DreamHost Review – Get Pros and Cons of Using Dreamhost

DreamHost stands out as one of the industry’s oldest and most well-regarded web hosting providers, renowned for its budget-friendly pricing, dependable performance, and exceptional customer support. Offering a diverse array of hosting solutions such as shared hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers, DreamHost caters to a wide range of user needs.
Given its longstanding presence in the hosting landscape, DreamHost consistently receives positive recommendations. Notably, these recommendations often highlight its cost-effectiveness, abundant resources, reliable performance, and robust security measures.
To validate the validity of these commendations, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of DreamHost in this review. Our assessment covered aspects like performance, value for money, security, and various features, providing valuable insights to assist you in determining if DreamHost is the ideal web hosting provider for your needs.

DreamHost Review Summary

Dreamhost pros review

DreamHost excels in effortless WordPress installations, requiring just a single click to set up the content management system (CMS) and have it operational. For those transferring their WordPress site from another provider, a complimentary migration option is available through a manual plug-in. Assistance from the customer support team is also accessible for a fee of $99.

In terms of cost savings, DreamHost provides several free features that other hosting providers typically charge for. Included in these offerings are free SSL certificates, domain registration, and WHOIS Privacy protection. This array of free services contributes to potential monthly savings.

DreamHost’s extensive range of plans is noteworthy, catering to a diverse audience from novice website builders to advanced programmers. While the variety may pose some difficulty in selecting the most suitable option, it ensures the availability of plans tailored to specific needs and preferences.

Dreamhost cons review

Unlike many competitors, DreamHost imposes a fee for its anti-malware tool, priced at $3 per month. This additional cost could accumulate over time. Without this tool, there is a risk of susceptibility to hackers who may compromise customer information or redirect users to harmful websites.

While DreamHost does provide robust 24/7 support, the absence of direct phone communication may be inconvenient for those seeking immediate assistance during website downtime. Support interactions are limited to email and chat channels.

Some users may find the absence of a cPanel frustrating, as DreamHost employs its custom control panel. Although it replicates most cPanel functionalities, including website management, database control, email access, and billing, users accustomed to a more advanced setup may feel constrained. Casual users, however, should not encounter significant issues. Additionally, manual transfer using file transfer protocol (FTP) or MySQL is required when importing a cPanel from another web host.

DreamHost’s pricing review

DreamHost stands out for its affordability, offering new plans starting from a mere $2.59/month. The shared starter plan, priced at this level, includes attractive features such as a complimentary domain name (applicable with a minimum one-year prepayment for hosting), 50 GB of storage, a free SSL security certificate, SSD storage, and unlimited bandwidth.

For those with a need for multiple websites or desiring domain-based email functionality, the shared unlimited plan, priced at $3.95/month, is a more suitable option. Notably, caching is unmetered on these shared DreamHost plans, and daily backups are part of the package.

If you’re seeking more advanced solutions, professional plans like DreamPress Pro or various VPS plans are available, reaching up to $71.95/month.

It’s important to be aware that after the initial 1- or 3-year term, the pricing for the starter hosting plan increases to $6.99 or $5.99/month, respectively. The unlimited plan sees an increase to $10.99/month.

DreamHost extends a generous 97-day money-back guarantee on their hosting plans. However, it’s crucial to note that certain products, such as domain registration or SSL certificates, are not eligible for reimbursement.

-Easy and affordable web hosting with intuitive site building tools

• Tailored control interface.
• Support recognized with awards.
• Installation with a single click.
• Assured 100% uptime.
• Solid State Drives (SSDs).
• Complimentary SSL certificate.
• Domain provided at no cost.
• WordPress pre-loaded.

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DreamHost’s Shared Web Hosting

DreamHost’s Shared Web Hosting is an economical choice for those looking to create a website without a hefty financial commitment. In this form of hosting, your site shares CPU, RAM, and other server resources with other websites, making it a cost-effective option. However, the downside is that multiple sites on the same server share hardware resources, potentially causing your site to slow down if others experience a surge in traffic.

For individuals expecting significant traffic, alternatives such as virtual private server (VPS), cloud hosting, or dedicated hosting might be more suitable. DreamHost provides two shared hosting plans: Shared Starter and Shared Unlimited. The Shared Starter plan, priced at $4.95 per month (or $2.95 per month with a one-year commitment), allows you to build a single website with unlimited monthly data transfers and storage but lacks email functionality. To include email and unlock unlimited website hosting, an upgrade to Shared Unlimited is necessary, starting at $8.95 per month (or $2.95 per month with a one-year commitment). It’s worth noting that while the annual plans offer lower initial rates, renewal rates are higher, with Starter renewing at $7.99 per month and Unlimited at $13.99 per month.

