GoDaddy vs InterServer Web Hosting Comparison

Written by

Our content is reader-supported. If you click on our links, we may earn a commission. How we review.

Dive into an in-depth comparison of two web hosting giants in this article: GoDaddy vs InterServer. As an industry expert, I’ll break down their pricing, performance, and support to help you make an informed decision. So, whether you’re a small business owner or a seasoned web developer, this comparative guide will simplify your choice. Let’s get started.

Overview

This article dissects the web hosting giants, GoDaddy and InterServer, comparing their features, performance, and pricing. Both offer robust solutions, but their strengths differ. Get ready for an in-depth analysis to help you choose the most suitable platform for your online presence.

Let’s dive in and scrutinize the strengths and weaknesses of these two web hosting services.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy

Price: From $11.95 per month

Support: 24/7 technical support

Official website: www.godaddy.com

GoDaddy's ideal customer is a small to medium-sized business owner or entrepreneur seeking user-friendly web hosting and domain services.

Learn more about GoDaddy

InterServer

InterServer

Price: From $2.50 per month

Support: 24/7 technical support

Official website: www.interserver.net

InterServer primarily targets small to medium-sized businesses and individual website owners seeking reliable, affordable web hosting services.

Learn more about InterServer

GoDaddy's customer support is amazing! They helped me transfer my domain and set up my website quickly and efficiently. Highly recommended! – Amanda

starstarstarstarstar

InterServer's customer support is top-notch! They helped me transfer my website from another host and walked me through the entire process. Highly recommended! – Laura

starstarstarstarstar

I was surprised by how easy it was to use GoDaddy's website builder. It's intuitive and user-friendly. Great option for beginners! – Mark

starstarstarstar

InterServer's VPS hosting plans offer excellent performance and flexibility. Their tech support is always available to assist with any issues. Impressive! – Frank

starstarstarstar

GoDaddy's dedicated hosting plans offer great performance and reliability. Their tech support is always available to assist with any issues. Impressive! – Alex

starstarstarstar

I appreciate how transparent InterServer is about their infrastructure and maintenance schedules. It's reassuring to know what's going on behind the scenes. Good job, InterServer! – Mark

starstarstarstar

Support Features

This section explores the strengths and weaknesses of the customer support provided by GoDaddy and InterServer.

Winner is:

GoDaddy offers 24/7 phone support and live chat, but sometimes lacks in technical expertise. InterServer, on the other hand, shines with its tech support, providing 24/7 phone, live chat, and ticketing system. Its support staff is more tech-savvy, offering solutions faster. While GoDaddy's customer support is more accessible, InterServer provides superior technical support. Therefore, InterServer edges out GoDaddy when it comes to overall support quality.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy

  • 24/7 Customer support: GoDaddy offers 24/7 customer support via phone, chat, and email. This means that you can get help whenever you need it.
    • Live chat: GoDaddy offers live chat support 24/7. This is a great way to get quick help with a problem.
    • Phone support: GoDaddy also offers phone support 24/7. This is a good option if you need more help with a problem or if you prefer to talk to someone over the phone.
    • Email support: GoDaddy offers email support. This is a good option if you have a question that doesn't require immediate attention.
    • Social media support: GoDaddy also offers support on social media. This is a good way to get help if you're having a problem with your account or if you have a question about a specific product.
  • Knowledge base: GoDaddy has a comprehensive knowledge base that includes articles, tutorials, and videos. This is a great resource for finding help with common problems.
  • Tutorials: GoDaddy offers a variety of tutorials on how to use their products. These tutorials are a great way to learn how to get the most out of your GoDaddy account.
  • Webinars: GoDaddy also offers webinars on a variety of topics related to web hosting, domain registration, and ecommerce. These webinars are a great way to learn about the latest trends and get tips from experts.
  • Forums: GoDaddy has a forum where you can ask questions and get help from other GoDaddy users. This is a great way to get help with a problem that you're having or to find out how other people are using GoDaddy products.
InterServer

