Should You Leave GoDaddy Because They Are Charging More Than Microsoft?
Should You Leave GoDaddy Because They Are Charging More Than Microsoft?
Quick Answer: Maybe. If saving money is your top priority, moving directly to Microsoft 365 can reduce licensing costs. If fast phone support and simplicity matter more, GoDaddy may still be worth the extra expense. I’ve helped Microsoft 365 clients for many years and sometimes I recommend leaving GoDaddy, sometimes I recommend staying. Compare the price increase vs quick support is exact thing I tell my clients and then we go down a punch list:
GoDaddy may be a better choice and worth paying more for if:
- You are a solo user or very small business.
- You want phone support instead of learning admin portals.
- You don’t need Power Platform, Teams Voice, or advanced security.
- You want domains, websites, and email in one place.
- You don’t plan to scale or integrate heavily with other systems (simple ones like online calendar systems and some CRM still work with basic Exchange just fine)
It depends on your needs and how many services you have purchased with them. “They are charging me an arm and a leg” is what I hear often. I will review my clients’ invoices and find that some are being overcharged due to the wrong license, too many “padded extras,” or they got talked into a 3-year “deal” and their invoice for one or two mailboxes is $700. That does seem like a lot, but it does check out.
Pricing differences between GoDaddy and Microsoft 365 Business standard:
- GoDaddy: Approximately $238 per user per year for Microsoft 365 Business Standard.
- Three years: About $714 per user.
- Microsoft direct: Approximately $450 over three years.
- Potential savings: Roughly $264 per user over three years.
That is when people see it and start calling around to find help. They believe it’s way too much. However, before considering a move off GoDaddy, more considerations I tell clients:
- Do you have IT support other than yourself and the internet?
- Do long calls on hold frustrate you?
- Can you wait up to 8 weeks to get back into your admin account if you get locked out?
- Who helps you if your email got hacked?
I often tell clients that GoDaddy has full control of your account, and they answer their phones quickly 24×7 with phone agents based in the USA. Some major advantages if you get locked out of your account on a Friday evening and need to get back in your account now. Their reputation with 365 wasn’t that good for a while but I have felt that Microsoft’s Exchange is working so much smoother and with the 365 Business Apps, the calls for these issues are less than they were.
Moving off GoDaddy can be a bit time to complete and if you tackle it yourself, you will have to learn as you go. This is why I don’t even do these tenant migrations due to upgraded security problems, I leave it up to my vendor. I help clients with the gathering of information, onboarding and aftercare. My vendor charges $35 per mailbox. My hourly assistance can be at least an hour up to as many hours as your team needs.
Interested in chatting? Use the form below and book a 10-min consulatation.
Category: Outlook Support
About the Author (Author Profile)
Lisa Hendrickson is the owner of Call That Girl. She is an Outlook Expert and Microsoft 365 Consultant.Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
