Shopify vs. Bluehost
Bluehost and Shopify differ primarily in two ways. The first is best known for its shared hosting capabilities, while the second is best known for its e-commerce capabilities. Bluehost’s features can be used to create an e-commerce site, but because Shopify’s services and tools are specifically designed for online businesses, we recommend that you use them instead.
You don’t have to worry about setting up a payment gateway if you use Shopify because it already has one. A support team is also available around the clock, seven days a week. If you host your online stores on Shopify, your questions will be answered in minutes.
Bluehost vs. Shopify – Performance
Server Response Time
Bluehost, a web hosting behemoth, guarantees that all online store owners’ sites will load quickly and reliably. Choose a hosting plan that is adequate for the number of daily visitors your site receives to avoid a slow website.
To maximize performance, Bluehost’s NextGen servers are outfitted with the latest CPU and SSD technology, as well as in-house machine optimization. The servers at Bluehost are well-known for their speed.
Bluehost’s servers are located in the United States. While it takes less time to load a page in Montreal, Canada, and other Western European cities, it takes longer in East Asia and the majority of the United States.
Shopify is equally appealing. Google Cloud Platform, on the other hand, has a much faster network than Bluehost. Our tests revealed that Shopify’s websites loaded quickly, which came as no surprise to me. GCP is used effectively, and a variety of optimization techniques are used to improve performance.
The fact that Shopify’s caching mechanism is largely hidden is our main concern. This means that novices won’t have to put in as much effort to speed up their site. This could be a disadvantage for webmasters who want to get under the hood and make their own changes to the platform.
Uptime
Nothing is more important to an online store than its ability to remain operational. The more people who shop at your online store, the more money you’ll make. As a result, when it comes to e-commerce performance, uptime is the most important factor.
Bluehost web hosting comes close to being flawless in our tests when it comes to uptime. Only a flawless 100% can raise this score, which is nearly impossible due to the scheduled downtime required for maintenance on every site. Shopify works in the same way.
Both hosting companies do not provide adequate uptime guarantees. In their Service Level Agreements, most service providers include some form of compensation for excessive downtime.
If Bluehost and Shopify go down, you’re out of options. Despite this, as evidenced by their high ratings, both hosts have excellent uptime records. You’ve probably forgotten about Google Search’s recent outage. It isn’t possible.
Bluehost and Shopify have both proven to be lightning fast on numerous occasions. Bluehost and Shopify, on the other hand, do not guarantee uptime, which is something you should keep in mind.
Shopify vs. Bluehost – Features
Bluehost Website Builder
Bluehost’s graphical user interface makes it easy for anyone to create a new website. Any section of your online business can be changed with a single click using the drag-and-drop site builder.
You don’t need to know how to code to make changes to your website’s design or content. Any changes made in real time can be tracked using live modifications after your online store has gone live.
The fast start templates can help you get up and running quickly. A few questions about your goals are asked when signing up for a Bluehost account, and you are given layouts based on your answers.
Stock images and fonts are also available for you to use. Typefaces can also be added to ensure that your online store appears exactly as you intended it to be.
When your company grows and adds new products and services, many website-building tools can become a hindrance. You don’t have to wait to hire a professional designer or become a WordPress expert for Bluehost to work with you.
Shopify Website Builder
Shopify offers an e-commerce-focused web development platform that comes with everything you need to start and run an online store. It’s possible to choose a design that best reflects your company’s image from the Shopify theme shop on all plans.
It is possible to customize themes using drag-and-drop elements or the Shopify API. With Shopify’s 14-day free trial, you can get started on your business for free. Your online store can be hosted on a domain name you already own or on the free MyShopify.com subdomain provided by the company.
They have made it easy to sell anything you can think of on the internet because the Shopify pros have made it so simple. Using the Shopify Stripe Payments system, businesses can accept and process credit and debit card transactions when customers make a purchase via Facebook, by clicking on a Buy Now button, or via other social media platforms.
