{"id":511,"date":"2026-07-23T15:07:42","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T19:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hobohost.com\/blog\/?p=511"},"modified":"2026-07-23T15:07:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T19:07:43","slug":"godaddy-ssl-renewal-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobohost.com\/blog\/godaddy-ssl-renewal-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"GoDaddy SSL Renewal Cost: Free for 1 Year, Then $119.99\/year?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are comparing GoDaddy and HoboHost, one of the easiest costs to overlook is the SSL certificate renewal.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Quick answer:<\/strong> GoDaddy Economy hosting shows a free SSL certificate for 1 year<\/strong>, then SSL renewing annually at $119.99\/year<\/strong>. Over three renewal years, that SSL line alone can add up to $359.97<\/strong>. HoboHost includes free SSL certificates with its cPanel hosting plans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

Last researched:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

The GoDaddy SSL Renewal Line to Notice<\/h2>\n

At the time researched, GoDaddy’s Cheap Web Hosting page displayed the following Economy Hosting example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
GoDaddy Economy item<\/th>\nDisplayed amount<\/th>\nWhy it matters<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
SSL included at signup<\/td>\nFree SSL certificate, 1 year<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is the wording that makes the plan look like SSL is handled.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SSL renewal<\/td>\n$119.99\/year<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is the annual SSL renewal cost shown separately from hosting in the Economy example reviewed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Potential SSL cost over 3 years<\/td>\n$359.97<\/strong><\/td>\n$119.99\/year multiplied by three renewal years.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hosting renewal also shown<\/td>\n$551.63<\/strong><\/td>\nThis was the larger future hosting renewal commitment shown for the next 3-year term.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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

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Before buying hosting:<\/strong> Do not stop at “free SSL.” Check whether SSL is free for one year, free for the life of the hosting plan, included through AutoSSL, or set to renew as a separate paid product.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What the SSL Renewal Could Cost Over 3 Years<\/h2>\n

Using the displayed GoDaddy Economy example, the SSL renewal cost is easy to calculate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
SSL period<\/th>\nSSL amount<\/th>\nWhat it means<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Year 1<\/td>\nFree SSL certificate, 1 year<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is the initial SSL offer shown with Economy hosting.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Renewal year 1<\/td>\n$119.99<\/strong><\/td>\nThe SSL renewal begins after the first free year if the paid SSL product remains active.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Renewal year 2<\/td>\n$119.99<\/strong><\/td>\nA second yearly SSL renewal at the same displayed amount.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Renewal year 3<\/td>\n$119.99<\/strong><\/td>\nA third yearly SSL renewal at the same displayed amount.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Potential 3-year SSL renewal total<\/strong><\/td>\n$359.97<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is the hidden long-term SSL cost shoppers should check before buying.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

What About the Hosting Renewal?<\/h2>\n

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<\/strong> for the first 3-year term and hosting auto-renewing at $551.63<\/strong> for the next 3-year term.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

GoDaddy Web Hosting Plan Examples<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
GoDaddy plan<\/th>\nIntro price shown<\/th>\nDue today shown<\/th>\nAuto-renewal shown<\/th>\nSSL wording shown<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Web Hosting Economy<\/td>\n$5.99\/mo<\/strong><\/td>\n$215.64<\/strong><\/td>\n$551.63<\/strong><\/td>\nFree SSL certificate, 1 year; SSL renews annually at $119.99 in the example reviewed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Managed WordPress Basic<\/td>\n$5.99\/mo<\/strong><\/td>\n$215.64<\/strong><\/td>\n$539.64<\/strong><\/td>\nFree SSL certificate, no renewal fees<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Web Hosting Deluxe<\/td>\n$7.99\/mo<\/strong><\/td>\n$287.64<\/strong><\/td>\n$611.64<\/strong><\/td>\nFree, unlimited SSL for all websites<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Web Hosting Ultimate<\/td>\n$12.99\/mo<\/strong><\/td>\n$467.64<\/strong><\/td>\n$791.64<\/strong><\/td>\nFree, unlimited SSL for all websites<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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.<\/em><\/p>\n

