If your account has issues , GoDaddy has “Admin Rights” (easy way to explain it) to help you with password resets, MFA issues, rarely ever get “locked out”. I call this “tech insurance”, paying that extra $88 a year to have better support system might be worth it. If you are with Microsoft directly and your main email acccount gets hacked and it was the only account, calling Microsoft to get back in can have a long wait time of 2-3 days to up to 8 weeks. When I explain it this way to clients wanting to leave due to price, most want to stay with them. Insurance.
If you are small business 1-4 people, sometimes staying on with GoDaddy is a better option due to their support.GoDaddy is often a good fit for very small businesses that do not have an IT person. If you have one to four users and simply need email, password resets, and basic Microsoft 365 functionality, paying a little more for easier access to support can make sense. Many small businesses never use advanced Microsoft 365 administration features, so the limitations may never impact them.
Maybe. 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.
One Exchange mailbox with full use of business apps is approximately $238 a year through GoDaddy. For three years, that is about $714. Microsoft direct pricing is around $450 over the same period. A difference of roughly $264. That is when people see it and start calling around to find help. However, before leaving GoDaddy, ask yourself one important question: Are you paying more for support and convenience, or are you paying for services you don’t actually use? Sometimes the answer is yes to both.
Many people need to leave GoDaddy’s Microsoft 365 due to their advanced requirements for using some of the 365 products. GoDaddy has limited licenses and doesn’t offer you full admin permissions, nor access to some of the products. If you do need to move due to these reasons, I highly recommend using a vendor, a CSP or MSP to help manage your licenses vs Microsoft direct. The main reason is losing your admin access, this can be a long wait period to get back in your account. Having vendor support gives you that “insurance” feeling, like someone to help you when something bad happens. Most also offer support so paying the extra few bucks is worth it.
Their support isn’t often great for some technicial issues. If your mailbox is having a major issue, pushing through GoDaddy’s first level support can often be a nightmare. They are well trained to be the only “technician/sales person” to help you. You can push through them but it does take awhile. I have broke through first level a few times, mostly because I am a paid consultant helping one of their clients. While they do have in-house 365 engineers, it’s still a daunting task to get a problem resolved.
Here are the main reasons clients need to leave GoDaddy
Quick Answer: Many growing businesses eventually outgrow GoDaddy’s simplified management model.
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:
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:
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:
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.
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