In the rapidly evolving world of technology and communication, having a quality and stable website has become more important than ever. HostGator and Bluehost have emerged as two leading web hosting providers worth considering for those looking to build and operate their own websites. Each company has its own advantages and offers notable service packages. Before making a decision, let's delve into HostGator and Bluehost to gain an overview of these two options and determine which one best suits your needs.
Both HostGator and Bluehost have a long history and are known for their quality of service. HostGator, established in 2002, has become one of the most popular hosting providers worldwide.
Bluehost, founded in 2003, has also established itself as one of the top hosting companies. With fierce competition between these two companies, many users are unsure whether to choose HostGator or Bluehost to meet their hosting needs.
In the following paragraphs, we will delve into each aspect of HostGator and Bluehost, including performance, features, pricing, and customer support. By comparing and evaluating specific criteria, you will gain detailed information to make an informed and confident decision for your hosting requirements. HostGator vs Bluehost: Watch a video comparing and reviewing the quality of services here.
Introducing Hostgator
Founded in 2002, Hostgator quickly made a name for itself in the hosting market. It has hosted over 2.5 million websites and operates with over 1,000 full-time staff.
So it’s no surprise why Hostgator was acquired in 2012 by the Endurance International Group (EIG) for an aggregate purchase price of $299.8 million.
Introducing Bluehost
Founded in 2003 in Utah, Bluehost also powers over 2 million websites. With 750+ employees on its roster, the company has seen slightly lower growth levels than Hostgator.
However, Bluehost has been on an upward trend with no signs of slowing down since it first opened its doors. In 2010, they were also acquired by EIG which now owns a solid portfolio of hosting companies.
Now, you might be wondering whether there’s any difference between these services given the same parent company now owns them.
We were surprised to see one company does indeed offer better performance. However, the other web host offers move value and a lower price tag.
Bluehost vs Hostgator: Web Hosting Plans Compared
| Bluehost | Hostgator | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap Shared Hosting | ✅ | ✅ |
| Managed WP Hosting | ✅ | ✅ |
| Managed Woocommerce Hosting | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud Hosting | ❌ | ✅ |
| VPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dedicated Server Hosting | ✅ | ✅ |
| Reseller Hosting | ✅ | ✅ |
Upon initial examination, it becomes evident that the primary differences between HostGator and Bluehost lie in their managed WooCommerce hosting and cloud hosting options. However, when considering their overall plans, it becomes apparent that both hosting providers offer similar services.
Bluehost caters to e-commerce store owners who utilize WordPress by providing managed WooCommerce hosting. This tailored hosting solution offers specialized features and optimizations for WooCommerce-powered websites. On the other hand, HostGator does not offer managed WooCommerce hosting as part of its service offerings.
Conversely, HostGator distinguishes itself by providing cloud hosting options, which are not available through Bluehost. Cloud hosting offers increased scalability, flexibility, and enhanced performance, making it an appealing choice for businesses with high traffic or fluctuating demands.
In the upcoming sections, we will delve into a more detailed comparison of the plans offered by each host. By exploring their features, performance, pricing, and customer support, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of how HostGator and Bluehost stack up against each other.
Ultimately, both HostGator and Bluehost have gained popularity due to their affordable pricing. Consequently, their services are well-suited for website owners who prioritize cost savings over top-tier performance.
How Bluehost and HostGator Stack Up
Bluehost offers three categories of hosting: shared, virtual private server (VPS) and dedicated. Each of those categories has several plans ranging in price from $2.95 to $159.98 per month. When you commit to a full year, you get the best price per month compared to paying month-to-month or for a 36-month term. Several hosts price it this way so you have to renew after a year at a much higher rate.
HostGator will migrate your WordPress or cPanel site for free, and Bluehost is temporarily offering free website migration for just WordPress sites under 2 GB. Otherwise, professional migration costs $149.99. HostGator supports both Linux and Microsoft servers, whereas Bluehost only uses Linux servers. Thankfully, not many sites require Microsoft, but if yours does, you’ll have to choose HostGator.
One of the more significant complaints from customers about Bluehost is occasional downtime, which isn’t unheard of with shared hosting companies. There weren’t many complaints about this with HostGator in comparison. HostGator does have several complaints about slow customer support response, although both hosts have 24/7 support. This support comes via phone, email and chat.
However, only HostGator has an uptime guarantee with its shared and reseller accounts; if a server doesn’t meet its 99.9% uptime guarantee, you receive one month of credit on your account. VPS and dedicated servers have a network guarantee; receive a prorated credit for the amount of time the server was down.
WordPress endorses three web hosts, and one of those includes Bluehost. That’s not to say HostGator doesn’t work well with WordPress, just that it considers Bluehost to be one of the best—since 2005. Bluehost provides WordPress-specific training and support, so it’s ideal for people running their sites via WordPress—there’s an entire community of support for your platform.
It’s important to regularly back up your site if anything breaks, and Bluehost does that automatically, so you don’t have to—no matter which plan you have. HostGator backs up your site using CodeGuard, but not if you have a VPS or dedicated server.
Both Bluehost and HostGator have security tools included in every plan; SSL certificates, malware scans and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection come standard, and both hosts use SiteLock. However, Bluehost’s SiteLock includes spam monitoring, a site verification certificate, business verification and blocklist monitoring. You can even set up notifications to know when it blocks attacks if you want to block IP addresses manually.
Securing your website is essential, which is why SSL certificates come standard with most web hosts—Bluehost and HostGator included. An SSL certificate will help protect you and your customers during online transactions because it encrypts data traveling between your computer and the server.
Bluehost vs HostGator: Summary
Both Bluehost and HostGator are established and reliable hosting providers, who deserve their great reputations. Both are suited to beginners as well as pros, and offer affordable and competitive price plans. Either way, you’re in a great place to start your journey into web hosting.
That being said, Bluehost takes the cake in this competition. Its established reputation in both ease of use for beginners as well as its relationship with WordPress make it the better choice, and its affordable plans make it a realistic option no matter what level your site is at.
HostGator comes in a strong second place, boosted by its excellent 99.99% uptime and in-depth customer support system.
The best option for you will depend on your needs – if value for money, ease of use, or WordPress integration is your top priority, then Bluehost is the clear answer. If uptime is most important to you, then you’ll want to think about HostGator.