DreamHost has earned its reputation as a top-tier web hosting provider, thanks to its industry-leading 97-day money-back guarantee, flexible monthly pricing, and robust performance. In this DreamHost review, I’ll examine why this web host continues to be a compelling choice for website owners of all levels.
With over two decades of experience and 1.5 million websites under its belt, DreamHost has refined its offerings to meet the evolving needs of website owners. I’ve personally used DreamHost for several client projects, and their commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction is evident in every aspect of their service.
DreamHost’s standout features include the option to pay monthly without long-term commitments, a rarity in the hosting industry. This flexibility has been a game-changer for my clients with fluctuating budgets. Additionally, DreamHost maintains consistent pricing at renewal, eliminating the shock of unexpected price hikes. Their 97-day money-back guarantee is the longest I’ve seen in the industry, providing ample time to thoroughly test their services.
For a quick overview of my findings, check out this video summarizing the key points of this review:
Pros and Cons
DreamHost Pros
- Affordable, Feature-Packed Plans: Starting at $2.59/month, DreamHost offers robust hosting solutions that won’t break the bank. I’ve found their plans provide excellent value, especially for small businesses and bloggers just starting out.
- Impressive Performance: With 99.9% uptime and low average response times, DreamHost delivers reliable hosting. In my experience, this translates to consistently fast-loading websites and minimal downtime.
- User-Friendly Setup: The custom DreamHost control panel streamlines website creation. While it differs from cPanel, I’ve found it intuitive and well-designed for managing multiple sites efficiently.
- Free Domain and SSL: Annual plans include a free domain for the first year, saving you around $15. The inclusion of free SSL certificates across all plans is a significant plus for security and SEO.
- Automatic Backups: Daily backups come standard, providing peace of mind. I’ve used this feature to quickly restore client sites after accidental changes, saving hours of work.
- Generous Money-Back Guarantee: The 97-day refund period is unmatched in the industry. This extended trial allowed me to thoroughly test DreamHost’s services before committing long-term.
DreamHost Cons
- Additional Cost for Enhanced Security: While basic security measures are in place, the $3/month/site fee for DreamShield malware protection can add up quickly for users with multiple websites.
- Learning Curve: The proprietary control panel, while powerful, may take time to master. New users accustomed to cPanel might need a few days to adjust to DreamHost’s interface.
- Limited Server Locations: With data centers only in the US, users targeting audiences in other regions might experience slightly slower load times. I’ve noticed this impact when hosting sites for European clients.
- Costly Phone Support: The $9.95 per-call fee for phone support is steep. While email and chat support are generally responsive, the lack of included phone support can be frustrating during urgent issues.
While DreamHost offers compelling features, it’s essential to consider how these align with your specific needs. In this review, I’ll examine DreamHost’s offerings in detail, helping you determine if it’s the right hosting solution for your website.
Features (The Good)
DreamHost is an independently owned and operated hosting company that has withheld the test of time, despite Endurance International seemingly taking over some of the biggest names in hosting history (e.g. iPage, Hostgator, and Bluehost).
In order for DreamHost to have done this, and remain successful, it has had to work hard to satisfy customers looking for reliable hosting that comes with everything needed to run a profitable website.
So, let’s take a look and see just what this web hosting service has to offer that’s so great.
1. Speed
Fast servers are a very important factor when choosing a web host. Because research has shown that most site visitors will leave your website (and never come back) if it fails to load within 2 seconds or less.
The faster your website loads the better!
It really depends on the services you’ve got with us, but we’ve spent a lot of time building our managed WordPress offering, DreamPress, to deliver one of the most responsive WordPress experiences on the web!
DreamPress is cached at the server level with PHP OPcache and Memcached, runs on top of blazing-fast PHP7, and lives distributed across an Nginx web server and a WordPress-optimized MySQL database server. We’re very proud of DreamPress (review here) and we’ve worked hard to make it one of the web’s most powerful WordPress hosting options.
Brett Dunst – DreamHost VP of Corporate Communications
DreamHost offers some of the latest speed technology to ensure that your site loads fast:
- Solid State Drives. Your site’s files and databases are stored on SSD, which are a lot faster than HDD (Hard Disk Drives).
