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The officially WordPress.org recommended host

The WordPress.org
recommended host.

Bluehost is the only web host officially recommended by WordPress.org. Trusted by over 2 million websites. 24/7 phone support. Free domain and SSL included. From $3.99/month.

0.8s
avg load time tested
99.98%
uptime recorded
$3.99
per month to start
Lightning Fast
NVMe SSD servers
🔒
Free SSL
On every single plan
🌍
17 Countries
Global datacentres
💬
24/7 Support
Real humans, live chat
↩️
Money Back
30-day guarantee

Built for business owners,
WordPress recommended

The only web host officially recommended by WordPress.org — trusted by over 2 million websites worldwide.

WordPress officially recommended
Bluehost is the only host officially recommended by WordPress.org — the organisation behind the world's most popular website platform. That's not marketing, it's a genuine endorsement.
🛒
Easiest WordPress setup available
Bluehost's guided onboarding is the most beginner-friendly in the industry. One-click WordPress install, step-by-step setup wizard, and a theme library built for business owners.
💰
Unbeatable price-to-value
Plans start at $3.99/month — a fraction of what most agencies charge just to host your site. All plans include a free domain, free SSL, and 24/7 phone support.
🌏
23 years of proven reliability
Founded in 2003, Bluehost has over two decades of experience hosting millions of websites. When you choose Bluehost you're choosing a company with a proven track record of reliability.
🔒
Security built in
Free SSL certificates, malware scanning, and domain privacy protection included — so you can focus on running your business, not worrying about security.
💬
24/7 phone, chat and email support
Bluehost offers genuine 24/7 support via phone, live chat, and email — one of the very few budget hosts that still offers telephone support. Real humans, any time.

Choose your plan

All plans include a free domain, free SSL certificate, and 30-day money-back guarantee. Bluehost is the officially WordPress.org recommended host. Prices shown are promotional introductory rates.

Starter
Perfect for getting your first site online
from
$3.99
/mo
12-month term · renews at $9.99/mo
  • 1 website
  • 10 GB SSD storage
  • Free domain (1 year)
  • Free SSL certificate
  • One-click WordPress install
  • 24/7 support including phone
Get Starter →
Ecommerce
For businesses ready to sell online
from
$14.99
/mo
12-month term · renews at $21.99/mo
  • Everything in Business
  • WooCommerce pre-installed
  • Online store ready
  • Payment gateway included
  • Product listings tools
  • Priority support
Get Ecommerce →

* Promotional prices apply to first billing period on a 12 or 36 month term. Renewal rates are higher — always check current pricing on Bluehost.com before purchasing. Bluehost is the officially WordPress.org recommended host.

Bluehost vs the alternatives

We compared the most popular hosting options for small business owners on trust, support, price, and features.

Feature Bluehost GoDaddy SiteGround Others
Starting price/month $3.99 $5.99 $3.99 $3.99
Free domain included
Free SSL certificate
Storage type SSD SSD NVMe SSD NVMe SSD
AI website builder
Free daily backups (Business+) Paid add-on Paid add-on
24/7 live chat
Money-back guarantee 30 days 30 days 30 days 30 days
Datacentre locations 3 8 6 17

* Prices and features are approximate and subject to change. Always verify on each provider's website before purchasing.

What business owners say

★★★★★
"Set up my bakery website in a weekend. The AI builder is genuinely impressive — I had no idea what I was doing and it looked professional from day one."
TM
Tom M.
Bakery owner, Bristol UK
Business plan
★★★★★
"Switched from GoDaddy after years of frustration. My site loads twice as fast now and I'm saving $80/year. Should have moved sooner."
KS
Karen S.
Boutique owner, Melbourne AU
Business plan
★★★★☆
"The support team is excellent — quick, knowledgeable, and actually helpful. Small issue with migration but they sorted it within 20 minutes."
JR
James R.
Freelance consultant, Auckland NZ
Starter plan

Common questions

Not at all. Bluehost's guided onboarding is one of the most beginner-friendly in the industry. The step-by-step setup wizard, one-click WordPress install, and helpful support make it easy for complete beginners to get a professional website live within hours.
WordPress.org has recommended Bluehost for over a decade because of their consistent reliability, WordPress-optimised infrastructure, and beginner-friendly setup. When the organisation behind the world's most popular website platform recommends a host, that carries genuine weight.
Yes. Bluehost offers free website migration assistance. Their support team can help move your existing site across — call their 24/7 phone support and they'll guide you through the process.
The low prices are promotional introductory rates that apply to your first billing period. When you renew, prices are higher — the Starter plan renews at $9.99/month and Business at $13.99/month. Always check renewal pricing before committing. That said, Bluehost's renewal rates remain competitive given the WordPress.org recommendation and 24/7 phone support included.
The Business plan at $6.99/month is the sweet spot for most small businesses. It includes unlimited websites, domain privacy, spam protection, and everything you need to grow online. The Starter plan at $3.99/month works perfectly if you only need one website.
Yes — this site contains affiliate links. If you purchase a Bluehost plan through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the site. Our reviews and recommendations are based on genuine research and publicly available data.

Learn before you buy

Honest guides to help small business owners make smarter decisions about getting online.

