Hostinger vs Bluehost what is better

Selecting the appropriate web hosting provider plays a pivotal role in determining the success of any website. Whether you’re initiating a new site or contemplating a switch from a different service, this comparison aims to assist you in determining whether Hostinger or Bluehost is the optimal web host for your specific requirements.

Hostinger stands out for its extensive features and notably affordable pricing, making it an ideal choice for budget-conscious individuals seeking discounted rates. However, with an overall score of 3.6 out of 5 in our research, it faces stiff competition from Bluehost, which boasts an impressive 4.8 out of 5. Bluehost excels with its outstanding WordPress hosting and competitively priced plans, earning it the title of the top overall web host in our comprehensive testing!

Having conducted thorough research into the leading providers in the market, we are well-equipped to guide you through the strengths and weaknesses of Hostinger and Bluehost. Our analysis covers aspects such as features, value for money, uptime, available hosting types, and more. Armed with this information, we can offer confident recommendations to help you determine which hosting provider is best suited to your needs. Let’s embark on this journey together!

Hostinger vs Bluehost: Overview

Hostinger and Bluehost stand as popular choices in the realm of web hosting, with Bluehost holding a greater prominence due to its longevity and established reputation. Hostinger is recognized for its affordability, offering competitive prices and noteworthy performance. In contrast, Bluehost places emphasis on WordPress functionality and features catering to businesses, albeit with a relatively less performance-centric approach.

Evidently, the distinctions between the two outweigh the similarities. Below is a brief summary of the key characteristics of each, and if you find yourself pressed for time, you can skip directly to the conclusion for a concise overview.

price Comparison

When it comes to pricing, Hostinger emerges as the more budget-friendly option compared to Bluehost. Shared hosting plans on Hostinger start at $2.69 per month, while Bluehost is slightly higher at $2.95 per month. Additionally, Hostinger offers more cost-effective scalability options. For instance, their VPS hosting begins at $5.39 per month, presenting a more economical alternative to Bluehost’s relatively higher-priced VPS hosting solutions.

Primary Product Comparison: Shared Hosting

The focal point and widely favored product of both providers revolve around shared hosting, known for its user-friendly nature and suitability for small to medium-sized websites.

On the surface, there are shared features, such as free SSL certificates, a complimentary domain, and email accounts offered in the entry-level plans of both providers. However, the divergence in offerings becomes apparent upon closer inspection:

– Hostinger’s Shared Premium plan, priced at $2.69 per month, provides allowances for 100 websites and email accounts, 100GB SSD disk space, and accommodates bandwidth for 25,000 monthly visits.

– Bluehost’s Basic plan, at $2.95 per month, imposes a limitation to one website, offers 50GB SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, and email accounts.

Notably, Hostinger is transparent in its bandwidth allocation, whereas Bluehost employs the elusive term “unlimited” for bandwidth, and it does not impose a cap on email account creation. Hostinger, on the other hand, allows up to 100 email accounts, a generous offering for most users.

Regarding storage space, both providers are generous, with Hostinger standing out by permitting hosting for more than one site on its most affordable plan, a feature not shared by Bluehost.

Regardless of the provider, opting for the longest billing term is essential to secure the advertised price, with renewal costs expected to rise. Hostinger, particularly, offers more favorable pre-payment terms compared to Bluehost, especially when considering a 4-year commitment. Bluehost’s pricing, while higher, is more noticeable for shorter durations.

Ultimately, the determination of the best value depends on the specific needs of the user, as the cheapest plan may only cater to a limited audience. The quest for optimal value hinges on aligning the features and terms with the individual requirements of the user.

Hostinger offers a total of 2 shared hosting plans and 1 cloud hosting plan, with prices ranging from $2.69/month to $8.09/month. These plans incrementally enhance server resource limits and include additional features.

Personally, I believe the most advantageous choice for many users would be the economical Premium plan at $2.69/month. This plan allows the hosting of up to 100 websites, provides 100GB storage, and includes a complimentary domain. For users with relatively small websites, this budget-friendly option might suffice without the need for an upgrade. However, for those running larger business sites, the Business or Cloud Startup plans might offer more suitable alternatives.

