GoDaddy is one of the world’s most popular domain registrars and web hosting providers. It is also known for its powerful web hosting plans and website builder. It is one of the oldest companies in the industry and has been around since 1997. We recognize GoDaddy for its excellent website & marketing tools and award-winning customer support that is available round-the-clock. GoDaddy offers a wide range of services, including dedicated server hosting packages with HDD or SSD NVMe capacities.
Dedicated server hosting is a powerful hosting service, ideal for large enterprises with hundreds of employees who want to host their own databases, sites, and email servers in one place. It is also ideal for developers who want to have full control over their servers and need something more powerful. It is the next step that most website owners and developers take after they grow out of their VPS plans. That is because dedicated servers give you more resources, security, privacy, and power than VPS.
In this review, I will explore GoDaddy’s dedicated server hosting packages and describe, in detail, their features, support, reliability, pros, and cons. That way, you will be able to decide whether GoDaddy’s dedicated server hosting plans are suitable for you.
Getting Started with GoDaddy Dedicated Server Plans
GoDaddy’s website is quite well-designed, well-organized, and easy to navigate.
To find its dedicated server hosting offer, click on the Website & Hosting icon located in the top Menu on the website.
From there, click on the All Hosting Options icon. After clicking, this is the screen you will get.
Here, click on the Dedicated Servers icon to see GoDaddy’s dedicated server hosting plans.
This provider offers four unmanaged dedicated server hosting plans in two versions: HDD and SSD NVMe. Additionally, if you are looking for managed support, you can get each of these plans with managed support. Of course, the managed dedicated server hosting plans are more expensive than the unmanaged ones.
So, when choosing the plan you want to buy, consider your skill set and base your decision on whether you have the expertise and time to handle all the technical aspects yourself or whether you want to leave that part to the provider.
All GoDaddy plans provide customers with root access, which enables them to configure all the settings according to their needs. Additionally, its unmanaged plans support the CentOS, Ubuntu, and Windows operating systems, while its managed plans support CentOS and Ubuntu. With GoDaddy’s dedicated hosting plans, you can run applications and projects that require extensive raw processing power. You can use them for projects that involve large amounts of data, machine learning, website and app hosting, infrastructure virtualization, online game hosting, and much more.
You can choose from getting an HDD or SSD NVMe storage options and get lightning fast read/write or large amounts of storage capacity.
The entry-level GoDaddy HDD plan for both unmanaged and managed options comes with 32 GB DDR4 RAM, 2 x 4 TB HDD storage (RAID-1), and runs on Intel Xeon – D 2123IT. The only difference between the NDD and SSD entry-level plans is the SSD plan comes with 2 x 500 GB storage (RAID-1).
[/note]Note: If you want faster speeds, then you should go with the SSD NVMe option. However, if you need larger amounts of storage, you should choose the HDD option. [/note]
The unmanaged and managed plans offer different features. However, regardless of storage or support, all plans include a free SSL Certificate, full root access, powerful DDoS protection, and an easy-to-use control panel. Additionally, all plans come with free standard hosting support and are hosted on bare metal servers.
Moreover, there is a 99.9% uptime guarantee from GoDaddy and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied with the service.
Testing
So now that we have gone over the basic features of GoDaddy’s dedicated server hosting offer, it’s time to put it to the test. For my testing, I will purchase the cheapest plan available because I will not be hosting or running a website or app. The cheapest GoDaddy dedicated server hosting is the DS-32 HDD unmanaged plan.
It is worth noting that the prices of all GoDaddy dedicated server hosting plans are higher upon renewal.
To start the purchase process, click on the Configure Server icon on the plan you want to purchase. This is what you will see once you click on that icon.
On this screen, you will be able to choose the operating system you want, and the options available to you will depend on whether you purchase a managed or unmanaged plan. On the right side of the screen, you will see your Order Summary menu and the total amount you’ll need to pay.
