Bluehost and Squarespace are two different journeys to the same destination: A fully functional website. 

However, as the saying goes, the journey is as important as the destination!

Today, we’ll determine which journey is right for you and the speed bumps you might encounter along the way. 

So keep reading!!

We promise you’re going to enjoy this ride.

Background Information

Bluehost, founded in 2003, is known for its reliability and WordPress optimization. It offers shared, VPS, dedicated, and specialized WordPress hosting. Acquired by the Endurance International Group in 2010, it emphasizes stability, security, and user-friendly interfaces.

Squarespace, founded in 2004, excels in intuitive website building and hosting with a focus on design. As a Bluehost alternative, it’s ideal for those prioritizing ease of use and e-commerce functionality. Squarespace caters to individuals, artists, photographers, small businesses, and creative professionals, offering professionally designed templates, a drag-and-drop editor, and e-commerce tools.

Pricing: Cost vs Value

Bluehost Pricing:

• Basic Plan: Starts at $1.99/month for 1 website and essential features.
• Plus Plan: Starts at $3.99/month (renews at $10.99/month) for unlimited websites and additional resources.
• Choice Plus Plan: Starts at $3.99/month (renews at $14.99/month) with domain privacy and enhanced features.
• Pro Plan: Starts at $9.99/month (renews at $23.99/month) for advanced tools like a dedicated IP.

Squarespace Pricing:

• Personal Plan: Starts at $16/month (billed annually) with unlimited storage and essential features.
• Business Plan: Starts at $23/month (billed annually) with e-commerce capabilities and advanced analytics.
• Basic Commerce Plan: Starts at $28/month (billed annually) with expanded e-commerce features.
• Advanced Commerce Plan: Starts at $52/month (billed annually) with advanced e-commerce tools and customization.

Comparison:

• Bluehost offers more affordable starting prices compared to Squarespace.
• Squarespace provides more comprehensive e-commerce features in its plans compared to Bluehost.
• Both platforms offer value through their included features like SSL security, domain, and website builder tools.
• Squarespace may be more suitable for users requiring advanced e-commerce functionality, while Bluehost caters well to a variety of website needs at different price points.
• For affordability and the top affiliate program, Bluehost might be a strong contender.

Flexibility

Bluehost :

• Shared Hosting: Ideal for beginners and small websites, offering cost-effective hosting with essential features.
• VPS Hosting: Provides more control and resources for growing websites that need scalability.
• Dedicated Hosting: Offers maximum performance and control, suitable for large websites and businesses.
• WordPress Hosting: Tailored specifically for WordPress sites, with optimized performance and security features.

Squarespace:

Squarespace, while less flexible in terms of hosting types, excels in website building and design flexibility.

• Drag-and-Drop Editor: Allows users to easily customize website layouts, designs, and content without coding.
• Pre-designed Templates: Offers a wide variety of professionally designed templates for different industries and purposes.
• Customization Options: Provides tools for customizing fonts, colors, images, and other elements to match brand identity.
• E-commerce Integration: Includes built-in e-commerce functionality with flexible product pages, checkout options, and payment gateways.

Comparison:
Bluehost or GoDaddy, is a better suit to those focusing on online store creation, with its user-friendly interface and robust e-commerce functionality.

Storage

Bluehost:

• Basic Plan: 50GB SSD storage for essential website data.
• Plus Plan: Unlimited SSD storage for multiple websites and larger files.
• Choice Plus Plan: Unlimited SSD storage with extra features like domain privacy.
• Pro Plan: Unlimited SSD storage and advanced tools.

Squarespace:

• Personal Plan: Unlimited storage for all website content, media, and data.
• Business Plan: Unlimited storage for business websites with advanced features.
• Basic Commerce Plan: Unlimited storage for e-commerce sites and product catalogues.
• Advanced Commerce Plan: Unlimited storage for large-scale e-commerce.

Comparison:

• Bluehost offers varied SSD storage levels per plan.
• Squarespace provides unlimited storage for both websites and e-commerce across all plans.

Bandwidth

Bluehost:

• Basic Plan: Offers unmetered bandwidth for standard website traffic.
• Plus Plan: Provides unmetered bandwidth suitable for multiple websites and increased traffic.
• Choice Plus Plan: Includes unmetered bandwidth with additional features for enhanced performance.
• Pro Plan: Unmetered bandwidth with advanced tools for high-traffic websites.

Squarespace:

• Personal Plan: Unlimited bandwidth for regular website usage and traffic.
• Business Plan: Unlimited bandwidth for business websites with increased traffic.
• Basic Commerce Plan: Unlimited bandwidth for e-commerce sites and customer transactions.
• Advanced Commerce Plan: Unlimited bandwidth for large-scale e-commerce operations.

