Deciding on a host for your website is an important decision that can also be tough to make. There are so many options, and it can be really overwhelming to choose the right web hosting platform for your individual needs. Plus, some platforms seem much more complicated than others, which only makes the decision harder.
Bluehost has been around longer than most host sites, but it also offers low starting prices and user-friendly features. Given that Bluehost has an impressive uptime rate, 24/7 customer service, and many features for a low price, Bluehost is a good host. Like any host platform, there will be aspects of Bluehost that some people dislike, but the web host is a good choice overall.
Based on the analysis of common features of web hosts, Bluehost consistently earns good scores and ratings. Many users note that the host is beginner-friendly while still offering quality features. It is inevitable to have at least some cons, but the pros of Bluehost definitely outweigh the cons.
What Makes Bluehost a Good Host?
There are many factors that go into determining whether or not a web host is good. In a broad sense, you want to find a platform that is reliable for viewers, accessible for the site owner, and is worth its charged cost. Bluehost provides all of these factors successfully.
Bluehost is Budget-Friendly
Anyone who runs or is looking into running their own website can attest to the fact that it can get expensive fast. Web hosts will add charges for a countless number of things, and what looks initially like a good price is suddenly much higher when you realize that not much is included.
Bluehost has reasonable pricing available in multiple package plans so you can pick the plan that is best for your needs. The most basic options are a great place to start for someone who is trying to get a feel for running a website and does not need a lot of fancy options. If you do want more options, though, there are also options for a more advanced plan at a still reasonable price.
There are several types of hosting that you can find on Bluehost, including shared, VPS, dedicated, and WordPress hosting. The shared hosting plans are the most useful for small businesses, beginners, and people on the budget. These are the prices that are looked at here.
Bluehost’s Basic Package starts at $7.99 per month, but the introductory offer is only $2.95 for the first month. This way, you get to experience everything offered in the package at a fraction of the cost.
Even the host’s pricier package plans are reasonably priced when you compare them to industry competitors. The most expensive plan, the Pro Package, is only $25.99 a month after the first month’s lower price of $13.95 per month. In terms of web hosts, this pricing is quite reasonable.
Bluehost is Industry-Recommended
One of the biggest testaments to the quality of Bluehost is its recommendation by WordPress. WordPress is one of the most popular blog hosts in the industry, and it only officially recommends three host companies, of which Bluehost is the first.
The WordPress recommendation is more than just a good word. It also makes working with WordPress and Bluehost a virtually seamless experience. Bluehost has many design features that work well with aspects of WordPress.
Consistent Bluehost Uptime
A key factor in the success of a website is the ability of visitors to access it. The uptime refers to this accessibility. It is extremely difficult to prevent all instances of server outages or maintenance, but Bluehost still has an average uptime of 99.99%. This helps your website maintain a good SEO.
This uptime average is one of the highest among web hosts, and it reflects Bluehost’s commitment to keeping websites up and running as much as possible. When it comes to consistent, reliable service, Bluehost does an excellent job.
Easy Bluehost Use for Beginners
Since the web host is reasonably priced and still offers many features, Bluehost seems like it would be a great option for beginners. The specific aspects of Bluehost confirm that it is an easy host for beginners to use.
Bluehost’s control panel is very user-friendly, and there are also tools to help build a website. These tools often start with templates that users can customize with their content. Plus, the ease of Bluehost does not stop it from having excellent design aspects that still look professional.
There are also features that advanced users search for in a web host. This is great aspect of a web host for someone who starts using as a beginner and learns over time.
Other Great Bluehost Features
The speeds on Bluehost are not the highest in the industry, but they are above average. Additionally, there are no bandwidth limits on Bluehost, which means that the number of visitors to a site will not be limited.
Bluehost users will also be happy to learn that all hosting plans on the web host provide a free SSL certificate. A Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate is an encryption element that makes sure that when your server sends information (like that of a customer), it only goes to authorized parties and is not intercepted by unauthorized parties.
