GoDaddy Website Builder Review: Smart Tools, Lasting Results

GoDaddy at a Glance

Established in Arizona in 1997, GoDaddy is a leading website builder and hosting service provider that offers a range of online services tailored to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Their mission is to make entrepreneurship more inclusive by empowering over 21 million users globally with tools to grow online. GoDaddy's website builder is designed for ease of use, requiring no coding skills, and integrates GoDaddy Airo, an AI-powered tool that simplifies website creation and growth. Security is a priority, with features like SSL security certificates, Web Application Firewall (WAF), and Content Delivery Networks (CDN) to protect users from cyber threats. GoDaddy also offers daily automated backups for data protection.

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Features

AI-powered design: GoDaddy's AI-powered design, known as GoDaddy Airo, leverages artificial intelligence to simplify website creation. It helps generate design elements like logos and automatically produces product descriptions tailored to a business's needs. The tool also assists in creating SEO-friendly content and managing social media posts, making it easier for small business owners to enhance their online presence without extensive technical knowledge.

Responsive mobile design: GoDaddy's website builder ensures that all websites are mobile-responsive. This feature automatically adjusts the website's layout and design to fit different screen sizes, ensuring an optimal experience across devices like smartphones and tablets.

eCommerce features: The platform includes built-in eCommerce, allowing users to set up an online shop, manage products, and handle payments. It supports various payment gateways and contains tools for inventory management and order tracking.

Appointment scheduling: The appointment scheduling feature allows businesses to manage bookings directly through their websites. It integrates well with calendar tools, making it easy for customers to schedule appointments online, which is ideal for service-based businesses​.

Blog functionality: GoDaddy's website builder includes built-in blogging tools, allowing users to create, manage, and publish blog posts seamlessly. The feature supports various media formats and offers search engine optimization to enhance online content visibility​.

Built-in marketing tools: GoDaddy provides integrated marketing tools that include email campaigns and social media management. The platform's marketing dashboard gives users real-time insights into traffic, engagement, and conversions, enabling them to adjust strategies based on live data​.

Analytics and reporting: GoDaddy's analytics tools provide users with in-depth reports on website performance, including traffic, user behavior, and conversions. These insights help businesses optimize their online strategies and make data-driven decisions to enhance their websites' effectiveness​.

Variety of payment methods: GoDaddy Payments offers a variety of payment methods to suit global customers, including major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Amex), PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and AliPay. They also support "Buy Now, Pay Later" options like Klarna and installment plans, as well as traditional methods such as bank transfers and invoices, ensuring a convenient and flexible checkout experience for everyone.

Secure: GoDaddy enhances website security with SSL certificates for data encryption, malware scanning, and firewall protection. Their acquisition of Sucuri bolstered these features, adding advanced security monitoring and DDoS defense to protect business websites from cyber threats and data breaches​.

GoDaddy Plans & Prices

Website + Marketing

Basic plan: This plan is ideal for small businesses starting out. It includes a custom domain name, design tools, secure SSL, unlimited social media platform connections, a unified inbox, and a website chat box for customer interaction. It's priced at $9.99/month with a one-year commitment; after the first year, it renews at $12.99/month​.
Standard plan: The Standard Plan is tailored for brand-building, offering all Basic Plan features and built-in SEO tools to boost search visibility. It allows you to manage 20 social posts and responses per month and send up to 500 email marketing messages monthly. The plan is priced at $11.99/month for the first year, reflecting a 29% savings, with the renewal rate set at $16.99/month.

Premium plan: The Premium Plan provides greater flexibility for businesses, featuring unlimited social posts and responses, the capacity to send up to 25,000 email marketing messages per month, and the ability to manage recurring appointments directly through your site. Priced at $14.99/month for the first year, it comes with a 34% discount, renewing at $22.99/month.

GoDaddy E-Store

Starter plan: The Starter Plan is priced as low as $14.99 per month, offering a 25% discount from the regular renewal price of $19.99 per month. This plan is ideal for smaller online stores, allowing you to sell up to 100 products and reach customers on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. It includes over 40 payment options, such as PayPal, Nexi, and Stripe, ensuring flexible checkout for your customers. The plan also features a mobile-friendly store, integrated coupons, and marketing tools, along with centralized sales and inventory management.

Premium plan: The Premium plan is available for $19.99 per month, offering a 25% discount off the renewal rate of $26.99 per month. Building on the services offered in the Starter Plan, the Premium Plan allows you to sell up to 2,500 products and create a multilingual store, making it ideal for reaching a diverse, global audience. The plan also includes advanced features like abandoned cart retargeting and the ability to sell on Amazon, eBay, and Google marketplaces (additional charges apply). Automated emails help streamline customer communication, enhancing your store's marketing efforts.

Unlimited plan: The Unlimited plan is GoDaddy's most comprehensive eCommerce offering, starting at $34.99 per month with a 30% discount and renewing at $49.99 per month. It includes all the features of the Premium Plan but with unlimited product listings, making it perfect for larger businesses. The plan offers advanced tools like customer groups and tailored discounts for different customer segments, providing a fully scalable solution for businesses looking to grow without limits.

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Advantages

Mobile editing

GoDaddy's mobile-friendly Studio app, helps users create and manage their websites from any device, including desktops and smartphones. This mobile app flexibility is perfect for users on the go, allowing them to make quick updates and changes to their site whenever needed.

Easy to use

GoDaddy's website builder is extremely user-friendly, thanks to their block-based visual editor and intuitive dashboard. Their central dashboard allows for site and page section management, making it easy to navigate and perform tasks like adding new content, updating settings, or monitoring site performance.

GoDaddy InSight score

GoDaddy's InSight is an AI-powered tool that tracks the performance of your website across various metrics. It provides personalized recommendations, helping you improve traffic, engagement, and your overall online presence.

Online appointments and payment processing

With GoDaddy's integrated appointment scheduling and payment processing tools, businesses can easily manage bookings and transactions directly from their website. This feature is particularly useful for service-based businesses looking to streamline their operations and offer seamless customer experiences.

Free plan available

For users looking to test the waters before committing, GoDaddy offers a free website plan. It allows you to build and maintain a site with basic features without any upfront cost, making it a great starting point for small businesses and personal projects.

7-day free trial on the premium plan

GoDaddy's Premium Plan offers a 7-day free trial, allowing you to test its advanced features, like unlimited social posts, up to 25,000 email marketing messages per month, and recurring appointment bookings, before committing to a paid plan.

Disadvantages

Limited customization options

While user-friendly, GoDaddy's Website Builder offers limited customization flexibility and fewer templates. Users who need more advanced design control or the ability to customize their website deeply may find the options somewhat restrictive. This makes it more suitable for beginners or businesses that prefer simplicity over detailed customization.

Expensive third-party integrations

GoDaddy's Managed WooCommerce Stores might appear appealing at first glance, but the costs associated with their app market and third-party integrations can be a significant drawback, especially for small businesses. Many of GoDaddy's integrations, such as Sellbrite ($2,148 per year) and Gift Certificates ($129 per year), are bundled with their plans but come with high costs that can quickly accumulate. These expenses make GoDaddy's integrations far from budget-friendly, especially for small businesses that need to manage multiple tools to operate efficiently.

Limited plan details

GoDaddy's lack of plan transparency can be frustrating, as they provide detailed information about each plan only after you create an account and navigate to the upgrade options. This lack of upfront clarity can make it difficult for potential customers to compare plans and fully understand what they're paying for before committing. This limited visibility into plan specifics might feel like a tactic to push users into signing up before they can adequately evaluate the true value and costs of the service.

Customer Reviews

GoDaddy's Website Builder receives mixed reviews across various platforms. On G2, they have a solid rating of 4.1 out of 5, while Trustpilot shows a higher rating of 4.6 out of 5. However, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) paints a more critical picture, rating GoDaddy at 1.08 out of 5 despite their A+ accreditation, reflecting dissatisfaction among several customers.

Positive reviews

Many customers praised GoDaddy's website builder for their user-friendly design and efficient customer service. Users highlighted the simplicity of the drag-and-drop interface and the ease of managing domains and website hosting within one platform. For instance, one customer appreciated how GoDaddy support swiftly restored their website after it was taken down due to missed payments, with no hassle and immediate results. Another user commended them for offering clear instructions and being able to customize their website with minimal technical knowledge, making them particularly accessible for beginners.

Negative reviews

On the downside, several customers expressed frustration with GoDaddy's customer support, citing unresolved issues and unclear policies. Common complaints involved excessive charges, unhelpful support staff, and ongoing difficulties with account and domain management. One user described a particularly troubling experience where they were charged multiple times for services that failed to work, leading them to seek legal action for the unresolved financial dispute. Another reviewer detailed a prolonged struggle to regain access to their website, despite providing extensive verification documents, ultimately leading them to abandon GoDaddy for another service provider.

How Can I Contact GoDaddy?

If you need to contact GoDaddy, their support team is available 24/7 through multiple channels. For assistance, you can call them anytime at (800) 032 0329. Additionally, they provide a Global Directory with location-specific phone numbers and contact information to offer more targeted support based on your location. For quick responses, their live chat feature is available Monday through Friday to help with product issues, account questions, and more. You can also connect with GoDaddy through their social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, for updates or further support.

Conclusion

GoDaddy, founded in 1997 in Arizona, is a top website builder and hosting provider serving over 21 million users globally. They offer a user-friendly builder with AI tools like GoDaddy Airo, robust security features, and mobile-responsive design, making it easy for small businesses to grow online. GoDaddy's platform includes eCommerce features, appointment scheduling, blogging tools, and built-in marketing integrations. With diverse payment options like credit cards, PayPal, and "Buy Now, Pay Later" services, they cater to a wide range of customer needs. Competitive pricing plans and comprehensive support make GoDaddy a versatile choice for entrepreneurs.

To explore more options beyond GoDaddy, check out our curated list of the best website builders. You can also use our comparison tool to find the perfect match for your needs and don't miss our blog for expert tips and insights on building a successful online business.

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