BlueHost Review (2024)
TL;DR: What We Think of BlueHost
Bluehost was once a standout in budget hosting but has lost some of its luster. It still presents an attractive package, but be wary of aggressive upsells, significant renewal price increases, and servers only located in the United States.
Suitable for:
Beginners-friendly Hosting
Our Evaluation: BlueHost Pros and Cons
BlueHost Pros
- Free domain name with all shared hosting plans
- $100 free ad credits with all plans
- Comprehensive and easy-to-navigate knowledgebase
BlueHost Cons
- Renewal fees can be significantly higher
- Many upsells on additional features
- Add-ons can get expensive
- Only US-based servers
- Customer support can be better
Our Detail Findings & Experience with BlueHost
About BlueHost: Quick Introduction
Founded by Matt Heaton and Danny Ashworth in 2003 and acquired by Endurance International Group (EIG) in 2010, Bluehost is one of the largest hosting providers globally. The company offers a range of services including shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, and WordPress hosting. They are one of the few who is officially recommended by WordPress.org.
| Performance |
Is BlueHost fast in terms of hosting speed and performance?BlueHost offers dependable hosting services, with a focus on steady website functionality. While their hosting performance is not exceptional, the web host incorporates essential technologies including HTTP-2, , along with various server upgrades to enhance your website’s speed. |
| Security |
Are websites hosted on BlueHost secure with server-side security?Yes, websites hosted at BlueHost are safe. BlueHost prioritizes security with features such as advanced web application firewall (WAF), DDoS protection, free SSL certificates, daily backup, . These measures protect your data and ensure your site is secure from common cyber threats. |
| Supports |
What types of customer support does BlueHost offer?Customer support at BlueHost has room for improvement, with some users experiencing longer response times and less personalized assistance. You can reach out to their support team via phone, live chat, and email. |
| Value for Money |
Is BlueHost worth its pricing in term of value?BlueHost is reasonable priced when weighed against its feature offerings and long-term cost. At $2.95 per month (renews at $11.99/mo), basic shared hosting allows you to host 1 website with 24/7 customer support, a free domain name, daily backup, and 30-days money back guarantee. Higher plans with better features like VPS starts at $29.99/mo, cloud hosting at $/mo and dedicated hosting at $89.98/mo. |
| Overall Users Satisfaction |
What do users say about BlueHost?Based on our market research, BlueHost receives a mix of feedback regarding user satisfaction. Customers frequently appreciate its affordability and user-friendly interface, making it an appealing choice for beginners and small businesses. The simplicity of setting up and managing websites on BlueHost is often lauded. On the other hand, some users report issues with server reliability and occasional downtime, which affects their overall experience. There are also instances of slow responses from customer support and technical services. If you’re thinking about choosing BlueHost, it’s important to take these customer complaints into account before making your final decision. For additional insights, please refer to the user reviews section below. |
| Beginners Friendliness |
Is BlueHost suitable for beginners?Yes. Newbies can feel right at home with BlueHost for several reasons. There is the capacity to scale up, cheap starter plans, WordPress optimization, and best of all, a very comprehensive and useful knowledgebase. Other key features which make BlueHost the web hosting choice for newbies include daily site backup, $100 in free ad credits, spam experts and domain privacy protection. More is available, but mostly as add-ons you need to pay extra for. |
| Small Business Friendliness |
Is BlueHost suitable for small businesses?For small business owners, if you need to build a website quickly then BlueHost is also the right place for you since it has several website builders that you can choose from. Notably among them is the Weebly platform which is one of the best there is in the market |
| Web Developers Friendliness |
Is BlueHost suitable for web developers?Although web agencies and developers can take advantage of BlueHost’s WordPress staging, there isn’t much else to recommend on their shared plans. The only way you can make use of development tools would be to sign on for their more expensive VPS plans and configure the environment on your own. That is also one of the major reasons to switch to VPS hosting. |
| Host Own Email |
Can you host custom email accounts with BlueHost?Yes, you can host your own email accounts with BlueHost. This significantly reduces your costs by eliminating the need for expensive third-party email services. |
| Onboarding |
Is BlueHost easy for new customers to start with?Getting started with BlueHost is relatively pain-free. However, you have to be careful and consider what you really need before you sign up. Along the way, BlueHost will try to upsell you on other products besides their basic hosting plans. The disappointment here is that those additional options (which cost extra money) are selected by default. Unless you are prepared to get a shock at the amount you get billed, make sure that you de-select everything that you don’t want before you make your payment. Thankfully, everything else is a breeze and their excellent control panel coupled with that comprehensive help system will get you going in no time at all. |
| Free Trial |
Is BlueHost available for a free trial?Yes, BlueHost offers a 30-day free trial period. If you are not satisfied with their services for any reason, you can cancel within this period and receive a full refund. |
BlueHost Plans & Pricing
BlueHost provides a range of web hosting solutions, including Shared, VPS, and Dedicated hosting plans. The company also offers specialty hosting services such as Managed WordPress, Email, and Minecraft hosting.