InterServer

  • 24/7 support: InterServer offers 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone. This means that you can always get help if you need it.
    • Ticket system: InterServer also has a ticket system that you can use to submit support requests. This system is a great way to get help with complex problems.
    • Friendly and knowledgeable staff: InterServer's support staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They are always willing to help you, and they will do their best to resolve your issue as quickly as possible.
  • Knowledge base: InterServer has a comprehensive knowledge base that covers a wide range of topics. This knowledge base is a great resource for troubleshooting common problems.
  • Tutorials: InterServer also offers a number of tutorials that can help you to learn how to use InterServer's features. These tutorials are a great way to get started with InterServer.
  • Forum: InterServer has a forum where you can ask questions and get help from other InterServer users. This forum is a great resource for getting help with specific problems.

Technology Features

This section compares the technology features of GoDaddy vs InterServer in terms of web server infrastructure, SSD, CDN, caching, and more.

Winner is:

GoDaddy and InterServer differ significantly in their tech features. GoDaddy offers robust web server infrastructure with decent caching, but lacks SSD storage, potentially affecting site speed. In contrast, InterServer provides SSD storage for faster load times, robust caching, and a solid server foundation. However, both offer CDN services for better global reach. While GoDaddy is popular, InterServer's commitment to speed with SSD and reliable caching gives them an edge. Hence, InterServer is my preferred choice.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy

  • Domain registration: GoDaddy is one of the world's largest domain registrars, and offers a wide variety of domain name extensions.
  • Web hosting: GoDaddy offers a variety of web hosting plans, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting.
  • WordPress hosting: GoDaddy's managed WordPress hosting service includes features such as automatic WordPress updates, malware scanning, and 24/7 support.
  • Ecommerce solutions: GoDaddy's ecommerce solutions include a website builder, payment processing, and shipping integration. They also offer a variety of themes and plugins to help you create a custom ecommerce store.
  • SSL certificates: GoDaddy offers a variety of SSL certificates, including wildcard SSL certificates and EV SSL certificates. They also offer a free SSL certificate with all of their web hosting plans.
  • Professional email: GoDaddy's professional email plans include features such as custom email addresses, spam and virus protection, and mobile access. They also offer a variety of plans to fit your business's needs.
  • Marketing tools: GoDaddy's marketing tools include SEO tools, email marketing, and social media marketing. They also offer a variety of integrations with other marketing platforms.
InterServer

InterServer

  • Unlimited storage space and bandwidth: InterServer offers unlimited storage space and bandwidth on all of its shared hosting plans. This means that you can host as many websites and files as you want without having to worry about running out of space or bandwidth.
  • SSD caching servers: InterServer uses SSD caching servers to improve the performance of your websites. SSDs are much faster than traditional hard drives, so your websites will load faster and be more responsive.
  • Raid-10 storage: InterServer uses Raid-10 storage to protect your data from loss. Raid-10 is a fault-tolerant configuration that stripes your data across multiple disks, so if one disk fails, your data will still be available.
  • Speed optimization: InterServer uses a variety of techniques to optimize the speed of your websites. These techniques include caching, compression, and minification.
  • Ultra fast web server: InterServer uses an ultra fast web server to deliver your content to visitors. This web server is optimized for performance, so your websites will load quickly.
  • Cloud Linux OS: InterServer uses Cloud Linux OS, which is a lightweight operating system that is designed for hosting. Cloud Linux OS is more secure and stable than traditional operating systems, so your websites will be more reliable.
  • 10GB Cisco network: InterServer has a 10GB Cisco network, which provides fast and reliable connections to your websites. This network is also very secure, so your data will be protected from unauthorized access.
  • Free CloudFlare CDN: InterServer includes a free CloudFlare CDN with all of its shared hosting plans. CloudFlare is a content delivery network that can help to improve the performance of your websites.
  • Free migration: InterServer offers free migration for your websites from other hosts. This means that you can switch to InterServer without having to worry about moving your data.
  • 24/7 support: InterServer offers 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone. This means that you can always get help if you need it.