In comparison, HostGator, our Editors’ Choice for shared hosting, stands out by offering Windows-based shared web hosting—a crucial feature for businesses relying on specific Microsoft software. Additionally, HostGator provides unlimited email across all plans, setting it apart from DreamHost, which exclusively offers Linux-based servers.

DreamHost’s VPS Web Hosting

DreamHost’s VPS Web Hosting caters to businesses in need of more powerful servers than what shared hosting can provide. The four Linux-based VPS plans start at $15.00 per month (or $13.75 per month with a one-year commitment). Unlike shared hosting, VPS hosting allocates your website to a server with fewer virtual neighbors, ensuring more available server power for your site.

DreamHost’s VPS plans come with the benefit of unlimited monthly data transfers and domains. However, the base memory and storage are relatively modest; the Basic plan, starting at the mentioned prices, offers only 1GB of RAM and a 30GB solid-state drive. Conversely, the highest configuration, priced at $120 per month (or $110 per month with an annual contract), provides a maximum of 8GB of RAM and 240GB of solid-state storage. It’s important to note that these rates are introductory, with the Basic plan renewing at $19.99 per month and the top-tier Enterprise plan renewing at $137.99.

In comparison, Hostwinds, PCMag’s top choice for VPS hosting, offers more robust VPS plans. Their managed Linux VPS plans start at just $8.24 per month, providing 1GB of RAM, 30GB of disk space, 1TB of monthly data transfers, and unlimited email. Scaling up to $395.24 per month, Hostwinds offers an impressive 96GB of RAM, 750GB of disk space, 9TB of monthly data transfers, and unlimited email, making it a compelling option for those seeking comprehensive VPS solutions.

DreamHost’s dedicated  Web Hosting

For unparalleled web hosting power, opting for a dedicated  host is the way to go. In this configuration, your website resides on a server entirely dedicated to it, harnessing all available system resources. Dedicated hosting becomes essential when anticipating an exceptionally high volume of traffic or when the uninterrupted and fast performance of your site is critical.

DreamHost provides a range of dedicated server options, commencing with the Standard 4 plan at $169 per month (or $149 for an annual commitment), featuring 4GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The offerings culminate with the Enhanced SSD 64 plan at $399 per month, boasting 64GB of RAM and 240GB of solid-state storage. Notably, each dedicated host plan from DreamHost includes unlimited data transfers.

Regrettably, DreamHost does not offer Windows-based dedicated servers; the platform is exclusively Linux. For those seeking to build a website on Microsoft’s operating system, AccuWeb is a recommended alternative. As PCMag’s Editors’ Choice for dedicated web hosting, AccuWeb provides both Linux and Windows dedicated host options. Moreover, AccuWeb offers robust dedicated plans with impressive scalability, including packages exceeding $1,000 per month, featuring 8TB of storage, 512GB of RAM, and up to 50TB of monthly data transfers.\

DreamHost’s Cloud Web Hosting

DreamHost’s Cloud Web Hosting operates on the innovative concept of spreading resources across multiple servers, a departure from traditional hosting that draws resources from a single server. This cloud-based approach allows websites to easily scale up their host  needs as required. DreamHost presents three distinct cloud hosting tiers—512MB RAM , 2GB RAM host  , and 8GB RAM Server—offering variations compatible with Linux, BSD, and Windows operating systems.

These impressive packages commence at $4.50 per month, featuring 512MB of RAM, 80GB of storage, and unlimited monthly data transfers, and reach a peak at $48 per month, providing four CPU cores, 8GB of RAM, 80GB of storage, and unlimited monthly data transfers. With these robust specifications, DreamHost stands out as the Editors’ Choice for cloud hosting services.

For corporate clients seeking top-tier cloud hosting, Ionos emerges as the preferred choice. Recognized as another Editors’ Choice in this category, Ionos offers exceptionally powerful cloud hosting packages, catering to the demands of corporate customers.

DreamHost WordPress Web Hosting

DreamHost provides WordPress Web Hosting with options tailored to various needs, presenting three distinct categories: WordPress Basic, DreamPress, and VPS WordPress. DreamPress stands out as the standard choice, offering managed WordPress hosting that pampers your website with features such as automatic updates for the content management system software, daily backups, and specialized WordPress security.

The entry-level WordPress Basic plan, starting at $4.95 per month (or $2.95 for a three-year commitment), includes 50GB of SSD storage, purchasable email similar to DreamHost’s Shared web hosting, unlimited monthly data transfers, and an assortment of free WordPress themes. DreamPress, starting at $19.95 per month, kicks off with 30GB of SSD storage, unlimited email and monthly data transfers, and support for up to 100,000 monthly visitors. DreamPress Plus, starting at $29.95 per month, doubles the storage, raises the visitor limit to approximately 300,000, and incorporates a content delivery network (CDN) for faster site loading. The top-tier DreamPress Pro, starting at $79.95 per month, offers 120GB of SSD storage and a 1,000,000 visitor limit.

