Bluehost vs DreamHost
Two veterans that both host millions of sites. The marketing machine against the quiet workhorse.
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Bluehost
The biggest name, not the best deal.
DreamHost
WordPress-recommended hosting with a cheap first year.
Prices last checked on
| Feature | Bluehost | DreamHost |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 3.8 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Price | From $3.99/mo | From $2.89/mo |
| Renews at | $9.99/mo | $10.99/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | Basic WordPress sites | First-year value |
| Category | Starter hosting | Starter hosting |
| Provider | Bluehost (Newfold Digital) | DreamHost LLC |
| Visit Bluehost | Visit DreamHost |
Our verdict
org and perform comparably. Bluehost lures with a deep promo, recoups at a $9.99 renewal, and pushes upsells at every step. DreamHost gives you far more room for the money: 25 websites against 1, a cheaper first year at $2.89, and a clean checkout, though its own renewal has climbed to $10.99.
A narrower win than it used to be, but DreamHost still wins on product and behavior.
“The most advertised name in hosting, and fine for a basic WordPress site. But the renewal price more than doubles and the upsells never stop. There are better deals on this list.”Editorial team, on Bluehost
“A cheap first year, 25 websites included, and an official WordPress.org recommendation. The renewal at $10.99 a month is a bigger jump than DreamHost was once known for, so check the year-two price before you commit.”Editorial team, on DreamHost
Frequently asked questions
Is DreamHost better than Bluehost?
Yes, though the gap has narrowed. Both are officially recommended by WordPress.org and perform comparably. DreamHost's Web Hosting Launch starts at $2.89 a month for 25 websites and keeps its checkout clean; Bluehost's Starter covers 1 website and pushes upsells at every step. On renewal DreamHost is no longer the bargain it was: $10.99 against $9.99 at Bluehost. We score DreamHost 4.1 against 3.8.
Which is cheaper, Bluehost or DreamHost?
For one year, DreamHost wins at $2.89 a month ($34.68) against $3.99 at Bluehost. Over three years Bluehost wins, because its $3.99 promo now runs for a full 36-month term (about $143.64 prepaid), where DreamHost renews at $10.99 a month after year one (about $298.44 over three years). Prices checked on both pricing pages in August 2026.
What happens to the price at renewal?
Bluehost goes from $3.99 to $9.99 a month after the 36-month promo term, 2.5 times the promo rate. DreamHost goes from $2.89 to $10.99 after the first year, a 3.8x jump. DreamHost does print the exact renewal rate on the plan card itself, so at least you see the year-two price before you buy. Both offer a 30-day money-back window.
Does DreamHost use cPanel?
No. DreamHost built its own control panel, which takes a moment to get used to if you have used cPanel elsewhere. Bluehost's dashboard is the more familiar one and its onboarding is smoother, and that is the main thing you give up here. Once the site is running you rarely visit either panel.