Bluehost outperforms Namecheap due to its seamless integration with WordPress, extensive range of hosting services, and robust infrastructure. Additionally, Bluehost offers excellent customer support and reliability, making it a preferred choice for individual bloggers and small businesses.
Only WordPress websites within the first 30 days after signup
Starting Price
$4.48/month
$2.95/month
Money Back Guarantee
30 days
30 days
Storage
Up to 50 GB on shared hosting, up to 240 GB on VPS hosting
Up to 100 GB on shared hosting and up to 240 GB on VPS hosting
Bandwidth
Unmetered
Unmetered
Free Domain Name
Yes
Yes
Free SSL Certificate
Yes
Yes
Free One-Click WordPress Installation
Yes
Yes
Uptime Guarantee
100%
99.99%
Average Page Load Speed
1.05 sec
361 ms
Customer Support
24/7 live chat, 24/7 help desk, live chat, ticket support.
24/7 support, live chat, email support, video guides, ticket support, and knowledgebase.
Server location
USA, United Kingdom and Netherlands
Orem, Utah, Provo, USA
DDoS Protection
Yes
Yes
Daily Backups
Yes, except basic plan
Yes, except basic plan
Bluehost
In the dynamic web hosting sector, BlueHost shines. Their WordPress-centric, open-source philosophy offers adaptability and performance. BlueHost provides adaptability and ease for beginners and specialists in shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting.
Bluehost was founded in 2003 in Provo, Utah. The Endurance International Group acquired it in 2010. The web host provides a variety of hosting services, including shared hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated hosting, and more.
Bluehost is often recommended for small to medium-sized websites and blogs due to its affordability, ease of use, and integration with WordPress. The company also offers domain registration, email hosting, and other web services to help users build and manage their online presence.
The company is known for its affordable pricing and user-friendly interface. Namecheap provides services such as domain registration, domain transfer, web hosting (including shared hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers), email hosting, SSL certificates, and various other web services that help individuals and businesses establish and maintain their online presence.
Namecheap offers automatic backups and a 100% uptime guarantee for reliability. You also get unmetered bandwidth and free SSL installation for enhanced security and performance.
Namecheap protects domain names by using WhoisGuard to keep the owner’s personal information private in the WHOIS database, implementing DDoS protection to defend against cyber attacks, and conducting regular backups to safeguard website data.
Namecheap offers free website migration and a user-friendly website builder. This allows users to easily transfer their existing websites to Namecheap without any additional cost and build new websites using a simple, drag-and-drop interface designed for ease of use, even for those with no technical background.
With low hosting costs, exceptional security measures, and ICANN accreditation, Namecheap is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a comprehensive and affordable web hosting solution.
Bluehost Features
Bluehost offers a seamless WordPress experience with automatic installations and updates, managed hosting with a staging environment, and a wide selection of themes.
Shared hosting plans offer up to 100 GB storage space an unmetered bandwidth, supported by strong uptime. VPS hosting plans come with up to 240 GB strorage and unmetered bandwidth
Furthermore, Bluehost ensures secure operations by requiring configured login credentials and providing free SSL certificates to all websites, enhancing security and visitor trust.
And the Winner Is Bluehost
While Namecheap offers managed WordPress hosting and various features, the seamless integration and ease of use of WordPress staging sites provided by Bluehost stand out as a distinct advantage.
Namecheap’s shared hosting plans start with the Stellar plan at $4.48/month for 3 websites and 20 GB SSD, including essential features like free migration, SSL, CDN, and domain privacy.
The Stellar Plus at $6.48/month offers unlimited websites and SSD storage, with added AutoBackup.
The top-tier Stellar Business at $9.48/month provides all Plus benefits, 50 GB SSD, and cloud storage. All plans guarantee 100% uptime, unmetered bandwidth, and robust security with cPanel 2FA.
Bluehost Shared Hosting Plans
Bluehost’s shared hosting plans range from $2.95 to $13.95 per month, designed to accommodate everything from single websites to multiple sites with high traffic.
The basic plan offers 1 website, 10 GB SSD storage, chat support, a free CDN, domain, and SSL for the first year.
The choice plus plan, at $5.45 per month, expands to 3 websites, 40 GB storage, includes phone support, custom WP themes, daily backups, domain privacy, and malware scanning for the first year.
Thepro plan, priced at $13.95, supports 5 websites and 100 GB storage and is tailored for high traffic, with all the mid-tier benefits plus optimization for increased website demands.
Namecheap offers VPS hosting starting with Pulsar at $9.88/month for basic needs like 2 CPU cores, 2 GB RAM, 40 GB SSD, 1000 GB bandwidth.
The Quasar plan starts at $15.88/month for advanced requirements such as 4 CPU cores, 6 GB RAM, 120 GB SSD, 3000 GB bandwidth.
The Magnetar plan starts at $28.88/month with 8 CPU cores, 12 GB RAM, 240 GB SSD, 6000 GB bandwidth.
Each plan includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, catering to a range of hosting needs from entry-level to high-demand applications.
Bluehost VPS Hosting Plans
Bluehost offers VPS hosting with plans like the Standard at $29.99/month featuring 2GB RAM, 120 GB SSD, and a 2 core CPU, suitable for those seeking more power and easy management via an included cPanel license.
The Enhanced plan at $39.99/month raises the bar with 4 GB RAM and 165 GB SSD, and the Ultimate at $69.99/month maxes out offerings with 8 GB RAM, 240 GB SSD, and a 4 core CPU.
All plans come with unmetered bandwidth, ensuring scalable performance for various site demands over a 36-month term.
And the Winner is Bluehost
Bluehost pricing plans have a lower starting price for shared hosting, which is especially appealing for single website owners needing basic hosting. VPS plans, despite starting at a higher price point, Bluehost include unmetered bandwidth, offering greater value for users.
Namecheap advertises a 100 percent uptime guarantee. It also offers its customers a monthly uptime guarantee for its hosted services. For instance, if you do not get a 100 percent uptime, you will be eligible for a cycle extension when the service is unavailable.
ImportantImportant: Reseller and VPS accounts have a 99.9 percent uptime guarantee, whereas Shared, Business, and Dedicated Server accounts have a 100 percent uptime guarantee.
This is all in theory. In practice, however, Namecheap’s performance is not quite as advertised.
The actual uptime of Namecheap is 99.82 percent, which is above the industry average but still relatively slow and lower than Bluehost’s.
The average load time for Namecheap is 1.3 seconds, which is significantly slower than the industry average.
Bluehost Uptime & Speed Test
Bluehost guarantees a 99.9 percent uptime, which means your website should only be unavailable for 43 minutes and 50 seconds every month. This proportion is typical for web hosting and slightly higher than the industry average of 99.59 percent.
Furthermore, as previously stated, Bluehost provides a free Content Delivery Network (CDN), specifically the Cloudflare CDN service, ensuring a genuinely high level of performance.
ImportantImportant: When you use the Cloudflare CDN, your content is delivered from the closest server to your visitors. As a result, latency is minimized, which leads to increased engagement.
TipTip: If you’re concerned about latency, Bluehost’s Cloudflare CDN recommends using a US-based server.
Bluehost’s average load time is 707ms, which is considered excellent and fast.
NoteNote: The industry average for load time is 600ms
And the Winner is Bluehost
Bluehost’s average load time is 707ms, faster than Namecheap’s 1.3 seconds, making Bluehost better for speed and performance, important for user experience and SEO.
4. Customer Support Comparison: Who’s Got Your Back?
Namecheap Customer Service
Namecheap offers 24/7 customer support, live chat support, email, and ticketing. However, it does not have phone support. Namecheap has a very well-organized knowledge base that is easier to navigate than Bluehost’s.
Bluehost Customer Service
Bluehost provides live chat support, phone support, forum support, email support, video guides, and a knowledge-base. It has a toll-free number for phone support, and the response time is instant, as you can see from the picture below, and is available 24/7. However, it does not provide an option for support tickets.
And the Winner is Bluehost
Bluehost has more support channels that customers can use. Also, the phone support option is an excellent support tool to have, as it makes solving problems simpler. So, the overall winner has to be Bluehost.
5. Ease of Use Comparison: Which Platform Is Better for Beginners?
Namecheap Ease-Of-Use
Namecheap uses cPanel as its primary management tool, and it’s pretty easy to use. It also offers a free logo maker. However, its cPanel is not as well organized as Bluehost’s.
Namecheap’s numerous ads make it harder for beginners to locate and use the cPanel. Other than this, Namecheap is pretty straightforward to use.
Bluehost Ease-Of-Use
Bluehost’s control panel is incredibly user-friendly. It’s well-organized and straightforward to operate. Everything is clearly labeled and has an associated icon; all you have to do is choose the icon you want to use. Bluehost is responsible for the rest.
Additionally, Bluehost integrates its cPanel smoothly and has a custom dashboard for beginners with additional features that help with website and business management.
And the Winner is Bluehost
I have to declare Bluehost as the winner for this category, mainly because its cPanel integration is much smoother and easier to navigate than Namecheap’s.
6. Privacy and Security Comparison: Which Provider Is More Secure?
Namecheap Privacy and Security
Namecheap features the most sophisticated hardware and software firewalls, alongside a robust in-house security system.
Users benefit from comprehensive security measures including:
Leech Protect
CodeGuard
Virus scanners
Hotlink protection
WhoisGuard
SSL certificates.
Additionally, Namecheap enhances account security with two-factor authentication and VPN services, ensuring personal privacy and internet security are top priorities.
Another standout feature is Premium DNS, which offers 100% DNS uptime and DNS-level DDoS protection, ensuring your domain remains secure and always online.
Bluehost Privacy and Security
Bluehost provides free SSL certificates and DDoS protection but charges for certain standard security features. However, installing SSL certificates is simpler with Bluehost than with Namecheap.