- Gzip Compression. It is enabled by default on all plans
- OPcache Caching. OPcache is a caching engine built into PHP and is also enabled by default.
- Content Delivery Network. Cloudflare is a CDN service that provides website protection and acceleration. DreamHost is an “Optimized Hosting Partner” of Cloudflare.
- PHP7. This is the latest version of PHP and ensures faster performance and fewer resources.
Speed test – how fast is DreamHost?
Sites that load slowly aren’t likely to rise to the top in any niche. A study from Google found that a one-second delay in mobile page load times can impact conversion rates by up to 20%.
I decided to test the load time. I created a test WordPress website hosted (on the Shared Starter plan), and then I installed WordPress (using the Argent theme and dummy lorem ipsum content).
Out of the box, the test site loaded pretty fast, in 1.1 seconds, with a 210 kb page size, and 15 requests.
Not bad at all .. but it gets better.
DreamHost already comes with built-in caching and gzip compression that is enabled by default, so there are no settings to optimize here.
But to speed things up, even more, I went ahead and installed a free WordPress plugin called Autoptimize and I simply enabled the default settings.
That improved the performance even more, as it shaved off 0.1 seconds, and it reduced the total page size to just 199 kb and reduced the number of requests down to 11.
WordPress sites hosted on DreamHost will load pretty fast, and here I’ve shown you a simple technique you can use to speed things up even more.
I have created a test site hosted on DreamHost.com to monitor uptime and server response time. You can view historical uptime data and server response time on this uptime monitor page.
2. DIY Remixer Website Builder
The team at DreamHost knows how hard it can be to build a website from scratch, especially when you don’t know any code.
That’s why they offer the Remixer website builder to all customers for making stand-out websites that are destined to drive traffic and convert visitors into customers.
Here are some of the features that come with your built-in website builder:
- Unlimited website creation under one hosting plan
- No page limits
- Mobile-friendly themes
- Custom colors and fonts
- Domain name assignment to Remixer website (free of charge)
- Access to free and professional-looking stock photography
- Built-in SEO optimization
- Individual media library so you can publish photos, videos, and audio on your site
Building a website from the ground up is super simple when you use their exclusive website builder.
3. Domain Names and More
Not only does DreamHost offer free domain names with their plans (save for the starter shared hosting plan), they include a bunch of additional features too, making the deal a little sweeter.
To start, use their convenient domain name search bar to find the perfect URL for your growing website.
Next, enjoy the following:
- Auto-renewals. Set your own domain name auto-renewals so that each year you can make sure your domain name stays yours and no one capitalizes on your hard work.
- DNS Management. Reference computers by names instead of IP addresses.
- Receive as many subdomains as you need, for free.
- Custom Nameservers. Create vanity nameservers branded with your domain to respond to DNS requests for your domain.
- Domain Forwarding. Automatically redirect your site visitors to another URL or domain name for easier content management.
- Optional Domain Locking. Lock your domain name for free for added security so no unauthorized changes can be made.
Registering your domain name with DreamHost is the simplest solution when you use them as your hosting provider too.
That said, if you have a domain name with another company, you can easily transfer it over to DreamHost when you’re ready.
4. Dedication to the Environment
DreamHost understands that running a hosting company takes its toll on the environment. For example, electricity to keep servers running, paper to run offices, and even the gas it takes to get employees to and from work each day affect the environment we all share.
There is also an understanding that over the years, and long into the future, DreamHost has grown and will continue to grow into a larger business that uses more of the earth’s precious resources.
In response, DreamHost does the following to reduce its own carbon footprint:
- Their offices run with energy-efficient appliances and lighting and use motion-controlled, low-flow plumbing fixtures
- Datacenters include high-efficiency cooling infrastructure, use of municipal and reclaimed water, power-efficient processors, and power from renewable resources such as wind farms, solar panels, and hydroelectric plants
- Employees receive complimentary recycling bins in their offices, financial incentives to use public transportation, work-from-home opportunities, and access to e-filing and videoconferencing
If doing your part to save the environment is important, you can rest assured DreamHost is on your side and is doing its best to provide you with environmentally responsible hosting services.
