DreamHost Reviews

Read unbiased DreamHost reviews from 326 verified users to discover if it's the best choice for you. DreamHost is currently ranked #13 in the web hosting industry with an average star rating of 4.8 and sentiment score of 69%. Keep reading to learn more.

DreamHost logo
DreamHost
DreamHost offers reliable and scalable hosting solutions suitable for businesses of all sizes. Its focus on performance, security, and customer-centric features makes it an excellent choice for developers, entrepreneurs, and content creators.
Founded
1996
Location
Brea, United States
Industries
E-commerce, Blogging, Small and Medium Businesses
Social Links
TrustScore
88
Excellent TrustScore (out of 0 to 100)
Industry Rank
#13
Out of 29 tracked companies
Industry Standing
58.6%
Solid performance among 29 companies
Sentiment Score
69%
Customer overall sentiment score
Average Rating
4.8
Star rating out of 5
Total Reviews
326
Last updated: 2025-01-24 10:49:29
Industry Comparison - Web Hosting
CompanyRank
TrustScore
RatingSentimentReviews
Market Share
Rocket.net#1954.890%44
3.8%
Scala Hosting#2954.987%81
3.9%
Kinsta#3954.987%73
3.9%
MechanicWeb#4924.783%15
3.6%
NameHero#5924.974%703
3.9%
A2 Hosting#6914.874%363
3.7%
WPX Hosting#7914.879%51
3.6%
Pressable#8904.777%45
3.5%
SiteGround#9904.971%2,792
4.9%
DreamHost#10884.869%326
3.5%

In the Web Hosting industry, Rocket.net leads with the highest trust score of 95%, performing 14.6% above average, while Flywheel has the lowest trust score of 36%, 56.6% below the industry average. Rocket.net has the highest sentiment score of 90%, and Hostinger has the most customer feedback with 5,288 reviews.

Industry Average Rating
4.4
Industry Average Sentiment
64%
Industry Total Reviews
21,629

DreamHost Trust Score

0
out of 100
Rating Score (40% weighted)4.8 / 5
Sentiment Score (60% weighted)69%

TrustScore is a combination of 1 to 5 star rating (40% weighted) and -1 to 1 sentiment score (60% weighted) to provide an accurate and comprehensive measure of customer satisfaction. Learn more.

DreamHost Sentiment Overview

Total Reviews
326
Positive
88%
287 reviews
Neutral
4%
13 reviews
Negative
7%
23 reviews
DreamHost Customer Reviews

DreamHost customers are most satisfied with Support (85%) and Performance (70%), while being most critical of .

Reviews by Category

Positive Feedback

Support

Their subscription prices are very reasonable, and their technical support is excellent.

Support

From pro services at dreamhost, to the tech support, to billing it s been a star experience

Support

The support team is very responsive from billing to any technical issues.

Negative Feedback

Most Recent DreamHost Reviews

Positive Reviews

The website had been hacked and when…. The website had been hacked and when they were contact to help they were on it immediately. Needed...

customer

My IT company submitted a ticket…. My IT company submitted a ticket because our site was being slow and their team responded same day and...

Kismet Kilbourn

I submitted a ticket for some assistance and i received a response within10 minutes. I had a few questions and each request was answered quickly...

Debbie Suchorab

Negative Reviews

I have worked with Dreamhost for about…. I have worked with Dreamhost for about 10 years. I am in the process of moving my old...

Kate Hildebrandt

Poor Accountability, you are on your own. I've been with Dreamhost for almost two years now for two of my websites. For one, I've dedicated...

Owais Qureshi

I recently had the misfortune of…. I recently had the misfortune of dealing with Dreamhost, and I can confidently say it’s been one of the...

meihong

The sentiment analysis above has highlighted customer feedback at scale. The DreamHost review below provides an expert take at the features that matter most to help you decide if this company is the right choice for you.

Company Overview

DreamHost is a well-established web hosting provider, founded in 1996, and currently serves over 1.5 million websites, blogs, and applications. It stands out in the market due to its commitment to open-source technologies, high-performance hosting solutions, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction. DreamHost is also known for its innovative offerings, such as custom-built control panels and advanced managed WordPress hosting solutions.

Industries

Web Hosting
WordPress Hosting
Business Websites

Target Audience

Small business owners seeking affordable hosting solutions.
Developers looking for flexible hosting environments.
Bloggers and content creators requiring scalable WordPress hosting.

Unique Selling Points

Custom-built control panel for simplified website management.
Unlimited bandwidth and storage on most hosting plans.
Advanced managed WordPress hosting with automatic updates and enhanced security.
Pricing Plans
Shared Starter
$2.59/monthly
Renews at $5.99/monthly
No Trial
97-day money-back guarantee on shared hosting plans.

