Bluehost vs Deluxe Hosting: guide for 2024

Bluehost vs Deluxe Hosting: Final verdict

Comparing Bluehost and DeluxeHosting, it’s clear that each has specific strengths and weaknesses catering to different user needs.

• 
  Bluehost (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  stands out for its diverse range of hosting services. It excels in hosting performance with solid uptime and quick server response times, making it reliable for high-traffic and eCommerce sites. Bluehost’s plans include WordPress hosting that’s easy to set up with many automated features, making it appealing to both beginners and advanced users. Additionally, it offers robust security measures and competitive pricing, though some users experience occasional customer service issues and additional costs for extra features.
• 
  DeluxeHosting (Overall grade: 7.4)
  
  provides reliable hosting with ample bandwidth and storage in its plans, appealing particularly to small businesses and multimedia sites. It guarantees good uptime and includes useful tools like a 1-click WordPress installer and cPanel for ease of management. However, occasional reliability issues and support limitations, along with fewer hosting types, may deter some users. DeluxeHosting’s straightforward pricing structure and customizable email services are notable positives, though they lack the broader range of advanced hosting options available with Bluehost.

Hosting types offered

Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.

Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in
certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.

Detailed comparison

🏆 Winner Bluehost: Reliable hosting with strong uptime and performance metrics.

Bluehost showcases exceptional uptime and availability, making it a dependable choice for hosting needs. It has demonstrated high stability with multiple reviews confirming near-perfect uptime. Additionally, it offers a solid SLA that credits account holders for network downtime, further ensuring reliability. Bluehost handles traffic well and provides good server response times across different regions.

Deluxe Hosting offers a strong 99.99% uptime guarantee and provides 24/7 customer service for added support. Despite these features, customer reviews are mixed, indicating occasional reliability issues. With plans providing SSD storage and an easy-to-use cPanel, it’s still a viable option for those needing an affordable hosting solution. Nonetheless, Bluehost’s consistent performance edges it out as the superior choice.

🏆 Winner: Bluehost: Provides superior hosting performance with impressive speed and uptime guarantees.

When comparing general performance, Bluehost stands out with its commitment to providing top-tier speed and perfect uptime for WordPress sites. With SSD storage across all plans, they ensure faster load times and reliability. A built-in CDN is included, optimizing images and delivering edge server caching globally, reducing page load times significantly. They offer a global network of data centers to minimize latency and improve site speed. Bluehost’s optimized infrastructure, with increased CPU frequency and scalable PHP workers, allows for quicker request processing.

Website Speed

Bluehost shines in website speed, offering world-class speed optimized for WordPress. The integrated SSD storage ensures fast load times, while the built-in CDN helps in reducing page load times globally by managing images and caching content. Additionally, Bluehost’s infrastructure enhancements, such as increased CPU frequency and scalable PHP workers, enable websites to handle more requests in less time, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Scalability

Bluehost is designed to grow with your business. It offers various scalable solutions, from shared hosting to dedicated servers. Elastic scaling is achieved by easily upgrading plans as needed. Dedicated hosting plans are available for users requiring more resources, with high-performance Intel Xeon-D CPUs. The costs for scaling depend on the specific plan, but Bluehost provides competitive pricing options for all levels of scalability needs.

🏆 Winner
Bluehost: For customers seeking extensive technical security features and those requiring PCI compliance Bluehost may be the more suitable option.

Both Bluehost and Deluxe Hosting, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

Bluehost and Deluxe Hosting both offer SSL certificates to secure their users’ websites. Bluehost includes a free SSL with all plans and a premium option with a $10,000 warranty via Comodo. Deluxe Hosting offers Positive SSL for $49.99/year and WildCard SSL for $99.99/year with a similar warranty. Bluehost’s use of PHP workers (vCPUs) makes its cloud hosting plans versatile. In contrast, Deluxe Hosting does not specify support for particular PHP versions. Both providers offer malware scanning, with Bluehost bundling SiteLock and Deluxe partnering with SiteLock for an additional fee.

Operational security measures:

Bluehost includes daily automated backups via Jetpack and DDoS protection in their cloud plans. Their firewall, two-factor authentication, and malware scanning offer extensive protection. Deluxe Hosting partners with SiteLock for daily malware scans, providing an additional security dashboard and 24/7 support. Email security is another focus; Bluehost’s Professional Email plans offer spam filtering and real-time anti-phishing, while Deluxe Hosting’s Email Defense protects against various cyber threats for a monthly fee.

