Finding the right web hosting service for your small business is important. However, choosing the wrong web host can be costly and time-consuming.
I’ve used web hosting services for my small business for several years and have had the opportunity to experience many different types of web hosting providers.
If you are looking for a reliable web hosting service, the two most popular providers on the market today are Bluehost and iPage. Both companies have been around for over 20 years, providing excellent customer service.
In this article, the Tweak Your Biz team and I compared Bluehost and iPage based on specific criteria to help you decide the best web hosting provider for your business needs.
How Did We Test Bluehost and iPage Hosting?
At Tweak Your Biz, we ran a series of detailed tests to compare both Bluehost and iPage. We monitored their servers and evaluated their performance metrics and the quality of their tools.
We also conducted interviews with experienced Bluehost and iPage customers to get their feedback on the services that they have used.
For our comparison, we conducted extensive testing of Bluehost vs. iPage to measure the results of each in the following areas:
- Hosting Types & Features
- Performance & Speed
- Ease of Use
- Pricing & Value
- Website Security
- Help & Support
- WordPress Features
- Extras
Bluehost Vs. iPage:
Bluehost and iPage are two of the best web hosting services in 2023. Both offer a variety of features, such as unlimited storage, bandwidth, domains, and email accounts.
However, if you are looking for support, Bluehost stands out with its 24/7 customer service team that is available to help customers with any technical issue they may come across.
For users looking for an affordable web host, iPage offers competitive pricing plans making it an ideal choice for those on a budget.
What is Bluehost Web Hosting?
Bluehost web hosting is one of the most well-known web hosting providers. Since 2002, this web host has served over two million customers and offers a wide range of services.
They are primarily known for their reliable uptimes, fast speeds, and excellent customer service with helpful resources, such as tutorials and knowledgebase articles. Their website also provides comprehensive guides for setting up your website from scratch or transferring it from another host. Read our in-depth Bluehost review for more information!
Who Uses Bluehost?
Bluehost is particularly popular with small business owners as it provides affordable plans with reliable performance and fast loading speeds. For those looking to create an online store or blog, they offer one-click WordPress installation, making it simple to get started.
What are the Benefits of Bluehost?
Bluehost offers various benefits, making it an excellent choice for webmasters in 2023. One of the critical advantages of Bluehost is its focus on customer service and reliability. They offer 24/7 customer support with experienced technicians who can quickly solve technical issues.
Where Does Bluehost Fall Short?
One of Bluehost’s most significant drawbacks is they do not offer unlimited websites or emails for most of their plans, which can be limited for businesses that need multiple sites or more than one email address.
Additionally, Bluehost’s security and backup features are also quite limited compared to its competitors.
What is iPage Hosting?
iPage web hosting has been a reliable and cost-effective web hosting provider in business since 1998. They provide a range of features, such as scalable bandwidth, unlimited storage space, free domain registration for one year, a free SSL certificate, and unlimited websites.
The platform also has an easy-to-use interface and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee if unsatisfied with the service. With iPage Hosting, you can be sure your website will run smoothly no matter how large it grows or what changes you make. Check out our iPage review here!
Who Uses iPage?
iPage is designed for beginners and small business owners looking for a user-friendly and affordable hosting service. While they may not offer the same level of customer service as Bluehost, their lower prices and unlimited features make them an excellent choice for those on a budget.
What are the Benefits of iPage?
One of the greatest advantages of iPage is its competitive pricing plans. Additionally, they offer unlimited storage and bandwidth, making them an excellent option for websites requiring frequent updates.
Where Does iPage Fall Short?
As an entry-level service, its technical support is limited, meaning customers have fewer customization options and can experience slow page loading times. It also lacks some necessary features that other advanced hosting services may offer, such as powerful analytics tools and easy integration.
Bluehost Vs. iPage: The Details
If you’re still undecided between Bluehost and iPage, the Tweak Your Biz team and I have reviewed the two hosting services side-by-side to help you choose.
Let’s take a look at the results!
What Types of Hosting Does Bluehost Have?
Bluehost offers a wide range of hosting services, including shared hosting, WordPress hosting, managed hosting, WooCommerce hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting.
These web hosting services suit beginners and larger businesses, providing excellent scalability as your site grows.
What Types of Hosting Does iPage Have?
iPage offers web hosting and WordPress hosting for users. Additionally, the platform has an array of helpful drag-and-drop website builders, making it much easier to create a content-rich and attractive site.
Winner: Bluehost
Does Bluehost Have Uptime Issues?
No, Bluehost’s servers are consistently reliable and will rarely experience downtime. Bluehost guarantees a 99.99% uptime rate, so you can rest assured that your site will always be available.
Does iPage Have Uptime Issues?
iPage also offers an excellent uptime rate of 99.98%. This means your site will stay up and running without significant interruptions.
Winner: Tie
How Fast Is Bluehost?
Bluehost’s servers are powered by advanced Intel Xeon processors that can quickly handle large amounts of traffic and data, so customers’ websites always load fast.
Plus, their generous bandwidth allowance ensures that your site loads without delay, no matter how much traffic it attracts.
