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Here is an article I wrote for Linkedin and my own blog. I know many of you nibblers are MSP and will disagree with me on this post, but it's an informational post for those not running a MSP. Due to all the security issues with MS, GoDaddy isn't the worst choice for a one person/small business.
If you want to follow along on LinkedIn, connect with me there https://www.linkedin.com/in/callthatgirl and you can sign up for my New Outlook Newsletter.
I’ve been wanting to post this article for some time now. I have 19+ years of working with clients using GoDaddy’s email hosting accounts. I go back to when they only had POP/IMAP and hosted Exchange. Back when technology was a bit easier on us all. I was also there when they added on the Microsoft 365 Online Exchange and products. That was a bit of a challenging time to be honest. The setup they offered, and still offer, is more of a beginner-level Microsoft 365 experience: a very simplified, locked-down version with no easy access to advanced settings. But good enough for one person or a small business who just wants Exchange email and Office products. I was also there when they stopped servicing POP and IMAP and moved everyone to Microsoft 365 Exchange. Things were definitely challenging during that time because so many clients had POP set up. But we all survived and moved on.
Many of my weekly client requests involve GoDaddy-managed Microsoft 365 accounts, so this is an area I’m very experienced in. I’ll run down the pros and cons for you, then you have some information to work with if you decide to leave GoDaddy or stay on or sign up. I also have some tips at the end of this article if you want to know if you can leave GoDaddy for another vendor or direct to Microsoft.
I’ll start with Cons:
Yes, but it’s not an easy task. I recommend using a vendor to help navigate this process. My vendor will handle all the required changes and button clicks…and changes needed and in about an hour, your account will be with the vendor and no migration of data necessary.
Why it’s hard to leave GoDaddy straight to Microsoft direct with no tech assist
After nearly two decades of supporting GoDaddy customers, the key isn’t whether GoDaddy is “good” or “bad”—it’s knowing when you’ve outgrown it.
If you want to follow along on LinkedIn, connect with me there https://www.linkedin.com/in/callthatgirl and you can sign up for my New Outlook Newsletter.
GoDaddy Microsoft 365 Pros and Cons: What Small Businesses Need to Know
This article is for solo business owners and small companies who are considering GoDaddy, are current GoDaddy customers, or are thinking about leaving GoDaddy’s Microsoft 365 management. Take note: if you are currently using GoDaddy for basic email and Office and everything is working fine, this article is not meant to persuade you to leave. This is just information I feel I should share for those curious.I’ve been wanting to post this article for some time now. I have 19+ years of working with clients using GoDaddy’s email hosting accounts. I go back to when they only had POP/IMAP and hosted Exchange. Back when technology was a bit easier on us all. I was also there when they added on the Microsoft 365 Online Exchange and products. That was a bit of a challenging time to be honest. The setup they offered, and still offer, is more of a beginner-level Microsoft 365 experience: a very simplified, locked-down version with no easy access to advanced settings. But good enough for one person or a small business who just wants Exchange email and Office products. I was also there when they stopped servicing POP and IMAP and moved everyone to Microsoft 365 Exchange. Things were definitely challenging during that time because so many clients had POP set up. But we all survived and moved on.
Many of my weekly client requests involve GoDaddy-managed Microsoft 365 accounts, so this is an area I’m very experienced in. I’ll run down the pros and cons for you, then you have some information to work with if you decide to leave GoDaddy or stay on or sign up. I also have some tips at the end of this article if you want to know if you can leave GoDaddy for another vendor or direct to Microsoft.
I’ll start with Cons:
- Very few admin controls for the end user. This means GoDaddy is the actual tenant administrator, not the end user. When you go to Office.com and are with GoDaddy, you don’t see the usual administrative portal. Instead, it redirects to their login page with a few options of things you can do yourself. Simple things like reset email passwords, download products, but not much else. GoDaddy does hide the admin controls but if you know the URL’s (Exchange, Entra, etc.), you can get to them. Most end users don’t know this trick, but I do from all my years of supporting GoDaddy clients.