Additionally, you can scroll down a bit to select the billing period for your plan. You can choose from a one-month, three-month, six-month, twelve-month, or 24-month term length. Also, GoDaddy will tell you how much you can save with each plan and will display other relevant benefits if there are any.
For my test run, I will choose the 24-month term length.
The next thing you need to do is to choose the control panel you want to use.
If you chose Linux as your OS, you could choose from the following control panel options: cPanel/WHM and Plesk WebHost Edition for the CentOS operating system, or select the free No Control Panel option that is compatible with both CentOS and Ubuntu. Each control panel option has different features.
If you choose Windows as your OS, you will not need to choose a control panel.
For my test, I will choose a Windows dedicated server hosting plan.
To proceed, click on the Continue icon at the bottom of the page.
On the next screen, you will see a detailed overview of your plan and any additional features that you get for free if any. Here, you can also add a domain if you need.
To place your order and get your plan, click on the I’m Ready to Pay icon.
The next thing you need to do is to create an account or sign into one you already have.
To create an account, you can use your Facebook, Google, or email, whichever one is most convenient for you.
After creating your account, you will need to provide your billing information and choose your preferred payment method. To continue, click on the Save icon at the bottom of the page.
After clicking on Save, you will be redirected to a page where you must enter the required credit card info. You can choose to pay with either a credit card or via PayPal. To continue, click on the Review Order icon.
On the next screen, you can check your billing information and payment details and view your final Order Summary. To finish the process, click on the Complete Purchase icon.
Setting up a GoDaddy Dedicated Server Plan
After creating your account and signing in, you will see the following screen.
On your dashboard, you can access two menus: My Products and Account Settings.
Additionally, in the top Menu, you can access the following submenus: My Account, Help, Cart, and Notifications, and you click on the arrow next to your account name for even more options.
Under the My Products menu, you can see and manage all of your products and services, and you can buy more if needed. Additionally, you can purchase a domain directly from here or transfer an already existing one. If you scroll down to the bottom of the screen, you can see available deals from GoDaddy partners.
Under Account Settings, you have the following submenus: My Profile, Renewals and Billing, Payment Methods, Order History, Login & PIN, Delegate Access, Domain Defaults, Contact Preferences, and Payees.
Under the My Profile submenu, you can see and change your Full Name, Address, Organization, Email, Primary Phone, Mobile Phone, Home Phone, and Default Currency.
Under the Full Name setting, you can change and update your first and last name.
You can do this for each setting and change the Info you provided previously. Under the Default Currency setting, you can choose from multiple available currencies for your GoDaddy purchases.
Under the Renewals & Billing submenu, in the Subscriptions setting, you see all your services, manage your billing, turn auto-renewal on, cancel your renewal, and update your payment. Additionally, you can access the Order History and Payment Methods submenus.
Under the Payment Method submenu, you can see the payment method you have already provided and edit or delete it. You can also view the Transaction History of that payment method and add a new one.
Under the Order History submenu, you can see your orders, billing date, and the amount that needs to be paid for each order.
Next, in the Login & PIN submenu, you can see the Support PIN you’ll need to use to contact support. You can also manage your Social Login and enable Facebook and Google to be able to sign up for your GoDaddy account via those profiles. You can also see and edit your Login Info, change your Password, and add 2-Step Verification.
Additionally, you can see all your Active Sign-ins, manage your sessions, and view the Activity of your GoDaddy account.
In the Delegate Access submenu, you can view the accounts that have granted you access and request access to someone else’s GoDaddy account if you want to. Additionally, you can see who has access to your account and invite others to access it.
Under the Domain Defaults submenu, you can set up and change your Buyer Profile.
Under the Contact Preferences submenu, you can see and edit your contact country and language, email, enable notifications via text messages, add a phone number, connect your WhatsApp to your GoDaddy account, and edit your mail address.
Additionally, you can edit the data you have on file and download your CSV, and view your Cookie Tracking. Also, you can view the status of your account and permanently close it if you want.
