Skip to content

Dreamhost vs Bluehost (The 2024 Ultimate Showdown)

DreamHost vs BlueHost Featured Image

Choosing between DreamHost and Bluehost for your web hosting isn’t just a simple decision – it’s about finding the right fit for what you really need for your website.

Are you more concerned about keeping your site always online, or do you value top-notch customer support more?

As someone who knows a lot about SEO and building websites, I’m here to help you figure out the best choice between DreamHost and Bluehost. I’ll keep it simple and focus on what really matters for your site’s SEO and overall experience. Let’s find the best fit for you.

What Is DreamHost?

DreamHost

DreamHost is a prominent web hosting provider that was founded in 1997 by Dallas Kashuba and Josh Jones. Over the past two decades, it has grown from a small internet venture into a well-respected company known for its reliability and wide array of hosting services.

DreamHost offers a variety of hosting services, including domain names, web hosting, managed WordPress hosting, and business email. They also provide support for customers with reseller and sub accounts, secure shell (SSH) access, IPv6 support, and unlimited SFTP users. This wide array of services makes DreamHost a one-stop-shop for all your web hosting service needs.

But that’s not all. We’ve reviewed DreamHost’s range of dedicated hosting plans, such as:

  • Shared Starter
  • Shared Unlimited
  • WordPress
  • VPS WordPress
  • Dedicated Hosting
  • Cloud Hosting

These diverse plans are designed to suit different customer requirements, whether you’re running a small blog or a large e-commerce site.

 


What Is Bluehost?

BlueHost

Bluehost is a widely recognized web hosting provider, established in 2003 and now part of Newfold Digital. It’s known for being one of the top 20 largest web hosts globally, offering a range of services including standard web hosting, Google Workspace integration, professional design and marketing services, and specialized WordPress online presence products.

Bluehost also places a strong emphasis on security. With a free SSL certificate and a free domain included in their plans, Bluehost ensures your site is secure from the get-go. They also include SiteLock for advanced security, protecting your site from malware and other security threats.

Our review mentions Bluehost also shines when it comes to storage and bandwidth. With ample storage and unlimited bandwidth, you won’t have to worry about running out of space or your site slowing down due to heavy traffic.

With its user-friendly hosting management platform, it can be a more suitable choice for beginners venturing into VPS hosting.

 


DreamHost vs. Bluehost Comparison

Security

DreamHost

DreamHost provides top-notch security features, including a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate, which is essential for website security and trust. 

They also offer automated daily backups and domain privacy, ensuring that your website and user data are secure and protected from threats.

Bluehost

Bluehost also takes security seriously, offering a free SSL certificate and including SiteLock for advanced security. 

They provide features like malware detection and removal, and DDoS protection, which are vital for maintaining a secure online presence.

Winner: DreamHost wins in the security department. Their comprehensive security measures, including free SSL, daily backups, and domain privacy, provide a more robust security solution than Bluehost.

Don’t underestimate the importance of website security. Choose a host with robust security measures like malware scanning, DDoS protection, and regular backups to ensure peace of mind.
– Tom Chen, Cybersecurity Expert

Hosting Plans and Pricing

Cost

DreamHost

DreamHost offers a variety of hosting plans that are both flexible and affordable. Their plans are designed to cater to different needs, from basic shared hosting to advanced VPS and dedicated server options. 

DreamHost is known for its transparent pricing and no hidden fees, making it an excellent choice for long-term growth.

Bluehost

Bluehost’s hosting plans are also diverse and affordable, tailored to suit different stages of business growth. They offer beginner-friendly options with easy-to-use interfaces and additional features like a free domain for the first year, which is attractive to new website owners.

Winner: DreamHost takes the lead in hosting plans and pricing. Their transparent pricing and a wide range of scalable options make them the better choice for users who value flexibility and growth.

Uptime

DreamHost

The 100% uptime guarantee assures constant accessibility of your website to your visitors. This guarantee is backed by their robust infrastructure and advanced network architecture, ensuring that websites hosted with DreamHost experience virtually no downtime. This level of reliability is crucial for businesses where even a minute of downtime can lead to significant losses.

