Bluehost vs Atlantic.net: guide for 2024

Bluehost vs Atlantic.net: Final verdict

Looking over Bluehost vs. Atlantic.Net, both hosting services deliver solid performance and value, each with unique strengths catering to different user needs.

• 
  Bluehost (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  offers a comprehensive suite of hosting options including shared, VPS, WordPress, and dedicated hosting, making it versatile for beginners and small businesses. Its user-friendly interface, AI-driven website builders, and free domain for the first year provide excellent ease of use. However, occasional service lapses and inconsistent customer support feedback hint at areas for improvement. Bluehost’s superior integration with WordPress and inclusive tools make it an ideal option for those needing straightforward and accessible hosting with moderate technical requirements.
• 
  Atlantic.Net (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  excels in providing enterprise-level solutions with their 100% uptime guarantee and comprehensive security measures. It offers specialized VPS and dedicated hosting tailored for high-traffic and compliance-sensitive sites, such as HIPAA and PCI. The platform’s strong focus on security, compliance, and rapid response times makes it highly suitable for businesses prioritizing data protection and high reliability. While its user interface may present a steeper learning curve, its advanced control and customization options cater well to users with technical expertise and specific performance needs.

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 Atlantic.Net: Offering a 100% uptime guarantee with fast response times and comprehensive support.

Atlantic.Net distinguishes itself with a 100% uptime guarantee supported by a thorough money-back SLA, ensuring reliability and consistent service. The network and infrastructure are monitored around the clock, and the company uses SOC 2 TYPE II and SOC 3 TYPE II certified data centers for heightened security. The average server response time of 452ms further ensures quick and efficient handling of requests.

Bluehost offers impressive uptime with multiple near-perfect scores across various tests and solid performance metrics. However, Atlantic.Net’s 100% uptime guarantee coupled with rapid response times and extensive 24/7 support make it the superior choice. The added benefit of compliance certifications and adaptable hybrid cloud options further underscore its reliability and flexibility.

🏆 Winner
Bluehost: High-performance and reliable hosting service preferred by WordPress.

Bluehost and Atlantic.Net both offer strong hosting performance, but there are notable differences. Bluehost excels in hosting speed with industry-leading SSD storage and built-in CDN for faster load times. They also provide optimized infrastructure with scalable PHP workers and a global network of data centers. In contrast, Atlantic.Net offers various plans optimized for different needs, including memory and compute, utilizing cutting-edge processors and RAID-10 cloud storage. While they have global regions, their CDN is not explicitly mentioned. Bluehost also wins points for its more accessible and diverse data center locations.

Website Speed

Bluehost promises top-tier speed with SSD storage in all plans and built-in CDN, drastically reducing page load times. Customers can expect perfect uptime with scalable PHP workers that handle traffic efficiently. Atlantic.Net, while offering RAID-10 Cloud Storage for redundancy and speed, might not match Bluehost’s comprehensive optimization for website performance. They ensure quick deployment with one-click WordPress installations and high-performance processors but lack integrated CDN solutions that Bluehost provides.

Scalability

Both hosting providers offer scalable solutions, but their approaches differ. Bluehost offers elastic scaling with cloud hosting, ensuring 100% network uptime and optimized resources. They offer easy upgrades with dedicated servers and VPS plans featuring unmetered bandwidth. The costs for scaling are straightforward, given their promotional offers and regular rates. On the other hand, Atlantic.Net provides custom larger plans for scaling and live migrations for seamless upgrades. However, the costs for this flexibility, particularly for custom setups, would require direct contact for exact pricing.

🏆 Winner
Atlantic.Net: offers robust security features and comprehensive compliance certifications, making it an excellent choice for businesses prioritizing data protection.

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

Technical security measures:

Bluehost provides free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt with all plans and offers a premium SSL option powered by Comodo, which includes a $10,000 warranty. Atlantic.Net also provides SSL certificates required for compliance with standards like HIPAA. Bluehost includes automated daily backups via Jetpack and DDoS protection to shield against attacks. Atlantic.Net, on the other hand, features fully managed firewalls and intrusion prevention systems. Both services offer malware scanning, but Atlantic.Net extends its protection through measures like Trend Micro Deep Security Suite, which covers anti-malware, network, and system security.

