Bluehost and HostGator are two of the most well-known web hosting providers. Here's a side-by-side review of five of the most crucial things to consider when selecting a web hosting provider.
WordPress
Speed & Uptime WordPress
Ease of Use for Beginners
Security
Support & Customer Service
This is the most basic plan offered by HostGator. It's quite cheap, and it comes with one domain, one website, unlimited bandwidth, and a free SSL certificate. The fact that this and all other HostGator plans feature free site migration puts them ahead of Bluehost.
The Baby plan is the next step up, and it's also quite reasonable. This package provides a free SSL certificate, unlimited storage space, and free site migration, as well as everything else you'll need to support multiple websites.
The business plan is HostGator's most expensive choice. It costs roughly twice as much as the Hatchling plan, but it's still a good deal. This package includes an unlimited number of domains and bandwidth, as well as a dedicated IP address, SEO tools, an improved SSL certificate, and, yes, free website migration.
Bluehost only has 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months plans. You have a lot more possibilities with HostGator: one, three, six, twelve, twenty-four, or thirty-six months. You won't get good monthly prices unless you sign up for at least a 12-month term, but having the choice provides you the opportunity to try it out for a month or two before committing to a longer plan.
HostGator's money-back guarantee is slightly better. You can test it out for 45 days, but there are several exclusions to the refund policy. You don't get any admin fees returned, for example, only those for shared or VPS hosting.
Another factor to consider is that when the initial term expires, HostGator is likely to boost rates dramatically. Make sure you read the fine print once again.
Bluehost's basic plan is quite economical and includes everything you'll need to set up a single, basic website. Unmetered bandwidth, a free SSL certificate, a domain, 50 GB of SSD storage, and five email accounts are all included.
The Plus plan is the next step up. It's a little more expensive than the standard pricing, but it's still very inexpensive. Is it really worth it? Yes, it is totally worth it if you plan to have multiple websites. The extra plan allows you to host an infinite number of websites and have limitless bandwidth and storage. A free SSL certificate is included, as well as limitless parked domains, subdomains, and email addresses.
Choice Plus is Bluehost's premium plan, which is also surprisingly economical. You get all of the same benefits as the Plus package, plus additional extras like domain privacy, site backups, and spam assistance.
While the monthly fee is reasonable, you are unable to sign up and pay on a month-to-month basis. To obtain the greatest monthly pricing, sign up for a 36-month contract and pay in advance. There are other alternatives for 12 and 24 months, but the longer you sign up for, the lower your monthly payment will be.
If you've never used Bluehost before, you might be concerned to pay this much upfront and commit to three years of web hosting. What if you're not satisfied? The good news is that they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, with some limitations. Make sure you read the fine print before agreeing to anything, especially a long-term contract like this.
It's worth noting that Bluehost's pricing does not include site migrations, so if you're switching from another host, you'll have to pay an additional fee.Â
Bluehost's and HostGator's plans are nearly the same. Every month, you'll spend around the same amount, albeit HostGator gives you additional options. The minimum term with Bluehost is 12 months. You can sign up for HostGator on a month-to-month basis, but it will be much more expensive because you won't be able to reap the benefits of special pricing.
Another important factor to consider is site migration. It is not included in Bluehost's plans, however, it is in HostGator's. What exactly does that imply? You can transfer up to 5 websites and 20 email accounts with Bluehost, but it will cost you extra.
Mojo Marketplace allows you to install all common content management systems with a single click.
CodeGuard, Constant Contact, and SiteLock are all integrated, however, none are included in all plans.
Hundreds of totally adjustable layouts are included in this free website builder.
HostGator will move your website for free from your previous web host. This includes the migration of a single domain, as well as the migration of multiple domains.
When you sign up with Bluehost, you'll get a free domain name.
You'll get a cPanel management panel to make managing your website a breeze.
All common CMS, including WordPress, Joomla, and even Magento, may be installed with a single click.
CodeGuard, Constant Contact, and SiteLock are all integrated, however, none are included in all plans.
It also includes a Weebly-powered on-site website builder.
Anti-spam software that is state-of-the-art.
WordPress is one of the most widely used blogging platforms, so if you're a blogger, you're undoubtedly using it for your website.
It's critical to pick a web host that allows for simple installation and gets you up and running with WordPress quickly. Let's take a look at Bluehost and HostGator from the standpoint of WordPress.
WordPress.org does not recommend HostGator.
If you already have a WordPress-powered site, HostGator offers a free migration service to migrate it to HostGator. With a single click, you can install WordPress quickly and easily. You can manage your new website from an upgraded cPanel control panel once your WordPress installation is complete.
