How to Leave GoDaddy ASAP and Get Your Money Back

Your hosting is probably painfully slow, renewing at 234% markup, and trapped behind a 60-day transfer lock.

Time to get out.

I’m not here to sell you another host. I’m here to help you escape the one that’s screwing you.

Whether it’s the $0.99 domain that became $18.99 at renewal (1,800% increase), the “unlimited” hosting that throttles at 100 connections, or the “free” SSL that auto-renews at $94.99/year, this guide shows you exactly how to cancel, fight for refunds, and switch to something that doesn’t use bait-and-switch pricing.

Most migration guides are written by hosting affiliates trying to sell you their next scam. This one’s written by someone who’s migrated dozens of sites from GoDaddy, fought their dark patterns, and won refunds they claimed were “impossible.”

According to the Better Business Bureau, GoDaddy has 1,213 complaints in the past 36 months and a 1.07/5 star rating despite their A+ BBB accreditation. On January 15, 2025, they entered into a Decision and Order with the FTC for failing to implement reasonable security measures.

GoDaddy makes Planet Fitness look reasonable, at least they only judge you, they don’t hold your domain hostage for 60 days.

🚨 Before You Leave: Secure Your Evidence

CRITICAL: Do this BEFORE cancelling or migrating:

1. Screenshot Everything

Your current hosting plan and pricing
Billing history (showing all charges and renewal increases)
Domain registration details
Email account list
Any promises they made (emails, chat logs)
Auto-renewal settings

2. Download Your Data

Full cPanel backup (files + databases)
- cPanel → Files → Backup → Download Full Account Backup
- This can take hours, start early
Email exports (if you use GoDaddy email)
- Use email client to download all messages
- Export contacts and calendars
Database dumps (if backup fails)
- phpMyAdmin → Export → Save .sql file

3. Get Domain Authorization Codes

Check if domains are unlocked
Request authorization codes (EPP codes) for each domain
Screenshot the domain lock status
Note when domains were last renewed (60-day lock applies)

4. Document Their Pricing Lies

Screenshot renewal prices vs intro prices
Save their “unlimited” marketing claims
Archive their ToS pages
Note any hidden fees or charges

Why? Because GoDaddy will make it difficult to access your data after cancellation, and you’ll need documentation when fighting for refunds or filing complaints.

Why Everyone’s Fleeing

Quick reality check from legitimate sources:

Better Business Bureau Data:

1.07 out of 5 stars from 485 customer reviews
1,213 complaints in the past 36 months
A+ BBB rating (yes, really - despite the awful reviews)
Common complaints: billing issues, domain problems, support delays

TrustPilot:

4-star rating from 127,496 reviews
Mixed feedback: some praise support, many cite renewal shock and billing problems
Recent negative reviews mention performance issues and pricing deception

Performance & Outages:

StatusGator tracking shows 1,113+ outages over almost 6 years
Users on WordPress Stack Exchange report 3-10 second wait times
GoDaddy’s own resource limits: 100 connections, 100 processes, 1 MB/s disk I/O

Pricing Scams:

Domain: $0.99 → $18.99 renewal (1,800% increase)
Hosting: $2.99/mo → $9.99/mo (234% increase)
SSL: “Free” → $94.99/year auto-renewal
Domain privacy: $9.99/year (free elsewhere)

The FTC Settlement:

January 15, 2025: GoDaddy settled allegations of security failures
Failed to implement reasonable security measures
Misled customers about data security protections

🎯 Your Complete Escape Plan

Step 1: Backup Everything (BEFORE Cancelling)

Critical: Do this first or lose data.

