BlueHost vs Format: Comprehensive comparison guide for 2024

Final verdict

BlueHost and Format cater to different audiences with their unique strengths and weaknesses.

• 
  BlueHost (Overall Grade: 6.8/10)
  
  is a versatile platform that combines web hosting with a user-friendly website builder. It excels in offering a wide range of templates, comprehensive marketing tools, and robust security features. BlueHost is particularly suitable for users looking to create professional websites with extensive customization options and access to thousands of WordPress themes and plugins. Its integration with WooCommerce makes it a strong choice for ecommerce, although it may have a steeper learning curve for beginners.
• 
  Format (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
  
  is designed specifically for creative professionals such as photographers, artists, and designers. It offers nearly 100 customizable templates tailored for showcasing portfolios in a visually appealing manner. Format’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface and straightforward dashboard make it accessible for users without extensive technical skills. While it may lack some advanced features and integrations compared to BlueHost, Format provides a comprehensive platform for creatives to share their work and connect with potential clients.

	Overall grade: 6.8	Overall grade: 5.8
Design functionalities & templates	7.2	7.0
Ease of use	8.2	8.3
Ecommerce	6.8	5.2
Website Editors	7.3	7.5
Product testing options	6.2	8.3
Price	7.2	7.9
Hosting quality	8.0	5.0
Website speed optimization	6.5	5.0
Plugins and integrations	9.1	4.9
Marketing features	7.3	5.3
Customer support	7.6	7.0
Security	8.3	7.4
AI capabilities	1.5	0.0
User Management	4.4	2.8

Best for ecommerce

6.8

5.2

Verdict

: BlueHost is better suited for comprehensive ecommerce needs, while Format is ideal for creatives with basic ecommerce requirements.

• 
  BlueHost
  
  : With its integration with WooCommerce, BlueHost offers a robust set of ecommerce features, including product listings, secure payment gateways, and inventory management. This makes it a suitable choice for online merchants looking for a comprehensive solution. However, BlueHost lacks built-in POS capabilities, which might be a limitation for some businesses.
• 
  Format
  
  : Designed for creative professionals, Format provides basic ecommerce functionalities such as inventory management and multiple currency options. While it offers integration with major payment gateways, it charges a commission on sales and lacks advanced ecommerce features. This makes Format more suitable for creatives who need a simple online store to complement their portfolio.

Best for informational & business websites

7.5

7.2

• 
  BlueHost
  
  : BlueHost is a versatile platform that integrates seamlessly with WordPress, offering a wide range of templates and customization options. Its drag-and-drop interface and extensive learning resources make it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise. BlueHost’s robust hosting services and strong security measures make it a reliable choice for businesses looking to establish a professional online presence. With a score of 7.5, BlueHost is well-suited for a broad audience, from personal blogs to large online businesses.
• 
  Format
  
  : Format is specifically designed for creative professionals, offering nearly 100 customizable templates tailored for showcasing portfolios. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and features like integrated online stores and client proofing make it an excellent choice for artists, photographers, and designers. However, Format’s limited plugin options and less comprehensive hosting services may pose challenges for users with broader website needs. With a score of 7.2, Format is ideal for creatives looking to showcase their work in a visually appealing manner.

Detailed comparison

7.2

7.0

🏆

Winner: BlueHost.

If you’re looking for a platform that offers a wide range of templates and design, BlueHost is the preferred choice.

BlueHost’s WordPress website builder offers over 300 pre-installed templates and designs to cater to the diverse needs of its users, ensuring that there’s something for everyone, regardless of the niche or industry. With hundreds of customizable templates available, users can easily find a design that aligns with their vision and brand identity. These templates are designed to be responsive and SEO-friendly, enhancing the user experience and visibility of the websites. From simple blog layouts to complex ecommerce designs, BlueHost provides a comprehensive selection to help users create professional-looking websites with ease.

Compared to BlueHost, Format is a website builder specifically designed for creatives, offering nearly 100 customizable templates tailored for various artistic disciplines. It emphasizes high-quality imagery and mobile-friendly designs, ensuring portfolios look professional on any device. While it offers easy-to-use features and e-commerce tools for selling work directly, some users find its interface less intuitive and its feature set somewhat limited for broader website needs.

