Google Domains vs GoDaddy: Where to Register Your Domain?

This is my comparison of Google Domains vs GoDaddy.

Starting a new website is an exciting adventure, especially when you have a bold plan in place or content you want to share with others. To begin the journey, you’ll need a registrar to register a domain for you, which will form the basis for the URLs on your site.

Google Domains and GoDaddy have similar features that often have them competing with each other for new clients. Both have various pricing models, which can mean a return on investment if you play it right.

In my Google Domains vs GoDaddy comparison, I look at various tools they provide with the domains and see which one comes on top. I usually use GoDaddy for my domains as I prefer many of its features, such as the WordPress site management, but it seems I may be wrong when reviewing the outcome of my article.

At a Glance

When you look at the various extras that Google Domain provides at no extra cost, you can see why many people prefer registering a domain on its platform. There may not be as many domain extensions available, but the user interface is easy to use. 

However, many people prefer GoDaddy for the discounts on first-year registrations. The plan is usually to use the first year to get a return on the investment from the site and make more income for the following year. It isn’t always the case for beginners, though. 

Of course, GoDaddy lets you host a WordPress site on its platform, even if you pay for it separately. There’s nothing stopping you from transferring in a Google Domains domain into GoDaddy for the same purpose. You’ll just have to pay for another year’s extension.

So, which one should you choose: GoDaddy or Google Domains? Check my comparison below so you can decide for yourself.

Comparison: Google Domains vs GoDaddy

Let me get to the nuts and bolts of my Google Domains vs GoDaddy comparison review. You’ll see I touch on several features below to see who is the winner per section, giving me an overall victor at the end.

User Interface

Obtaining a new domain is only one aspect of the entire deal. You can also manage the domain, whether you want to set up a new site with it, renew the subscription, or transfer it to a new registrar. It’s helpful if the user interface isn’t overly complicated.

If you’re familiar with other Google products, such as Adwords or the Search Console, you’ll notice that Google Domains has a similar layout. It’s easy to navigate, and you’ll have all your domains listed in one place. There’s also a helpful menu on the left.

GoDaddy also has a pleasant user interface, with a central console for all your domains. You can easily change any of your domain settings or link them to other tools. You’ll have the option to see when the domains expire, giving you the chance to renew them.

So who wins for the user interface; GoDaddy or Google Domains? Well, the one aspect that GoDaddy has that makes it easier than Google Domains is that you can make bulk changes to your domains. With the latter, you have to individually change each one, even if it’s the same information. 

Winner for the user interface: GoDaddy

Domain Extensions

While you’ll supply a registrar with a name you want for your site, it has the job of showing you which top-level domains (TLDs) are available. You’ll usually pay more for the popular ones, such as .com, .net, or ca. There are many large businesses that have sites worldwide that try to register the same name with as many TLDs as possible.

At the time of writing this Google Domains vs GoDaddy comparison, the former has just over 300 TLDs. Many of them include some of the latest ones I’ve seen on the market, such as .tech, .media, and .studio. The lower the demand, the more affordable the domain.

When it comes to GoDaddy, you’ll have access to more than 500 TLDs. What’s more, you can even select industries your site will cater to. If you choose some of them, the registrar will select which domain extensions will suit you best, such as .yoga. 

Thanks to the greater selection and flexibility in various industries, I’m happy to select GoDaddy as the victor here.

Winner for domain extensions: GoDaddy

Domain Privacy

You might not realize it, but there are people out there who are eager to steal your contact information for personal gain. After registering a new domain, you need to provide contact details for various entities, such as admin and technical members as well as the registration information. This data is then stored on WHOIS databases worldwide.

To keep this domain information safe, Google Domains adds WHOIS protection as part of the plan. You simply click the toggle to have it on or off, ensuring that you don’t see spam hitting your emails or website. You can also see what info is visible to the public.

