OVERALL RATINGS
Bluehost, a reputable web hosting provider, has been delivering hosting solutions since 2003, solidifying its position as an industry veteran.
Best for?
- Individuals
- Businesses
Price
Starting at $2.95 per month
Our Verdict
Bluehost stands out as a preferred hosting service for bloggers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses, earning a spot on Forbes Advisor’s top web hosting services.
Step into the world of Bluehost, a digital giant with a legacy dating back to 1996. Picture it as the ultimate hub for WordPress hosting, proudly donning the official ‘WordPress’ recommended hosting provider badge.
Worried about your website’s speed during peak times? Fear not, for Bluehost promises a seamless performance that’ll make your digital journey smooth. Need a helping hand at any hour? Their 24/7 expert support, available through phone, email, or live chat, is poised to be your digital ally.
But hold on, there’s more – Bluehost isn’t just a big name; it’s also the crowned champion in web hosting for small businesses, clinching the coveted #1 spot. And for those venturing into the online realm for the first time, here’s an exclusive offer: a whopping 63% off discount, a Free Domain, Free SSL, and a complimentary Site Builder with templates.
Now, as we embark on this adventure, let’s not just get swept away by the accolades and exclusive perks. Together, we’ll peel back the layers and discover the true essence of Bluehost’s hosting prowess. Let the exploration begin!
Bluehost Feature Images
Bluehost Product Offer
Bluehost positions itself within the expansive umbrella of the Endurance International Group (EiG), a conglomerate known for its ownership of various web hosting providers like HostGator, Hostinger and iPage, securing a substantial foothold in the market. However, it’s crucial to be aware that EiG’s extensive portfolio has elicited mixed reviews.
Some users express apprehensions about the conglomerate’s customer service approach, occasional performance issues, and a perceived inclination towards quantity over quality. Nevertheless, Bluehost, operating under the EiG banner, maintains its status as a prominent player in the dynamic web hosting landscape.
Now, let’s delve into the diverse array of hosting-related products offered by this US-based provider, spanning from domain names to dedicated servers.
Domain names: while Bluehost may not be the most economical registrar, you can procure domain names directly from them, commencing at $18.99 per year upon renewal, with an additional $15 annually for domain privacy.
For domain registrations, Namecheap emerges as a personal favorite for its cost-effectiveness and user-friendly management interface.
Shared hosting: In the realm of shared hosting, Bluehost provides a spectrum of plans ranging from $2.95 to $13.95 per month.
This option, likened to sharing a flat, involves sharing a server (flat) while having your own hosting space (room), offering affordability at the expense of potential noise.
WordPress Hosting: Bluehost also boasts a WordPress-focused hosting service, optimized for WordPress sites with features like a staging area. Priced at $24.95 per month, it sits slightly higher than alternatives such as SiteGround ($17.99) and other budget-friendly WordPress hosting services.
VPS Hosting: Bluehost offers plans ranging from $46.99 to $94.99 per month for Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting.
With a virtual wall separating your projects from others on the server, this hosting type is recommended for those requiring specific server configurations.
Dedicated Hosting: For websites generating substantial traffic or demanding top-tier performance, Bluehost provides dedicated server hosting starting at $124.99 per month, ascending to $209.99.
This option is akin to having your own house, free from neighbors or roommates.
Surprisingly, Bluehost lacks cloud hosting services, a notable observation in its extensive repertoire of offerings.
Advice
This Bluehost review concentrates on their shared hosting services. Subsequently, I will share my personal experiences and insights into this particular Bluehost product. For comprehensive information on how to build a blog with bluehost check out my post on how to build a blog as a beginner.
Bluehost Pricing
Let’s delve into the pricing details of Bluehost and explore the offerings within each plan:
| Features | Basic | Choice Plus | Online Store | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory Pricing (per Month): | $2.95 | $5.45 | $9.95 | $13.95 |
| Renewal Pricing: | $11.99 | $21.99 | $26.99 | $28.99 |
| Contract Lengths Available: | 12 months and 36 months | 12 months and 36 months | 12 months and 36 months | 12 months and 36 months |
| Storage: | 10GB | 40GB | 100GB | 100GB |
| Bandwidth: | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Free Domain Name: | First-year only | First-year only | First-year only | First-year only |
| Free SSL Certificate: | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Free Cloudflare CDN: | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Business Email: | 5 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Money-Back Guarantee: | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Customer Support: | 24/7 online chat and phone support | 24/7 online chat and phone support | 24/7 online chat and phone support | 24/7 online chat and phone support |
Basic Plan: Designed for hosting a single website, the Basic plan encompasses one domain, 25 subdomains, 50GB SSD storage, and five email accounts with 100 MB of disk space each. Priced at $2.95 per month for the initial term, renewal costs $8.99 per month.