Full cPanel Backup Method:

Log into GoDaddy hosting account
Navigate to cPanel
Go to Files → Backup (or Backup Wizard)
Click Download a Full Account Backup
Enter your email for notification
Wait for backup to complete (can take 1-24 hours)
Download the backup file (.tar.gz file, usually large)
Store securely on your computer

Manual Backup (If cPanel Fails):

Files:

cPanel → File Manager
Select public_html folder
Right-click → Compress
Download the compressed file

Databases:

cPanel → phpMyAdmin
Select your WordPress database
Click Export tab
Choose Quick export method
Click Go and save the .sql file

Email:

Configure email client (Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail)
Use IMAP to download all messages
Export to .mbox or .pst format
Save contacts and calendars separately

Step 2: Choose Your New Host

Three options with full commission transparency:

Most Honest Option: Hetzner VPS

Pricing: €4.49/month (~$4.90) What you actually get:

1 dedicated vCPU core (100% yours, not shared)
2GB RAM (dedicated)
20GB NVMe SSD (clearly stated, no “unlimited” lies)
20TB bandwidth (clearly stated)

Migration: Self-migration (VPS requires technical knowledge) but excellent documentation Commission disclosure: $0/sale - I make nothing from Hetzner Best for: Developers, technical users who want honest pricing

Try Hetzner Cloud (€4.49/mo - Clearly Stated Resources)

Best Managed Hosting: Scala Hosting

Pricing: $3.95/mo intro, $3.95/mo renewal (no markup) What you actually get:

Dedicated resources (not oversold like GoDaddy)
SPanel control panel (similar to cPanel)
OpenLiteSpeed servers (faster than Apache)
Free Let’s Encrypt SSL (not $94.99/year)

Migration: Free automated migration service Commission disclosure: +$100/sale Best for: WordPress users who want support without technical hassle

Try Scala Hosting (Free Migration - No Price Increase)

Fast Shared Hosting: ChemiCloud

Pricing: $3.95/mo intro, ~$7.95/mo renewal (disclosed upfront) What you actually get:

3 CPU cores, 3GB RAM (scalable to 6/6)
100ms global TTFB (GoDaddy averages 1-4+ seconds)
500,000 inode limit (clearly stated, no surprises)
LiteSpeed servers

Migration: 10-200 free migrations depending on plan Commission disclosure: ~$100/sale Best for: Non-technical users who want fast, transparent hosting

Try ChemiCloud (Free Migration - Clear Pricing)

Step 3: Request Free Migration

For Scala Hosting:

Sign up for hosting account
Access live chat support
Request free migration
Provide GoDaddy cPanel login (temporary access)
They handle everything automatically
Usually completes in 24-48 hours

For ChemiCloud:

Sign up for hosting plan
Submit migration request via ticket
Provide GoDaddy credentials
They migrate up to 10-200 sites (depending on plan)
Completion time: 1-3 days

For Hetzner (Manual):

Set up VPS server
Install control panel (Hestia, CyberPanel, or VestaCP)
Use migration plugin or manual FTP/SSH transfer
Follow Hetzner’s comprehensive documentation

Step 4: The 60-Day Transfer Lock Battle

This is where GoDaddy traps you.

According to ICANN policy, domains cannot be transferred within 60 days of:

Registration
Previous transfer
Change of registrant (WHOIS update)
Renewal

GoDaddy’s twist: Unlike other registrars, they make it difficult to opt out of this lock.

If You’re Within 60-Day Lock:

Option 1: Email the Review Team

Send email to: [email protected]

Subject: “Request to Remove 60-Day Transfer Lock”

Body:

I request immediate removal of the 60-day transfer lock on domain(s):
[list your domains]

Account email: [your GoDaddy account email]
Destination registrar: Cloudflare Registrar
Reason: Switching registrars due to pricing concerns

Please confirm removal within 48 hours.

Success rate: Low, according to NamePros forums, but worth trying.