While GoDaddy provides the same protection, you’ll have to pay extra for it. There’s a basic charge per domain, which simply ensures you manage what information is displayed. If you opt for the Ultimate Domain Protection & Security, you’ll also receive antimalware features and blacklist monitoring.

Sure, you receive more from the GoDaddy service, but I’m selecting Google Domains as the winner for offering Domain Privacy without any extra cost.

Winner of domain privacy: Google Domains

Email Forwarding

Some businesses need alias emails that they can use for promoting services or dealing with customer support. Email forwarding tells the registrar where the emails need to go towards an existing address. It hides the official email address and lets you have several aliases for your colleagues.

All of Google Domains’ email accounts are managed in Google Workspace. You can create up to 100 aliases at no extra cost, making it easy for you to set up in the user interface. You’ll need a primary email account established on the domain for it to work, though.

Here again, GoDaddy does provide the service, but you’ll need to pay for it. There’s an affordable package that’s currently less than $5. The other downfall is that you can only create five aliases, which are way below that of Google Domains.

Winner of email forwarding: Google Domains

Pricing

There are more elements to consider when it comes to pricing than simply cost. Sure, affordability is key, but what is the long-term investment? Also, do you have to pay for add-ons to make your domain as functional as possible?

Google Domains has different prices depending on the TLD you select. For instance, the popular .com goes for about $12 a year, while other less trending ones are about $10 per annum. Most of the other services are all included in the pricing.

As already mentioned, GoDaddy not only charges you for the TLD, but you’ll also have to pay for other features like email forwarding and domain privacy. There’s also a range of prices, with .com at about $12 and .net at $15 per year. There are even some affordable ones for $0.99, such as .us. 

Also, GoDaddy usually has discounts for the first year, but then you pay more in the following years when the domain automatically renews. Since Google Domains is more transparent with its pricing and you receive some extras for free, I’ll be steering in that direction for the winner.

Winner of pricing: Google Domains

Domain Transfer

There may come a time when you decide you want to transfer your domain to a new registrar when you aren’t happy with the services. While there’s usually not a fee for transferring in or out, you may need to still pay to have the domain extended for another year. However, some registrars do prohibit you from transferring within a specific period after registering.

Fortunately, Google Domains doesn’t charge you for transferring in or out. You can find the transfer menu within the domain user interface, with instructions on how the process works. If there are any issues, you can discuss them with the support team.

When it comes to GoDaddy, you also don’t need to pay for domain transfers. The process is also easy to follow. The chief difference I need to highlight is that domain registration extensions are more affordable than Google Domains, which is the only reason it comes on top. 

Other than that, they are pretty much similar in the Google Domains vs GoDaddy battle.

Winner of domain transfer: GoDaddy

Support

When you’re dealing with new domains, there are inevitably issues that will arise along the way. You don’t want to be left hanging when something goes wrong with your domain suddenly, such as SSL certificates malfunctioning. It helps to have agents and online documents available to assist you.

Google Domains has the entire Google team behind it to offer support, which says a lot. They’re available 24/7, but you can also check its extensive knowledge base for answers. It doesn’t matter where you are in the domain process or on which menu; there’s always a support option available to you.

For GoDaddy, you can either call them, use the online form, or access the chat section for the agents. However, they aren’t available 24/7, and there’s significantly less information on domains available in its database. That’s because the company doesn’t only deal with domains, but other services like web-hosting too.

Winner of support: Google Domains

Google Domains vs GoDaddy: The Winner

The Google Domains vs GoDaddy was a close match-up. While Google Domains has more wins for the features listed above, it may not suit your needs. You may be willing to pay less for the first year and make plans for the second.

When it comes to support, transparent plans, and support, it’s easy to select Google Domains as the winner. It’s ideal if you already have a site you’ve developed and you just need a domain.

If you need to have the registrar also host your website and add extra functions you’re willing to pay for, then GoDaddy is the way to go. There are more domain extension options, and transferring in gives you a discount on renewal costs. 

In the end, you’ll need to decide which option works best for your purposes.

Here are the links to either one of these registrars: