Bluehost vs Aplus.net: guide for 2024

Bluehost vs Aplus.net: Final verdict

Looking over Bluehost vs. Aplus.net, it’s clear why both hosts are so popular. They have both hosted millions of
websites that run on WordPress for decades, building up a loyal customer base.

• 
  Aplus.net (Overall grade: 6.1)
  
  offers several impressive features, but also has some limitations, such as bandwidth restrictions and lack of
  free domain names. Additionally, there is a substantial price increase from one service level to the next, with
  the highest plan costing $400 per month. Despite these drawbacks, the platform’s excellent performance and
  reliability make it a suitable option for users seeking high performance and scalability.
• 
  Bluehost (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  offers many of the same features that Aplus.net does, plus many more. If you’re looking for a web host that
  will help you build a WordPress website with an easy-to-use website builder, features robust security features
  and offers a 24/7 support team, Bluehost is the host you’ve been looking for.

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: Demonstrating exceptional uptime and reliable performance, Bluehost takes the lead.

Bluehost stands out for its near-perfect uptime metrics. With a promise of 100% network uptime for cloud hosting, Bluehost delivers stable performance, ensuring minimal disruptions. Its solid server response times and good performance under load make it a trustworthy choice for hosting needs.

Aplus.net offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, but reviews highlight concerns about frequent downtime. While it covers a longer measurement period, reliability issues and slow support responses can affect user experience. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, Aplus.net provides various support channels, albeit with limitations.

🏆 Winner Bluehost: Leading performance in web hosting with top-tier speed and exceptional uptime.

When it comes to general performance, Bluehost sets a high standard with world-class site speed and guaranteed 100% uptime for its cloud hosting plans. All its hosting plans feature SSD storage, providing faster and more reliable performance than traditional hard drives. Bluehost includes built-in CDN with all plans, optimizing images and ensuring edge server caching, which significantly reduces page load times globally. The company also boasts a global data center network to minimize latency and enhance site speed. On the other hand, Aplus.net offers cloud hosting with rotating services for data loss prevention and multi-tiered security, but does not specify the number or locations of its data centers.

Website Speed

Bluehost is optimized specifically for WordPress, which is known for its speed and reliability. It includes scalable PHP workers, which help websites handle more requests efficiently, and built-in CDN to improve load times. In comparison, Aplus.net integrates Cloudflare CDN for speed enhancements but lacks specific details on its optimization techniques. Bluehost’s focus on SSD storage, a global network of data centers, and multiple caching methods makes it superior in delivering faster website speeds.

Scalability

Bluehost provides various hosting plans, including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting, offering flexible upgrade options but does not mention elastic scaling. Their prices vary depending on the resources required, with higher-tier plans providing more dedicated resources. Aplus.net also offers scalable options through its VPS plans with dedicated IP addresses but doesn’t specify if scaling happens automatically. It comes with varying costs depending on the plan chosen, with higher-tier plans offering more resources. Both providers allow you to upgrade to more robust plans, but details on the cost of scaling are limited.

🏆 Winner Bluehost: Provides robust security features and compliance options for a secure hosting environment.

Technical security measures:

Bluehost includes automated daily backups, DDoS protection, a web application firewall, 2-factor authentication, and SiteLock for malware scanning and protection. Aplus.net provides SiteLock for daily malware scanning and removal, along with a security dashboard and black list monitoring. Bluehost offers traffic encryption and automated WordPress updates that ensure continuous security, while Aplus.net stresses strong password requirements. PHP version control and resource allocation (PHP workers) are advantages exclusive to Bluehost’s cloud hosting plans.

Operational security measures:

Bluehost’s free SSL, daily automated backups with Jetpack, and DDoS protection provide a comprehensive security package included in its plans. Aplus.net offers SSL certificates starting at $34.99/year and optional domain privacy for $1.00/month. Bluehost integrates automatic updates and professional email security with anti-phishing and spam filters. Aplus.net’s SiteLock Trust Seal boosts credibility, whereas Bluehost’s advanced options like Premium SSL with Comodo ensures secure online transactions. Bluehost’s 24/7 malware scanning through SiteLock further bolsters site security.

Compliance and certifications:

Bluehost complies with GDPR, supporting data privacy and user rights for EU residents. It assists in achieving PCI compliance for VPS and Dedicated servers but does not inherently support PCI compliance for shared hosting. Specific details on Aplus.net’s compliance with GDPR or PCI are not specified. Both hosting providers emphasize SSL certificates for data protection, but only Bluehost explicitly addresses GDPR compliance.

🏆 Winner
Bluehost: A versatile hosting solution offering a comprehensive feature set for various user needs.

Both Bluehost and Aplus.net provide robust hosting services, but they cater to different types of users. Bluehost excels with its user-friendly AI site creation tools and WordPress-optimized hosting, making it very appealing for those seeking simplicity without sacrificing performance. Additionally, Bluehost offers free domain registration for the first year and integrates a free CDN with many plans, which can significantly enhance website speed and security. Another noteworthy aspect is Bluehost’s extensive backup options, AI support, and free SSL certificates, making it a comprehensive choice for small to medium-sized businesses and individual projects.

Aplus.net, on the other hand, shines with its VPS hosting features, providing users full control over customization, resource allocation, and management through WHM and cPanel. The company’s focus on using pure SSD drives ensures faster server performance, and its ability to scale without downtime is a crucial benefit for growing businesses. The integration of Cloudflare CDN is another plus, enhancing site speed and security. However, the lack of specific mention of SSH availability and certain upfront costs, such as domain registration, could be drawbacks for some users.

Both providers support a range of users from beginners to experts with user-friendly website builders and WordPress staging areas. However, in terms of developer tools, both Bluehost and Aplus.net offer robust options including SSH access, support for multiple programming languages, and Git for version control, thus appealing to developers looking for advanced capabilities.

Email services:

Bluehost partners with Google Workspace for email hosting, allowing for professional email accounts and additional services like calendar and drive integration. Aplus.net provides full control to allocate email addresses for each website via cPanel, making it flexible for various email account needs. While Bluehost’s approach offers streamlined solutions through a third-party, Aplus.net provides more control to the user for managing their email services.

🏆 Winner Bluehost:A comprehensive range of hosting options with competitive pricing and feature-rich plans.

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.

When comparing Bluehost and aplusnet, both offer a variety of pricing plans across different hosting types. Bluehost provides more extensive options, including shared, VPS, dedicated, cloud, and WooCommerce hosting, often with AI tools and free first-year services. Aplusnet focuses on cloud hosting and VPS with more straightforward plans, offering unlimited resources on higher tiers. While Bluehost’s introductory prices are lower, aplusnet’s plans cater to those needing comprehensive cloud solutions over longer contracts.

Enterprise plans

For enterprise solutions, Bluehost offers various robust options, such as their Dedicated Hosting plans, which include substantial resources and high levels of support. For example, their Premium plan provides 16 GB RAM, 4 Core CPU @ 3.3 GHz, 1 TB mirrored storage, and 15 TB bandwidth. Aplusnet’s Professional Plan offers unlimited storage and unmetered bandwidth, making it ideal for enterprises seeking scalable cloud resources. Both hosting providers have adequate support options, but Bluehost stands out with its comprehensive dedicated hosting options.

🏆 Winner: Bluehost: Bluehost offers a user-friendly setup experience with AI tools, guided setup, and automatic installations.

Bluehost provides a highly accessible and user-friendly admin panel powered by AI WonderSuite tools. Its guided setup process helps both technical and non-technical users easily build and launch WordPress websites. The automatic WordPress installation further simplifies the experience, allowing users to start customizing their sites right away. Onboarding is made efficient with smart AI tools, and the setup wizard for online stores adds convenience, especially for users opting for the Wonder Theme powered by YITH.

Aplus.net focuses on immediate account setup and activation, allowing users to start building their websites without delay. Their admin panel may not be explicitly mentioned, but the ease of setup and seamless connection to QuickBooks make account management straightforward. This simplified process ensures that users, regardless of their technical expertise, can manage their accounts efficiently and get their websites up and running quickly.

Bluehost offers comprehensive migration tools and resources, including various articles and guides on migrating an existing site. These services are typically included without additional fees, making it easier for users to switch to Bluehost with minimal hassle. On the other hand, there is no specific mention of site migration tools or services for Aplus.net, which could be a drawback for users looking to move their existing sites.

Bluehost provides extensive help center resources, including articles, tutorials, and 24/7 expert support available via chat, phone, and email. Their VPS hosting support and priority support for cloud hosting demonstrate a strong commitment to customer service. Aplus.net’s help center resources are not specified, which may limit the availability of guidance for users requiring assistance.

🏆 Winner
Bluehost: Bluehost provides a thorough user management system with distinct user roles and permissions.

Bluehost offers a clear structure for managing user roles and permissions, featuring three distinct user roles: Primary Contact, Admin Contact, and Tech Contact. Each role comes with specific permissions, making it easy to delegate responsibilities appropriately. In contrast, Aplus.net fails to provide detailed information about their user management capabilities or specific roles, making it hard to compare the level of control and flexibility they offer. Bluehost’s comprehensive system allows for well-defined role assignments and a more secure and organized approach to user management.

Bluehost’s user interface for managing users is streamlined and efficient. Users can easily navigate to the Accounts & Users section from the profile icon. Adding or editing users is straightforward, with clear instructions guiding each step. The addition of users requires just a few clicks to enter details and assign roles. The ability for users to set their own login credentials upon invitation simplifies the onboarding process. There’s no specific information about Aplus.net’s user management interfaces, making it difficult to assess their ease of use.

Access control measures on Bluehost are effective, providing hierarchical permissions that help maintain security without compromising flexibility. The Primary Contact has overarching control, while Admin Contacts can manage user permissions and tasks critical for maintenance. Tech Contacts handle technical configurations, offering a balanced distribution of tasks. This setup supports efficient user management and scalability as more users are added to the account. With no details available regarding Aplus.net’s access control measures, there’s no basis for evaluating their effectiveness or scalability.

Bluehost user roles table:

🏆 Winner Aplus.net: A short one-sentence description.

Bluehost offers extensive options for real-time support, including 24/7 live chat and phone support. They also provide expedited support for dedicated hosting issues, but they do not have ticket-based support as they’ve chosen to focus on immediate communication methods. Customer feedback is mixed; while some users appreciate the professionalism, others face long wait times and undue upselling.

Aplus.net boasts 24/7/365 support via chat, phone, email, and tickets, giving users multiple contact avenues. Customers generally appreciate their efficient support team. The interface is user-friendly, and strong security measures like two-layer authentication are standard. While some users have faced slow replies, the overall feedback leans positive, earning a higher customer satisfaction score.

Bluehost vs Aplus.net: 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.

Aplus.net offers a comprehensive range of services that cater to various business needs, from web hosting and domain registration to marketing and security. Users appreciate its reliability, uptime guarantees, and the ease of accessing multiple services through a single platform. However, some users find the customer support slow and occasionally unhelpful, and there are concerns about outdated features and interface complexity. Pricing is deemed reasonable by many, but a few note that it can be higher compared to other providers.

Bluehost vs Aplus.net: FAQ