Bluehost is an excellent hosting provider, especially when it comes to shared hosting plans. The plans are affordable and in terms of performance, they are up there with some of the top hosts. Bluehost is also a WordPress-recommended host so that’s a good start if you are planning on creating a WordPress site.
If you are undecided on which shared hosting plan to get, then this Bluehost basic plan review will be helpful. We’ll take a look at the Basic plan as well as the other shared plans to see how they differ and which one is the right choice. Read on to find out how the Basic plan fares against the other plans.
Contents
Bluehost Basic Plan Comparison Chart
| Plan | Basic | Plus | Choice Plus | Pro |
| Â |  |  |  |  |
| Price | Check Price at Bluehost.com | Check Price at Bluehost.com | Check Price at Bluehost.com | Check Price at Bluehost.com |
| Sites | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Storage | 50GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Domain | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Domain Privacy | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Ad Credits | $200 Microsoft and Google | $200 Microsoft and Google | $200 Microsoft and Google | $200 Microsoft and Google |
| Email Accounts | 5 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Email Storage | 100MB | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Spam Protection | None | Spam Experts | Spam Experts | 2 Spam Experts |
| Site Backup – CodeGuard Basic | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated IP | No | No | No | Yes |
Features
The Basic plan is quite limited but it still gives you access to some features that Bluehost has to offer.
To start this Bluehost basic plan review, we’ll take a look at some of the features Bluehost offers.
- Custom cPanel – A customized version of cPanel is what Bluehost offers in their hosting packages. It is an improved version of cPanel that not only alters the looks but also makes it easier to navigate. Inside it, you can manage your account as well as your websites. You can install WordPress with one click, manage your domains, manage your blog (update, security, etc.), view your invoice, install other apps and more. It is very user-friendly and you will get used to it in no time.
- Site Builder – If you are a newbie and you don’t have a clue where to start when creating websites – even simple blogs, Bluehost’s site builder will be a feature that you’ll be glad to have. It is a very easy tool to use to create websites without the technical knowledge required. Simply drag and drop elements and you can design your own website in just a few hours.
- Free Domain with SSL – Bluehost offers one free domain with free SSL certificate. This is great because if you are considering the Basic plan, it’s safe to assume that you don’t want to spend too much money. With the free domain, you can save some more. The free SSL certificate will increase customer trust when users visit your site and it also helps with SERP rankings.
- SSD Storage – There are still hosts out there that use HDD storage and they are just not good enough anymore. SSDs are superior when it comes to performance and speed.
- 24/7 Support – Bluehost offers 24/7 chat, phone and email tickets. Even if you’re only on the Basic plan, you still have access to all types of support.
The Basic plan is the cheapest, so naturally, it will not have the same features as the more expensive plans.
Bluehost has four shared hosting plans to choose from.
- Basic Plan – The Basic plan is good for those on a budget or those that only have plans for one website. As it is the cheapest option, it is quite limited. For starters, you can only have one website if you go with this plan. Storage is also limited to 50GB but that’s not such a big deal as you are limited to only one website anyway. Email accounts and storage are also limited when compared to other plans.
- Plus Plan – The difference between the Basic and Plus plan is that you can have unlimited websites and storage as well as email accounts. It also has Spam Experts for email protection.
- Choice Plus Plan – The Choice Plus is an upgraded version of the Plus plan. It has all the features of the Plus plan and includes CodeGuard Basic for backups and domain privacy.
- Pro Plan – The most expensive plan in Bluehost’s shared hosting plan. It has all the features of the other plans with the option of having a dedicated IP. Bluehost also allocates more resources in their servers for users on this plan.
Pricing and Renewal
The Basic plan is best for people on a tight budget as it is the cheapest option.
The Basic plan starts at $2.95/month for a 3-year term. You can also go with a yearly or 2-year term at a slightly higher cost. The discounted prices are only for the first contract. When it’s time to renew, you will have to pay the regular prices, which are considerably higher. If you want to save as much, go with the 3-year term.
The Plus and Choice Plus are priced the same at $5.45/month for three years. It doesn’t make sense to choose the Plus over the Choice Plus when they are priced the same and you get more from the Choice Plus. The difference in price will kick in when it’s time for renewal. Renewal price for Choice Plus is much more expensive than the Plus plan.
The Pro plan is the most expensive plan at $13.95/month for three years.
As you can see, the Basic plan is the cheapest but it does have quite a few limitations. If you want the best value for your money, you should go with the Choice Plus plan.
Verdict
If you are planning on creating only one website, the Bluehost Basic plan is enough. However, if you want more options in the future, the Choice Plus plan offers the best value.
The Basic plan form Bluehost is a good starter plan for first-time site owners or those on a really tight budget. It has a few limitations but if you are fine with that, then it is a good choice. However, if you want the best value for your money, then you should go with the Choice Plus as it has the most features at a very reasonable price. It also gives you the option to add more websites in the future, if you decide to do so.
FAQs
Yes, their interface is easy to use. They also have an easy to use site builder that’s perfect for beginners.
Bluehost is a reliable Bluehost provider. Their uptime is somewhere around 99.95% to 99.98%.
When it comes to shared hosting, the best plan is the Choice Plus.
Yes, they have an easy to use control panel and they are pretty reliable when it comes to uptime as well as speed.