Without having to configure your caching or CDN, HostGator assures that sites will load at lightning speed around the world. Due to supercharged cloud architecture, low-density servers, CDN, and many cache layers, expect up to 2.5X quicker load times. Your website's content is better controlled, allowing dynamic content requests to be processed very instantly.
HostGator offers shared, VPS, WordPress, and dedicated server plans to suit any business size. They do not, however, have a specific e-commerce plan.
Like Bluehost, it uses industry-standard servers. They provide a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that ensures 99.9% uptime. This means you'll get free credit if your website isn't up for at least 99.9% of the time.
The WordPress plans from HostGator provide a free SSL certificate and a global CDN. SiteLock protection also provides automatic virus cleanup. The CodeGuard website backup service is offered. With a 1-click restore, you may get a daily automated website backup for all web files and databases.
HostGator provides a free site migration service that includes one domain, all files, and databases.
With Mojo Marketplace, you'll be able to install WordPress in only a few clicks.
HostGator, like Bluehost, provides a free SSL certificate and Cloudflare CDN.
Bluehost's managed WordPress hosting is built on a virtual private server (VPS) infrastructure with proprietary architecture designed to give unrivaled performance:
A platform that is powered by a VPS
NGINX architecture with advanced features
PHP-FPM configuration that is unique
Bluehost offers shared hosting and WordPress hosting for novices, as well as hosting options for small businesses and enterprises. Small businesses can profit from low-cost VPS and WordPress Pro hosting, while larger companies can make use of high-end dedicated servers. Plans for e-commerce are also available.
Basic plans include a free SSL certificate, a WordPress custom control panel, and a CloudFlare CDN that is incorporated right into your account without requiring any coding. Jetpack site analytics, malware detection and removal, and daily scheduled backups are all included with premium managed WordPress hosting. Jetpack Premium or Pro are more advanced plans.
With a single click, you can install WordPress and manage all of your installations from an upgraded cPanel control panel, allowing you to get started constructing your website right away. You can easily get your WordPress website up and running after installing WordPress.
WordPress.org recommends Bluehost, and the company has worked closely with WordPress since 2005.
employs industry-standard servers and anticipates a 99.98 percent uptime. They do not, however, provide a service level agreement, unlike HostGator.
WordPress.org itself recommends Bluehost as a web host.
Using Bluehost's Mojo Marketplace installer, installing WordPress is as simple as clicking a few clicks.
To make your site more secure, you get a free SSL certificate.
With only a few clicks, you can activate the Cloudflare CDN for free.
HostGator, like Bluehost, has a Mojo Marketplace interface for premium add-ons. Softaculous also offers more than 190 free one-click application installations.
HostGator offers a free proprietary site builder that allows you to quickly create a basic website. It has a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop WYSIWYG functionality that allows you to do things like:
More than 100 mobile-friendly templates
Site sections that have already been built
The free basic plan has six pages.
For a price, improvements to this service are available.
WordPress installations with HostGator are simple. For current WordPress sites, they provide the MOJO Marketplace rapid install, but you can also use Softaculous. They also have instructions on their site that show you how to manually install WordPress. A separate "how to" is available for setting up a WordPress Optimized site.
HostGator says that they will make migrating your site to them as simple as possible. Each new hosting account, as well as newly upgraded accounts, will receive a free migration of WordPress/cPanel website files, including databases, scripts, and one domain registration transfer, within 30 days of sign-up.
HostGator offers a free domain name for the first year of registration. It is then renewed at the standard price.
HostGator offers a 45-day money-back guarantee on hosting plans, however, it only applies to hosting plans, just like Bluehost . You will be offered a full refund of the contract fee if you are not totally happy with their services within the first 45 days of your service.
Signing up for HostGator is simple enough, but there are a few flaws that make it more frustrating than challenging. The process of selecting a plan is a little clumsy, and you must pay special attention to the price.
Selecting add-ons is a touch more difficult than it should be, and some users have reported having trouble accessing the platform after purchasing a subscription.
Beginners will also appreciate Bluehost's expanded Mojo Marketplace, which includes over 140 plugins, professional WordPress services, and ready-to-launch themes with templates. While all of these upgrades are beginner-friendly, they will cost you more.
With Bluehost, you have complete control over the design of your website. You have the option of using the Weebly-powered on-site builder. WordPress can be installed. Other choices are also available in the Mojo Marketplace.
Installing WordPress can appear to be a difficult task. Bluehost has made the process as simple as possible by utilizing the MOJO Marketplace for all of its installations. You may now create a WordPress website directly from your cPanel control panel.
You have two alternatives for transferring your website. You can do it yourself for free by transferring your files to Bluehost manually. You may also utilize the Website Transfer service to transfer up to five sites and 20 email addresses from your previous hosting provider.
