Take a full backup
In GoDaddy, download a site backup plus a copy of your database. Store the files somewhere off GoDaddy: a local drive or another cloud. This is your rollback if anything misbehaves.
How to Leave GoDaddy Without Losing Your Site or Email
Back up first, move the website, move the mail, then change DNS. Cancelling comes last, never first. Here is the whole sequence, the parts people get wrong, and how long each step really takes.
Typical move: 1 business day · Free migration · No SEO loss
The full sequence
Seven steps, in this order
Order matters more than speed. Skip ahead to cancelling and you will lose mailboxes you still needed. Work through these and the site never goes dark.
List what you are running
Write down every site, mailbox, alias, autoresponder, and subdomain. Migrations fail on the one alias nobody remembered, not on the homepage.
Set up the new hosting
Order the new plan and point it at staging, not live traffic. On our managed plan this is where we rebuild the site and test every page and form while the old one keeps serving visitors.
Move email before anything else
Move mailboxes to the new email host and let them sync. Mail takes the longest to catch up, so start it first. Leave the GoDaddy mailboxes active until you confirm the new ones receive correctly.
Change DNS
Either update nameservers at GoDaddy or repoint individual A and MX records. Keep the domain where it is; there is no need to transfer a registration just to change hosts.
Watch propagation
DNS settles in up to 24 to 48 hours. Test from your phone on cellular data to see the new host without your cache in the way. Confirm the site, the contact form, and a test email in both directions.
Cancel GoDaddy last
Once mail and the site have been clean for a few days, cancel the hosting plan. Check for a domain lock or an auto-renew charge so nothing bills you by surprise. Keep that backup archive.
Common mistakes
What actually goes wrong
Cancelling before DNS moves
You cancel hosting, your domain has nowhere to point, and the site is down until the new plan is live. Cancel last, always.
Forgetting MX records
Websites move fine, then for two days nobody receives mail because the MX records still point at the old provider.
Testing only your own browser
Your cache shows the old site for hours. Test on a phone with cellular data so you see what everyone else sees.
Dropping the HTTPS certificate
A broken certificate turns browsers away with a warning page. Provision SSL on the new host before you cut traffic over.
Letting domains expire
Registrations and add-ons renew on their own schedule. Confirm renewal dates before you cancel anything under the account.
Skipping the contact form test
The page loads, but form submissions hit an old endpoint or land in spam. Send yourself a real message before you celebrate.
Why people move
The three reasons we hear most
- The renewal bill jumped. Promotional rates end and the real price arrives. Our plan stays at $29/mo, with nothing to renegotiate.
- Support became a maze. Upsells first, answers second. You get a US engineer by email instead, usually inside an hour during business hours.
- The site runs on shared resources. Moving to dedicated resources means your traffic spikes stop slowing down someone else's site, and theirs stop slowing yours.
If price is your only concern and you are happy there, stay put. If the renewal shock or the ticket maze is what pushed you to read this, moving is usually worth the afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my domain if I leave GoDaddy?
Yes. You can keep your domain at GoDaddy and point its DNS records at the new host, or transfer the domain itself to another registrar. Keeping the domain where it is and changing nameservers takes about five minutes and is the least risky option.
How long does it take to move off GoDaddy?
A typical WordPress site moves in one business day. DNS changes then propagate for up to 24 to 48 hours, though most visitors see the new host much sooner. During that window your old setup keeps working.
Will I lose email when I cancel GoDaddy?
You will lose hosted mailboxes if you cancel them. To keep mail flowing, either move your mailboxes to a new email host first or set up forwarding. Start with mail migration, because inboxes are the slowest part of any move.
Does leaving GoDaddy hurt my SEO?
No, if you keep your domain and URLs unchanged. Search engines follow the domain to its new host. Keep the old site live until the DNS change completes, submit your sitemap again in Google Search Console, and ranking disruption stays minimal.
Will you do all of this for me?
Yes. WordPress migration is free on our managed plans, so you do not need to follow this guide yourself. Send us your GoDaddy login or a backup export and we handle the files, database, and DNS change, then you cancel GoDaddy.
Do I have to transfer my domain to move my site?
No. Leaving the domain registered where it is and pointing it at the new host is the common path. Some people transfer the domain later for convenience, and some keep it separate forever.