Bluehost Review [2023]: Essential Guide for Businesses

Review of Bluehost, a reputable web hosting company that offers a variety of hosting services and domain registration. It has been operating since 2003 and is highly recommended by WordPress.org. Bluehost provides shared hosting, virtual private servers (VPS), dedicated servers, and specialized WordPress hosting. Their shared hosting is popular for individuals and small businesses, while VPS and dedicated servers cater to those needing more power and control. Bluehost also offers domain registration services. With a focus on reliability, competitive pricing, user-friendly interfaces, and strong customer support, Bluehost is a trusted choice for hosting and domain needs.

This Bluehost review will help you decide on a web hosting service for your business.

Bluehost has a comprehensive range of plans and features that make it a top choice for web hosting services.

It has several services to suit the requirements of different types and sizes of businesses.

This review will look into the features and user experience offered by Bluehost.

This will include pricing plans, pros and cons of using the platform, customer support and compare them to alternatives.

There are some cool bonuses when you sign up to Bluehost through my affiliate link.

Bluehost is a reputable web hosting company that offers a variety of hosting services and domain registration. It has been operating since 2003 and is highly recommended by WordPress.org. Bluehost provides shared hosting, virtual private servers (VPS), dedicated servers, and specialized WordPress hosting. Their shared hosting is popular for individuals and small businesses, while VPS and dedicated servers cater to those needing more power and control. Bluehost also offers domain registration services. With a focus on reliability, competitive pricing, user-friendly interfaces, and strong customer support, Bluehost is a trusted choice for hosting and domain needs.

BlueHost is a popular web hosting company founded in 2003 by Matt Heaton and Danny Ashworth.

It offers multiple web hosting services such as shared hosting, VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting, dedicated server hosting, and WordPress managed hosting.

There are more than two million websites globally on its platform.

Bluehost Features

Shared Hosting

Bluehost provides shared hosting plans that are perfect for small businesses and personal websites

With shared hosting, multiple websites share server resources which helps keep costs low. 

They offer affordable pricing, free domain registration, and unlimited bandwidth.

VPS Hosting

Bluehost has VPS hosting plans that offer more resources and flexibility than shared plans.

They are ideal for growing businesses that need more power and control. 

Dedicated Server Hosting

For high traffic businesses that require control, security and control, Bluehost has dedicated server hosting plans.

They provide maximum resources and performance for large-scale websites and applications. 

WordPress Hosting

BlueHost has managed WordPress hosting plans that are optimized for high performance and security on WordPress sites.

They offer automatic WordPress updates and backups, free domain name for one year and unlimited bandwidth.

You also get verified on Google My Business to connect with customers in your local area.

Who is Bluehost for?

Bluehost caters to all business owners who require reliable web-hosting services for their online presence.

This ranges for those just starting their online journey to this looking for advanced features like eCommerce integration or website migration assistance.

New Business Owners

This will include those launching their first business website including bloggers and affiliate marketers.

A shared hosting package will be ideal for them.

Growing Businesses

Businesses that need more resources than offered by a shared plan, would benefit from a VPS hosting plan.

eCommerce Websites

Bluehost offers WooCommerce integration for businesses looking to set up their online store.

WordPress Users

As a recommended hosting provider by WordPress.org, Bluehost provides specialized managed WordPress hosting plans with advanced features like automatic updates and backups.

User Experience with Bluehost

Ease of Use

Bluehost has an intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to navigate through their account dashboard and manage their websites.

The platform offers a one-click installation process for popular content management systems (CMS) like WordPress.

This helps even beginners to set up their website quickly.

Bluehost offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone, and email. Their support team is available to help with technical issues, account management, and general inquiries. Bluehost also provides a comprehensive knowledge base and support documentation, including tutorials, guides, and FAQs, to help users find answers to common questions and troubleshoot issues independently.

Customer Support

A reliable customer support team can make all the difference in user experience.

Bluehost offers 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email ticketing system.

Users have reported prompt responses from Bluehost support who are able to resolve issues quickly.

Tutorials and Knowledge Base

Bluehost has numerous resources including video tutorials covering various topics related to setting up and managing your website.

There are written guides providing step-by-step instructions on using different features available on the platform.

In addition, Bluehost has an extensive library of articles addressing common questions and concerns about using their services.

Performance & Uptime Guarantee

Bluehost promises to deliver solid performance in terms of speed and uptime.

A 99.9% uptime guarantee ensures your website will always remain accessible to visitors.

The platform also utilizes advanced technology such as Cloudflare CDN integration and SSD storage for faster page loading times.

