Bluehost vs Hosting.com
Big-brand WordPress hosting vs a speed-focused cPanel host
We may earn a commission from links on this page - it never affects our rankings (how we stay objective).
The verdict
9.4/10 vs 9.2/10
Bluehost is the stronger pick for most people - Free domain for year one. Full reasoning, pricing and the cases where Hosting.com wins are below.
| At a glance | Bluehost | Hosting.com |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$3.99/mo (36-mo term) | ~$2-$4/mo (long term) |
| Renewal price | ~$9.99-$15.99/mo (Starter) | ~$10.99+/mo (reported) |
| Storage | NVMe (10 GB on Starter) | SSD/NVMe (by plan) |
| Backups | Paid on Starter; included on Business+ | Check plan |
Prices are the providers’ published rates at our last verification - confirm the final figure at checkout, as offers change. How we verify prices
A long-time WordPress favorite with a guided dashboard, free first-year domain and 24/7 phone and chat support
- Starter, Business & Pro plans
- Free domain for year one
- WordPress-first dashboard
The new name for A2 Hosting - cPanel hosting with LiteSpeed-powered speed tiers, VPS and dedicated servers
- Formerly A2 Hosting
- cPanel control panel
- LiteSpeed on Turbo tiers
The full breakdown
Bluehost vs Hosting.com: a closer look at each
Both are credible providers in this category, and the right pick comes down to fit. So instead of crowning a “winner,” here’s the real rundown on each - what you get, what it actually costs, and what real customers are saying - so you can pick the one that fits you.
What is Bluehost?
Bluehost has hosted websites since 2003 and is one of the core brands of Newfold Digital, which also owns Network Solutions, Domain.com and BigRock. It is best known as a WordPress host.
Read the full Bluehost breakdown▾
In 2025 it renamed its shared plans to Starter, Business and Pro. This review covers what each plan includes, the real cost after renewal and who Bluehost is right for.
What you get with Bluehost
- Shared plans: Starter, Business and Pro
- Free domain for the first year (12- and 36-month terms)
- Free SSL on every plan
- NVMe storage (10 GB on Starter)
- WordPress-focused dashboard
- 24/7 chat and phone support
Who Bluehost is best for
- WordPress beginners in the US
- Small businesses that want phone support
- Buyers who prefer a 12- or 36-month commitment
How much does Bluehost cost?
Approximate only.
Full pricing details▾
Starter is reported at about $3.99 a month on a 36-month term (about $4.99 on 12 months). Reported renewal rates for Starter are $9.99 a month on a 36-month term, $11.99 on 12 months and $15.99 month-to-month.
Business renews from about $13.99 and Pro from about $16.99 a month on 36-month terms. Daily backups are not free on Starter.
Confirm on Bluehost's site before buying.
Starter
One website, 10 GB NVMe, free domain and SSL
36-mo term
- Free domain (year one)
- Free SSL
Business
More sites and storage, backups included
Renews ~$13.99/mo (36-mo)
- Backups included
- More websites
Pro
Top shared tier with the most resources
Renews ~$16.99/mo (36-mo)
- Most resources
- Backups included
What we like about Bluehost
- Polished, WordPress-first dashboard
- Free first-year domain on 12- and 36-month terms
- Published renewal rates by term
- 24/7 phone and chat support
Worth keeping in mind
- No free daily backups on Starter (reported)
- Renewals are roughly 2.5-4 times the intro price
- Upsells at checkout
- Data centers mainly in the US
What is Hosting.com?
Hosting.com is the new name of A2 Hosting, a US host that has operated since the early 2000s. World Host Group bought A2 in January 2025 and rebranded it to hosting.com in April 2025; the group also owns FastComet and Rocket.net.
Read the full Hosting.com breakdown▾
A2 was known for speed - its Turbo tiers run LiteSpeed web servers on AMD EPYC processors - and for cPanel-based hosting. This review covers what to expect from the brand now.
What you get with Hosting.com
- Shared, WordPress, VPS, dedicated and reseller hosting
- cPanel control panel
- LiteSpeed web servers on Turbo tiers
- AMD EPYC processors
- Free SSL
- Managed VPS from about $23/mo (1-year term, reported)
Who Hosting.com is best for
- Speed-focused small businesses
- Developers who want cPanel or VPS
- Agencies needing reseller hosting
How much does Hosting.com cost?
