Deciding between Bluehost vs WP Engine for your web hosting needs? You're in the right place. Both providers are well-regarded in the industry, offering a range of hosting solutions designed to cater to different types of users, from bloggers and small business owners to developers and large enterprises. This comparison will help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of each, ensuring you make an informed decision.
Many users face challenges in selecting a hosting provider that balances performance, reliability, customer support, and cost. Both Bluehost and WP Engine aim to alleviate these pain points by offering robust features and excellent support.
Drawing from my 20 years of experience in digital marketing and web development, I've worked with numerous hosting providers. This review leverages my expertise to provide a thorough, unbiased evaluation of Bluehost and WP Engine, helping you determine which platform best suits your needs.
⏳ Do you want to skip the read and get right to my pick in this Bluehost vs WP Engine comparison? The better web hosting provider for most people is Bluehost.
Quick Comparison Table of Bluehost vs WP Engine
| Criteria | 🥇 Bluehost (My Pick!) | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Hosting | Shared, WordPress, VPS, Dedicated Hosting | Managed WordPress Hosting |
| Features |
|
|
| Performance | Standard performance, CDN available | High-performance architecture optimized for WordPress, built-in CDN |
| Security Features |
|
|
| Pricing and Plans | Starts at $2.95/monthCheck Pricing | Starts at $25/monthCheck Pricing |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee | 60-day money-back guarantee |
| Customer Support | 24/7 Live Chat, Phone Support, Knowledgebase | 24/7 Live Chat, Phone Support, Ticketing, Knowledgebase |
| Scalability | Easy plan upgrades, VPS and Dedicated options | Easy plan upgrades with scalable architecture |
| User Reviews/Ratings | Generally positive | Generally positive, praised for high performance |
| Environment Friendliness | Efforts for reducing carbon footprint | Efforts for reducing carbon footprint |
| My View | Best for users looking for budget-friendly and versatile hosting options. | Best for WordPress users seeking high performance and expert support. |
| Official Website | Visit Bluehost | Visit WPEngine |
Bluehost vs WP Engine Overview:
Choosing between Bluehost and WP Engine can be overwhelming, but understanding their unique features will clarify your choice. Whether you're building a personal blog, a business site, or an online store, this comparison is tailored to your needs.
Bluehost
- Ease of Use: Bluehost provides a user-friendly cPanel interface, popular among users familiar with web hosting.
- Performance and Uptime: Guarantees 99.9% uptime with reliable performance.
- Domain and SSL: Offers free domain registration (with annual plans) and free SSL certificates.
- Extensive Features: Offers a range of features including unmetered bandwidth, free website transfers, and a website builder.
- Customer Support: 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone, and email.
- WordPress Integration: Strong integration with WordPress, recommended by WordPress.org.
- Money-Back Guarantee: 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Pricing: Competitive pricing with frequent discounts and promotional rates.
WP Engine
- Ease of Use: WP Engine provides an intuitive dashboard specifically designed for managing WordPress sites.
- Performance and Uptime: Offers top-tier performance with a 99.99% uptime guarantee and proprietary EverCache technology for speed.
- Security: Advanced security features including daily backups, malware scanning, and free SSL certificates.
- Customer Support: 24/7 customer support from WordPress experts via chat, phone, and email.
- WordPress Features: Tailored specifically for WordPress with automatic updates, staging environments, and a suite of developer tools.
- Pricing: Premium pricing that reflects the high level of service and performance offered.
Bluehost vs WP Engine Ease of Use:
Bluehost:
Bluehost is a hosting service for a platform best known for its amazing ease of use. It's always evolving and surprisingly, it's more user-friendly than it once was. However, to maximise advanced functionality, users need to have prior knowledge of how site management goes in the back end, particularly where preparing site settings is concerned. You’re going to need some help with DNS, FTP, and CMS for this one.
However, if you have a small website or online store, Bluehost is not intimidating.
WP Engine:
Comparing WP Engine vs Bluehost, WPEngine might be a bit difficult for beginners but definitely intuitive for WordPress users and seasoned coders or developers. However, if you have zero coding knowledge, the learning curve may be a bit high. Thankfully, they have how-to guides and hand-holding resources on their site to help you through the process.