Option 2: Update Nameservers Instead

If they won’t unlock the domain:

Move hosting first (files + databases)
Update domain nameservers to point to new host
This works immediately, no transfer needed
Transfer domain after 60-day lock expires

Option 3: Wait It Out

Note when 60-day lock expires
Disable auto-renewal immediately
Set calendar reminder for day 61
Transfer domain after lock expires

If You’re Outside 60-Day Lock:

For Domain Transfer:

Log into GoDaddy domain management
Select domain you want to transfer
Unlock domain (toggle lock setting to “off”)
Get authorization code (also called EPP code or transfer code)
- Click “Transfer domain away from GoDaddy”
- Click “Get authorization code”
- Save this code securely
Initiate transfer at new registrar (recommend Cloudflare Registrar for at-cost pricing)
Approve transfer via email confirmation from GoDaddy
Wait 5-7 days for transfer to complete

For Nameserver Update (Keep Domain at GoDaddy Temporarily):

Get nameservers from new host:
- Scala: ns1.scalahosting.com, ns2.scalahosting.com
- ChemiCloud: ns1.chemicloud.com, ns2.chemicloud.com
- Hetzner: (your custom nameservers)
Log into GoDaddy domain management
Select domain → Manage DNS
Change nameservers to new host’s nameservers
Wait 24-48 hours for DNS propagation
Test website at new host

Step 5: Post-Migration Testing

Essential checks before cancelling GoDaddy:

How to test before DNS changes:

Edit your computer’s hosts file to preview
Or use whatsmydns.net to check propagation

Step 6: The Cancellation War

What to expect:

Hidden cancellation pages
Multiple “Are you sure?” screens
Retention offers (“50% off!” - still overpriced)
Threats you’ll “lose everything”
Support trying to keep you

How to Cancel GoDaddy Hosting:

Log into GoDaddy account
Navigate to “My Products”
Find your hosting plan
Click “Manage” next to the plan
Scroll down to find “Cancel Plan” (often hidden)
Click “Cancel Plan” or “Cancel Renewal”
Ignore retention offers (they’re still overpriced)
Select reason: “Too expensive” or “Switching providers”
Decline all “pause subscription” offers
Confirm cancellation
Screenshot confirmation page
Save confirmation email

How to Cancel GoDaddy Domains (If Transferring):

Domains don’t need “cancellation” - just disable auto-renewal
Log into domain management
Select domain → Settings
Turn off auto-renewal
Screenshot confirmation
Transfer domain to new registrar before expiration

If They Make It Difficult:

Call GoDaddy Support: 480-463-8333

Say “Cancel” to automated system
Tell agent: “I want to cancel immediately. No offers, just cancel.”
Request pro-rated refund for unused time
Get cancellation confirmation number
Ask for confirmation email

If They Still Refuse:

Threaten to file FTC complaint (they just settled with FTC)
Mention the 1,213 BBB complaints
Say you’ll leave public reviews
Contact your bank about blocking charges

💣 Nuclear Refund Tactics

GoDaddy will fight you on refunds. Here’s how to win:

Level 1: Professional But Firm

Email to: [email protected]

Subject: “Immediate Cancellation and Refund Request”

Body:

I am cancelling my hosting/domain services immediately and requesting a pro-rated refund for the unused portion of my subscription.

Account email: [your email]
Order numbers: [list orders]
Services purchased: [hosting plan, domains, etc.]
Amount paid: $[amount]
Unused time: [X] months

Please process my refund within 48 hours. I have documented the [renewal price increases](/hosting/godaddy-renewal-price-extortion/) (234% for hosting, 1,800% for domains) and the hidden resource limits that violate your "unlimited" marketing claims.

Level 2: Legal Threats

Email to: [email protected]

Subject: “URGENT: Refund Required - Legal Action Pending”

Body:

Your refusal to honor refunds violates consumer protection laws. Your renewal pricing constitutes deceptive trade practices by hiding the true cost until after the 60-day transfer lock activates.

I am filing complaints with:
- Federal Trade Commission (deceptive pricing practices)
- Better Business Bureau (adding to existing 1,213 complaints)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (billing disputes)
- [Your State] Attorney General Consumer Protection Division

Additionally, I note your recent FTC settlement on January 15, 2025 regarding security failures and misleading customers.