Security Features

This section looks at the security features of GoDaddy and InterServer in terms of firewall, DDoS, malware, and spam protection.

Winner is:

Both GoDaddy and InterServer provide robust security features. GoDaddy offers a strong firewall and DDoS protection, but its spam protection falls short, requiring additional purchases. InterServer, on the other hand, includes comprehensive spam protection in its standard package, along with a solid firewall and DDoOS protection. Considering the overall value and in-built features, I lean towards InterServer for delivering better, more cost-effective security measures.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy

  • Web Application Firewall (WAF): The WAF is a security layer that helps protect your website from common web attacks. It works by filtering traffic to your website and blocking malicious requests.
  • SSL certificates: SSL certificates encrypt the traffic between your website and your visitors' browsers. This helps protect sensitive data, such as credit card numbers and passwords.
  • Malware scanning: GoDaddy's malware scanning service scans your website for malware and other malicious content. If any malware is found, GoDaddy will remove it and notify you.
  • DDoS protection: DDoS protection helps protect your website from distributed denial-of-service attacks. These attacks are designed to overwhelm your website with traffic, making it unavailable to visitors.
  • Daily backups: GoDaddy's daily backups service creates a copy of your website every day. This way, if your website is ever hacked or damaged, you can restore it from a backup.
  • Secure login: GoDaddy's secure login feature helps protect your account from unauthorized access.
    • Two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your account. When you log in, you will be prompted to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password.
    • Password policies: GoDaddy's password policies help you create strong passwords that are difficult to crack.
  • Employee training: GoDaddy's employees receive training on security best practices. This helps ensure that they are aware of the latest security threats and how to protect your website.
InterServer

InterServer

  • Web application firewall (WAF): InterServer uses a WAF to protect your websites from malicious traffic and attacks. The WAF filters out traffic that is known to be malicious, so your websites will be less likely to be hacked.
  • Malware scanning: InterServer conducts regular malware scans to identify and remove any malware from your websites. This helps to protect your websites from being infected with malware, which can steal your data or damage your website.
  • DDoS protection: InterServer offers DDoS protection to protect your websites from distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. DDoS attacks are a type of attack that floods your website with traffic, which can make it unavailable to visitors. InterServer's DDoS protection helps to mitigate these attacks, so your websites will be more likely to stay online.
  • SSL certificates: InterServer includes free SSL certificates with all of its shared hosting plans. SSL certificates encrypt the traffic between your website and visitors, which helps to protect their data from being intercepted.
  • Reduced PHP permissions: InterServer reduces the PHP permissions on your websites, which helps to protect them from being hacked. This means that users will have less access to your files and folders, which makes it more difficult for them to gain unauthorized access to your website.
  • Regular backups: InterServer conducts regular backups of your websites, which helps to protect you from data loss. If your website is hacked or damaged, you can restore it from a backup.

Performance Features

This section looks at the performance, speed, and uptime features of InterServer and GoDaddy in terms of caching, SSD storage, CDN, and more.

Winner is:

GoDaddy impresses with faster initial load times, making it ideal for those prioritizing speed. However, InterServer outshines in overall performance and uptime guarantees, ensuring your site stays accessible and runs smoothly. GoDaddy has a slight edge in advanced technology, but InterServer's superior reliability is hard to overlook. In a tight contest, InterServer, with its blend of speed, performance and reliability, nudges ahead as the overall winner.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy

  • Uptime: GoDaddy's uptime is typically very good. In the past year, their uptime has averaged 99.96%. This means that your website is likely to be available 99.96% of the time.
  • Performance: GoDaddy's performance is also typically very good. Their servers are located in data centers around the world, which helps to ensure that your website loads quickly for visitors from all over the world.
    • Cache: GoDaddy's cache helps to store frequently accessed content on your website's servers, which can help to improve performance.
  • Speed: GoDaddy's speed is also typically very good. Their servers are powered by NVMe SSDs, which helps to ensure that your website loads quickly.
    • CDN: GoDaddy's CDN (Content Delivery Network) helps to deliver your website's content to visitors from all over the world quickly.
    • Optimization: GoDaddy offers a variety of tools to help you optimize your website for speed, such as minifying your CSS and JavaScript files.
InterServer

