How Much Does a Bluehost Website Cost?
A Bluehost website costs between $3.99 and $21.99 per month for shared hosting during the initial promotional term, with renewal rates ranging from $9.99 to $30.99 per month. The Starter plan starts at $1.99/month (renews at $9.99/month), the Business plan costs $6.99/month (renews at $13.99/month), and the eCommerce Essentials plan runs $14.99/month (renews at $21.99/month).
If you hire a professional designer or developer, expect to add $500-$5,000+ for custom design work on top of your Bluehost subscription. Bluehost powers over 2 million websites and is officially recommended by WordPress.org, making it one of the most popular hosting platforms for WordPress sites.
Here's exactly what you'll pay for a Bluehost website, including hidden costs most guides don't mention.
Bluehost Pricing Plans Compared
Bluehost shared hosting plans range from $1.99 to $14.99 per month during promotional periods, with significant price increases at renewal. All plans include a free domain for the first year, free SSL certificate, and 30-day money-back guarantee. The lowest prices require a 36-month commitment paid upfront.
| Plan | Promo Price (36-mo) | Renewal Price | Websites | Storage |
| Starter | $3.99/mo | $9.99/mo | 10 | 10 GB NVMe |
| Business | $6.99/mo | $13.99/mo | 50 | 50 GB NVMe |
| eCommerce Essentials | $14.99/mo | $21.99/mo | 100 | 100 GB NVMe |
| Pro | $9.99/mo | $16.99/mo | 100 | 100 GB NVMe |
Note: Promotional pricing requires upfront payment for the full term. Choosing a 12-month plan instead of 36-month increases the monthly rate significantly. For example, the Starter plan costs $4.99/month for a 12-month term versus $3.99/month for 36 months.
Bluehost Website Design Cost
Bluehost website design costs $0 for DIY using included tools, $200-$1,500 for freelance designers, or $3,000-$10,000+ for agency design work. Bluehost includes AI website creation tools with all plans, allowing you to generate custom site designs in minutes without coding knowledge.
| Design Approach | Cost Range | What You Get |
| DIY with AI Tools | $0 (included) | AI-generated layouts, mobile-responsive templates, drag-and-drop customization |
| Free WordPress Themes | $0 | Basic templates, limited customization, standard layouts |
| Premium WordPress Themes | $50-$200 | Professional designs, advanced features, premium support |
| Freelance Designer | $200-$1,500 | Custom design, brand alignment, multiple revisions |
| Design Agency | $3,000-$10,000+ | Full branding, custom graphics, UX optimization, ongoing support |
Bluehost Website Development Cost
Bluehost website development costs $0 for basic WordPress sites using built-in features, $50-$500/hour for custom development, or $1,000-$15,000+ for complex custom functionality. Bluehost includes one-click WordPress installation, managed WordPress updates, staging environments, and SSH/WP-CLI access for developers.
Built-in Features (No Development Required)
- One-click WordPress installation with automatic setup
- Managed WordPress updates (Bluehost handles core updates)
- WordPress staging environments for testing changes
- WooCommerce auto-install on eCommerce plans
- SSH and WP-CLI access for command-line management
- Git version control integration
Custom Development Costs
| Development Type | Hourly Rate | Project Range |
| Freelance (US/UK) | $50-$150/hour | $500-$5,000 |
| Freelance (International) | $20-$50/hour | $200-$2,000 |
| Agency Development | $100-$300/hour | $3,000-$15,000+ |
Bluehost Hosting Cost
Bluehost hosting costs $1.99-$312.19 per month depending on the hosting type selected. Shared hosting starts at $1.99/month, VPS hosting ranges from $29.99-$69.99/month, cloud hosting costs $75-$250/month, and dedicated servers run $141.19-$312.19/month. All Bluehost plans include hosting as the core service, so there are no separate hosting fees beyond your plan subscription.
| Hosting Type | Starting Price | Renewal Price | Best For |
| Shared Hosting | $3.99/mo | $9.99/mo | Beginners, small sites |
| VPS Hosting | $29.99/mo | $29.99/mo | Growing sites, developers |
| Cloud Hosting | $75/mo | $75/mo | High-traffic, enterprise |
| Dedicated Server | $141.19/mo | $149.99/mo | Large businesses, custom needs |
Bluehost shared hosting includes unmetered bandwidth, free CDN, object caching, and static content caching. The platform promises 99.9% uptime and uses NVMe storage for faster performance compared to traditional hard drives.