Winner – Bluehost! In this Bluehost vs WP Engine match, we're calling Ease of Use for Bluehost.
Bluehost vs WP Engine Features:
Who gets our nod on features and scalability in Bluehost vs WP Engine?
Types of Hosting:
Bluehost
Shared Hosting:
- Bluehost's shared hosting is a popular choice for small websites and blogs. It includes features like a free domain for the first year, free SSL certificate, and one-click WordPress installs.
- Users can expect unmetered bandwidth, multiple email accounts, and a user-friendly cPanel.
VPS and Dedicated Hosting:
- Bluehost offers Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting with dedicated resources, providing more power and control than shared hosting.
- For websites with high traffic, Bluehost provides dedicated hosting with enhanced cPanel, root access, and dedicated support.
Specialized Hosting:
- Bluehost's managed WordPress hosting is optimized for performance with features like marketing tools, plugins, and a staging environment.
- They also offer WooCommerce hosting for online stores, with a WooCommerce auto-install and a free SSL certificate.
WP Engine
Shared Hosting:
- WP Engine does not offer traditional shared hosting. They specialize in managed WordPress hosting.
VPS and Dedicated Hosting:
- WP Engine does not offer traditional VPS or dedicated hosting services.
Specialized Hosting:
- WP Engine specializes exclusively in managed WordPress hosting. This hosting is suitable for WordPress websites that require high performance and scalability.
- Their plans include features such as automated SSL certificates, global CDN, automated backups, and a staging environment.
- They also offer specialized solutions for agencies, enterprises, and small businesses with WordPress websites.
Domain Names:
Bluehost:
Bluehost hosting plans only offer a single free domain; you’ll have to pay additional if you need another or several more.
WPEngine:
Comparing Bluehost vs WP Engine, WP Engine operates on a “one WordPress installation, one domain principle.” Therefore, you get one free domain with subsequent domains at an additional $14.95 monthly on top of your existing subscription.
Email Rating:
Who between WP Engine vs Bluehost offer better email features?
Bluehost:
Under Bluehost’s most basic hosting plan, users are only allowed to have five email inboxes. However, those with mid-tier and premium plans are allowed to create an unlimited number.
WPEngine:
Comparing WP Engine vs Bluehost, WPEngine allows you to create an unlimited number of email inboxes. We find this feature very helpful for smaller companies who are looking to scale.
Databases:
Let's go to databases – which offers better between WP Engine vs Bluehost?
Bluehost users can have between 5 to 10GB for their databases which are managed with MySQL.
Meanwhile, for WP Engine, all standard hosting plans provide an unlimited number of databases.
Applications:
Which between WP Engine vs Bluehost can let your site interface with more applications?
Bluehost:
On its own, Bluehost is a hosting service that pretty much doesn’t play well with others in the sense that it doesn’t have much in the way of interaction with third-party apps. However, if you use Bluehost for hosting a WordPress site, you have access to over 60,000 applications and plugins that are compatible with the platform.
WPEngine:
Majority of WPEngine's third-party apps are inclusions and plugins native to WordPress, the most popular being WooCommerce and JetPack. With this platform, you can interface with nearly 65,000 WP plugins.
Site Staging:
What about site staging in WP Engine vs Bluehost – who does it better?
Bluehost:
One-click site staging is available across all plans.
WPEngine:
WPEngine allows one-click site staging on all its managed hosting plans.
Website Builder:
Which between Bluehost vs WP Engine offer a website builder?
Bluehost:
The operative word for Bluehost’s site builder is basic. Seriously, it’s a quick way to get started, but the CMS-driven UI has very little in the way of more solid features to improve site functionality and interactivity.
WPEngine:
No native site builder for WP Engine, only a WordPress installation.
eCommerce:
Now let's move to which provider offers better eCommerce features – WP Engine vs Bluehost?
Bluehost:
WordPress sites hosted via Bluehost can easily install the plugin WooCommerce to add ecommerce functionality to their websites. Therefore, this open-source plugin offers a whole roster of ecommerce capabilities that users can clip onto their websites to transform them into fully functional online stores.