5. 100% Uptime
It’s a rarity to find a hosting company that will provide a true 100% uptime guarantee. And yet, DreamHost does it somehow.
Using multiple data center locations to handle the load and any threats of downtime, redundant cooling, emergency generators, and constant server monitoring, DreamHost keeps your website up and running all of the time.
If at any time your site does experience downtime (which according to DreamHost it won’t), but just in case it does, and you’ll also be compensated.
And, if you want to check out the current status of any critical issues, downtime, and system updates, check out the DreamHost Status Website anytime you want.
And to top it off, if you want to check out the history of any server issues that have happened with DreamHost, you can do that too:
This transparency is a great feature that customers appreciate. The world is not perfect, and neither are any web hosting providers on the market.
Hiding the fact that things happen doesn’t tend to sit well with paying customers, so DreamHost makes an effort to show you when things happen and how they are handled, so you can be sure you’re getting your money’s worth and your website is protected.
6. Impressive Money Back Guarantee
Again, DreamHost really outdoes itself when it comes to guaranteeing it has the hosting services you need to run a successful website.
All shared hosting plans come with a 97-Day Money-Back Guarantee and all DreamPress plans come with 30-Day Money-ReturnGuarantees.
This is extraordinary seeing as even InMotion’s 90-Day Money-Return Guarantee can’t even compete. And most other hosting providers only give you 30 or 45 days to cancel if not satisfied.
DreamHost wants you to make sure they are (or aren’t) the ones for you. And by having such a generous refund policy, all customers of DreamHost begin to build trust with them from the start, which can go a long way for business.
After all, many eCommerce shops claim that when they lengthen the refund time period, they actually see a decline in refunds and an increase in sales.
7. Great Customer Support
There will likely be times when you need to contact someone in support. That’s why knowing that there will be a knowledgeable team member to help you out at any time is crucial.
DreamHost has real-life human beings on standby to help you solve your every problem. They are experienced with web hosting and WordPress (if you choose the managed WP hosting plan) and can help you solve any issues you run into.
In addition, you can:
- Get in touch with customer service via live chat 24/7/365
- Access support staff, tech support, or the service team by email to get your questions answered
- Start a thread in the community forum to see what other DreamHost customers think
- Troubleshoot yourself using the extensive Knowledge Base that has articles related to accounting management/billing, SSL certificates, product support, and more
Features (The Not-So-Good)
In short, DreamHost is a simple hosting provider that offers its customers the features needed to run a successful website.
However, there are some things that aren’t that great that you should be aware of before deciding whether DreamHost is for you.
1. No cPanel
Traditionally, hosting providers give their customers access to things like account management and billing, email accounts, FTP information, and more in cPanel or Plesk, both of which are intuitive control panels with easy-to-use dashboards.
DreamHost doesn’t do that, which can make the learning curve a bit tough for those new to hosting or those familiar with cPanel.
The problem with DreamHost’s proprietary control panel is that it can be tough to find the things you’re looking for, the dashboard can seem limiting, and customer service team requests increase because people find themselves having a lot of trouble completing even the simplest of tasks.
2. No Phone Support
Sure, you can access DreamHost support via email or live chat. But there is no phone number you can reach out to when you want to talk to a real live person.
Though you can request a call back from technical support, this is going to cost you extra as this support service does not come included with your hosting plan.
Instead, you can add three callbacks to your account for a monthly fee, or invest in a one-time callback for a set fee as well.
This does not bode well for many customers, seeing as most reliable hosting providers have email, support ticket systems, live chat, and phone service available for all customers free of charge.
Adding to that, live chat support is not available 24/7 like email support is. Instead, you can only access them every day from 5:30 AM – 9:30 PM Pacific Time.
While this isn’t normally a problem, we can all think of a time when we needed immediate support in the middle of the night. It also seems that the only way to access live chat support is through your control panel, which doesn’t help if you have pre-sale questions you want to be answered right away. Instead, you have to use the online contact form.