The last submenu in the Account Settings menu is the Payees submenu. Here, you set up the accounts to which you want the revenues from your profit-generating GoDaddy accounts to go. Only one Payee account can be set for each product, and once you’ve set a Payee, you cannot delete it from your account.
In the My Account menu located in the top Menu on the left side of the screen, you have access to the following options: Manage My Products, Shop GoDaddy.com. Additionally, you have quick links to Domains, Websites, Hosting & WordPress, Email & Office, and SSL Certificates.
When you click on the Manage My Products option, you are redirected to the My Products screen that we mentioned before. If you click on the Shop GoDaddy.com option, you are redirected to the GoDaddy website, where you can purchase new products and services.
When it comes to the Quick Links, by clicking on the Domains option, you are redirected to the My Domains page, where you can try the beta, transfer an existing domain, and manage DNS.
When you click on the website quick link, it redirects you to the My Products screen. If you click on the Hosting & WordPress quick link, you are redirected to a screen where you can see your products and set them up by clicking on the three horizontal dots on the right side of your plan’s banner.
After clicking on Setup, you’ll be able to configure your server and set your server name and choose your data center. After you pick your data center, you can also choose your OS version. For me, the available options are Windows 2016 Standard and Windows 2019 Standard. To continue, click on Next.
The next thing you need to do is create your admin credentials.
After doing this, GoDaddy will create your server according to the settings you’ve determined. It’s worth noting that it can take up to one hour to provision your server. GoDaddy will send you an email once your server is created.
On the Email & Office quick link, you can add new users and accounts, sign in to your email account, and set up your email on any device.
And lastly, on the SSL Certificates quick link, you can see all the certificate types available, their status, and the expiry date of the certificates you have. Other options are also available, including SSL Tools, the Repository, Reports, Help, etc.
If you click on the Help menu, you will be redirected to Account Management Help, where you can find solutions to many common issues and ask about specific problems you might have. From here, you can also access How-to-Videos, the GoDaddy Community, and see the System Status.
Next, if you click on the Cart icon, you will be redirected to your GoDaddy cart, where you will see what products you have added.
If you click on the Notifications Bell icon, you’ll be able to see all the notifications you have from GoDaddy.
Lastly, if you click on the arrow next to your account name, you will see your Customer hashtag and PIN. You also have shortcuts for My Products, Account Settings, Renewals & Billing, Shop GoDaddy.com, and Phone Numbers & Hours. In this submenu, you can also Sign Out of your account.
Overall Reliability – Performance and Security
GoDaddy offers powerful dedicated servers with full root access. You can get either HDD storage or fast-paced NVMe SSD storage that will further boost your server’s speed. With GoDaddy’s dedicated servers, you will get isolated resources that allow you to run mission-critical apps where uptime and latency matter. And since you will get isolated resources, your server won’t be affected by other people’s traffic.
The provider’s infrastructure spans multiple locations worldwide, including seven locations in the USA – Arizona, Scottsdale, Mesa, Los Angeles, Chicago, Ashburn, and Virginia. The other two data centers are located in Amsterdam and Singapore. You can choose between locations in the USA or Europe for your dedicated server. When you are choosing your location, make sure that you choose one that is closer to your target audience. That way, you will ensure that your site runs on minimal latency and maximum reliability.
GoDaddy’s dedicated servers are excellent for large projects with intensive workloads, such as big data, machine learning, live media streaming, infrastructure virtualization, communication apps, backups & storage, server clusters, business applications, and online game hosting.
You will benefit from its 99.9% server uptime guarantee as a GoDaddy user. GoDaddy also pledges to give you a discount if it does not uphold its 99.9% uptime guarantee.
Dedicated servers alone are much more secure than the other hosting options. However, GoDaddy provides additional security measures, like powerful DDoS protection, a free SSL certificate for the first year of your purchase, and other paid options to enhance your server’s security.
GoDaddy Dedicated Server Customer Support
You can purchase either an unmanaged or a managed dedicated server hosting plan.