Format Themes

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8.2

8.3

🏆 Winner: Format

. With a score of 8.3, Format edges out BlueHost (8.2) in terms of ease of use. Format’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface and straightforward dashboard make it accessible for users without extensive technical skills, making it an attractive option for artists, photographers, and designers seeking an easy-to-use solution for creating professional websites. BlueHost, while also user-friendly, is more suited for individuals and small to medium-sized businesses venturing into the online space for the first time.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: BlueHost

. BlueHost’s WordPress Academy offers a wide range of free, comprehensive learning resources developed by WordPress experts, aimed at users of all levels. It provides courses on WordPress fundamentals, website design, SEO, and marketing strategies, complete with practical assignments and quizzes. On the other hand, Format provides a comprehensive help center with a wide array of articles and maintains an official YouTube channel that features tutorials and updates.

6.8

5.2

When it comes to ecommerce, BlueHost and Format offer different levels of functionality. BlueHost, with its integration with WooCommerce, provides a comprehensive set of ecommerce features, making it a suitable choice for online merchants. Format, on the other hand, caters more to creatives and photographers, offering basic ecommerce functionalities.

Ecommerce themes and templates	6.5	4.0
Product page customization	7.0	5.5
Payment processing and commissions	6.8	4.5
POS capabilities	0.0	0.0
Payment gateways	7.5	6.5
Product numbers	6.0	5.0
Additional ecommerce features	6.5	3.5

BlueHost ecommerce features:

• Product Listings
• Shopping Carts
• Secure Payment gateways
• Shipping Options and Tax Calculations
• Inventory Management

Format ecommerce features:

• Inventory management and tracking
• Discounts
• Multiple currency options

Ecommerce themes & templates

BlueHost’s website builder for eCommerce provides a selection of specific templates designed to streamline the creation of online stores. These templates are optimized for sales, featuring designs that accommodate product galleries, shopping carts, and checkout processes. On the other hand, Format does not offer ecommerce specific templates.

Product page customization

BlueHost’s website builder offers robust customization features for product pages, allowing users to tailor product details like titles, descriptions, images, and pricing according to their preferences. It supports the creation of product variants and options, facilitating the sale of items with multiple choices such as size, color, and material directly from the product page. Format, however, offers limited specific details on product page customization.

Payment processing

BlueHost doesn’t directly support numerous payment gateways. However, it does integrate with WooCommerce, a platform that facilitates integration with various payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe. While BlueHost doesn’t impose transaction fees, the payment gateways might. Furthermore, it lacks Point of Sale (POS) capabilities. The Format website builder offers integration with major payment gateways, including Paypal and Stripe. It charges a 15% commission on the Pro plan and 5% on the Pro Plus plan. However, the platform does not have built-in POS (Point of Sale) capabilities.

7.3

7.5

🏆

Winner: Format

. With a score of 7.5, Format’s website editor offers a variety of features for creating online portfolios. It provides nearly 100 professionally designed templates and thousands of design variations without requiring any coding. Users can express creativity with custom pages, incorporating unique gallery layouts, colors, text formatting, and custom code embeds. The templates and pages are fully responsive, ensuring a mobile-first experience. Format also supports direct video hosting, high-quality image rendering, and easy template switching to give sites a new look. Additionally, it includes studio management tools, e-commerce capabilities, and SEO tools.

BlueHost’s website builder editor, scoring 7.3, is designed for ease of use, catering to both beginners and advanced users. It offers a section based drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to easily add, remove, and customize elements on their website without needing to code. Users can choose from a wide range of templates and customize them to fit their brand, including adjusting layouts, colors, and fonts. Additionally, the editor provides access to stock photos, SEO tools, and responsive design features, ensuring websites look great on all devices and can rank well on search engines.

Mobile editor/app

5.0

4.0

🏆

Winner: BlueHost

. Both BlueHost and Format do not offer a dedicated mobile editor app. However, they allow users to edit their websites using a mobile browser. BlueHost does not have a dedicated mobile editor app, but you can edit your website on a mobile browser, albeit with some limitations.

On the other hand, Format does not offer a dedicated app for editing on mobile devices. While it is possible to edit your website using a mobile browser, the interface presented is the same as the desktop version, making it difficult to use on a smartphone.

In summary, BlueHost scores slightly higher than Format in terms of mobile editor score.

6.2

8.3

Overall Result

:

Format Wins

. Format scores 8.3 in product testing options, while BlueHost scores 6.2. Both BlueHost and Format offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, but Format provides a 14-day free trial, which BlueHost does not. This gives users the opportunity to test Format’s premium features without any financial commitment. BlueHost, on the other hand, allows users to test premium features within the 30-day refundable period.

Free Plan	No	No
Trial Duration	No	14 days
Testing Premium Features	Within 30-day refundable period	During free trial period

7.2

7.9

Format has a slightly higher price score than BlueHost, indicating that it might offer better value for money.