Compliance and certifications:

Bluehost and Deluxe Hosting adhere to GDPR regulations for data protection. Bluehost’s Privacy Center outlines data collection and user rights, while Deluxe keeps records of data processing and provides delete options as per GDPR rules. PCI compliance is restricted on Bluehost’s shared hosting but achievable with VPS or dedicated servers. Deluxe Hosting does not provide specific information about PCI compliance.

🏆 Winner
Bluehost: A versatile hosting provider with feature-rich plans and strong performance.

Both Bluehost and Deluxe Hosting offer various hosting plans that cater to different needs. Bluehost shines with a broad array of types, including shared, VPS, dedicated, and cloud hosting, with advanced features and enhancements progressing through each tier. It notably includes a free AI Site Creation tool, Yoast SEO, and daily website backups in many plans, providing a comprehensive service, especially for users seeking dynamic resources and sophisticated security measures. Conversely, Deluxe Hosting offers fewer hosting types but focuses heavily on small business needs with ample storage space and bandwidth in each plan. Their 1-click WordPress installer is handy for creating websites quickly, but their standout feature is unlimited domain names on most plans, which is beneficial for users owning multiple domains.

When comparing the ease of use and additional services, Bluehost’s inclusion of a free website builder, AI assistance, and robust customer support makes it user-friendly, especially for beginners. Their free domain for the first year and promotional offers add further value. Deluxe Hosting, while lacking a free website builder or AI tools, compensates with significant storage, personalized email addresses, and a 1-click CMS installer for quick setup. Their search engine optimization and eCommerce support create a solid foundation for small businesses. However, Deluxe Hosting’s support availability is more limited, which could be crucial depending on the user’s needs.

Email services at Bluehost leverages Google Workspace for professional email hosting, making it a flexible choice for those familiar with Google’s ecosystem. However, Deluxe Hosting provides personalized email addresses directly associated with your domain, which can be set up for email campaigns. Both are strong options based on whether users prefer third-party hosting integration or personalized offerings.

🏆 Winner Bluehost: A diverse range of hosting plans with various features tailored to different needs.

Evaluating the pricing of plans among various hosting providers can be complex due to their differing pricing and renewal strategies. Additionally, certain plans require annual commitments, which adds to the difficulty of making comparisons. The prices listed are based on monthly commitments; plans requiring annual commitments are indicated. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.

Bluehost and DeluxeHosting offer a variety of hosting packages to meet different needs. Bluehost’s shared hosting plans start at $2.95 per month with features like free SSL, domain privacy, and daily backups for the first year. Meanwhile, DeluxeHosting’s basic plan begins at $14.99 per month on an annual commitment offering 5GB of storage and 300GB bandwidth. For cloud hosting, Bluehost’s plans range from $29.99 to $109.99 per month with 100% network uptime, whereas DeluxeHosting doesn’t offer a direct comparison in this category. Moreover, DeluxeHosting provides dedicated eCommerce hosting options starting at $24.99 per month when purchased annually. Both providers excel in enterprise plans, but Bluehost’s variety and introductory pricing give it an edge.

Enterprise plans

Bluehost’s enterprise hosting plans cater to various needs with VPS and dedicated hosting options starting at $18.99 and $79.99 per month, respectively. They offer features like unmetered bandwidth, cPanel license fee included for VPS, and advanced security options. On the other hand, DeluxeHosting provides a simple enterprise eCommerce plan at $24.99 monthly for annual plans, lacking some in-depth features found in Bluehost’s diverse offerings. Bluehost’s vast options and advanced features make it a more versatile choice for enterprises.

🏆 Winner Bluehost: Provides a seamless and user-friendly setup experience with AI tools and automatic processes.

Bluehost employs a straightforward admin panel through cPanel, which is known for its ease of use and familiarity. For non-technical users, the incorporation of AI WonderSuite tools helps in quick onboarding and setup, making it a compelling choice. The guided setup process and automatic WordPress installation further simplify the management of websites, making it friendly even for those without technical expertise. For more advanced users, cPanel offers extensive customization options and functionality, allowing them to manage site files, databases, and DNS records efficiently.

