Hosting & Cloud · Review · Updated 17 October 2026
Bluehost reviewBeginner-friendly WordPress hosting with a free first-year domain and NVMe storage
Very good
Brent score, out of 5
Bluehost is an easy, low-cost way to get a WordPress site live, with a free domain for the first year, free SSL, CDN and NVMe storage on every plan. The trade-offs are weekly (not daily) backups, no free mailbox, and intro prices that need a 36-month term and roughly double at renewal. It suits beginners and small businesses who want simple WordPress hosting and are fine adding email elsewhere.
Price
From US$3.99/month (36-month term), renews at US$9.99/month
Free option
Paid only
Best for
First-time website owners starting with WordPress
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Best for
- First-time website owners starting with WordPress
- Small businesses that want a free first-year domain bundled in
- Freelancers hosting several small sites on one account
- WooCommerce beginners on the eCommerce Essentials plan
Skip it if
- Anyone who needs free email included with hosting
- Sites that need daily backups without paying extra
- Buyers who do not want to prepay three years for the best price
You want a website without learning servers: a blog, a small business site or a first online store. Every host claims to be fast and cheap, and it is hard to tell what you will actually pay after the first bill or what is missing from the low plan.
Bluehost is one of the best-known WordPress hosts. Every plan includes a free first-year domain, SSL, a CDN and NVMe storage, and the dashboard installs WordPress for you. That makes it a simple starting point for beginners.
The details matter: email is not included, backups are weekly, and the low price depends on a three-year term. Here is what each plan includes and what it costs after the intro period.
What is Bluehost?
Bluehost is a web hosting provider owned by Newfold Digital, focused on shared WordPress hosting. You choose a plan, register or connect a domain, and Bluehost installs WordPress on its servers with NVMe SSD storage, a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate and a CDN. Plans differ by number of sites, storage, expected traffic and security and commerce extras. Larger needs are covered by enterprise and custom plans sold through its sales team.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Free domain for the first year, free Let's Encrypt SSL and free CDN on every plan
- NVMe SSD storage: 10 GB, 50 GB or 100 GB depending on plan
- Generous site counts: 10, 50 or 100 websites
- Business plan adds a web application firewall, DDoS protection and phone support
- 30-day money-back guarantee on hosting
What could be better
- No free email: only a one-month Pro Email trial, then US$2.50/month
- Backups are weekly, not daily
- Advertised prices need a 36-month term and renew much higher (Starter US$3.99 to US$9.99/month)
- Refunds deduct a domain fee if you took the free domain
Overall
Very good
- Features4.0
- Ease of use4.4
- Value3.8
- Support3.9
Key features of Bluehost
Free domain, SSL and CDN
Every plan includes a free domain for the first year, a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate and a free CDN. Domain privacy is free for the first year on Business and eCommerce Essentials.
NVMe storage and multiple sites
Starter gives 10 websites and 10 GB of NVMe storage, Business 50 sites and 50 GB, and eCommerce Essentials 100 sites and 100 GB.
Security on higher plans
All plans include free malware scanning. Business and eCommerce Essentials add a web application firewall and DDoS protection.
WooCommerce tools
eCommerce Essentials adds WooCommerce auto-install and commerce tools. The commerce bundle applies to one website; extra stores need add-ons.
Migration tool
A free site migration tool is included to move an existing WordPress site onto Bluehost.
Bluehost pricing
Checked 2026-10. Prices can change; confirm on Bluehost (Newfold Digital)’s site.
Starter
US$3.99/month intro, then US$9.99/month
36-month term
- 10 websites, 10 GB NVMe
- About 40,000 visits/month
- Weekly backups, free CDN and SSL
Business
US$6.99/month intro, then US$13.99/month
36-month term
- 50 websites, 50 GB NVMe
- About 200,000 visits/month
- WAF, DDoS protection, phone support
eCommerce Essentials
US$14.99/month intro, then US$21.99/month
36-month term
- 100 websites, 100 GB NVMe
- About 400,000 visits/month
- WooCommerce auto-install and commerce tools
Watch out: Prices are in USD for a 36-month term and renew at the higher regular rate; email is extra after a one-month trial, and refunds within 30 days deduct a domain fee if you took the free domain.
See current Bluehost pricing →What people use Bluehost for
A first blog or portfolio
A designer launches a WordPress portfolio on Starter with a free first-year domain and SSL, without touching a server.
A freelancer hosting client sites
A freelancer keeps a dozen small client sites on Business, with the firewall and DDoS protection included.
A small WooCommerce shop
A maker opens an online store on eCommerce Essentials, with WooCommerce installed and 100 GB of storage for product images.
How to get started with Bluehost
- 1
Pick a plan; Business is the better fit if you want the firewall and phone support.
- 2
Claim your free first-year domain or connect one you own.
- 3
Let Bluehost install WordPress and choose a theme.
- 4
Set up email with a separate provider or the Pro Email add-on.
- 5
Add a daily backup plugin or service if your site changes often.
Bluehost alternatives
| Product | Choose it when |
|---|---|
| Bluehost 4.0 | First-time website owners starting with WordPress |
| SiteGround4.2 | Choose it if you want daily backups and free email included and can accept higher renewals. |
| HostGator3.9 | Choose it for a similar low-cost shared plan lineup with a cheaper entry price. |
| InMotion Hosting4.2 | Choose it if you want free cPanel email, much more storage and a 90-day money-back guarantee. |
Bluehost: frequently asked questions
Is Bluehost good for beginners?+
Yes. It installs WordPress for you and bundles a free first-year domain, SSL and CDN. The main things beginners miss are that email is extra and backups are weekly.
Does Bluehost include free email?+
No. Plans include a one-month Pro Email trial, which then costs US$2.50/month. Many people use a separate email provider instead.
How much does Bluehost cost after the first term?+
Starter renews at US$9.99/month, Business at US$13.99/month and eCommerce Essentials at US$21.99/month. The intro prices require a 36-month term.
Does Bluehost have a money-back guarantee?+
Yes, 30 days on hosting. Most add-ons are excluded, and if your plan included a free domain, a domain fee is deducted from the refund.
Does Bluehost back up my site?+
Plans include weekly backups. If your site changes daily, add your own backup plugin or service.
Final verdict
Is Bluehost worth it?
If you want a WordPress site live today with a free domain and SSL, and you are happy to handle email separately, Bluehost is a simple, low-cost start. Pick Business for the added security, lock in the 36-month price, and use the 30-day guarantee to make sure it fits.
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Reviewed by
Amjid Ali, Founder and editor
Amjid Ali is a Melbourne-based AI and automation lead, author of five books on infrastructure, automation and digital transformation, and a corporate trainer whose courses on n8n, Proxmox, firewalls and ERP have taught thousands of IT professionals.
Last updated 17 October 2026 · How we review
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From US$3.99/month (36-month term), renews at US$9.99/month