Bluehost
WordPress-recommended shared hosting with aggressive promotional pricing but substantial renewal increases
Bluehost is an officially recommended WordPress.org hosting provider serving over 5 million websites globally. It offers multiple hosting types including shared, WordPress, WooCommerce, VPS, Cloud, and dedicated hosting plans. Introductory rates start from $2.95–$3.95/month, though renewal pricing typically increases 150–270% after the initial term.
How we scored it
Six-factor weighted score. Each dimension scored 0–10 by our editorial team across testing periods of 3–18 months. No vendor influence.
What it actually costs
Intro pricing shown — see the renewal note for what you'll pay after the introductory term. We don't hide the second-act price.
The real cost
What you'll actually pay across 4 years, including the renewal cliff. We blend the math so you see the true monthly cost.
When the bill actually arrives
Most hosts advertise intro pricing prominently and renewal pricing in the fine print. Here\'s the trajectory drawn to scale.
Bluehost against the field
The highest-scoring alternatives in the same category, compared on the figures we hold for all of them.
| BluehostThis page | SiteGround | DigitalOcean | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReviewCost score | 6.8/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.3/10 |
| Cheapest plan | Basic Shared Hosting | — | — |
| From | $3.95/mo | $17.99/mo | — |
| Renews at | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Biggest strength | WordPress.org's longest-running official recommendation since 2005, trusted by 5+ million WordPress sites globally | Outstanding 24/7 customer support with average 15-minute response times and knowledgeable staff | Transparent, predictable pricing with per-second billing since January 2026 |
| Biggest drawback | Severe renewal price shock: promotional rates increase 150–271% after initial term (e.g., $2.95/month jumps to $10.99/month) | Renewal prices increase 500%+ after promotional period ends (StartUp jumps from $2.99 to $17.99/month) | Limited support on free tier—ticket responses can be slow, no phone support at any tier |
Prices are the published figures at the time of writing and change often. Renewal pricing is shown where the vendor publishes it. See how we review.
What people ask about Bluehost
Straight answers to what buyers actually ask, drawn from the documentation and published user reports.