Bluehost, a well-known web hosting brand, hosts over 2 million websites. I’ve used Bluehost for years, and I’ll break down their pricing plans and share some tips on how to save money.
If you’ve checked out my Bluehost review, you might be ready to dive in. But before you do, let’s make sure you’re getting the best deal for your needs.
How Much Does Bluehost Cost?
Bluehost offers a wide range of hosting options, from budget-friendly shared hosting to powerful dedicated servers.
Prices start at $1.99/month (this is for the initial term – more on that later). Plus, they have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test the waters before committing.
Bluehost Shared Hosting
Bluehost’s shared hosting plans are their most affordable option. They advertise prices starting at $1.99/month, but this requires a three-year commitment upfront.
Their Basic plan lets you build one website with 50 GB of SSD storage and unlimited bandwidth. You also get a free SSL certificate and a free domain for the first year. This plan is a great starting point for simple websites or blogs.
Here’s where things get a little tricky with Bluehost’s pricing (and this is common practice in the hosting industry). That super-low price of $1.99/month is only available if you sign up for three years initially.
- If you choose a 12-month term, it’s $4.95 per month.
- For 24 months, it’s $3.95 per month.
- And for 36 months, it’s that advertised $2.95 per month.
The real kicker is the renewal price. After your initial term, the Basic plan renews at $10.99 per month. That’s a significant jump, so it’s something to be aware of.
Their other shared plans offer more features:
- The Choice Plus plan (from $3.99/month, renews at $18.99) supports unlimited websites and storage, along with unlimited domains, subdomains, and parked domains. It also includes domain privacy and site backups through CodeGuard Basic.
- The Online Store plan (from $7.45/month, renews at $24.99) is tailored for e-commerce, coming with the WooCommerce online store builder.
- The Pro plan (from $9.99/month, renews at $39.99) includes everything in Choice Plus, plus a dedicated IP address and lower-density servers for better performance.
PRO TIP
Bluehost’s Plus, Choice Plus, and Pro plans come with marketing credits. You get:
- $100 in Bing Ads credit (no spending minimum).
- $100 in Google Ads credit (you need to spend at least $25 on a Google Ads campaign to redeem it).
| Basic | Choice Plus | Online Store | Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Websites | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| SSD Storage | 50GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Free SSL | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Performance | Standard | Standard | Standard | High |
| Free Domain | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Domain Privacy | N/A | Included | Included | Included |
| Codeguard Site Backup | N/A | Included | Included | Included |
| Dedicated IP Address | N/A | N/A | N/A | Included |
| Monthly Price | $1.99/month | $3.99/month | $7.45/month | $9.99/month |
Bluehost WordPress Hosting
Bluehost offers both shared and managed WordPress hosting. Their three basic WordPress shared plans (Basic, Plus, Choice Plus) are the same as their standard shared hosting plans – same names, same prices, same features.
But they also have three managed WordPress plans that are specifically designed for WordPress websites. These plans offer more power, performance, and WordPress-specific features.
- The Build plan (starts at $19.95 per month, renews at $39.99) includes daily backups, malware detection and removal, an integrated marketing center, and more.
- The Grow plan (starts at $29.95 per month, renews at $49.99) adds Jetpack Premium, Bluehost SEO tools, and Blue Sky Ticket support for priority assistance.
- The Scale plan (starts at $49.95 per month, renews at $69.99) includes everything in Grow, plus Jetpack Pro, unlimited video compression, and other advanced features.
Managed WordPress hosting is pricier than shared hosting, but it’s worth it if you want a hands-off approach to managing your WordPress site. Bluehost takes care of the technical details, so you can focus on creating content and growing your audience.
Bluehost’s WordPress Website Builder
Bluehost also offers a drag-and-drop website builder specifically for WordPress. It’s a great option if you want to create a professional-looking website without any coding knowledge.
The Bluehost Website Builder for WordPress is easy to use and comes with a range of features, including:
- Drag-and-drop editing: No coding required! You can easily customize any section of your website.
- Smart templates: Bluehost suggests templates based on your website’s purpose, making it easy to get started.