Free Domain and SSL Certificate

Bluehost provides a free domain for the first year with all hosting plans, as well as a free SSL certificate to ensure your website is secure.

Pros and Cons of Bluehost

Pros

  • User-friendly interface: One of the major benefits of Bluehost is its easy-to-use control panel that allows even beginners to manage their websites with ease.
  • Affordable pricing plans: With a variety of shared hosting plans, VPS hosting, dedicated server options, and managed WordPress hosting packages available at competitive prices, there’s a plan suitable for every budget.
  • Free domain privacy: Unlike some other web hosts, Bluehost offers free domain privacy protection which helps keep your personal information private from spammers and hackers.
  • Data center reliability: With multiple data centers across the globe providing backup in case one fails, there is very minimal downtime.
  • E-commerce capabilities: If you’re running an e-commerce business or planning to start one soon, Bluehost provides all necessary tools such as SSL certificates and shopping cart integrations to build your online store.

Cons

  • Limited resources on shared servers: If you opt for a shared hosting plan, you may experience slower website performance due to sharing server resources with other websites. You may need to upgrade to a VPS plan.
  • Higher renewal rates: Although BlueHost offers attractive introductory prices for new users, the renewal rates tend to be significantly higher. However this applies to many competitors.
  • Inconsistent customer support: Although Bluehost’s customer support is available through various channels like live chat and phone calls, some users have reported occasional inconsistent response times.

Bluehost Pricing Plans

Shared Hosting

Bluehost has three shared hosting plans. The BASIC plan is perfect for a blog or single site. It includes 10 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, and a free domain for the first year. The CHOICE PLUS plan offers added privacy and security features. It includes 40 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, unlimited websites, a free domain for the first year, custom WP themes, free SSL, daily backups, domain privacy, and malware scanning. The ONLINE STORE plan is designed for eCommerce. It provides 100 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, unlimited websites, a free domain for the first year, and features like secure online payments, product search, and filtering. It also includes $450 worth of plugins. For more power, the PRO plan is ideal. It offers 100 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, unlimited websites, a free domain for the first year, a free dedicated IP, custom WP themes, free SSL, daily backups, domain privacy, and malware scanning.

Share hosting is the easiest and most economical way to connect your website to the internet.

Basic Plan

The Basic plan is perfect for a blog or single site.

With a 36-month plan, you can save 40% and pay only $2.95 per month.

It includes 10 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN and a free domain for the first year.

Choice Plus Plan

The Choice Plus plan comes with added privacy and security.

There is an introductory 50% discount for 36 months at $5.45 per month.

It offers 40 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, unlimited websites and a free domain for the first year.

Additionally you get custom WP themes, free SSL, daily website backups, domain privacy and malware scanning.

Online Store Plan

If you are looking to start selling online, the Online Store plan is ideal.

You save 35% with a 36-month plan at $9.95 per month.

It provides 100 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, unlimited websites, and a free domain for the first year.

You also get a range of eCommerce features like secure online payments, product search, and filtering.

Additionally it also includes $450 worth of plugins.

Pro Plan

The Pro plan provides more power and optimized web resources.

There is a saving of 20% on a 36-month plan at $13.95 per month.

It offers 100 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, unlimited websites, a free domain for the first year, and a free dedicated IP.

You also get custom WP themes, free SSL, daily website backups, domain privacy and malware scanning.

VPS Hosting

Bluehost VPS hosting has three plans. The STANDARD plan offers 2GB of RAM, a 2-core CPU, 120GB SSD storage, and unmetered bandwidth. For more storage, the ENHANCED plan provides 4GB of RAM, a 2-core CPU, 165GB SSD storage, and unmetered bandwidth. The ULTIMATE plan provides more power and resources. It offers 8GB of RAM, a 4-core CPU, 240GB SSD storage, and unmetered bandwidth. All plans include cPanel, ensuring a user-friendly control panel to manage your virtual server.

There are 3 VPS hosting plans – Standard, Enhanced and Ultimate.

All plans include the user-friendly cPanel to manage your virtual server.

Standard Plan

The Standard plan offers 2 GB of RAM, a 2-core CPU, 120 GB SSD storage and unmetered bandwidth.

With a 36-month term, you can save 25% and pay $29.99 per month.

Enhanced Plan

The Enhanced plan provides 4 GB of RAM, a 2-core CPU, 165 GB SSD storage and unmetered bandwidth,

it costs $39.99 per month, which saves you 33% on a 36-month term.

Ultimate Plan

The Ultimate plan offers 8 GB of RAM, a 4-core CPU, 240 GB SSD storage, and unmetered bandwidth.