Plus, the unmetered bandwidth ensures your site can handle heavy traffic without any hiccups. 

Bluehost

Bluehost also provides reliable uptime, though they do not offer a 100% uptime guarantee like DreamHost. 

Their uptime rates are still impressive and generally align with industry standards. Bluehost’s investment in quality server hardware and redundancy practices ensures that their hosting services are stable and reliable.

Winner: DreamHost is the clear winner in the uptime category. Their commitment to 100% uptime is unmatched in the industry and provides unparalleled reliability for website owners who cannot afford any downtime.

Ease of Use

Ease of Use

DreamHost

DreamHost excels in user-friendliness with its intuitive control panel, which is a big plus for beginners and experienced users alike. 

Their dashboard is streamlined and easy to navigate, making website management straightforward. DreamHost also offers one-click installations for various applications, including WordPress, which simplifies the process of setting up and managing a website.

Bluehost

Bluehost is also known for its user-friendly approach, especially for those new to website hosting. 

They provide a customized cPanel that is easy to understand and use, along with guided steps for setting up a website. Bluehost’s integration with WordPress and other website builders makes it a convenient choice for users who prefer a hassle-free setup.

Winner: While both DreamHost and Bluehost offer user-friendly interfaces, DreamHost’s exceptionally intuitive control panel and straightforward website management tools give it a slight edge over Bluehost, making it more appealing for users who value simplicity and efficiency.

Privacy and security are fundamental rights, even online. Choose a web host that prioritizes data protection and respects user privacy.
– Mitchell Baker, CEO of the Mozilla Corporation

Customer Support

DreamHost

DreamHost shines in customer support with its comprehensive help center, 24/7 email support, and callback service. 

Their support team is knowledgeable and responsive, providing detailed and helpful solutions to customer inquiries. DreamHost also offers an extensive knowledge base for self-help options.

Bluehost

One of Bluehost’s standout features is its strong support for WordPress sites. With 24/7 customer support and SimpleScripts 1-Click installs, setting up and maintaining a WordPress site with Bluehost is a breeze. 

Plus, the SSH Secure Shell Access ensures your site’s data is always secure.

Winner: DreamHost is the winner in customer support. Their around-the-clock email support, combined with the callback service and a comprehensive knowledge base, offers a more personalized and effective support experience than Bluehost.

Selecting the Best Web Host: DreamHost vs Bluehost

Selecting the Best Web Host DreamHost vs Bluehost

After a thrilling showdown, it’s time to wrap up comparison between DreamHost and Bluehost. Both hosting services offer excellent features and value for money, making the choice between them a tough one. However, after weighing all the pros and cons, DreamHost emerges as the preferred choice.

DreamHost’s strengths lie in its automated daily backups, unlimited website hosting, and strong server performance. Its focus on security and privacy, along with cost-effective scalability, make it an excellent choice for shared hosting. 

Additionally, the inclusion of domain privacy adds an extra layer of security, making DreamHost a great choice for WordPress websites.

Key Features:

  • 100% Uptime Guarantee
  • Automated Daily Backups
  • Free SSL Certificate
  • Domain Privacy Provided
  • One-Click Installations

Overall Rating:

  • Uptime: 5
  • Ease of Use: 4.9
  • Customer Support: 5
  • Security: 5
  • Pricing: 5

Our #1 Recommendation: DreamHost

Dreamhost logo small
  • Editor's Choice
Overall Rating:

Load Time

support

disk space

security

pricing

Key Features:
  • Shared hosting
  • VPS hosting
  • Free migration
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Hotlink and Spam protection
  • DDOS protection
  • 97-day money-back guarantee
  • Over 100 design options
Matt-Author-Img

Article by

Matt Diggity

Matt is the founder of Diggity Marketing, LeadSpring, The Search Initiative, The Affiliate Lab, and the Chiang Mai SEO Conference. He actually does SEO too.

Want to rank easier, higher and faster?

Sign up and join 100,000+ other subscribers and get SEO test results sent straight to your inbox.

moz sidebar

"One of the most effective SEOs I've ever met"- Cyrus Sheppard

As Seen On...

Search Engine Journal
New York Post
ahrefs brand