- Stock images and custom fonts: Access a library of images and fonts to enhance your website’s design.
- Mobile optimization: All design elements and templates are optimized for mobile devices.
- One-click WordPress login: Seamlessly switch between the Website Builder and your WordPress dashboard.
- Full ownership: You retain 100% ownership of your website content.
| Basic | Plus | Choice Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Websites | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| SSD Storage | 50GB | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Free Domain | Included | Included | Included |
| Free SSL | Included | Included | Included |
| Automatic WordPress Installs | Included | Included | Included |
| Automatic WordPress Updates | Included | Included | Included |
| Codeguard Site Backup | N/A | Included | Included |
| Office 365 Mailbox | N/A | Included | Included |
| Monthly Price | From $1.99 per month | $5.45 | $5.45 |
Bluehost VPS Hosting
If you need more power and control than shared hosting offers, Bluehost’s VPS plans are worth considering. While they’re not as customizable as some competitors, they’re a good value for the price.
The Standard VPS plan starts at $18.99 per month (renews at $29.99) and includes two CPU cores, 30 GB of dedicated SSD storage, 2 GB of RAM, 1 TB of bandwidth, and one IP address.
The Enhanced plan (from $29.99 per month, renews at $59.99) bumps up the server resources, and the Ultimate plan (from $59.99 per month, renews at $119.99) offers four CPU cores, 120 GB of SSD storage, 8 GB of RAM, 3 TB of bandwidth, two IP addresses, and more.
| Standard | Enhanced | Ultimate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| SSD Storage | 30GB | 60GB | 120GB |
| Bandwidth | 1TB | 2TB | 3TB |
| Free SSL | Included | Included | Included |
| RAM | 2GB | 4GB | 8GB |
| Free Domain | Included | Included | Included |
| Enhanced Control Panel | Included | Included | Included |
| Free Backups | Included | Included | Included |
| IP Addresses | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Monthly Price | $18.99 | $29.99 | $59.99 |
Bluehost Dedicated Server Hosting
For the ultimate in power and control, Bluehost offers three dedicated server plans. Prices start at $79.99 and go up to $119.99 per month. However, these plans are less customizable than what you’ll find with some other providers.
The entry-level Standard plan (from $79.99 per month, renews at $119.99) comes with a four-core 2.3 GHz CPU, 500 GB of mirrored storage, 4 GB of RAM, 5 TB of bandwidth, and three IP addresses.
If you need a dedicated server, I’d recommend comparing Bluehost’s offerings with other providers to make sure you’re getting the best hardware and features for your budget.
PRO TIP
Bluehost’s primary servers are located in Utah, USA. They also have dedicated services for the Indian market (Bluehost India) and the Chinese market (Bluehost China).
| Standard | Enhanced | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| SSD Storage | 500GB (mirrored) | 1TB (mirrored) | 1TB (mirrored) |
| Bandwidth | 5TB | 10TB | 15TB |
| Free SSL | Included | Included | Included |
| RAM | 4GB | 8GB | 16GB |
| Free Domain | Included | Included | Included |
| Root Access | Included | Included | Included |
| Free Backups | Included | Included | Included |
| IP Addresses | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Monthly Price | $79.99 | $99.99 | $119.99 |
What Are the Best Ways to Save Money With Bluehost?
Here are a couple of ways to get the most out of your Bluehost budget:
Sign Up for a Long-Term Plan
Bluehost rewards long-term commitments with significant discounts. If you’re planning to stick with Bluehost for a while, opting for a three-year plan upfront can save you a lot of money in the long run. Plus, you have that 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind.
Buy Your Domain Elsewhere
While Bluehost offers domain registration, you can often find better deals elsewhere. For instance, Namecheap often has lower prices for domains, especially when you factor in domain privacy, which is usually an add-on cost with Bluehost.
Bonus Tip: Negotiate Renewal Rates
When it’s time to renew your Bluehost plan, don’t just automatically click the renewal button. Contact their sales team and see if you can negotiate a better rate. You might be surprised at the discounts they’re willing to offer to retain your business.
How Do Bluehost Prices Compare to Competitors?
