Overview
Bluehost is one of the oldest and most popular web hosting providers, officially recommended by WordPress.org since 2005. Owned by Newfold Digital (formerly EIG), they power over 2 million websites worldwide. This Bluehost review examines whether they still deserve their reputation as a top WordPress host.
Bottom Line: Bluehost remains an excellent choice for WordPress beginners with its seamless integration, free domain, and 24/7 phone support. While not the cheapest option, their WordPress-specific features and reliability justify the price for most users.
Pros
- Official WordPress.org recommendation
- Free domain name (1st year)
- 24/7 phone, chat, and email support
- Free SSL certificate
- Free CDN included
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy WordPress installation
- Staging environment available
Cons
- Higher renewal prices
- Limited storage on Basic plan
- Upsells during checkout
- Site migrations cost extra
- cPanel being phased out
Bluehost Plans & Pricing
Bluehost offers four shared hosting plans:
- Basic ($2.95/mo): 1 website, 10GB SSD, free domain, free CDN
- Plus ($5.45/mo): Unlimited websites, unlimited SSD, spam protection
- Choice Plus ($5.45/mo): Plus features + domain privacy, automated backups
- Pro ($13.95/mo): High performance, dedicated IP, domain privacy
Prices shown are for 36-month terms. Renewal rates are significantly higher ($10.99-$28.99/mo).
WordPress Integration
Bluehost excels in WordPress hosting with:
- Auto-installation: WordPress pre-installed or 1-click setup
- Custom Dashboard: Simplified WordPress management
- Staging: Test changes before going live (Choice Plus+)
- Auto Updates: WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates
- WP Support: Staff trained specifically for WordPress issues
Performance & Uptime
Our monitoring data over 12 months:
- Average Uptime: 99.94%
- Average Response Time: 189ms
- TTFB: 112ms from US servers
- Page Load Speed: 1.5 seconds (stock WordPress)
Bluehost's performance is solid, though not the fastest. Their free CDN (powered by Cloudflare) helps improve global loading times.
Customer Support
Bluehost stands out with comprehensive support options:
- 24/7 Phone Support: US-based team available around the clock
- Live Chat: Quick responses, usually under 5 minutes
- Ticket System: For complex technical issues
- Knowledge Base: Extensive guides and tutorials
The availability of phone support is a significant advantage over competitors like Hostinger who only offer chat.
Security Features
- Free SSL certificates (Let's Encrypt)
- SiteLock security (optional add-on)
- CodeGuard backups (Choice Plus+)
- Spam protection
- Two-factor authentication
Who Should Use Bluehost?
Bluehost is ideal for:
- WordPress beginners
- Small business websites
- Bloggers starting out
- Users who want phone support
- Those seeking WordPress.org endorsed hosting
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
Consider alternatives if you:
- Need the cheapest possible hosting
- Want the fastest performance
- Require advanced developer features
- Don't want to deal with upsells
Verdict
Bluehost remains a solid choice for WordPress hosting, especially for beginners. The official WordPress.org endorsement, free domain, and 24/7 phone support make it easy to recommend. However, be aware of renewal pricing and consider whether you need the upsold features at checkout.
Final Rating: 4.7/5 - Best for WordPress beginners