Domains · head to head
GoDaddy vs Namecheap
What each costs, whether there's a free plan, and what each is best for, from prices checked on their own sites.
| Fact |  GoDaddy |  Namecheap |
|---|---|---|
| .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 | $11.2825% off, regular $14.98 |
| .com renewal | $22.99/yr | $18.48/yr |
| Transfer | Not verified | $11.48 |
| ICANN fee | Added on top | Added on top |
| Privacy | Free (some domains excluded) | Free on eligible 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 $11.28. 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.
- Namecheap renews for less: $18.48 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 Namecheap: free lifetime domain privacy, free DNS and DNSSEC.
What's good, and what to watch for
Namecheap
- Stellar allows 3 websites with 20 GB SSD storage and 30 mailboxes
- Free automatic SSL, unmetered bandwidth and free website migration
- Imunify360 security included on all plans
- Stellar has no AutoBackup; it comes with Stellar Plus and Stellar Business
- The 30-day money-back guarantee applies only to accounts that did not start with the free trial
- .com renews at $18.48/year after the $11.28 first year (25% off $14.98)
Other domains options
Cheapest first where the prices compare.
Spaceship
Cloudflare Registrar
Dynadot
PorkbunFAQ
Which is cheaper, GoDaddy or Namecheap?
GoDaddy is cheaper for the first year: $0.01 against $11.28. 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 Namecheap?
Namecheap renews for less: $18.48 a year against $22.99. Renewal is what you pay every year after the first.
What comes free with a domain at GoDaddy and Namecheap?
Free with a domain at GoDaddy: privacy: Free (some domains excluded). At Namecheap: free lifetime domain privacy, free DNS and DNSSEC.
What else should I compare with GoDaddy and Namecheap?
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
- Namecheap: pricing, free plan and alternatives
- All domains compared
- Bluehost vs Namecheap
- DreamHost vs Namecheap
- GreenGeeks vs Namecheap
- HostGator vs Namecheap
- Hosting.com vs Namecheap
- Hostinger vs Namecheap
- InMotion Hosting vs Namecheap
- Namecheap vs SiteGround
- Namecheap vs Spaceship
- GoDaddy vs Spaceship
Built from the prices and facts we checked on each company's own site. We haven't tested either hands-on.How we work