Bluehost has been around since 2003 and powers over 2 million websites. It’s the most prominently recommended host on WordPress.org itself โ which drives enormous brand recognition for new website builders. But is it actually good? We tested it.
Performance in 2025
Average response time: 420ms (good). Uptime: 99.98% in our testing period. Server locations: US primary (US-based sites perform well; international sites may want a CDN). WordPress performance score (Core Web Vitals): good on their WordPress-optimized plans.
Plans and Pricing
Basic ($2.95โ$8.99/month): 1 website, 10GB storage, free domain first year. Choice Plus ($5.45โ$13.99/month): unlimited websites, 40GB, free domain + privacy. Pro ($13.95โ$28.99/month): Dedicated IP, advanced security. Renewal rates are higher (standard industry practice) โ factor this into the total cost calculation.
The Affiliate Program
Bluehost pays $65โ$130 per referral depending on volume. Finance and personal development bloggers who recommend Bluehost for starting a blog earn $500โ$5,000/month from referrals alone. WordPress.org’s recommendation drives enormous conversion rates for this affiliate program.
Our Verdict
Good for beginners and small websites. Power users and high-traffic sites should consider WP Engine, Cloudways, or Kinsta for better performance. For the affiliate marketer: one of the highest-converting hosting affiliate programs available.
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