In this comparison of Bluehost vs DreamHost we take a detailed look at how these two web hosts, that are recommended by WordPress.org, match up when it comes not only to WordPress hosting but other types of websites as well.
Bluehost and Dreamhost are two of the most established and well-known web hosting companies. Bluehost is part of the Endurance International Group while DreamHost continues to operate as an independent hosting company. Which one should you choose? Let’s take a more detailed look at both.
Bluehost vs DreamHost: Differences
Advantages of Bluehost over DreamHost:
- Guided WordPress Website Setup
- Customized WordPress Dashboard
- Customized cPanel Interface
- Includes Website Staging
Advantages of DreamHost over Bluehost:
- Remixer Website Builder Available
- 97 Day Money Back Guarantee
| Category | Bluehost | DreamHost | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Centers | DreamHost has data centers on the east and west coasts. | ||
| Server Hardware | |||
| Network | 100% Uptime Guarantee | ||
| Account Sign Up/Provision | Bluehost will pre-install WordPress and guide you through creating your first site. | ||
| Control Panel | Bluehost provides a customized version of cPanel and a customized WordPress dashboard. | ||
| Speed and Performance | See Below. | ||
| Security | Tie. Both provide Free Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificates. | ||
| Data Backup | Bluehost includes automated daily backups. | ||
| Developer Tools | Bluehost currently supports PHP 7.3. | ||
| WordPress | Bluehost pre-installs WordPress and provides online guidance via their Bluerock work flow. Also, Bluehost includes premium features including automatic plugin updates and staging. | ||
| Website Applications | Bluehost includes cPanel web applications. | ||
| Advertising Credits | Bluehost provides $200 in marketing offers with Plus and Choice Plus plans. | ||
| Customer Support Response Time | See Below | ||
| Customer Support Issue Resolution | Tie. Both provide quality assistance. | ||
| Money Back Guarantee | DreamHost offers a 97 Day Money Back Guarantee. | ||
| Price/Value | $2.95 mo. – $5.45 mo. |
Bluehost vs DreamHost: WordPress
As I mentioned above, both Bluehost and DreamHost are recommended by WordPress.org. And when it comes to WordPress, they both have advantages for beginning WordPress users as well as for advanced WordPress applications.
If you’re new to WordPress, Bluehost has really simplified website creation with their Bluerock sign-up flow process. Not only is WordPress pre-installed but you’re also guided through selecting your theme and setting up your site. Bluehost also provides a customized WordPress dashboard that gives you easy access to your website functions. On the other hand, if you prefer using a website builder, DreamHost offers their Remixer site builder that lets you create a basic website that you can then export to WordPress.
Bluehost and DreamHost also have options for advanced WordPress users and applications with their optimized WordPress hosting plans. Bluehost’s premium WordPress hosting line is called WP Pro, while DreamHost has their DreamPress optimized WordPress hosting plans.
| Bluehost | DreamHost | |
|---|---|---|
| Preinstallation | ||
| Auto Updates | ||
| Auto Data Backups | ||
| On Demand Backup and Restore | ||
| Website Staging | ||
| Optimized Caching | ||
| WordPress Security | ||
| Managed WordPress Available? |
While both Bluehost and DreamHost deliver hosting worthy of their WordPress.org recommendation, overall in this category Bluehost is the winner.
Bluehost vs DreamHost: eCommerce
Both of these web hosts can effectively host a WooCommerce site on WordPress. However, Bluehost also gives you access to other eCommerce options via their custom cPanel interface. Currently, DreamHost’s Remixer site builder doesn’t work for eCommerce. So, in this category Bluehost is the winner.
Bluehost vs DreamHost: Website Speed
In both our testing and my own personal experience using Bluehost and DreamHost, Bluehost posted faster website speed results. Although DreamHost has improved recently, Bluehost still has the advantage when it comes to website speed and performance. Below are some sample speed test results.
Bluehost vs DreamHost: Customer Support
Both Bluehost and DreamHost have made great strides in recent times regarding customer support. Response times are now excellent and both support teams have provided quick resolutions when I’ve contacted them. It’s a very close call in this category, but Bluehost gets a slight edge with slightly faster response times.
Bluehost
Started Business: 1996
BBB Rating: A-
Data Center Location: Provo, UT
Price: Price: $2.95 mo. – $5.45 mo.
Unlimited Bandwidth: Yes
Unlimited Storage: Yes
Unlimited Email: Yes
Host Multiple Domains: Yes
Hosting Interface: cPanel
Server Uptime: N/A
Full Refund Period: 30 Days
Dedicated Hosting Available: Yes
Free Extras:
Free Let’s Encrypt SSL
SiteLock CDN
$200 Marketing Offers (Except Basic Plan)
Advantages of Choosing Bluehost:
- Automatic Installation of WordPress
- User Friendly Guided WordPress Site Creation
- Customized WordPress Dashboard Interface
- Performance Caching
- Automatic WordPress Plugin and Theme Updates
- Responsive Customer Support via Phone, Email, and Live Chat
- Fast Website Provisioning
Click here to see more details on Bluehost
DreamHost
Started Business: 1997
BBB Rating: A+
Data Center Location: Irvine, CA; Ashburn, VA; and Hillsboro, OR
Price: $2.59 mo. – $5.95 mo.
Unlimited Bandwidth: Yes
Unlimited Storage: Yes
Unlimited Email: Yes
Host Multiple Domains: Yes
Hosting Interface: DreamHost Control Panel
Server Uptime: 100%
Full Refund Period: 97 Days
Dedicated Hosting Available: Yes
Free Extras:
CloudFlare CDN
Free Let’s Encrypt SSL
Free Domain with WhoIs Privacy
Advantages of Choosing DreamHost:
- Optimized WordPress Hosting
- WordPress Partner since 2005
- 100% Uptime Guarantee
- Remixer Website Builder
- Cloud Storage Services Available
Click here for more details on DreamHost
Video: Bluehost vs DreamHost vs SiteGround
How do the three WordPress.org recommended web hosts compare to eachother? Here’s a video I posted on Bluehost vs DreamHost vs SiteGround.
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Recommendation
While both Bluehost and DreamHost are indeed quality web hosts, for most websites including WordPress, Bluehost is the winner. See our Bluehost review ratings below.