Plus Plan: Offering versatility, the Plus plan allows unlimited websites, storage space, and unmetered bandwidth, along with an unlimited number of email accounts. Starting at $4.95 per month for the first term, renewal is at $11.99 per month.
Choice Plus Plan: Expanding on the Plus plan, Choice Plus includes additional perks such as free domain privacy and automated daily backups powered by CodeGuard, valued at over $80/year. The initial term cost is $5.45 per month, with a renewal fee of $16.99 per month.
Pro Plan: Geared towards advanced users, the Pro plan, starting at $13.95 per month initially and $23.99 per month upon renewal, encompasses all premium features from the above plans, coupled with a dedicated IP address.
For beginners, selecting any of these plans is viable, with the flexibility to upgrade as your website expands.
Bluehost Pros and Cons
- Intuitive Interface: The modern and user-friendly interface offered by Bluehost allows navigating through the hosting environment easy, enabling users to manage their websites, domains, and settings with ease.
- Business-Focused Tools: Bluehost's array of business-focused tools provides users with a convenient and efficient platform for managing their online presence. From marketing to analytics, Bluehost integrates tools that cater specifically to the needs of businesses.
- Domain and SSL Certificate: Bluehost's provision of a free domain and SSL certificate stands out as a key advantage. This not only streamlines the initial setup process for users but also enhances the overall security of their websites.
- Higher Domain Renewal Price: While Bluehost offers a free domain initially, the higher renewal price can be a concern. Users should be mindful of the potential increase in domain costs after the initial term.
- Servers Could Be Faster: Some users express concerns about the speed of Bluehost's servers. While the performance may be satisfactory for many users, those with specific speed requirements or resource-intensive websites might find room for improvement.
- Hosting Prices Increase on Renewal: One notable drawback is the increase in hosting prices upon renewal. While the introductory prices are attractive, users need to be prepared for a higher cost when renewing their hosting plans.
What Set Bluehost Apart As A Unique Brand
Bluehost is a service provider that is easy to use, especially for beginners. It is affordable and is on Forbes Advisor’s list of top budget-friendly hosting services.
Bluehost is popular among WordPress users because it has a one-click WordPress installation. It is also on Forbes Advisor’s list of premier WordPress hosting services.
If you want to switch to Bluehost from your current hosting provider, they offer migration services for WordPress websites. They will even migrate a single WordPress site for free.
Not all hosting companies do this. Bluehost also offers a premium migration service for $149.99. This service allows you to migrate up to five websites and 20 email accounts, even if they are on different platforms.
What You Should Consider Before Choosing Bluehost
Are you considering Bluehost as your web hosting provider? It’s important to consider both the positives and negatives. Bluehost is known for being easy to use, affordable, and popular among WordPress users. However, there are some potential drawbacks.
These include the possibility of price increases when you renew your plan, occasional concerns about server speed, and higher costs to renew your domain.
If you use WordPress, the free migration service is a great benefit. However, if you use a different platform, there may be additional costs. Before you decide to go with Bluehost, it’s important to think about your budget, the performance you need, and your long-term goals.
It’s also a good idea to explore other web hosting options. This way, you can make a comprehensive comparison and choose the provider that best meets your website’s needs and expectations.
Bluehost Feature Ratings
EASE OF USE
Bluehost revamped their backend with a user-friendly, customized version of cPanel. However, a notable drawback lies in the consistent presence of upsell proposal banners, pop-ups, and inconspicuous links, aspects that are met with strong disapproval. Over time, users may become accustomed to these elements, making the overall experience more tolerable.
UPTIME
In our assessments, Bluehost demonstrated reasonable uptime performance. This aspect is crucial for providing stable user experiences and maintaining favorable SEO outcomes.
SECURITY FEATURES
Bluehost offers extra security features like SiteLock to prevent hackers and CodeGuard for additional backup choices. The optional two-factor authentication is a standout, ensuring that even if your password is compromised, access to your Bluehost account remains secure.
SERVER LOCATION
Bluehost appears to have data centers exclusively in the US. This might pose challenges for clients outside North America, potentially leading to slower website loading times, especially beyond the US and Canada.
