Bluehost vs WP Engine: Which Is Best for WordPress in 2025? (Full Comparison)
Choosing between Bluehost and WP Engine for your WordPress website? While both are respected web hosts, they cater to different types of WordPress users. In this comparison, we’ll cover features, pricing, managed WordPress, support, real user reviews, and more to help you decide.
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At a Glance: Bluehost vs WP Engine Comparison Table
| Feature | Bluehost | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $2.95/mo (shared WP hosting) | $20/mo (managed WP hosting) |
| Renewal Price | $10.99/mo | $30/mo |
| Uptime | 99.98% | 99.99% |
| Free Domain | 1 year | |
| Free SSL | ||
| Support | 24/7 Chat/Phone | 24/7 Chat/Phone/Ticket |
| Control Panel | cPanel | Custom WP Engine Dashboard |
| Best For | Budget WordPress, beginners | Serious WordPress, speed, security, business |
Not sure which WordPress host fits you? Take our AI-powered quiz for a custom recommendation!
Company Background & Reputation
Bluehost has hosted millions of sites since 2003 and is officially recommended by WordPress.org. It’s popular for affordable hosting and beginner-friendly WordPress installs.
WP Engine is the pioneer in managed WordPress hosting, launched in 2010. It’s known for performance, advanced security, developer tools, and premium managed WordPress solutions trusted by top brands.
Pricing & Plans
- WordPress Hosting (Shared): From $2.95/mo (renews at $10.99/mo)
- WP Pro (Managed WP): From $13.95/mo
- VPS & Dedicated: Available
- Includes: Free domain (1st year), SSL, CDN, email
- Managed WordPress Hosting: From $20/mo (renews at $30/mo)
- eCommerce, Advanced, and Dedicated Plans: Available
- Includes: Premium WP engine, Genesis Framework, StudioPress themes, free SSL, automated daily backups, staging, security
Winner: Bluehost is much more affordable for shared and entry-level managed WordPress. WP Engine is a premium solution for serious business, agencies, and fast-growing sites.
Key Features Compared
| Feature | Bluehost | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Types | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, Managed WP | Managed WP, WooCommerce, Dedicated WP |
| Storage | SSD (50GB–unlimited on shared) | 10GB–50GB (per site, depending on plan) |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered (shared) | 25k–400k visits/mo (per plan, soft limits) |
| Free Domain | 1st year | No |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Backups | Basic (free), paid upgrades | Automated daily backups (all plans) |
| Staging | Yes (on higher plans) | Yes (all plans) |
| CDN | Free (Cloudflare integration) | Integrated global CDN (Cloudflare Enterprise on some plans) |
| Performance Tools | Basic caching, free CDN | Advanced caching, EverCache®, server-level optimizations |
| Security | Free SSL, basic malware scanning | Enterprise-grade security, threat detection, firewall, DDoS, auto-fixes |
| Website Builder | Yes | StudioPress premium themes included |
| Email Hosting | Included | Not included |
| Free Migration | On some plans (or plugin) | White-glove migration (all plans) |
Performance & Uptime
- Bluehost: 99.98% uptime, solid speeds for North America, optimized for entry-level WordPress.
- WP Engine: 99.99% uptime, lightning-fast global servers, advanced caching, PHP 8+, dedicated resources, and enterprise-grade reliability.
WP Engine leads for performance, uptime, and scale—especially for traffic-heavy, mission-critical, or WooCommerce sites.
Ease of Use & Control Panel
- Bluehost: cPanel with a friendly dashboard, simple WordPress setup, and onboarding wizards for new users.
- WP Engine: Custom user portal built specifically for WordPress, site management, staging, backups, performance, and developer tools.
Bluehost is easiest for first-timers. WP Engine is built for WordPress power users, agencies, and businesses needing serious tools and automation.
Customer Support
- Bluehost: 24/7 chat and phone, plus ticket support and WordPress-trained agents.
- WP Engine: 24/7 chat, phone, and ticket support. All staff are WordPress experts, with white-glove onboarding and proactive support.
WP Engine is renowned for world-class support, especially for technical and business-critical issues. Bluehost is great for most users but is focused on the basics.
Security
- Both hosts provide free SSL certificates, DDoS protection, and malware scanning.
- Bluehost: Basic backups, security add-ons available.
- WP Engine: Automated daily backups, managed WordPress security, one-click restore, dedicated security team, free malware removal.
Scalability & Growth
- Bluehost: Upgrade from shared to VPS, dedicated, or managed WordPress (WP Pro) as your needs grow.
- WP Engine: Seamless scaling from single sites to enterprise, WooCommerce, and multisite. Purpose-built for serious WordPress businesses and agencies.
If you expect big growth or spikes, WP Engine is better for scaling.
Real User Reviews & Reputation
- Bluehost: 4.2/5 on Trustpilot (2025). Loved for price, beginner-friendliness, and solid WordPress hosting. Some mention higher renewal prices and upsells.
- WP Engine: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot (2025). Renowned for fast, expert support, best-in-class uptime, and advanced security. Some users mention higher price as the only con.
Which Is Better For…? [Use Cases]
- Best for Beginners & Budget: Bluehost
- Best for Serious WordPress, Agencies, & Business: WP Engine
- Best for WooCommerce: WP Engine
- Best for Free Domain & Email: Bluehost
- Best for White-Glove Support: WP Engine
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Pros & Cons Summary
Pros:
- Official WordPress.org recommendation
- Beginner-friendly, free domain for 1st year
- Affordable for new sites & blogs
- Email hosting included
- Easy cPanel management
Cons:
- Basic backups unless you upgrade
- Limited advanced WordPress features
- Higher renewal prices
Pros:
- Best-in-class managed WordPress performance
- Advanced caching, security, and scalability
- Premium StudioPress themes included
- Daily automated backups, staging, dev tools
- White-glove migrations and top-rated support
Cons:
- More expensive (premium service)
- No free domain or email hosting
- Storage/visitor caps on plans
FAQs (People Also Ask)
Is Bluehost or WP Engine better for WordPress?
Bluehost is ideal for beginners, small business, and budget projects. WP Engine is unbeatable for advanced WordPress, business, and traffic-heavy sites.
Which is cheaper?
Bluehost is much cheaper for basic and mid-level WordPress hosting. WP Engine is a premium managed host.
Does WP Engine include email or a free domain?
No, you must use a third-party service for email and domain. Bluehost includes both for free (1st year).
Who has better support?
Both have 24/7 expert support. WP Engine is famous for fast, technical, WordPress-only support.
Where can I get a personalized WordPress hosting recommendation?
Take our AI-powered quiz on WebHostCompared.com!
Final Verdict: Bluehost vs WP Engine—Which Should You Choose?
Still unsure? Take our quiz on WebHostCompared.com for a custom, unbiased recommendation!