Bluehost vs Knownhost: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over Bluehost vs. KnownHost, 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.

• 
  KnownHost (Overall grade: 8.6)
  
  
  is distinguished by its exceptional performance marked by high uptime, robust security measures like Imunify360, and advanced storage options such as NVMe. It is suitable for users who prioritize high-performance hosting with strong support, such as agencies or multimedia sites requiring reliable and fast hosting services. KnownHost also excels in customer service, offering swift and effective support through multiple channels. However, it lacks certain user-friendly features like a built-in website builder and comprehensive scaling options, making it less ideal for beginners or those seeking effortless setup.
  
• 
  Bluehost (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  
  is noted for its ease of use, especially for beginners looking to quickly set up websites using tools like its AI-powered site builder. It also includes valuable features like free domains, SSL certificates, and integration with popular platforms such as WordPress and Google Workspace. Despite these strengths, Bluehost’s performance is slightly behind KnownHost in terms of uptime and speed, and it does not match KnownHost’s security and customer support robustness. For those focused on ecommerce and straightforward site creation without advanced technical needs, Bluehost offers excellent value.
  

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
KnownHost: It’s superior uptime and significantly faster response times make KnownHost a better choice for users who require high performance and stability from their hosting provider.

KnownHost shows a slightly superior performance in terms of reliability and speed. Both hosting services have impressive uptimes, with KnownHost slightly edging out Bluehost with a 99.99% uptime over a 3-month period compared to Bluehost’s 99.89%. This difference in uptime is reflected in the number and duration of outages, where KnownHost experienced 3 outages totaling 12 minutes, while Bluehost had 5 outages totaling 2h 12 minutes.

KnownHost’s advantage is more pronounced in terms of server response time. It boasted an average response time of 389ms, which is significantly lower than the shared hosting industry standard and faster than Bluehost’s average response time of 670ms, which can peak up to 1152ms. This suggests that KnownHost is not only more reliable in maintaining uptime but also in delivering faster website loading speeds, making it a preferable option for users prioritizing performance.

🏆 Winner
Bluehost: Outstanding balance of speed, uptime, and comprehensive hosting plans.

When it comes to general performance, Bluehost and KnownHost both offer impressive capabilities. Bluehost is recognized for top-tier WordPress provider speed, with guaranteed 100% network uptime for cloud hosting plans and built-in CDN for optimal image delivery and edge server caching. Bluehost also benefits from SSD storage across all plans and a global data center network. KnownHost also boasts exceptional performance, using AMD EPYC hardware with enterprise NVMe storage and offers industry-best uptimes averaging over 99.99%. Additionally, KnownHost utilizes LiteSpeed and LSCache for efficient web processing, although details on the number and locations of data centers are not provided.

Website Speed

Both Bluehost and KnownHost deliver fast website speeds, but Bluehost stands out with its speed-optimized infrastructure, ensuring world-class performance for WordPress sites. With scalable PHP workers and increased CPU frequency, Bluehost enables websites to handle more requests in less time. KnownHost also offers impressive speeds with LiteSpeed and LSCache, though Bluehost’s built-in CDN further reduces page load times globally, offering a distinct advantage in speed optimization.

Scalability

For scalability, Bluehost provides various options, including shared, VPS, dedicated, and cloud hosting plans, ensuring flexibility with growing website demands. Higher plans come with unmetered bandwidth and scalable resources. KnownHost offers both VPS and dedicated hosting, but detailed information about automatic scaling and specific upgrade processes is not available. Both providers offer dedicated servers, although the cost of scaling for each service is not explicitly mentioned in the given information.

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: KnownHost offers a robust set of security features that ensure high reliability and protection for its hosting services.