As with WPEngine, SSL certificates are already included in all hosting plans.
WPEngine:
eCommerce is activated with WPEngine via WooCommerce. Also, all of its hosting plans already include free Wildcard SSL certificates.
Bluehost vs WP Engine Security:
Bluehost
SSL:
- Bluehost provides free SSL certificates with all its hosting plans, which ensures encrypted data transfer between the server and clients' browsers.
Backups:
- Bluehost offers daily, weekly, and monthly backups of your account. You can easily restore backups from the control panel.
Malware Protection:
- Bluehost offers SiteLock as an add-on, which scans your website for malware and other vulnerabilities.
Additional Security Features:
- Bluehost uses a customized web application firewall (WAF) to protect against common web attacks.
- Secure Shell (SSH) Access is available for securely accessing configuration files and databases.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is available for an added layer of security to Bluehost accounts.
WP Engine
SSL:
- WP Engine provides free automated SSL certificates to secure the connection between websites and visitors.
Backups:
- WP Engine performs automatic daily backups and keeps them for 40 days, allowing easy restoration if needed.
Malware Protection:
- WP Engine has a threat detection and blocking system. It also conducts regular security audits to protect your site.
Additional Security Features:
- WP Engine includes a proprietary firewall to protect against malicious traffic and DDoS attacks.
- It features a Web Application Firewall (WAF) that is updated daily to protect against known vulnerabilities.
- WP Engine also offers GeoIP blocking to restrict traffic from specific geographic locations.
- Free Global Edge Security (GES) to enhance WordPress site security.
Winner – Bluehost! In this Bluehost vs WP Engine ‘Features' category of this web host showdown.
Bluehost vs WP Engine Performance:
Downtime is a nightmare for websites. So let's look at the performance in Bluehost vs WP Engine.
Performance Summary Table for Bluehost vs WP Engine
| Criteria | Bluehost | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Server Locations | Provo, Utah, USA |
|
| Speed (Load Time) | Approx. 600ms | Approx. 300ms |
| Uptime | 99.98% | 99.99% |
| Server Response Time (US, East Coast) | Approx. 85ms | Approx. 60ms |
| Server Response Time (Europe, London) | Approx. 120ms | Approx. 30ms |
| Server Response Time (Asia, Singapore) | Approx. 200ms | Approx. 100ms |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Depends on the plan, starts from 50GB |
| Webspace Limits | 50GB to Unmetered depending on the plan | Starts from 10GB |
| Global CDN | Yes, through Cloudflare | Yes, through MaxCDN |
| Scalability | Scalable with plan upgrades | Highly Scalable with options for custom plans |
Server Locations:
Bluehost:
Bluehost’s nerve center is located in Provo, Utah, with an auxiliary data center in the neighboring town of Orem. Elsewhere, the hosting service has a presence in three countries:
- United Kingdom (London)
- India (Mumbai)
- China (Hong Kong / Shanghai)
WPEngine:
WPEngine’s server presence is in eight countries, namely
- United States (Iowa / Oregon / South Carolina)
- Canada (Montreal)
- Belgium
- United Kingdom (London)
- Germany (Frankfurt)
- Taiwan
- Japan (Tokyo)
- Australia (Sidney)
Speed Results:
Bluehost:
For sites built with WordPress and hosted via Bluehost, the average loading time is currently pegged at 3.22 seconds.
WPEngine:
The platform scores higher in speed with 2.77 seconds enhanced by MaxCDN.
Average Uptime, Bandwidth, and Webspace limits/Storage:
Bluehost:
Bluehost’s uptime is currently pegged at 99.98% – well within the global standard, but a fraction less efficient than Siteground.
Unlimited also appears to be part of this hosting service’s vocabulary as bandwidth is also unlimited across hosting plans.
However, this doesn’t apply to the storage offered for its most basic plan: while higher-tier plans offer unlimited storage, you only get 50GB of storage for basic.
WPEngine:
WPEngine has a very slight advantage, with an average uptime of 100%.
Its monthly bandwidth provision covers between 50 and 500GB, while storage capacity equals Bluehost ranging from 10 to 40GB.
Winner – Bluehost! In this Bluehost vs WP Engine ‘Performance' section of this comparison.
Bluehost vs WP Engine Support and Resources:
Which between WP Engine vs Bluehost offers better support?
Bluehost:
Bluehost offers 24/7 customer and technical service via email, LiveChat, and phone. Its knowledge base is also well-maintained.
WPEngine:
WPEngine also offers 24/7 technical support through various channels. Yet, upon testing its customer support, its services need improvement. For example, we found that a simple enquiry can take 10 minutes to reply or address. Also, there's an aggressive tendency from its sales team. However, we do like its extensive and updated knowledge base.
Winner – Bluehost! In this Dreamhost vs Bluehost ‘Support and Resources' section of our comparison.
Bluehost vs WP Engine Pricing:
Quick Comparison Table for Bluehost vs WP Engine Pricing Plans and Transparency:
| Criteria | Bluehost | WP Engine | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Plus | Choice Plus | Startup | Growth | Scale | |
| Initial Price | Starts from $2.95/month | Starts from $5.45/month | Starts from $5.45/month | Starts from $25/month | Starts from $95/month | Starts from $241/month |
| Renewal Price | $7.99/month | $10.99/month | $14.99/month | $30/month | $115/month | $290/month |
| Free Domain | Yes (1 year) | Yes (1 year) | Yes (1 year) | No | No | No |
| Free Trial | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Refund Policy | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 60 days | 60 days | 60 days |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 60 days | 60 days | 60 days |
| Check Pricing | Check Bluehost Pricing | Check WP Engine Pricing | ||||
Plans
We'll talk about the pricing plans of Bluehost vs WP Engine in more details below;
Bluehost:
This hosting service’s subscription plans will set users back between $3.95 and $13.95 every month. Take note, however, that key security features are only offered for all plans except for Basic Hosting.
Scalable corporate or enterprise plans can cost up to $119.99 per month.
Click on this link to explore the latest pricing options for Bluehost with our newest discount code: >> Discover our up-to-date Bluehost discount code deals << Check it out now to secure the best savings!
WPEngine:
Managed WordPress hosting packages run between $24 and $227 monthly, and this is a fairly steep price to pay for a hosting service that is still CDN-centric instead of a more secure cloud setup.
WooCommerce hosting can set you back $30 to $291 a month, while secure hosting can cost between $44 and $291 monthly.
>> Check for our latest WPEngine discount code pricing plans <<
Bluehost vs WP Engine Free trial, refund policy, and money-back guarantee:
Please also check the legal page for Bluehost, and legal page for WP Engine for detailed information on Free trial, refund policy, and money-back guarantee.
Bluehost:
WPEngine:
No free trial is offered. However, if you aren’t satisfied with the service, you may cancel your paid subscription within the first 60 days for a refund.
Winner – Bluehost! In this Bluehost vs WP Engine ‘Pricing' round of our comparison.
Bluehost vs WP Engine User Reviews
Bluehost
Bluehost is popular among beginners, particularly for its user-friendly interface and WordPress integration.
Trustpilot
- Bluehost has a rating of 2.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
- Users often mention the ease of use and WordPress integration as positive aspects.
- However, there are numerous complaints about customer support and billing issues.
- Some users have also expressed concerns about downtime and performance.
- On Reddit, Bluehost is often recommended for those who are just starting out with WordPress.
- However, more experienced users sometimes critique it for performance and support issues.
WP Engine
WP Engine is known for its high-performance managed WordPress hosting services.
Trustpilot
- WP Engine holds a rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
- Many users praise WP Engine for its excellent performance, especially in terms of site speed.
- The customer support is generally well-regarded, with users appreciating the knowledgeable support team.
- On the downside, some users feel that WP Engine is expensive, particularly for small websites or personal blogs.
- On Reddit, WP Engine is often lauded for its performance and is recommended for WordPress sites that need top-tier hosting.
- While the price point is often cited as a barrier for small websites, users acknowledge that the performance and support can justify the costs for larger or more critical sites.
