Advertiser Disclosure
Editorial Note: Forbes Advisor may earn a commission on sales made from partner links on this page, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
When you’re searching for a web hosting service, you’ll quickly find that there are dozens of web options available. It can be difficult to choose the one best suited for you or to determine the differences between each choice. Bluehost distinguishes itself from a crowded market with its competitive pricing and impressive WordPress hosting plans, which receive recommendations from WordPress itself.
If you’re specifically looking to build a WordPress website, or you are planning on committing to a multi-year hosting plan, Bluehost is a solid option. But there are a few factors keeping it from top-tier status. Here’s what you should know.
Bluehost at a Glance
Bluehost has been operating since 2003 and it hosts 2 million websites. When you sign up for web hosting with Bluehost, you can choose a one-year commitment up to a three-year plan, for a more affordable price.
Here’s how the cost breaks down for its basic shared hosting plan:
- $4.95 per month for a one-year plan
- $3.95 per month for a two-year plan
- $2.95 per month for a three-year plan
Bluehost’s basic plan comes with one website, 50 GB SSD storage, and one free domain for one year. The next plan up, at $5.45 per month for three years, offers unlimited storage and unlimited websites as well as one free domain for one year, and a one month trial of Office 365. Bluehost’s Pro plan costs $13.95 per month for a three year commitment, and in addition to everything you receive with the other plans, it also comes with free domain privacy (which means Bluehost will hide your name and address assigned to your domain) and a dedicated IP.
Bluehost also offers dedicated hosting, virtual private server (VPS) hosting and WordPress hosting to meet a wide range of needs as your website grows.
Other Benefits
Bluehost is one of three web hosting services that are endorsed by WordPress. The company has a dedicated team of WordPress experts that can provide customer support. This support can help you with questions about selecting a theme for your website, or how to install a plugin. Separately, WordPress also has an active community forum dedicated to questions related to Bluehost.
Bluehost offers professional services to build your personalized website. These services include professional design, website migration, marketing, weekly SEO reports, and keyword optimization. For more information, you can request a consultation on their website.
Fine Print
Bluehost offers competitive and affordable prices on their initial plans, but it’s good to keep in mind that their renewal costs skyrocket. After your introductory subscription term is over, the least you can expect to pay is $8.99 per month for a renewed three-year plan (up from $2.95 per month).
How Bluehost Stacks Up
As far as cost, Bluehost offers a competitive year-long plan. Though the company does not offer month-to-month plans as many other web hosting services do. Its one-year, two-year and three-year plans (at $4.95, $3.95 and $2.95 respectively) are some of the better deals on the market.
Bluehost’s 30-day-money-back guarantee is standard for web hosting services. However, keep in mind that there are a few exceptions, such as InMotion Hosting, which offers a 90-day money back period, and MochaHost, which lets you try their services for six months while still being eligible for a refund. If a trial period is a priority for you, you may want to consider these other services. Bluehost
Finally, Bluehost offers 50 GB SSD storage for their basic plan. While this is lower than A2 and GoDaddy, it’s a standard offering and should be more than enough storage for one website. Additionally, the company offers unlimited storage on their Plus plan, which starts at $5.45 per month for a three years and goes up to $7.95 per month for a one year plan.
Featured Partner
Is Bluehost Right for You or Your Business?
Bluehost is a great option to consider if you plan to build your website with WordPress and if you know you want to commit to a multi-year web hosting plan. The company has been recommended by WordPress since 2005 and is one of the most integrated services for building WordPress websites.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is WordPress free with Bluehost?
Bluehost offers WordPress hosting for $2.95 per month for a three-year plan. WordPress is automatically installed when you purchase this plan through Bluehost. Bluehost also offers a Managed WordPress plan, which offers dynamic scalability to ensure your website maintains its same speed as your traffic increases. These plans start at $9.95 per month.
Is Bluehost good for beginners?
Yes, Bluehost is intuitive to use and easy to navigate, and it works well for both beginners and professional web developers. Bluehost also has an impressive WordPress hosting plan, and many first-time website builders choose to use WordPress because of the accessibility it provides.
Can I cancel Bluehost at any time?
You can cancel your plan whenever you want, but after 30 days, you won’t be eligible for a refund.
What is the difference between WordPress hosting and shared hosting?
Shared hosting is the most popular choice for anyone who is building a website but does not have high traffic demands. It is the most affordable hosting plan and is set up so that multiple websites share the same server and bandwidth. WordPress hosting, on the other hand, is specifically designed for WordPress. It comes with WordPress pre-installed and automatically ensures WordPress is up to date.
Was this article helpful?