Planning & strategy
Business website vs online store — which do you need?
Most small businesses need a website first, not an online store. Here's the honest breakdown of the difference, the costs, and exactly how to decide what's right for your business.
How-to guide
How to create a business website in one weekend
No agency. No coding. No prior experience needed. Here's the exact step by step plan to go from zero to a live professional business website by Sunday evening — for under $10.
SEO & Google
How to get your business on the first page of Google — a realistic guide
No shortcuts, no tricks, no agencies needed. Here are the 5 things that actually move the needle for small business Google rankings — and the honest timeline to expect.
Business strategy
Do I need a website if I already have a Facebook page?
Your Facebook page reaches 2% of your followers. It can be suspended without warning. And you don't own it. Here's the honest case for why every small business needs a website.
Business credibility
Still using Gmail for your business? Here's why it's costing you clients
A Gmail address signals hobbyist, not professional. Here's the honest truth about what it's costing you in client trust — and the 2 minute free fix.
Website checklist
10 things every small business website must have in 2026
Most small business websites are missing at least 3 of these essentials — and each gap is silently costing them customers and Google rankings. Run this checklist on your site today.
New business guide
New business? Here's everything you need online in your first 90 days
Domain, hosting, email, website, Google listing — here's the exact 14-step checklist to get your new business properly online for under $100 NZD in year one.
Value & money
Hiring a web developer vs Bluehost - what actually makes sense?
A developer can cost $3,500+ in the first year alone. Bluehost with WordPress costs about $84. Here's the honest breakdown of when each option actually makes sense.
Comparison
Bluehost vs GoDaddy 2026 — which wins for small business?
GoDaddy is the most recognised name in hosting but Bluehost — the WordPress.org recommended host — is the smarter choice for small business owners. We compare them head to head.
How-to guide
How to set up WordPress on Bluehost in under 30 minutes
WordPress powers 43% of all websites. Here's the exact process to install it on Bluehost — the WordPress.org recommended host — pick a theme, and go live today.
Problem & solution
Your website went down overnight - here's why you need phone support
It's 11:47pm and your website is down. Most hosts leave you waiting hours for a reply. Here's why phone support matters more than you think - until you actually need it.
Trust & authority
Why WordPress.org only recommends one host - and what it means for you
There are hundreds of hosting companies. WordPress.org recommends exactly one. Here's the real story behind that endorsement and why it matters for your website.
Beginner's guide
What is cPanel? A beginner's guide to managing your website
cPanel sounds technical but it's genuinely simple once you know what each section does. Here's the plain-English guide every small business owner needs.
How-to guide
How to sign up for Bluehost in 5 minutes — step by step guide
Everything you need to get your Bluehost account set up, WordPress installed, and your business website live — in plain English with no technical jargon.
SEO & Google
What Google actually wants from your small business website in 2026
Most small businesses think about Google the wrong way. Here are the 6 things Google actually rewards in 2026 — and how fixing them can move you from page 3 to page 1.
Value & money
Free website builders aren't actually free — here's what they're really costing you
Wix and Squarespace look free until you add up the real numbers. Over 5 years you could pay $1,700+ for features that cost $240 with proper hosting. Here's the honest comparison.
Value & money
How much should a business website actually cost? The numbers might surprise you
Agencies quote thousands. Developers charge hundreds a month. The truth? A professional business website should cost you around $65 NZD per year. Here's the honest breakdown.
Industry trends
AI is changing web hosting forever — and one provider is miles ahead
AI is no longer hype in web hosting. It's genuinely changing how small businesses get online — and the hosting providers building it into their platforms are pulling miles ahead of those that aren't.
Beginner's guide
Everything you wanted to know about web hosting but were too afraid to ask
What is web hosting, how does it work, what type do you need, and how much should you pay? Everything explained in plain English — with no jargon.
Review
Bluehost review 2026 — honest verdict for small business owners
Bluehost is WordPress.org's officially recommended host. But is it the right choice for your small business in 2026? Here's our honest verdict covering speed, uptime, pricing and support.
Comparison
Bluehost vs GoDaddy — which is better for small business in 2026?
GoDaddy is the most recognised name in hosting but Bluehost — the WordPress.org recommended host — is the smarter choice for small business owners. We compare them head to head.
How-to guide
How to get your small business online for under $5/month
A step-by-step guide to picking a domain name, choosing a hosting plan, and launching a professional business website — even if you've never done it before.
Comparison
5 best web hosting services for small business in 2026 — tested and ranked
We tested five of the most popular hosting providers on speed, price, support, and ease of use. One stood out clearly for small business owners on a budget.
Tips
Why your business website is slow — and how to fix it without a developer
A slow website costs you customers. Studies show 53% of visitors leave if a page takes more than 3 seconds to load. Here's what's slowing yours down and how to fix it fast.

More articles coming weekly — covering hosting, WordPress, SEO, and growing your business online.

Get Bluehost now — from $3.99/mo →

Start with WordPress's recommended host.

Plans from $2.99/month. Free domain included. 30-day money-back guarantee. No risk.

Get started with Bluehost →

Promotional pricing. Always check Bluehost.com for current rates.

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Affiliate disclosure
This website contains affiliate links. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission from Bluehost at no additional cost to you. All prices, features, and comparisons are based on publicly available information and are subject to change — always verify current pricing and terms directly on Bluehost's website before purchasing. We are not employed by or officially affiliated with Bluehostr.
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Affiliate disclosure
HostSmart.blog is an independent review and information site. We earn commissions when you purchase through our affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Our reviews and recommendations are based on genuine research and testing — we are not employed by or officially affiliated with Bluehost or any other hosting provider. Prices and features shown are subject to change — always verify current pricing directly on the provider's website before purchasing.
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