Comparison Winner: WPEngine or Bluehost?
All things considered, we think this is a draw between WPEngine and Bluehost. Both hosting platforms have something to offer their core customers, and both actually work well with WordPress, making either a good choice for frequent users. If we had to choose then the better web hosting provider for most people is Bluehost.
Personal Experience with Bluehost and WP Engine
Signing Up
Bluehost
Bluehost's sign-up process is straightforward, with clearly presented plans. However, there are some upsells during the sign-up which can be a bit distracting. The user interface is clean and easy to navigate.
WP Engine
Signing up with WP Engine is also easy, with a focus on managed WordPress hosting plans. The pricing is transparent, and the process is streamlined, aimed at users looking for premium WordPress hosting.
Setting Up a Website
Bluehost
Bluehost uses cPanel for management and offers a ‘one-click’ installer for WordPress and other popular applications. There's also the Bluehost Builder, a simple and intuitive website builder for beginners.
WP Engine
WP Engine has a custom user portal instead of cPanel, specifically tailored for WordPress. It comes with a range of premium WordPress themes and a staging environment for testing changes.
Performance
Bluehost
Bluehost offers decent performance with solid loading speeds and a good uptime record. However, it doesn’t quite match up to WP Engine in terms of speed and performance.
WP Engine
WP Engine excels in performance with lightning-fast loading times, especially for WordPress sites. They utilize a range of advanced caching and optimization techniques and have a strong uptime record.
Customer Support
Bluehost
Bluehost provides 24/7 customer support through chat and phone. The support is helpful, but sometimes the response times can be slow, and the quality may vary.
WP Engine
WP Engine offers 24/7 chat support and phone support. Being a premium WordPress hosting provider, their support staff are highly knowledgeable in WordPress and can provide more specialized assistance.
Conclusion and Recommendations to my Bluehost vs WP Engine Comparison test:
To wrap up this Bluehost vs WP Engine comparison;
What is WPEngine best for?
WP Engine is ideal for those looking for premium managed WordPress hosting with exceptional performance and expert support. It’s geared towards professionals and businesses that rely heavily on WordPress.
I feel that WP Engine works best if you have the resources and demand speed and advanced functionality.
What is Bluehost best for?
Bluehost is a reliable and affordable hosting option, especially for those who are just starting out.
It is a good choice if you want a range of features at a competitive price. Bluehost is a great choice for long-time WordPress users who want to step up their site-building game.
Bluehost and WP Engine Alternatives:
[wpsm_comparison_table id=”53″ class=”custom-table”]Bluehost vs WP Engine Final Word:
We may have called this a draw, but we recommend that you shop around for a viable hosting service in sync with your specific needs.
Click for the best Bluehost pricing
FAQs:
Which of these services offers cloud hosting?
WPEngine offers several cloud hosting packages. However, due to the cost, these hosting plans are recommended for those who are run high-traffic ecommerce sites or corporate/enterprise-grade users.
Can I use Bluehost for ecommerce?
Yes, you can actually install the WooCommerce plugin to add ecommerce functionality to your site.
That’s all for now:
If you've read our WP Engine vs Bluehost comparison review up to here, we are grateful. Remember always to keep abreast of the latest developments on website builders, eCommerce, and other articles, such as the ones below;
Please share any comments below!
Hi, I’m Stuart Kerr Spindlow; the publisher behind StuartKerrs.com.
I review and evaluate digital marketing software used by businesses, marketers, and website owners; including hosting platforms, website builders, email marketing tools, SEO software, analytics, and automation systems.
I hold a degree in Computer Science from The Open University and began my career working in financial technology, developing and supporting production software systems, banking intranets, and web platforms. Over the past 20+ years, I’ve tested, implemented, and analysed a wide range of digital tools across real-world business environments.
Today, this site focuses on independent, experience-led software reviews. Tools are assessed based on usability, performance, pricing transparency, long-term value, and suitability for real businesses; not vendor claims or sponsorships.
I don’t run an agency and I don’t sell services through this site. The goal is simple: publish honest, practical software reviews that help people choose the right tools with confidence.
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