When you sign up for hosting with Bluehost, you get a free domain name. The domain is registered for a year and will be renewed when your web hosting package is renewed.
Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It's important to note that this warranty does not apply to add-on goods like domain names. You will receive a full refund if you cancel within 30 days. You will receive a prorated refund for the remainder of your hosting term if you cancel after 30 days.
The dashboard is simple to use once you've logged into your account. The emphasis is clearly on WordPress, which is understandable given that Bluehost is the suggested host. From here, you can control almost everything on WordPress fast and effortlessly.
When it comes to usability, Bluehost and HostGator are relatively evenly matched, and both have comparable concerns with account setup.
The only actual difference is Bluehost's WordPress integration. If you already have or plan to get a WordPress website, Bluehost offers a little advantage.
HostGator, like Bluehost, uses CloudFlare for content delivery and firewall network solutions.
HostGator guarantees at least 99.9% uptime as part of their service level agreement. This is part of their promise of service. For added security, they employ proprietary technology with built-in redundancy.
Several Tier 4 datacenters in Texas and Utah are used by HostGator. Their strategic use of these facilities enables them to deliver the flexibility you seek as well as the performance, quality, and reliability your company demands. Each location has a cutting-edge server, as well as HVAC, electricity, and backup generators. Their datacenters are highly secure facilities with a variety of security features.
Solid state SSDs are not included in HostGator shared hosting plans (SSD). MySQL databases, on the other hand, are kept on solid-state drives (SSDs).
Bluehost provides a CloudFlare-powered content delivery network. This means that all traffic to your website is routed over a worldwide network that is geared for the fastest content delivery.
Tier 3 certification is used on all servers (Tier 4 is the highest). As a result, you may expect higher levels of uptime and redundancy. With an average downtime of 1.6 hours per year, uptime is expected to be about 99.982 percent. Infrastructure highlights include:
Quad-processor servers
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Diesel Backup Generator
Multiple 10 Gb internet connections
Bluehost does not reveal where its datacenters are located. We do know, however, that their primary datacenter is in Provo, Utah.
Bluehost's shared hosting options include solid state drives (SSD) and enterprise-level SSD database storage.
Even with the most basic plans, HostGator includes a number of important security features for free. Every site has an SSL/TLS certificate and daily backups. However, there isn't much else to be excited about. They do provide you the option to upgrade, but at over $40 per month for malware removal and a firewall, you're paying a lot for full security.
DDoS protection is provided by HostGator. According to the website, they have created a comprehensive custom firewall ruleset that protects servers from a variety of threats. Their datacenter has also enabled flood protection at the network level.
HostGator has collaborated with SiteLock, like Bluehost, to provide strong and reliable virus scanning. The HackAlert website monitoring service is very handy because it scans your website daily and alerts you quickly if it has been hacked or injected with dangerous malware.
All programs include a free domain-validated SSL certificate. The following SSL certificates are also available from HostGator for purchase.
Company Validated
Extended Validation
Wildcard
Multi-Domain
Malware Scans
Weekly backups can be created automatically with HostGator. You can also make manual backups at any time. CodeGuard, a premium upgrade, makes daily automated website backups for all of your web files and databases, with a 1-click recovery. The WordPress plans feature this.
Bluehost has one advantage over the competition in that it provides a free SSL/TLS certificate and daily backups on all plans. Another advantage Bluehost offers is that their more priced WP Pro plans include access to a privacy center that explains what data is collected and how it is utilized.
Bluehost's infrastructure includes DDoS defense. However, DDoS attacks, according to the site, are not something they can forewarn clients about. They do say that if these attacks happen, their team will do everything they can to get your service back up and running as soon as possible.
Malware scanning is only available as a paid add-on. The SiteLock plugin from Bluehost contains the following features:
Basic Spam Monitoring: Verifies that your site is spam-free on a daily basis.
Basic Business Verification: Builds confidence in your company's website.
Certificate of Site Verification: Builds client confidence
Google quarantining is avoided by using blacklist monitoring.
Basic Malware Monitoring: Malware scans are performed on a daily basis.
Bluehost offers Site Doctor for a yearly cost. Site Doctor can swiftly diagnose and resolve any malware-related issues.
Bluehost offers a free shared SSL certificate to accounts with a shared IP address. There is only one Dedicated IP and thus only one SSL Certificate for Standard and Pro customers. Because there will be several cPanels generated within the account, you can acquire multiple Dedicated IP and SSL Certificates for VPS, dedicated, managed, or reseller accounts.