The Shared Starter plan is an entry-level option ideal for small websites and blogs. It offers a cost-effective solution with essential features to get started online.

Best For:
This plan is best suited for individuals or small businesses launching their first website or blog. It provides essential tools and features for a basic online presence.

What's Included

  • One website
  • Free domain for the first year
  • Unlimited traffic
  • WordPress pre-installed
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Fast SSD storage
  • Custom control panel
  • 24/7 customer support

What's Not Included

  • Email hosting
  • Automated backups
  • Advanced security features
  • Priority support

Hidden Costs

  • Domain registration fee after the first year
  • Additional email accounts

Payment & Billing

Payment Methods:
Credit Card
PayPal
Currencies:
USD
Billing Cycles:
Monthly
Annual

Free Extra Features

  • Free SSL certificate
  • Free domain for the first year
Shared Unlimited
$3.95/monthly
Renews at $10.99/monthly
No Trial
97-day money-back guarantee on shared hosting plans.

The Shared Unlimited plan is designed for users managing multiple websites or requiring unlimited email hosting. It is an excellent choice for small businesses and growing blogs.

Best For:
This plan is ideal for small businesses or individuals managing multiple websites. It is also suitable for users needing email hosting for professional communication.

What's Included

  • Unlimited websites
  • Free domain for the first year
  • Unlimited traffic
  • Unlimited email accounts
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Fast SSD storage
  • Custom control panel
  • 24/7 customer support

What's Not Included

  • Advanced security tools
  • Automated backups
  • Dedicated IP address
  • Priority support

Hidden Costs

  • Domain renewal fee after the first year
  • Premium support options

Payment & Billing

Payment Methods:
Credit Card
PayPal
Currencies:
USD
Billing Cycles:
Monthly
Annual

Free Extra Features

  • Free domain for the first year
  • Unlimited email accounts
DreamPress
$16.95/monthly
Renews at $19.95/monthly
No Trial
97-day money-back guarantee on shared hosting plans.

DreamPress is a managed WordPress hosting plan designed for high-performance WordPress websites. It includes advanced features like automatic updates, caching, and enhanced security.

Best For:
This plan is best suited for professional bloggers, developers, and businesses running high-traffic WordPress sites. It ensures optimal performance and security for WordPress environments.

What's Included

  • Managed WordPress hosting
  • Free domain for the first year
  • Automatic WordPress updates
  • Built-in caching
  • Free SSL certificate
  • On-demand backups
  • Staging environment
  • 24/7 WordPress support

What's Not Included

  • Dedicated IP address
  • Priority support
  • Advanced security tools
  • Premium plugins

Hidden Costs

  • Domain renewal fee after the first year
  • Premium themes and plugins

Payment & Billing

Payment Methods:
Credit Card
PayPal
Currencies:
USD
Billing Cycles:
Monthly
Annual

Free Extra Features

  • Built-in caching
  • Free staging environment
VPS Basic
$13.75/monthly
Renews at $15.00/monthly
No Trial
30-day money-back guarantee on VPS hosting plans.

The VPS Basic plan provides scalable virtual private server hosting for growing businesses and developers. It offers dedicated resources and enhanced performance.

Best For:
This plan is ideal for developers and businesses seeking dedicated resources and scalable hosting solutions. It is particularly suitable for hosting applications or high-traffic websites.

What's Included

  • 1 GB RAM
  • 30 GB SSD storage
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Custom control panel
  • Unlimited MySQL databases
  • 24/7 support
  • Scalable resources

What's Not Included

  • Advanced security tools
  • Priority support
  • Automated backups
  • Dedicated IP

Hidden Costs

  • Domain renewal fee after the first year
  • Additional storage

Payment & Billing

Payment Methods:
Credit Card
PayPal
Currencies:
USD
Billing Cycles:
Monthly
Annual

Free Extra Features

  • Free SSL certificate
  • Unlimited bandwidth

DreamHost is a strong choice for users looking for reliable, scalable, and developer-friendly hosting. Its managed WordPress hosting and unlimited traffic make it a compelling option for content creators and businesses.

Total Cost Calculator
Pricing Plan
Cost Breakdown

Shared Starter Plan

Monthly Cost$3/month

Total Cost over 3 Years

Year 1$31
Year 2$31
Year 3$31
Total after Year 1
$31
Total after Year 2
$62
Total after Year 3
$93

Optional Add-ons

  • Email hosting for $1.67/month
  • Automated backups for $2/month

Extra Costs not Included

  • Domain registration fee after the first year
  • Additional email accounts
Explore Features

Feature Preferences

Select your feature requirements. Must-have features are essential for your needs, while nice-to-have features are beneficial but not critical.

Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) to select multiple features

Monthly Budget Range

Select your preferred budget range. This helps us find plans that fit your financial requirements.

Recommended Plans

Select features to get plan recommendations
DreamHost Competitor Comparison

Select the features that are important to you. This will help us match competitors based on your needs.

Adjust how much you want to consider price in the comparison.

Features OnlyBalancedPrice Focused

Competitor Rankings

Bluehost
Best Match

Bluehost is a popular hosting provider known for its beginner-friendly features and integration with WordPress. It is officially recommended by WordPress.org.

Match Score: 0%
Bluehost's shared hosting starts at $2.95/month, slightly lower than DreamHost's $2.59/month, but DreamHost offers more features like unlimited traffic.
Key Differences: Bluehost offers cPanel, which is familiar to many users, whereas DreamHost uses a custom control panel. Bluehost's introductory prices are lower, but renewal rates are higher.
When to Choose: Bluehost is a good choice for users seeking cPanel or needing phone support.
When Not to Choose: Avoid Bluehost if you require a longer refund period or unlimited bandwidth on entry-level plans.
SiteGround

SiteGround is known for its excellent customer support and advanced performance features like SSD storage and caching.

Match Score: 0%
SiteGround's shared hosting starts at $3.99/month, higher than DreamHost's $2.59/month, but includes enhanced security tools.
Key Differences: SiteGround offers advanced security features and faster performance but has stricter resource limits compared to DreamHost.
When to Choose: Choose SiteGround if you prioritize customer support and advanced security.
When Not to Choose: Avoid SiteGround if you need unlimited traffic or a longer refund period.
HostGator

HostGator is a budget-friendly hosting provider offering a wide range of plans and features for small businesses and individuals.

Match Score: 0%
HostGator's shared hosting starts at $2.75/month, slightly higher than DreamHost's $2.59/month, but DreamHost includes free SSL and unlimited traffic.
Key Differences: HostGator provides cPanel and phone support, but its performance and uptime are often rated lower than DreamHost.
When to Choose: HostGator is a good option for users requiring cPanel and phone support.
When Not to Choose: Avoid HostGator if you prioritize uptime and performance.
User Feedback

Common Praise

Users appreciate the 97-day money-back guarantee, which is one of the longest in the hosting industry.
The custom control panel is frequently praised for its simplicity and ease of use.
DreamHost's customer support team is often commended for being responsive and knowledgeable.

Common Complaints

Some users report slower response times during peak hours for shared hosting plans.
The lack of cPanel may be a disadvantage for users familiar with the industry-standard interface.
Additional costs for features like email hosting and automated backups can be frustrating for budget-conscious customers.

Success Stories

A small e-commerce business successfully scaled its operations using DreamHost's VPS hosting, citing improved performance and reliability.
A professional blogger reported significant traffic growth after switching to DreamPress, thanks to better caching and uptime.
A non-profit organization managed to launch its website quickly and affordably using the Shared Starter plan.

Potential Deal Breakers

The absence of cPanel may deter users accustomed to this interface.
Limited phone support options could be a deal-breaker for users requiring immediate assistance.
Higher renewal prices compared to introductory rates may dissuade long-term customers.
Final Verdict

DreamHost is a reliable and feature-rich hosting provider suitable for a wide range of users, from beginners to advanced developers. Its emphasis on unlimited traffic, custom control panels, and managed WordPress hosting makes it a strong contender in the hosting market. However, its lack of phone support and reliance on a custom control panel may not appeal to everyone.

DreamHost Pros

  • 97-day money-back guarantee, one of the longest in the industry.
  • Unlimited traffic and storage on most plans.
  • Custom-built control panel that simplifies website management.
  • Affordable managed WordPress hosting with advanced features.

DreamHost Cons

  • Lack of cPanel may deter users familiar with this interface.
  • No phone support, which could be a disadvantage for some users.
  • Higher renewal prices compared to introductory rates.

Recommended For:

DreamHost is ideal for small businesses, bloggers, and developers seeking affordable and scalable hosting solutions. It is particularly well-suited for WordPress users due to its managed hosting options.

Not Recommended For:

DreamHost may not be suitable for users requiring phone support or those heavily reliant on cPanel. It is also less ideal for users seeking advanced security features in basic plans.

DreamHost is a strong choice for users looking for reliable, scalable, and developer-friendly hosting. Its managed WordPress hosting and unlimited traffic make it a compelling option for content creators and businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions