Choosing between so many web hosts out there is quite the challenge. We’re going to ease out the process, and we’re taking a closer look, side by side, at two of the most reliable options at the moment: Bluehost and SiteGround.
Pricing, functionality, performance tests, customer support- are only some of the aspects you should check when selecting your web hosts.
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Who are Bluehost and SiteGround briefly?
Bluehost is operating more than 60 various hosting companies, and they’re famous for their interest in hosting companies. They pack many sites on the same server, which renders in slow speed and low reliability.
SiteGround is an independent company, and WordPress endorses it. They’re quite fast which many customers appreciate.
At a glance, both web hosts provide plenty of functionality and numerous functions that improve the performance of your website. They resemble a lot on the features, but one may think that Bluehost ensures a more comfortable to use dashboard for the elements.
What are the main features for each of them?
Here are the most critical functions to use when selecting SiteGround:
- 10-30 GB storage for a website (the plan you’re selecting counts)
- Updates for WordPress software in automatic way
- It can host endless sites for most type of plans
- You can use Let’s Encrypt for obtaining a free SSL certificate
- Straightforward Cloudflare CDN integration which improves the global page load time
- Effortless staging sites
- You get to use advanced technologies (HTTP/2 and PHP 7.2)
- Your site loads faster thanks to the built-in caching system
Bluehost’s list of main features looks as follows:
- Automatic WordPress updates
- Custom hosting dashboard
- A better speed for the site thanks to the integrated caching system
- Most plans can host endless sites
- Endless storage and bandwidth for most plans
- You can use Let’s Encrypt for obtaining SSL certificate for free
- Many plans benefit from limitless sites
- You can use modern technologies (but it only supports PHP 7.0).
The two web hosts resemble a lot in features, but it’s Bluehost that stands out thanks to its custom hosting dashboard which is easy to use even by new beginners.
When it comes with WordPress site, both BlueHost and SiteGround ease out your efforts when conceiving a new WordPress site. They provide a straightforward wizard tool, which makes the whole process easy.
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Is the setup process complicated?
The setup process runs smoother with SiteGround which provides a unique tool for that. The web host also launched its very own SiteGround Migrator plugin so that most entry-level users can migrate unlimited WordPress sites to SiteGround. A higher plan is going to let SiteGround migrate a website in your place.
BlueHost is also providing its users an easy tool for conceiving a new WordPress site, but it doesn’t ensure a free migration service. Even if creating a new site is secure with BlueHost, you’re going to have to migrate your website manually. You can get some professional help for moving a maximum of 5 websites, but you need to pay for this kind of service ($149.99).
What’s the performance like?
When we’re taking a closer look at the performance tests, it seems that SiteGround provides faster page load time than Bluehost does.
It’s not only the page load times that you need to check, though. The reliability of the site is also crucial. The uptime for web hosts and the frequency of outages are fundamental aspects to consider when selecting your web hosts.
All in all, both web hosts perform amazing, and none of them runs through significant downtime.
Which one provides better support?
You’re going to benefit from 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and ticket/email with both web hosts. However, the quality of support isn’t similar.
It seems that SiteGround provides better support in terms of overall support and WordPress- specific support as well. It appears that Bluehost loses on both categories.
Who’s more affordable?
Pricing should never be the selling point when selecting your web hosts, but you should double check it, nevertheless. At a glance, Bluehost does seem to be a better option for a tight budget.
It’s evident that BlueHost is more affordable than SiteGround on the budget plan, at the starting pricing. You’re going to pay full price after the first billing cycle for both web hosts. You need to pay for at least 12 months in both cases.
There are some benefits to highlight though with Bluehost offering a free domain name, as opposed to SiteGround which doesn’t.
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Who wins the competition?
There’s no obvious winner, as it’s your needs and the requirements of your website that plays the central part on that.
Both web hosts impress with the high functionality (which explains their popularity out there), and they do stand out from the cheaper alternatives. They both provide staging sites, straightforward setup wizard, and built-in caching- but there are only a few of the many features you can use.
Many are going to find the Bluehost’s dashboard a bit easier to use, which turns Bluehost into a better option for the new beginner users. In all fairness, the plans that Bluehost provides are also more affordable, and you get a domain name for free. It’s obvious that if you go shopping for a web host on a thin wallet, Bluehost is going to be a better choice for you. At the end of the day, Bluehost may become an excellent option for entry-level users and customers with a tight budget.
When you don’t want to worry at all about the performance or the support, SiteGround stands out with its reliability. It ensures better performance than Bluehost (especially when it comes to page load tests)- you don’t need to be an expert to know that long loading time makes customers go away. SiteGround also impresses with better customer support which always counts for customers out there.
Long story short, if customer support and performance are the vital aspects for you, you should go with SiteGround.
Needless to say, we cannot give you a single winner. It’s you that knows the best (or you should, nevertheless) what you want from your website and how much money you’re willing to spend on your web host.