Bluehost offers web hosting solutions for individuals, businesses, and organizations
Today, we’ll discuss Bluehost, a highly popular hosting company known for its extensive services. What makes Bluehost popular? Is it due to its two million hosted websites or being one of three recommended by WordPress? While the latter may seem insignificant, considering WordPress powers almost half the internet sheds light on its significance. However, the crucial question remains: Is Bluehost’s service truly commendable or is it merely hyped marketing?
Proceed with caution as this is not your typical Bluehost review. Prepare for a comprehensive analysis, bordering on a scholarly dissertation. While we refrain from self-indulgent notions, we confidently claim this to be the most comprehensive Bluehost review available online.
A concise overview of Bluehost’s history
Let’s delve into the origins of Bluehost, as understanding its history provides essential context. In 1996, a group of tech enthusiasts came together, driven by a desire to establish a hosting company before the predicted doomsday. By 2003, they successfully built the ideal infrastructure and named it Bluehost.
Bluehost rapidly transformed from a small Provo, Utah startup to a tech giant, employing over 750 individuals and hosting more than two million websites within a decade. This impressive growth caught the attention of Internet conglomerate Endurance International Group (EIG), which acquired Bluehost in 2010, marking a new era of disruptive expansion. You may be familiar with EIG as they also own other prominent hosting brands like HostGator, although there are differences between the two companies.
Remarkably, Bluehost receives recommendations from various sources, including WordPress, the widely used content management system powering nearly half of the internet. This endorsement from WordPress is particularly intriguing considering that WordPress has its own hosting service. To explore this further, you can refer to our Bluehost vs. WordPress comparison.
One of Bluehost’s key advantages is its ability to offer high-quality services at remarkably affordable prices, thanks to its immense popularity. This affordability factor contributes to its continuous selection by customers, overshadowing even budget-friendly hosts like Namecheap. For a comprehensive analysis of how Bluehost fares against one of the most economical hosting providers on the market, we have a detailed breakdown in our Bluehost vs. Namecheap comparison. (Spoiler alert: Bluehost emerges as the clear winner, although we still recommend Namecheap for inexpensive domain names.)
Here is an overview of Bluehost’s hosting plans
Bluehost offers a diverse range of hosting plans to accommodate various needs. These include Shared hosting, WordPress hosting, Dedicated hosting, VPS hosting, WooCommerce hosting, and even domain registration.
Shared Hosting: This common hosting option is ideal for small businesses and blogs that don’t require full server control. Users share a server, hence the name “shared hosting.”
WordPress Hosting: Designed specifically for WordPress-powered websites, this hosting environment is optimized to enhance performance and functionality.
VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting: A step up from shared hosting, VPS hosting allows users to host their websites on a virtual private server, providing more resources and control.
Dedicated Server Hosting: With dedicated server hosting, you have an entire server solely dedicated to your account, offering maximum control. However, managing the server is your responsibility.
WooCommerce Hosting: This specialized hosting is tailored for maintaining online stores using the popular WooCommerce plugin for WordPress.
Domain Names: Bluehost also offers domain registration services, allowing customers to purchase domains starting at $17.99.
Regardless of the hosting plan, all Bluehost packages include cPanel for easy management and one-click installations for popular applications, along with a free domain.
Bluehost offers Shared Hosting, a popular hosting option for individuals and small businesses
Shared hosting is an ideal choice for those with budget constraints and websites that don’t receive high traffic volumes. If these requirements match your situation, a shared hosting plan would be the best option. With shared hosting, you share server resources with other users, allowing for cost-sharing and affordable pricing. However, it’s important to note that shared hosting means your website will have limited access to resources. Yet, if your website doesn’t require significant resources due to low traffic, this limitation is unlikely to be a problem.
Bluehost further simplifies the decision-making process by offering four tiers of shared hosting plans: Basic, Plus, Choice-Plus, and Pro. This range of options allows you to choose the level of server resources that suits your needs. While most hosts typically provide three tiers, Bluehost’s four tiers offer enhanced scalability. It’s interesting to note the differences between Bluehost and its sister company iPage, as iPage only offers a single package.
Regarding pricing, it’s worth mentioning that Bluehost’s initial pricing is subject to change due to various programs and specials throughout the year. By diligently searching, you can often find discounts of around 30-35%. However, it’s important to focus on the renewal price if you’re considering a long-term hosting plan, as that is the constant price you will eventually pay.
