You might be deciding between web hosts lately and found that Bluehost and InMotion Hosting are leading hosting companies.
But which one is better?
Choosing the best web host for your business may not seem like a serious choice, but having the proper tools and features for your website is extremely important.
I have designed and implemented numerous websites onto Bluehost and InMotion’s platforms, so I understand which features and tools each company has.
If you are a business owner or website administrator, choosing between Bluehost and InMotion involves a lot of decision-making.
I know what it is like to choose the wrong web host and later regret it, so follow along with this review and find out whether Bluehost or InMotion is best for your site.
How Did We Test Bluehost & InMotion Hosting?
TYB only uses the highest testing standard with the most trusted software.
We rely on lab testing and data instead of our objective point of view.
During testing, we set up two staging sites hosted on Bluehost and InMotion Hosting to measure the results in the following areas:
- Hosting Types and Features
- Performance and Speed
- Ease of Use
- Pricing and Value
- Website Security
- Help and Support
- WordPress Features
- Extras
Then, we used all the information we gathered to select our winner!
Keep reading this 2023 review to see the pros and cons of each web host provider!
Our Winner:
Bluehost is our winner!
Bluehost offers low prices and some of the best WordPress hosting on the market.
The security features provide the essentials, and the speeds are excellent, considering the host only has data centers in the United States.
Lastly, Bluehost’s customer service is top-notch. The service agents respond to questions in seconds via live chat, and the knowledge base includes tutorials and answers to FAQs. Our Bluehost review has more information on all that they have to offer.
Bluehost is an excellent choice for your web hosting needs, primarily if you operate a WordPress site!
That’s not to say that InMotion isn’t great for hosting. We also conducted a thorough InMotion review to give you a more in-depth examination of their services.
What is Bluehost Web Hosting?
Bluehost is a web hosting company offering various hosting services, including WordPress, VPS, shared, and dedicated server hosting.
The most popular type of hosting on Bluehost’s platform is WordPress hosting (managed and unmanaged).
Bluehost is one of the largest web hosts and has been in business since 1996.
Further, Bluehost has a network of over two million domain names and powers over one million websites.
As previously mentioned, Bluehost has a wide range of hosting plans, from basic shared hosting to more advanced VPS and dedicated server offerings.
Also, Bluehost has other tools, like an intuitive web builder and domain management.
Bluehost strives to offer everything a website owner needs to run a successful website.
Where Bluehost Shines
There are several advantages to using Bluehost as your hosting provider.
For instance, Bluehost has many great features that make it stand out.
First, Bluehost offers excellent value for your money.
With Bluehost, you get more features and tools for less money than other web hosts.
Second, Bluehost has excellent add-on features like unlimited domain hosting, easy website-building tools, extra security, and more.
Finally, Bluehost has some of the best customer support in the industry.
Bluehost’s support team is available to answer questions or concerns you have about your website or hosting account.
Where Bluehost Falls Short
However, Bluehost is not without its drawbacks.
First and foremost, Bluehost does not offer the same level of performance as other web hosts.
Bluehost’s servers are slower than leading hosting companies like InMotion Hosting.
The servers are slower because Bluehost only has data centers in the United States.
Also, Bluehost does not offer free website migration services.
So, if you want to migrate your website to Bluehost, you must pay an extra $149.99.
Lastly, the introductory prices increase when you renew your plan with Bluehost.
What is InMotion Web Hosting?
InMotion is another well-known web hosting provider that has been around since 2001.
InMotion offers various hosting plans and services, from shared hosting to dedicated servers to VPS.
InMotion also offers cloud hosting, WordPress hosting, reseller plans, and more.
Where InMotion Shines
InMotion is known for its fast hosting speeds and excellent customer service.
With InMotion, you get a lot of features and tools for your money.
InMotion is best known for the security features included in every hosting plan.
For instance, the web host provides several backup options and free security features to protect your data and information.
Also, InMotion has an excellent customer service team available to assist with any inquiries you have.
Where InMotion Falls Short
Like Bluehost, InMotion is not without its drawbacks.
First, InMotion’s hosting plans are more expensive than other web hosts.
Also, automated backups cost an extra fee with InMotion web hosting.
Finally, InMotion only has data centers in the United States, meaning visitors in other countries will experience slower web page loading times.
Bluehost Vs. InMotion: The Final Showdown
So, Bluehost vs. InMotion: which is better?
Let’s go over the pros and cons of each web hosting provider to determine which is more suitable for your needs.