With a managed dedicated server hosting plan, you will get 24/7 fully-managed support, both control panel options included, monitoring and remediation, and managed scalability. Additionally, the provider will take care of all technical aspects like maintaining, updating, and patching the server.
If you purchase an unmanaged dedicated hosting plan, you can reach GoDaddy’s customer support via live chat and phone support. Additionally, GoDaddy has its own Help Center, where you can find many different useful guides, including ones for Domains, Microsoft 365, Managed WordPress, and more.
[Important] The live chat support option is only available Monday-Friday. [Important]
GoDaddy also has a plethora of How-to-Videos and its own Community, which you can join and ask questions, get advice, and talk to other GoDaddy users.
To test the GoDaddy customer support, I will contact one of their agents via live chat and ask about the refund policy.
To access the live chat option, click on the phone number that is displayed on the website. Then, click on the Chat Now icon. You can also click on the Contact Us icon on the bottom right side of your screen.
Once you click on one of the two options, a pop-up screen will appear, and you will need to type in your name first before you ask your question.
Next, you will be asked whether you are a GoDaddy customer.
I selected the third option. Afterwards, GoDaddy will ask you whether you’re looking for product information, whether you need help with billing or managing your account, or if you need tech support. I will choose the second option.
Next, the GoDaddy bot will ask you to state the issue you have more specifically. It will also tell you the estimated time it will take for you to be connected to a GoDaddy agent. In my case, it said that it would take approximately five minutes.
It took about six minutes to get a response and be connected to an agent. Because I requested a refund, the agent asked for my name and order number.
Next, the agent asked me to provide my customer ID and PIN in a secure form. After you provide that, you need to submit the request and wait for the agent to check it.
The agent took a couple of minutes and then asked me to confirm my order. Next, the agent asked me if I wanted them to delete it on my behalf and issue a refund. After I said yes, the agent asked me one more time whether they should proceed with the cancellation.
The entire exchange, from the moment I was connected with the agent up to this point, lasted about 17 minutes. In those 17 minutes, the GoDaddy agent issued a refund for me and canceled my subscription. So, it’s safe to say that GoDaddy’s live chat support is fast, to the point, and quite helpful. The agent was really nice as well.
Lastly, after the agent ends your chat, you will be asked to give your feedback about your customer support experience and your overall GoDaddy experience.
Shortly after the conversation is ended, you will receive an email saying that your refund has been issued.
Specific Features of GoDaddy Dedicated Server
Let’s make a short summary of all the features that make GoDaddy a suitable solution for many dedicated server users:
- It offers self-managed and fully managed dedicated server hosting, making it suitable for both beginners and experts
- Support cPanel/WHM, Plesk Webhost Edition, CentOS, Ubuntu, and Windows
- It performs constant server monitoring and sends alert notifications with reports
- All of its data centers are PCI Compliant
- It offers NVMe SSD storage options, which are 25x faster than traditional storage options
- Enhanced built-in security
- 24/7 customer support via phone
- One-click installs for more than 150 apps
Pros and Cons of GoDaddy Dedicated Server
Pros:
- It is the largest domain registrar on the market
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Full root access to your server
- Enterprise-grade bare metal servers
- It offers a full refund within 30 days of purchase for annual plans
- It offers a full refund within 48 hours of purchase for monthly plans
- Powerful DDoS protection and security features
Cons:
- Prices are higher on renewal (but not by a lot)
- The free SSL certificate renews automatically at the then-current price
Summary
During this review, GoDaddy has proven to be an excellent web hosting provider with a lot to offer. Thanks to its self-managed and fully-managed dedicated server hosting plans, it is accommodating to both beginners and more advanced users. Its website is easy to use, and it supports the most popular control panels that allow you to easily manage all your services in one place.
It also offers plans with competitive prices and great features, which can fit medium and larger budgets. GoDaddy’s dedicated server hosting plans are suitable for all kinds of purposes, from hosting sites and apps to live media streaming and various business applications.
All in all, GoDaddy is an excellent choice for all the dedicated server users out there!
