Bluehost Review 2026 — Is It Still Worth It for WordPress?
Last updated: May 2026 • WordPress officially recommended
Bluehost is WordPress.org's official recommended host — but does that endorsement still hold in 2026? We test speed, uptime, support, and pricing against the newer competition from Hostinger and SiteGround.
Quick Comparison
| Host | Speed (TTFB) | Uptime | Storage | Price/month (intro) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluehost Basic | ~680ms | 99.95% | 10GB NVMe | €2.95 |
| Hostinger Business | ~350ms | 99.99% | 200GB NVMe | €2.99 |
| SiteGround StartUp | ~400ms | 99.99% | 10GB | €3.99 |
| Kinsta Starter | ~250ms | 99.99% | 10GB | €30 |
Pricing Plans
1 website, 10GB NVMe SSD storage, free domain (first year), free SSL, WordPress one-click install, and 24/7 live chat support. Bluehost's TTFB of ~680ms is adequate for new blogs and brochure sites. WordPress auto-installs in one click and the interface is beginner-friendly.
- WordPress officially recommended host
- One-click WordPress install
- Free domain for first year
- 24/7 live chat and phone support
- Beginner-friendly interface
- Slower TTFB (~680ms) vs Hostinger (~350ms)
- 99.95% uptime (slightly below Hostinger/SiteGround 99.99%)
- Renewal price jumps to €11.99/mo (306% increase)
- Checkout pre-checks paid add-ons — deselect carefully
Intro price: €2.95/mo (36-month term) · Renewal: €11.99/mo
Try Bluehost →Unlimited websites, free domain privacy, automated backups. For users who need to host multiple sites, the Choice Plus plan is the practical upgrade from Basic.
- Unlimited websites
- Free domain privacy (WHOIS protection)
- Automated backups
- Renewal rate of €14.99/mo is steep
Intro price: €5.45/mo · Renewal: €14.99/mo
Try Bluehost Choice Plus →Verdict
Bluehost is a solid, reliable choice for WordPress beginners. The WordPress official recommendation, beginner-friendly interface, and 24/7 support make it a safe first choice. However, the renewal pricing is Bluehost's biggest weakness — a 306% price jump at renewal is significant.
Best for: New bloggers and small business websites starting out who value the WordPress official recommendation and beginner-friendly setup.
Better alternatives: For better performance and renewal pricing: choose Hostinger. For premium managed WordPress: choose SiteGround.
FAQ
Is Bluehost still the best host for WordPress beginners?
It's a good option but no longer the unambiguous best choice. Hostinger now offers faster speeds (~350ms TTFB vs ~680ms) at lower renewal rates. Bluehost's main advantages are brand recognition, the WordPress official recommendation, and beginner-friendly interface.
Does Bluehost include a free domain?
Yes — one free domain name for the first year is included with most Bluehost plans. After year 1, standard domain renewal rates apply (~€15–20/year for .com).