Do you want to skip the read and get right to my pick in this GreenGeeks vs Bluehost comparison? The better web hosting provider for most people is Bluehost.
Introduction:
Reliable hosting is a key factor for consideration among site owners, but most especially for WordPress users and ecommerce creators. But we have to ask how reliable today’s hosting services are and how much value they give people who subscribe to them.
In our GreenGeeks vs Bluehost comparison, we will see how these two hosting providers perform in terms of features, functionality, technical assistance, ecommerce, site security, and pricing.
Overview:
Let's kick off our Bluehost vs GreenGeeks review with a little background of our contenders:
GreenGeeks:
Founded in 2008, GreenGeeks claims to be the “world’s leading eco-friendly website hosting provider.” It’s a claim they’ve backed up quite well, too: the maximum use / no-waste hosting platform matches any electricity it takes from conventional power grids with thrice the amount pulled from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
Bluehost:
Ranked among the world’s 20 largest web hosting services, Bluehost was founded in 2003 and has long been considered a technical partner for WordPress. The platform currently hosts over two million sites worldwide.
Ease of Use:
So which between Bluehost vs GreenGeeks is the more user-friendly web hosting option?
GreenGeeks:
The UI is presented in a classic cPanel configuration – essentially putting everything within the user’s view, and it is very easy to orient yourself with the menus. While it looks like a really retro site creation UI, you have to admit that it lets you take care of both front and back-end site management easily.
Bluehost:
Bluehost may appear to be easy enough to use on the surface, but it can prove challenging in the backend. For example, settings for FTP, DNS, and CMS all need to be done manually, so you either need to have a strong working knowledge of all three or have a handy person who does on hand.
Winner – GreenGeeks! This ‘Ease of Use' phase of the GreenGeeks vs Bluehost battle goes to GreenGeeks.
Features:
In this Bluehost vs GreenGeeks comparison, let's get to know what features each of these web hosts has for you:
Domain Names:
GreenGeeks:
Subscribers can get a single domain name with their subscription. However, domain names are only free for the first year; you’ll need to pay $13.95 for every succeeding year.
Bluehost:
The same deal goes for Bluehost: one subscriber = one domain, and additional domains/domain names need additional payment.
Email Rating:
GreenGeeks:
The platform offers an unlimited number of email addresses regardless of the subscription plan, and email storage is pretty much unlimited.
Bluehost:
The most basic plan only allows users to create five mailboxes. Those on mid-tier and premium accounts can create as many as they wish.
Databases:
GreenGeeks:
Users may create an unlimited number of databases regardless of their subscription plan.
Bluehost:
At its most basic, users may have only 20 databases for their Bluehost account. However, mid-tier and premium subscribers can create an unlimited number.
Applications:
GreenGeeks:
GreenGeeks depends on the third-party enabler app Softaculous. With this, users can download and install numerous applications to work with, like WordPress and Joomla, and even ecommerce-specific platforms like Magento and PrestaShop.
Bluehost:
Bluehost has its own in-platform installer, which enables users to bring in WordPress, Joomla, and Magento, among others.
WordPress:
Both platforms work well with WordPress. Note, however, that the Bluehost install for WordPress will automatically include a number of plugins you might not need, so it’s best to check after installation.
Site Staging:
GreenGeeks:
Unless you’re using it with WordPress, GreenGeeks doesn’t offer site staging before deployment.
Bluehost:
As Bluehost is primarily a managed WordPress hosting provider, the one-click staging feature is pre-included across all plans.
Website Builder:
Which has a better website builder – Bluehost vs GreenGeeks?
GreenGeeks:
GreenGeeks doesn’t have its own proprietary site builder and, instead, depends on sub-platforms like WordPress for site creation.
