Bluehost is the choice of 4 million+ professionals worldwide. 

This is no surprise, as the platform offers a suite of tools and security features geared toward professionals and enthusiasts.

WordPress, 

on the other hand, hosts roughly 810 million websites globally and has an estimated 42.7% market share.

But don’t let these stats fool you; each platform is an e-commerce powerhouse in its own right. 

Brief Overview

Bluehost (Founded in 2003) has built a reputation for reliability and optimisation.

Despite being a standalone solution, the platform is known for its seamless integration with WordPress.

They also offer variety in terms of hosting options, from shared to dedicated, alongside specialised WordPress hosting.

Another exciting point of Bluehost is its affiliate resource offering. Unlike most hosting services, Bluehost ranks as the Best Affiliate Program for users worldwide. Host your site, and make money on the side—easy Peasy!

WordPress (Founded 2004) is not just a hosting service but a widely used content management system (CMS). 

It’s favoured for its flexibility and scalability, allowing users to customise their websites with ease using plugins and themes. 

Their thriving community of developers and enthusiasts offer endless possibilities for innovation and growth.

Plans: Features & Pricing

 Bluehost

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

WordPress

• Starter: $4/month (billed annually) with:
  • Premium themes
  •  Ad free experience 
  • DNS + SSL
  • 8% transaction fee with email support.

• Explorer: Starts at $8/month (billed annually). Features include everything in Starter Plus:
  • Free-domain (12 months)
  • Chat Support
  • Adword
  • Premium Themes
  • Custom fonts and Colours
  • 4% Transaction fee for payments

• Creator: Starts at $25/month (billed annually). Features include everything in Explorer Plus:
  •  Unlimited bandwidth and site visitors
  • Global edge caching and high-burst capacity
  • Web application firewall (WAF) and managed malware protection
  • Real-time security scans and spam protection with Akismet
  • DDoS protection and mitigation
  • Developer tools: SFTP/SSH, WP-CLI, Git
  • No transaction fee for standard WooCommerce payments
  • Real-time backups and one-click restores
  • SEO and analytics tools

• Entrepreneur: Starts at $45/month (billed annually). Features include everything in Creator Plus:
  • Optimised WooCommerce hosting
  • Brand-based product displays for organisation
  • Product add-ons for increased revenue options
  • Min/max order quantities for flexible ordering
  • Dynamic product upsells for boosted revenue
  • Advanced email marketing tools
  • Bulk discounts for personalised offerings
  • Inventory management
  • Global selling capabilities in 60+ countries and 135+ currencies
  • Integrations with top shipping carriers for efficient logistics
  • 0% transaction fee for payments (standard processing fee applies)

Comparison:

• Bluehost has more affordable options compared to WordPress
• WordPress provides readymade customisation e-commerce features compared to Bluehost
• They both offer users a concise suite of free features and add-ons
• WordPress lends itself as an exceptional tool for beginners, while Bluehost might be more suitable for power users.

Flexibility

Bluehost 

When it comes to website flexibility, few hosting services come close to Bluehost and HostGator, although that’s not to say WordPress doesn’t have its own capabilities.

• Maximum customisation and configuration
• Suitable for both small blogs and large commerce sites.
• WordPress Integration

WordPress

WordPress offers awesome features, with the twist being its almost Lego-like approach.

• Premium Templates for any case. 
• Customisation Options: Provides tools for customising fonts, colours, and images.
• Code-free web design.
• Best-In-Class e-commerce tools.

Storage

Bluehost

• Basic Plan: 50GB 
• Plus Plan: Unlimited Storage 
• Choice Plus Plan: Unlimited SSD storage with extra features like domain privacy.
• Pro Plan: Unlimited SSD storage and advanced tools.

WordPress

• Starter: 6 GB Storage (SSD)
• Explorer: 13 GB Storage (SSD)
• Entrepreneur: 50 GB Storage (SSD)
• Cloud: 225 GB Storage (SSD)
• Enterprise: Unlimited SSD Storage 

Comparison:

• Bluehost provides much more robust storage options compared to WordPress.

Remember to explore Bluehost alternatives as well to see if their storage options and pricing better suit your specific needs.

Bandwidth

Bluehost

• Unmetered Bandwidth on all plans

WordPress

• Unlimited Bandwidth on all plans.