DreamPress allows the installation of any desired plug-in, distinguishing itself from competitors like Pagely and WP Engine, which impose restrictions on certain plug-ins to preserve site performance. Notably, DreamHost has recently introduced staging to its WordPress offerings, enabling users to test new site features on a separate instance without affecting live pages.

While DreamPress is impressive, A2, backed by Linux, stands as our Editors’ Choice in this category. A2’s optimized environment claims to be six times faster than traditional hosting environments, and its WordPress plans offer unlimited storage and monthly data transfers in most options. For more insights into the popular content management system, you can refer to our guide on getting started with WordPress.

-Easy and affordable web hosting with intuitive site building tools

• Tailored control interface.
• Support recognized with awards.
• Installation with a single click.
• Assured 100% uptime.
• Solid State Drives (SSDs).
• Complimentary SSL certificate.
• Domain provided at no cost.
• WordPress pre-loaded.

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Common Questions About Dreamhost

Are Linux-based hosting operations systems supported by Dreamhost? 

Dreamhost exclusively offers Linux-based web hosting services, with no option for Windows-based hosting. This ensures a smooth and efficient setup for your hosting account.

How long does the introductory price remain valid with Dreamhost?

The introductory price for a new hosting account at Dreamhost is valid until the end of the current renewal period. After that, the price increases annually for continuing customers.

Can I get a dedicated server and managed services with Dreamhost?

Dreamhost provides a variety of dedicated server platforms to meet diverse hosting needs. Additionally, they offer managed service plans for a hassle-free hosting experience.

Does Dreamhost include free domain names with their hosting plans?

Yes, Dreamhost offers free domain names with their shared web hosting plans. Users can choose from over 350 different domain extensions, providing options beyond the common .com or .net.

Can I register a domain name with Dreamhost when signing up for a hosting plan?

Certainly! Dreamhost allows users to purchase domain names at the time of signing up for a hosting plan. Various domain extensions, including .com, .net, and .info, are available, and all registrations come with free domain privacy protection.

Is there a money-back guarantee if I’m unhappy with Dreamhost’s hosting service?

Yes, Dreamhost offers a 97-day money-back guarantee for all customers. If dissatisfied with the service within that period, a full refund is provided, excluding domain name purchases and other products.

Does Dreamhost offer Virtual Private Server (VPS) options?

Yes, Dreamhost provides four VPS options, each powered by SSD for high performance in CPU processing, hard drive configurations, memory, and bandwidth.

What are the options for contacting technical support at Dreamhost?

Dreamhost offers three main support options: a callback program, email support, and an online customer ticket system. These options ensure assistance for various technical issues.

What language can I expect Dreamhost’s customer support technicians to speak?

All customer service and technical support technicians at Dreamhost speak English. Support is available 365 days a year, 24/7, and can also be accessed through Twitter.

How long has Dreamhost been in business?

Dreamhost was established in 1997 by four college friends. Since then, it has grown to host around 1.5 million websites and serves approximately 400,000 customers globally each day.

Where are Dreamhost’s data center servers located?

Dreamhost’s network of data center servers is situated in a secure facility in Los Angeles, California. The centers are temperature-controlled and feature 24/7 security.

Do I have a variety of programming languages to choose from with Dreamhost?

Absolutely! Dreamhost offers several popular programming languages, including PHP, Perl, Ruby on Rails, and Ruby, allowing flexibility in programming choices.

Are there reseller options available with Dreamhost?

Yes, Dreamhost provides a valuable reseller program, offering various options for earning extra income through do-it-yourself custom options.

Is there an affiliate program with Dreamhost?

Certainly! Dreamhost offers an affiliate program where users can earn money by placing text links on their websites. Referring friends or family members to Dreamhost can also earn users $97 for each new account.

What is included with domain name registration from Dreamhost?

Domain name registration with Dreamhost includes over 350 domain extensions, DNS management, customization of name servers, the ability to forward the domain to other hosting companies, and the option to lock the domain for protection against scammers or hackers.

-Easy and affordable web hosting with intuitive site building tools

• Tailored control interface.
• Support recognized with awards.
• Installation with a single click.
• Assured 100% uptime.
• Solid State Drives (SSDs).
• Complimentary SSL certificate.
• Domain provided at no cost.
• WordPress pre-loaded.

visite site and get 75% off

visite site

Summary

While DreamHost’s pricing may appear to be double or even higher compared to shared hosting options elsewhere, this doesn’t necessarily indicate overpricing. The investment is justified by the inclusion of unlimited bandwidth, complimentary SSLs, top-notch security measures, and impressive speeds and uptime. The overall value offered is substantial. We specifically recommend DreamHost for power users seeking shared hosting, confident that they will receive excellent value for their investment.