What is Bluehost?
Bluehost is one of the leading companies in the field of web hosting and providing various server solutions. It was founded in 2003 by American entrepreneur “Matt Heaton,” who is considered one of the prominent names in the web hosting industry. In addition to web hosting services, Bluehost offers several other services such as:
- WordPress Web Hosting
- Website Builder
- Domain Name Registration
Bluehost is considered one of the market leaders, reflected in its diverse services and its ability to meet the needs of clients, whether individuals or businesses. The company is known for offering hosting services at competitive prices, making it an attractive option for many users worldwide.
Bluehost History
Bluehost has managed to maintain its position as a strong hosting company since its establishment and is one of the oldest companies in this field. Despite the many companies launching new hosting services, Bluehost has managed to maintain its position in the market for many years, thanks to its reliable services and specialized technical support.
One of the key factors that distinguish Bluehost from others is its ability to expand and serve the global market. It is one of the few companies that has succeeded in expanding and gaining international recognition, along with other companies such as Hostinger.
Why Choose Bluehost?
If you’re considering creating a website or need premium hosting for web applications, Bluehost is one of the ideal options. It offers a range of advanced tools to professionally support online projects, whether you’re looking to create a blog using WordPress or build a professional website using advanced website-building tools.
Ultimately, Bluehost remains one of the leading companies that continues to offer innovative and competitive hosting services in a constantly changing global market.
Who Owns Bluehost?
Currently, Bluehost is owned by Newfold Digital, a major company in the web hosting and domain registration industry. Newfold Digital is the largest company in this sector globally today, having acquired Bluehost’s former parent company.
History of Newfold Digital’s Establishment
Newfold Digital was founded on February 10, 2021, as a result of the merger of two large web hosting companies:
- Web.com
- Endurance International Group (EIG), a company previously listed on the Nasdaq before being acquired by Newfold Digital and turned into a private company at the end of 2020 for $3 billion.
Subsidiaries of Newfold Digital
Newfold Digital is a major player in the market and owns several prominent companies in web hosting and internet solutions. Some of its key subsidiaries include:
- Web.com
- HostGator
- Bluehost
- JustHost
- Yoast
- iPage
- Network Solutions
- ResellerClub
- FatCow
- HostMonster
- Domain.com
Newfold Digital’s Ownership by a Large Investment Firm
Newfold Digital is owned by Clearlake Capital Group, a major investment firm managing around $50 billion in assets. Clearlake specializes in investments in software, industrial products, and consumer goods, providing Newfold Digital with significant financial resources that contribute to its ongoing sustainability and growth.
Impact of This Ownership on Bluehost
Since Bluehost is owned by a large company like Newfold Digital, it enjoys several advantages that support its continuity and growth, such as:
- Significant financial resources that help improve and develop its services continuously.
- Long-term stability in the market, meaning Bluehost is unlikely to disappear or stop offering services, unlike some smaller hosting companies.
- The ability to offer innovative and reliable services due to continuous financial backing.
Thus, it can be confidently stated that Bluehost is a stable hosting company, unlikely to make sudden decisions such as those faced by companies that may encounter financial difficulties or cease services in certain markets.
Bluehost’s Popularity in Web Hosting
Bluehost is one of the most prominent and well-known web hosting companies in the world. It has earned a strong reputation over the years, particularly in the shared web hosting market and for hosting WordPress websites. The company often ranks highly in lists of the best web hosting providers and is consistently among the top 3 hosting companies in many global rankings, sometimes even taking the lead.
Why Does Bluehost Stand Out?
Bluehost enjoys an excellent reputation among its customers due to its quality services, outstanding technical support, and competitive prices. It was also one of the pioneers in providing dedicated hosting environments for WordPress, making it a preferred choice for many users seeking reliable and easy-to-use hosting.
Interesting Facts About Bluehost Hosting
If you’re considering using Bluehost, here are some interesting facts you might not know about this famous company:
1. Recommended by WordPress.org
For a long time, Bluehost was the only company recommended by the official WordPress.org website for hosting WordPress sites. This recommendation came due to its close collaboration with WordPress developers to provide the perfect hosting environment to support WordPress sites’ performance at its best. Later, WordPress.org added other companies like DreamHost and SiteGround to its list of recommended providers.