Comparison:

• Bluehost offers unmetered Bandwidth, while WordPress offers unlimited Bandwidth.
• Unlimited Bandwidth might cap how much data is accessed at a given instance but offers unrestricted speeds.
• Unmetered Bandwidth caps speed while allowing users access to unlimited data at any given time. 

Uptime 

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

Security

Bluehost

Basic Plan

• SSL Certificate: Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate for encrypted data transmission between the website and visitors’ browsers.
• Domain Privacy Protection: Masking personal information in domain registration to prevent identity theft and spam.
• SiteLock Lite: Basic security scanning for malware detection and removal.

Plus Plan

• All Basic Plan Features: Includes SSL certificate, domain privacy protection, and SiteLock Lite.
• CodeGuard Basic: Automatic daily backups with one-click restores to protect against data loss.
• SpamExperts: Advanced spam filtering to protect email accounts from unwanted emails and phishing attempts.

Choice Plus Plan

• All Plus Plan Features
• Domain Privacy + Protection: Enhanced domain privacy protection with added security features.
• SiteLock Security: More comprehensive website security scanning for malware detection and removal.

Pro Plan

• All Choice Plus Plan Features
• Dedicated IP: Exclusive IP address for improved website performance and security.

WordPress

Starter

• Basic Security Measures: Built-in security features like user authentication controls and automatic updates for core software.
• Limited Customisation: Minimal control over themes and plugins, but automatic updates help maintain security.

Explorer 

• Enhanced Security: Includes all features of the Free plan, with additional password security options such as 2FA.
• File Integrity Monitoring: Basic file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorised changes.
• Access to Basic Support: Assistance with security-related inquiries and issues.

Creator

• Advanced Security Features: Includes all features of the Personal plan, with added security plugins like Jetpack Security.
•  Enhanced Support: Priority support for security concerns and troubleshooting.
• Secure Backups: Regular backups of website data for recovery in case of security incidents.

Entrepreneur

• Comprehensive Security Suite: Robust security measures, including advanced security plugins like VaultPress for malware scanning and removal.
• Site Recovery Assistance: Expert support and assistance with restoring hacked or compromised websites.
• Security Consultations: Guidance from security experts on best practices and custom security configurations.

Cloud

• Secure Online Transactions: Enhanced security features for e-commerce websites, such as SSL certificates for encrypted data transmission.
• PCI Compliance: Measures to ensure PCI DSS requirements.
• Fraud Protection: Tools and integrations to help prevent fraudulent transactions and protect sensitive customer information.

Comparison:

• Both offer security and privacy protection even on lower-tier plans.
• 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.

WordPress

• Starter: Offers 24/7 email support and public forums.
• Explorer: 24/7 email support, public forums, as well as weekday live chat on annual plans. 
• Entrepreneur & Creator: Priority email, public forums, and weekday + weekend live chat.
• Cloud: Priority access with dedicated account managers. 

Comparison:

• Bluehost offers live chat and additional phone support which is lacking on all WordPress tiers. 

Conclusion 

Bluehost offers affordability and seamless integration, making it suitable for those seeking reliable hosting with WordPress compatibility. 

On the other hand, WordPress provides customisation and ease of use, ideal for beginners and users looking for flexibility. 

Evaluate your requirements carefully to make the right choice for your website hosting and management.

FAQ

Can I use Bluehost without WordPress?

• Yes, Bluehost offers a range of hosting options suitable for various platforms and CMSs, not just WordPress.

Does WordPress hosting come with Bluehost plans?

• Yes, Bluehost offers specialised WordPress hosting plans designed to optimise performance for WordPress websites.

 Can I use themes and plugins with Bluehost?

• Yes, if you’re using WordPress with Bluehost, you can install and use themes and plugins available in the WordPress ecosystem.

Can I host websites other than WordPress with WordPress hosting?

• These plans allow you to host other types of websites, although it may not be the most optimal choice.

Does Bluehost offer website migration services?

• Yes, Bluehost offers website migration services.

Can I upgrade my Bluehost plan as my website grows?

• Yes, Bluehost offers scalability, allowing upgrades to your hosting plan as website needs increase.

Does Bluehost provide domain registration services?

• Yes, Bluehost offers domain registration services, allowing you to register a domain name for your website.

What e-commerce platforms can I use with Bluehost?

• Bluehost supports various e-commerce platforms, including WooCommerce, Magento, and others, providing compatibility for online stores.

Does Bluehost offer website backup services?

• Yes, Bluehost offers backup services, including CodeGuard backups, to protect your website data and facilitate easy restoration in case of data loss.