Bluehost Website Builder Review: Build, Secure & Grow Online

Bluehost at a Glance

Bluehost, founded in 2003 by Matt Heaton in Provo, Utah, has built a solid reputation as a top provider in website building, hosting services, and domain registration. In 2021, Endurance International Group, Bluehost's parent company, merged with Web.com to form a new entity called Newfold Digital. As a result, Bluehost became part of Newfold Digital, benefiting from the expertise and resources of the newly formed company. With over two decades of experience, they are recognized as one of the best WordPress website builders, offering a broad range of services, including a drag-and-drop website builder, AI tools, and professional marketing solutions.

In addition to website building and shared hosting, Bluehost offers a wide range of supplementary services, including email hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated hosting, and cloud hosting. These products and features help Bluehost cater to a wide range of customer needs, from small websites to larger, high-traffic platforms. Additionally, they offer eCommerce solutions and content management system (CMS) support, such as WordPress and WooCommerce. Their strong security features, like free SSL certificates and Cloudflare CDN, ensure reliable protection from online threats. Moreover, their 24/7 customer support and official WordPress.org endorsement reflect their commitment to customer satisfaction.

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Features

Drag-and-drop builder: This feature allows users to create a website without any coding knowledge. Elements such as text boxes, images, and buttons can be dragged into place, providing complete control over the layout without needing to code.

AI-driven site creation: The AI-powered website builder tailors site designs by asking users about their business or personal preferences. The AI then generates a pre-built site with different elements, such as fonts, color schemes, and layouts, suited to the user's needs, making the process faster and more intuitive.

Responsive themes: Every template provided is designed to be fully responsive, meaning it automatically adjusts to fit any device screen. This ensures a consistent user experience whether someone visits the site on a desktop or mobile device.

Built-in SEO tools: Bluehost's builder includes SEO tools such as keyword optimization, meta tags, and performance tracking to help improve search engine visibility. This support makes it easier to rank higher in search results, driving more organic traffic to the website.
Free domain for the first year: When users sign up for any Bluehost hosting plan, they receive a free domain for the first year. This helps users get their website online without the immediate additional expense of domain registration.

eCommerce support: The builder includes eCommerce features that allow users to set up an online store. These features include customizable product pages, payment gateways, and inventory management, making it ideal for small businesses looking to sell products online.

Social media integration: Users can add social media buttons and content-sharing options to their site, helping visitors share content on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more. This improves engagement and increases the site's visibility across social networks.

Bluehost Website Builder Plans & Prices

Basic plan

The Basic plan is perfect for users who need a simple website or blog. Priced at $2.95 per month and renewed at $11.99 per month, their cheapest plan includes essential features to get your site online, such as support for up to ten websites, Ten GB of NVMe storage, and the ability to handle up to 100 concurrent visitors, making it ideal for sites expecting 40,000 visits per month. With AI site creation tools, users can get started quickly, and the plan also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, a free domain name for the first year, free SSL with Let's Encrypt, free pro Email, and free CDN provided by Cloudflare. Security features such as a web application firewall, DDoS protection, free WordPress migration, malware scanning, and Yoast SEO are included, alongside support for WordPress updates, PHP updates, and static and object caching.

Choice Plus plan

For those managing a number of websites, the Choice Plus plan offers an upgrade. Priced at $5.45 per month and renewed at $21.99 per month, it supports up to 50 websites and 50 GB of NVMe storage, allowing up to 500 concurrent visitors. This plan includes everything in the Basic plan but adds daily website backups for the first year, phone support, and domain privacy for extra security. This plan is suitable for websites anticipating up to 200,000 monthly visits, providing enhanced storage and backup options for growing sites.

Online Store plan

If you're looking to sell online, the Online Store plan is designed with built-in eCommerce tools. Starting at $9.95 per month, with a renewal rate of $26.99 per month, it supports 50 websites and 50 GB of NVMe storage, much like the Choice Plus plan. However, it adds features like WordPress WooCommerce plugin auto-install, store analytics, secure online payments, and shipping labels. Other helpful tools for running an online business include product search and filtering, gift card creation, customer account customization, and sales & promotions builder by Wondercart. With the addition of real-time automated backups powered by Jetpack, this plan ensures your online store runs smoothly and securely.

Pro plan

The Pro plan offers advanced storage, security, and backup features for high-traffic websites. At $13.95 per month (renews at $28.99 per month), it supports 100 websites, 100 GB of NVMe storage, and 1000 concurrent visitors, suitable for sites expecting up to 400,000 monthly visits. Along with everything included in the lower-tier plans, this plan ensures enhanced security with daily website backups, advanced caching, and SSH & WP-CLI access for expert-level control. This plan is perfect for users who need advanced performance and security for their high-traffic websites.