How Fast Is iPage?
iPage utilizes powerful server clusters so that users can access their websites quickly and easily. Its servers are connected to a global content delivery network (CDN), ensuring that requests from all over the world get speedy responses.
Winner: Bluehost
Bluehost Stress Test
Bluehost’s stress tests simulate real-world conditions to measure how well the service performs under pressure. During these tests, Bluehost looks at how many concurrent user sessions the server can handle, its response time, and overall reliability.
This process helps ensure their services stay secure, fast, and reliable no matter how much traffic or activity a website experiences. By running these stress tests regularly, Bluehost ensures its customers always receive top-notch performance from their web hosting solutions.
iPage Stress Test
iPage offers customers a comprehensive, real-time stress test to provide the highest level of performance and reliability. This stress test assesses how well your website can handle simultaneous visitors with high web traffic.
Through this assessment, iPage evaluates the server’s ability to respond quickly and accurately to requests from multiple users. Their tests measure the response time for different file sizes and the stability of a site under heavy load.
Winner: Bluehost
How Easy Is Bluehost to Use?
Bluehost is incredibly easy to use, even for beginners. They offer an intuitive user interface with simple navigation and clear labels that make it easy to find the tools you need. They also provide step-by-step instructions, tutorials, and videos that make setting up your hosting account a breeze.
How Easy Is iPage to Use?
iPage is an incredibly user-friendly web hosting solution that anyone can use. It features a robust and intuitive control panel, allowing users to customize their website settings easily.
With its drag-and-drop page builder, even inexperienced users can quickly create beautiful, professional-looking sites. iPage also provides access to a plethora of free themes, add-ons, and plugins that further extend your website design and functionality capabilities.
Winner: iPage
Bluehost Pricing & Value
Bluehost offers four different pricing plans for its web hosting services at an annual rate.
These plans include the following:
- Basic: $2.95/month
- Plus: $5.45/month
- Choice Plus: $5.45/month
- Pro: $13.95/month
However, users can purchase each of their plans for up to 36 months for 50% off if they want to use the platform long-term.
iPage Pricing & Value
iPage provides three different subscription plans and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Here are the three pricing plans offered to users:
- 12-month plan: $2.99/month
- 24-month plan: $2.49/month
- 36-month plan: $1.99/month
With their shared hosting packages starting at just $2.99 per month, it’s an excellent choice for those looking to save money while getting the same features as other top web hosts.
Winner: iPage
How Secure is Bluehost?
Bluehost takes security very seriously and is committed to ensuring its users’ highest levels of protection. They have many features that keep customer data secure, including malware scanning, brute force protection, and DDoS attack prevention. Bluehost also provides SSL encryption to protect sensitive information from being intercepted by malicious third parties.
How Secure is iPage?
With an impressive suite of features, iPage ensures its customers’ highest levels of security. The company has invested heavily in advanced encryption technologies such as SSL and TLS to secure customer data. Additionally, iPage offers SiteLock protection and daily backups to ensure your website remains safe and secure from potential cyber threats.
Winner: Bluehost
Can We Trust Bluehost?
When it comes to trusting Bluehost, one can have confidence that their website is being hosted securely. They provide reliable web hosting services at an affordable price and offer various plans to suit different types of businesses.
Additionally, they take proactive measures against DDoS attacks, malware, and other cyber threats. With over two million websites hosted on its servers, Bluehost has earned the trust of millions around the world.
Can We Trust iPage?
iPage has a solid commitment to its customers and provides a reliable and secure web hosting platform. Their website is fully secured with SSL encryption and compliant with industry standards. Additionally, they offer various plans tailored to meet the needs of novice and experienced users.
Winner: Bluehost
Is Bluehost Customer Support Good?
Bluehost’s customer support is highly regarded and renowned in the web hosting industry. They provide 24/7 dedicated customer service via phone and live chat in multiple languages, making it easy to reach out anytime, day or night.
Additionally, their team is friendly and knowledgeable, focusing on providing quick response times. Bluehost also offers a wide range of resources, such as tutorials and FAQs, to help customers troubleshoot their inquiries and find answers quickly without contacting them directly.
Is iPage Customer Support Good?
iPage also offers 24/7 customer support through email and a comprehensive help center. Their customer service team can answer any questions or concerns about the web hosting platform or services.
Winner: Bluehost
Does Bluehost Offer WordPress Hosting?
Bluehost is one of the top hosting providers for WordPress websites. They offer specialized plans optimized for WordPress, like managed WordPress hosting, meaning they come with a pre-configured install and an array of helpful features. With these plans, users will know that their site will be secure, fast, and reliable.
Does iPage Offer WordPress Hosting?
iPage does offer WordPress hosting, but it does not include pre-configured WordPress installations as Bluehost does. iPage’s plans are more basic and require users to install the platform themselves, along with all of its required plugins.
Winner: Bluehost
Will Bluehost Help With Website Migration?
Bluehost offers website migration services that easily transfer existing websites to the Bluehost platform. With Bluehost, users can move their websites without any hassle or worries associated with other hosting providers.