HoboHost Published Plan Example<\/h2>\n

HoboHost publishes its hosting package price and cPanel license cost separately so customers can see what they are paying for.<\/p>\n

For example, HoboHost’s Floor package was shown with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
HoboHost Floor package item<\/th>\nPublished amount<\/th>\nNotes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Hosting package with annual promo<\/td>\n$11.00\/year<\/strong><\/td>\nShown with promo code 11CPANELHOST for a 1-year order.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
cPanel license pass-through<\/td>\n$5.88\/year<\/strong><\/td>\nShown separately so customers can see the cPanel license cost.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First-year total shown<\/td>\n$16.88\/year<\/strong><\/td>\nHosting package plus cPanel license pass-through.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stated hosting renewal example<\/td>\n$12.00\/year<\/strong> before cPanel license<\/td>\nHoboHost explains that the renewal price is set to the amount before the promo code is applied.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

Example Cost Comparison<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Example<\/th>\nFirst term shown<\/th>\nRenewal shown or explained<\/th>\nSSL cost shown<\/th>\nMain takeaway<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
GoDaddy Economy<\/td>\n$215.64<\/strong> for 3 years<\/td>\n$551.63<\/strong> for next 3-year term shown<\/td>\n$119.99\/year<\/strong> shown separately in the Economy example reviewed<\/td>\nThe SSL renewal alone can become a meaningful long-term add-on.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
HoboHost Floor<\/td>\n$16.88<\/strong> first year shown with promo and cPanel license<\/td>\n$12.00\/year<\/strong> hosting renewal example before cPanel license<\/td>\nFree SSL certificates shown with hosting<\/td>\nFree SSL certificates are shown with hosting, and the cPanel license cost is separated for transparency.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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The practical difference:<\/strong> GoDaddy Economy hosting shows free SSL for 1 year, then SSL renewing annually at $119.99. HoboHost shows free SSL certificates with hosting plans and separates the cPanel license cost so customers can see what they are paying for.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Why the SSL Renewal Detail Is So Important<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Questions to Ask Before Buying GoDaddy Hosting<\/h2>\n
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  1. What is the total amount due today?<\/li>\n
  2. How long is the promotional term?<\/li>\n
  3. What is the hosting renewal amount?<\/li>\n
  4. Does SSL renew separately?<\/li>\n
  5. If SSL renews separately, what is the annual cost?<\/li>\n
  6. Is AutoSSL included and sufficient for your site?<\/li>\n
  7. Is cPanel included with the plan you selected?<\/li>\n
  8. Is your domain free only for the first term?<\/li>\n
  9. Are email, backups, security, or website protection trial offers renewing separately?<\/li>\n
  10. Can you easily migrate away later if the renewal no longer makes sense?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    GoDaddy vs HoboHost Feature Comparison<\/h2>\n

    Price matters, but it is not the only thing to compare. Here is a broader look at the two providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Feature<\/th>\nGoDaddy<\/th>\nHoboHost<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Company style<\/td>\nLarge global provider with domains, hosting, email, website tools, security, and business services<\/td>\nSmall independent hosting company focused on affordable cPanel hosting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Best fit<\/td>\nCustomers who want a big all-in-one provider with many products in one account<\/td>\nCustomers who want cPanel hosting, clear pricing, and direct support<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    cPanel<\/td>\nIncluded on GoDaddy Web Hosting plans<\/td>\ncPanel<\/a> included on applicable plans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    SSL<\/td>\nVaries by plan; Economy example showed free SSL for 1 year and SSL renewing annually at $119.99<\/td>\nFree SSL certificates shown with hosting plans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Migration<\/td>\nGoDaddy offers a free Site Auto Migration Tool for shared web hosting<\/td>\nFree eligible cPanel account migrations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Server software<\/td>\nVaries by product and platform<\/td>\nLiteSpeed-powered shared hosting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Support<\/td>\nLarge 24\/7 support organization<\/td>\nReal human support from a smaller independent team<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Who Might Prefer GoDaddy?<\/h2>\n

    GoDaddy may be a good fit if you:<\/p>\n