Consider Renewal Prices When Choosing
When evaluating hosting options, it is important to note that many hosting companies offer substantial discounts during the initial signup period, but prices often increase significantly upon renewal. Be sure to research and compare the renewal prices and not just the introductory rates to understand the true cost of hosting over time.
To help you in making an informed decision, we have prepared two tables below that compare the initial signup costs and renewal costs of BlueHost services with several other providers we monitor.
Compare BlueHost’s Signup Cost Against Competitors
| Web Host | Shared | VPS | Dedicated | Cloud | Managed WP | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlueHost | $2.95 – 13.95/mo | $29.99 – 69.99/mo | $89.98 – 139.99/mo | $ – /mo | $2.95 – 13.95/mo | $ – /mo |
| DreamHost | $2.95 – 2.95/mo | $13.75 – 110.00/mo | $149.00 – 399.00/mo | $4.50 – 48.00/mo | $16.95 – 71.95/mo | $ – /mo |
| HostWinds | $5.24 – 8.24/mo | $8.24 – 395.24/mo | $115 – 207/mo | $4.99 – 328/mo | $ – /mo | $12.74 – 431.24/mo |
| LiquidWeb | $ – /mo | $20.00 – 55.00/mo | $199.00 – 549.00/mo | $5.00 – 350.00/mo | $17.50 – 912.50/mo | $65.00 – 145.00/mo |
| HostArmada | $2.99 – 5.49/mo | $29.95 – 74.23/mo | $81.95 – 180.95/mo | $ – /mo | $2.99 – 5.49/mo | $ – /mo |
| Nexcess | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $52 – 894/mo | $17.5 – 912/mo | $ – /mo |
Compare BlueHost’s Renewal Cost Against Competitors
| Web Host | Shared | VPS | Dedicated | Cloud | Managed WP | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlueHost | $11.99 – 28.99/mo | $79.99 – 142.99/mo | $179.99 – 259.99/mo | $ – /mo | $11.99 – 28.99/mo | $ – /mo |
| DreamHost | $6.99 – 12.99/mo | $15.99 – 114.99/mo | $149.00 – 399.00/mo | $4.50 – 48.00/mo | $16.95 – 71.95/mo | $ – /mo |
| HostWinds | $6.99 – 10.99/mo | $10.99 – 526.99/mo | $115 – 207/mo | $4.99 – 328/mo | $ – /mo | $16.99 – 574.99/mo |
| LiquidWeb | $ – /mo | $20.00 – 55.00/mo | $299.00 – 549.00/mo | $5.00 – 350.00/mo | $17.50 – 912.50/mo | $65.00 – 145.00/mo |
| HostArmada | $11.95 – 21.95/mo | $59.90 – 148.45/mo | $163.90 – 361.90/mo | $ – /mo | $11.95 – 21.95/mo | $ – /mo |
| Nexcess | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $52 – 894/mo | $17.5 – 912/mo | $ – /mo |
Caution: Prices May Vary Web hosting prices can change frequently. For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing information, please visit the official BlueHost website.
BlueHost Cancellation Policy
BlueHost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on its hosting services, allowing users to receive a full refund if they cancel within the first 30 days, excluding domain registration and setup fees.
After 30 days, renewals are non-refundable, but users can request a refund within a 15-day prebill window. Domain registration fees are also non-refundable, as they are third-party purchases, though customers retain ownership of the domain. This policy ensures flexibility for new users while maintaining clear terms for ongoing renewals.
Is BlueHost the Right Choice for You?
BlueHost hosting is a mixed bag with a silver lining to us. While the hosting company offers tempting perks like a free domain with shared hosting plans and $100 in ad credits, it’s not without its quirks. Users might find the renewal fees a bit steep and the upsell game strong. Plus, with servers only in the United States – it’s a bit of a homebody. The less-than-stellar HostScore rating hints at areas where improvement is welcome, particularly in performance and customer service. It’s worth pondering these aspects to see if BlueHost aligns with your hosting needs.
Summary of BlueHost Pros and Cons
BlueHost Pros
- Free domain name with all shared hosting plans
- $100 free ad credits with all plans
- Comprehensive and easy-to-navigate knowledgebase
BlueHost Cons
- Renewal fees can be significantly higher
- Many upsells on additional features
- Add-ons can get expensive
- Only US-based servers
- Customer support can be better
BlueHost Alternatives to Consider
In case BlueHost is not right for you, below are some alternatives to consider. You can also find more options in our hosting reviews page (full list).