Bluehost:
Technically, you can use the WordPress installed with Bluehost for your site creation needs. But the platform does have its own builder bundled in and, while very basic for our tastes, we feel that this gives users a viable alternative, especially if they’re just starting.
eCommerce and SSL certificate:
GreenGeeks:
GreenGeeks allows users to build their stores through several ecommerce platforms as well as WordPress’ WooCommerce shop-builder plugin. An SSL certificate is already included across all subscription packages.
Bluehost:
This platform supports websites using the WooCommerce plugin but does not offer hosting packages specific for ecommerce site creation and hosting. SSL certificates are already included when you sign up for a hosting plan.
Security and Backups:
Which between Bluehost vs GreenGeeks can ensure better security for your site?
GreenGeeks:
Along with solid database protection, GreenGeeks has its own proprietary tool for isolating sites that have suspicious code or content.
Unfortunately, it falls flat where backups are concerned as these are not included in standard hosting plans. Backups can only be done by request, and technical teams can only roll back to the last 24 hours the site was up. Users are only allowed one backup a month; additional backups are $25 each.
Bluehost:
Bluehost gives its users password-protected directories, one-click integration with Cloudflare to work against potential DDoS attacks, and even a multi-layer spam filter against unwanted messages or marketing materials,
However, site backup is only available for those on mid-tier and premium hosting. For those who do have the feature available to them, backups are done on a daily basis.
Winner – Bluehost! It was the proprietary site builder and automated backups that did it: we’re giving this GreenGeeks vs Bluehost match to Bluehost.
Performance:
We've dealt with each of Bluehost vs GreenGeeks features – but what about their performance?
Server Locations:
GreenGeeks:
Servers are located in the US, Canada, and Europe; users may opt for a server closest to their geographical location for immediate service.
Siteground:
Bluehost’s nerve center is located in Provo, Utah, with a secondary data center in the neighboring town of Orem. Global servers are in the UK, India, and China.
Speed Results:
GreenGeeks:
GreenGeeks sites load at a respectable 2.32 seconds.
Bluehost:
Definitely not impressive: average loading time for sites hosted through the service is currently at 3.22 seconds.
Average Uptime, Bandwidth, and Webspace limits/Storage:
GreenGeeks:
Average uptime is at 99.98%, and both bandwidth and data storage is unlimited.
Bluehost:
Unlimited bandwidth is provided across all plans, but storage is another story. Those on the most basic plan only get 50GB; on other tiers, storage is unlimited.
Bluehost’s uptime is currently pegged at 99.98%, putting it on equal footing with its competitor.
Winner – GreenGeeks! We’re giving the performance round of our GreenGeeks vs Bluehost match to GreenGeeks.
Support and Resources:
So which among Bluehost vs GreenGeeks provides better and more timely support?
GreenGeeks:
Multi-channel technical support is available. Note, however, that while online options run 24/7, phone support is only available from 9 AM to 12 AM EST. Be sure to check out the tutorials they run on their knowledge base.
Bluehost:
Bluehost offers 24/7 customer and technical service via email, LiveChat, and phone. Its knowledge base is also well-maintained.
Winner – Bluehost! The ‘Support' round of the GreenGeeks vs Bluehost battle goes to Bluehost.
Pricing:
At this point, let's deal with the all-important value for money question in this GreenGeeks vs Bluehost comparison.
Plans:
GreenGeeks:
Their basic plans are a bit pricey, as they run between $10.95 and $25.95 monthly.
VPS plans are, of course, more expensive, as they range from $39.95 to $109.95 a month.
>> Check for our latest GreenGeeks discount code pricing plans <<
Bluehost:
The average cost of Bluehost’s standard plans runs between $3.95 and $13.95 every month.
However, note that key security features are only offered for all plans except for Basic Hosting. In addition, scalable corporate or enterprise plans can cost up to $119.99 per month.
>> Check for our latest Bluehost discount code pricing plans <<
Free trial, refund policy, and money-back guarantee:
GreenGeeks:
You can try GreenGeeks risk-free for 30 days, then opt for a subscription at the end of the period. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee, and in the event your uptime drops, they give subscribers a sum equivalent to the amount of lag time.