2. Prohibits Hosting Adult Content
One of the unique features of Bluehost is that it refuses to host any adult content or websites containing explicit materials. Matt Heaton, the founder of Bluehost, has stated that the company adheres to certain ethical standards in this regard and does not host such content on its servers.
Heaton commented:
“Sometimes, the priority of making profits comes second to personal responsibility and ethics. By saying this, I’m not urging other companies not to host sexual content, but I hope they do so out of their belief in ethics and the necessity of not offering such materials.”
3. Bluehost Is Not Matt Heaton’s Only Success
Bluehost is not the only hosting company founded by Matt Heaton. He also founded HostMonster, which is considered a sister company to Bluehost and was also acquired by EIG, meaning both companies are under the same ownership.
4. Hundreds of Thousands of Users Worldwide
Bluehost is not a small hosting company; it serves over 2 million websites worldwide. This vast number of clients indicates the company’s stability and continuous growth, which enhances its ability to offer high-quality services and meet its users’ needs effectively. The company also has a large team of more than 700 employees working to improve and expand its services.
5. Financial Stability and Strong Support
Since Bluehost is owned by Newfold Digital, a massive player in the web hosting industry, this ensures its financial stability and continuous growth. Therefore, it is not at risk of sudden closure, which sometimes happens with smaller or local hosting companies.
Bluehost enjoys a strong reputation due to its long history in the hosting industry, its close collaboration with WordPress developers, and its ethical policies against harmful content. With over 2 million hosted websites and a large support team, Bluehost remains one of the most reliable and stable hosting companies in the global market.
Bluehost Services
Bluehost offers a wide range of services and solutions in web hosting, email, and domain names. These services cater to the needs of all types of websites, from small personal sites to large businesses and online stores. Here’s an overview of Bluehost’s most notable services:
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the ideal choice for small or beginner websites that seek affordable hosting initially. The concept of this service is that many websites share the same server, making it a low-cost option.
VPS Hosting (Virtual Private Server)
If you’re managing a medium-sized website and need more power compared to shared hosting, VPS hosting is the perfect option. This service provides a more stable private environment, with more control over server settings and resources.
Cloud WordPress Hosting
This service is a cloud-based hosting solution specifically designed for WordPress websites. Developed in collaboration with WordPress.com, it allows WordPress-powered sites to benefit from improved performance and flexible cloud resources.
Dedicated Servers
If you need an entire server dedicated to your site without sharing it with any other websites, Bluehost offers dedicated server hosting. This service provides you with full control over the server, including management, protection, and updates handled by Bluehost’s support team.
Managed WordPress Hosting
This service is designed for WordPress websites that require high performance with added benefits. It includes full site management, allowing you to focus on content creation without worrying about updates or performance issues.
WooCommerce Hosting
If you’re running an online store using WooCommerce, Bluehost offers a specialized and optimized hosting solution for this type of website. This service ensures faster performance and greater stability for WooCommerce stores.
Domain Name Registration
Bluehost provides domain name registration services, which are the addresses visitors use to access your website. Bluehost also offers an easy-to-use control panel for managing your owned domains, helping you organize and update your site efficiently.
Features of Bluehost Hosting
Bluehost is considered one of the leading companies in web hosting, thanks to a range of features that make it a standout choice for various types of websites. In this section, we will explore the most notable features of Bluehost hosting that contribute to its widespread popularity among users.
Unlimited Resources Hosting
One of Bluehost’s standout features is that it offers unlimited hosting resources such as storage space and bandwidth (data transfer). This means you won’t face any limits on the amount of data you can use, giving you full freedom in managing your website.
What does this mean?
If the hosting is limited, your service provider might suspend your website or charge you extra fees if you exceed the allowed resources. However, with Bluehost, there are no such restrictions, although you must comply with the fair usage policy. This means that if you’re running a resource-heavy site, such as file hosting or complex software, you may need to upgrade to VPS or dedicated hosting to meet your needs.