- Basic Tech support. If you have serious mailbox or configuration issues, GoDaddy’s tech support might spend time troubleshooting things that will not fix your problem. This is more common with Outlook. I will give them this though, their techs are now better trained, but calls can still easily run over an hour.
- No advanced products: Power Apps, Teams Voice, etc.
- No asking to talk to a 2nd level tech or supervisor. I firmly believe that the person who answers your call was trained to fix it to the end of the call. I have joined on calls with my clients to expedite problems, as I can run through the problems fast and get to the point but if there is a serious problem, the first tech will still try to fix it no matter if they can or not. I know some issues can’t be fixed by first level. I have had to tell them “This needs to get to the Microsoft engineering team; this is not something you can fix” many times over before they give up and do what I ask.
- Cost: much more than what Microsoft charges, but I tell my clients that having GoDaddy as an “Administrator” for you might save you time down the road. Approximate cost per year is around $238 per user, whereas Microsoft direct pricing for comparable Exchange and business apps is closer to $150 per user, per year.
- Proofpoint used to be forced on their customer accounts but now it appears to be purchased with a different license. Sadly, they don’t really configure it for the customers or teach them how to use it. In my opinion, if you sell it, you should train users on how to check that filter as some emails go there that are necessary. Such as GoDaddy authentication links. I spent 2 hours helping a client try to figure out why they weren’t getting an authentication code and the GoDaddy rep didn’t think of Proofpoint. This can create confusion when important emails are filtered without the user realizing it.
- Hidden costs from add-ons or services that are often bundled during the sales process.
- You can call them 24/7 for help with your account, phone security, password resets, basic help, add mailboxes, license problems, etc.
- They are the “tenant administrators” for your accounts, so you should not have to call Microsoft for data protection unlocks. This has been an issue with my clients lately when they get a new phone.
- You can buy your domain, website hosted and email hosted with GoDaddy, making it a one-stop shop. Easy for small businesses.
- Their domain team is fairly good to work with.
- DNS issues are typically resolved quicker because you can call and talk to that team.
- Tech support is getting better, slow going but I’m seeing better results with my clients calling. I haven’t had to offer a tech assist in quite a while.
- You are a solo user or very small business.
- You want phone support instead of learning admin portals.
- You don’t need Power Platform, Teams Voice, or advanced security.
- You want domains, websites, and email in one place.
- You don’t plan to scale or integrate heavily with other systems (simple ones like online calendar systems and some CRM still work with basic Exchange just fine)
- Businesses with compliance needs
- Firms with more than 5–10 users
- Anyone using third-party backups or security tools/software for Cyber Security
- Anyone working with an IT consultant regularly.
- Anyone frustrated by “you don’t have access to that.”
Yes, but it’s not an easy task. I recommend using a vendor to help navigate this process. My vendor will handle all the required changes and button clicks…and changes needed and in about an hour, your account will be with the vendor and no migration of data necessary.
Why it’s hard to leave GoDaddy straight to Microsoft direct with no tech assist
- When you contact Microsoft directly for help, the technician you reach may not be experienced with detaching a GoDaddy-managed tenant and you will most likely get a few calls from other techs needing to finish the work.
- While this can happen, your email and accounts might be in a state of “confusion”, and your email could have delivery issues. This is why I recommend my clients to use my vendor and there are other vendors and Managed Service Providers in your local area who know how to take over GoDaddy accounts quickly and with experience.
- I do not recommend attempting to “self-detach” a GoDaddy tenant unless you fully understand Microsoft 365 licensing, tenant ownership, and DNS dependencies.
- Broken email flow
- Lost admin access
- License lockouts
- Billing confusion
After nearly two decades of supporting GoDaddy customers, the key isn’t whether GoDaddy is “good” or “bad”—it’s knowing when you’ve outgrown it.