Bluehost also provides the added advantage of a free Cloudflare CDN, which is superior to Namecheap’s Supersonic CDN.
However, Bluehost does not include a default firewall; users interested in this feature must purchase it separately.
Despite this, Bluehost includes:
SiteLock for daily scans against malware and spyware
24/7 network monitoring
Anti-Spam Protection
Two-Factor Authentication
Tools like SSH Access and Hotlink Protection.
It’s important to note that Bluehost advises its users to manually back up their data, even though it offers daily, weekly, and monthly backups with a one-click restore option.
For automatic backups, you need a subscription to at least the Choice Plus plan, or opt for third-party backup solutions like CodeGuard for more frequent data protection.
7. Server Location Comparison
Namecheap Server Locations
Namecheap has three data centers located in the USA, UK, and Europe.
The UK servers are housed in Timico’s data center in the Midlands, near Nottingham. The European data center is in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Namecheap allows users to choose where they want their data stored. And if after a while you change your mind, you can change your data center by contacting the live chat option or submitting a ticket to Namecheap’s support team.
NoteNote: If you want your shared hosting plans stored in the UK, you will have to pay an additional $1 per month. The same goes for the European data center.
NoteNote: Namecheap advises its customers to choose a data center closer to the potential audience the customer expects to have.
Also, Namecheap offers its customers a free CDN. However, it’s the same one as Bluehost’s. The CDN that Namecheap offers is Supersonic CDN, which is not as widely known and used as Cloudflare.
Bluehost Server Locations
Bluehost have six data centers located in Provo, Utah, Orem, Utah, Mumbai, India, London, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China, and Shanghai, China.
Bluehost automatically chooses the optimal server to store your data based on your geographical location, even though the locations of the data centers are not publicly revealed. This ensures that you get the best possible experience and optimization, even if you aren’t sure where your data is stored.
Note Note: When you register with Bluehost, you choose the data center to store your data. You can’t change the location later. However, it would help if you weren’t concerned because Bluehost provides free CDN to its customers.
And the Winner is Bluehost
Bluehots’s wider distribution allows them to automatically select the optimal server based on the customer’s location, potentially providing faster website loading times and a better user experience for a global audience.
Comprehensive customer support with phone and chat options.
Bluehost
In the dynamic web hosting sector, BlueHost shines. Their WordPress-centric, open-source philosophy offers adaptability and performance. BlueHost provides adaptability and ease for beginners and specialists in shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting.
Enhanced account security with TOTP and VPN services.
Namecheap
Namecheap offers versatile hosting solutions with an intuitive interface and premium features such as automatic backups and free email accounts. With access to numerous single-click apps and award-winning customer service, Namecheap ensures a seamless, user-friendly experience.
This article is an example of how cheaper is not always the way to go. While Namecheap is the more affordable, Bluehost offers much higher quality to customers.
Bluehost is easier to use and has superior performance and higher quality security. Also, its dashboard is better organized than Namecheap’s.
Namecheap does come on top in a few categories, such as lower prices and a better knowledge base. It also does an excellent job where domain registration is concerned. However, these categories cannot compete against all Bluehost does better. So, overall, the winner is Bluehost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Namecheap really cheap?
Namecheap lives up to its name by offering competitively priced domain registration and hosting services, making it an affordable choice for individuals and small businesses looking for cost-effective web solutions. Their pricing is transparent, with frequent promotions and discounts enhancing their value proposition.
Is Bluehost a good hosting company?
Bluehost is recognized as a reputable hosting company, particularly for WordPress websites, due to its ease of use, reliable uptime, and customer support. Officially recommended by WordPress.org, it caters to a range of hosting needs with various plans, though some users might find its renewal rates and upselling tactics less appealing.
Is Namecheap the best domain registrar?
Namecheap is highly regarded as a domain registrar for its affordability, user-friendly interface, and strong focus on customer privacy, including free WhoisGuard protection. While it’s among the top choices, whether it’s the best depends on individual needs and preferences, as other registrars might offer specific features that appeal to different users.
What are the disadvantages of Namecheap?
Disadvantages of Namecheap include occasional reports of slower customer service response times during peak periods and a user interface that, while improved, can sometimes be less intuitive compared to competitors. Additionally, some advanced users might find their hosting services less robust in terms of performance and scalability for larger, more demanding sites.
Which hosting is better than Bluehost?
For those seeking alternatives to Bluehost, companies like SiteGround and A2 Hosting are often recommended for their superior speed, uptime performance, and customer support. These providers offer comparable services but with a focus on enhanced performance and technical support, catering to both beginners and tech-savvy users.
HostAdvice.com provides professional web hosting reviews fully independent of any other entity. Our reviews are unbiased, honest, and apply the same evaluation standards to all those reviewed.While monetary compensation is received from a few of the companies listed on this site, compensation of services and products have no influence on the direction or conclusions of our reviews. Nor does the compensation influence our rankings for certain host companies.This compensation covers account purchasing costs, testing costs and royalties paid to reviewers.