Hosting Types & Features
Winner: Bluehost! Bluehost wins this category because the company offers more choices for hosting plans. Also, the features included in each plan are excellent, considering the monthly fee.
Bluehost
Bluehost provides the following hosting plans:
- Shared
- Dedicated
- VPS
- WordPress
- Managed WordPress
- WooCommerce
- Websites and Online Stores
InMotion
InMotion Hosting offers the following types of hosting plans:
- Shared
- Managed WordPress
- WooCommerce
- VPS
- Reseller
- Dedicated server
It is essential to know that Inmotion’s WordPress and WooCommerce plans are only available in a Beta version and may not come with as many features as you need.
Performance & Speed
Winner: InMotion! InMotion takes the win in this category because of its performance in stress testing. While Bluehost struggled when there were a lot of site visitors, InMotion didn’t even appear to struggle. Both InMotion and Bluehot provide excellent uptime performance and reliable speeds despite only having data centers in the United States.
Uptime
Uptime is an important factor to consider when choosing a web host.
Bluehost
Although Bluehost does not provide an uptime guarantee, the web host provider performs well in this category.
Our staging sites scored a 99.99% uptime during a couple of months.
Also, the server response time is speedy and lower than the industry average.
In summation, Bluehost has excellent uptime and reliable, fast server responsiveness.
InMotion
InMotion hosting boasts an average uptime of 99.98%, which is adequate.
Further, Inmotion rarely suffers from outages and server slowdowns, meaning your website is almost always available for visitors.
However, InMotion’s average server response time is slightly higher than most web hosts at 600ms.
InMotion’s uptime is pretty reliable, and your website will experience minimal downtime.
Speed
Speed affects how quickly your website loads, and as a result, affects your SEO rankings.
Bluehost
Bluehot only has data centers in the United States.
Still, the web host provides fast speeds if your visitors are from the UK or India, for example.
The Largest Contentful Paint is under the industry standard of 2.5 seconds, which is great for Google ranking statistics.
One way to prevent slower speeds is implementing a Content Delivery Network.
Some Bluehost plans include this feature, while others require downloading it separately.
InMotion
InMotion is one of the fastest web host providers.
However, the provider only has data centers in the United States.
Therefore, website visitors in other countries usually experience slower loading speeds (but that is not always true).
Still, InMotion’s Largest Contentful Paint is fast and makes it easier for Google to rank a site higher.
Stress Testing
Stress testing is a useful tool to help web hosts assess the performance of their hosting infrastructure.
Bluehost
One area Bluehost could improve in is handling website stress.
For instance, when a sudden influx of visitors came to our staging sites, there were more failed requests and slower loading times.
However, these results were observed on a shared hosting plan.
If you have dedicated servers or a VPS plan, you are less likely to see your website fail because of increased stress.
InMotion
Regarding stress testing, InMotion’s websites can handle sudden influxes of traffic.
Whether you have thousands of visitors or a few, InMotion’s services perform the same, which is rare in the web hosting industry.
Ease of Use
Winner: Bluehost! Bluehost is designed for beginners, and the company aims to make it as easy as possible for a new website owner to create a professional-looking website. Bluehost’s services are even easier to use when creating a WordPress site because the company specializes in WordPress websites.
Bluehost
Bluehost is so popular because its software is easy to use.
For instance, several processes are automated, making things easy for beginners.
Also, Bluehost has several tools to make your life easier, including business-focused integrations, website staging, and an intuitive website management area.
Bluehost is intuitive, especially if you are creating a WordPress site, as that is an area the company specializes in.
InMotion
InMotion is pretty easy to use.
There are a few glitches here and there, but overall, InMotion is intuitive for beginners.
Also, InMotion uses a combination of Account Management Panel and cPanel, which makes the program even easier to use.
Further, the premium BoldGrid website builder for WordPress is one of the most accessible tools to use that InMotion offers.
Pricing & Value
Winner: Bluehost! Bluehost provides low prices, regardless of your plan (VPS, shared, WordPress, etc.). While InMotion’s shared hosting plans are inexpensive, the other hosting plans can get pricey.
Bluehost
Bluehost offers some of the lowest monthly prices in the hosting industry.
Shared hosting plans start at less than $3 monthly and include several helpful tools, including:
- A domain name
- SSL certificates
- Server resources
- Security features
The renewal prices can get expensive for specific plans.
However, the introductory rates are hard to beat, especially considering the features included.
InMotion
InMotion’s prices are higher than several web hosts.
Still, the beginning plan only costs $2.29 monthly, affordable for small business owners and blogging beginners.