Additional options may be available based on the subscription plan you select, including shipping and shopping cart options. Customers can be enticed by discount vouchers with any of the options!
Make your online store with Shopify, and you won’t have to look any further. Your company, brand, and an infinite number of products are all at your fingertips. At any time of day or night, Shopify’s support team is ready to assist you.
Hosting services
Shopify Hosting Services
If you’re looking to build an e-commerce website, Shopify is a great option. There is no limit to the number of items you can display or the number of files you can store with our hosting plans.
When it comes to web hosting services, you may find that Shopify lacks the same robustness as other providers, but its e-commerce features are top-notch. Online stores are Shopify’s bread and butter, and the company does a fantastic job.
There are hundreds of free and paid themes available in the Shopify theme shop that are fairly easy for clients to customize.
Your business can grow by processing product transactions with a variety of payment methods after you’ve set up your online store with Shopify. Shopify users can sell through social media, a Buy Now button, or the POS system. A retail package add-on, which includes a cash register, receipt printer, and barcode scanner, may be an option for serious e-commerce users to consider.
Shopify offers everything you need to build a successful and profitable online business. Commercial features abound, and they get better and better with each iteration of the service package. Alternatively, you can use a free MyShopify.com subdomain or buy or transfer your own domain name. Shopify is the best option if you want to open an online store.
Shopify WordPress Integration
Despite the fact that Shopify isn’t your typical web server, WordPress users can use Shopify’s e-commerce features without having to rebuild their website. For as little as $9 a month, you can add a Shopify Buy Now button to your WordPress site. A few lines of code are written by Shopify experts, and you’ve got yourself an online store for your website. The Shopify API can also be used to make changes.
Just add an infinite number of products to your Shopify/WordPress online shop, and you’re ready to go!. You can use the Shopify Stripe Payment system, which accepts debit and credit cards, as well as all of the other simple payment processing options. If you decide to upgrade your Shopify account, you’ll get better USPS shipping discounts and e-commerce features, and you’ll even get a free SSL certificate.
Your current WordPress website can benefit greatly from Shopify’s high-quality e-commerce features. There are less expensive options, but Shopify is well worth looking into if you’re serious about starting an online business.
WordPress Hosting With Bluehost
Bluehost’s WordPress hosting services are an excellent alternative to basic shared hosting for personal bloggers and first-time users. Although these services are more expensive than Bluehost’s shared plans, WordPress optimization and platform-specific assistance may be worth the additional cost.”
It is built on top of Bluehost’s VPS platform, which stresses simplicity and performance, but it isn’t as customizable as other managed WordPress hosting options. Fast provisioning and a simple UI make it easy to get set up in a short amount of time. The MOJO Marketplace and ManageWP are excellent features as well.
Bluehost WooCommerce Plug-in
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that enables you to sell your products online. It adds e-commerce capabilities to WordPress, making it even more powerful and useful. One of the most widely used WordPress plugins is WooCommerce. This plugin brings together the power of WordPress with the most popular e-commerce plugin.
You don’t have to do anything because Bluehost will set up your website and storefront theme for you. As part of their WooCommerce bundles, WordPress and WooCommerce will be automatically installed on your account.
A team of experts from Bluehost will guide you through the process of setting up an online store and uploading products so you can begin selling right away.
Security
With anti-fraud and credit card protection, Shopify has the edge over Bluehost when it comes to protecting your website and admin area from hackers. Unlike Bluehost, which requires you to apply for PCI compliance and undergo a lengthy verification process, Shopify businesses are automatically PCI compliant.
Shopify Security
All Shopify plans come with SSL certificates and automatic backups. In addition, a system of anti-fraud alerts the owners to orders that may be fraudulent. Maintaining a secure shop does not require you to do anything because your customers’ credit card information is always safe.
