Is GoDaddy Payments Worth It? Full Merchant Services Review

GoDaddy is a large domain registrar that provides web hosting and other e-commerce services based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The giant domain registrar has been in business since 1997, but only offered merchant accounts for online businesses starting in January 2013. The company was originally partnered with First Data (Fiserv) and Frontstream to provide merchant accounts, but it has since launched its own proprietary payment service. In early 2019 GoDaddy acquired the point-of-sale company Poynt. Previously, GoDaddy offered payment processing for its web customers under the GoDaddy Merchant Services brand, but the company has relaunched its payment service under the new name. In 2023, GoDaddy partnered with Microsoft to make it possible to give and receive payments through Teams.

Point of Sale (POS)

Initially, GoDaddy Merchant Services was primarily marketed as a payment gateway service. Following the acquisition of Poynt, GoDaddy Payments now offers in-store credit and debit card processing, as well as pay links for additional payment options. Business owners can choose from the Poynt Smart Terminal, a Poynt Card Reader with the GoDaddy Payments mobile app, or virtual terminal options. GoDaddy Payments integrates seamlessly with GoDaddy-hosted WordPress and WooCommerce sites.

Integration with GoDaddy Websites

GoDaddy Payments is designed to integrate effortlessly with GoDaddy’s website builder and online store platform. This allows businesses using GoDaddy for their website and eCommerce needs to accept and manage credit card payments easily, without requiring third-party plugins or services.

User-Friendly Payment Gateway

The GoDaddy Payments gateway supports a wide range of credit card types and digital wallets. Its simple setup process and intuitive interface enable business owners, even those with limited technical knowledge, to start processing payments quickly and easily through their GoDaddy online store.

Transparent and Competitive Pricing

GoDaddy Payments offers a clear and competitive pricing structure with no hidden fees or long-term contracts. Businesses pay a fixed percentage per transaction, which simplifies cost management and predictability.

Quick and Easy Checkout Experience

GoDaddy Payments provides a streamlined and secure checkout experience, optimized for mobile use. This efficient process helps minimize cart abandonment and encourages repeat purchases.

Rapid Payouts

GoDaddy Payments ensures timely access to funds, with most transactions deposited within 1-2 business days.

Security Features

GoDaddy Payments prioritizes security by employing strong measures to protect customer data and ensure secure transactions. The service is PCI DSS compliant and uses advanced encryption methods to safeguard payment information.

Integration with GoDaddy Bookkeeping

GoDaddy Payments integrates with GoDaddy Bookkeeping, allowing businesses to track and manage their sales, expenses, and tax information in one place.

Customer Support

GoDaddy Payments offers responsive customer support to assist business owners with payment processing issues or concerns.

Overview of GoDaddy Payments Feedback

While GoDaddy Payments itself has a relatively low volume of negative reviews, GoDaddy, known predominantly for its web hosting and domain registration services, has accumulated thousands of complaints across various platforms. These complaints highlight issues ranging from technical difficulties and payment disputes to concerns over domain registration. Although these grievances primarily target GoDaddy’s hosting services, they offer insight into the company’s broader customer support practices. We encourage you to share your experiences with GoDaddy Payments by commenting below.

GoDaddy Payments Customer Service Exploration

Customer support for GoDaddy Payments is integrated with GoDaddy’s main customer service framework, which is renowned for its extensive availability. Offering 24/7 telephone support in multiple languages and countries, alongside chat and text options, GoDaddy strives to accommodate a global clientele.

PaymentPop Rating for GoDaddy Payments

Negative Feedback

Nothing but another scam company, please do not use GoDaddy payments,they will rip you off ?% guaranteed!!

GoDaddy BBB Rating

According to the Better Business Bureau GoDaddy has received 1,213 complaints in the past 36 months. Currently it holds an “A+” rating and has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 4/20/2000. The vast majority of these complaints are not aimed at GoDaddy Payments but directed at the company’s domain and registrar services. GoDaddy has a 1.07 out of 5 star rating based on 485 user reviews on the Better Business Bureau website.

What Merchants Say

GoDaddy has also received 291 reviews in the past 36 months. The overwhelming majority are negative in tone. The most recent negative review calls the company a scam:

GoDaddy personnel are liars, cheats, abusers, incompetents, scammers and thieves

An “A” Performance Overall

Considering there are currently almost no complaints related to GoDaddy’s payment division, we agree with the Better Business Bureau’s rating of an “A” at this time.

Transparent Pricing and Terms

GoDaddy Payments boasts straightforward rates without contracts or sign-up fees. While they claim to offer the lowest fees in the industry, their rates are indeed competitive. For in-person transactions, the swipe rate is a flat 2.3%, with an additional $0.30 charge for online transactions. Keyed-in transactions incur a slightly higher flat rate of 3.3%. There are also additional equipment costs, as outlined in GoDaddy’s pricing plan. Setting up the card reader incurs a $50 fee plus a per-device charge, while the smart terminal requires a $250 setup fee.

We also recommend that business owners explore our list of the top merchant accounts.

GoDaddy Account Requirement

It’s important to note that to access most features of the payment service, you must be a GoDaddy web customer, which comes with additional costs. Without a domain account, you can only use the GoDaddy Payments virtual terminal and generate payment links and QR codes. Furthermore, access to the online store option requires opting for GoDaddy’s highest-priced monthly plan at $25 per month. However, in-person payments and website integration seem to be included in all GoDaddy plans, starting at around $10 a month. These associated costs should be considered, as most features of GoDaddy Payments require a domain account.

Contract Negotiation

Currently, there is no available GoDaddy Payments contract. We encourage new customers to share their experiences in the comments section below. As always, we advise business owners to negotiate pricing and contract terms and thoroughly review all contracts before signing.

Our research did not uncover any significant class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints specifically targeting GoDaddy Payments. Business owners looking for non-litigious ways to address their grievances are advised to report their concerns to relevant regulatory bodies and share their experiences in the comment section of this article.

No Evidence of Independent Sales Teams

Currently we cannot locate any concerning job posts or complaints indicating GoDaddy Payments utilizes independent or outside sales representatives. We also cannot locate few negative GoDaddy Payments reviews directly related to its sales practices or indications of misleading quotes.

This compares favorably to our list ofbest credit card processors.

GoDaddy Payments Contract Terms

GoDaddy Payments rates include some potentially costly equipment costs, and we cannot confirm there are no equipment contracts at this time. We strongly recommend reading all legal documentation and contracts thoroughly before signing. If any of our readers have a recent example of a GoDaddy Payments contract, please comment below.

GoDaddy Payments emerges as a noteworthy contender in the credit card processing arena, bolstered by the robust infrastructure and reputation of its parent tech giant. This initiative isn’t GoDaddy’s inaugural venture into payment solutions, suggesting a depth of experience in the sector. Particularly appealing for entrepreneurs who manage their online stores through platforms like Shopify or SquareSpace and are seeking alternatives, GoDaddy Payments proposes a seamless integration for those already within the GoDaddy ecosystem.

However, the service may not be the ideal choice for businesses whose operations don’t primarily focus on e-commerce. While GoDaddy Payments does support in-person transactions, the full spectrum of its features is accessible chiefly to GoDaddy domain customers, which could limit its appeal to a broader audience. For current GoDaddy users, the transition to incorporating payment processing capabilities with a familiar provider could offer significant convenience and streamline operations. GoDaddy Payments receives an optimistic preliminary rating.