Bluehost Review 2026
Detailed analysis of Bluehost's WordPress hosting plans, hidden renewal costs, and performance features.
Expert Analysis
"The official "textbook" entry-level recommendation, suitable for blogs and small showcase sites."
Bluehost offers a range of managed WordPress hosting solutions designed for different needs, from personal blogs to high-traffic business sites. Currently, they provide 3 main tiers: Starter, Business, eCommerce Essentials.
Pricing & Value
The entry-level plan, Starter, starts as low as $3.99/mo (for the longest term). However, it's important to note the renewal rates. Like most providers, Bluehost's promotional prices increase after the initial term. Our comparison table below clearly shows the "Due Today" cost versus the renewal price to help you avoid surprises.
Key Features
Most Bluehost plans include essential features like Free SSL certificates, a free domain for the first year, and managed WordPress updates.For performance, the Business plan and above include Object Caching, which significantly speeds up dynamic WordPress sites.
Is Bluehost Right for You?
If you are looking for an affordable way to start, Bluehost is a strong contender. We recommend checking the Business plan for the best balance of price and features.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- WonderSuite ExperienceA UI layer over the native WordPress dashboard that simplifies complex settings, allowing beginners to operate WordPress like Wix.
- Deep Theme Market IntegrationThe dashboard integrates a rich marketplace of high-quality themes, making purchase and installation very smooth.
- Officially Endorsed CompatibilityAs a long-time partner recommended by WordPress.org, their server environment is pre-adapted for the WP core, minimizing compatibility errors.
Cons
- Mediocre PerformanceWithout advanced caching, TTFB (Time To First Byte) is slower than Hostinger or SiteGround, especially outside Europe and the US.
- Renewal Pricing StrategyExtremely low entry prices, but renewal rates are typically 2.5x to 3x higher, leading to higher long-term costs.
Plans & Pricing
3 Plans Available| Specs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Specs | |||
Websites | 10 | 50 | 100 |
Storage | 10 GB NVMe | 50 GB NVMe | 100 GB NVMe |
Bandwidth | ~40k Visits | ~200k Visits | ~400k Visits |
Free Email | Paid Add-on | Paid Add-on | Paid Add-on |
Free Domain (1st Year) | |||
Backups | Weekly | Weekly | Weekly |
| Performance & Speed | |||
Performance Level | Standard | Standard | Standard |
Uptime | 99.99% | 99.99% | 99.99% |
Free CDN | |||
Object Cache | |||
Global Data Centers | |||
Dedicated IP | - | - | - |
| WordPress & Ease of Use | |||
Managed WordPress | |||
Free Migration | |||
One-Click Install | |||
Staging Environment | |||
Website Builder | |||
| Security & Protection | |||
Free SSL | |||
DDoS Protection | |||
Malware Scanner | |||
Domain Privacy | - | ||
Firewall | |||
| Support & Developer | |||
Support | Chat Only | Phone & Chat | Phone & Chat |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 Days | 30 Days | 30 Days |
SSH Access | |||
Git Integration | - | - | - |
Databases | Standard | Standard | Standard |
Node.js Support | - | - | - |
Frequently Asked Questions about Bluehost
Bluehost User Reviews
See what real users are saying about their experience with Bluehost.
Dorothy Campbell
Store Manager
"Bluehost made scaling my business easy. Upgrading resources takes just a click."
Robert Nelson
App Developer
"The uptime with Bluehost has been flawless. Haven't noticed a single drop in 6 months."
Cynthia Collins
System Admin
"I love the developer tools Bluehost provides. Staging environments work seamlessly."
Anna Lewis
Agency Director
"Switching to Bluehost was a game-changer for my site speed. Core Web Vitals are finally green."
Thomas Edwards
Travel Blogger
"I've tried five other hosts, but Bluehost is the one I'm sticking with. Consistent quality."
Rachel Gonzalez
Lifestyle Blogger
"Switching to Bluehost was a game-changer for my site speed. Core Web Vitals are finally green."
Daniel Clark
Store Manager
"Best value for money I've found. Bluehost gives you enterprise features at a startup price."
Anthony Davis
Store Manager
"Best value for money I've found. Bluehost gives you enterprise features at a startup price."
Dorothy Campbell
Store Manager
"Bluehost made scaling my business easy. Upgrading resources takes just a click."
Robert Nelson
App Developer
"The uptime with Bluehost has been flawless. Haven't noticed a single drop in 6 months."
Cynthia Collins
System Admin
"I love the developer tools Bluehost provides. Staging environments work seamlessly."
Anna Lewis
Agency Director
"Switching to Bluehost was a game-changer for my site speed. Core Web Vitals are finally green."
Thomas Edwards
Travel Blogger
"I've tried five other hosts, but Bluehost is the one I'm sticking with. Consistent quality."
Rachel Gonzalez
Lifestyle Blogger
"Switching to Bluehost was a game-changer for my site speed. Core Web Vitals are finally green."
Daniel Clark
Store Manager
"Best value for money I've found. Bluehost gives you enterprise features at a startup price."
Anthony Davis
Store Manager
"Best value for money I've found. Bluehost gives you enterprise features at a startup price."
Paul Hernandez
E-commerce Owner
"Finally a host that doesn't nickel and dime you. Bluehost's pricing is transparent."
Pamela Thomas
Frontend Dev
"Best value for money I've found. Bluehost gives you enterprise features at a startup price."
Sandra Allen
Operations Manager
"Switching to Bluehost was a game-changer for my site speed. Core Web Vitals are finally green."
Michael Jackson
Backend Engineer
"For WordPress hosting, Bluehost is simply the best. Everything is optimized out of the box."
Maria Lopez
Operations Manager
"Finally a host that doesn't nickel and dime you. Bluehost's pricing is transparent."
Janet Collins
E-commerce Owner
"Customer support at Bluehost is actually helpful. They fixed my issue in under 10 minutes."
Gregory Hall
Business Consultant
"Switching to Bluehost was a game-changer for my site speed. Core Web Vitals are finally green."
Frank Hernandez
IT Consultant
"Bluehost's dashboard is so intuitive. It makes managing multiple sites a breeze."
Paul Hernandez
E-commerce Owner
"Finally a host that doesn't nickel and dime you. Bluehost's pricing is transparent."
Pamela Thomas
Frontend Dev
"Best value for money I've found. Bluehost gives you enterprise features at a startup price."
Sandra Allen
Operations Manager
"Switching to Bluehost was a game-changer for my site speed. Core Web Vitals are finally green."
Michael Jackson
Backend Engineer
"For WordPress hosting, Bluehost is simply the best. Everything is optimized out of the box."
Maria Lopez
Operations Manager
"Finally a host that doesn't nickel and dime you. Bluehost's pricing is transparent."
Janet Collins
E-commerce Owner
"Customer support at Bluehost is actually helpful. They fixed my issue in under 10 minutes."
Gregory Hall
Business Consultant
"Switching to Bluehost was a game-changer for my site speed. Core Web Vitals are finally green."
Frank Hernandez
IT Consultant
"Bluehost's dashboard is so intuitive. It makes managing multiple sites a breeze."