When comparing DreamHost vs Bluehost, we find DreamHost to be the better web host overall. DreamHost offers stronger reliability through an 100% uptime guarantee and generous 97-day money-back guarantee. It also offers far more generous storage, bandwidth and email hosting features than Bluehost even in its cheapest plans.
In this article, we compare DreamHost vs Bluehost on the grounds of plans, pricing, features included and performance. We also compare their data center coverage, software supported, developer tools, customer support, and security features. Finally, we answer the question of “DreamHost vs Bluehost: Which is better for you?”
Plans
| Hosting Plan Type | DreamHost (RM /month) | Bluehost (RM /month) |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | RM11.70 – RM17.80 | RM13.30 – RM62.80 |
| VPS Hosting | RM45 – RM270 | RM211.50 – RM427.50 |
| WordPress Hosting | RM11.70 – RM323.80 | RM13.50 – RM62.80 |
| Cloud Hosting | RM20.25 – RM216 | RM135 – RM495 |
| Dedicated Hosting | RM895.50 – RM3370.50 | RM635.40 – RM1404.90 |
| Reseller Hosting | Not available | Not Available |
| Managed Hosting Available? | All Plans | Shared Hosting, Cloud Hosting, WordPress Hosting |
DreamHost offers five types of hosting: Shared, VPS, WordPress, Cloud, and Dedicated Hosting. Bluehost offers the same five types of hosting: Shared, VPS, WordPress, Cloud, and Dedicated Hosting. The key difference between the two is DreamHost’s more competitive pricing for VPS and Cloud Hosting for users seeking more powerful hosting. Both hosts offer a range of managed hosting options. DreamHost includes managed services across all its plans, while Bluehost limits managed services to 3 specific hosting types.
Pricing
| Pricing Type | DreamHost (RM /month) | Bluehost (RM /month) |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Price | RM11.70 | RM13.30 |
| Renewal Price | RM27 | RM56 |
| Monthly Payment Option? | Yes | Yes |
DreamHost offers competitive pricing with an introductory rate starting at RM11.70 per month, slightly lower than Bluehost’s RM13.30 per month. DreamHost’s renewal price increase to RM27 per month, representing a 131% rise, is moderate compared to Bluehost’s renewal jump to RM54 per month, which is a 307% increase. This substantial difference makes DreamHost a more economical choice in the long run. Both hosts offer the option to pay on a monthly basis.
Features Included
| Feature | DreamHost | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Space | Unlimited SSD | 10 GB SSD |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Number of Websites | 1 | 10 |
| Email Hosting | Separate service at RM7.50/mo (For Higher Plans: Unlimited Email @ Your Domain) | Separate service (RM67.50/yr – RM112.50/yr) |
| Free Domain | Yes | Yes |
| AI Website Builder | Yes, WP Website Builder | Yes, Bluehost WordPress Website Builder |
| Unlimited Storage | Yes | No |
| Unlimited/Unmetered Bandwidth | Unlimited | Higher plans |
| Additional Features | Automated WordPress migrations, AI Business Advisor powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 | WonderSuite AI tools, Free Yoast SEO |
DreamHost is one of the rare hosts that offers unlimited SSD storage even on its cheapest plans. Bluehost, on the other hand, offers only 10 GB of SSD storage on its lower-tier plans. DreamHost includes unlimited email hosting for higher plans, while Bluehost charges separately for email services. DreamHost offers unlimited bandwidth on all plans whilst Bluehost offers this on higher plans. Both hosts feature a free domain and free AI website builders, but DreamHost’s also throws in some unconventional tools such as an AI-powered business advisor.
Performance
| Performance Feature | DreamHost | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| CDN | Only for WordPress hosting (Jetpack CDN) | Yes, Cloudflare with Argo Routing |
| Type of SSD Server | SSD | SSD |
| Caching | Higher plans | Higher plans |
| Uptime Guarantee | 100% | 99.9% |
| Additional Performance Features | Not Available | HTTP/2, NGINX+ Cache |
DreamHost offers an exceptional 100% uptime guarantee which is higher than the industry average. Bluehost offers a standard 99.9% uptime guarantee. DreamHost provides a CDN through Jetpack for WordPress hosting plans only, while Bluehost offers a more robust Cloudflare CDN with Argo Routing across all plans. Both hosts use fast SSD servers, but Bluehost includes additional performance enhancements like HTTP/2 and NGINX+ Cache.
Data Center Coverage
| Geographical Coverage | DreamHost | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Data Centers | 2 | 1 |
| HQ Location | Los Angeles, California, United States | Jacksonville, Florida, United States |
| Data Center Locations | USA (Ashburn, Virginia; Hillsboro, Oregon) | USA (Utah) |
Both DreamHost and Bluehost have data centers limited to the United States only. DreamHost operates two data centers with one located in Ashburn, Virginia, and one in Hillsboro, Oregon. Bluehost has only one data center which is located in Utah. DreamHost therefore provides slightly wider coverage and potentially improved performance for US-based users.
