Hosting comparisons

Bluehost vs GoDaddy (2026): Real Costs, Hidden Fees and Which to Choose

Updated November 7, 2026 · We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. How we make money.

Short answer: Bluehost is the better value for most websites. Its entry plan is cheaper upfront ($3.99 vs $5.99 a month) and renews lower ($9.99 vs $11.99). GoDaddy's Economy plan also charges $119.99 a year for SSL after the first year. Choose GoDaddy if you already keep your domains there and want everything in one account.

See Bluehost's current price

Bluehost and GoDaddy are two of the biggest names in hosting, and both lean on low intro prices. The biggest difference is what each one charges once the intro term ends, especially for extras like SSL and email.

Prices as of November 2026, from current published pricing reviews (see sources). Confirm at checkout.

Bluehost vs GoDaddy at a glance

Bluehost Starter GoDaddy Web Hosting Economy
Intro price $3.99/mo (36-month term) $5.99/mo (36-month term)
Renewal price $9.99/mo $11.99/mo
Hosting cost over 3 years $143.64 $215.64
SSL certificate Free Free for 1 year, then $119.99/yr
Free domain First year First year (.com renews at $22.99/yr)
Email 1-month free trial, then $2.99/mo Microsoft 365 trial, then $8.99/mo
Control panel Bluehost dashboard cPanel
Support 24/7 chat; phone from the Business plan up 24/7 phone and chat
Money-back guarantee 30 days 30 days

The real cost: GoDaddy’s SSL fee changes the math

Bluehost costs less at every stage, and the gap widens on GoDaddy’s cheapest plan. GoDaddy’s Economy plan includes SSL (the padlock that makes your site load over HTTPS) for one year only, then charges $119.99 a year. Every site needs SSL, so most Economy customers either pay that fee or upgrade.

Plan Year 1 First 3 years Each year after
Bluehost Starter $47.88 $143.64 $119.88
GoDaddy Economy (hosting only) $71.88 $215.64 $143.88
GoDaddy Economy + its SSL renewal $71.88 $455.62 $263.87
GoDaddy Deluxe (SSL included) $95.88 $287.64 $203.88

If you choose GoDaddy, start on Deluxe or higher, where SSL stays free, rather than Economy.

Check Bluehost’s current price

Email and domains

Neither host includes ongoing business email on its entry plan. Bluehost charges $2.99 a month after a one-month trial; GoDaddy bundles a Microsoft 365 trial, then charges $8.99 a month. If you’ll use email for years, that difference adds up to about $72 a year in Bluehost’s favor.

Both include a free domain for the first year. GoDaddy’s .com renews at $22.99 a year, and domain privacy is extra.

Support and ease of use

GoDaddy is the better pick if you want phone support on the cheapest plan. GoDaddy offers 24/7 phone and chat on every plan and uses the familiar cPanel control panel. Bluehost has 24/7 chat on all plans, but phone support starts at its Business plan.

Who should choose Bluehost

Who should choose GoDaddy

See GoDaddy’s plans

When neither is the best fit

Hostinger costs less than either host over four years and includes free SSL. See Bluehost vs Hostinger, Hostinger vs GoDaddy, or the full list of Bluehost alternatives.

FAQ

Is GoDaddy SSL really extra? On the Economy plan, yes: free for one year, then $119.99 a year. Other GoDaddy shared plans include SSL for the life of the plan.

Which is better for WordPress? Bluehost is cheaper and built around WordPress. GoDaddy also sells dedicated WordPress plans, but they renew higher ($14.99/mo and up) and allow one site each.

Can I host with Bluehost and keep my domain at GoDaddy? Yes. Point your GoDaddy domain at Bluehost by changing its nameservers, or transfer the domain later.

Sources