While the plans are more expensive, the number of features you receive in exchange is more than other hosts.
The plans are very inclusive, giving you everything you need to start and manage a successful website.
Website Security
Winner: InMotion! InMotion goes above and beyond regarding security features, so it is hard to beat this web host. While Bluehost provides automated backups for free in some of its plans, the additional security features are essential. On the other hand, InMotion includes high-level security with each of its plans.
Bluehost
Bluehost offers many security features.
Unfortunately, a lot of them come at an added cost.
Still, Bluehost provides SSL certificates, DDoS protection, and firewalls as some of the included security features.
Also, Bluehost included automatic backups in the Choice Plus and Pro plans.
Without these plans, automated backups cost $2.99 per month via a third-party tool, which is not very expensive.
InMotion
InMotion takes several steps to ensure your site is secure and safe from hackers and malware.
The Security Suite is included in every plan and comes with features like:
- Free SSL certificates
- Hack and malware protection
- DDoS protection
- Web application firewall
- Two-factor authentication
Unfortunately, automatic backups cost extra.
Still, InMotion’s security is advanced whether you have a low or high-level plan.
Help & Support
Winner: Bluehost! While InMotion’s customer service was superb, Bluehost takes things slightly further. The option for premium customer support is an excellent feature.
Also, the customer service reps responded incredibly fast via live chat, showcasing how much Bluehost values its customers.
Bluehost
Bluehost provides customer service via the following outlets:
- 24/7 live chat
- Phone support
- Knowledge base
- FAQ section
Unfortunately, there is no email support outlet.
However, customer service agents respond in seconds via live chat and provide expert WordPress advice and solutions.
Bluehost allows you to upgrade your customer support by adding Blue Sky, a paid service that gives you the following:
- On-demand ticket support
- Account access assistance
- Website backup assistance
- Design Guidance
- And more
InMotion
InMotion offers customer support through several different outlets, including:
- 24/7 live chat
- Ticket system
- Phone support
- Skype
Also, InMotion has extensive articles and tutorials in its knowledge base and blog.
Lastly, the community forum is very active.
There are several ways you can find answers to your questions with Inmotion.
WordPress Hosting Features
Winner: Bluehost! It is difficult for any web host to beat Bluehost in this category because the company’s focus is building professional WordPress sites of all kinds.
Bluehost offers several WordPress plans, whether you are a blogger, online store owner, etc. Also, each WordPress plan’s included features and starting prices are hard to beat!
Bluehost
WordPress.org recommends Bluehost to its customers.
So, as you can imagine, Bluehost provides several WordPress-related features and plans.
The shared WordPress hosting plan starts at $2.95 per month and comes with the following features:
- Free CDN
- One website
- Free domain name
- Customer WP themes
- Free SSL
- 10GB of SSD storage
- Automatic WP installation
- Automatic WP updates
- Secure setup and login credentials
InMotion
InMotion provides shared WordPress hosting that includes the following features:
- Premium WP plugins and themes
- UltraStack and NVMe storage
- Free CDN
- cPanel
- Enhanced security
- Marketing tools
- 24/7 live chat support
- Better WP performance
Plans start at $3.49 per month for a three-year commitment.
Extras
Winner: InMotion! InMotion wins this category because the company provides website migrations for free. Bluehost and InMotion are similar in terms of email hosting.
Website Migration
Bluehost
Bluehost provides one free WordPress website migration to first-time users only.
You must pay to migrate your site onto Bluehost’s platform if you do not have a WordPress website.
The paid migration costs $149.99 and allows you to migrate up to five websites and 20 email accounts.
Unfortunately, a domain name cannot be transferred with this service.
InMotion
According to InMotion’s site, free website transfers and server setups are only available with the VPS hosting plans.
Further, users receive a free website migration if they already have a WordPress site.
Customers can get WordPress pre-installed during checkout, so it is ready to use and set up immediately.
Email Hosting
Bluehost
Bluehost provides standard email hosting.
But, it is essential to note that the email hosting works on the same server as your website.
Therefore, marketing campaigns and frequent advertising are not advised with that email.
Otherwise, creating an email account is fast and simple.
InMotion
InMotion allows you to create email inboxes with your domain and access them from any device.
Easy access to your email allows you to keep in touch with customers wherever you are.
Besides, InMotion’s email hosting features are vague on the company website.
Website Builders
Bluehost
Bluehost has a website builder that makes designing a professional WordPress site easy.
The tool comes with several themes that you can customize, drag-and-drop functionality, and modern designs.
Beginners love Bluehost’s website builder because it is intuitive.
