Bluehost vs DreamHost: Which Web Host Is Best in 2025? (Full Comparison)
Choosing between Bluehost and DreamHost? Both are officially recommended by WordPress.org and offer strong features for personal, business, and WordPress sites. In this in-depth comparison, we’ll cover pricing, speed, support, real reviews, and more to help you decide.
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At a Glance: Bluehost vs DreamHost Comparison Table
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Company Background & Reputation
Bluehost has been in business since 2003 and is one of the top recommended hosts by WordPress.org. Known for reliability, it’s a favorite of new website owners and small businesses.
DreamHost is one of the oldest independent web hosts, founded in 1996. Also WordPress-recommended, it’s trusted for transparent pricing, privacy, and unlimited options.
Pricing & Plans
- Shared Hosting: From $2.95/mo (renews at $10.99/mo)
- WordPress Hosting: From $2.95/mo
- VPS & Dedicated: Available
- Includes: Free domain (1st year), SSL, CDN, email
- Shared Hosting: From $2.59/mo (renews at $7.99/mo)
- WordPress Hosting (DreamPress): From $16.95/mo
- VPS, Dedicated, Cloud: Available
- Includes: Free domain (1st year), SSL, privacy, unlimited traffic, daily backups
Winner: DreamHost starts slightly cheaper and includes privacy protection and daily backups on all plans, but Bluehost is great for beginners and includes a CDN.
Key Features Compared
| Feature | Bluehost | DreamHost |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Types | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, WordPress | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, WordPress, Cloud |
| Storage | SSD (50GB–unlimited) | SSD (50GB–unlimited) |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered/Unlimited |
| Free Domain | 1st year | 1st year |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Backups | Basic (free), paid upgrades | Daily (free, all plans) |
| Staging | Yes (higher-tier plans) | Yes (WordPress plans) |
| CDN | Free (Cloudflare integration) | Not included (can be set up separately) |
| Website Builder | Yes | Yes (Remixer, WP Builder) |
| Privacy Protection | Paid add-on | Included free |
Performance & Uptime
- Bluehost: 99.98% uptime, fast North American servers, robust for WordPress.
- DreamHost: 99.99% uptime, solid SSD performance, especially on DreamPress (managed WordPress).
Both hosts offer great reliability, but DreamHost’s unlimited traffic is unique at this price point.
Ease of Use & Control Panel
- Bluehost: Uses industry-standard cPanel with beginner-friendly dashboard, easy onboarding, and 1-click WordPress install.
- DreamHost: Uses a custom-built control panel. It’s clean and easy for new users, but a bit different from cPanel.
Both are beginner-friendly, but Bluehost’s cPanel will feel familiar to more users.
Customer Support
- Bluehost: 24/7 live chat and phone support, plus ticketing and a large knowledge base.
- DreamHost: 24/7 chat and ticket support, extensive documentation, and call-backs (no direct phone line, but will call you).
Bluehost offers instant phone support, while DreamHost is known for quick chat/ticket replies and detailed help docs.
Security
- Both hosts provide free SSL certificates and DDoS protection.
- Bluehost: Offers automatic malware scanning, basic backups, paid upgrades for extra security.
- DreamHost: Daily automated backups, free privacy protection, advanced firewall.
Scalability & Growth
- Bluehost: Simple upgrades from shared to VPS or dedicated hosting as your site grows.
- DreamHost: Upgrade from shared to managed WordPress (DreamPress), VPS, or cloud hosting anytime.
Both hosts are good for growing sites, but DreamHost’s managed WordPress (DreamPress) is especially strong for scaling WP projects.
Real User Reviews & Reputation
- Bluehost: 4.2/5 on Trustpilot (2025). Praised for ease of use, WordPress integration. Some mention renewal rates and variable support speed.
- DreamHost: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot (2025). Loved for transparency, unlimited features, and strong support. Some miss cPanel.
Which Is Better For…? [Use Cases]
- Best for Beginners: Bluehost
- Best for Privacy: DreamHost
- Best for Managed WordPress: DreamHost (DreamPress)
- Best for Affordable Long-Term Hosting: DreamHost
- Best for Phone Support: Bluehost
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Pros & Cons Summary
Pros:
- Official WordPress.org recommendation
- Free domain (1st year)
- Easy onboarding and cPanel
- Phone support
- CDN integration
Cons:
- Backups basic unless you upgrade
- Domain privacy is a paid add-on
- Higher renewal prices
Pros:
- Free privacy protection
- Unlimited traffic
- Daily backups
- Great managed WordPress plans
- Transparent pricing
Cons:
- No cPanel (custom panel instead)
- No direct phone support (call-backs only)
FAQs (People Also Ask)
Is Bluehost or DreamHost better for WordPress?
Both are officially recommended by WordPress.org. Bluehost is a bit easier for beginners, DreamHost offers daily backups and unlimited traffic.
Which is cheaper, Bluehost or DreamHost?
DreamHost is a bit cheaper for both intro and renewal rates, and includes free privacy.
Does DreamHost use cPanel?
No, DreamHost uses its own custom control panel.
Who has better support?
Both have 24/7 chat and tickets. Bluehost offers instant phone support, DreamHost offers call-backs.
Where can I get a personalized hosting recommendation?
Final Verdict: Bluehost vs DreamHost—Which Should You Choose?
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