Namecheap vs. Bluehost (2023)

If you’re like most website owners, you know that a web hosting provider impacts your online presence. 

Finding the perfect hosting service can be daunting, and your website could suffer dire consequences with the wrong choice. 

Fortunately, I’m here to remove some of that stress and guide you through this tricky decision with a comprehensive Namecheap vs. Bluehost review.

As an experienced web developer and digital marketer, I have worked with many web hosts, including Namecheap and Bluehost.

Through my varied experiences, I understand what to look for when finding the perfect host. 

So let’s get into it to see who will come out on top!

How Did We Test Bluehost and Namecheap Hosting?

At Tweak Your Biz, we understand that when performing testing, it is crucial to use the highest and most reliable standards. 

That’s why we strive to stay ahead of the curve by relying on lab testing & data rather than our subjective point of view. 

Utilizing state-of-the-art testing software, we created two staging sites hosted on Namecheap and Bluehost to compare each website. We aim to provide you with consistent and accurate results you can trust.

After extensive trial sessions and questioning, our goal is to objectively rate these two hosting providers based on:

• Hosting Types & Features
• Performance & Speed
• Ease of Use
• Pricing & Value
• Website Security
• Help & Support
• WordPress Features
• Extras

By dedicating ourselves to reliable testing methods, we have developed a comprehensive comparative review of Namecheap Vs. Bluehost to help you decide which hosting provider is right for your website.

Namecheap Vs. Bluehost Winner:

After our extensive testing, it’s clear that Namecheap and Bluehost offer their own unique advantages. 

While they offer hosting services and domain registration, they shine in different areas.

As the name suggests, Bluehost stands out most with its web hosting capabilities, while Namecheap’s area of expertise is its domain registrar.

What is Bluehost Web Hosting?

For over 16 years, Bluehost has been at the helm of web hosting solutions, making them one of the industry’s most trusted and reliable names. 

Their range of services accommodates everyone, from beginners looking for an easy shared hosting platform for their first website to those needing more robust web hosting solutions like dedicated servers.

They also offer domain registration services. Check out our detailed Bluehost review for more information about this web hosting service!

Who Uses Bluehost?

Bluehost is an incredibly popular web hosting company that provides services to a wide variety of clients, ranging from:

• Huge tech companies
• Universities
• Travel companies
• Magazines
• Individual site owners

While the majority of Bluehost’s clients are more established entities with large amounts of traffic (i.e. The University of California LA, and SoftBank), their service remains an excellent option for those just getting started with creating their own website.

Benefits of Bluehost

Benefits of Bluehost include:

• Ease of use
• Variety of hosting options
• 24/7 Customer support via live chat and phone call

Where Bluehost Falls Short

Bluehost’s biggest downfall is the limitations of its website-building tools.

While the platform offers basic drag-and-drop options, it falls short compared to other hosting providers on the market who provide more comprehensive site builders.

Additionally, Bluehost offers limited plans that don’t include all of their features and services, which can be a bit of a letdown if you’re after an all-inclusive package.

What is Namecheap Hosting?

Namecheap facilitates all domain-related things, such as registering, transferring, and renewing.

Namecheap also offers hosting services, including:

• Shared hosting
• VPS hosting
• Dedicated servers
• and reseller hosting.

This ICANN-accredited company has been around since 2000, with 10 million customers and 77 million domains under management. To learn more about this provider, read our Namecheap review!

Who Uses Namecheap?

Namecheap quickly became the go-to domain name registrar for many of the world’s largest companies and organizations.

This includes tech giants such as:

• Amazon
• Facebook
• Google
• Microsoft
• and Twitter.

Namecheap is well-loved by individuals and small businesses due to its competitive prices and numerous yearly discounts.

Benefits of Namecheap

Namecheap offers many comprehensive benefits, including:

• Fast loading speeds
• Reseller hosting
• Affordable renewal prices for domain names

Where Namecheap Falls Short

The biggest con of Namecheap is a lack of phone support.

While they offer ticketed email customer support, and a 24/7 live chat, some users find these methods don’t offer the same level of personalized customer service as a phone call. 

Additionally, Namecheap does not offer a website builder. 

They feature a detailed guide to starting your website with WordPress on their blog, but Namecheap might not be for you if you value an easy drag-and-drop site builder. 

