Bluehost Review 2025: Rated (7.0/10)
Bluehost Hosting: Quick Overview
Bluehost is a decent choice to host your WordPress sites as it offers an excellent uptime of 99.97% and decent TTFB and load handling performance.
Performance Metrics
Pros
- User-friendly control panel, suitable for beginners
- Addition of Cloudflare CDN with Argo Routing is first of its kind.
- Free site migration tool within the dashboard
- Affordable entry-level pricing
Cons
- Higher renewal rates once introductory pricing ends
- Backup services are paid after first year
- No free email hosting
- Below average WPBench performance
Executive Summary: Is Bluehost Right for You?
Bluehost stands out as a solid choice for beginners in WordPress hosting space. It offers a decent TTFB, excellent uptime and powerful enough to handle traffic spikes, all at an affordable price of $2.95/month. This is the not the old Bluehost you have seen a decade back, they have upgraded their tech stacks, includes a premuium CDN for free, and the best, they have designed a control panel from the base, which is one of the sleekest control panel I’ve seen among shared hosting companies.
| User Type | Suitability Score | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Blogs |
8.0
|
Excellent choice for beginner bloggers who are just getting started |
| Small Business |
7.0
|
Good for most small business websites with moderate traffic requirements. |
| eCommerce |
6.0
|
Suitable for small WooCommerce stores, but a WooCommerce specific plan is recommended. |
| Enterprise |
4.5
|
Not recommended for Enterprise grade business websites |
| Developers |
5.5
|
Includes all cPanel based deveoper tools but not more than that. |
Key Differentiator
Bluehost’s standout feature is their re-designed hosting platform which comes with custom fast control panel, ever improving performance scores, addition of performance perks like Cloudflare Argo routing, makes it an decent choice for small to medium websites.
In a Sentence
Bluehost offers a reliable, beginner friendly hosting solution with excellent uptime and a manageable performance score. The pricing is affordable, where you can get started for less than $40 in first year.
Our Testing Approach
At Hostingstep, We conduct long term testing to measure the real performance of web hosting companies. All hosts, including Bluehost, go through five different testing protocols.
TTFB & Uptime Monitoring
- Tool: Pingdom synthetic monitoring
- Frequency: Every 60 seconds (525,600 checks/year)
- Locations: 22 North American regions
- Metrics: Response time (TTFB), uptime percentage
This continuous monitoring provides real-world performance over time, not just random testing time periods.
Load Testing
- Tool: Loader.io
- Protocol: 0-100 concurrent users over 60 seconds
- Metrics: Average response time, error rate
- Frequency: Monthly stress tests
These tests showcase how Bluehost handles traffic spikes and whether it actually handles the load without any issues.
WPBenchmark Testing
- Tool: WPBenchmark plugin
- Metrics: CPU, memory, file system, database
- Scoring: Standardized 10-point scale
- Frequency: Quarterly benchmarks
These benchmarks evaluate the hardware performance of Bluehost hosting.
Global TTFB Testing
- Tool: SpeedVitals
- Coverage: 40 worldwide locations
- Regions: North America, Europe, Asia, Australia
- Metrics: Region-specific response times
Got sites with international traffic? We test our Bluehost test site from 40 global locations to see if they are fast enough for your visitors.
Standardized Test Environment
- Platform: WordPress with identical installs
- Theme: Twenty Twenty-Four
- Plugins: WP Fastest Cache, Rank Math, Contact Form 7
- PHP Version: 8.1 across all tests
All our test sites including Bluehost are tested using the same test bench for fair comparisons.
Long-term Data Collection
- Duration: Minimum 12 months of testing
- Data Points: Over 500,000 tests per host
- Baseline: All hosts purchased independently
- Updates: Quarterly reviews of all metrics
We include standard 12-month data collected over a year (Jan – Dec) of the previous year and latest Q1 (Jan – Mar) data for better performance identification.
The Hostingstep Difference
Unlike many review sites that rely on short-term unverifiable tests or affiliate relationships, our methodology-backed test bench setup ensures standardized performance data collection across all hosts including Bluehost using our test sites. We independently purchase hosting accounts (access our invoices), deploy standardized test sites, and conduct performance monitoring 24/7, 365 days a year. This approach brings you the most accurate real-world performance data that users expect to know about the company.