Process my refund of $[amount] immediately or expect regulatory involvement within 5 business days.

Account: [email]
Order numbers: [list]

Level 3: Public Shame

If they still refuse:

Twitter/X:

@GoDaddy refusing refund despite 234% renewal price increase buried in fine print. 60-day transfer lock traps customers. Already filed FTC complaint. #GoDaddyScam [attach screenshots]

Reddit:

Post to r/webhosting with full story
Include screenshots of pricing, denials
Document your refund fight

Reviews:

TrustPilot - leave detailed review during refund fight
BBB - file official complaint
Google Reviews - public review visible to searchers

Social Media:

Comment on their Facebook/Instagram ads
Share your experience publicly
Tag them in posts

Level 4: Chargeback

Contact your bank/credit card issuer:

Tell them:

Merchant: GoDaddy
Issue: Deceptive billing practices

Details:
- Advertised $2.99/mo hosting, charged $9.99/mo renewal (234% increase hidden in fine print)
- Advertised $0.99 domain, charged $18.99 renewal (1,800% increase not disclosed)
- 60-day transfer lock prevents switching despite service issues
- Merchant has 1,213 BBB complaints and recent FTC settlement for misleading customers

I'm disputing charges for: [list specific charges]
Total amount: $[amount]

I have documentation: [mention your screenshots, emails, etc.]

Success rate: 85% if you’re persistent, according to Web Hosting Talk forum users

⚠️ Dark Patterns to Expect

During Cancellation:

Hidden cancel button - Not in main menu, buried in settings
Multiple confirmations - “Are you sure?” × 3-5 times
Fake urgency - “Cancel now and lose your domain!” (lie)
Confusing wording - “Pause” vs “Cancel” options
Retention team - Callback offers that delay cancellation
Technical difficulties - Site “errors” preventing cancellation

How to beat them:

Screenshot every step
Record phone calls (where legal)
Use incognito browser if site acts weird
Try different browsers
Call support if website blocks you

After “Cancellation”:

“Accidental” renewals - Despite cancelling
Hidden subscriptions - Email hosting, SSL, domain privacy
Add-on charges - Services you didn’t know you had
Currency conversion fees - Extra charges on international cards
“Partner” charges - Third-party services billed through GoDaddy

Protection tactics:

Use virtual card for new host (Privacy.com)
Block GoDaddy from charging your original card
Monitor statements weekly for 3 months
Screenshot final “no upcoming charges” page
Keep all confirmation emails forever

The Email Assault:

Expect forever emails:

“We miss you!” (they miss your money)
“Exclusive offer!” (same shit, fake discount)
“Security alert!” (fear mongering)
“Account compromised!” (lie to make you log in)

Solution:

Mark as spam
Unsubscribe aggressively
Filter their domain to trash
Report as phishing if deceptive

🔥 The Scorched Earth Protocol

If they refuse to cancel, refund, or cooperate:

File Official Complaints:

Federal Trade Commission
- FTC.gov/complaint
- Issue: Deceptive pricing, bait-and-switch tactics
- Mention their recent January 2025 FTC settlement
Better Business Bureau
- BBB.org
- File official complaint (adds to 1,213 existing)
- BBB mediates disputes
ICANN (For Domain Issues)
- ICANN Registrar Compliance
- Use for: Transfer denials, authorization code refusal
- They can force compliance
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- ConsumerFinance.gov/complaint
- For: Billing disputes, unauthorized charges
- They investigate financial practices
State Attorney General
- Search: “[Your State] Attorney General consumer complaints”
- Consumer protection division handles deceptive practices

Leave Detailed Reviews:

Document everything publicly:

TrustPilot: Detailed review with dates, amounts, screenshots
BBB: Official complaint with documentation
Reddit r/webhosting: Full story with evidence
Web Hosting Talk: Forum post warning others
Google Reviews: Public review visible in searches
Yelp: Business review (if available in your area)

Nuclear Options:

Join Existing Class Actions:

Search PACER for GoDaddy lawsuits
Contact class action attorneys
Add your evidence to existing cases

Contact Tech Journalists:

Tech journalists love hosting scam stories
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Provide documentation

Make YouTube Video:

Document your entire experience
Show screenshots, play call recordings
Tag GoDaddy, mention FTC settlement
SEO: “GoDaddy Scam,” “GoDaddy Refund Fight”

Report to Payment Processor:

If using credit card: contact Visa/Mastercard directly
Merchant misconduct can result in penalties
Excessive chargebacks hurt their processor relationship

Common Migration Issues & Solutions

Issue: “60-Day Transfer Lock Preventing Move”

Solution:

Check lock expiration date in domain settings
Email [email protected] (low success rate)
Workaround: Update nameservers instead, transfer later
Document lock dates for complaint filing

Issue: “GoDaddy Won’t Release Authorization Code”

Solution:

Verify domain is unlocked first
Check that you’re outside 60-day lock period
Call support: 480-463-8333 and demand code
If refused: File ICANN complaint - they’re required to provide it
Last resort: Leave public review mentioning refusal

Issue: “Lost cPanel Access Before Backup”

Solution:

Request temporary access extension from support
If refused: New host’s migration team can sometimes still pull data
Nuclear option: File BBB complaint for denying access to your own data
Mention this violates data portability rights

Issue: “They’re Charging Me After Cancellation”

Solution:

Screenshot cancellation confirmation
Email support with evidence
If they refuse refund: Call bank immediately
Request chargeback for “unauthorized charge after cancellation”
File complaints: FTC, BBB, CFPB

Issue: “Website Showing GoDaddy Placeholder After DNS Change”

Solution:

DNS propagation takes 24-48 hours
Flush your DNS cache (ipconfig /flushdns on Windows)
Check propagation: whatsmydns.net
If still not working: Verify nameservers were saved correctly

Issue: “Database Connection Error on New Host”

Solution:

Update wp-config.php with new database credentials
Verify database was imported successfully
Check database user has correct permissions
For WordPress: Search/replace old database URL with new one

Issue: “Images Not Loading After Migration”

Solution:

Run search/replace on database URLs
Update WordPress Site URL in Settings → General
Or use Better Search Replace plugin
Clear any caching plugins

Issue: “Email Not Working After Migration”

Solution:

Update MX records to point to email provider
If using GoDaddy email: Migrate to Gmail/Outlook/ProtonMail
Or recreate email accounts at new host
Allow 24-48 hours for MX record propagation

📋 Complete Migration Checklist

Before Migration:

During Migration:

New host account created
Free migration requested (or manual upload complete)
Files transferred successfully
Database imported correctly
Email accounts migrated (if applicable)
DNS updated (nameservers or transfer)
SSL certificate active on new host

Testing Phase:

Cancellation:

Website fully tested on new host
GoDaddy hosting cancelled
Auto-renewal disabled on all services
Cancellation confirmation saved
No future charges scheduled
Domain transferred (or scheduled post-lock)

Post-Cancellation:

Refund requested (if within policy)
Merchant blocked from charging card
Monitor statements for 3 months
All confirmation emails saved
Complaints filed if needed

The Alternatives (With Full Transparency)

Most Honest: Hetzner VPS

Pricing: €4.49/month (~$4.90)

What you get:

1 dedicated vCPU (AMD EPYC or Intel Xeon)
2GB RAM (dedicated, not shared)
20GB NVMe SSD (actually NVMe, not marketing BS)
20TB bandwidth (clearly stated)

Why recommend: No “unlimited” lies. Resources are clearly stated. German data protection laws. Family-owned since 1997.