When it comes to security, both Bluehost and Shopify have a lot to offer. Bluehost’s only drawback is that it requires the purchase of an additional security package to ensure the safety of your website.
Bluehost Security
Security is a top priority for Bluehost. Sitelock and Domain Name Privacy, which are discussed below, are built into the designs.
Safeguarding your online store with Sitelock and encrypting it with Domain Name Privacy keeps your personal information safe from prying eyes.
It aids in the protection of your private data. An anti-spam tool called SpamExperts could keep your inbox free of unwanted messages.
As long as basic procedures are followed, SSL certificates can be obtained for free. This indicates that the strategy has been successful.
Any use you have for it is perfectly acceptable. They claim to have customized internal processes to defend against DDoS attacks as an additional layer of security. What that means, nobody knows, but at least they are ready to take some accountability.
Overview of Features
Bluehost additional features
- Free SSL certificates
- Support for third-party plug-ins
- 1 click WordPress functionality
- VPS and dedicated hosting web hosting
- Unlimited email accounts
Shopify additional features
- 14-day free trial
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Content delivery network
- Payment gateways
Bluehost vs. Shopify – Ease Of Use
Bluehost Ease of Use
cPanel, the control panel that comes with Bluehost, has all of the tools you need to build an online store from a single location. Also, you can upgrade your account or purchase add-ons without ever having to leave the Bluehost user interface
A file manager and phpMyAdmin can also be found in the menu, as well.
All of Bluehost’s customers have access to the company’s control panel. Using Bluehost’s cPanel, you can manage your online store, hosting resources, and email accounts without any technical knowledge. To help new customers get started, Bluehost has reorganized its control panel.
Another noteworthy feature is Bluehost’s in-house WordPress optimization tool, Blueflash. Blue Flash accomplishes its goal by exposing new customers to the Bluehost and WordPress control panels, among other things.
Shopify Ease of Use
But when it comes to eCommerce, we think Shopify is easier to use than Bluehost. Everything you need to get started with an online business is right there when you log in to Shopify. You don’t have to worry about plugins, performance, or security while creating your website.
Shopify is PCI-compliant by default, allowing you to accept payments right from your site. You don’t even have to install any software to use the platform because it already has a complete shopping cart and checkout system.
Another thing to keep in mind is that while Shopify does have a CMS, the platform is far more than that. Think of it as a full-service online business management system that includes not only website hosting and design but also inventory management, order processing, social network integrations, and other functions.
Bluehost vs. Shopify – Customer Support
An online store, in particular, is a never-ending endeavor. Customer service should be like that too. Help is always available from Bluehost, whether you’re dealing with a hosting issue or need to set up an online store.
Live chat and phone support are available to assist users. In addition, the Bluehost knowledge base is extensive. For additional assistance, you can contact WordPress experts through Blueflash support, which puts them right at your fingertips.
Shopify, on the other hand, provides round-the-clock live chat, phone, and email support. In addition, the e-commerce platform has a robust help center and a lively discussion forum. If you choose Shopify Plus, you’ll be assigned a dedicated customer service representative.
There are numerous ways to get in touch with a company’s customer service department. A variety of contact methods, including phone, email, and searchable knowledgebase, are available to customers around the clock, seven days a week.
Bluehost vs. Shopify – Pricing
Bluehost Shared Hosting Plans
Because Bluehost offers a wide range of services and solutions for hosting, the company’s plans can be quite flexible. The three types of hosting services are shared hosting, virtual private servers, and dedicated hosting. Each of the three services can be broken down into a number of different packages. The shared hosting, VPS, and dedicated hosting packages.
Shared Hosting plans start at six dollars per month for a one-year contract and include a free domain, limited SSD storage, and adequate bandwidth. With premium features like unmetered SSD storage and a free domain name included, VPS plans can cost as much as 120 dollars per month. So, there are dedicated hosting options available, ranging from 120 dollars a month to more than 200 dollars a month.
