Bluehost vs Network Solutions
Two Newfold Digital brands, two very different value propositions
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The verdict
9.4/10 vs 8.5/10
Bluehost is the stronger pick for most people - Free SSL on every plan. Full reasoning, pricing and the cases where Network Solutions wins are below.
| At a glance | Bluehost | Network Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$3.99/mo (36-mo term) | ~$2.99/mo (annual, intro) |
| Renewal price | ~$9.99-$15.99/mo (Starter) | Regular rate after 12 months |
| Storage | NVMe (10 GB on Starter) | 10-40 GB 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
One of the internet's oldest names - domains, business email and hosting from a single long-standing registrar
- Starter, Essential & Premium
- Domains, email & hosting together
- 99.9% uptime SLA
The full breakdown
Bluehost vs Network Solutions: 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 Network Solutions?
Network Solutions was founded in 1979 and was the original operator of the .com registry. Web.com bought it in 2011, and it is now owned by Newfold Digital, which folded the Web.com brand into Network Solutions in 2025.
Read the full Network Solutions breakdown▾
It sells hosting in three tiers - Starter, Essential and Premium - alongside domains and business email.
What you get with Network Solutions
- Starter (10 GB, 1 site), Essential (20 GB, 3 sites), Premium (40 GB, 10 sites)
- Free domain and email on most plans (reported)
- Free SSL on Premium and higher (reported)
- 99.9% uptime SLA
- US-based data centers
- Domains, email and hosting in one account
Who Network Solutions is best for
- Established US businesses already using Network Solutions
- Buyers who want one long-standing provider for domains and email
How much does Network Solutions cost?
Approximate only. Aggregators list intro prices of about $2.99, $4.99 and $6.99 a month for Starter, Essential and Premium, billed annually; other 2026 guides list much higher regular rates. Plans renew after 12 months at the regular price. SSL is reported to be a paid add-on on lower tiers.
What we like about Network Solutions
- One of the most established names on the internet
- Domains, email and hosting on one bill
- 99.9% uptime SLA
- Large Trustpilot review base
Worth keeping in mind
- Free SSL only on higher tiers (reported)
- Pricier than budget hosts after intro offers
- US-only data centers
- Complaints about upsells, billing and renewals
Bluehost vs. Network Solutions: What’s the Difference?
The key differences to consider when comparing the two providers.
| Bluehost | Network Solutions | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$3.99/mo (36-mo term) | ~$2.99/mo (annual, intro) |
| Renewal price | ~$9.99-$15.99/mo (Starter) | Regular rate after 12 months |
| Storage | NVMe (10 GB on Starter) | 10-40 GB by plan |
| Control panel | Bluehost portal | Network Solutions account |
| Backups | Paid on Starter; included on Business+ | Check plan |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | Check current policy |
| In business since | 2003 | 1979 |
So which one should you pick?
Find the line that sounds like you - that’s your answer.
Here’s the short version
Bluehost and Network Solutions are both owned by Newfold Digital, but they serve different buyers. Bluehost is a WordPress-focused host; Network Solutions, founded in 1979, is a domain registrar that also sells hosting.
Here's how they compare.
The quick answer
Go with Bluehost if you want
- Free SSL on every plan
- WordPress-first tools
- Higher review volume
Network Solutions makes more sense if you want
- One of the oldest internet brands
- Domains, email and hosting together
- Simple annual billing
Had to pick one for most people? Bluehost. The numbers and customer feedback below are why - and where Network Solutions wins instead.
Bluehost vs Network Solutions: FAQs
Which is better, Bluehost vs Network Solutions?
Bluehost wins for almost anyone building a website: its plans include free SSL and a free first-year domain, and its WordPress tooling is far more developed. Network Solutions makes sense mainly if your domains and email already live there and you want everything on one bill.
Included features: Bluehost or Network Solutions?
Third-party reviews report that Network Solutions only includes free SSL on Premium and higher; Bluehost includes SSL on all plans.
WordPress: Bluehost or Network Solutions?
Bluehost is built around WordPress; Network Solutions offers WordPress hosting but it is not the focus.
Domain management: Bluehost or Network Solutions?
Network Solutions is a registrar first, with long experience managing large domain portfolios.
Which has more data center locations, Bluehost or Network Solutions?
Both serve mainly US-based infrastructure.
Related Comparisons
Sources & methodology
We built this comparison of Bluehost and Network Solutions 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
- Network Solutions - 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.