Bluehost’s shared and WordPress hosting plans are competitively priced, often lower than many popular alternatives. However, their VPS and dedicated server plans are less competitive, and you might find better value elsewhere.
Here’s a quick comparison of Bluehost’s starting prices with two other popular providers, HostGator and Hostinger:
| Bluehost | Hostinger | HostGator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared | $2.95 | $1.39 | $2.75 |
| Shared WordPress | $2.95 | N/A | $5.95 |
| Managed WordPress | $19.95 | $1.99 | $11.95 |
| VPS | $18.99 | $3.95 | $19.95 |
| Dedicated | $79.99 | N/A | $89.98 |
Our Verdict ⭐
Bluehost is a solid choice for shared and WordPress hosting, but it’s important to understand their pricing structure before you sign up. Their shared and WordPress hosting plans offer excellent value, especially for beginners. I’ve used their shared hosting for several smaller projects, and it’s been a reliable and affordable option.
However, their VPS and dedicated server plans are less impressive and don’t offer the same level of value. If you need a more powerful hosting solution, you’ll likely find better options elsewhere.
Bluehost’s pricing can be a bit misleading. Those incredibly low prices you see advertised? They often require a three-year commitment. While this is common practice in the hosting industry, it’s something to be aware of. Renewal rates are significantly higher, so factor that into your budget.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Bluehost’s shared hosting starts at $1.99/month, but you need to pay for three years upfront to get that price. Renewals are significantly higher.
- Their managed WordPress hosting starts at $19.95 per month and offers a good balance of features and performance.
- Consider registering your domain elsewhere to potentially save money.
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate renewal rates with their sales team.
The bottom line: Bluehost is a good option for shared or WordPress hosting, but shop around if you need a VPS or dedicated server.
Recent Improvements & Updates
Bluehost constantly improves its hosting services with faster speeds, better security, and enhanced customer support. Here are just some of the recent improvements (last checked October 2024):
- iPage is now partnered with Bluehost! This collaboration brings together two giants in the web hosting industry, combining their strengths to offer you an unparalleled service.
- Launch of Bluehost Professional Email service. This new solution and Google Workspace are designed to elevate your business communications to new heights, enhancing your brand’s image and boosting customer confidence.
- Free WordPress Migration plugin for any WordPress user can be downloaded directly to a customer’s Bluehost cPanel or WordPress admin dashboard at no cost.
- New Bluehost Control Panel that lets you manage your Bluehost servers and hosting services. Users can use both the new Account Manager and the old Bluerock control panel. Find out what the differences are here.
- Launch of Bluehost WonderSuite, which consists of:
- WonderStart: A user-friendly and personalized onboarding experience that accelerates the website creation process.
- WonderTheme: A versatile WordPress theme developed by YITH that empowers users to showcase their websites effectively.
- WonderBlocks: A comprehensive library of block patterns and page templates enriched with images and suggested text.
- WonderHelp: An AI-powered, actionable guide accompanying users throughout the WordPress site-building journey.
- WonderCart: An eCommerce feature designed to empower entrepreneurs and maximize online sales.
- Now offering the advanced PHP 8.2 for improved performance.
- Implementing LSPHP a handler to accelerate PHP script processing, enhancing website performance by optimizing PHP execution.
- Enabled OPCache a PHP extension that stores precompiled script bytecode in memory, reducing repeated compilation and resulting in faster PHP execution.
Reviewing Bluehost: Our Methodology
When we review web hosts, our evaluation is based on these criteria:
- Value for Money: What types of web hosting plans are on offer, and are they good value for money?
- User Friendliness: How user-friendly is the signup process, the onboarding, the dashboard? and so on.
- Customer Support: When we need help, how quickly can we get it, and is the support effective and helpful?
- Hosting Features: What unique features does the web host provide, and how do they stack up against competitors?
- Security: Are essential security measures like SSL certificates, DDoS protection, backup services, and malware/virus scans included?
- Speed and Uptime: Is the hosting service fast and reliable? What types of servers do they use, and how do they perform in tests?
For more details on our review process, click here.