Bluehost Verified Performance Data
TTFB Response Time
Q1 2025: 516ms (Average)
43,800 data points from 22 locations
Uptime Performance
Q1 2025: 99.99% (Excellent)
8 mins downtime over 2 outages
Load Test Results
Testing Protocol: 0-100 concurrent users over 60 seconds
Error Rate: 0% – No errors detected
Compared to Average: Slightly better than average
WPBench Score
Global TTFB
Performance Rating Scale
Bluehost vs. Top Competitors
Based on Google search data, we’ve picked the following hosts which are constantly getting compared with Bluehost. All performance metrics shown below were collected during the same 12-month period using identical WordPress test environments on similarly priced entry-level plans to ensure a fair comparison.
Performance Comparison
| Host | TTFB | Uptime | Load Test | Global TTFB | WPBench | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluehost |
472ms
|
99.97%
|
131ms
|
394ms
|
4.0/10
|
7.0 |
| Hostinger |
443ms
|
99.99%
|
256ms
|
503ms
|
8.0/10
|
7.8 |
| SiteGround |
510ms
|
99.99%
|
147ms
|
886ms
|
8.3/10
|
7.5 |
| HostGator |
790ms
|
99.98%
|
152ms*
|
792ms
|
4.3/10
|
6.0 |
| GreenGeeks |
395ms
|
99.96%
|
26ms
|
491ms
|
5.1/10
|
7.9 |
| A2 Hosting |
397ms
|
99.97%
|
44ms
|
527ms
|
3.4/10
|
7.6 |
Competitor Analysis Summary
Our benchmark test data of above companies shows Bluehost gets an overall score of 7.0/10 but doesn’t have enough power to outperform its competitors. Bluehost excels in global TTFB due to the presence of Cloudflare Argo routing but under performs in all other tests.
Based on performance data and feature analysis, here are the top three alternatives worth considering ahead of Bluehost:
Hostinger
It offers better hardware server performance (8.0 WPBench) at similar pricing with better TTFB, and perfect uptime. It also offer many features with better speed at same or cheaper renewal prices.
Visit HostingerGreenGeeks
Underated brand which offers elite TTFB performance (395ms) and load handling (26ms).
Visit GreenGeeksHosting.com (A2Hosting)
Much similar to GreenGeeks in terms of TTFB and load handling. They are also better at load handling.
Visit Hosting.comNote: All hosting providers were tested with identical WordPress installations and configurations to ensure fair comparisons.
Data sources: Performance metrics based on Hostingstep’s continuous monitoring over 12 months. Pricing information accurate as of May 12, 2025.
Hands-on Bluehost Feature Analysis
Control Panel Experience
Bluehost offers a hybrid approach with a custom control panel on the top of cPanel. The custom control panel is fast and significantly more user-friendly than cPanel, organizing all essential functions in an intuitive layout.
Key Features
- Interface Type: Custom control panel + cPanel
- Ease of Use Rating: 9/10
- Mobile Responsiveness: Yes
- WordPress Integration: Excellent
What We Liked
- Fast, intuitive management of security, backups, email, and speed settings
- Most common tasks accessible without navigating complex cPanel menus
- WordPress-specific optimization tools integrated directly in dashboard
What Could Be Improved
- Some advanced functions still require switching to cPanel
- Initial dashboard can feel overwhelming with upsell promotions
Backup System
Bluehost advertises “Daily Website Backups” but our investigation revealed they are free for first year only. After that, backups require a paid CodeGuard subscription or Jetpack Backup plan.
Backup Options
- Automated Backup Frequency: Daily (with paid plans after first year)
- Backup Retention: Varies by plan (typically 30 days)
- CodeGuard Basic: $3.99/month, 5 sites, 1GB storage, 3 restores/month
- Jetpack Backup: From $59.40/year, real-time backups
Important Considerations
- Free backups only available during first year of hosting
- Basic CodeGuard plan limited to 1GB total storage across 5 sites
- Restoration is limited on basic backup plans
- Factor backup costs into total hosting budget when comparing providers
Unlike many competitors, Bluehost does not include free email hosting with their plans. Email requires additional payment with multiple options available.
