How to Migrate from GoDaddy: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Last updated: March 2026

GoDaddy is one of the most recognized names in web hosting, but many users discover that performance, pricing, and support don’t match the marketing. If you’re seeing slow load times, surprise renewal prices, or frustrating upsells — you’re not alone.

This guide walks you through migrating from GoDaddy to a better host, step by step, with zero downtime.

Why People Leave GoDaddy

Before we get into the how, here’s why migration is worth the effort:

• Renewal price shock — That $5.99/mo intro price often jumps to $15-20/mo on renewal
• Slow performance — GoDaddy shared hosting consistently scores below average in independent speed tests
• Aggressive upselling — Every interaction pushes paid add-ons (SSL, backups, security) that other hosts include free
• Limited support — Phone-based support with inconsistent quality and long hold times
• Outdated tech stack — Shared hosting uses older infrastructure compared to modern competitors

Before You Start: Preparation Checklist

Complete these steps before touching anything:

1. Inventory Your GoDaddy Account

• List all domains registered with GoDaddy
• List all hosting accounts and what’s on each
• Note all email accounts (@yourdomain.com) on GoDaddy
• Check for any GoDaddy-specific features you use (website builder, online store)
• Note your current DNS records (export if possible)

2. Choose Your New Host

We recommend these GoDaddy alternatives based on your needs:

3. Back Up Everything

• Download a full backup of your website files via GoDaddy’s File Manager or FTP
• Export your database(s) through phpMyAdmin
• Export your email (if using GoDaddy email)
• Screenshot your current DNS records

Step 1: Set Up Your New Hosting Account

Sign up with your chosen host. Most offer a migration-friendly onboarding:

1. Create your account — Use your existing domain name during signup (don’t register a new one)
2. Don’t point DNS yet — Keep your site running on GoDaddy until the new one is ready
3. Note the new nameservers — You’ll need these later for DNS transfer

If your new host offers free migration:

Contact their support team and provide:

• Your GoDaddy hosting login credentials (or cPanel credentials)
• Which sites/databases to migrate
• Any special configurations

SiteGround, Hostinger, Cloudways, and WP Engine all offer free migration. This is the easiest path — let the professionals handle it.

Step 2: Manual Migration (If Needed)

If you’re migrating yourself, here’s the process:

Migrate Website Files

Option A: WordPress (use a plugin)

1. Install the All-in-One WP Migration plugin on your GoDaddy WordPress site
2. Go to All-in-One WP Migration → Export → Export to File
3. Download the export file
4. Install WordPress on your new host
5. Install the same plugin on the new WordPress
6. Go to All-in-One WP Migration → Import → Upload the file
7. Verify the site works on the new host

Option B: Manual file transfer

1. Connect to GoDaddy via FTP (FileZilla or similar)
2. Download all files from your public_html directory
3. Connect to your new host via FTP
4. Upload all files to the new host’s public_html directory

Migrate Database

1. Log into GoDaddy’s phpMyAdmin
2. Select your database → Export → Quick → SQL format → Go
3. Save the .sql file
4. Create a new database on your new host
5. Import the .sql file through the new host’s phpMyAdmin
6. Update your site’s database connection settings (wp-config.php for WordPress)

Migrate Email

If you use GoDaddy email (@yourdomain.com):

1. Option A: Keep GoDaddy email — You can keep email on GoDaddy even after moving hosting. Update MX records to point to GoDaddy’s mail servers.
2. Option B: Move to new host’s email — Set up email accounts on the new host, then use an email client to drag-and-drop messages between accounts.
3. Option C: Move to Google Workspace / Microsoft 365 — Best long-term solution. $6-7/user/mo for professional email with better reliability.

Step 3: Verify the New Site

Before changing DNS, verify everything works:

1. Use a temporary URL — Most hosts provide a temporary URL or IP address to preview your site
2. Test all pages — Click through every important page
3. Test forms — Submit contact forms and check they send correctly
4. Check SSL — Ensure HTTPS works on the new host (most offer free Let’s Encrypt SSL)
5. Compare load times — Use GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights to compare old vs new

Step 4: Update DNS

This is the step that actually moves your traffic to the new host.

Option A: Change nameservers (recommended)

1. Log into GoDaddy → My Domains → Select your domain → DNS Management
2. Click “Change” next to Nameservers
3. Select “Custom” and enter your new host’s nameservers
4. Save changes

Nameserver changes take 24-48 hours to propagate globally. During this time, some visitors will see the old site and some will see the new one.

Option B: Update A record only

1. In GoDaddy DNS Management, find the A record pointing to your old hosting IP
2. Change the IP address to your new host’s IP
3. Update the CNAME record for www to point to the new host

This is faster (1-4 hours) but means you’re still managing DNS at GoDaddy.

Step 5: Transfer Your Domain (Optional)

If you want to fully leave GoDaddy, transfer your domain to your new registrar:

1. Unlock the domain — GoDaddy → My Domains → Domain Settings → Domain Lock → Turn Off
2. Get authorization code — GoDaddy will email you an EPP/authorization code
3. Initiate transfer — Go to your new registrar and start a domain transfer with the auth code
4. Approve the transfer — You’ll get an email from GoDaddy asking to confirm. Approve it.
5. Wait 5-7 days — ICANN requires a waiting period for domain transfers

Recommended registrars:

• Cloudflare Registrar — At-cost pricing ($10.46/yr for .com), no markup
• Namecheap — Affordable, good interface
• Google Domains (Squarespace) — Clean interface, good privacy

Step 6: Post-Migration Checklist

After DNS has propagated and your site is live on the new host:

• Verify all pages load correctly
• Test all forms, checkout flows, and interactive features
• Check that SSL certificate is active (padlock icon in browser)
• Verify email sending and receiving
• Update any hardcoded references to old IP addresses
• Set up automated backups on the new host
• Test site speed — it should be faster than GoDaddy
• Update Google Search Console with any URL changes
• Keep GoDaddy account active for 30 days as a safety net
• Cancel GoDaddy hosting after confirming everything works

Recommended GoDaddy Alternatives

SiteGround — Best Overall Alternative

Hostinger — Best Budget Alternative

Cloudways — Best for High-Traffic Sites

Final Thoughts

Migrating from GoDaddy takes a few hours of work but pays off immediately in faster load times, better support, and lower renewal prices. If your new host offers free migration, the process is even simpler — just sign up and let their team handle the technical work.

The most important thing: don’t cancel GoDaddy until the new site is fully verified and DNS has propagated. Keep both hosts running in parallel for at least a week.

Best Hosting for Small Business → | Hostinger vs SiteGround → | Shared vs VPS Hosting →

Related Articles

• GoDaddy vs Bluehost — How GoDaddy stacks up against Bluehost
• Best Hosting for Small Business — Where to migrate your business site
• Hostinger vs SiteGround — Two top migration destinations compared
• Shared vs VPS Hosting — Should you upgrade while migrating?
• SiteGround Review — A popular GoDaddy alternative reviewed