Deluxe Hosting also uses cPanel, providing a familiar interface for those already accustomed to it. The website builder with drag-and-drop features is intuitive, particularly for users who prefer a hands-on approach. While non-technical users will find the process relatively straightforward due to the built-in SEO features and mobile-friendly designs, technical users can delve deeper into cPanel for comprehensive site management. Users benefit from an easy access setup either through the client area or specific URLs pointing to Deluxe Hosting servers, which simplifies administrative tasks.

Bluehost offers migration tools and easy access to various resources for WordPress users. Their automatic WordPress installation and extensive setup guides streamline the migration process, making it hassle-free and quick. These migration services are typically included with your hosting plan, without additional fees. Deluxe Hosting, on the other hand, facilitates migrations through its cPanel, where users can manually handle site transfers. While these tools are available, they might not be as beginner-friendly compared to Bluehost’s automated offerings. Migration services may be accessible through support, requiring potential fees.

Bluehost’s help center is comprehensive, offering a wide range of knowledge base articles and 24/7 expert support via chat, phone, and email. Users can find helpful resources on virtually every aspect of website management, from setup to troubleshooting. Deluxe Hosting also provides a substantial support center, complete with tutorials and 24/7 support via email and ticket submission. Though their chat and phone support have limited hours, they do ensure continuous email support.

🏆 Winner
Bluehost: Bluehost offers a structured approach to user management with clear role definitions.

Bluehost and Deluxe Hosting provide versatile user management systems, yet differ significantly in their approach. Bluehost offers three distinct user roles: Primary Contact, Admin Contact, and Tech Contact, each with predefined permissions for managing account settings, payments, and domain configurations. In contrast, Deluxe Hosting presents a more flexible system where sub-accounts can be created with customizable permissions, allowing fine-grained control over user access. While Bluehost’s user roles are quite specific, Deluxe Hosting’s method provides broader adaptability but may require more time configuring individual permissions.

Both platforms deliver intuitive interfaces for user management. Bluehost’s setup involves navigating to the Accounts & Users section, making it easy to add, edit, or delete user roles. The process includes sending an invitation email, ensuring secure user onboarding. Deluxe Hosting’s interface is similarly user-friendly, accessed through the Contacts/Sub-Accounts page, where new contacts can be added and customized. The inclusion of a password generator adds an extra layer of security and convenience.

Access control on both platforms is effective, though Bluehost’s defined roles streamline management for users with specific tasks, making it suitable for structured teams. Deluxe Hosting, with its ability to assign permissions on a per-contact basis, can efficiently scale to accommodate a growing number of users but may require more administrative oversight. Both platforms maintain strong support systems, ensuring that as user needs evolve, assistance is readily available whenever necessary.

Bluehost user roles table:

Deluxe Hosting user roles table:

🏆 Winner
Bluehost: Offers comprehensive live chat and phone support with a more extensive service window and added features.

Bluehost and Deluxe Hosting both offer a range of support channels, but there are notable differences in their availability and approach. Bluehost provides 24/7 live chat support and extended phone support hours, making it more accessible compared to Deluxe Hosting, which limits its live chat and phone support to weekdays from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Eastern. Additionally, Bluehost has recently eliminated ticket-based support, focusing on providing immediate assistance through live chat and phone.

Deluxe Hosting, on the other hand, continues to offer a broader range of contact methods, including email and ticket submission, which are available around the clock. However, customer feedback indicates some issues with response times and lack of live support during critical downtimes. Both providers have extensive knowledge bases, but Deluxe Hosting’s customer reviews highlight areas for improvement in terms of timely support and reliability.

Bluehost vs Deluxe Hosting: User feedback

Bluehost receives mixed reviews from users, highlighting several pros and cons. On one hand, customers appreciate the affordable pricing, ease of use, and good integration with WordPress, which makes it an attractive option for beginners and startups. The customer support team is often praised for being helpful and responsive, though experiences vary widely.

On the other hand, many users report significant drawbacks including frequent downtime, poor customer service, and recurring technical issues. Some have faced billing problems, confusing interfaces, and the need for substantial upcharges for additional features. The overall sentiment suggests that while Bluehost has its merits, it may not be the best choice for those requiring high reliability and robust customer support.

This hosting provider generally receives positive feedback for its efficient and reliable service, ensuring minimal downtime and speedy performance. Many users appreciate the responsive and knowledgeable customer support team, which resolves issues promptly. However, some have expressed concerns about occasional billing discrepancies and find the pricing a bit steep compared to similar services. Overall, the provider is highly recommended for its robust performance and excellent customer care.

Bluehost vs Deluxe Hosting: FAQ