{"id":56686,"date":"2025-07-09T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crazyeggblog.wpengine.com\/?p=56686"},"modified":"2026-02-19T08:33:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T16:33:16","slug":"bluehost-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crazyegg.com\/blog\/bluehost-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Bluehost Review (Updated for 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bluehost<\/a> is a great choice if you’re starting your first WordPress site. While you can host a WordPress site with virtually any host, Bluehost offers a range of features, plans, and capabilities that make it a better experience for beginners.<\/p>

It’s definitely a good place to start, but is it right for you<\/em>? Let’s find out.<\/p>

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The Pros and Cons of Bluehost<\/h2>

Every web hosting service has its flaws, even the most exclusive. Here\u2019s an in-depth look into Bluehost\u2019s top good and bad features. <\/p>

What Bluehost Is Good At<\/h3>

Bluehost is a well-rounded hosting provider that offers a blend of solid support, security, and reliability at an easy-to-stomach price point.<\/p>

Great security:<\/strong> Bluehost includes helpful baseline protections on its hosting plans, and you can add backup and security products if you want more coverage. For example, CodeGuard can provide automated backups and monitoring, and higher-tier hosting options can include more hands-off management features (like automated backups and additional security tooling). <\/p>

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Fast support:<\/strong> Bluehost has a large help center and 24\/7 live chat, which is what most beginners need day-to-day. If you prefer talking to a person, phone support is available on many plans and tiers. Most users report that support is helpful when you need quick resolution.<\/p>

On top of that, you can always browse the knowledge base for FAQs, tutorials, and step-by-step help articles on common WordPress and hosting tasks.<\/p>

Easy to set up:<\/strong> Not only is Bluehost one of the most popular web hosting services on the market, it\u2019s also beginner-friendly once you\u2019re inside the dashboard. The onboarding process is quick, and the interface is designed for people who are building their first site.<\/p>

If you use its WordPress builder alongside hosting, Bluehost\u2019s WonderSuite-style setup wizard will ask you a few questions about your goals, what you want to add to your site, and your site name\/tagline. After that, you can pick a theme and get WordPress installed automatically\u2014so you can focus on the parts that matter (pages, design, and content) instead of backend setup.<\/p>

High-performing options as you grow:<\/strong> Bluehost has higher-tier plans (and separate product lines like Cloud, VPS, and Dedicated hosting) that give you more resources, better performance headroom, and more control as your site starts to pull real traffic. If you outgrow shared hosting, it\u2019s relatively painless to move up within the same ecosystem.<\/p>

Reasonable pricing:<\/strong> Bluehost frequently runs strong introductory discounts, and most plans include a free domain for the first year on eligible terms. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you\u2019re not locked in if it\u2019s not a fit.<\/p>

Bundling hosting with domain registration<\/strong>: Normally, we recommend sticking with web hosts for hosting and domain registrars<\/a> for domains\u2014even though most providers of each service tend to offer the other. But Bluehost is one of the exceptions. For beginners and new websites, it’s a great way to get a free domain name for one year with an affordable hosting package from the same provider. This bundle is more than just a great value. It simplifies the website creation process, and it’s just one less thing you have to do when you’re getting started.<\/p>

You can claim your free domain during checkout after you select a hosting package. If you haven\u2019t decided on a domain name yet, that\u2019s fine\u2014Bluehost still lets you sign up for hosting first, and you can redeem the free domain later (as long as you do it within the redemption window on your plan).<\/p>

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What Bluehost Is Lacking<\/h3>

Here’s where we’ll dip into some downsides of Bluehost. Some of these may not affect your hosting provider decision much, but others may find one or more of these flaws to be a deal-breaker.<\/p>

Free migrations:<\/strong> Bluehost lets most WordPress users move their sites in with a free WordPress migration tool, but fully hands-off migrations still aren\u2019t free. If you want Bluehost\u2019s team to do it for you, you can expect to pay for its professional website transfer service. Also, VPS and dedicated migrations typically require more manual work than standard shared WordPress sites.<\/p>

Constant upsells:<\/strong> Once you select a pricing plan from Bluehost, you’ll get reminders of other features you can buy during checkout. And it doesn\u2019t end there\u2014expect the usual popups and in-dashboard prompts nudging you toward upgrades and add-ons. It\u2019s annoying, but it doesn\u2019t automatically mean the hosting itself is bad.<\/p>

Managed WordPress is tied to specific plans<\/strong>: Bluehost offers standard WordPress hosting, but the fully managed experience (automatic daily backups, performance features, and a stronger uptime commitment) lives on its newer WordPress Cloud platform. If you want the \u201cwe\u2019ll manage it for you\u201d setup, you\u2019ll need to pay more than the entry-level shared WordPress plans.<\/p>

Bluehost Pricing and Hosting Plan Options <\/h2>

Bluehost<\/a> offers quite a few different hosting packages, like most other providers. We’ll break down a few of the most popular options below, with their benefits and pricing.<\/p>

Bluehost Shared WordPress Hosting<\/h3>

Shared hosting<\/a> is an affordable place to start and is the most popular among first-time Bluehost users. This specific package is best for blogging, hobbies, or small business websites.<\/p>

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Plans typically include essentials like a free domain for the first year (on eligible terms), a free SSL certificate, and WordPress installation. Higher tiers usually add more performance resources and convenience features like staging tools, enhanced support options, and stronger backup capabilities.<\/p>

Bluehost offers its best introductory pricing when you pay upfront for a longer term. Renewal rates are higher than promotional signup rates, so keep that in mind if you\u2019re budgeting long-term.<\/p>

On renewal pricing (12- and 36-month terms), Bluehost\u2019s shared plans typically line up like this:<\/p>