If you’re wondering whether Heart Internet is still owned by GoDaddy, the short answer is: no. GoDaddy did own Heart Internet after acquiring Host Europe Group (HEG) in 2017, but in April 2024, it divested Heart Internet to a company called Your.Online.
In this blog, I’ll break down how and why GoDaddy acquired Heart Internet, the reason for the sale, who owns it now, and what this change means for customers like us here in the UK. I’ll also share some personal insights from my experience using the platform.
What Was the Relationship Between Heart Internet and GoDaddy?
Heart Internet was part of the Host Europe Group (HEG), a major European web services provider. When GoDaddy acquired HEG in 2017, it also took ownership of Heart Internet.
At the time, this was part of GoDaddy’s strategy to expand its international presence, particularly in Europe and the UK. HEG brought with it several well-known UK hosting brands, and Heart Internet was among them.
Key Brands Included in HEG Acquisition
| Brand Name | Country Focus | Services Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Internet | UK | Web Hosting, Domains, Reseller Services |
| 123 Reg | UK | Domain Registration, Hosting |
| TSO Host | UK | Managed Hosting, Email |
| Webfusion | UK | Hosting and Servers |
This move gave GoDaddy a strong foothold in the UK market almost instantly.
Why Did GoDaddy Acquire Heart Internet in the First Place?
GoDaddy’s acquisition of HEG and with it, Heart Internet, was about gaining scale in the European market. It allowed them to:
- Quickly expand in the UK without building a local brand from scratch
- Acquire infrastructure and customer relationships
- Reduce competition by bringing multiple brands under one umbrella
From a business standpoint, it made sense. Heart Internet already had a solid presence among web professionals in the UK. For GoDaddy, this was a low-friction way to tap into that customer base.
Who Owns Heart Internet Now in 2024?
As of April 2024, Heart Internet is no longer owned by GoDaddy. The brand and its associated services were sold to a company called Your.Online.
Your.Online is a European digital services group focused on helping entrepreneurs and SMEs build their online presence. Unlike GoDaddy, which operates globally, Your.Online seems more focused on strengthening regional brands across Europe.
Comparison of GoDaddy vs Your.Online
| Feature | GoDaddy | Your.Online |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | USA | Netherlands |
| Business Focus | Global Hosting & Domains | European Digital Services |
| Brands Managed | 20+ global brands | European and UK brands |
| Recent Move | Divested UK brands in 2024 | Acquired Heart Internet in 2024 |
Your.Online’s acquisition appears to be a strategic play to deepen their reach in the UK and strengthen their hosting offerings.
Why Did GoDaddy Decide to Sell Heart Internet?
According to the official press release from GoDaddy in April 2024, this divestment was part of a strategic realignment. The company stated it wanted to focus more on core global products and markets.
Some of the reasons included:
- Streamlining operations
- Focusing on platform innovation and unified customer experiences
- Reducing complexity by exiting non-core regional brands
GoDaddy kept its primary global services but began offloading region-specific brands, including Heart Internet. The sale allows them to invest more in scalable services, while Heart Internet can now grow under a company focused entirely on the European market.
How Did the Sale Impact Heart Internet Customers?
Like many customers, I was curious and, honestly, a little concerned when I heard the news. But as someone who has used Heart Internet for years, I can say the transition has been smooth so far.
Here’s how the change has affected customers:
- Communication: Email updates were sent out to inform customers about the change
- Continuity: Existing services remained operational without interruption
- Support: The support channels and control panel still function as before
- Pricing: No sudden changes in pricing (at least not yet)
Bullet points: What hasn’t changed (yet)
- Hosting control panel and dashboard access
- Website uptime and performance
- Billing cycles and renewal schedules
Pre-Sale vs Post-Sale Comparison
| Feature | Before Sale (Under GoDaddy) | After Sale (Under Your.Online) |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Ownership | GoDaddy | Your.Online |
| Customer Interface | Heart Internet Dashboard | Same dashboard |
| Hosting Reliability | Stable | Stable |
| Customer Service | Centralised support | No major change yet |
I’ll continue monitoring, but right now, there hasn’t been a significant shift in quality or availability.
What Does This Mean for the UK Web Hosting Market?
GoDaddy’s exit from Heart Internet opens up interesting opportunities in the UK hosting scene. Rather than having one global player control several UK brands, we now have more regionally-focused companies stepping in.
This change might result in:
- Better focus on UK customer needs
- More responsive customer service
- Increased investment in local infrastructure
- Competition from smaller or independent hosts regaining ground
For customers, this could be a positive shift, especially if Your.Online is committed to investing in the brand and its long-term development.
What’s My Experience with Heart Internet Before and After the Sale?
Over the years, I’ve used Heart Internet for hosting client websites, domain management, and reseller hosting. During the GoDaddy period, the platform remained stable but felt increasingly like part of a large, global machine.
After the sale, I noticed a few subtle changes:
- Faster support response times in some cases
- Slight tweaks in communication tone, more regional and familiar
- No major updates yet, but no disruptions either
So far, I’d describe the transition as quiet and well-managed, which is a relief when you’re dealing with hosting that affects live websites.
Conclusion
Final Thoughts
So, to directly address the original question: Heart Internet is no longer owned by GoDaddy. While it formed part of GoDaddy’s hosting portfolio between 2017 and 2024 after the HEG acquisition, the business was sold to Your.Online in April 2024 as part of a wider strategic realignment.
For UK customers, this ownership change could prove positive, particularly in terms of regional focus and service direction. From what I can see so far, the transition has been largely seamless, with no major disruption to existing users.
I’ll continue to monitor how the brand evolves under its new ownership, and you can find a deeper breakdown of performance, support, and real user experiences in our detailed Heart Internet review.
FAQs
What is Your.Online and what other brands do they own?
Your.Online is a European digital services provider focused on helping small businesses and entrepreneurs build and grow online. They own a variety of local hosting and domain brands across Europe.
How long did GoDaddy own Heart Internet?
From 2017 to 2024, about seven years after acquiring Host Europe Group, which owned Heart Internet.
Did GoDaddy sell other brands besides Heart Internet?
Yes. GoDaddy sold other HEG-related brands as part of its divestment strategy, although the exact list hasn’t been fully disclosed.
Will Heart Internet rebrand under Your.Online?
No rebrand has been announced so far. Heart Internet continues to operate under its existing name.
Is Heart Internet still reliable after leaving GoDaddy?
Yes, the service remains reliable. There haven’t been any major issues reported since the change in ownership.