Comparison:

• Bluehost and Squarespace both offer unlimited bandwidth across their plans.
• Unlimited bandwidth ensures optimal performance and user experience without traffic restrictions.

Uptime 

Bluehost:

• Basic Plan: 99.9% uptime guarantee.
• Plus Plan: 99.9% uptime guarantee.
• Choice Plus Plan: 99.9% uptime guarantee.
• Pro Plan: 99.9% uptime guarantee.

Squarespace:

• Personal Plan: 99.9% uptime guarantee.
• Business Plan: 99.9% uptime guarantee.
• Basic Commerce Plan: 99.9% uptime guarantee.
• Advanced Commerce Plan: 99.9% uptime guarantee.

Comparison:

• Both Bluehost and Squarespace ensure a 99.9% uptime across their plans.

Security

Bluehost:

• Basic Plan: SSL certificate, DDoS protection, malware scanning.
• Plus Plan: CodeGuard backups, domain privacy, SSL certificate.
• Choice Plus Plan: Spam Experts, SSL certificate, CodeGuard backups.
• Pro Plan: Dedicated IP, SSL certificate, advanced malware protection.

Squarespace:

• Personal Plan: SSL encryption, secure payment processing, security updates.
• Business Plan: SSL encryption, Cart Recovery, custom CSS.
• Basic Commerce Plan: SSL encryption, secure transactions, built-in security.
• Advanced Commerce Plan: SSL encryption, Cart Recovery, custom CSS.

Comparison:

• Bluehost and Squarespace prioritize SSL encryption and protection against DDoS attacks and malware.
• Bluehost offers additional features like CodeGuard backups and Spam Experts, while Squarespace focuses on e-commerce security measures.

Troubleshooting: Customer Support

Bluehost:

• Basic Plan: 24/7 live chat and ticket support for technical assistance.
• Plus Plan: Additional phone support for quicker issue resolution.
• Choice Plus Plan: Enhanced support with priority access and dedicated account managers.
• Pro Plan: Premium support with priority response and expert assistance.

Squarespace:

• Personal Plan: 24/7 email support and community forums for troubleshooting.
• Business Plan: Priority email support and live chat for business inquiries.
• Basic Commerce Plan: Priority email support and live chat for e-commerce issues.
• Advanced Commerce Plan: Dedicated support team and priority response for advanced needs.

Comparison:

• Bluehost offers live chat, ticket support, and phone assistance across its plans.
• Squarespace provides email support, live chat, and priority assistance based on plan levels, with a dedicated support team for advanced commerce users.

Conclusion 

Through our exploration, we’ve discovered how each platform addresses varied needs and preferences. 

Squarespace is an all-in-one solution, ideal for those valuing simplicity and convenience. 

To Bluehost, catering to adventurers or those seeking flexibility and control.

At this point, it’s best to determine the stage of your e-commerce journey, as that might ultimately help you decide.

But in the meantime, feel free to take advantage of the free trial period each platform offers and compare your experience. 

Good luck!

FAQ

Which platform, Bluehost or Squarespace, is better suited for beginners in website creation?

• Both Bluehost and Squarespace cater to beginners but with different approaches. 

Squarespace provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and pre-designed templates, making it ideal for those who prefer simplicity. 

Bluehost, on the other hand, offers more customization options, particularly for users willing to learn and use tools like WordPress.

How does pricing differ between Bluehost and Squarespace, and which platform offers better value for money?

• Bluehost generally offers more budget-friendly options, starting as low as $1.99 per month. 

Squarespace may have slightly higher starting prices but provides advanced features. The choice depends on your specific needs and budget.

Can you provide insights into the performance and scalability differences between Bluehost and Squarespace?

• Bluehost excels in page load times and uptime percentages, offering unlimited customization options for scalability. 

Squarespace offers unlimited storage and bandwidth but may not match Bluehost’s performance and flexibility for more complex websites.

 Does Bluehost or Squarespace offer better customer support? 

• Both Bluehost and Squarespace provide reliable customer support. Bluehost offers 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email, with WordPress-specific assistance. Squarespace offers 24/7 email support, a knowledge base, and community forums. The choice depends on your preferred support channels and specific needs.

Which platform is suitable for e-commerce websites, Bluehost or Squarespace?

• Squarespace is well-known for its e-commerce capabilities, offering integrated tools, payment gateways, and inventory management for online stores. While Bluehost also supports e-commerce with WooCommerce and other plugins, Squarespace’s dedicated e-commerce features make it a preferred choice for many online retailers.