	Offerings	Offerings
$10-$20	Basic ($15.99/month): Made for a simple website or blog, 1 website with 10GB SSD storage, Free CDN, Free Domain 1st year, Managed WordPress Hosting, Free SSL 1st year and Chat Support. Value for price: 6.5	Basic ($12.00/month): Offers core services like mobile-optimized site, up to 10 web pages, and up to 70 high-resolution images. 3 client galleries, up to 2GB file transfers. No video uploads or custom code editor. Value for price: 5.0
$20-$30	Choice Plus ($27.99/month): Ideal for multiple sites needing storage, security, backups, 3 websites with 40GB SSD storage, Free CDN, Free Domain 1st year, Managed WordPress hosting, Free SSL, Free Domain privacy 1st year, Malware scanning, daily site backups are free for the 1st year with the purchase of a 12 or 36-month package. Otherwise, users are required to pay a one-time fee of $35.88 for backup services. Value for price: 7.5	Pro ($24.00/month): Includes all from Basic, plus unlimited web pages, 1500 high-resolution images,15 mins video hosting, 100GB cloud storage, a free custom domain, Online Store with up to 15 products, 50 client galleries and up to 5GB file transfers. Value for price: 7.5
$30-$38	Online Store ($32.99/month): Great for all online selling, built-in eCommerce tools, 3 websites with 40GB SSD storage, Free CDN, Free Domain 1st year, Managed WordPress hosting, Free Domain privacy 1st year, Malware Scanning, Exclusive Theme Store, Store Analytics, Unlimited products, Secure Payment options, Bookings & appointments, Shipping labels, product search and filtering, daily site backups are free for the 1st year with the purchase of a 12 or 36-month package. Otherwise, users are required to pay a one-time fee of $35.88 for backup services. Value for price: 8.5	Pro Plus ($36.00/month): Adds on Pro features with priority support, unlimited pages and high-res images, 120 mins video hosting, and 1TB cloud storage. Online Store with up to 1000 products, 250 client galleries and 10GB file transfers. Value for price: 8.5
$38+	Pro ($39.95/month): Perfect for high traffic, advanced storage, security, 5 websites with 100GB SSD storage, Free CDN, Free Domain 1st year, Managed WordPress hosting, Free SSL, Free Domain privacy 1st year, Malware Scanning, daily site backups are free for the 1st year with the purchase of a 12 or 36-month package. Otherwise, users are required to pay a one-time fee of $35.88 for backup services. Value for price: 9.0	No offering at this amount.

8.0

5.0

Winner: BlueHost

. BlueHost offers a range of hosting options with features designed to support websites at various stages of growth, from shared to dedicated hosting. Their hosting plans include technologies to ensure fast load times, such as SSD storage, CDN services, and Cloudflare integration. However, users should be cautious of potential additional costs for advanced security features and backups, as well as the possibility of long wait times for customer support. On the other hand, Format does not provide detailed information about its hosting services, which makes it difficult to compare its hosting quality with BlueHost.

Do they offer hosting?	Yes, offers a range of hosting options with features designed to support websites at various stages of growth, from shared to dedicated hosting.	Yes, but does not provide detailed information about its hosting services.
Data Centers:	6 data centers: Orem and Provo, Shanghai, Mumbai and Hong Kong, London	Does not disclose any information about its data centers.
Type of hosting:	Managed WordPress Hosting	Does not mention what kind of hosting types does the platform offer.
Uptime:	99.9%	Does not disclose any information about its uptime statistics.
Uptime Guarantee:	Yes, 99.9%	Does not have uptime guarantee.

6.5

5.0

🏆 Winner: BlueHost

Both BlueHost and Format prioritize website performance and page speed, but BlueHost has a higher website speed optimization score and provides more detailed strategies for speed optimization.

Focus	CDN, Server Optimization	Image and video optimization
Performance Tools	Google Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights	Google PageSpeed Insights
Key Strategies	CDN, Server Optimization	Image and video optimization
Load Times	Varies widely, depending on optimization	Varies depending on optimization
Page Speed Scores Range	Varies widely, depending on optimization	Varies depending on optimization
Core Web Vitals Improvement	Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements	No disclosed information

BlueHost, a comprehensive web hosting service that also offers a user-friendly website builder, places a strong emphasis on website performance and page speed. Its approach to enhancing site speed includes server optimization and the use of a Content Delivery Network (CDN). BlueHost also emphasizes improvements in Core Web Vitals, specifically Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). However, both load times and PageSpeed scores can vary widely, depending on the level of optimization and website complexity.

