Domains · head to head
GoDaddy vs Hover
What each costs, whether there's a free plan, and what each is best for, from prices checked on their own sites.
| Fact |  GoDaddy |  Hover |
|---|---|---|
| .com first year | $0.01Only with a 3-year purchase ($45.99 for 3 years). Or $2.99 for 1 year with code GDWELCOME, new customers only | $18.99 |
| .com renewal | $22.99/yr | $18.99/yr |
| Transfer | Not verified | $18.99 |
| ICANN fee | Added on top | Not stated |
| Privacy | Free (some domains excluded) | Free on supported domains |
| Checked | Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
| Website | Visit | Visit |
The difference in short
- GoDaddy is cheaper for the first year: $0.01 against $18.99. GoDaddy's first-year price: only with a 3-year purchase ($45.99 for 3 years). Or $2.99 for 1 year with code GDWELCOME, new customers only.
- Hover renews for less: $18.99 a year against $22.99. Renewal is what you pay every year after the first.
- Free with a domain at GoDaddy: privacy: Free (some domains excluded). At Hover: free WHOIS privacy on supported domains.
What's good, and what to watch for
Other domains options
Cheapest first where the prices compare.
Spaceship
Cloudflare Registrar
Dynadot
PorkbunFAQ
Which is cheaper, GoDaddy or Hover?
GoDaddy is cheaper for the first year: $0.01 against $18.99. GoDaddy's first-year price: only with a 3-year purchase ($45.99 for 3 years). Or $2.99 for 1 year with code GDWELCOME, new customers only. Prices checked Oct 18, 2026 on each company's own site.
Which renews for less, GoDaddy or Hover?
Hover renews for less: $18.99 a year against $22.99. Renewal is what you pay every year after the first.
What comes free with a domain at GoDaddy and Hover?
Free with a domain at GoDaddy: privacy: Free (some domains excluded). At Hover: free WHOIS privacy on supported domains.
What else should I compare with GoDaddy and Hover?
Other domains options we've checked: Spaceship ($9.98/yr (.com renewal)), Cloudflare Registrar ($10.46/yr (.com renewal)), Dynadot ($10.88/yr (.com renewal)), Porkbun ($11.08/yr (.com renewal)).
Keep comparing
- GoDaddy: pricing, free plan and alternatives
- Hover: pricing, free plan and alternatives
- All domains compared
- Hover vs Spaceship
- GoDaddy vs Spaceship
- Cloudflare Registrar vs Hover
- Cloudflare Registrar vs GoDaddy
- Dynadot vs Hover
- Dynadot vs GoDaddy
- Hover vs Porkbun
- GoDaddy vs Porkbun
- Hover vs NameSilo
- GoDaddy vs NameSilo
Built from the prices and facts we checked on each company's own site. We haven't tested either hands-on.How we work