Bluehost Cost: A Complete Breakdown of Pricing, Plans, and Real Value

When choosing a web hosting provider, cost is often the deciding factor. Bluehost is one of the most popular hosting companies in the world, officially recommended by WordPress and used by millions of websites. But how much does Bluehost actually cost, and is it worth the price?

In this in-depth guide, we’ll break down Bluehost cost in detail—covering hosting plans, renewal prices, hidden fees, add-ons, and whether Bluehost offers good value compared to competitors. By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what you’re paying for and whether Bluehost fits your budget and website needs.

What Is Bluehost?

Before diving into Bluehost cost, it’s important to understand what Bluehost offers.

Bluehost is a web hosting company founded in 2003 and owned by Endurance International Group (now Newfold Digital). It provides a wide range of hosting services, including:

• Shared hosting
  
  

• WordPress hosting
  
  

• VPS hosting
  
  

• Dedicated hosting
  
  

• WooCommerce hosting
  
  

• Domain registration and email hosting
  
  

Bluehost is best known for being beginner-friendly, affordable at entry level, and deeply integrated with WordPress.

Bluehost Cost Overview

The cost of Bluehost depends on three main factors:

1. Hosting type (shared, WordPress, VPS, etc.)
   
   

2. Plan level (Basic, Plus, Choice Plus, Pro)
   
   

3. Billing term (monthly vs. annual or multi-year)
   
   

Bluehost advertises low introductory prices, but like most hosting companies, renewal costs are higher. Understanding this difference is key when evaluating the true cost.

Shared Hosting: Bluehost Cost Breakdown

Shared hosting is Bluehost’s most popular option and the best choice for beginners, bloggers, and small websites.

Bluehost Shared Hosting Plans

Bluehost offers four shared hosting plans:

1. Basic Plan

Best for: Single website owners and beginners

What you get:

• 1 website
  
  

• 10 GB SSD storage
  
  

• Free domain for the first year
  
  

• Free SSL certificate
  
  

• Custom WordPress themes
  
  

• 24/7 customer support
  
  

Bluehost cost (introductory):

• Very low starting price when purchased for 12–36 months
  
  

Renewal cost:

• Significantly higher after the first term
  
  

This plan is ideal if you’re launching your first blog or small business website and want to keep costs minimal.

2. Plus Plan

Best for: Multiple websites on a budget

What you get:

• Unlimited websites
  
  

• Unmetered SSD storage
  
  

• Free domain for the first year
  
  

• Free SSL
  
  

• Spam protection
  
  

Bluehost cost:
Higher than Basic but still affordable, especially for users managing more than one site.

3. Choice Plus Plan

Best for: Users who want privacy and backups

What you get:

• Everything in Plus
  
  

• Free domain privacy
  
  

• Automated daily backups (first year)
  
  

This plan offers better long-term value because domain privacy alone can save you money annually.

4. Pro Plan

Best for: High-traffic sites and professionals

What you get:

• Optimized CPU resources
  
  

• Dedicated IP
  
  

• Advanced performance tools
  
  

Bluehost cost:
The most expensive shared plan, but still cheaper than VPS hosting.

WordPress Hosting Cost at Bluehost

Bluehost WordPress hosting is optimized specifically for WordPress websites and comes with enhanced performance and security features.

WordPress Hosting Plans

• Basic
  
  

• Plus
  
  

• Choice Plus
  
  

• Pro
  
  

The Bluehost cost for WordPress hosting is slightly higher than standard shared hosting, but it includes:

• Pre-installed WordPress
  
  

• Automatic WordPress updates
  
  

• Enhanced security
  
  

• Faster load times
  
  

For serious WordPress users, the slightly higher cost is often justified.

Bluehost VPS Hosting Cost

If your website outgrows shared hosting, VPS hosting is the next step.

VPS Hosting Plans

Bluehost offers three VPS tiers:

• Standard
  
  

• Enhanced
  
  

• Ultimate
  
  

What affects Bluehost VPS cost:

• Dedicated RAM
  
  

• CPU cores
  
  

• SSD storage
  
  

• Root access
  
  

VPS hosting costs significantly more than shared hosting, but it provides better performance, scalability, and control.