Technical security measures:

Bluehost and KnownHost offer strong SSL certificate options, with KnownHost providing a broader range of premium certificates from multiple providers. Both have free SSL options included in their plans. KnownHost excels in DDoS protection, promising up to 500 Gbps protection at no extra cost, compared to Bluehost’s standard protection. Bluehost utilizes SiteLock for malware scanning and Jetpack for daily backups, while KnownHost incorporates Imunify360 for comprehensive security. KnownHost also provides support for multiple PHP versions, highlighting a wider range of compatibility.

Operational security measures:

Bluehost includes Web Application Firewall, automated WordPress updates, traffic encryption, and 2-factor authentication. KnownHost sets up firewalls, offers rDNS setup, and supports mod_security for additional web application protection. Both providers offer automated backup solutions, though KnownHost’s system includes off-server storage. KnownHost’s addition of LiteSpeed + LSCache and optional CloudLinux for fine-tuned resource allocation adds another layer of operational security and performance.

Compliance and certifications:

Bluehost ensures GDPR compliance, providing clear information on data handling and privacy rights. KnownHost appears focused on data protection through its SSL offerings, suggesting an implicit commitment to GDPR but without specific details. For PCI compliance, Bluehost provides clear guidance depending on hosting plans but lacks overall PCI compliance for shared hosting. KnownHost secures PCI requirements mainly through SSL certificates.

Winner: KnownHost: Provides exceptional performance and robust customer support, making it a great choice for reliable hosting services.

When comparing Bluehost and KnownHost, both offer a variety of hosting solutions designed to cater to different user needs. Bluehost comes with an AI-powered site builder, making it a user-friendly option for individuals seeking quick and easy website setup. It includes features like free domain registration for the first year and free SSL certificates across all plans, making it an attractive option for newcomers. Bluehost’s offerings in shared hosting, such as the “Basic” plan, allow users to start with minimal investment, while its specialized WordPress and WooCommerce hosting solutions offer optimizations for these popular platforms.

On the other hand, KnownHost stands out with its high-performance features like LiteSpeed + LSCache and NVMe storage, which deliver fast and reliable hosting. It also includes Imunify360 for enhanced security and offers free domain privacy for life, which can be a significant plus for privacy-conscious users. Additionally, KnownHost provides automated daily backups stored off-server and ensures a remarkable uptime exceeding 99.99%, which is supported by their USA-based expert support team available 24/7/365. While Bluehost focuses heavily on user-friendliness and basic free services, KnownHost offers more advanced performance features and extensive security measures, appealing to users who prioritize reliability and robust support.

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 KnownHost 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 provides email hosting through Google Workspace, enabling users to manage their email campaigns and transactions easily. KnownHost, on the other hand, includes robust email hosting within its plans, without the need for additional third-party services, offering seamless transactional email support. This makes KnownHost particularly appealing for users who prefer an all-in-one solution without relying heavily on external tools.

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: Offers exceptional value with advanced features and competitive 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.

Comparing the pricing plans of Bluehost and KnownHost, KnownHost stands out with its extensive features and slightly higher value-for-price ratings. Bluehost’s Shared Hosting starts at $2.95/mo with essential features, while KnownHost’s Shared Web Hosting starts at $3.47/mo, offering more storage and bandwidth. For WordPress Hosting, KnownHost’s entry plan at $5.98/mo provides substantial NVMe storage and unlimited bandwidth, slightly pricier than similar Bluehost plans but with a better value proposition. The Cloud Hosting plans of Bluehost range considerably higher but provide specialized resources like high compute power and network uptime guarantees. KnownHost’s flexibility in semi-dedicated and VPS hosting also offers a variety of configurations suited to different user needs.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, KnownHost offers the “Premium VPS Server” at $103.25/mo with 8 CPU cores, 12 GB RAM, and 6 TB premium bandwidth, catering to high-traffic needs. Bluehost’s “Premium” dedicated hosting plan at $119.99/mo provides robust resources like 16 GB RAM and 15 TB bandwidth, but at a higher cost. KnownHost’s managed VPS ensures balances of cost and performance, while Bluehost presents high-tier dedicated options with extensive support and storage for intensive tasks.