Optimized WordPress Hosting
Bluehost is considered one of the best WordPress hosting providers. The company has developed specialized hosting tailored to WordPress’s specific requirements.
Advantages:
- Bluehost has long been recommended by the official WordPress.org website as the best hosting for WordPress.
- A customized control panel makes managing your WordPress site and hosting in one place easier.
- Innovative tools to help build a WordPress site easily, making it perfect for both beginners and professionals.
Fast Hosting
Hosting speed is a critical factor in user experience. Bluehost is one of the fastest hosting companies, thanks to the advanced technologies it employs:
- In late 2017, Bluehost announced that it uses SSD drives instead of traditional HDD drives. SSD drives provide three times the speed of HDDs, thanks to the lack of moving parts in SSDs, which enhances response time and loading speed.
Effect of this technology on your site:
- Significantly improved server response time.
- Faster page load times, which enhances the visitor experience.
24/7 Customer Support
Another feature that makes Bluehost stand out is its excellent customer support. Bluehost provides 24/7 technical support via live chat, phone, and email. This ensures that users can get help whenever needed, making it a reliable hosting provider for both beginners and experienced users.
Affordable Bluehost Hosting
Bluehost is considered one of the most cost-effective web hosting companies, making it an ideal choice for beginners who want to build websites with minimal investment.
Competitive Hosting Plans
Bluehost offers a variety of hosting plans to meet all needs, from small websites to high-traffic sites. These plans include most of the basic features that any website requires, such as:
- Unlimited storage space
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Easy-to-use control panel
These competitive prices allow you to create your website at minimal costs, and you can allocate the saved funds toward designing or improving your site.
Exclusive Discount for “Comprehensive Hosting Guide” Visitors
If you want to take advantage of an exclusive discount, you can access a special offer for visitors of the “Comprehensive Hosting Guide” website, along with free extras like:
- SSL certificate for website security
- Free domain registration
This way, you can save additional amounts when purchasing hosting from Bluehost.
Profitable Plan
Bluehost provides strong and fast hosting with:
- Fully integrated cPanel
- Free add-ons to enhance site performance
- Free domain registration
This profitable deal is perfect for those looking for premium hosting at a low cost, starting at just a few dollars per month.
Free 24/7 Technical Support
Bluehost offers free 24/7 technical support through various channels:
- Live chat
- Free phone support within the U.S.
- International phone support
Technical support is available in English only. However, you can use Google Translate or other translation services to make communication easier. If you inform the support staff that you’re not a native English speaker, they will be prepared to assist you accordingly.
Technical support is provided by staff in India, as Bluehost has moved its support services there to reduce costs, enabling faster response times.
Use of Latest PHP Versions
Bluehost was one of the first hosting companies to support PHP 7, which is faster and more resource-efficient compared to the previous PHP 5.6 version. PHP 7 doubles code execution speed and reduces resource consumption by half.
Flexibility in Switching PHP Versions
Bluehost also offers users the ability to select the appropriate PHP version from their control panel, and they continuously support stable PHP versions.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you can easily choose the version that best suits your site’s needs.
Easy to Use and Control with Bluehost
Bluehost is known for being one of the easiest hosting companies to use and manage, offering a simplified and elegant version of the well-known cPanel control panel. Here are some of the key features that contribute to its ease of use:
Integrated cPanel Control Panel
- Arabic Language Support: The control panel supports Arabic, making it easier for Arabic-speaking users to manage their accounts.
- Complete Management Tools: Through cPanel, you can easily manage domains, create databases, manage email accounts, handle subdomains, and much more.
- One-Click WordPress Installation: Bluehost makes it simple to install WordPress directly from cPanel, saving you from complex tasks like uploading script files or setting up a database.
Simplified cPanel Interface
The streamlined cPanel interface at Bluehost makes managing your website or online business very easy. This is one of the main reasons why many users consider Bluehost one of the best hosting providers that support cPanel.