Operational security measures:

Bluehost’s operational security measures include automated WordPress updates to ensure installations are secure, 2-factor authentication for added user protection, and SiteLock for malware scanning and defense against downtime. Atlantic.Net offers more extensive operational security settings, such as encrypted VPN for secure data transmission and encrypted backups for robust data security. Multi-factor authentication is supported by both providers, but Atlantic.Net enriches its operations with features like log management systems and SOC 2 and SOC 3 certifications to ensure rigorous oversight and best practices.

Compliance and certifications:

Bluehost complies with GDPR, supporting a fundamental right to privacy for EU residents. However, PCI compliance is only achievable on VPS and Dedicated servers, with shared hosting requiring third-party solutions. Atlantic.Net stands out with GDPR readiness, PCI-compliant hosting solutions, and HIPAA compliance. It also offers specific audits like SOC 2, SOC 3, and HITECH, enhancing its credibility for handling sensitive data.

🏆 Winner Bluehost: Offers a wide variety of hosting options tailored to different needs with notable free services.

Bluehost and Atlantic.Net provide various hosting solutions designed to cater to diverse requirements. Bluehost offers an extensive range of options including shared, VPS, cloud, and dedicated hosting. It stands out with user-friendly website creation through AI tools and free domain for the first year in many plans. Atlantic.Net provides VPS hosting tailored for WordPress with quick launch capabilities and root access, making it attractive for tech-savvy users. Bluehost’s free SSL, AI-driven site creation, and daily backups for the first year, paired with 24/7 expert support, make it appealing for beginners and small business owners.

Atlantic.Net’s selection includes one-click WordPress VPS hosting with optional add-ons like load balancing and vulnerability scans, appealing to more advanced users or those needing specialized services. Their HIPAA-compliant hosting is a unique offering, focused on security and regulatory compliance, excellent for healthcare applications. While Bluehost offers a free domain for the first year, Atlantic.Net provides flexibility with on-demand and long-term WordPress VPS plans but lacks a free domain. Ultimately, the choice hinges on specific needs; Bluehost emphasizes ease of use and affordability, whereas Atlantic.Net provides robust, specialized services with greater control and customization.

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 Atlantic.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:

Email services at Bluehost are provided through a partnership with Google Workspace for comprehensive email hosting, allowing seamless integration with other Google services. This arrangement helps users manage professional email campaigns and communications efficiently. Atlantic.Net does not offer email hosting services directly, focusing instead on its VPS and compliance hosting frameworks. For transactional email needs or more extensive services, customers might need to integrate third-party solutions independently on Atlantic.Net.

🏆 Winner Atlantic.Net: scores slightly higher overall, mainly due to the robust features included in their plans and the flexibility in pricing.

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 Atlantic.Net based on their hosting plans, Bluehost provides a range of shared, VPS, dedicated, and cloud hosting options with promotional first-term prices. Atlantic.Net, on the other hand, places a stronger emphasis on VPS and dedicated hosting plans, offering features such as full root access, user-friendly control panels, and managed services like firewalls and intrusion prevention. Bluehost offers more budget-friendly shared hosting plans with additional freebies like free domains and SSL certificates for the first year. However, Atlantic.Net shines in VPS and dedicated hosting due to its high-performance servers, RAID-10 storage protection, and flexible configurations.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, Atlantic.Net’s offerings stand out with its customizable dedicated servers and bare metal hosting. These plans allow high storage and bandwidth capabilities with managed services like intrusion prevention and dedicated firewalls. Bluehost, while providing competent options, is more moderate with fewer upper-tier plans mainly tailored towards shared and cloud hosting rather than high-performance dedicated options.

🏆 Winner Bluehost: User-friendly setup experience with extensive support resources.

Bluehost features the AI WonderSuite tools and an intuitive guided setup process. This makes it straightforward for both non-technical users and advanced users to build and launch a website quickly. The automatic WordPress installation ensures users get the latest version pre-installed, minimizing initial configuration efforts. With smart AI tools and the exclusive Wonder Theme, the onboarding process becomes effortless. Bluehost’s admin panel is designed in a way that prioritizes user experience, making it accessible and easy to navigate.

