. Namecheap occasionally offers renewal promo codes, especially during special events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or other promotional periods.

Q4. Can I transfer my domain from GoDaddy to Namecheap easily?  

Ans. Yes, you can easily transfer your domain from GoDaddy to Namecheap. The transfer process includes several steps, including unlocking the GoDaddy domain, obtaining an authorization code, and then transferring through Namecheap.  

Q5. What are the key differences between Namecheap and GoDaddy hosting plans?

Ans. Both Namecheap and GoDaddy offer the best hosting plans. However, they differ in pricing and features.  

Q6. Are there any discounts for GoDaddy renewals?

Ans. Yes, GoDaddy provides different discounts on renewals. It includes a discount domain club and exclusive renewal codes.  

Q7. Which provider has better customer support: Namecheap or GoDaddy?  

Ans. Both provide robust client support, but GoDaddy has different WhatsApp and phone numbers, while Namecheap has fewer phone number options, but you can connect through live chat.  

Q8. Is GoDaddy good for WordPress hosting compared to Namecheap?

Ans. Namecheap is better for budget-conscious users and simplicity. On the other hand, GoDaddy is ideal for users who need more support channels and global infrastructure.

Q9. Does GoDaddy own Namecheap?

Ans. No, Namecheap is not owned by GoDaddy. They are independent companies and direct competitors in the domain registration and web hosting industry.