Bluehost also boasts lots of online support for users. Bluehost offers 24/7 customer support through email, live chat, and telephone. There are specific teams to help with sales concerns, technical issues, and account details. Plus, there is an extensive portal dedicated to user support that offers tutorials, common questions, and guides.
Finally, Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for its hosting plans. This does not include domain names, but it does cover the costs of the first 30 days that you use the plan.
Where Does Bluehost Fall Short?
No web host is perfect. It is inevitable that there will be aspects of a platform that some people do not like, but the host can still be a good one if the downsides are minor. This is the case for Bluehost. There are a few minor shortcomings, but the benefits are still overwhelmingly better.
Many Bluehost Upsells
The low prices that are initially offered through Bluehost’s package plans are frequently undercut by upselling. Many users warn others that you should keep an eye on the renewal costs you will have each month.
The renewal rates for the package plans can grow much higher than the original price if you do not pay attention. Of course, there will be a price jump after the first month since the first 30 days are under a discounted price.
Some of the features that are more advanced are also available only at an additional cost. Try to avoid jumping on every offer Bluehost proposes for new features you “must need.” Make sure that you actually cannot do what you need to without the add-on features.
Migration Is Not Free
One of the biggest downfalls of Bluehost is that it does not offer free site migration. Most competitors in the industry will offer this service for free, so Bluehost’s policy on site migration is a definite disappointment.
The cost of site migration is not an issue if you do not already have a site, but it can be a drawback for people who do have a site on a different host and wish to move it. Thus, if you are not in need of site migration, this fee is not a con for you.
Bluehost’s migration fee is $150. This includes migrating up to five websites, 20 email accounts, and files within any databases. The fee is quite high for a service that is performed by Bluehost’s peers for free.
Note: The site migration fee is not applicable if you are migrating from a WordPress website.
Limited Backup Options on Bluehost
The security options for Bluehost users are very good overall, but the big downside is that users must do their own daily backups. Bluehost will do its own backups, but they are at the company’s discretion and are not guaranteed to be performed daily.
The backup options can vary based on the host plan that you may have, but it is generally required for you to do your own daily backups if you want to keep your site safe.
Other Bluehost Concerns
Some users report that the customer support teams at Bluehost are not always helpful or available without long wait times. There are many users who report that the customer support has been great, but others disagree. It is fair to assume that users can reasonably have doubts about how helpful Bluehost’s customer support actually is.
Some people argue that while the initial prices for Bluehost are reasonable, many of the add-ons and upgraded plans are much more expensive than those of competitors. Ultimately, though, there still are many price options that are budget-friendly.
Final Conclusion: Bluehost Is a Good Host
After going through all the benefits and downsides of Bluehost, you can see that the web host is a solid choice to use for your website. The upsides are rarely found all on one web host, and users can get a very well-rounded host at a reasonable price.
Bluehost’s History of Success
Bluehost has over 2 million websites that it hosts, and it is one of the oldest providers in the industry. Clearly, the company has been doing things well for quite a while. This is reaffirmed by the recommendation from WordPress.
Bluehost also has a history of providing consistent uptimes and service. This is a key factor for website owners to consider when they pick a web host.
Comparing Bluehost to Others
As mentioned earlier in the benefits section, Bluehost is one of three hosting partners that WordPress recommends using with a WordPress website. The other web hosts recommended by WordPress are DreamHost and SiteGround.
Both of these sites offer the benefit of being highly compatible with the WordPress interface that Bluehost also offers. DreamHost is known for its strong customer support and low cost. It also has decent performance. SiteGround offers good customer support as well, and it provides free daily backups, but it is pricier than Bluehost.
Best Uses of Bluehost
Ultimately, Bluehost is a great choice! But there are other web hosting for small business owners, beginners, and people looking for reliability. While large e-commerce companies may need more out of a web host than Bluehost can offer, the average small business owner will have all needs met by Bluehost at a reasonable cost.