Try Hetzner Cloud (€4.49/mo - Clearly Stated Resources)

Commission: $0/sale - I make nothing

Downsides: Requires technical knowledge (VPS management)

Try Hetzner Cloud (€4.49/mo - Clearly Stated Resources)

Best Managed: Scala Hosting

Pricing: $3.95/mo intro and renewal (no markup)

What you get:

SPanel control panel (cPanel alternative)
OpenLiteSpeed servers
Dedicated resources
Free automated migration
Free Let’s Encrypt SSL (not $94.99/year like GoDaddy)

Why recommend: Transparent pricing. No renewal extortion. Actual technical support. No aggressive throttling.

Get Scala Hosting (Free Migration - No Price Increase)

Commission: +$100/sale

Downsides: None significant for WordPress users

Get Scala Hosting (Free Migration - No Price Increase)

Fast Shared: ChemiCloud

Pricing: $3.95/mo intro, ~$7.95/mo renewal (disclosed upfront)

What you get:

3 CPU cores + 3GB RAM (scalable to 6/6)
100ms global TTFB (GoDaddy: 1-4+ seconds)
LiteSpeed servers
10-200 free migrations
500,000 inode limit (vs GoDaddy’s undisclosed throttling)

Why recommend: Fast performance. Transparent about resources. Renewal price disclosed before purchase.

Try ChemiCloud (Free Migration - Clear Pricing)

Commission: ~$100/sale

Downsides: Renewal increase exists (but disclosed upfront, unlike GoDaddy)

Try ChemiCloud (Free Migration - Clear Pricing)

For Domains Only:

Cloudflare Registrar (My #1 recommendation for domains)

At-cost pricing ($9.77/year for .com)
Free WHOIS privacy (GoDaddy charges $9.99/year)
No markup on renewals
Easy transfers
No 60-day lock bullshit
Commission: $0 (Cloudflare has no affiliate program)

Alternative: Namecheap, Porkbun (both better than GoDaddy)

Option: You Might Not Need Traditional Hosting

For Static Sites:

Cloudflare Pages - Free, fast, CDN included
Netlify - Free tier, easy deploys
GitHub Pages - Free hosting for static sites
Vercel - Free tier, excellent performance

For Simple WordPress:

WordPress.com - Free tier exists
Or just use VPS - $5/mo vs shared hosting scams

For Landing Pages:

Carrd - $19/year for custom domains
Linktree - Free tier available
GitHub + Cloudflare Pages - Free

The Bottom Line

GoDaddy’s business model is bait-and-switch extortion:

Lure you in with $0.99 domains and $2.99/mo hosting
Lock you in with 60-day transfer restrictions
Jack prices 234-1,800% at renewal
Make cancellation deliberately difficult
Profit from customers too trapped or lazy to leave

According to the Better Business Bureau:

1,213 complaints in 36 months
1.07/5 stars from 485 reviews
Recent FTC settlement for security failures

In my opinion, escaping is the smartest financial decision you can make.

Commission disclosure:

I make +$100 from Scala and ~$100 from ChemiCloud
I make $0 from Hetzner and Cloudflare
I could make similar or more from GoDaddy
I rejected them because recommending GoDaddy would require lying about renewal prices, transfer locks, and performance

That’s the difference between me and the sites ranking GoDaddy #1.

Don’t Trust Me - Verify Everything

Check the facts yourself:

GoDaddy’s BBB page - 1.07/5 stars, 1,213 complaints, FTC settlement
GoDaddy’s TrustPilot - 4 stars but read the negative reviews
StatusGator outage tracking - 1,113+ outages over 6 years
GoDaddy’s resource limits - The “unlimited” truth
ICANN transfer policy - 60-day lock rules

Compare renewal prices yourself at GoDaddy’s site. The math doesn’t lie.

If this guide helped you escape, share it. GoDaddy relies on people not knowing how to leave. Let’s cost them millions.

P.S. If you’re stuck in the 60-day transfer lock and GoDaddy refuses to release you, document everything. File complaints. Leave reviews. Make noise. They hate public accountability.

P.P.S. Successfully migrated and got your refund? Drop a comment on forums and Reddit to help others. The community defeats these practices through shared knowledge.