On the Bluehost side, there are 4 shared hosting plans priced between $2.95 and $13.95 monthly. Each successive plan incorporates increased server resources and additional features.

Similar to Hostinger, the entry-level plan is a decent choice but comes with limitations. The highest-priced plan entails a substantial cost increase with marginal extra value. The more appealing options lie in the Plus and Choice Plus plans.

The Plus plan, without limitations on the number of websites, is particularly suitable for long-term use. On the other hand, the Choice Plus plan offers added security features, such as daily backups and domain privacy, at just an additional $1 compared to Plus. It’s important to note that this pricing difference is applicable only for the initial billing term, as the gap widens upon renewal.

In terms of affordability, Hostinger undeniably stands out as the most cost-effective option. However, the remarkably low price prompts me to scrutinize where the provider might be making compromises. The subsequent sections of this Hostinger vs Bluehost comparison will shed light on this aspect.

Taking pricing into account, Hostinger emerges as significantly more economical, particularly when considering renewal costs. Additionally, the inclusion of quite similar features by both providers further enhances Hostinger’s appeal.

Hosting Management: User-Friendly Interfaces

Having navigated through both Hostinger and Bluehost, I observed their user-friendly interfaces. Each hosts its own native dashboard tailored for beginners. However, Bluehost integrates cPanel, while Hostinger has devised its distinct control panel known as hPanel, boasting a similarly intuitive and practical interface as cPanel.

Undoubtedly, Hostinger and Bluehost share similarities in user-friendliness, yet their dashboards and control panels vary significantly. To provide a clearer perspective, I’ll discuss each separately.

Dashboard for Account Management

Hostinger offers a streamlined and functional user dashboard, granting access to essential tools for website creation and management. Conversely, Bluehost’s dashboard, while equally user-friendly, struck me as more functional than Hostinger’s.

Let’s begin with Hostinger’s dashboard in corner number one. It exudes simplicity, presenting a clean interface devoid of clutter, yet proficiently offering access to various tools and ample information. It embodies the essence of “less is more.”

Upon your initial login, the dashboard serves as the focal point for establishing your hosting account—enabling tasks such as WordPress installation, SSL activation, and finalizing domain registration. Subsequently, it becomes the hub for navigating your account, providing access to the primary control panel and domain management area.

Now, in corner number two, we delve into Bluehost’s dashboard. Beyond its user-friendly and navigable interface, I discovered it to be more functional than Hostinger’s counterpart. Bluehost’s dashboard not only facilitates access to management tools but also offers suggested setup actions and guidelines, streamlining the process of website establishment.

In reality, Bluehost’s dashboard operates more like a comprehensive control panel than a mere navigation area. Here, you can efficiently manage critical tasks, such as installing WordPress, accessing the management area for each created website, installing SSL, adding domains and subdomains, and reaching paid email accounts.

For users not requiring advanced tools, Bluehost’s user interface becomes the central hub for all website management, enhancing its overall intuitiveness. However, if adjustments to databases and other advanced settings are desired, the Advanced button seamlessly transitions users to cPanel.

Control Panel Contrast

While Bluehost has opted to incorporate the familiar and widely-used cPanel, Hostinger has taken a different route by developing its own, known as hPanel. While hPanel draws inspiration from cPanel, it distinguishes itself by being expressly designed with beginners in mind—although cPanel itself is not particularly challenging to navigate.

Hostinger’s hPanel serves as the central platform for all primary website and hosting management functions. It facilitates tasks such as installing additional WordPress or other content management systems, adding domains, creating subdomains, accessing the file manager, and more. This sets it apart from Bluehost, where the control panel is primarily reserved for advanced management tasks.

hPanel boasts a sleek and functional design, providing a clean appearance that makes navigation a breeze. Its user-friendly interface ensures easy access to the desired tools. Drawing inspiration from cPanel, hPanel inherits the logical categorization of tools, neatly organizing them under categories such as Email, Software, Security, and more.

