Bluehost Shared Hosting: What’s New and What’s the Same
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If you’ve been following Web Hosting Buddy for a while, you know a couple things are true. 1) We don’t recommend junk, and 2) we’ve been recommending Bluehost shared hosting since we launched this site many years ago—and there’s a good reason behind that.
Bluehost (especially with the Web Hosting Buddy pricing at $1.99/mo) represents one of—if not the best—values in shared web hosting.
They also pack in some standout features like 24/7 phone support (yes, telephone, you can actually talk to someone), an intuitive control panel, and essential tools like free SSL. But they’ve also rolled out some new features that even longtime Bluehost fans might not be aware of, including a powerful AI website builder and improved performance on NVMe drives.
Before we go any further—we need to drop a quick disclaimer. If you purchase Bluehost (or any hosting) using one of our links, we might receive a commission. This doesn’t cost you any extra and helps us create content free of charge. We may also have business relationships with hosting companies and may be compensated for some content or ads—but rest assured, that doesn’t affect our opinion at all; we tell it like it is 100% of the time. Want to be sure? Check out our “Hosts We Don’t Recommend” page to see how we can’t be bought or swayed! We turn hosts down on a regular basis to even list them on the site!
With that said, let’s jump into this blog post talking about some of the classic features that we’ve come to know and love about Bluehost, and then some of the new things they’ve added (such as their AI website builder), which are cool additions to an already solid shared hosting platform.
First: A Bit About Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is essentially the most affordable way to get your website online (unless we’re talking about Amazon buckets or something like that, which doesn’t apply to most people), especially for individuals and small businesses who don’t need a ton of resources.
With shared hosting, multiple sites are hosted on the same server, which keeps costs down while still delivering a stable environment. Bluehost’s shared hosting plans offer plenty of power for most sites, from blogs to small business pages, and they come with features like SSL certificates and one-click WordPress installations that make setup easy.
Bluehost’s Reputation (They’ve Been Around for a Long Time)
When it comes to hosting, Bluehost has been a top choice for years. They’re one of the few hosts officially recommended by WordPress, and they’ve built a reputation for providing solid shared hosting with user-friendly features and dependable customer support.
They’re also one of the few shared hosting companies that we recommend to family and friends, from someone who wants to host a little website for their band to a small business and more!
Bluehost’s longevity in the industry and commitment to adding new features and improvements keeps them at the top of our list for shared hosting. Now, let’s dig into some of the things that have changed and what’s stayed the same.
New Features That Make Bluehost Even Better
We’ve been going on and on for years about Bluehost’s reliability, speed for shared hosting (which can be so bad at some companies), and telephone support, but they’ve also got some new features which are worth mentioning and taking note of.
Enhanced Performance
Bluehost has recently enhanced their shared hosting services by upgrading both hardware and software components. These improvements include the integration of Dell rack mount servers powered by AMD EPYC processors and DDR5 RAM, as well as the adoption of MySQL 8 and the latest PHP versions running on ultrafast NVMe storage. These advancements are designed to significantly boost performance and stability for users.
Bluehost Professional Email
While cPanel allows you to create custom email addresses like yourname@yourbusiness.com, Bluehost’s Professional Email service offers several enhancements that elevate your business communications:
- Increased Storage: Professional Email provides up to 80GB of storage, significantly more than typical cPanel offerings, accommodating larger volumes of emails and attachments.
- Advanced Security: It includes robust spam and virus protection, safeguarding your inbox from potential threats.
- Integrated Productivity Tools: The service features an integrated calendar, address book, and task management, streamlining your workflow within a single platform.
- Enhanced Reliability: Built on a cloud-based infrastructure, Professional Email ensures higher uptime and reliability compared to standard cPanel email services.
These features make Bluehost’s Professional Email a superior choice for businesses seeking a more robust and secure email solution. Note that Bluehost Professional Email costs extra in addition to the hosting plans, but it’s a cool upgrade for people who need or want those extra features.
AI-Powered Website Builder
The introduction of an AI-powered website builder from Bluehost is a major step forward for beginners and small business owners who want a beautiful, functional website without the usual technical headaches. This tool takes much of the guesswork out of design by guiding users through the creation process step-by-step, allowing even those with zero design experience to craft a professional-looking site.
- Intuitive Design Assistance
The AI-driven builder starts by asking a few key questions about your website’s purpose, style preferences, and functionality needs. Using this information, it suggests layout and design options that align with your goals, helping you skip over complex decisions while still achieving a tailored look. This functionality is perfect for users who want an on-brand, polished website quickly. - Automatic Optimization
In addition to design support, the AI builder takes care of mobile and desktop optimization automatically. As a result, your site looks great and loads efficiently across all devices—a critical feature for modern sites and an SEO boost without additional manual adjustments. - Customizable Elements
While the AI provides a structured path, users still have the freedom to tweak elements to suit their preferences. You can adjust colors, fonts, images, and sections to give your site a unique touch without losing the guidance of the builder. This flexibility means that even within a simplified design environment, you retain control over the final look and feel. - Ideal for Quick Launches
This builder is ideal for individuals or small business owners who want a site up and running quickly without hiring a developer or learning complex design tools. It provides a fast, affordable path to a quality website, allowing users to focus on content and business instead of design challenges. - Bluehost’s AI-powered website builder is a solid addition to their shared hosting plans, bringing a level of convenience and customization that traditionally required either higher-end site builders or outside help.
You can access the AI website builder from the “Edit WordPress site” section of the Bluehost control panel:
And to begin creating, all you have to do is explain what type of website you want! We jokingly typed in this prompt of course, but you can actually describe what you want in real words, and the AI will help you build it.
Classic Bluehost Features We Still Love
As mentioned above, there’s a reason that we continue to recommend Bluehost for shared web hosting—there are just plain some things they do right, and have been doing right for years.
Easy-to-Use Control Panel
Bluehost has always made website management easy with its straightforward control panel, built on cPanel (which despite all these proprietary panels hosting companies use these days, is hard to beat). For those who are just getting started, it offers a user-friendly way to access settings, manage domains, and handle basic tasks without feeling overwhelmed.
24/7 Telephone Support
One of Bluehost’s standout features is their 24/7 telephone support. Unlike many hosting providers, Bluehost offers phone support 24/7 which makes it easy to get real-time help by talking to a real person about a problem you have. Knowing that support is just a phone call away can make a big difference, especially when you’re dealing with a time-sensitive issue.
Free SSL Certificate
Bluehost continues to offer a complimentary SSL certificate with their shared hosting plans. SSL is essential for security (and search engine rankings), and Bluehost includes it as a standard via Let’s Encrypt, so you don’t have to worry about extra costs for basic site security.
Current Pricing & Discounts
With our Web Hosting Buddy discount, Bluehost shared hosting starts at just $1.99/month. This pricing makes it one of the most affordable hosting options available without sacrificing quality.
Plus, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals right around the corner, there’s no telling what additional freebies or perks Bluehost might add in!
Final Thoughts on Bluehost Shared Hosting
Bluehost has managed to keep what works while adding new features that make their shared hosting plans more valuable than ever. With enhanced performance, professional email, and an AI-powered website builder, Bluehost continues to deliver exceptional value for beginners and growing sites alike. At $1.99/month, you’re getting a top-tier hosting provider at an unbeatable rate.
If you’re ready to take advantage of the current pricing and promotions, use our link below to get started with Bluehost today!