Plans & Pricing
DreamHost has many plans available including shared hosting, dedicated servers, virtual private servers (VPS), and WP hosting,
However, we’re just going to take a look at DreamHost pricing for the shared and WP hosting plans.
Shared Hosting
DreamHost’s shared hosting is very simple.
There are only two plans to choose from:
- Shared Starter. This is great for those just starting out. It includes one website, a .com domain name for a low price, unlimited traffic, fast SSD storage, an SSL certificate, and the option to upgrade to add an email account. This plan starts at $2.59/month.
- Shared Unlimited. This plan is great for those with multiple websites. Enjoy unlimited websites, a free domain name, unlimited traffic and SSD storage, multiple SSL certificates, and email hosting. This plan starts at $3.95/month.
With shared hosting, you have access to the proprietary control panel, a 100% uptime guarantee, 24/7 support, and the impressive 97-Day Money-Return Guarantee.
Other features in the DreamHost Shared Unlimited plan include:
- Unlimited MySQL databases
- Server Side Includes (SSI)
- IPv6 support
- Full Unix shell
- PHP 7.1 support
- Rails, Python, and Perl support
- Access to raw log files
- Crontab access
- Full CGI access
- Canned CGI scripts
It’s important to note that DreamHost does not offer Windows operating systems including ASP.NET or Windows Server. Instead, they only offer Linux support.
WordPress Hosting
As a company that works hard to empower content creators by helping them achieve success online, we would be crazy to not be crazy about WordPress – it powers over a third of the web!
WordPress brings the creativity of people and the power of computers together in a way that few web platforms have been able to accomplish. The WordPress community is incredible and never ceases to amaze us!
It’s full of thousands of helpful people, all focused as much on improving the core platform as it is ensuring that anyone who wants their voice heard online gets that chance.
In fact, our Vision and Mission statements align very closely with an open web and democratized publishing:
“People have the freedom to choose how their digital content is shared” is our Vision statement. “Foster success by providing the open web platform of choice” is our Mission statement.
Brett Dunst – DreamHost VP of Corporate Communications
DreamHost’s WordPress hosting is also very simple.
There are three plans to choose from:
- Shared Starter. This is good for small WordPress websites, those just starting out, and anyone on a strict budget. It comes with a shared hosting server, supports one website, and comes with unlimited traffic, fast storage (SSD), a 1-click SSL certificate, 24/7 support, and the chance to upgrade to add an email account. This plan starts at $2.59/month.
- DreamPress. This is powerful hosting for large websites and businesses that want seamless performance on their highly trafficked sites. It comes optimized for WordPress and with built-in tools. It comes with a fast cloud server, includes one website, 10K monthly site visitors, 30GB storage (SSD), a 1-click SSL certificate, email hosting, 24/7 support, and a free Jetpack pre-installation. This plan starts at $16.95/month.
- VPS WordPress. This plan is a great choice for those who want to have more control over their website. With VPS hosting, you get dedicated server resources without the high costs of a dedicated server. The VPS WP hosting plan also includes a custom control panel, unlimited bandwidth, and the ability to host multiple websites. Dreamhost’s VPS plans are scalable, so you can easily upgrade your resources as your website grows. Plus, with Dreamhost’s 24/7 customer support team, you can get assistance whenever you need it. This plan starts at $10.00/month.
With DreamHost WordPress hosting, you get lightning-fast speed, built-in security features, and WordPress Specialists trained to help you with your questions and concerns.
In addition, all WordPress hosting plans come with:
- Automatic WordPress updates (WordPress core and security updates)
- A WordPress install and popular plugins and themes to get you started
- Domain Privacy
- Unlimited email addresses
- Custom DreamHost control panel
- Built-in Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Complete domain management
- SFTP and SSH access
- WP-CLI
If you opt for the DreamPress hosting plan, you’ll also receive server-level caching, object caching, instant site launches, varnish caching, Brotli compression, instant upgrades, default HTTP status codes, and NGINX with HTTP2 enabled.
DreamHost also offers free WordPress migrations, which lets you simply and easily migrate WordPress sites into DreamHost. The free tool is designed to ease the burden of migrating data between WordPress providers.
