GoDaddy VPS Review (2025): The Domain GIANT's Hosting... A Powerful Secret or a Total Rip-off?
GoDaddy is the biggest name in domains, but does that translate to their hosting? We tested their self-managed VPS to see if it's a hidden powerhouse for developers or just an overpriced, underperforming trap.
Overall Rating
GoDaddy VPS: The Unfiltered Pros & Cons
The Bright Side
- Full Root Access: Complete control over your server environment.
- High-Speed NVMe Storage: Uses the latest storage tech for fast disk I/O.
- Global Datacenters: A good selection of locations in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
- Scalable Resources: Easily scale your server resources up or down as needed.
- Trusted Brand Name: Backed by the world's largest domain registrar.
The Rip-offs...
- Aggressive Upselling: Everything costs extra, from control panels to backups.
- Unmanaged is TRULY Unmanaged: Support is very limited and only covers the infrastructure.
- High Renewal Rates: The introductory price is a lure; renewal prices are much higher.
- Confusing Pricing Tiers: The difference between "Standard" and "High RAM" plans can be unclear.
Performance Test: Giant Name, Giant Speed?
We tested a standard 2 vCPU plan. The performance is decent, thanks to the NVMe storage. It's a raw, unoptimized server, so the out-of-the-box speed depends entirely on your own configuration skills. For an experienced developer who can tune their own stack (e.g., install LiteSpeed, configure caching), it can be very fast. For a beginner, it will likely be slow and insecure.
Dashboard & Control Panel
GoDaddy provides a clean, basic dashboard for managing the core functions of your VPS: start, stop, reboot, and access. That's it. It is a self-managed service, so there is no built-in file manager or application installer. You can purchase a cPanel or Plesk license for an additional monthly fee if you want a graphical interface.
Self-Managed VPS Pricing (Standard RAM)
| Plan | CPU Cores | RAM | NVMe Storage | Price/Month (Introductory) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 vCPU | 1 Core | 2 GB | 50 GB | $8.99 |
| 2 vCPU (Best Value) | 2 Cores | 4 GB | 100 GB | $17.99 |
| 4 vCPU | 4 Cores | 8 GB | 200 GB | $34.99 |
| 8 vCPU | 8 Cores | 16 GB | 400 GB | $69.99 |
GoDaddy vs. The Competition
| Feature | GoDaddy | Vultr | DigitalOcean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Developers / DIY | Developers | Developers |
| Control Panel | Paid Add-on | Paid Add-on | None |
| Backups | Paid Add-on | Paid Add-on | Paid Add-on |
| Support | Limited (Infrastructure) | Ticket-based | Ticket-based |
| Starting Price | ~$8.99 | ~$2.50 | ~$4.00 |
Final Verdict: Is GoDaddy's VPS a Rip-off?
Not a rip-off, but not for everyone. Choose GoDaddy if...
You are an experienced developer or system administrator who wants full root access on a fast NVMe server and are comfortable managing everything yourself. If you already use GoDaddy for domains and appreciate having everything in one account, it's a convenient and reasonably priced option for your projects. Beginners should look elsewhere.
