When I decided to start my online business, choosing the right web hosting provider felt overwhelming. After researching dozens of options, I decided to try Bluehost – and I’m here to share my complete Bluehost review after three months of real-world use with their WordPress Basic Hosting plan.
Bottom line upfront: This Bluehost review covers everything you need to know. After three months of use, Bluehost has been reliable, beginner-friendly, and their support team actually knows what they’re talking about. For someone starting their first website, it’s delivered exactly what I needed without breaking the bank.
Here’s my complete, honest breakdown of everything you need to know.
My Bluehost Setup: WordPress Basic Plan
I chose the WordPress Basic Hosting plan because I wanted something simple that could grow with my business. At $2.95/month for the first year (then $11.99/month renewal), it included everything I needed to get started:
- Free domain for the first year
- Free SSL certificate
- 50GB of website space
- Unmetered bandwidth
- WordPress pre-installed
- 24/7 customer support
Why I chose this over competitors: The combination of WordPress optimization, reliable uptime reputation, and beginner-friendly interface made the decision easy.
What I Love About Bluehost: The Good Points in My Review
1. Setup Was Actually Easy
I’m not particularly tech-savvy, but getting my website live took less than 20 minutes. The WordPress installation was automatic, and I had a functioning website almost immediately.
The process:
- Signed up and chose my domain
- WordPress installed automatically
- Basic theme activated
- SSL certificate configured without any input from me
2. Customer Support Actually Helps
I’ve contacted support three times in three months, and each time they solved my issue quickly:
- Domain email setup question: Resolved in 15 minutes via chat
- Plugin compatibility issue: Support agent walked me through the fix
- Billing question about renewal: Clear explanation of pricing structure
The support team seems to actually understand WordPress, not just reading from scripts.
3. Performance Has Been Solid
My website loads consistently fast, and I haven’t experienced any downtime that I’m aware of. Using GTmetrix for speed testing, my site typically loads in 2-3 seconds, which is good for a basic plan.
My actual stats so far:
- Uptime: 99.9% (based on my monitoring)
- Average load time: 2.1 seconds
- No major outages or issues
4. WordPress Integration Just Works
Everything feels designed for WordPress users. Automatic updates, one-click staging sites, and WordPress-specific optimizations make managing my site straightforward.
5. Control Panel is Beginner-Friendly
The custom control panel (not traditional cPanel) is clean and intuitive. I can find what I need without hunting through dozens of confusing options.
Screenshot of my actual Bluehost dashboard – notice how clean and organized everything is
As you can see from my dashboard, everything is laid out logically. The Overview tab shows your site status at a glance, SSL certificate status, hosting plan details, and quick access to important features. No overwhelming technical jargon or confusing menus.
Bluehost Review: What Could Be Better
1. Renewal Pricing Jump
The introductory pricing is great, but the renewal rate jumps to $11.99/month. While still reasonable, it’s a 300% increase that caught me off guard initially.
2. Upsell Attempts During Checkout
During signup, they push additional services pretty hard. I declined most add-ons, but the process felt a bit pushy for someone just trying to get started.
3. Limited Storage on Basic Plan
50GB sounds like a lot until you start adding high-quality images and videos. I’m at about 15GB after three months, so I’ll need to monitor this.
4. Email Hosting Costs Extra
While you get email addresses with your domain, the professional email features require an additional monthly fee. Not a deal-breaker, but worth knowing upfront.
Bluehost vs Top Competitors
Bluehost vs SiteGround
SiteGround offers faster speeds and better customer service but costs more. You can compare SiteGround’s plans here. If budget isn’t a concern, SiteGround might be worth the extra cost.
Winner: SiteGround for performance, Bluehost for value
Bluehost vs HostGator
HostGator is slightly cheaper but has more reported downtime issues. Bluehost feels more reliable based on my research and experience.
Winner: Bluehost for reliability
Bluehost vs GoDaddy
GoDaddy is a bigger name but has a reputation for aggressive upselling and slower speeds. Bluehost provides a cleaner experience.
Winner: Bluehost clearly
Pricing Breakdown: Is It Worth It?
Current Pricing (as of 2025):
- First year: $2.95/month (promotional price)
- Renewal: $11.99/month
- Additional costs: Email hosting ($5.99/month), site backups ($2.99/month)
What’s Included:
- Free domain (first year, then $17.99/year)
- Free SSL certificate (worth $50+)
- WordPress pre-installed
- 24/7 support
- 50GB storage
- Unmetered bandwidth
My calculation: Even at renewal pricing, you’re getting solid value. The free domain and SSL certificate alone save you $70+ in the first year.
Who Should Choose Bluehost?
Perfect for:
- Complete beginners starting their first website
- WordPress users who want optimized hosting
- Small business owners who need reliability without complexity
- Anyone on a budget who still wants quality hosting
Not ideal for:
- Advanced users who need root server access
- High-traffic websites requiring premium performance
- E-commerce sites needing specialized features
- Users who frequently need advanced technical support
My 3-Month Results
Traffic growth: My site now gets about 500 visitors per month Loading speed: Consistently 2-3 seconds Uptime: No noticeable downtime Support interactions: 3 times, all resolved quickly Overall satisfaction: 8/10
Building my website with Bluehost was just the first step. Next, I focused on building an email list to connect with visitors – you can read about my email marketing experience with AWeber here.
Common Questions About Bluehost
Is Bluehost good for beginners?
Absolutely. The setup process is streamlined, support is helpful, and the interface doesn’t overwhelm you with technical options.
How does Bluehost compare to free hosting?
Night and day difference. Free hosting comes with ads, limited features, and poor performance. Bluehost gives you a professional foundation for about $3/month.
Can I upgrade my plan later?
Yes, upgrading is straightforward through your account dashboard. I’m considering the Choice Plus plan as my traffic grows.
Do I really need the add-ons they sell?
Most are optional. The SSL certificate and domain privacy are nice-to-haves, but the basic plan includes everything essential.
Final Bluehost Review Verdict: Should You Choose Them?
After three months of real-world use, I’d recommend Bluehost for most beginners looking for reliable hosting. Based on this Bluehost review, it’s reliable, affordable, and removes the technical barriers that stop many people from starting their websites.
The pricing is fair (even with the renewal increase), the performance meets expectations, and the support actually helps when you need it.
My recommendation: If you’re starting your first website and want something that just works, this Bluehost review shows it delivers. The WordPress Basic plan gives you room to grow without overwhelming complexity.
Ready to get started? You can sign up for Bluehost here and take advantage of the current promotional pricing.
I use Ubersuggest to research keywords for my website content – see my full SEO tool review here.
For content creation, I rely on SurgeGraph to help scale my blog – read my AI content tool experience here
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does it take to set up a website on Bluehost? A: About 15-20 minutes from signup to having a live WordPress site. The process is largely automated.
Q: What happens if I need to cancel? A: They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Cancellation is handled through customer support.
Q: Can I host multiple websites? A: The Basic plan allows one website. You’d need to upgrade to Choice Plus for multiple sites.
Q: Is my data backed up automatically? A: Basic backups are included, but comprehensive daily backups cost extra ($2.99/month).
Q: How do I contact support? A: 24/7 live chat, phone support, and ticket system. Chat has been fastest in my experience.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and believe in.