🏆 Winner KnownHost: Offers an instant setup and comprehensive customer service for an optimal hosting experience.

Bluehost uses a combination of AI tools and a guided setup process, enhancing user experience with features such as automatic WordPress installation and a simple setup wizard for online stores. Their custom onboarding allows users to quickly build and launch websites. KnownHost, on the other hand, opts for an instant setup and includes Softaculous for one-click installations, making it friendly for both technical and non-technical users. KnownHost’s admin panel, often powered by cPanel, is user-friendly and efficient, offering easy navigation and straightforward management.

Comparing the migration tools, KnownHost stands out with its free migration service, often ensuring zero downtime, and their support staff handles most of the technical challenges. Bluehost also provides migration tools, but these services are more DIY-focused, and users might need to follow detailed guides available in their resources. KnownHost’s free migration service simplifies the transition, making it a more accessible choice for users seeking hassle-free migration.

In evaluating the help center resources, Bluehost provides a comprehensive knowledge base with a wide array of articles and 24/7 expert support via chat, phone, and email. KnownHost also offers a detailed Knowledge Base, covering various topics with an emphasis on user support through their ticket system. Both platforms ensure users have access to critical information and responsive support, though KnownHost receives high praise for swift and helpful customer service.

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. KnownHost 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: Bluehost: A comprehensive user management system with diverse roles and detailed permissions.

Bluehost excels in offering a detailed user management system with clearly defined roles and comprehensive permissions. The Primary Contact in Bluehost has extensive control over the account, including the ability to manage account information, user roles, products, and domains. Admin Contacts also enjoy significant control, with permissions almost equal to the Primary Contact except for changes to the primary account holder. KnownHost, on the other hand, lacks detailed user roles and permissions. Instead, it focuses on general domain and account management through their My KnownHost panel. Bluehost’s defined roles and detailed permissions make it more flexible in creating and defining user roles.

Bluehost provides a user-friendly interface for managing users and roles. Through the Bluehost Account Manager, users can swiftly add new users by simply entering an email and assigning a role. The clear User Roles & Permissions section allows for quick edits and removals, making it straightforward to maintain user roles. KnownHost offers management through their My KnownHost panel, with guides available in their Knowledge Base. While practical, KnownHost’s lack of an intuitive interface like Bluehost’s makes user management a bit more cumbersome.

In terms of access control and the ability to handle a growing number of users, Bluehost is more efficient. With three distinct roles—Primary Contact, Admin Contact, and Tech Contact—users can be assigned precise permissions, ensuring operational clarity and security. KnownHost’s approach, centered around a general management panel, is effective but not as granular, potentially complicating access control as the number of users grows. Bluehost’s structured role system provides a clearer hierarchy, making it better suited for efficiently managing larger teams.

Bluehost user roles table:

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: Praised for quick response times, excellent customer service, and strong performance.

Bluehost provides 24/7 live chat and phone support, although it lacks email/ticket support. They focus on real-time interaction but have mixed customer feedback concerning wait times and upselling tactics. Their extensive knowledge base is useful, but some users feel the customer service quality is inconsistent.

KnownHost, on the other hand, is commended for its polite and effective technical support available via phone, email, and live chat. It also offers a strong community support forum and an extensive knowledge base. With high uptime guarantees and managed hosting services, KnownHost provides dependable and comprehensive customer support suitable for all levels of users.

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.

KnownHost receives mixed feedback from its users. Many users praise its responsive and professional customer support, high uptime, and excellent technical infrastructure, particularly for managed WordPress and VPS hosting. However, there are significant complaints about slow server speeds, unhelpful support, and confusing user interfaces. Additionally, some users believe that the service is overpriced given the performance issues they have encountered. Overall, while KnownHost has loyal customers who appreciate its offerings, potential users should be aware of the varied experiences and evaluate if it meets their specific needs.

FAQ