Bluehost vs Justhost: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Comparing Bluehost and JustHost reveals significant differences in features, performance, and overall value, with Bluehost emerging as the stronger option.

• 
  Bluehost (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  
  offers an extensive selection of hosting types suited for various user needs, showing exceptional performance in uptime, site speed, and scalability. It includes advanced features like SSD storage, a CDN, and automated daily backups, ensuring fast and reliable performance. Bluehost stands out for its comprehensive security measures, AI-powered site creation tools, and robust support resources, making it an attractive choice for both personal and business websites. The hosting provider’s ease of use is notable, thanks to guided setup processes, automatic WordPress installation, and a straightforward user role management system. Despite some negative user feedback about upselling and occasional performance issues, Bluehost’s overall package provides substantial value.
  
• 
  JustHost (Overall grade: 7.4)
  
  
  offers reliable hosting with unmetered disk space, high-performance quad processors, and strong international domain support. SimpleScripts for easy 1-click script installs, and a user-friendly cPanel make it an accessible option for beginners. While it doesn’t offer the advanced performance features of Bluehost, JustHost delivers solid uptime and reliable hosting for general needs. Its focus on introductory pricing makes it a budget-friendly choice, although regular pricing can be higher without matching the same level of features. Users appreciate its simplicity and ease of use, though it lacks the automated migration tools, enterprise support, or specialized security features found in 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: Exceptional uptime and strong server performance make Bluehost the preferred choice.

Bluehost demonstrates outstanding uptime and availability across multiple benchmarks, consistently showing near-perfect performance. Their server response times are competitive, and they can handle traffic efficiently. The hosting provider also offers a credit system for network downtime, further ensuring reliability.

JustHost presents a reliable uptime and features like weekly backups and Cloudflare CDN compatibility, but lags in server speed and automatic backups. Their compensation policy for downtime is nonexistent, and customer support reviews are mixed. Overall, Bluehost outshines JustHost in uptime, performance, and reliability.

🏆 Winner Bluehost: Proven leader in web hosting with top-tier performance, great website speed, and excellent scalable solutions.

Bluehost and Just Host offer a range of hosting services, but Bluehost stands out for its superior speed, uptime, and additional performance features. Bluehost guarantees 100% network uptime for its cloud hosting plans and provides high-speed SSD storage across all plans which ensures faster and more reliable performance. It includes a CDN for edge server caching and image optimization at no extra cost, enhancing global page load times. With a network of global data centers, Bluehost ensures reduced latency and improved site speed globally. Just Host, on the other hand, provides reliable hosting with high-performance quad processors and UPS power backup; however, it lacks advanced performance features like built-in CDN and SSD storage in lower-tier plans.

Website Speed

Bluehost excels in site speed with world-class performance metrics especially optimized for WordPress sites. Its infrastructure allows increased CPU frequency and scalable PHP workers to process more requests efficiently. The built-in CDN aids in faster content delivery. Just Host offers high-performance through quad processor servers and write-back caching for dedicated hosting, but lacks the built-in advanced speed optimization tools that Bluehost provides standard with all plans.

Scalability

Bluehost offers several options for scaling, including VPS and Dedicated Hosting. Users can manually upgrade their plans to access more resources, and the process is streamlined. Just Host provides instant provisioning for VPS and Dedicated Hosting accounts, and its enhanced control panel allows full root access, providing ease in managing server resources. While Bluehost offers dedicated servers with high-performance Intel Xeon-D CPUs, we don’t have specific cost data for scaling upgrades for either provider.

🏆 Winner
Bluehost: Offers robust security features and superior support for PCI compliance on VPS and dedicated servers.

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

Technical security measures:

Bluehost provides a range of technical security measures including automated daily backups, DDoS protection, and a web application firewall. Additionally, it offers 2-Factor Authentication and uses SiteLock for malware scanning. Just Host, in comparison, offers SiteLock security which includes daily 360-degree vulnerability scanning, automatic malware removal, and a web application firewall. While both hosting providers offer comprehensive technical security, Bluehost’s automated daily backups and 2-Factor Authentication give it an edge.