Best for:

• Growing businesses
  
  

• High-traffic blogs
  
  

• Developers
  
  

Dedicated Hosting Cost at Bluehost

Dedicated hosting is Bluehost’s most powerful and expensive option.

What You Get

• Entire server dedicated to your website
  
  

• Maximum performance
  
  

• Full customization
  
  

• Enterprise-level security
  
  

Bluehost cost for dedicated hosting is much higher than other plans, making it suitable mainly for large businesses and high-traffic websites.

Bluehost WooCommerce Hosting Cost

WooCommerce hosting is designed for online stores.

Includes:

• WooCommerce pre-installed
  
  

• Secure payment processing
  
  

• Storefront themes
  
  

• Product management tools
  
  

Bluehost cost for WooCommerce hosting is higher than shared hosting but includes features that would otherwise require paid plugins.

Domain Name Costs with Bluehost

Free Domain (First Year)

Most Bluehost plans include a free domain for the first year, which significantly reduces startup cost.

Renewal Cost

After the first year:

• Domain renewal is charged annually
  
  

• Cost varies by extension (.com, .net, etc.)
  
  

Domain Privacy Cost

Domain privacy hides your personal details from public WHOIS databases.

• Free with Choice Plus and Pro (first year)
  
  

• Paid add-on with Basic and Plus
  
  

Bluehost Email Hosting Cost

Bluehost includes basic email hosting with most plans.

Free Email Features

• Custom email addresses
  
  

• Webmail access
  
  

• Spam filtering
  
  

Premium Email (Optional)

For advanced features like more storage and collaboration tools, Bluehost offers premium email services at an additional cost.

Hidden Costs to Consider

When evaluating Bluehost cost, be aware of potential add-ons:

• Site backups (after first year)
  
  

• Security tools
  
  

• SEO tools
  
  

• Website builder upgrades
  
  

These are optional but can increase your total cost if selected during checkout.

Bluehost Renewal Cost: What Most People Miss

One of the biggest complaints about Bluehost cost is renewal pricing.

Key Things to Know

• Introductory prices apply only to the first term
  
  

• Renewal prices can be 2–3x higher
  
  

• Longer initial terms save more money
  
  

Tip: Choose a 24- or 36-month plan upfront to lock in the lowest rate.

Is Bluehost Cost Worth It?

Pros

• Very affordable starting cost
  
  

• Free domain and SSL
  
  

• Excellent WordPress integration
  
  

• Beginner-friendly dashboard
  
  

• Reliable uptime
  
  

Cons

• Higher renewal prices
  
  

• Add-ons during checkout can be confusing
  
  

• Performance not as strong as premium hosts
  
  

Bluehost Cost vs Competitors

Bluehost vs SiteGround

• Bluehost is cheaper initially
  
  

• SiteGround has better performance
  
  

• SiteGround costs more long-term
  
  

Bluehost vs HostGator

• Similar pricing
  
  

• Bluehost has better WordPress tools
  
  

Bluehost vs Cloud Hosting Providers

• Bluehost is much cheaper
  
  

• Cloud hosts offer better scalability
  
  

Who Should Choose Bluehost?

Bluehost is ideal if you are:

• A beginner launching your first website
  
  

• A blogger or freelancer on a budget
  
  

• A small business owner
  
  

• A WordPress user
  
  

If performance and advanced features matter more than cost, a premium host may be better.

How to Reduce Bluehost Cost

Here are proven ways to save money:

1. Choose long-term billing
   
   

2. Skip unnecessary add-ons
   
   

3. Use free plugins instead of paid tools
   
   

4. Upgrade only when needed
   
   

Final Verdict on Bluehost Cost

So, is Bluehost cost reasonable?

Yes—especially for beginners.

Bluehost offers one of the lowest entry points into web hosting, with solid features, free domain registration, and strong WordPress support. While renewal prices are higher, the overall value remains competitive when compared to other mainstream hosting providers.

If you understand the pricing structure and plan ahead, Bluehost can be a cost-effective and reliable hosting solution for many types of websites.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bluehost Cost

Is Bluehost really cheap?
Yes, especially during the initial term.

Does Bluehost charge monthly?
Monthly billing is available but more expensive.

Is Bluehost free?
No, but it includes many free features like SSL and a domain for the first year.

Can I cancel Bluehost and get a refund?
Yes, Bluehost offers a money-back guarantee on hosting plans.