ScalaHosting vs. GoDaddy: A Head-to-Head Email Plan Comparison
| Business Email Services |
 $4.95 /mo
StartUp
|
 $1.99 /mo
Email Essentials
|
|---|---|---|
|
Feature Name
|
||
|
Email Accounts
|
10
|
Price per mailbox (unlimited)
|
|
Email Domains
|
1
|
1 domain per mailbox
|
|
Storage Space
|
50 GB shared
|
10GB per mailbox
|
|
Mailbox Size Limit
|
No limit per mailbox
|
10GB hard cap per mailbox
|
|
Inode Limit
|
No limit
|
Undisclosed
|
|
Free Email Migration
|
yes (Unlimited mailboxes)
|
no Migration tool offered
|
|
Advanced Spam Filtering
|
yes
|
no Extra fee
|
|
Daily Offsite Backups
|
yes
|
no Extra fee
|
|
Web-Based Email
|
yes (Webmail)
|
yes (Webmail)
|
|
POP3/IMAP/SMTP
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Email Aliases
|
No limit
|
300 per plan
|
|
SPF/DKIM/DMARC Setup
|
yes Automatic
|
no Manual configuration
|
|
IP Blacklist Monitoring
|
yes
|
no
|
|
Money-back Guarantee
|
Anytime
|
7 days only
|
|
Security
|
Standard
|
Extra fee
|
| Cloud Email Services |
$29.95 /mo
Cloud
|
$5.99 /mo
Email Plus
|
|---|---|---|
|
Feature Name
|
||
|
Email Accounts
|
Unlimited
|
$5.99/mo per mailbox
|
|
Email Domains
|
Unlimited
|
Multiple domains
|
|
Storage Space
|
50GB+ NVMe (scalable)
|
50GB per mailbox
|
|
Mailbox Size Limit
|
No limit
|
50GB hard cap
|
|
Advanced Security
|
SShield AI Protection
|
Advanced Email Security (add-on)
|
|
Dedicated IP
|
yes Included
|
no Not available
|
|
Blacklist Monitoring
|
yes Included
|
no Not available
|
|
Free Domain
|
yes
|
no Not included
|
|
Priority Support
|
yes
|
Standard support
|
|
Scalable Storage
|
yes (Instant upgrades)
|
no Fixed per mailbox
|
|
Branding & White-label
|
yes
|
no Not available
|
|
Real-time Malware Protection
|
yes (SShield)
|
no Requires upgrade
|
|
SPF/DKIM/DMARC Setup
|
yes Automatic
|
no Manual configuration
|
|
Daily Offsite Backup
|
yes
|
no Extra fee
|
|
Money-back Guarantee
|
Anytime
|
7 days only
|
Why ScalaHosting is the Best GoDaddy Alternative for Email
While GoDaddy is a household name for domains, their email hosting often leaves businesses feeling "locked in." GoDaddy relies heavily on reselling Microsoft 365, which can lead to complex admin panels, aggressive upselling, and surprise renewal rates.
ScalaHosting offers a clean, high-performance email alternative built on our proprietary SPanel. We focus on deliverability, security, and transparent pricing, giving you more control without the "big-brand" headaches.
The Hidden Cost of Per-Mailbox Pricing:
GoDaddy charges per mailbox, which seems affordable initially but quickly becomes expensive if you are looking to host more than a couple of mailboxes:
- 5 mailboxes: $9.95/mo (GoDaddy) vs $4.95/mo (ScalaHosting StartUp)
- 10 mailboxes: $19.90/mo (GoDaddy) vs $4.95/mo (ScalaHosting StartUp)
- 20 mailboxes: $39.80/mo (GoDaddy) vs $6.95/mo (ScalaHosting SmallBiz)
- 50+ mailboxes: $99.50+/mo (GoDaddy) vs $14.95/mo (ScalaHosting Cloud - unlimited)
ScalaHosting offers true unlimited mailboxes on Cloud plans with no hidden per-user fees.
Support Comparison
Real Experts. Helpful Answers. No Waiting.
Both ScalaHosting and GoDaddy offer 24/7 support, but there are major differences in how the two companies handle email-specific issues:
ScalaHosting provides direct access to email hosting experts who understand SMTP configurations, deliverability issues, SPF/DKIM/DMARC records, and server-level troubleshooting. When you contact support, you speak with someone who can actually fix email problems, not just reset passwords.