Email Options
- Free Email Accounts: None
- Pro Email Trial: $2.99/month after trial period
- Google Workspace: $7/month per user
Impact on Total Cost
The exclusion of email hosting on Bluehost’s hosting cost may impact small businesses who require a professional email address. For example, a business with just 3 email accounts, need to spend an additional $9-21/month in costs.
Data Centers & CDN
Bluehost operates three data centers in three locations in USA and UK.
Data Center Locations
- United States: Virginia and Arizona
- Europe: Frankfurt, Germany
CDN Features
- Provider: Cloudflare CDN
- Setup: One-click activation via dashboard
- Features: Argo Routing for faster global delivery
- Configuration: Accessible via Speed tab in dashboard
Migration Experience
Bluehost includes a site migration tool inside their dashboard, through which one can transfer sites without any human support.
Migration Options
- Free Migration Service: Yes, self-service
- Method: WordPress migration plugin
- Access: Migration tool available in dashboard
Migration Performance
To test their migration service, we migrated a WordPress test site from another site and the transfer went smoothly without any hicupps. All the migration including DNS propgagation completed in around 45 minutes.
Customer Support Evaluation
| Support Channel | Availability | Average Response Time | Quality Rating (1-10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | 24/7 | 2-5 minutes | 7.5/10 |
| Tickets | 24/7 | 4-8 hours | 7/10 |
| Phone | 24/7 | 5-15 minutes | 8/10 |
| 24/7 | 12-24 hours | 6.5/10 |
Support Strengths
- 24/7 availability across all support channels
- Strong WordPress knowledge among support agents
- Quick response times for live chat and phone support
Support Limitations
- Inconsistent quality between different support agents
- Email support significantly slower than other channels
- Tendency to upsell additional services during support interactions
Hosting Plans and Pricing
| Feature | Basic Plan | Choice Plus Plan | eCommerce Essentials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Price | $2.95/mo* | $3.95/mo* | $6.95/mo* |
| Renewal Price | $11.99/mo | $15.99/mo | $18.99/mo |
| Websites | 10 | 50 | 100 |
| Storage | 10 GB SSD | 50 GB SSD | 100 GB NVMe |
| Monthly Visits | ~40K | ~200K | ~400K |
| Free Domain (1st year) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free SSL | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Domain Privacy | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email Accounts | ✗ ($2.99+/mo) | ✗ ($2.99+/mo) | ✗ ($2.99+/mo) |
| Free Backups | 1st year only | 1st year only | 1st year only |
| WooCommerce | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
*Promotional pricing requires 12-month commitment and renews at regular rate.
Hidden Costs & Add-ons
- Domain Registration: Free first year, then $17.99/year renewal
- Domain Privacy: Included with Choice Plus and higher plans only
- Email Hosting: From $2.99/month per account
- Backup Service: From $3.99/month after first year
3-Year Total Cost Analysis
For a Basic plan with essential add-ons (domain, email, backups):
- Year 1: $35.40 (hosting) + $0 (domain) + $0 (backups) + $35.88 (email) = $71.28
- Year 2: $143.88 (hosting) + $17.99 (domain) + $47.88 (backups) + $35.88 (email) = $245.63
- Year 3: $143.88 (hosting) + $17.99 (domain) + $47.88 (backups) + $35.88 (email) = $245.63
- 3-Year Total: $562.54
- Monthly Equivalent: $15.63
Special intro pricing, standard renewal at $11.99/mo
Bluehost: Detailed Pros and Cons
What We Liked
Ever Improving Performance
Half decade back, Bluehost lost its path and their perofrmance was medicore. However, their performance data is improving better year over year. They are still not the perfect choice for most sites, still they are best suited for beginners who are looking to get started at affordable price.
User-Friendly Custom Dashboard
I like the Bluehost’s new control panel. It is easy to use with neat menu tabs, each of the settings are properly displayed with adequate details. There is zero need to login into cPanel to perform regular tasks.
One-Click WordPress Installation
The WordPress installation process is simple. You just need to choose whether to install a blank site or moving an existing site. The installation comes pre-installed with all speed optimizations, caching, etc.