Bluehost Domain Cost
Bluehost domain registration costs $0 for the first year (included with hosting plans) and $17.99-$23.99/year for renewal depending on the domain extension. A .com domain renews at approximately $18.99/year. Domain privacy protection costs $15/year to hide your personal information from the public WHOIS database.
| Domain Type | First Year | Renewal |
| .com | Free (with hosting) | $18.99/year |
| .org | Free (with hosting) | $19.99/year |
| .net | Free (with hosting) | $18.99/year |
| Domain Privacy | Free 1st year (Business+) | $15/year |
Important: If you cancel your Bluehost hosting within 30 days, a $15.99 domain fee will be deducted from your refund to cover registration costs. You retain ownership of the domain regardless.
Bluehost Plugin and Add-on Costs
Bluehost add-on costs range from $0 (many included features) to $359.88/year for premium security. All plans include free SSL via Let's Encrypt, Yoast SEO plugin, Creative Mail for email marketing, malware scanning, and WordPress staging environments. Premium add-ons like SiteLock security, advanced SEO tools, and premium SSL certificates cost extra.
Free Features (Included with All Plans)
- Free SSL certificate (Let's Encrypt)
- Yoast SEO plugin (free version)
- Creative Mail for email marketing
- Free CDN for faster page loads
- Malware scanning
- DDoS protection
- Web Application Firewall
- WordPress staging environments
Premium Add-ons
| Add-on | Annual Cost |
| Premium SSL (Single Domain) | $89.88/year |
| Wildcard SSL | $239.88/year |
| SiteLock Essentials | $95.88/year |
| SiteLock Prevent | $239.88/year |
| SiteLock Prevent Plus | $359.88/year |
| Yoast SEO Premium | $99.99/year |
| CodeGuard Backups | $35.88/year ($2.99/mo) |
Hidden Costs of Bluehost
Bluehost hidden costs include significant renewal price increases (100-150% higher than promotional rates), upsells at checkout, domain fees if canceling early, and premium add-ons that accumulate quickly. Understanding these costs before signing up helps you budget accurately for long-term website expenses.
1. Renewal Price Increases: The Starter plan jumps from $1.99/month to $9.99/month at renewal (400% increase). The Business plan increases from $6.99/month to $13.99/month (100% increase). Budget for renewal rates, not promotional prices.
2. Checkout Upsells: Bluehost presents add-ons like CodeGuard backups ($2.99/month), SiteLock security, and premium SSL during checkout. These are pre-selected in some cases, so review your cart carefully before completing purchase.
3. Domain Cancellation Fee: If you cancel within 30 days, Bluehost deducts $15.99 from your refund to cover domain registration costs. The free domain isn't truly free if you don't stay.
4. Professional Email Costs: While basic email is included (100MB per mailbox on Starter), professional email hosting plans cost $2.99-$9.99/month per license for additional features and storage.
5. Domain Privacy After First Year: Business and eCommerce plans include free domain privacy for the first year only. After that, domain privacy protection costs $15/year.
Bluehost Cost Per Month: Real Examples
These real-world examples show what you'll actually pay for different types of Bluehost websites, including promotional pricing, renewal costs, and common add-ons.
Example 1: Personal Blog (Budget)
| Item | Year 1 | Year 2+ |
| Starter Plan (36-mo term) | $71.64 | $119.88 |
| Domain (.com) | Free | $18.99 |
| Free WordPress Theme | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $71.64 | $138.87/year |
Example 2: Small Business Website
| Item | Year 1 | Year 2+ |
| Business Plan (36-mo term) | $251.64 | $167.88 |
| Domain (.com) | Free | $18.99 |
| Domain Privacy | Free | $15.00 |
| Premium Theme | $79 | $0 |
| Total | $330.64 | $201.87/year |
Example 3: eCommerce Store
| Item | Year 1 | Year 2+ |
| eCommerce Essentials (36-mo) | $539.64 | $263.88 |
| Domain (.com) | Free | $18.99 |
| Premium WooCommerce Theme | $129 | $0 |
| Yoast SEO Premium | $99.99 | $99.99 |
| Total | $768.63 | $382.86/year |
Example 4: Professional Site with Designer
| Item | Year 1 | Year 2+ |
| Business Plan (36-mo) | $251.64 | $167.88 |
| Domain + Privacy | Free | $33.99 |
| Freelance Designer | $1,500 | $0 |
| SiteLock Prevent | $239.88 | $239.88 |
| Total | $1,991.52 | $441.75/year |
Bluehost vs Other Website Builders
Bluehost pricing compares favorably to other WordPress-focused hosts for shared hosting, though competitors offer lower entry prices and different feature sets. Here's how Bluehost stacks up against major alternatives.