Compare DreamHost Competitors
DreamHost faces stiff competition in the shared hosting world. Let’s compare it to Bluehost, SiteGround, A2 Hosting, Hostinger, HostGator, BigScoots, and GreenGeeks along key features and analyze their strengths for different users:
| DreamHost | Bluehost | SiteGround | A2 Hosting | Hostinger | HostGator | BigScoots | GreenGeeks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Starts at $2.59/month | Starts at $2.95/month | Starts at $2.99/month | Starts at $2.99/month | Starts at $2.99/month | Starts at $3.75/month | Starts at $6.95/month | Starts at $2.95/month |
| Performance | Good | Good | Excellent | Very fast | Good | Good | Excellent | Good |
| Security | Basic | Basic | High | High | Moderate | Moderate | High | High |
| Features | Free domain, WordPress tools | Free domain, marketing tools | Staging sites, auto updates | Unlimited sites, server rewind | Free website builder, Cloudflare | Free cPanel backup, SEO tools | Expert support, pay-as-you-go | Eco-friendly hosting, free CDN |
| Ease of Use | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy | Very easy | Easy | Not beginner-friendly | Easy |
| Support | 24/7 live chat, phone, ticket | 24/7 live chat, phone, ticket | 24/7 live chat, phone, ticket | 24/7 live chat, phone, ticket | 24/7 live chat, phone, ticket | 24/7 live chat, phone, ticket | 24/7 live chat, phone, ticket | 24/7 live chat, phone, ticket |
For beginners:
- DreamHost, Hostinger (see this review), Bluehost (and this review), and HostGator (and also this review) offer user-friendly interfaces and affordable plans.
For performance:
- SiteGround (see our review), A2 Hosting (see our review), and BigScoots (see our review) excel with speed and scalability.
For security:
- BigScoots, GreenGeeks (see this review), and SiteGround prioritize advanced security features.
For budget:
- DreamHost, Hostinger, and HostGator have the cheapest entry points.
For WordPress:
- DreamHost, SiteGround, and A2 Hosting offer tailored WordPress features.
For eco-conscious users:
- GreenGeeks is the only 100% renewable energy provider.
Our Verdict ⭐
Do I recommend DreamHost? Yes, I do – with some caveats.
DreamHost: Dream Big, Host Easy
- Affordable rocket rides: Plans for every budget, starting super low.
- Beginner-friendly: Easy tools and control panel, no tech headaches.
- WordPress whizzes: Optimized hosting for your favorite platform.
- Green giant: 100% renewable energy powers your online world.
- 24/7 support squad: Friendly humans always on call, day or night.
- Free domain & goodies: Bonus with most plans, say goodbye to extras.
DreamHost is perfect for:
- Newbies starting their online journey.
- Budget-conscious individuals and hobbyists.
- WordPress fans who want a fuss-free experience.
- Eco-friendly folks who care about the planet.
Not the fanciest, but super reliable and easy to use. Dream big without breaking the bank!
DreamHost has stood the test of time for good reason. Their straightforward hosting plans, competitive pricing, and robust feature set make them a solid choice for many website owners. In my experience, their shared hosting plans comfortably handle websites with moderate traffic without breaking a sweat.
We truly believe in an open web that respects the ownership rights of all users. Content creators shouldn’t be constrained by Terms of Service that takes away some ownership of their own digital media.
They shouldn’t look to tech companies to tell them what they can and can’t publish online. DreamHost delivers true data portability and respect for our users and their content, and we do it with the power of open-source software.
Brett Dunst – DreamHost VP of Corporate Communications
However, it’s worth noting that DreamHost’s custom control panel, while powerful, comes with a learning curve. As someone who’s used both cPanel and DreamHost’s interface, I can attest that the transition takes some getting used to. The lack of cPanel might be a dealbreaker for users who rely heavily on its familiar layout and tools.
Another point of contention is the paid phone support. In an age where instant communication is the norm, charging for phone support feels outdated. I’ve found their email support to be responsive, but during critical issues, the absence of immediate phone support can be frustrating.
