GoDaddy is the world's biggest domain registrar, but it is also one of the most expensive places to keep a domain: a .com renewal at GoDaddy costs $22.99 (checked 24 October 2026), while the same renewal is $11.08 at Porkbun, $10.44 at Cloudflare Registrar and $10.18 at Spaceship. No wonder so many owners move their domains out. The good news: transferring out is free at GoDaddy, it takes 5–7 days, and the whole job is three moves — unlock the domain, get your authorization code, and approve the transfer. This guide walks through each one.
Before you start: the transfer checklist
Run through this list first. Any item missed here is the usual reason a transfer fails.
- 60-day lock: you cannot transfer a domain within 60 days of a new registration, a previous transfer, or a registrant contact change (if you opted into the 60-day lock when approving the change). Domains in a bundle cannot be transferred within 120 days of registration.
- Admin email access: the authorization code is emailed to the registrant email on the domain. If that inbox belongs to a former employee or an old address, update the contact details first.
- Expiry timing: do not start a transfer a few days before expiry — start at least a week ahead. If the domain expires mid-transfer, renew it first.
- Have a destination picked: the new registrar charges its transfer price (which includes a 1-year renewal). Compare current renewal prices on our comparison page or run the numbers in the renewal calculator before you move.
Step 1: Unlock the domain at GoDaddy
A locked domain cannot be transferred — the registrar lock exists to stop unauthorised moves.
- Sign in to your GoDaddy account and open the Domain Portfolio page.
- Click the three-dot icon next to the domain and choose Turn Lock Off.
- Read the disclaimer and click Continue & Verify.
- If Domain Protection is on, verify your identity with the code sent by SMS or your authenticator app.
- Check the lock status now shows Off.
Leave the domain unlocked until the transfer completes. Re-locking it mid-transfer will stall or cancel the move.
Step 2: Get your authorization (EPP) code
The authorization code (also called the auth code, EPP code or transfer key) proves you own the domain. Only the current registrar can issue it.
- In the Domain Portfolio, click the domain to open its settings.
- Under Transfer, select Transfer to Another Registrar.
- Review the transfer checklist and select Continue with transfer. Note: this step turns Domain Privacy off — GoDaddy does this so your contact details transfer correctly to the new registrar.
- Select Click here to see Authorization Code, then Copy to Clipboard.
- GoDaddy also emails the code to the registrant email address on the domain.
Keep the code private: anyone with it can move your domain. Never paste it into an email or chat you did not start, and never share it with someone claiming to be from a registrar. If the "Transfer to Another Registrar" option is greyed out, a 60-day lock is almost always the cause — you can still get your codes by exporting your domain info from GoDaddy.
Step 3: Start the transfer at your new registrar
- Go to your new registrar's transfer page and enter the domain name.
- Paste the authorization code when asked — copy it, do not retype it (codes contain characters that are easy to misread, and some are single-use once a transfer is attempted).
- Pay the transfer fee. This is the registrar's transfer/renewal price and it adds one year to your registration — you do not lose the time you already paid for.
- Confirm the registrant contact details are correct at checkout.
What a transfer costs at the destination (checked 24 October 2026): Porkbun $11.08, Cloudflare Registrar $10.44, Spaceship $10.18, Dynadot $10.88, Namecheap $18.48 — versus renewing at GoDaddy for $22.99. See the full comparison on our compare page. For the Porkbun route specifically, see our step-by-step Porkbun transfer guide.
Step 4: Approve the transfer
Within a few hours you will get confirmation emails from GoDaddy and/or the new registrar. Approve promptly — approving speeds the transfer up; ignoring the emails means it can take the full 5–7 days.
- Open the approval email and follow its link, or log in to GoDaddy, go to Transfers, select Transfer Out, tick your domain and click Approve Transfer.
- Wait for the confirmation that the transfer completed — usually 5–7 days from the request.
- Check the domain now shows in your new registrar's account with the extra year added.
Step 5: Confirm your website and email still work
A domain transfer does not change your nameservers, so your website and email normally keep working without interruption. After the transfer, check:
- Your website loads (it should — nothing about DNS changed).
- Email still arrives at your domain addresses.
- If you want the new registrar's nameservers, update them only after the transfer is complete.
- Re-enable Domain Privacy / registrar lock at the new registrar once the move is done.
If anything stops working, compare the DNS records at the new registrar with the ones you had at GoDaddy before changing anything.
Troubleshooting: when a GoDaddy transfer out fails
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Auth code rejected by the new registrar | Copy it again from GoDaddy rather than retyping it. If it still fails, request a fresh code — some codes are single-use once a transfer is attempted. |
| "Transfer to Another Registrar" is greyed out | A 60-day (or 120-day bundle) lock applies. Wait it out, or export your domain info to get the codes ready in advance. |
| No code email arrived | Check the registrant email on the domain — not your GoDaddy account email if they differ. Check spam, then update the contact email and request the code again. |
| Transfer stuck for days | Approve it manually in GoDaddy under Transfers > Transfer Out. Unapproved transfers can sit for the full 5–7 days. |
| Transfer rejected | Check the domain is still unlocked and Domain Privacy is off. A re-lock or privacy change mid-transfer is the usual cause. |
Frequently asked questions
Does GoDaddy charge to transfer a domain out?
No. GoDaddy does not charge a transfer-out fee. You only pay the new registrar's transfer price, which includes a 1-year renewal.
How long does a transfer out of GoDaddy take?
Usually 5–7 days. Approving the transfer in your GoDaddy account (Transfers > Transfer Out) speeds it up.
Will my website or email go down during the transfer?
No, as long as your nameservers stay the same. A transfer moves the registration, not the DNS — your site and email keep working. For the full picture, see transfer vs renew: what's the difference.
Can I transfer a .uk domain out of GoDaddy?
.uk domains do not use an authorization code. You enter the new registrar's IPS tag instead, then complete the transfer — GoDaddy's transfer page will prompt you for it.
Is renewing at GoDaddy ever the better option?
Only if the transfer cannot happen — for example, a 60-day lock or a domain expiring within days. Otherwise the renewal price gap is hard to justify: our GoDaddy renewal price breakdown and full GoDaddy review show where the $22.99 goes and what cheaper options look like.
The bottom line
Unlock the domain, copy your authorization code, start the transfer at the cheaper registrar, and approve the confirmation email. That is the whole job — and with renewal prices from $10.18 to $11.08 at the cheapest registrars versus $22.99 at GoDaddy (prices checked 24 October 2026), a single transfer can pay for itself for years. Just mind the 60-day lock, keep your admin email reachable, and do not let the domain expire while the transfer is running.
Prices in this article are from RenewPings' central price list, last checked 24 October 2026. Registrar prices change — check the live price on the registrar's own site before you pay.