The process is simple and secure, requiring a few clicks to get started. Additionally, their free website transfer service includes assistance from their specialists, who will guide how to successfully and securely complete the migration process.
Will iPage Help With Website Migration?
iPage also offers website migration services, but they don’t provide the same level of support as Bluehost. While iPage offers a free website migration service, customers must transfer their websites manually.
Winner: Bluehost
Does Bluehost Offer Email Hosting?
Bluehost offers email hosting services that are both reliable and secure. It includes up to 5TB of Drive Cloud storage, a user-friendly interface, various email management features, and integrates well with Google. Bluehost also has multiple email address options to match the domain of different website accounts.
Does iPage Offer Email Hosting?
iPage also offers similar email hosting services, with up to 30GB of storage. Customers have access to an intuitive interface and various features for managing emails. However, while iPage integrates with most Google software, it does not offer the same level of integration as Bluehost.
Winner: Bluehost
Does Bluehost Have a Website Builder?
Bluehost offers a website builder with drag-and-drop technology, making designing and customizing websites easier. From beautiful templates to various elements that can be added, Bluehost’s website builder is perfect for novice users who are looking to create their own site without any knowledge of coding or web development.
Does iPage Have a Website Builder?
iPage offers a website builder for its customers who prefer to construct their own website. It uses a drag-and-drop editor, meaning users can easily add elements like images, text, audio files, and video clips with just a few clicks.
This powerful tool helps those inexperienced with coding and web design to quickly and easily create a professional-looking website without needing to start from scratch.
Winner: Tie
Bluehost Alternatives
After reading this review, if you find that Bluehost is not the right hosting provider for your business, there are many other options available.
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting is one of the top-rated alternatives to Bluehost. It’s well known for its incredibly fast hosting speeds and high levels of reliability and security. With A2 Hosting, you get a free SSL certificate, unlimited storage and bandwidth, and 24/7 customer service.
Their servers are also powered by cutting-edge hardware and are optimized for high performance. Plus, they provide shared web hosting plans for individuals or small businesses that need basic hosting features without breaking the bank.
Dreamhost
Dreamhost is another excellent alternative to Bluehost, providing reliable web hosting solutions for businesses and individuals. They offer different hosting plans tailored to specific needs, from shared hosting to managed WordPress hosting.
Dreamhost also provides a free domain name and email address with each plan and a one-click website builder for easy customization. Plus, their plans have an uptime guarantee of 99.9% and 24/7 customer support.
iPage Alternatives
If iPage is not the right host for you either, there are several alternatives that provide similar features.
Godaddy
GoDaddy is a popular web hosting and domain name provider, which is a great alternative to iPage. They offer various services, including domain registration, website hosting, managed WordPress hosting, and e-commerce solutions.
In addition to their wide range of features and services, they also provide 24/7 customer support and an intuitive user interface. With on-demand scalability and reliability, backed by competitive pricing and outstanding customer service, it’s no wonder why so many people choose Godaddy as an alternative to iPage.
Hostinger
Hostinger web hosting is an excellent alternative to iPage for those seeking an affordable website hosting solution. It provides powerful features and services at competitive prices, giving users the flexibility to customize their hosting solutions.
Additionally, Hostinger offers several tools that make it easy for users to manage their websites, including cPanel, Softaculous auto-installer, and WordPress. With its wide range of features, Hostinger is ideal for businesses of all sizes looking to quickly and easily get their websites up and running on the web.
Now You Decide
Bluehost and iPage offer exceptional hosting services, making them both great options for businesses needing reliable web hosting. Ultimately, when deciding between the two companies, it is essential to consider their differences.
While Bluehost offers more storage capacity, superior customer support, and a wide range of features, iPage offers cheaper plans and unlimited domains. You must find the right balance between features and cost that suits your business’s needs.
Whichever service you choose, you can be sure that Bluehost and iPage provide quality hosting solutions for all websites.
Are you interested in web hosting? Do you have any questions about our Bluehost vs. iPage review? Let us know in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Bluehost is a great hosting provider, but it may not be the best choice for everyone. Other providers could offer more suitable services depending on your needs and budget.
Yes, iPage is generally considered a reliable web hosting provider with competitive pricing and excellent customer service. They offer various features that make it easy for users to set up and manage their websites.
Dreamhost is one of the most popular Bluehost alternatives. They provide reliable hosting solutions, advanced features, a free domain name and email address, and excellent customer support.
It depends on your individual needs and budget. Bluehost offers more storage capacity, superior customer support, and a wide range of features, while iPage offers cheaper and unlimited domains. Consider your specific needs to find the right hosting provider for you.
Bluehost is one of the cheapest web hosting providers on the market due in part to their large customer base. They can offer such low prices by utilizing economies of scale and leveraging their vast network of servers.
The best platform for hosting will depend on your individual needs and budget. Bluehost and iPage are both great options for those looking for reliable web hosting solutions. Still, other providers may offer better features and services, depending on your needs. Research and compare different platforms to find the best one for you.