Operational security measures:

Bluehost offers SSL certificates powered by Let’s Encrypt for free, and premium SSL certificates with a warranty of $10,000 powered by Comodo. It includes traffic encryption and automated updates for WordPress. On the other hand, Just Host provides free SSL certificates with all plans and premium SSL certificates on higher-tier plans. It also offers spam and hotlink protection, SSH access, and customizable error pages. Both offer substantial email security features, but Bluehost’s Professional Email plans include more extensive features like real-time anti-phishing and file encryption.

Compliance and certifications:

Bluehost and Just Host both comply with GDPR regulations. Bluehost provides complete GDPR compliance information in their Privacy Center. Just Host offers GDPR Domain Masking and Whois Privacy. Bluehost supports PCI compliance on VPS and dedicated servers but not on shared hosting plans. Just Host’s security features such as SSL certificates and SiteLock contribute to PCI compliance, although it is not explicitly mentioned.

🏆 Winner Bluehost: Comprehensive hosting solution with versatile features and high performance.

Bluehost and Just Host both offer a range of hosting solutions catering to various user needs. Bluehost stands out with its extensive array of features, including specialized WordPress and WooCommerce hosting, which are optimized for speed and performance. Additionally, Bluehost provides a free Content Delivery Network (CDN) and AI-powered site creation tools, enhancing user experience and site management. Just Host, on the other hand, emphasizes usability with its easy-to-navigate interface and robust support for international domain names. Both providers offer free domains for the first year and marketing tools, but Bluehost’s detailed focus on security features like daily backups and malware scanning adds an extra layer of assurance for users.

The website builder availability significantly differs between the two. Bluehost’s AI Site Creation assists users in building sites quickly, while Just Host offers a simple drag-and-drop builder. Just Host’s builder is user-friendly but lacks the same level of complexity and customization found in Bluehost’s AI-powered option. For small business owners, Bluehost’s WooCommerce hosting with advanced e-commerce features could be more enticing, whereas Just Host’s unmetered disk space and comprehensive script installs appeal to users needing robust application support. Both hosting providers have distinct strengths, making them suitable for different audiences based on specific requirements like domain policies, additional fees, and unique free services.

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 Example hosting one and Example hosting two 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 offers professional email hosting through Google Workspace, providing solid transactional email capabilities and campaign management. Just Host includes free email hosting with unlimited accounts and POP3/IMAP support, suitable for general email services and basic transactional needs.

🏆 Winner HostGator: HostGator impresses with competitive pricing, extensive features, and high-value enterprise 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.

The pricing plans of Bluehost and JustHost have notable differences. Bluehost offers shared hosting starting at $2.95/month with features like free domain and SSL certificates, and AI tools, whereas JustHost’s shared plans begin at $11.99/month with free domain registration but no AI tools. VPS hosting plans from Bluehost start at $18.99/month, including unmetered bandwidth, while JustHost’s VPS begins at $19.99/month with limited bandwidth. Bluehost’s dedicated hosting starts at a promotional price of $79.99/month with 5 TB bandwidth; JustHost offers similar pricing but typically with better performance hardware specifications.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, Bluehost’s premium shared hosting plans include features like optimized performance and unmetered SSD storage, valuable for high-traffic websites. JustHost also provides substantial offerings with its Pro and Premium plans, which come with enhanced server performance and additional SSL benefits, vital for enterprise-level operations. Each provider has tailored options that cater to enterprise needs, making them both formidable contenders in this category.

🏆 Winner: Bluehost: A hosting provider that combines user-friendly setup tools with extensive support resources.

Bluehost uses the standard cPanel for most technical tasks and includes its proprietary AI WonderSuite tools. The guided setup and simple wizard make launching a website easier for non-technical users. The automatic installation of WordPress and easy onboarding via an AI platform further simplify the process. The cPanel interface is familiar to many users and tends to be intuitive even for beginners, offering comprehensive management features like email configurations and domain management.

Just Host also utilizes the standard cPanel, which is well-known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. With its simple order form and unique control panel integration, Just Host aims to eliminate confusion. The cPanel offers 1-click script installs through SimpleScripts, making it easy to set up popular applications like WordPress, Joomla, and more. The focus on simplicity and ease of use makes it accessible for both new and experienced users.