Furthermore, Hostinger has introduced a dedicated WordPress management area, enhancing the control panel’s capabilities.

Within this dashboard, you can seamlessly access the WordPress admin panel, activate “maintenance” mode, oversee caching, and execute bulk plugin updates.

On the other hand, Bluehost’s cPanel might evoke a sense of familiarity, especially with its branding-matched skin. It offers entry to more advanced hosting settings, encompassing features like file manager access, phpMyAdmin for database management, and the administration of a free webmail client.

Bluehost has significantly customized its cPanel, seamlessly integrating it into its proprietary management area.

Notably, Bluehost has departed from the conventional cPanel one-click installations for WordPress and other applications, relocating them to either My Sites or Marketplace. Similarly, domain management is no longer within cPanel’s domain; instead, Bluehost has introduced its dedicated tool for these tasks, conveniently situated in the Domains section.

With these functionalities separated from cPanel, it transforms into an advanced tool—not in terms of complexity, but in the sense that it houses features less regularly utilized. Beginner users may find little reason to navigate this area frequently.

In all candor, Bluehost’s control panel, while not as multifunctional as before, consolidates essential tools within the main dashboard, rendering it highly accessible.

It’s imperative to acknowledge that both Hostinger and Bluehost have prioritized user-friendly interfaces with seamless navigation. Regardless of your choice, you’re unlikely to encounter challenges. However, in this category, Hostinger emerges as the preferred choice. Why? Because it invested in crafting its own control panel tailored for beginners, earning it an A+ for effort.

Performance Comparison: Hostinger vs. Bluehost

In the evaluation of performance between Hostinger and Bluehost, Hostinger emerges as the unequivocal winner. It demonstrated superior speed, efficiently managed higher traffic volumes, and achieved a more favorable uptime compared to Bluehost. Notably, Hostinger’s performance metrics rank among the best in the industry, while Bluehost’s performance was characterized as relatively average.

Uptime and Response Time Assessment

Over a monitoring period of approximately two months, I scrutinized the uptime and response time of both Hostinger and Bluehost to gauge the reliability of these hosting providers.

During this two-month span, Hostinger exhibited commendable performance with zero outages, resulting in an impressive 99.9% uptime. While this outcome is excellent, it is important to recognize that achieving 100% uptime over the long term is improbable due to the necessity of server maintenance. Therefore, the observed period likely represents a particularly favorable scenario, and more accurate insights will be gleaned over an extended evaluation period, perhaps spanning a year or more.

Regarding response time, Hostinger demonstrated a rather average performance with an average response time of 511 milliseconds. Despite this, its speed remained relatively stable, experiencing only one significant peak.

In the corresponding timeframe, Bluehost encountered six outages, accumulating a total downtime of 11 minutes. While this still reflects a commendable level of reliability, translating to a non-negligible uptime, it is a more realistic outcome, especially in the context of shared hosting, although it remains on the optimistic side.

The average response time for Bluehost was significantly lower than Hostinger’s, registering at 361 milliseconds. However, Bluehost exhibited less stability, initially experiencing peaks of 500ms or even 700ms before eventually settling at around 300ms.

In essence, both providers demonstrated reliability, underscoring the primary concern in this comparison.

Website Speed Assessment

To evaluate how swiftly the providers load websites, I conducted tests by creating similar websites and subjecting them to analysis. Hostinger outperformed its counterpart, demonstrating results that were more than two times superior.

When assessing speed, three key metrics are considered:

1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): This metric indicates how rapidly the largest segment of a website’s content loads. A result of up to 2.5 seconds is deemed satisfactory.

2. Time to First Byte (TTFB): This measure gauges how promptly the server initiates a response. It can help pinpoint whether delays are attributable to the provider or the website’s theme.

3. Fully Loaded Time: This metric signifies when the website is entirely ready for user interaction, including clicking and scrolling.

