Full Comparison
HostingQC vs GoDaddy — 14-Point Comparison
| Criteria | HostingQC | GoDaddy |
|---|---|---|
| Server location | 🇨🇦 Canada (Laval/ON) | 🇺🇸 USA |
| Law 25 compliant | ✓ Yes (documented) | ✗ No |
| PIPEDA compliant | ✓ Yes | ⚠ Partial |
| Pricing currency | ✓ CAD (stable) | ✗ USD (fluctuates) |
| Starting price | $3.99/mo CAD | ~$2/mo USD (promo only) |
| Renewal price | ✓ Same as signup | ✗ +150–300% |
| French support 24/7 | ✓ Yes (native FR/EN) | ⚠ Limited |
| Free SSL (auto-renew) | ✓ All plans | ⚠ Basic plans only |
| SSD NVMe storage | ✓ All plans | ⚠ Some plans |
| Free site migration | ✓ Full migration, zero downtime | ✗ Paid service |
| Uptime SLA | ✓ 99.9% guaranteed | ⚠ 99.9% (no SLA) |
| Free .ca domain | ✓ Pro plan (1 year) | ✗ Paid add-on |
| Hidden fees | ✓ None | ✗ WHOIS privacy, domain lock, etc. |
| Company location | Laval, QC 🇨🇦 | Tempe, AZ 🇺🇸 |
GoDaddy Traps
4 Common GoDaddy Pitfalls for Quebec Businesses
Bait-and-Switch Pricing
Promotional prices apply to the first term only. At renewal, rates often triple or quadruple. The fine print is buried — many customers don't realize until they see the renewal invoice.
US Servers = Law 25 Problem
GoDaddy's servers are in the US. Under Law 25, transferring personal data of Quebec residents to a US server requires documentation and justification. Most SMBs aren't doing this — which is a compliance gap.
USD Exchange Rate Risk
GoDaddy bills in USD. As the CAD/USD rate fluctuates, your hosting cost in Canadian dollars changes too — unpredictably. A "cheap" plan can become significantly more expensive when the dollar weakens.
Paid WHOIS Privacy
GoDaddy charges extra for WHOIS domain privacy — a feature that prevents your personal contact info from being publicly listed. At HostingQC, privacy protection is included at no extra cost.
Migration Guide
How to Switch from GoDaddy to HostingQC in 4 Steps
HostingQC handles the full migration for free — your site stays live throughout the process.
1
Unlock Your Domain & Get Your EPP Code
In your GoDaddy account, find "Domain Settings" and unlock the domain, then request the EPP (authorization) code. It arrives by email within a few minutes.
2
Contact HostingQC
Send us your EPP code and current hosting credentials. Our team will copy all files, databases, and email accounts to the new Canadian server — free of charge.
3
Verify Everything on the New Server
Before any DNS change, we verify that your site runs perfectly on HostingQC's infrastructure. You review the staging version and approve before going live.
4
DNS Cutover — Zero Downtime
We update the DNS records. The transition typically takes 1–4 hours. Both servers remain active during propagation, so visitors never see a "site down" message.
✅ Free migration included: Unlike GoDaddy, which charges for migration assistance, HostingQC migrates your site and domain at no cost, with no downtime.
Pricing
HostingQC Plans — What You Pay at Signup = What You Pay at Renewal
| Plan | Price (CAD) | Websites | Storage | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $3.99/mo | 1 | 10 GB SSD | Free SSL · Email support |
| Pro | $8.99/mo | Unlimited | 50 GB SSD | Free .ca domain · Priority 24/7 support |
| Business | $19.99/mo | Unlimited | 150 GB SSD | Wildcard SSL · Dedicated IP · 2 domains |
Ready to Switch to a Quebec Host?
Canadian servers, Law 25 compliance, bilingual support, stable CAD pricing — and free migration from GoDaddy.
See Plans & Pricing →Free migration · No price hike at renewal · 99.9% uptime SLA
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GoDaddy comply with Quebec's Law 25?
No. GoDaddy stores data on US servers, making Law 25 compliance very difficult for Quebec businesses. HostingQC uses Canadian servers and provides documented compliance.
What does GoDaddy really cost at renewal?
GoDaddy's promotional prices typically increase 150–300% at renewal, plus USD exchange rate risk. HostingQC charges the same price at signup and renewal, in CAD.
How do I transfer my domain from GoDaddy to HostingQC?
Unlock your domain in GoDaddy and get the EPP code, then contact HostingQC. We handle the full migration for free in 4–7 business days with zero downtime.
Does GoDaddy offer French support?
GoDaddy's support is primarily English-only. French options are limited and inconsistent. HostingQC provides bilingual FR/EN support 24/7 with native French-speaking agents.
Is HostingQC more expensive than GoDaddy?
HostingQC starts at $3.99/month CAD with no price increase at renewal. GoDaddy's real cost after the promo period (converted from USD) is typically higher — and unpredictable.