Atlantic.Net provides a more technical approach with its one-click WordPress VPS hosting. Their setup process involves logging into their cloud platform, selecting specific configurations, and launching the server in under 30 seconds. While this method is efficient, it may appear more complex to those unfamiliar with server management. The admin panel offers full root access and comprehensive control, which is ideal for technical users. However, the slightly higher technical barrier might be daunting for beginners.

Both Bluehost and Atlantic.Net offer tools for site migration. Bluehost provides various WordPress migration resources within their extensive knowledge base. These resources can guide users through the migration process manually or through plugins, typically at no additional cost. Atlantic.Net’s approach includes dedicated support for server migrations, although details on whether this service is free or paid are not explicitly mentioned. For professional help or complex migration tasks, Atlantic.Net offers server management support.

Bluehost’s help center is rich with articles, guides, and 24/7 expert support options via chat, phone, and email, making it highly accessible for users seeking help. Their resources cover a wide range of WordPress and hosting-related topics. Atlantic.Net also provides a robust support system with their experienced team available 24/7/365. They offer support for various technical issues and more generalized server management needs. Both providers feature a comprehensive knowledge base, but Bluehost’s user-oriented approach makes finding and using their resources easier for all user levels.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Bluehost offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. Atlantic.Net also boasts a detailed help center with an intuitive search function and around-the-clock support via live chat, phone, and ticketing, ensuring comprehensive user support.

🏆 Winner
Atlantic.Net: Comprehensive user management and robust security features.

Bluehost offers a structured but relatively straightforward approach to user management. It provides three primary user roles: Primary Contact, Admin Contact, and Tech Contact, each with clearly defined permissions. Primary Contact holds the top-level authority, including account and payment management, while Admin and Tech Contacts have specific focuses such as managing services and technical configurations. On the other hand, Atlantic.Net emphasizes compliance and security with its PCI and HIPAA hosting solutions. The platform integrates Zero Trust policies, detailed access controls, and multi-factor authentication to enhance security, making it suitable for highly regulated industries.

Bluehost’s user interface for managing users is user-friendly and straightforward. Users can add administrative or technical users by navigating through intuitive menus, making changes with minimal steps. Similarly, managing roles and permissions is just as simple, requiring only a few clicks to edit or remove user access. Atlantic.Net, however, seems to provide a more advanced toolkit. It allows easy registration and bulk user import, which can streamline user management for large organizations. Its integration capabilities with various apps and APIs make it versatile for complex admin tasks.

Regarding access control and scalability, both platforms have their strengths. Bluehost offers a straightforward hierarchy for permissions and roles, making it easy for small to mid-sized businesses to manage user access. Its clear division of roles ensures that each user has the appropriate level of authority without overcomplicating the access structure. Atlantic.Net stands out with its focus on compliance and security, integrating multi-factor authentication and automated alerts for user inactivity, which can be particularly advantageous for enterprises needing to adhere to strict regulatory standards. It is more robust in handling large user bases due to its advanced security and monitoring features.

Bluehost User Roles Table:

Atlantic.Net User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner
Atlantic.Net: The platform scores higher in customer support evaluation, showing strength in all categories, particularly in availability and the range of communication channels.

Bluehost and Atlantic.Net both provide comprehensive customer support but with different strengths. Bluehost highlights their ease of access with 24/7 live chat and phone support, targeting expedience in resolving hosting issues. They offer practical features like multi-server management and root access for more advanced users. However, customer feedback reveals mixed opinions about wait times and service consistency, suggesting room for efficiency improvements.

Atlantic.Net, on the other hand, maintains high availability through phone and email support 24/7, aided by a dedicated support team with over three decades of experience. Their recognition in the cybersecurity field and positive testimonials from industry professionals reflect a high level of trust and satisfaction. Their multiple contact points ensure specialized support across various hosting services, making them a strong contender in the hosting market.

Bluehost vs Atlantic.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.

Users generally praise the hosting provider for its strong reliability, great value for cost, and high performance, particularly in maintaining uptime and fast network speeds. The customer portal and service tools are appreciated for their ease of use, although some customers find navigation to help pages cumbersome and suggest improvements in the console’s functionality. Support is often noted as responsive and helpful, although a few users desire faster response times and multilingual support. Some users also wish for expanded backup options and additional features in specific data centers but overall, find the service robust and dependable for their needs.

Bluehost vs Atlantic.net: FAQ