GoDaddy offers general support that covers email basics, but advanced email issues often require escalation or self-service troubleshooting. Many customers report that email deliverability problems and technical configurations require multiple support contacts to resolve.
| Support Response Time |
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Chat Response Time
|
Instant, real human experts
|
Instant, general support
|
|
Email Issue Resolution
|
First contact resolution
|
May require escalation
|
|
Technical Email Support
|
Expert-level (SPF/DKIM/deliverability)
|
Basic to intermediate
|
Pricing & Hidden Fees Comparison
Transparent Pricing vs. Renewal Shock
- Intro: $4.95/mo (3-year term)
- Renewal: $12.95/mo
- Includes: 10 mailboxes, 50GB storage, email migrations, backups, spam filtering
- Intro: $6.95/mo (3-year term)
- Renewal: $15.95/mo
- Includes: 50 mailboxes, 100GB storage, all StartUp features
- Intro: $14.95/mo (1-year term)
- Renewal: $39.95/mo
- Includes: Unlimited mailboxes, scalable storage, dedicated IP, advanced security, free domain, priority support
Free email migrations (unlimited mailboxes)
Free daily backups
Free spam filtering
No per-mailbox charges
Anytime money-back guarantee
- Intro: $1.99/mo per mailbox
- Renewal: $7.99/mo per mailbox
- 301% price increase at renewal
- Intro: $5.99/mo per mailbox
- Renewal: $9.99/mo per mailbox (auto-renews at $119.88 annually)
10GB storage cap per mailbox (Email Essentials)
No free migrations (DIY with tools)
7-day money-back guarantee only
Advanced Email Security costs extra
Each mailbox is billed separately
Renewal rates are significantly higher
Email backup comes at an extra fee
| Real-World Cost Example (10 Employees): |
StartUp
|
Email Essentials
|
|---|---|---|
|
Price Breakdown
|
||
|
Year 1 (Initial promo period):
|
$6.95/mo
|
10 × $1.99 = $19.90/mo
|
|
Year 2 (Renewal):
|
$12.95/mo
|
10 × $8.99 = $89.90/mo
|
|
Year 3 (Renewal):
|
$12.95/mo
|
10 × $8.99 = $89.90/mo
|
|
3-Year Total:
|
$394.20
You Save: $2,002.80
|
$2,397
|
Storage & Limits Comparison
ScalaHosting is the best alternative to GoDaddy Email Hosting with True Unlimited Storage, and we will show you why!
No Per-Mailbox Storage Caps:
- StartUp: 50GB shared across all mailboxes
- SmallBiz: 100GB shared across all mailboxes
- Medium: 150GB shared across all mailboxes
- Cloud: 50GB+ NVMe (instantly scalable to 1TB+)
No Artificial Limits:
- No individual mailbox size restrictions
- No inode limits on email files
- Allocate storage as needed across your team
- One team member needs 30GB? No problem. Another needs 2GB? Perfect.
Hard Mailbox Caps:
- Email Essentials: 10GB per mailbox (hard limit)
- Email Plus: 50GB per mailbox (hard limit)
The Problem with Per-Mailbox Limits: If one employee receives large attachments daily (design files, videos, contracts), they'll hit the 10GB cap quickly. Meanwhile, another employee with minimal email usage can't share their unused storage. You're forced to upgrade every mailbox, even if only a few users need more space.
GoDaddy's Fine Print:
- Message size limit: 35MB sent, 36MB received
- Attachment limit: 250 attachments per email, 10MB max per file in web interface
- Message rate: 30 emails per minute, 10,000 per 24 hours
- Recipients per email: 100 addresses maximum
- Forwarding rules: Only 4 per mailbox with 1 destination
Migration Comparison
See Why ScalaHosting Is the GoDaddy Alternative with Truly Free Migrations
Migration Services
Free professional migration for all email hosting plans
Migrate unlimited mailboxes at no cost
Transfer from any provider (GoDaddy, Office 365, cPanel, etc.)