Free Site Migration Tool
Bluehost includes a free site migration tool inside their dashboard. Go there, enter the old hosting details, the transfer will begin instantly. This eliminates the need of human support.
Strong Global TTFB Performance
Bluehost becames the first company among shared hosting providers to properly integrate Cloudflare CDN. On top of that, they are the only provide to include Argo Routing, which is one of the reason for Bluehost’s improved global performance. If you are running a site focused on global audience, Bluehost offers the affordable option to get started.
Limitations to Consider
Below Average Server Performance
Bluehost’s WPBench score is just 4.0/10. The similarly priced competitors like Hostinger scored 8.0/10. This score of Bluehost affects the real-world backend performance, particularly for database-heavy operations.
High Renewal Pricing
Bluehost’s introductory pricing is competitive, but renewal rates are much higher. The basic plan starts at $2.95/month and stands at $11.99/month upon renewal, an increase of over 300%. GreenGeeks with the same intro and renewal pricing, offers better performance than Bluehost.
Paid Backups After First Year
Bluehost lists “Daily Website Backups, as its feature” but our investigation reveals these are free only for the first year. It is nowhere mentioned on the sales page. The paid backup service via CodeGuard starts at $3.99/month for up to 5 websites with 1GB storage. This hidden cost is important to factor into the total ownership expense.
No Free Email Accounts
Unlike many competitors, Bluehost does not include free email hosting with their plans. While testing, we found they offer a free trial to their pro email hosting service which starts at $2.99/month per site. This is a again a missing feature for small businesses whose total hosting expense will get higher.
Limited Data Center Locations
Bluehost offers only three data center locations: Virginia and Arizona in the USA, and Frankfurt in Germany.
Bluehost Review: Final Verdict
Based on our last 12 months of real-world performance data, Bluehost secured an overall score of 7.0/10, a mid-tier option to host your WordPress sites. Bluehost performance is getting better every year but still it doesn’t possess the threat to outperform elite hosting providers. It has made performance improvements, launched its control panel, includes premium perks, all at an affordable price.
Bluehost falls short on WPBench score (4.0/10) indicating the sites which require higher processing speed will struggle at Bluehost. In addition to that, their pricing is affordable at start but exponentially became higher during renewals. Plus, there is also several features which are offered free for first year will be charagable from second year onwards, making the host cost so expensive.
For personal blogs, small business sites, and WordPress beginners, Bluehost remains a justifiable choice with its balance of reliability, support, and WordPress optimization. However, for performance-focused sites and growing businesses may find better value in alternatives like Hostinger or GreenGeeks that deliver superior server performance at similar price points.
Key Takeaways
Excellent WordPress integration and beginner-friendly experience with a customized dashboard that simplifies site management
Reliable uptime (99.97%) and strong global TTFB performance (394ms) ensure solid accessibility for site visitors worldwide
Below-average server performance (4.0/10 WPBench) may impact sites with higher traffic or more complex WordPress installations
Total cost of ownership increases significantly after promotional periods due to renewal rates and paid add-ons for essential services like backups and email
Who Should Choose Bluehost
- WordPress beginners who value simple to use platform with excellent WordPress integration
- Personal bloggers looking for reliable hosting at budget performance for content-focused sites
- Users with international audiences who would benefit from Bluehost’s strong global TTFB performance
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- High-traffic websites that require more powerful server resources and better scalability options
- Performance-focused users who need faster TTFB and better WPBench scores
- eCommerce store owners with significant product catalogs or transaction volumes that demand more processing power
- Budget-conscious users concerned about renewal costs who want transparent pricing without surprise renewal increases or add-on fees
Frequently Asked Questions About Bluehost
We’ve compiled answers to the most common questions about Bluehost based on our extensive testing and user feedback.
This review was last updated on May 16, 2025 based on our continuous testing.
Have a specific question not covered here? Contact our editorial team.
Mohan Raj, founder of Hostingstep.com is passionate about WordPress and specializes in server management and speed optimization. With experience across top hosting providers, he launched Hostingstep.com to deliver honest, data-backed hosting reviews, helping website owners focus on growing their business instead of troubleshooting websites.