SERVER SPEED
Based on my experience, Bluehost’s speed is underwhelming, and considering its price range, there’s an expectation for better performance.
WEBSPACE LIMIT
The Basic shared plan offers a mere 10 GB of webspace, which is relatively low. The allocation for the other plans, including Plus (20 GB), Choice Plus (40 GB), and Pro (100 GB), also falls on the lower side compared to similar offerings from other hosting providers. Additionally, there’s a limitation on the maximum number of files allowed, capped at 200,000 for all plans except the Pro plan, which allows up to 300,000 files.
MONTHLY DATA TRANSFER LIMIT
Not Metered
FTP ACCOUNTS AND SECURE FTP
Users have the flexibility to create as many FTP accounts as you need. It’s important to note that while multiple FTP accounts can be generated, the use of SFTP (secure) is restricted to the main FTP account.
SERVER FEATURES
Bluehost supports PHP versions 7.3, 7.4, and 8, providing users with flexibility in choosing their preferred PHP version. Additionally, databases are powered by MySQL 5.6. The hosting environment allows for the utilization of other programming languages such as Perl and Ruby on Rails, offering versatility in development options.
DATABASES
The Basic package allows creation of up to 20 databases, while the other plans offer the perk of unlimited databases. Furthermore, Bluehost provides a generous maximum database size of 5 GB, ensuring ample space for diverse website needs.
DOMAIN NAMES
Bluehost provides a complimentary domain name registration for the first year across its plans. Subsequently, there is an annual fee of $19.99 for domain renewal. Notably, the Basic plan allows for hosting only one site or domain, while the other plans extend the benefit of hosting an unlimited number of sites or domains.
APPLICATIONS
Bluehost’s automatic installer facilitates the easy addition of various software, including popular platforms like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Magento, and many others.
EMAIL RATING
In the Basic tier, there’s a limitation of 5 email accounts and 100 MB of email storage. However, both these restrictions are lifted with the higher plans, offering unlimited email accounts and storage. It’s essential to note a sending limit of 500 emails per hour, making it unsuitable for sending bulk emails.
BACKUPS
Bluehost generates monthly, weekly, and daily backups, which users can download and utilize for restoration. However, it’s crucial to note that Bluehost provides only three backups, and there’s no assurance of their availability. In comparison, some other hosting providers offer over 20 backup options for users to choose from.
If additional website backup options, such as on-demand backups, are desired, users have the option to purchase Bluehost’s backup add-on, which comes at a relatively high cost.
CDN
Bluehost does not provide its own CDN (Content Delivery Network). However, Cloudflare is pre-integrated into their services, allowing users to easily enable it. It is advisable to activate Cloudflare for improved website performance and security.
REFUNDS AND GUARANTEES
Bluehost has a 30-day money-back policy with no questions asked. However, unlike some top hosting providers, they do not appear to offer any specific uptime guarantees.
ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT
OVERALL RATINGS
Bluehost’s performance is decent, but their pricing seems a bit high. Support is a concern for frequent assistance.
Bluehost Performance Tests
The key factor to focus on is speed—it affects how users experience your site and influence your WordPress SEO rankings. Studies show that a mere 1-second slowdown can cause a 7% dip in conversion rates, and a 3-second delay may result in a significant 50% loss of traffic.
Bluehost Speed Test
I conducted a speed comparison of Bluehost against the leading shared hosting competitors to identify the swiftest web host. Utilizing Pingdom, and Webpagetest, I examined their loading times.
The table below highlights Bluehost’s performance based on site speed over the last 3 years.
| Page Load Time in Seconds | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GreenGeeks | 1.56 | 1.29 | 1.21 |
| A2 Hosting | 2.01 | 1.30 | 1.25 |
| GoDaddy | 1.94 | 1.44 | 1.28 |
| Cloudways | 1.73 | 1.46 | 1.30 |
| SiteGround | 1.54 | 1.56 | 1.35 |
| Hostinger | 1.61 | 1.63 | 1.35 |
| WP Engine | 1.65 | 1.66 | 1.37 |
| Namecheap | 1.60 | 1.69 | 1.40 |
| Dreamhost | 1.84 | 1.75 | 1.63 |
| Kinsta | 1.77 | 1.82 | 1.70 |
| Bluehost | 2.87 | 2.07 | 1.89 |
| IONOS | 1.95 | 2.32 | 2.20 |
| InMotion | 2.75 | 2.58 | 2.35 |
| iPage | 2.76 | 2.60 | 2.58 |
| HostGator | 2.78 | 2.72 | 2.70 |
When it comes to website loading time, Bluehost emerges as a strong contender, especially for users in the United States. When my website was hosted on Bluehost servers, the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) impressively clocked in at a speedy 920ms.