Software Supported
| Software Feature | DreamHost | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Control panel | DreamHost Control Panel (proprietary) | cPanel |
| 1-Click WordPress | Yes | Yes |
| OS Supported | Linux | Linux |
DreamHost uses its proprietary control panel that is easy to use though requires some adjustment for users familiar with cPanel. Bluehost, on the other hand, provides the widely used cPanel control panel. Both hosts support Linux hosting only and offer 1-Click WordPress installations.
Developer Tools
| Developer Tool | DreamHost | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Staging Tools | Higher plans | Yes |
| Root Access | Yes for DreamCompute and Dedicated Hosting | Yes for VPS and dedicated hosting |
| GIT Access | Yes | Yes |
| WP-CLI | Yes | Yes |
| Cron Jobs | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple PHP Versions | Yes | Yes |
| SSH | Yes | Yes |
| Node.js Support | Yes | Yes |
| Python Support | Yes | Yes |
| Java Support | Yes | Yes |
| Django Support | Yes | Yes |
| Perl Support | Yes | Yes |
| Ruby on Rails Support | Yes | Yes |
| ASP.NET | No | No |
Both DreamHost and Bluehost provide a similar comprehensive set of developer tools. They both support key programming languages and environments such as Node.js, Python, Java, and Django. DreamHost offers root access for its DreamCompute and Dedicated Hosting plans, while Bluehost provides root access for VPS and Dedicated Hosting. Staging tools are available on higher plans only for DreamHost, whereas Bluehost includes them across its plans.
Customer Support
| Customer Support Feature | DreamHost | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Support Methods | Live chat, email, ticket system | Live chat, phone support, email |
| Support Hours | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Website Migration | Yes (free automated WordPress migrations) | For WordPress plans only |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 97 days | 30 days |
DreamHost provides customer support through live chat, email, and a ticket system. Bluehost includes phone support in its options. Both hosts offer 24/7 support, ensuring assistance is available whenever needed. DreamHost’s 97-day money-back guarantee is notably more generous than Bluehost’s 30-day guarantee and gives users three times longer to evaluate the service.
Security Features
| Security Feature | DreamHost | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Backups | Automated Daily Backups (Higher Plans: On-Demand Backups & 1-Click Restore) | Yes (Daily) for Choice Plus and above plans |
| DDoS Protection | Higher plans, Cloudflare | Yes, in-house |
| Firewalls | Yes | Yes |
| Proactive Monitoring | No | No |
| Unique Security Features | Firewalls (mod_security, lua-resty-waf), Custom rules and patches for Apache and NGINX | Partnership with SiteLock as paid add-on, Brand reputation protection, Defense against malicious attacks (DDoS, SQL injection, cross-site scripting) |
Both DreamHost and Bluehost provide essential security features like free SSL, firewalls, and backups. DreamHost includes automatic daily backups while Bluehost only includes daily backups in its Choice Plus plans and higher. However, Bluehost offers inhouse DDoS protection on all plans whilst DreamHost’s DDoS protection through Cloudflare is available on higher plans only. DreamHost includes custom rules and patches for Apache and NGINX. Bluehost partners with SiteLock to offer customers enhanced protection for an extra fee.
DreamHost Vs Bluehost: Which Is Better For You?
DreamHost is the better host. Use DreamHost if you’re running a WordPress site since it offers exceptional integration with the WordPress platform. Use DreamHost for eCommerce websites needing strong reliability and value since it offers a strong uptime and money-back guarantee. Also use DreamHost if you need generous storage, bandwidth, and email hosting included even in the cheapest plans—perfect for content-heavy sites, growing businesses, or anyone managing multiple email accounts under their domain. Finally, use DreamHost if you’re a developer or advanced user needing advanced features.
Use Bluehost if you’re a beginner or small business owner looking for an easy-to-use host with fast setup and AI website building tools. Also use Bluehost if you’re hosting a WooCommerce site targeting US customers. Finally, consider Bluehost if you prefer a widely recognized control panel like cPanel and need phone support, which DreamHost does not offer.
See other web hosting matchups here.
Who is DreamHost?
DreamHost is a web host founded in 1997 and headquartered in Los Angeles. It focuses on performance and reliability and offers a 100% uptime guarantee and excellent money-back guarantee. DreamHost is especially popular for hosting WordPress sites and is officially endorsed by WordPress. Get a closer look in our DreamHost review.
Who is Bluehost?
Bluehost is a web host founded in 2003 and headquartered in Jacksonville. It is known for its beginner-friendly platform and affordable pricing. Bluehost offers easy WordPress integration and a cPanel interface. See the full breakdown in our Bluehost review.