Zero downtime - emails keep flowing during migration
Post-migration testing and verification included
Available 24/7 - schedule at your convenience
Email migration not included as a professional service
Self-service Email Migration tool provided
DIY approach - you handle the technical setup
Professional assistance not readily available
May require technical knowledge for complex setups
Mail Transfer Process
Our support team handles the entire process:
You provide old email server credentials
We transfer mailboxes, folders, and messages
We verify everything is transferred correctly
You approve the final switch
Total downtime: 0 minutes
You use the self-service Email Migrator tool:
Requires you to configure the source and destination
You monitor the transfer process
Technical issues require support tickets
Success depends on your technical expertise
Cost
Free for all new Business Email accounts
Free for existing customers adding email services
Free self-service tool (you do the work)
No professional migration service offered for email-only plans
Conditions
None. We migrate your emails regardless of:
Number of mailboxes
Total email size
Current hosting provider
Control panel type
Deliverability & Reputation Comparison
Land Your Emails Into Inboxes, Not Spam Folders
ScalaHosting Deliverability Features
Dedicated IP address (not shared with spammers)
Automatic SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration
Gmail/Yahoo/Hotmail blacklist monitoring
Clean IP reputation guaranteed
Direct server management for deliverability issues
Advanced spam filtering (inbound)
Professional email authentication
Technical support for deliverability problems
No reputation sharing with other users
GoDaddy Deliverability Challenges
What Our Customers Say About ScalaHosting Email
From the very first moment I reached out to ScalaHosting with an email connection issue, I was met with unparalleled professionalism and efficiency. The speed at which they addressed my concerns was nothing short of impressive. In an era where customer service can often feel impersonal and rushed, ScalaHosting stands out as shining examples of how it should be done.
The platform is easy to use. We use it to create up to 50 email addresses, forwarded to the appropriate main accounts. It is great. Super simple. We also use it as a back up for our emails since we forward to a gmail account. I recommend this service to anyone who needs multiple email accounts.
Had great difficulty with email hosting on another site and they gave zero help in resolving the issue. The ScalaHosting team was able to quickly assist me in identifying the problem, providing a solution, and gave me thorough instructions on how to customize this solution. I will be a scalahosting customer for many years to come.
Make the Smarter Move — Choose the #1 GoDaddy Email Alternative
Join thousands of businesses that trust ScalaHosting for professional email hosting without the hidden fees, storage caps, and renewal shock.
Why Businesses Choose ScalaHosting Over GoDaddy:
- No Per-Mailbox Pricing Traps — Pay for what you need, not per employee
- True Unlimited Storage — No arbitrary 10GB or 50GB per-mailbox caps
- Expert Email Support — Real technicians who solve deliverability issues
- Free Professional Migration — We move all your emails with zero downtime
- Anytime Money-Back Guarantee — Not just 7 days like GoDaddy
- Dedicated IPs Available — Own your sender reputation
- Automatic Email Authentication — SPF/DKIM/DMARC configured for you
Sounds fair, right?
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Can I migrate from GoDaddy to ScalaHosting without losing emails?
Yes! Our migration team specializes in GoDaddy-to-ScalaHosting transfers. We migrate all your mailboxes, messages, folders, and attachments with zero downtime. Your employees can continue sending and receiving emails throughout the entire process.
-
What happens to my email storage limits after migrating?
With ScalaHosting, you escape GoDaddy's per-mailbox storage caps. Our StartUp plan gives you 50GB shared across all mailboxes - allocate this space as you need. Cloud plans offer scalable NVMe storage that grows with your business. No more "mailbox full" errors.
-
Will my emails still reach customers after switching?
Absolutely. We ensure proper DNS configuration, SPF/DKIM/DMARC setup, and clean IP reputation. Our Cloud plans include dedicated IPs and blacklist monitoring, often improving deliverability compared to GoDaddy's shared infrastructure.
-
How does ScalaHosting's pricing compare long-term?
GoDaddy's low intro prices jump significantly at renewal - Email Essentials goes from $1.99 to $8.99 per mailbox per month. For a 10-person team, that's $89.90/month versus ScalaHosting's $12.95/month renewal rate for unlimited mailboxes. Over 3 years, you save over $2,000.
-
Do I need technical knowledge to manage email with ScalaHosting?
No. SPanel's intuitive interface makes email management simple. Create accounts, set up forwarding, configure spam filters - all with a few clicks. For advanced configurations, our 24/7 support team helps with everything from DNS records to deliverability troubleshooting.
-
Can I use Microsoft Office apps with ScalaHosting email?
Yes! Our email works perfectly with Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and all standard email clients via IMAP/POP3/SMTP. We provide automatic configuration guides. If you need Microsoft Office apps specifically (Word, Excel, etc.), you can purchase them separately or choose a GoDaddy Microsoft 365 plan. However, for email hosting, ScalaHosting offers better value and flexibility.
-
What if I have more than 100 mailboxes?
Our Cloud plan supports unlimited mailboxes with scalable storage. Whether you have 10, 100, or 1,000 employees, you pay one flat rate - not per mailbox like GoDaddy. This makes ScalaHosting ideal for growing teams and enterprises.
-
Is there really an anytime money-back guarantee?
Yes! Unlike GoDaddy's 7-day guarantee, we offer an anytime unconditional money-back guarantee. If you're not satisfied after 1 day, 10 days, or even 100 days, request a refund for unused time. No questions asked.