| Platform | Starting Price | Renewal | Free Domain | WordPress Optimized | Best For |
| Bluehost | $3.99/mo | $9.99/mo | Yes (1 yr) | Yes | WordPress sites |
| $1.99/mo | $7.99/mo | Yes (1 yr) | Yes | Budget users | |
| $2.99/mo | $17.99/mo | No | Yes | Performance | |
| IONOS | $1.00/mo | $10.00/mo | Yes (1 yr) | Yes | Lowest price |
| DreamHost | $2.59/mo | $5.99/mo | Yes (1 yr) | Yes | Transparency |
| $5.99/mo | $11.99/mo | Yes (1 yr) | Partial | Beginners |
Bluehost Advantages
- Officially recommended by WordPress.org
- Managed WordPress updates and security
- AI website creation tools included
- Staging environments on all plans
- Strong WordPress-specific customer support
Bluehost Disadvantages
- High renewal price increases (100-400%)
- Aggressive upselling at checkout
- Higher pricing than some competitors
- Site migrations not included (tool provided)
- Monthly billing significantly more expensive
How to Reduce Your Bluehost Website Cost
Reducing your Bluehost website cost is possible with strategic timing, careful checkout review, and smart feature choices. These six strategies can save you hundreds of dollars over your hosting term.
1. Choose the 36-Month Term: The 36-month term locks in the lowest monthly rate. The Starter plan costs $1.99/month for 36 months versus $3.99/month for 12 months. You'll pay $71.64 total versus $47.88, but the monthly rate is 50% lower. If you're committed to Bluehost long-term, this offers the best value.
2. Uncheck Pre-Selected Add-ons at Checkout: Review every line item in your cart before completing purchase. CodeGuard backups, SiteLock security, and other add-ons may be pre-selected. The free SSL and staging environments included with your plan are sufficient for most users starting out.
3. Use Free Themes and Plugins First: WordPress has thousands of free themes in its directory. The free version of Yoast SEO (included with Bluehost) handles most SEO needs. Start free and upgrade to premium only when you hit specific limitations.
4. Watch for Promotional Deals: Bluehost runs Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and seasonal promotions with deeper discounts (up to 83% off). If you're not in a rush, waiting for a major sale can save significant money on your initial term.
5. Register Domains Separately: While Bluehost's free first-year domain is convenient, renewal rates ($18.99/year) are higher than specialized domain registrars like Namecheap ($10-13/year). For additional domains or renewals, consider external registration.
6. Start with Starter, Upgrade Later: Begin with the Starter plan if you're unsure about your needs. You can upgrade to Business or eCommerce Essentials anytime. Starting small lets you test Bluehost before committing to higher-tier plans.
Is Bluehost Worth the Cost?
Bluehost offers competitive pricing for WordPress hosting with strong integrated features, but the value depends on your specific needs and budget tolerance for renewal price increases.
Bluehost is worth it if you:
- Want a WordPress-recommended host with optimized performance
- Are building your first website and need beginner-friendly tools
- Can commit to a 36-month term for the best pricing
- Value integrated WordPress management (updates, staging, security)
- Need 24/7 WordPress-specific customer support
- Plan to build multiple websites (Business plan supports 50 sites)
Consider alternatives if you:
- Want lower renewal prices with less dramatic increases
- Prefer month-to-month billing without premium pricing
- Need the absolute lowest starting price (IONOS starts at $1/month)
- Require advanced developer features like SSH on entry plans
- Are sensitive to aggressive upselling during checkout
- Already have a domain and don't need the free year benefit