At $69.99 per month, you save 41% on a 36-month contract.

Dedicated Hosting

Bluehost Dedicated hosting service has three plans. The STANDARD plan features a 4-core/8-thread Intel Xeon-D CPU, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD storage, and unmetered bandwidth. For more storage and power, the ENHANCED plan includes an 8-core/16-thread Intel Xeon-D CPU, 16GB RAM, 2TB HDD storage, and unmetered bandwidth. The PREMIUM plan offers an 8-core/16-thread Intel Xeon-D CPU, 30GB RAM, 2TB HDD storage, and unmetered bandwidth. All plans come with Linux as the operating system and include cPanel with root access, providing you with full control over your dedicated server.

Dedicated hosting provides full control to your server with more storage, power and performance.

All plans have the Linux operating system and include cPanel with root access for full control over your server.

There are 3 Dedicated server plans – Standard, Enhanced and Premium.

Standard Plan

The Standard plan features a 4-core/8-thread Intel Xeon-D CPU, 8 GB RAM, 1 TB HDD storage, and unmetered bandwidth.

With a 36-monthterm, you save 28% at $89.98 per month.

Enhanced Plan

The Enhanced plan includes an 8-core/16-thread Intel Xeon-D CPU, 16 GB RAM, 2 TB HDD storage, and unmetered bandwidth.

A 36-month contract costs $119.88 per month, a saving of 25%.

Premium Plan

The Premium plan provides the highest performance.

It offers an 8-core/16-thread Intel Xeon-D CPU, 30 GB RAM, 2 TB HDD storage, and unmetered bandwidth.

With a 36-month term, you save 33% at $139.99 per month.

WordPress Hosting

Bluehost WordPress hosting has four plans. The BASIC plan is designed for a single blog or site. It includes 10GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, support for one website, a free domain for the first year, custom WP themes, and free SSL for the first year. For enhanced privacy and security, the CHOICE PLUS plan provides 40GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, support for unlimited websites, a free domain for the first year, custom WP themes, free SSL, daily website backups for the first year, domain privacy, and malware scanning. The ONLINE STORE plan offers 100GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, support for unlimited websites, a free domain for the first year, custom WP themes, an exclusive store theme, store analytics, free SSL, daily website backups, domain privacy, malware scanning, and $450 worth of eCommerce plugins. It also includes features like unlimited products, secure online payments, bookings and appointments, shipping labels, product search and filtering, gift cards, wish list functionality, and customer account creation. For optimized web resources and added power, the PRO plan provides 100GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, support for unlimited websites, a free domain for the first year, a free dedicated IP, custom WP themes, free SSL, daily website backups, domain privacy, and malware scanning.

Basic Plan

The Basic WordPress plan is designed for one blog or website.

With a 36-month plan, you save 40% at $2.95 per month.

The plan includes 10 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, support for one website, a free domain for the first year, custom WP themes, and free SSL for the first year.

Choice Plus

The Choice Plus plan provides added privacy and security.

It costs $5.45 per month for a 36-month plan that saves you 50%.

You get 40 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, support for unlimited websites, a free domain for the first year, custom WP themes, free SSL, daily website backups for the first year, domain privacy, and malware scanning.

Online Store Plan

The Online Store plan is for anyone looking to sell online.

With a 36-month plan, you save 35% and pay $9.95 per month.

It provides 100 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, support for unlimited websites, a free domain for the first year, custom WP themes, an exclusive store theme, store analytics, free SSL, daily website backups, domain privacy, and malware scanning.

There are $450 worth of eCommerce plugins.

The plan also includes features like unlimited products, secure online payments, bookings and appointments scheduling, product search and filtering, gift cards, wish list functionality, and customer account creation.

Pro Plan

The Pro plan provides more power and optimized web resources.

A 36-month plan costs $13.95 per month, a saving of 20%.

It offers 100 GB of SSD storage, a free CDN, support for unlimited websites, a free domain for the first year, a free dedicated IP, custom WP themes, free SSL, daily website backups, domain privacy, and malware scanning.

All Bluehost plans include the following features. With Automatic WordPress Installation, Bluehost automatically installs the latest and most secure version of WordPress, making it easy for you to set up your website. With Secure Setup of Login Credentials Bluehost assists you in securely changing your login credentials from the default settings provided by WordPress, ensuring the safety of your website. With your new Bluehost account, you receive a free domain name of your choice for the first year, allowing you to establish your online presence without additional cost. Bluehost keeps your WordPress hosting plan secure by regularly updating your account with the latest WordPress version, ensuring optimal performance and protection. Bluehost helps you connect with customers in your local area by assisting you in getting verified on Google My Business. This verification allows your customers to find your location and view your business hours on Google Maps.

