As the name suggests, BlueHost is a web host specialized in offering domain names at discounted rates. The company currently has over 500,000 domains hosted on their servers, and their pricing plans start at just $2.95 per month. Let’s examine what makes BlueHost so special and whether or not you should consider signing up for their services.
Features
At first glance, BlueHost doesn’t offer a whole lot of features. However, if you dig a little deeper, you’ll uncover a suite of tools that make the host a cut above the rest. For instance, they offer a free domain privacy service (worth up to $15/year) that protects your personal information (like your name, email address, and phone number) from being disclosed to the public. Moreover, they support a range of platforms, including WordPress, for which they offer a free dedicated IP to create your website (worth up to $15/year). And last but not least, they offer a free SSL certificate that prevents hackers from stealing your payment info (via online shopping cart attacks). So in reality, BlueHost provides more than enough features to get started, especially for a newbie who doesn’t want to spend a fortune.
Security
You might be wondering if BlueHost is secure to host your websites and how much you should be worrying about security on their servers. Well, to begin with, BlueHost prides themselves on being extremely secure, especially considering the recent string of high-profile hacks that the company’s competitors are hit with. To add some credibility to their security claims, BlueHost has published a detailed analysis of their security measures, which you can find here. Now, it is important to keep in mind that just because they publish their analysis doesn’t mean that they are infallible, but it does mean that they are a trustworthy source.
In terms of the hacks that they’ve been hit with, BlueHost has mostly been targeted by scammers who try to trick them into providing customer support and/or ownership of a purchased domain name. They’ve also been hit by hackers who attempt to access their servers and steal sensitive information. In all of these cases, BlueHost has managed to protect their customers’ information and ensure that their sites remain operational. This speaks highly of their security measures.
Pricing
BlueHost’s pricing plans are pretty standard: you get a free domain with registration, and you pay for the space on their servers. The good thing is that their pricing is incredibly flexible and can be easily adjusted depending on your needs. For example, the company offers a free 14-day trial, so you can test their services out before committing. Moreover, some of their plans include free backups, free domain privacy, and free security monitoring via email alert.
As for the pricing for their shared hosting plans, these are some of the most competitive in the industry. For example, their plan that includes free domain privacy and free backups costs just $2.95 per month. And if you’re looking for a free and easy way to build a website, their WordPress hosting plan (worth up to $15/year) is pretty hard to beat. The only downside is that you have to build your site yourself (i.e., you can’t use their pre-installed WordPress template).
Performance
Performance is always a key consideration when choosing a web host, especially if you’re planning on launching a website that draws a decent amount of traffic. Fortunately, BlueHost prides themselves on fast performance and reliability, which is also what keeps their customers coming back for more. To prove it, the company offers a dedicated IP and a free load test (worth up to $15/year) that lets you test their services before committing. If you’d like to see for yourself, you can access their load test by adding this to your website’s URL: http://bit.ly/2oILIuR.
As for the dedicated IP, this provides your website with a standalone IP address that is only used for internet purposes. It prevents your website from being throttled by your ISP (Internet Service Provider) if they happen to detect that a large number of people are visiting your site. A dedicated IP also makes your site more secure by preventing it from being accessed by anyone other than your intended audience (aka the people you’re trying to reach via your website).
Last but not least, BlueHost publishes detailed speed tests for their shared hosting plans so you can accurately compare their services to others in the industry. As a general rule of thumb, if a website is performing well on their test, you can be sure that it will perform well when launched.
Customer Support
Needless to say, a top-notch web host provides excellent customer support. BlueHost takes this aspect of customer service very seriously, and they offer a 24/7 customer support phone line (toll-free across the US) as well as email support if you have any questions. Moreover, they provide access to a massive knowledge base that is constantly updated by expert staff, so if you ever have any problems or questions, you’ll have someone to help you immediately.
In conclusion, there are a few key things to keep in mind if you’re considering BlueHost for hosting your website:
The Cost
Depending on your needs, you’ll want to choose a web host that suits your budget. BlueHost offers extremely competitive pricing, but just like any other popular web host, the cost can add up quickly if you’re looking to host a high-traffic website. Moreover, you’ll have to decide whether or not you want to pay for additional features (like domain privacy, for example) that come with some of their hosting plans. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a reputable web host that offers great value for your money, BlueHost is an excellent choice.