However, as we had more visitors, the result slightly slowed to 1.86 seconds, and for visitors in India, the expected load time stretched to 2.3 seconds. While these times are within the recommended benchmark of up to 2.5 seconds for LCP, it’s essential to note the regional variations.
Bluehost Uptime
It’s important to acknowledge that achieving a 100% uptime for your web hosting service is unlikely. Technical necessities, such as server maintenance, may cause brief instances of downtime. A low uptime is detrimental, as it hinders both visitor access and search engine visibility. The aim is to maintain an uptime exceeding 99.95%.
| Uptime Chart | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiteGround | 99.97 | 100 | 99.99 |
| WP Engine | 99.99 | 99.99 | 99.99 |
| Namecheap | 99.99 | 100 | 99.99 |
| Kinsta | 100 | 100 | 99.99 |
| InMotion | 99.73 | 99.95 | 99.99 |
| A2 Hosting | 99.99 | 99.98 | 99.99 |
| Cloudways | 100 | 100 | 99.99 |
| HostGator | 99.91 | 99.99 | 99.98 |
| GreenGeeks | 99.98 | 99.98 | 99.97 |
| GoDaddy | 99.90 | 99.96 | 99.95 |
| Hostinger | 99.48 | 99.92 | 99.95 |
| Bluehost | 99.96 | 99.99 | 99.95 |
| iPage | 98.45 | 99.85 | 99.95 |
| Dreamhost | 99.99 | 99.96 | 99.83 |
| IONOS | 99.91 | 99.93 | 99.71 |
For uptime monitoring, I employ StatusCake, a tool that assesses each website every 5 minutes.
It’s crucial to note that Bluehost lacks an uptime guarantee. Unlike some hosting providers that offer compensation (like a free month) for global uptime falling below specific levels, Bluehost doesn’t provide such assurances.
My Verdict on Bluehost: Do I Recommend It?
Bluehost stands out as a versatile hosting solution, welcoming users of all levels, from beginners to seasoned web professionals. With affordable plans, user-friendly site management, and reliable performance, it caters to bloggers, startups, and small businesses. Despite occasional upselling efforts and potential post-first-year price hikes, Bluehost remains a solid choice for those with modest website needs.
WordPress enthusiasts seeking commitment and integration will find Bluehost an excellent fit, recommended by WordPress since 2005. Its seamless WordPress integration makes it a top contender for building WordPress websites, especially for users willing to commit to multi-year hosting plans. However, users should be mindful of their specific needs, as Bluehost’s speed performance may not match the top performers in the industry.
As you embark on your hosting journey, consider Bluehost’s 30-day free trial to explore its features. While its initial pricing is remarkably affordable, be sure to assess the long-term renewal costs. Whether you’re launching your first website or looking for a reliable hosting partner, Bluehost offers a comprehensive solution.
>Discover the potential of Bluehost today and explore a hosting experience tailored to your needs.
Bluehost Alternatives
Bluehost Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What services does Bluehost offer?
Bluehost offers a comprehensive range of web hosting services tailored to different needs. These include shared hosting, ideal for those starting their online journey with budget-friendly options. The platform is renowned for its WordPress hosting services, optimized for seamless performance. Additionally, Bluehost provides VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting, offering a balance between shared and dedicated hosting. For users with more significant hosting requirements, dedicated hosting services are available, ensuring exclusive server resources.
Is Bluehost a good choice for beginners?
Yes, Bluehost is an excellent choice for beginners embarking on their online ventures. The platform is designed with user-friendliness in mind, providing an easy-to-navigate interface. Bluehost combines its proprietary website management tools with the widely-used cPanel, offering a seamless experience for users of all technical levels. This makes it a suitable web hosting company for those new to website management, providing a solid foundation for learning and growth.
How much does Bluehost cost per month?
Bluehost caters to budget-conscious users with its affordable pricing. The shared hosting options start from just $2.95 per month for the most popular plans. The entry-level plan, priced at $2.95/month, includes hosting for one website and 10 GB SSD storage. This cost-effective option is perfect for small blogs or business landing pages. Bluehost’s pricing structure ensures flexibility and scalability, allowing users to choose plans that align with their specific needs and budget constraints.