On the other hand, Format, a website builder specifically designed for creative professionals, focuses on image and video optimization to enhance website speed. However, Format does not disclose any information on their Core Web Vitals improvements. Similar to BlueHost, Format’s load times and PageSpeed scores can vary depending on the level of optimization and website complexity.

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9.1

4.9

🏆 Winner: BlueHost.

With a score of 9.1, BlueHost offers a vast ecosystem of plugins and extensions, primarily through its seamless integration with WordPress. This allows for a wide range of customization options and functionalities, including advanced SEO tools, e-commerce solutions, and social media integrations. On the other hand, Format, scoring 4.9, offers a limited selection of plugins/integrations, which may pose a challenge for users looking for a more extensive suite of tools to enhance their website’s functionality.

7.3

5.3

🏆

Overall Winner: BlueHost

. BlueHost stands out for its comprehensive marketing tools, especially in SEO and email marketing, thanks to its seamless integration with WordPress. Format, while offering basic marketing features, lacks advanced capabilities.

SEO Tools
Email Marketing
Blogging
Social Media Integration	Yes, through WordPress plugins	Limited to Instagram integration
Analytics and Reporting	Yes, integration of Google Analytics	Yes, through Google Analytics integrations
Ads and Promotions	Yes, through WordPress plugins	Basic promotional features

7.6

7.0

🏆 Winner: BlueHost

. In the BlueHost vs Format comparison, BlueHost takes the lead with a customer support score of 7.6. BlueHost offers 24/7 support through chat and phone, with specific hours for technical assistance and account-related inquiries. This ensures that users can get help whenever they need it, making it a reliable option for those who may require frequent support.

Format, on the other hand, provides 24/7 customer support through email and live chat, with a tech support team distributed across different countries to ensure round-the-clock availability. Despite this, Format’s customer support score is slightly lower at 7.0, indicating that while it offers comprehensive support, it may not be as robust or responsive as BlueHost’s offerings.

8.3

7.4

🏆

Winner: BlueHost

. BlueHost’s security measures are comprehensive, offering SSL certificates, regular backups, and additional security features like SiteLock for malware scanning. They also provide 24/7 monitoring to promptly detect and respond to security threats, along with malware scanning and removal processes to protect websites from malicious software. This ensures a secure and reliable hosting environment for users.

On the other hand, Format also emphasizes the security of user data through encrypted data storage and strict access controls. However, specific details about Format’s security measures were not directly mentioned, apart from offering SSL security across its plans. Therefore, BlueHost takes the lead in this category due to its more comprehensive security features.

1.5

0.0

AI Website Builder
AI Ecommerce Features
AI Content Generation	Supports integration with AI content generation plugins
Additional AI Features

🏆 Winner: Neither

. Both BlueHost and Format lack AI capabilities. BlueHost, with a score of 1.5, does not have built-in AI features but supports integration with WordPress plugins, some of which offer AI content generation. Format, with a score of 0.0, does not have any AI capabilities. Therefore, neither platform stands out in terms of AI capabilities.

4.4

2.8

🏆 Winner: BlueHost

. Both BlueHost and Format offer different levels of user management capabilities.

• BlueHost supports multi-user management, however, there’s no specific mention about the number of users or their roles and permissions.
• Format, on the other hand, allows only one user to manage and edit websites.

Given the lack of detailed information, BlueHost is the winner in this category due to its support for multiple users, which can be beneficial for team projects or businesses with multiple stakeholders.

Additional Features

SSL Certificate
Custom Domain
Free Custom Domain Included
International Domains
Mobile Responsive
Page Speed
Website Builder Mobile App
Convert a Website To An App
Website Analytics
Multilingual Sites
Multiple Users

User Feedback

BlueHost

263 reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars

Format

24 reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars

Users appreciate BlueHost for its comprehensive free offerings, including SSL, subdomains, and custom email, along with additional services like free domain registration and CDN. The platform’s intuitive interface and user-friendly website builder cater to both beginners and experienced developers. However, concerns arise regarding the significant price increase upon renewal, limited free website templates, and unresolved technical issues with poor customer support, hindering users’ ability to effectively manage their websites and businesses. Addressing these concerns could enhance overall user satisfaction with BlueHost.

Users highly praise Format for its user-friendly website builder, particularly noting the ease of adding images and the effectiveness of customer service. Many reviewers appreciate the variety of modern templates and the platform’s suitability for users without technical expertise, especially photographers. Format’s mobile app and proofing section receive special mentions for their convenience and functionality. However, some users desire more customization options, particularly for mobile views, and mention minor limitations in template flexibility and SEO functionality. Overall, Format is celebrated for its ability to provide a professional online presence easily and efficiently, solving users’ needs for showcasing work and attracting new clients.

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