GoDaddy SSL Renewal Cost: Free for 1 Year, Then $119.99/year?

If you are comparing GoDaddy and HoboHost, one of the easiest costs to overlook is the SSL certificate renewal.

SSL is essential for modern websites, so a hosting plan that advertises a free SSL certificate can look like a complete package. But if that SSL is only free for the first year, the renewal cost can become a meaningful long-term add-on.

The hosting renewal matters too. The same GoDaddy Economy example reviewed for this article also showed $215.64 due today for the first 3-year term and hosting auto-renewing at $551.63. But the SSL renewal is the part many shoppers may miss because the plan is advertised with free SSL up front.

This does not mean GoDaddy is doing anything improper. GoDaddy may be a good fit for many customers. The point is simpler: customers should compare the SSL renewal, hosting renewal, and total long-term cost before choosing a web hosting provider.

Last researched: July 23, 2026. Hosting prices, promotional terms, SSL terms, and renewal rates can change. Always verify current pricing directly with each provider before purchasing or renewing.

The GoDaddy SSL Renewal Line to Notice

At the time researched, GoDaddy’s Cheap Web Hosting page displayed the following Economy Hosting example:

That is the entire reason SSL renewal pricing matters. A shopper may see free SSL certificate, 1 year, but the Economy example reviewed also showed SSL renewing annually at $119.99.

What the SSL Renewal Could Cost Over 3 Years

Using the displayed GoDaddy Economy example, the SSL renewal cost is easy to calculate:

Put another way, a “free SSL certificate, 1 year” offer can turn into a $359.97 SSL cost over the next three years if the paid SSL product renews annually at $119.99/year.

This is why the SSL details matter. GoDaddy’s web hosting FAQ also describes AutoSSL as a free included alternative for sites created or managed within a cPanel hosting account. That makes it especially important to review the cart and account renewal details carefully so you understand whether you are using an included AutoSSL option, a one-year promotional SSL certificate, or a separate paid SSL product that renews annually.

What About the Hosting Renewal?

The SSL renewal is the focus of this article, but the hosting renewal is still worth noting. The GoDaddy Economy example reviewed for this article showed $215.64 due today for the first 3-year term and hosting auto-renewing at $551.63 for the next 3-year term.

That means customers should check both the hosting renewal and the SSL renewal before deciding whether the plan still fits their budget after the first term.

GoDaddy Web Hosting Plan Examples

GoDaddy offers several hosting products. The following figures were shown in GoDaddy web hosting results reviewed for this article. They are examples, not a promise that future pricing will be identical.

Again, these figures are examples from GoDaddy pages/results reviewed when this article was prepared. GoDaddy pricing can change by date, market, currency, promotion, billing term, and selected product.

HoboHost Published Plan Example

HoboHost publishes its hosting package price and cPanel license cost separately so customers can see what they are paying for.

For example, HoboHost’s Floor package was shown with:

Using those published values, the Floor package example is dramatically different from the GoDaddy Economy example. The products are not identical, so this is not a perfect apples-to-apples comparison. GoDaddy Economy shows 25 GB NVMe storage and 1 website. HoboHost Floor shows 5 GB NVMe storage, 20 GB traffic, cPanel, Softaculous, free SSL certificates, and support for up to 10 hosted websites.

Still, the renewal philosophy is very different. In the examples reviewed, GoDaddy’s SSL renewal alone was shown at $119.99/year, while HoboHost’s Floor package example showed a $16.88 first-year total including the cPanel license pass-through cost.

Example Cost Comparison

The table below uses the published GoDaddy Economy example and the published HoboHost Floor package example. It is designed to show how different the long-term cost can look once renewals are considered.

Why the SSL Renewal Detail Is So Important

SSL certificates are not optional for modern websites. They protect visitor data, help browsers display your site as secure, and are expected for most business websites.

That is why the GoDaddy Economy SSL wording matters. The plan card displayed a free SSL certificate for 1 year, while the pricing disclosure reviewed also showed SSL renewing annually at $119.99.

GoDaddy also describes AutoSSL as free and included with web hosting as an alternative to paid SSL certificates. That may be enough for many cPanel hosting customers, depending on how the account is configured.

The key point is not that every GoDaddy customer will pay the same SSL amount. The key point is that shoppers should check exactly what is in the cart and what renews later.