Hostinger excelled across the board. The Largest Contentful Paint clocked in at an impressive 849 milliseconds, leaving no room for uncertainty. The server’s initial response was swift, with a TTFB of 207 milliseconds, indicating that the server itself is highly responsive.

In terms of fully loaded time, there was a slight delay following the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), with a loading time of 936 milliseconds. However, considering the rarity of fully developed websites loading in less than a second, this minor delay is negligible. Hostinger’s speed remains impressive, and that’s an indisputable fact.

Conversely, Bluehost exhibited a notably slower performance in this aspect. Its Largest Contentful Paint took 1.8 seconds, meeting the benchmark but leaving room for enhancement when compared to Hostinger. The key factor contributing to this disparity is Bluehost’s slower initial server response, with a Time to First Byte (TTFB) of 1 second.

Conversely, there was no additional delay in the Fully Loaded Time, remaining consistent with the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) at 1.8 seconds. Nonetheless, this still constitutes a remarkably swift page load time.

The rationale behind this outcome lies in Hostinger’s robust commitment to performance. The implementation of various speed optimizations, such as the LiteSpeed webserver with pre-configured caching and the integration of the latest PHP versions, contributes to its exceptional speed. Additionally, Hostinger provides the flexibility to choose from eight different data centers globally, allowing users to optimize speed by selecting the server closest to their target audience.

In contrast, Bluehost relies on older yet reliable technology, refraining from adopting the latest advancements. Consequently, its caching mechanisms are rudimentary, and PHP versions are updated at a slower pace. Furthermore, Bluehost’s server locations are limited to the United States, potentially presenting suboptimal performance for audiences based in Europe or Asia.

Website Security Evaluation

In the realm of security, both Hostinger and Bluehost incorporate fundamental features into their plans, without venturing beyond the basics. Advanced security enhancements for your website necessitate additional purchases.

Here’s an overview of the security features provided by both hosts:

1. Free installation and upgrades of Let’s Encrypt certificates.

2. Easy one-click Cloudflare installation.

3. Basic spam protection.

4. Server-level security enhancements.

When delving into the nuances between the two providers, distinctions become more apparent in the realm of advanced features.

Hostinger stands out with transparent policies regarding weekly backups, which are upgraded to daily backups for users opting for the Business plan.

Conversely, Bluehost’s approach to backups is less explicit. While the Terms of Service mention backups, the timing and feasibility of restoration remain unclear. The storage location of backups is also unspecified. Clarity can be achieved by purchasing a third-party security tool priced at $1.99/month when acquiring a plan. The Pro plan, however, offers free backups facilitated by CodeGuard.

While neither Hostinger nor Bluehost excels in the realm of security, Hostinger gains additional recognition for providing complimentary weekly or daily backups. Beyond this distinction, the two providers share similarities in their security offerings.

Customer Support Assessment

When seeking assistance, Hostinger primarily relies on 24/7 live chat support, with email support also available. Bluehost similarly operates around the clock, offering customer support through live chat, emails, and phone. Both providers furnish comprehensive knowledge bases containing tutorials and documentation.

To evaluate and compare the efficiency of support, a straightforward method was employed—presenting the same inquiry to both providers. The selected query pertained to the setup of a third-party SSL certificate, allowing for a direct comparison of their responsiveness.

In my interactions with Hostinger, the overall experience was generally positive, with the only caveat being the potential for response times of up to an hour. In the case of the SSL certificate inquiry, the waiting period was approximately 20 minutes.

FAQ

1. Is Hostinger better than Bluehost?

   – Yes, Hostinger generally outperforms Bluehost. Hostinger’s shared hosting plans are often priced at least half of Bluehost’s plans, while offering more features. Additionally, Hostinger provides a professional support team for assistance.

2. Is Hostinger the best host?

   – For shared hosting, Hostinger stands out as one of the top choices. Our three-month testing of major web hosts revealed that Hostinger’s loading speeds are remarkably impressive, comparable to more expensive services such as Kinsta.