InterServer

  • Performance: InterServer uses SSD caching servers to improve the performance of your websites. SSDs are much faster than traditional hard drives, so your websites will load faster and be more responsive.
    • CloudFlare CDN: InterServer includes a free CloudFlare CDN with all of its shared hosting plans. CloudFlare is a content delivery network that can help to improve the performance of your websites by caching your content on servers that are closer to your visitors.
  • Speed: InterServer uses a variety of techniques to optimize the speed of your websites. These techniques include caching, compression, and minification.
    • LiteSpeed web server: InterServer uses LiteSpeed web server, which is a faster and more efficient web server than Apache. This can help to improve the performance of your websites.
    • 10GB Cisco network: InterServer has a 10GB Cisco network, which provides fast and reliable connections to your websites. This network is also very secure, so your data will be protected from unauthorized access.
  • Uptime: InterServer guarantees 99.9% uptime with all of its hosting plans. This means that your websites will be available 99.9% of the time, excluding scheduled maintenance.
  • Raid-10 storage: InterServer uses Raid-10 storage to protect your data from loss. Raid-10 is a fault-tolerant configuration that stripes your data across multiple disks, so if one disk fails, your data will still be available.

Pros & Cons

In this section, we’ll be taking a closer look at GoDaddy and InterServer, two well-known hosting services. We’ll break down the pros and cons of each, giving you a clear overview of what they offer. So, let’s dive in and explore the ups and downs of these two hosting options.

Winner is:

GoDaddy offers a user-friendly interface, robust customer support, and extensive marketing tools, but higher renewal rates and upselling tactics can be off-putting. InterServer promises price-lock guarantee, unlimited storage and bandwidth, but lacks in customer support and user-friendliness. Despite these, InterServer's consistent pricing model and unlimited resources make it a more cost-effective and reliable option than GoDaddy. Thus, InterServer wins this comparison.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy

Pros:
  • Wide range of products and services: GoDaddy offers a wide range of products and services, including domain registration, web hosting, email, ecommerce, and marketing. This makes it a good choice for businesses of all sizes.
  • Good uptime and performance: GoDaddy's uptime and performance are typically very good. This means that your website is likely to be available and load quickly.
  • Easy to use: GoDaddy's products and services are generally easy to use, even for beginners. This makes it a good choice for businesses that don't have a lot of technical expertise.
  • Good customer support: GoDaddy offers good customer support. They have live chat, phone support, and email support.
Cons:
  • Can be expensive: GoDaddy's products and services can be expensive, especially for businesses with high traffic.
  • Some features are hidden: GoDaddy sometimes hides some features in their plans, which can be confusing for customers.
  • Upsells: GoDaddy is known for upselling their customers. This means that they may try to sell you additional products or services that you don't need.
  • Not as customizable as some other platforms: GoDaddy's products and services are not as customizable as some other platforms. This means that you may have less control over the look and feel of your website.
InterServer

InterServer

Pros:
  • Affordable: InterServer is one of the most affordable web hosting providers on the market.
  • Performance: InterServer's hosting plans offer excellent performance, speed, and uptime.
  • Security: InterServer's hosting plans offer a comprehensive range of security features.
  • Features: InterServer's hosting plans offer a wide range of features, including free SSL certificates, free website migration, and a free CDN.
  • Customer support: InterServer's customer support is excellent. They offer 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone.
Cons:
  • Data centers: InterServer only has data centers in the United States. This may not be ideal for users who want their websites to be hosted closer to their target audience.
  • Uptime: InterServer's uptime guarantee is 99.9%. This is a good uptime guarantee, but it is not the best on the market.
  • Customer support: Some users have reported that InterServer's customer support can be slow to respond at times.
GoDaddy vs InterServer

Check out how GoDaddy and InterServer stack up against other popular web hosting companies.