Honest review of Bluehost web hosting. Looking for honest review of Bluehost web hosting company? Read this before you decide to buy web hosting from Bluehost. Unlike most reviews found on the Internet, we don’t have any vested interest in selling you web hosting from Bluehost. It’s for you to decide whether you want to buy web hosting from Bluehost or any other hosting company.
Bluehost Web Hosting Review
Bluehost is a well-established web hosting company that has garnered significant attention in the hosting industry. It is one of the popular options that you find on the Internet, thanks to its aggressive marketing via affiliates looking to earn for referral commissions.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
- Performance: Bluehost, as part of the hosting conglomerate, demonstrates commendable performance. Users often praise their satisfactory loading speeds and reliable uptime. However, occasional downtime during server maintenance has affected some customers’ website availability, a concern that might be shared with other sister companies under the same parent.
- Customer Support: Customer support remains a mixed aspect within the hosting family. While many users appreciate the 24/7 availability and helpfulness of support agents, others have reported longer response times and challenges in resolving complex technical issues. This feedback may be consistent across other hosting brands owned by the same parent company.
- User-Friendly Interface: The user-friendly cPanel, consistent across the hosting family, makes managing websites, domains, and hosting tasks straightforward for customers of Bluehost. This intuitive interface helps users, regardless of the specific hosting brand they choose. However, Bluehost uses a cPanel with its own customizations, which can lead to confusions and issues with proper management of your web hosting.
- Hosting Plans and Features: Bluehost, like its sister companies, offers a range of hosting plans with feature-rich packages. Free SSL certificates, website builders, and one-click application installations are often part of the deal. However, advanced features might incur additional fees, a practice that could be seen across the hosting conglomerate.
- WordPress Integration: Bluehost’s strong integration with WordPress is a shared advantage within the hosting family. With optimized performance and easy one-click installations, it appeals to WordPress users across all brands under the parent company. Compatibility issues with specific plugins may also be experienced across the hosting family.
- Pricing and Discounts: Like other brands within the hosting conglomerate Newfold Digital (formerly EIG), Bluehost provides competitive pricing, particularly introductory offers for new customers. Customers appreciate the affordable entry point, but renewal prices increase significantly after the initial term across all brands.
- Security: Security measures, including free SSL certificates, are consistently provided across the hosting family to protect users’ data. Nonetheless, some customers may suggest additional security options for enhanced protection, a sentiment that could be relevant to all sister companies.
- Refund Policy: The 30-day money-back guarantee offered by Bluehost. While some users praise the hassle-free refund process, others have reported challenges with obtaining their refunds within the specified timeframe, an experience that might extend to other sister companies.
Important Note: If you are contemplating utilizing Bluehost or HostGator as your web hosting providers, it’s essential to note that both companies are under the ownership of Newfold Digital Inc., which was formerly known as Endurance International Group (EIG). Although Newfold is a large web hosting company, it has a track record of acquiring smaller web hosting companies and subsequently streamlining operations to reduce costs, including server consolidation and customer support reductions. As a result, customers have complained about their performance issues with Bluehost and HostGator after their acquisitions by Newfold. Some of the web hosting and domain registrar companies owned and operated by Newfold include Bluehost, HostGator, Domain.com, iPage, A Small Orange, FastDomain, FatCow, HostMonster, JustHost, PowWeb, PureHost, StartLogic, and BigRock (India).
Summary
Based on public reviews and information, Bluehost is a decent web hosting company that offers a user-friendly experience, reliable performance, and competitive pricing. It is particularly popular among WordPress users due to its seamless integration and optimized hosting environment. However, there have been occasional complaints regarding customer support response times and renewal pricing. Overall, Bluehost remains a viable option for individuals and businesses seeking reliable web hosting services for small-to-medium websites and blogs. As with any hosting provider, it is essential to carefully consider your specific requirements and read the terms of service before making a decision.