Questions to Ask Before Buying GoDaddy Hosting

1. What is the total amount due today?
2. How long is the promotional term?
3. What is the hosting renewal amount?
4. Does SSL renew separately?
5. If SSL renews separately, what is the annual cost?
6. Is AutoSSL included and sufficient for your site?
7. Is cPanel included with the plan you selected?
8. Is your domain free only for the first term?
9. Are email, backups, security, or website protection trial offers renewing separately?
10. Can you easily migrate away later if the renewal no longer makes sense?

GoDaddy vs HoboHost Feature Comparison

Price matters, but it is not the only thing to compare. Here is a broader look at the two providers.

Who Might Prefer GoDaddy?

GoDaddy may be a good fit if you:

• Prefer a very large, well-known provider.
• Want domains, hosting, email, website tools, and business services in one account.
• Need a broad product ecosystem with many upgrade paths.
• Are comfortable reviewing renewal terms, add-ons, and billing details before purchasing.
• Prefer a large 24/7 support organization.

For some customers, GoDaddy’s size and convenience are the main appeal. If you already use GoDaddy for domains, email, or other business tools, keeping hosting in the same account may feel simpler.

Who Might Prefer HoboHost?

HoboHost may be a better fit if you:

• Want affordable cPanel hosting.
• Care about fair renewal pricing.
• Prefer LiteSpeed-powered hosting.
• Need a free eligible cPanel account migration.
• Want free SSL certificates included with hosting.
• Prefer support from a smaller independent team.
• Do not want your hosting decision to revolve around a temporary introductory promotion.

HoboHost is especially appealing to customers who already understand cPanel, want a straightforward hosting plan, and care more about predictable long-term value than a large product bundle.

What About Website Migrations?

GoDaddy says its shared web hosting includes a free Site Auto Migration Tool as part of the onboarding process. That can be useful for customers moving a site into GoDaddy.

HoboHost focuses on free eligible cPanel account migrations. A cPanel account migration can often include website files, databases, email accounts, DNS-related configuration, and other supported account data from the source cPanel backup.

Not every account is eligible, and migration results depend on the source provider, backup compatibility, account condition, and DNS setup. But when a customer is moving from one cPanel provider to another, a full cPanel migration can be much smoother than manually moving only website files.

What Customers Say About HoboHost

Trust matters when choosing a hosting provider. Price is important, but so are support quality, communication, uptime, and the experience customers have after signup.

You can read independent customer feedback on our HoboHost Trustpilot profile.

Reviews should not replace your own research, but they can help you understand how real customers feel about support, reliability, pricing, and the overall hosting experience.

Related Reading

If you are comparing hosting providers or trying to understand renewal pricing, these guides may also help:

• Why Does Web Hosting Cost More When It Renews?
• HostPapa Renewal Price: A Real $461.47 Hosting Renewal

Final Thoughts

The GoDaddy Economy example is a perfect reminder to check the SSL renewal terms, not just the “free SSL” wording on the plan card.

A shopper may see free SSL certificate, 1 year and think SSL is fully handled. But the same Economy example reviewed for this article showed SSL renewing annually at $119.99. Over three renewal years, that can add up to $359.97 for SSL alone.

The hosting renewal still matters too. The example also showed $215.64 due today for the first 3-year term and hosting auto-renewing at $551.63 for the next 3-year term.

That does not mean GoDaddy is the wrong choice for everyone. GoDaddy is a large, established provider with a wide range of products and services. For many customers, that convenience may be worth it.

But if your priority is affordable cPanel hosting with free SSL certificates and clearer long-term costs, HoboHost may be a better fit.

Before choosing any host, compare:

• The amount due today
• The renewal amount
• The SSL renewal terms
• The billing commitment
• The migration policy
• The support experience
• The total cost over several years

View HoboHost hosting plans to compare current features, pricing, and included services.

Disclosure: This article reflects HoboHost’s opinion as a competing hosting provider. Pricing, plan names, features, SSL terms, and renewal policies may change over time. GoDaddy and related marks belong to their respective owners. This article uses GoDaddy’s name only to identify the company being compared. Readers should verify current information directly with GoDaddy and HoboHost before purchasing, renewing, or migrating any hosting service.