Bluehost:
Bluehost offers a thirty-day free trial, after which users must commit to a paid subscription plan. If you aren’t satisfied with the service, you may cancel your paid subscription within the first thirty days for a refund.
Winner – Bluehost! If it’s value for money you’re looking for, this GreenGeeks vs Bluehost ‘Pricing' round goes to Bluehost.
Comparison Winner: GreenGeeks vs Bluehost?
Now that we've evaluated both contenders on several points, who is the winner? Overall, we find Bluehost as Comparison Winner in this Bluehost vs GreenGeeks showdown. Functionality and value for money are what secured the win for Bluehost.
Conclusion and Recommendations:
To conclude our Bluehost vs GreenGeeks comparison;
What is GreenGeeks best for?
GreenGeeks is a good choice for site owners who want to lessen their carbon footprint even online. Also, you can actually put one of their badges on your site to prove it.
What is Bluehost best for?
It’s a great choice for both novice and expert WordPress users, but we also recommend it for those who are scaling up their sites.
Alternatives:
Ranking | Key Features | Price (Basic Plan) | My View |
---|---|---|---|
1. Bluehost | 50GB storage, unmetered bandwidth, free domain 1st year, free SSL certificate | $2.95/month Check Pricing | Best for beginners and WordPress websites |
2. SiteGround | 10GB Web Space, ~10,000 Visits Monthly, Unmetered Traffic, Free WP Installation, Free WP Migrator, Free SSL, Free Email, Daily Backup, Free CDN, Managed WordPress, Unlimited Databases, 100% renewable energy match | $3.99/month Check Pricing | Best for WordPress websites and features excellent customer support |
3. DreamHost | Fast SSD storage, free domain, automatic WordPress updates, free SSL certificate | $2.49/month Check Pricing | Best for non-profits as it offers a free plan for them |
4. A2 Hosting | Unlimited SSD Space & Transfer, Free & Easy Site Migration, Free Automatic Backups, Anytime Money Back Guarantee | $2.99/month Check Pricing | Best for speed with their turbo servers |
5. HostGator | Unmetered bandwidth & disk space, free domain, free SSL certificate | $2.75/month Check Pricing | Best for small businesses and startups |
6. WPX Hosting | High-speed, custom CDN, unlimited site migrations, unlimited SSLs, 24/7 fast-response support | $20.83/month Check Pricing | Best for those seeking high-speed hosting and excellent customer support |
7. Kinsta | Google Cloud Platform, 24 global locations, next-generation infrastructure, free migrations, 24/7 support | $30/month Check Pricing | Best for those wanting Google Cloud hosting and multiple global locations |
8. Nexcess | Auto-scaling, automatic plugin updates, automatic backups, 24/7 support | $19/month Check Pricing | Best for eCommerce with its auto-scaling feature |
9. LiquidWeb | Fully managed, dedicated IP, DDoS protection, 24/7 support | $19/month Check Pricing | Best for fully-managed hosting and those needing a dedicated IP |
10. Scala Hosting | Free domain, SSD powered, free website migration, 24/7 support | $3.95/month Check Pricing | Best for those looking for a free domain and SSD powered hosting |
Final word:
We may have hailed Bluehost as the winner in our GreenGeeks vs Bluehost review, but we recommend that you trial for a viable hosting service that is in sync with your specific needs.
Click for the best Bluehost pricing
FAQs:
How green exactly is GreenGeeks?
This environmentally-sustainable service gives back thrice the amount of energy they take off conventional grids, but try to use sustainable energy as much as possible.
Does either service have cloud hosting options?
Unfortunately, no; neither of them have options for cloud hosting.
Does Bluehost offer its own site builder?
Yes. It’s pretty basic, but it does and works quite well for those learning how to build sites from scratch.
That’s all for now:
If you've read our GreenGeeks 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!