BlueHost WordPress Resources

Bluehost provides automated marketing tools to help you enhance your online presence and grow your customer base. With built-in SEO tools, you can improve your website's visibility in search engine results, making it easier for people to find you. Bluehost also offers integration with Google My Business, allowing you to create and manage your profile directly from the Bluehost dashboard, boosting your credibility and visibility on Google Maps and search results. Additionally, Bluehost provides Google Ad Services with automated machine learning, enabling you to create and optimize Google Ad campaigns for better targeting and performance. By leveraging these marketing tools, you can increase your online visibility, and attract more customers.

Bluehost Alternatives

SiteGround

SiteGround is a popular alternative for web hosting.

It offers shared hosting, cloud hosting, dedicated servers, and managed WordPress hosting plans.

SiteGround has an excellent customer support and a high-performance infrastructure.

Pricing starts at $6.99 per month for their basic plan which includes 10 GB storage space and unmetered data transfer.

HostGator

HostGator is another popular option for web hosting.

It has shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, reseller accounts as well as WordPress hosting.

Their introductory price starts at $2.75 per month with unlimited storage space and bandwidth on their basic plan.

A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting is worth considering if speed is your main focus.

It is designed specifically for faster page load times.

They offer shared hosting plans starting from $7.99 per month along with other services like VPS & Dedicated Servers.

WP Engine

WP Engine is a top choice for managed WordPress hosting.

Their servers and support are specifically tailored to the needs of WordPress users.

Their plans start at $25 per month which includes 10 GB storage space, 50 GB bandwidth, and support for up to 25,000 monthly visitors.

DreamHost

DreamHost offers shared hosting plans starting from $2.59 per month with unlimited storage space and bandwidth.

They also provide VPS and Dedicated hosting plans.

FAQs in Relation to Bluehost

What Does Bluehost Do?

Bluehost is a web hosting provider that offers various hosting services, including shared, VPS, dedicated server, and WordPress hosting.

They provide users with the necessary tools to create and manage websites.

Additionally, they offer domain registration and email services for businesses.

Why Not Use BlueHost?

Some reasons to consider alternatives to Bluehost include occasional slow page loading times, limited resources on lower-tier plans, upselling of add-ons during the signup process, and mixed customer support experiences.

However, Bluehost is a very popular web hosting service provider that is specifically recommended by WordPress.org.

Why Does Everyone Recommend Bluehost?

Bluehost is often recommended due to its affordable pricing plans combined with reliable performance and user-friendly interface.

It also has a strong reputation in the industry as one of the officially recommended hosts by WordPress.org.

Their affiliate program encourages many bloggers or influencers to promote them.

Is Bluehost Safe and Legit?

Yes. Bluehost is a legitimate web hosting company founded in 2003 which has grown into one of the largest providers worldwide.

Their security measures include SSL certificates (free on some plans), SiteLock protection (add-on), regular backups & automatic updates for WordPress sites ensuring safety for your website data.

Final Thoughts

Bluehost is a reliable and affordable web hosting service provider that offers various hosting plans suitable for businesses of all sizes.

Their customer support team is very responsive and users experience minimal downtime.

Bluehost offers competitive rates that are great value for all sizes of businesses.

It is definitely one of the best web hosting services to consider if you are searching for one.

Review of Bluehost, a reputable web hosting company that offers a variety of hosting services and domain registration. It has been operating since 2003 and is highly recommended by WordPress.org. Bluehost provides shared hosting, virtual private servers (VPS), dedicated servers, and specialized WordPress hosting. Their shared hosting is popular for individuals and small businesses, while VPS and dedicated servers cater to those needing more power and control. Bluehost also offers domain registration services. With a focus on reliability, competitive pricing, user-friendly interfaces, and strong customer support, Bluehost is a trusted choice for hosting and domain needs.

Affiliate Disclaimer: I hope you got value from this Bluehost review. Please take note that some of the links inside this article may be affiliate links. That means that if you buy through one of our links, we may get an affiliate commission for it. If you do click on one of our links, we really appreciate it! Any money we make keeps this site running smoothly and allows us to keep producing these high-quality reviews.

Chinedu Chiana

Chinedu Chiana is an Investor, Entrepreneur, Business & Financial Coach and Author of 'The Smart & Common Sense Investor'. He helps business owners with skills and strategies to create, build and grow profitable online businesses particularly with funnels, social media & email marketing, business automation and marketing advice.