Bluehost offers CodeGuard Basic, which provides automatic backups, on its higher-level shared plans. You can set these to happen every day, every week, or every month. All options include the ability to build your own backup (via cPanel).
HostGator has a large customer service team that can be contacted by live chat or phone. You can also create a support ticket and wait for a response. Their team is available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
HostGator is well-known for its outstanding customer service. In the forums, they have an active community of people who are polite and helpful. There are also hundreds of instructional films and lessons available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Response Times
Chat - instant
Billing Support - minutes to within one business day
Forums - varies
Phone - instant
There are various alternatives for seeking assistance from the Support Panel. You can call support, receive billing assistance, start a live chat, or see if someone in the forums can assist you.
The Bluehost crew is known for its helpfulness, and the process is straightforward. You can submit a ticket and they will contact you, or you can contact them via live chat or by calling their customer support line.
They're available every day of the week, including holidays, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They're generally responsive and knowledgeable. You won't have to wait long for any concerns to be resolved.
There is 24/7-365 dedicated support personnel available for the following areas:
Account Management
Sales
Tech Support
Response Times
Support Tickets - no time given
Chat - instant
Phone - instant
For a variety of reasons, Bluehost provides many ways to contact them. Support is available via a toll-free hotline. You can also send support tickets and chat with a representative.
Hostgator vs Bluehost Who came up on top? Although it was a close race, Bluehost emerged victoriously. However, which one is best for you will be determined by your specific requirements.
When it comes to customer care and support, Bluehost and HostGator are tied again. When it comes to this element of web hosting, both firms offer similar facilities such as 24-hour live chat, phone support, e-mail, tickets, and knowledge bases. We tested the live chat features of Bluehost and HostGator, and the responses were swift and informative, with experienced agents.
When it comes to security, Bluehost is somewhat better than HostGator. They both provide free SSL certificates, virus removal tools, and free website backups, although HostGator's are more limited.
When it comes to WordPress hosting, Bluehost is one of just three official WordPress.org recommended hosts. Furthermore, Bluehost provides greater, more secure storage in the form of solid-state disks (SSD).
HostGator is more user-friendly and beginner-friendly than Bluehost since it offers more services like free website migration and transfers (Bluehost charges $149.99 to relocate your site). In addition, HostGator offers a more liberal return policy than Bluehost. The disadvantage of HostGator is that, with the exception of Cloud and Managed WordPress hosting, most of their plans do not include additional security features.
A free site migrating service that makes switching to HostGator a breeze.
DDOS protection is provided for free.
Live chat and customer service are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You have the option of signing up for a monthly plan.
Reasonably priced.
With WordPress, it's simple to use.
You will not receive free automatic backups, unlike Bluehost.
There is a lack of security and privacy.
Monthly plans are pricey unless you commit to a 12-, 24-, or 36-month contract.
A free SSL certificate is available.
Provides free automatic backups, but advises clients to make their own backups as well.
DDOS protection is provided for free.
Customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Affordable.
WordPress recommends it, and it works well with it.
Like HostGator, it does not provide a free site moving service. If you want them to relocate your website, you'll have to pay $150.
There is a lack of security and privacy.
You can only join up for 12 months, 24 months, or 36 months.
Yes, HostGator is a trustworthy hosting company. HostGator has a good uptime of 99.98 percent over the last 12 months, according to data from our test site. More than half of those had 100 percent uptime for six months. This is significantly higher than the industry average.
Overall, Bluehost is a quick hosting service. Based on data from our test site with Bluehost over the last 12 months, they've consistently kept page load times (response time) under 500 milliseconds, which we consider to be outstanding.
The WordPress beginner plan on Bluehost costs $2.75 per month, while the WordPress starter plan on HostGator costs $5.95 per month. On first-year contract periods, active discounts apply to renewal prices. VPS hosting plans are slightly more expensive, starting at $29.95 per month with HostGator and $18.99 per month with Bluehost.
Yes, with Bluehost, you can obtain WordPress for free. You can use the Legacy Marketplace installer in your control panel to install it, or you can utilize Bluehost's "My Sites" to create a new site and WordPress installation. If your Bluehost hosting package has FTP access, you can manually install WordPress for free.
Endurance International Group owns both HostGator and Bluehost, which are both major brands (EIG). EIG is a web hosting company with over 2,000 employees in the information technology industry. iPage, Fatcow, Dotster, PowWeb, Netfirms, and BigRock are some of the other hosting brands that fall under the EIG umbrella.
HostGator, we believe, is better for beginners, and the hosts are equally remarkable in terms of customer service and performance. However, Bluehost's WordPress plans are better than those of HostGator, and their overall performance is better. While Bluehost is our winner, the ideal decision for you is totally dependent on your personal or business needs.