Almost every client conversation about hosting starts with GoDaddy. It is the best-known name, the intro price is low, and the domain is often already there. Here is why we usually recommend moving WordPress sites somewhere else, and what to look for instead.
The real issue: cheap shared hosting
Most entry-level plans from big-name hosts, GoDaddy included, are shared hosting. Your site sits on a server with many other sites and competes with them for CPU and memory. That is fine for a brochure site with little traffic. It becomes a problem when your site has forms, a store, a membership area, or a lot of plugins, because WordPress builds most pages on demand and needs consistent server resources to do it quickly.
What we commonly see on budget hosting
- Slow page loads, especially in the admin, even on small sites.
- Intro pricing that jumps at renewal, plus paid add-ons for backups, SSL or security that are included elsewhere.
- Upsells instead of fixes when the site is slow or hacked.
- Limited control over PHP settings, caching and server logs, which makes troubleshooting harder.
None of these are unique to one company. They come with the low-cost shared hosting model.
What to look for in WordPress hosting
- Dedicated or guaranteed resources (a cloud VPS rather than a crowded shared server)
- Server-level caching built for WordPress
- Daily off-site backups and one-click staging included
- Current PHP versions and the ability to choose
- Free SSL and a straightforward renewal price
Where we host client sites
We host client sites on xCloud, which manages WordPress on cloud servers with caching, staging and backups built in. For very large sites, we use Cloudways. Our managed WordPress hosting page explains how we decide and has a short quiz.
Keep your domain where it is
You do not have to move your domain to move your hosting. Many clients keep the domain registered at GoDaddy and just point it to the new host.
Ready to move?
Our migration service moves your site, tests everything before the switch, and keeps the old site running until the new one is confirmed. Not sure hosting is your problem? Start with a free site review.