Free Hosting and Domain
One of Bluehost’s standout offers is providing free hosting and a domain to many users, especially when signing up for their hosting plans.
Free Domain for One Year
- When you sign up with Bluehost, you can get a free domain for the first year.
- Bluehost doesn’t impose restrictions on this offer, so you can register a new domain, transfer an existing domain, or even link a domain hosted elsewhere to your Bluehost account.
Flexibility to Transfer Domain
- Once you’ve received the free domain, you can transfer it to any other registrar at any time without restrictions or conditions.
- You can also renew the domain at Bluehost with reasonable renewal rates.
Diverse Web Hosting Services
Bluehost provides a range of hosting services designed to meet various needs, including:
- Shared Hosting for small websites.
- VPS Hosting for medium-sized sites.
- Dedicated Servers for large websites.
- Option to purchase domains separately.
Easy Upgrade Between Plans
Bluehost offers flexible pricing across various plans, allowing you to easily upgrade your hosting as your website grows, without the need to switch to another hosting provider.
- Upgrading between plans can be done directly from the control panel with ease.
Money-Back Guarantee
Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not satisfied with their service, you can get a full refund (excluding domain registration fees) by canceling within 30 days of signing up.
Trust in Money-Back Guarantee
Bluehost’s refund policy reflects the company’s confidence in the quality of its services. If you’re not happy with the service, you can get your money back without worrying about losing your investment.
Disadvantages of Bluehost Hosting
Although Bluehost is considered one of the top hosting companies due to its diverse services and competitive prices, there are some drawbacks that might affect certain users. Here are the main disadvantages of Bluehost hosting:
Phone Support Isn’t the Best
Some users complain about the phone support service, where customers may have to wait for a long time to receive a response. On the other hand, Bluehost provides more efficient support via email and live chat. While phone support may not be essential for all users, this issue could be frustrating for those who prefer to communicate by phone.
Bluehost Servers Are Only in the USA
Bluehost offers its servers only in the United States, which means users cannot choose server locations closer to their target audience in other regions like Southern or Central Europe. A speed issue could arise in cases where your website targets visitors from countries far from the USA, as the distance may impact site load times.
Proposed Solution: You can use a CDN (Content Delivery Network) like Cloudflare to distribute content across servers worldwide, improving the loading speed of the site regardless of visitor location.
Bluehost’s Small Hosting Package Is Limited
The smallest hosting package from Bluehost comes with limitations on some resources, such as:
- Only one website per account.
- 50 GB storage capacity.
- 5 email accounts. While the smallest package doesn’t impose limits on bandwidth, these restrictions can be inconvenient for websites that want to add more accounts or store larger files.
If you need more resources, you can upgrade to larger packages or opt for VPS hosting or dedicated servers.
The Term “Unlimited Hosting” May Not Be What You Expect
“Unlimited hosting” can sometimes be misleading. The restrictions on storage space, resource usage, and the number of accounts may be hidden or unclear at first. As explained in the “Truth About Unlimited Web Hosting” lesson, the concept of unlimited hosting often comes with certain limits related to fair usage.
No Free Website Migration
If you decide to switch to Bluehost from another host, the company does not offer free website migration. You will need to purchase a paid migration service, which costs around $150 for the migration of up to 5 websites and 20 email accounts.
Note: Bluehost does not migrate VPS or dedicated server accounts.
| Feature | BASIC | CHOICE PLUS | ONLINE STORE | PRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSD Storage | 10 GB | 50 GB | 50 GB | 100 GB |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Number of Websites | 1 Website | 10 Websites | 50 Websites | 100 Websites |
| Email Accounts | 5 Accounts | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Free Domain | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Free SSL Certificate | ✅ Yes (First Year) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (First Year) | ✅ Yes |
| Backup | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Dedicated IP | None | None | None | ✅ Yes |
| Domain Privacy Certificate | None | None | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Monthly Price | $7.99 | $13.99 | $18.99 | $20.99 |
| Price After Discount | $1.99 | $3.99 | $7.45 | $9.99 |