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Pros

AI-powered site creation

AI-Powered Site Creation is a feature designed to simplify the website-building process by automatically generating a custom website based on the user's input. The system asks specific questions about the user's business or personal preferences, such as the type of website, goals, and desired design elements. Using these inputs, the AI suggests a tailored site structure, layout, and design. This allows users to quickly get a professional-looking website without needing advanced design skills while still having the flexibility to adjust elements as needed.

Highly secure

Every plan comes with security features like free SSL, free CDN through Cloudflare, DDoS protection, and a web application firewall. These features help secure user data and enhance site performance, making Bluehost a trustworthy option

30-day money-back guarantee

Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all their plans, allowing users to try their services risk-free. If you're dissatisfied within the first 30 days, you can cancel your plan and receive a full refund, excluding non-refundable products like domain registrations. This policy is ideal for businesses that want to test the platform without making a long-term financial commitment.

24/7 phone support

Bluehost provides 24/7 phone support, ensuring users can access help anytime, no matter their time zone. This round-the-clock support is especially beneficial for handling urgent issues that could affect your website's uptime or performance. In addition to phone support, Bluehost offers live chat, giving users flexibility in how they seek assistance.

Free malware scanning

Bluehost includes free malware scanning with all their plans to enhance website security. This feature actively monitors your site for threats and vulnerabilities, protecting against malicious attacks. By offering this at no extra cost, Bluehost ensures that your website stays secure, reducing the risk of data breaches or downtime caused by security issues.

Cons

No free plan

Unlike many other website builders and hosting providers, Bluehost doesn't offer a free plan. This can be a disadvantage for budget-conscious users or those who want to create a basic website without upfront costs.

Limited features on the highest "pro" plan

Bluehost's Pro plan offers some enhancements, such as 100 GB of SSD storage, improved security, and a file limit of up to 300,000. However, these features don't significantly differentiate it from the more affordable Choice Plus plan. As a result, users may feel that the Pro plan doesn't provide enough added value to justify its higher cost. This becomes especially apparent when comparing it to other website builders that include more robust offerings, like integrated marketing tools and advanced website analytics, which are lacking in Bluehost's higher-tier option.

Customer Reviews

The majority of reviews about Bluehost's website-building services are mixed. On Trustpilot, they have a rating of 4.1, while Capterra rates them at 3.7, and G2 gives them 3.5. Bluehost is often praised for being affordable and beginner-friendly, but many users report issues with customer service and site reliability.

Positive reviews

Positive reviews commonly highlight how affordable Bluehost is, making them an appealing option for users seeking budget-friendly solutions for website building. Customers also praise the ease of use, particularly for beginners using Bluehost's tools in conjunction with WordPress. Several users share that Bluehost's interface is simple to navigate and helps them launch their websites with minimal hassle. For instance, one reviewer shared their satisfaction with how Bluehost's support team helped them get their site up and running, which boosted their business's online presence.

Negative reviews

Negative reviews, on the other hand, often raise concerns about customer support and website uptime. Many users complain about slow response times and unresolved technical issues. One particularly frustrated reviewer described a seven-month ordeal with a recurring email issue, during which customer support failed to resolve the problem despite multiple calls and chats. Additionally, several users highlight frequent downtime and slow website performance, significantly impacting their business operations. These problems, combined with unexpected price hikes during renewal, leave many customers dissatisfied with the overall service quality.

How Can I Contact BlueHost?

If you need to contact Bluehost, they offer 24/7 support through multiple channels. You can call their sales team at 844-303-1730, support at 888-401-4678, or international support at +1 801-765-9400. You can also use their live chat service. For specific inquiries, email their press team at [email protected] or affiliate program at [email protected]. Stay connected with Bluehost by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bluehost offers a robust range of website building and hosting services, making them a suitable option for both beginners and small businesses. Their AI-driven site creation, responsive themes, and built-in SEO tools provide a streamlined experience for users looking to get online quickly and efficiently. While they excel in affordability and ease of use, some customers have voiced concerns about customer support and site reliability. Despite these drawbacks, Bluehost remains a solid choice for those seeking a user-friendly platform with strong security features, flexible hosting plans, and comprehensive eCommerce support.

If you're still exploring your options, take a look at our list of the best website builders to find the perfect fit for your needs. You can also use our comparison tool to weigh the pros and cons of different platforms side-by-side. For more tips and insights, head over to our blog for the latest updates and expert advice.

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