Approximate only - sources disagree after the rebrand. Shared hosting is reported from roughly $2-$4 a month on long terms, with renewal rates reported from about $10.99 up to around $28 a month depending on tier. Managed cPanel VPS is reported from about $23 a month on a one-year term, renewing at about $58. Confirm current prices and the money-back policy on hosting.com before buying.
What we like about Hosting.com
- cPanel makes migrations easy
- LiteSpeed and AMD EPYC on faster tiers
- Wide range of hosting types, including reseller
- Backed by a larger hosting group
Worth keeping in mind
- Steep renewal prices on some tiers
- Plan details and policies still settling after the 2025 rebrand
- No verified Trustpilot figure under the new name
- Reviewers report uneven performance across tiers
Bluehost vs. Hosting.com: What’s the Difference?
The key differences to consider when comparing the two providers.
| Bluehost | Hosting.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$3.99/mo (36-mo term) | ~$2-$4/mo (long term) |
| Renewal price | ~$9.99-$15.99/mo (Starter) | ~$10.99+/mo (reported) |
| Storage | NVMe (10 GB on Starter) | SSD/NVMe (by plan) |
| Control panel | Bluehost portal | cPanel |
| Backups | Paid on Starter; included on Business+ | Check plan |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | Check current policy |
| In business since | 2003 | Early 2000s (as A2 Hosting) |
So which one should you pick?
Find the line that sounds like you - that’s your answer.
Here’s the short version
Bluehost and Hosting.com are both long-running US hosts. Bluehost leans into WordPress with its own dashboard; Hosting.com, the former A2 Hosting, is known for cPanel and LiteSpeed-powered speed.
Here's how they compare.
The quick answer
Go with Bluehost if you want
- Free domain for year one
- WordPress-focused dashboard
- Clear published renewal rates
Hosting.com makes more sense if you want
- cPanel control panel
- LiteSpeed on Turbo plans
- Managed VPS options
Had to pick one for most people? Bluehost. The numbers and customer feedback below are why - and where Hosting.com wins instead.
Bluehost vs Hosting.com: FAQs
Which is better, Bluehost vs Hosting.com?
Bluehost wins for beginners and WordPress users who want an all-in-one dashboard, a free first-year domain and phone support. Hosting.com suits users who prefer cPanel and want faster LiteSpeed-based plans or a managed VPS.
Which is easier to use, Bluehost or Hosting.com?
Bluehost's dashboard bundles WordPress setup, domains and billing in one place.
Which is faster, Bluehost or Hosting.com?
Hosting.com's Turbo tiers use LiteSpeed servers and AMD EPYC CPUs.
Is Bluehost cheaper than Hosting.com?
Bluehost publishes renewal rates by term length; Hosting.com's renewal figures vary across sources after the rebrand.
Related Comparisons
Sources & methodology
We built this comparison of Bluehost and Hosting.com from each provider's own published pricing, plans and terms of service, cross-checked against public records and company announcements, and read alongside real customer feedback. Prices and plan details were verified against the provider's published information; we do not take providers' word for their own claims without checking.
Provider information
Pricing, renewal rates, plans and terms, checked against each provider's own site.
- Bluehost - full pricing & plan breakdown
- Hosting.com - full pricing & plan breakdown
Provider data checked October 2026
Customer & community feedback
Third-party signals shown on this page and in our full reviews: Trustpilot ratings and Better Business Bureau records, as captured on the dates we note. We report what these sources say - we never fold their ratings into our own scores.
Regulatory & public-record references
- 1.Hostinger hosting plans - Hostinger
- 2.Bluehost shared hosting plans - Bluehost
- 3.Hosting.com web hosting - Hosting.com
- 4.Domain.com web hosting - Domain.com
- 5.BigRock web hosting - BigRock
- 6.Network Solutions web hosting - Network Solutions
- 7.UltaHost shared hosting - UltaHost
Last reviewed October 2026. We revisit comparisons when providers change their pricing or policies. This page is information only - always confirm current pricing and renewal terms before buying a plan.