🚨 Key Gotchas Found

Extreme Renewal Price Increases High

GoDaddy's first-year promotional pricing often increases 300-500% at renewal. A domain registered at $0.99 may renew at $20+, and multi-year registrations don't lock in promotional rates.

"Renewal prices may differ from the initial registration price. We reserve the right to adjust pricing at any time."

Domain Auction Practices High

Expired domains enter GoDaddy's auction system before being released. If you miss renewal, you may have to bid against speculators to recover your own domain - sometimes for hundreds or thousands of dollars.

"Expired domains may be listed for auction. Redemption after auction listing may require participation in the auction process."

Aggressive Upselling Practices High

GoDaddy's checkout process includes numerous pre-checked add-ons. Basic features like privacy protection that competitors offer free are upsold at premium prices.

"Additional services may be automatically added to your cart. Review your order carefully before completing purchase."

Transfer Obstacles Medium

Domain transfers away from GoDaddy can be complicated by support delays, unclear authorization processes, and "retention" attempts that slow down the process.

"Transfer requests are subject to verification procedures and may require additional documentation or confirmation."

📊 Score Breakdown

Domain Transfer Rights 8/25
Service Termination 6/20
Pricing Transparency 5/20
Data Ownership 8/15
Dispute Resolution 4/10
Exit Rights 4/10

🤔 What This Means For You

GoDaddy is the worst option among domain registrars I reviewed. Their business model relies heavily on promotional pricing that balloons at renewal, aggressive upselling, and practices that make leaving difficult.

If you use GoDaddy, you should:

  • Calculate total multi-year costs including renewal pricing before registering
  • Set multiple calendar reminders before domain expiration to avoid auction scenarios
  • Carefully review checkout to uncheck pre-selected add-ons
  • Consider transferring important domains to more consumer-friendly registrars
  • Enable domain lock and keep authorization codes secure
  • Document any support interactions when attempting transfers