The platform’s online retail offerings, on the other hand, have a more straightforward price structure. Two WooCommerce hosting plans are available from Bluehost:
- The Standard plan, will set you back 30 dollars per month and offers 24 7 customer support, manual order creating, discount codes, and many other features.
- The Premium plan, which costs 50 dollars per month, adds website traffic analytics, local and country tax management, and product customization to everything else included in the standard plan.
Both of these plans are a good deal, but there is one drawback to all of this. These plans do not offer a reliable money-back guarantee, and that is something you must take into consideration when looking at which platform to use to host your online store.
Shopify Pricing
Similarly, the Shopify offer is straightforward. However, it is costly. One would think that a service with fewer features would be less expensive, but this is not the case with Shopify. They charge a premium for you to build an online store, but we can confidently say that you get a premium service in return.
The Basic Shopify: This is an option that should be considered by inexperienced e-commerce businesses that have only made a few in-person sales. This plan will cost about 30 dollars per month.
The Shopify: Ideal for growing enterprises that offer both online and in-store merchandise. This plan will cost you about 80 dollars per month.
There’s a big leap, however, for its top-tier plan.
The Advanced: It is the best option for expanding businesses that require sophisticated store management features. This plan is significantly more expensive than the previous two, costing around $300 per month.
There is a pro plan that Shopify offers as well, but it costs upwards of a couple of thousand dollars, and it is for the most part reserved for huge corporations that want to expand their already thriving business onto the web.
Pros And Cons Of Bluehost
Pros
- Bluehost’s entry-level pricing is very inexpensive
- It is a dependable web host
- CPanel control is good
- Unrestricted bandwidth
- Good live chat customer support
- Free SSL certificate
Cons
- No uptime guarantee
- Your site’s availability cannot be guaranteed.
- The refund policy and the money-back guarantee is restrictive
- VPS and dedicated web hosting is lacking
Pros And Cons Of Shopify
Pros
- Perfect eCommerce platform for online stores
- Good refund policy
- No transaction fees
- Easy to use
- A lot of e-commerce features
- 14-day free trial
Cons
- No uptime guarantee
- No money-back guarantee
- It doesn’t offer full control over your store
Bluehost vs. Shopify – Which Is Better?
Which one is better between Bluehost and Shopify will depend: If you are looking for a dedicated e-commerce platform, the clear answer is Shopify, if you are looking for a hosting provider that will allow you to host your own e-commerce platform, then Bluehost is better.
It is hard to say which one is outright better. If you use a web host like Bluehost, you will be able to do much more than just hosting an online store, but you will not have all the functionality and support that a dedicated eCommerce platform like Shopify offers. On the other hand, if you use only Shopify, you will miss out on all the extra functionality that a web host can provide.
FAQ
If you cancel your Bluehost account, will you lose control of your domain name?
Throughout the registration period, you retain full control of your domain name. After the domain coupon associated with your hosting service expires, you will be responsible for purchasing the domain.
The cost of the domain would be deducted from any refund due to your hosting account if you paid for it in advance.
Does Bluehost support the migration of my Shopify website?
The answer is no. This is a major drawback of Shopify: you cannot move any website you’ve built on their platform.
Your data (including orders, inventory, and coupons) can be backed up and transferred, but if you want a new hosting service, you’ll have to start over from scratch.
When should I buy a Bluehost hosting plan?
It’s a good idea to start with the 3 dollars monthly Bluehost Basic plan if you’re just getting started and don’t want to spend too much money.
Unlimited site creation and premium features are included in the $6 monthly fee for Choice Plus.
Is it possible to use Bluehost and Shopify at the same time?
In addition to hosting, Shopify includes a storefront theme and e-commerce management tools in its self-contained e-commerce platform.
Other hosts, including Bluehost, will not work with it at all. On the other hand, a CMS like WooCommerce can be used with Bluehost to provide similar functionalities.