Bluehost offers automatic migration services for WordPress sites, making transitions smoother. They provide these services free of charge in most basic plans but do have premium options for advanced migrations. On the other hand, Just Host does not offer a specific set of automated migration tools but provides support for manual migrations through its comprehensive knowledge base and support channels.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Bluehost’s help center includes extensive articles, tutorials, and 24/7 expert support via chat, phone, and email. Their resources cater explicitly to WordPress users, enhancing the user experience. Just Host also offers a comprehensive knowledge base, phone support, chat support, email support, and a variety of tutorials. Both hosting providers make it easy to find and access help through multiple channels, but Bluehost’s additional emphasis on WordPress resources gives it a slight edge.

🏆 Winner
Bluehost: Effective user management with clear role-based permissions.

Bluehost offers structured roles and permissions, featuring three distinct user roles: Primary Contact, Admin Contact, and Tech Contact. Each role has clearly defined responsibilities that allow users to manage accounts with varying levels of authority and access. Primary Contact roles hold the most control, including financial and high-level administrative tasks. Admin Contacts manage almost all tasks but cannot change the Primary Contact. Tech Contacts focus on technical setups and maintenance. JustHost, by comparison, utilizes the cPanel interface, which, while user-friendly, does not provide as refined role-based management. Their multi-account management is convenient but lacks the detailed user role segmentation Bluehost offers.

Bluehost’s user interface for managing user roles is straightforward and accessible from the Account Manager’s dropdown menu. It allows for intuitive navigation to add, edit, or remove user roles. The interface provides detailed options for each role’s permissions, making it easy to invite new users and assign appropriate access levels. JustHost leverages cPanel, which is known for its simplicity and ease of use. cPanel offers comprehensive functionality but doesn’t provide the specialized user role management features found in Bluehost, making it less suited for larger teams with diverse roles.

Regarding access control, Bluehost effectively manages user access by delineating specific roles, ensuring that tasks are delegated according to user capabilities. This makes it efficient for organizations to manage users and their actions within the platform. JustHost, while supporting efficient access through cPanel and providing SSH and FTP access, does not offer the same granular control over roles and permissions as Bluehost. For growing organizations needing detailed access control, Bluehost’s defined roles ensure that every user has the correct level of access without overlapping responsibilities.

Bluehost user roles table:

JustHost user roles table:

For JustHost, detailed role-based management is not specified within the provided data, so no table is generated.

🏆 Winner Bluehost: Offering extensive live chat support and multiple server management in one place.

Bluehost provides 24/7 live chat and phone support, as well as a comprehensive knowledge base with articles and tutorials. However, it doesn’t offer email/ticket support. They have specialized support for dedicated hosting, allowing for faster resolution times for advanced user needs. Users have shared mixed reviews, citing both helpful service and occasional long wait times with upselling tactics.

JustHost also offers 24/7 support via phone and online chat and includes email support through their help center. Users can validate their identity through various methods for security. JustHost does not provide specialized enterprise support but maintains solid uptime and ease of use. Additionally, the lack of Windows-based hosting might be a limitation for some.

User feedback

User feedback on Bluehost as a hosting provider is highly mixed. On the positive side, many users commend their affordable pricing, ease of use with WordPress integration, and the comprehensive range of features such as free domain names, SSL, and excellent customer support. However, numerous reviews criticize the service for frequent outages, technical support issues, hidden fees, and unreliable performance, which have significantly impacted users’ businesses. Additionally, complaints about complicated navigation, aggressive upselling, and a steep learning curve for first-time users are common. While some users find Bluehost reliable and cost-effective, others have had severely negative experiences, citing problems like non-functional websites, billing issues, and inadequate customer service.

JustHost is praised for its simplicity and ease of use, making it a great option for beginners wanting to learn more about hosting and cPanel. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and reliable performance with minimal outages. The introductory pricing is highly attractive, offering significant savings for long-term commitments. However, some users feel that the regular pricing after the initial period can be steep, though still competitive.

FAQ