On the other hand, web developers with years of coding experience also love it because the web builder has several customization options.
InMotion
InMotion has an excellent website builder tool called BoldGrid.
BoldGrid is a WordPress web builder with plugins that turn the CMS into a visual web builder.
These features make WordPress much easier to use if you want your site to have a custom look.
The tools help create the following:
- Posts
- Good-looking pages
- Design elements
Also, the choice of templates is excellent and responsive, so you can customize them easily.
Alternatives to Bluehost
The following are some other alternatives to Bluehost:
- A2 Hosting
- Hostinger
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting provides several hosting plans and services to choose the one that suits your needs.
The company offers shared hosting, VPS, reseller, WordPress, cloud, and dedicated hosting solutions.
The website speed is significantly faster than Bluehost due to A2 Hosting’s Turbo Servers technology.
The Turbo servers are only available on select plans but provide up to 20 times faster loading times.
Regarding price, Bluehost is a little less expensive than A2.
Hostinger
Hostinger is an excellent Bluehost alternative because it offers affordable shared hosting plans.
The company’s most popular plan starts at only $2.99 per month and provides all the tools you need to get your website up and running quickly.
Besides that, Hostinger also has many features tailored toward WordPress users.
For example, Hostinger provides automatic WordPress updates, secure setup, and login credentials, enhanced security measures to protect your site from malware attacks, and free CDN.
Compared to Bluehost, Hostinger is more affordable while providing more user-friendly features.
Alternatives to InMotion
Some other options to InMotion include:
- HostGator
- GoDaddy
HostGator
HostGator is an InMotion alternative with an intuitive website builder tool, which makes it easy to create your site quickly.
The company also provides automatic WordPress updates and automated security patches that keep your WordPress site secure and up-to-date.
In addition, HostGator offers unlimited storage and bandwidth, so you can store and transfer unlimited amounts of data.
Moreover, HostGator also provides free website migration, so you don’t have to pay extra fees when moving your existing WordPress site to the company’s platform.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is an excellent InMotion alternative.
The company provides excellent features, such as a free domain name, unlimited storage and bandwidth, free SSL certificates, automatic WordPress updates, and automated backups.
With GoDaddy’s easy-to-use website builder tool and its reliable hosting, you can easily set up an attractive website.
GoDaddy is also more affordable than InMotion, so it’s a great choice if you’re on a budget.
It provides all the features and tools you need to get your website running, such as domain management and website builder tools.
GoDaddy is a reliable and faster web host than most people expect, making it a great choice!
Conclusion
When looking at Bluehost vs. InMotion, Bluehost is an excellent choice if you’re on a budget and need reliable web hosting.
It provides an easy-to-use website builder tool and automatic WordPress updates, making setting up your website quick and easy.
InMotion Hosting is another excellent option for WordPress users, as it provides a powerful website builder tool called BoldGrid that makes creating custom pages and posts more accessible.
It also has an excellent choice of responsive templates and is slightly more expensive than Bluehost because of the added security features.
The choice ultimately depends on your hosting needs! So do your research carefully!
Bluehost Vs. InMotion FAQ
The answer depends on your specific hosting needs. Bluehost is an excellent choice for people looking for an affordable and reliable web hosting service. However, alternatives like A2 Hosting and Hostinger provide features that Bluehost lacks, like faster speeds and more reliable performance.
Yes, InMotion is a good brand. It provides robust hosting solutions and offers many features tailored toward WordPress users. The company also has an intuitive website builder tool called BoldGrid, making creating custom pages and posts more accessible. Its security measures are designed to protect your site from malware attacks. All these features make it an excellent choice for web hosting needs.
Bluehost is an excellent choice for people looking for an affordable and reliable web hosting service. Besides being a great website builder tool, it provides many user-friendly features, such as automatic WordPress updates and secure setup credentials. Bluehost also has good customer support, which makes it the ideal choice for most users. So yes, Bluehost is the best option if you’re looking for reliable WordPress web hosting.
InMotion is more expensive than other web host providers, but the added features are worth the cost. The company provides an intuitive website builder tool called BoldGrid, making creating custom pages and posts more accessible. Plus, its security measures go above and beyond the industry standard. All these features make it an excellent choice for web hosting needs.
No, Bluehost is not overpriced. It offers an affordable and reliable web hosting service with many user-friendly features. The plans start at less than $3 monthly. Bluehost also provides a great website builder tool and automatic WordPress updates, making it the ideal choice for most people. The company also has good customer support, so you can get help if needed.