For bloggers, small businesses, and WordPress enthusiasts, DreamHost offers a compelling package. Their WordPress-specific features, like one-click installs and automatic updates, have saved me countless hours of manual work. However, as your site grows, you’ll need to carefully evaluate if their plans can keep up with your expanding needs.
One standout feature is the generous 97-day money-back guarantee. This extended trial period allowed me to thoroughly test DreamHost’s capabilities across various projects before committing long-term. It’s a level of confidence in their service that few competitors match.
I encourage you to give DreamHost a try. Their user-friendly website builder, unlimited bandwidth, commitment to sustainability, and round-the-clock email support create a well-rounded hosting package. In my years of using their services, I’ve found their performance to be reliable and their feature set more than adequate for most small to medium-sized websites.
Remember, hosting needs vary greatly between users. While DreamHost has been an excellent fit for many of my projects, it’s crucial to assess your specific requirements before making a decision. Their extended money-back guarantee gives you ample time to determine if they’re the right partner for your online journey.
Recent Improvements & Updates
DreamHost constantly improves its hosting services with faster speeds, better security and infrastructure, and customer support. Here are just some of the recent improvements (last checked October 2024):
- Award Recognition: DreamHost was named the Best Hosting Provider in the 2023 Monster’s Awards, acknowledging their excellence in WordPress solutions.
- New Migration Dashboard: A migration dashboard was added to the “Manage Websites” feature, simplifying the process of moving a website to DreamHost.
- DreamPress Performance Enhancements: Significant improvements were made to DreamPress, DreamHost’s managed WordPress hosting solution, including the integration of NGINX for all DreamPress customers to enhance site performance.
- Business Name Generator Launch: DreamHost launched a new Business Name Generator tool to assist in choosing effective business names.
- Email Management Update: An updated “Manage Email” experience was introduced to enhance business and online communication.
- DreamPress Integrated into “Manage Websites”: DreamPress was incorporated into the “Manage Websites” feature, emphasizing its importance in DreamHost’s offerings.
- Website Makeover Giveaways: DreamHost conducted extreme website makeover giveaways, benefiting businesses like Glenn McDaniel Arts and Alphabet Publishing.
- Additional DreamPress Performance Improvements: Further enhancements for DreamPress users, including object caching for DreamPress Pro customers and the implementation of PHP OPcache.
- Manage Websites Feature Enhancements: Significant updates were made to the “Manage Websites” experience, incorporating top-requested features.
- FTP Users and File Management Updates: Improvements were made to FTP users and file management, enhancing user experience.
- New VPS Plan Pricing: DreamHost announced new pricing for their VPS Hosting Plans.
- DNS Control Panel Improvements: Upgrades were made to the DNS Control Panel to enhance the DNS configuration experience.
Reviewing DreamHost: Our Methodology
When we review web hosts like DreamHost, 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.
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What
DreamHost
Customers Think
Poor Uptime and Customer Support
I signed up for DreamHost’s hosting service six months ago, and it has been a terrible experience so far. My website experiences frequent downtime, and sometimes it takes hours to get it back up. Their customer support is also unresponsive and unhelpful. I had an issue with my website, and it took them over a week to resolve it. I would not recommend DreamHost to anyone, and I am currently looking for another hosting company.
Great Hosting Company, but Could Improve on Customer Support
I have been using DreamHost for a year now, and I must say that I am quite happy with their service. The uptime is great, and my website loads quickly. The pricing is also affordable, and I was able to find a plan that suited my needs. The only issue I have is with their customer support. Sometimes it takes a while to get a response, and I had to follow up a few times before getting a resolution to my issue. However, overall, I am satisfied with DreamHost’s service and would recommend them to others.
DreamHost is the Best Hosting Company I’ve Used
I’ve been a customer of DreamHost for over two years now, and I must say that they are the best hosting company I’ve used so far. Their customer support is amazing, and they are always ready to help with any issues I encounter. Their website building tools are also easy to use, and I was able to build a professional-looking website without any prior experience. The uptime is great, and my website loads quickly. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with DreamHost and would recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable and affordable hosting company.