Bluehost Vs. Namecheap: The Details 

Now that we have examined the basic features of Bluehost and Namecheap, it’s time to see who comes out on top in the nitty-gritty details.

We’ll look at speed, security, customer support, and more to decide which provider is the strong leader in web hosting services.

What Types of Hosting Does Bluehost Have?

Bluehost offers 

• WordPress hosting
• WooCommerce
• VPS
• dedicated
• and shared hosting.

They also offer various plans to suit various budgets and online requirements. 

What Types of Hosting Does Namecheap Have?

Namecheap offers: 

• WordPress
• Shared
• Dedicated
• VPS hosting
• And Reseller hosting

Winner: 

Overall, Namecheap and Bluehost offer various hosting services to meet all needs.

However, Namecheap stands out with reseller hosting, an additional layer of service ideal for those who want to start their own business selling web hosting plans. 

Does Bluehost Have Uptime Issues?

Bluehost proved incredibly reliable in our uptime tests, with 99.98% uptime over three months of testing. 

During the first two weeks of testing, Bluehost maintained a 100% uptime, never dropping below that level during the entire period.

The only time we saw a slight dip in uptime was during the third week, when it dropped to 99.97%. 

However, this was still very good and didn’t cause significant problems. 

Does Namecheap Have Uptime Issues?

Namecheap’s uptime was mediocre during our tests, only maintaining an average of 99.89% over the three months.

During weeks two and three, there was a slight dip in uptime to 99.82%, but it bounced back up the following weeks to an average of 99.93%.

This is far from ideal and shows that Namecheap has room to improve uptime. 

Winner: Bluehost

Bluehost offers more reliable services, with a 99.98% average uptime over three months compared to Namecheap’s average of 99.89%, making Bluehost the clear winner. 

How Fast Is Bluehost?

We tested the speed of Bluehost by running a speed tester across several locations worldwide.

Our tests revealed that Bluehost was generally fast, with average page loading times ranging from 2 to 3 seconds.

We tested in various locations such as Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA and saw loading times of:

• 1.8s in Australia
• 2.2s in Canada
• 2.5s in UK
• and 2.1s in the USA

How Fast Is Namecheap?

We put Namecheap to the same tests and found that it performed exceptionally well, with loading times ranging from 1-2 seconds.

We tested in various locations such as Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA and saw loading times of: 

• 1.3s in Australia
• 1.7s in Canada
• 1.8s in UK
• and 1.2s in the USA

Winner: Namecheap

Namecheap surpassed expectations and became the winner, with faster loading times across all locations tested.

Bluehost Stress Test 

We subjected our Bluehost staging site to a stress test to see how many visitors it could handle before it started to slow down.

Here’s how it faired:

• 1000 simultaneous visitors: response times remained consistently fast.
• 5000 visitors: Page loading times were still within acceptable limits.
• 10,000 visitors: No noticeable disruption to speed or performance.

This is a testament to Bluehost’s quality services, as it managed to successfully keep up with our increased traffic without any noticeable slowdown or disruption in service. 

Namecheap Stress Test 

Here’s how Namecheap held up under the same stress tests:

• 1000 simultaneous visitors: No noticeable slowdown or disruption in service.
• 5000 visitors: Namecheap still maintained a good response time
• 10,000 visitors: No noticeable slowdown or disruption in service.

This shows that Namecheap provides reliable and quality service even under high-stress levels. 

Winner:

Both Namecheap and Bluehost are equipped to handle large amounts of traffic. We’re comfortable recommending either of these services if you have a high-volume website. 

How Easy is Bluehost to Use?

We tested the Bluehost user interface and found it intuitive and easy to use.

The dashboard is well laid-out, with all the essential information visible.

We also found that setting up new sites or managing existing ones is straightforward and only takes a few clicks.

Overall, we found Bluehost easy to use and navigate for users of all technical abilities.

How Easy is Namecheap to Use?

NameCheap is also fairly easy to use. 

The dashboard was straightforward and organized, with all the critical information accessible in a few clicks. 

However, we found that setting up new sites or managing existing ones took a bit longer than Bluehost due to an additional layer of complexity.

Nevertheless, Namecheap remains user-friendly and easily navigated even by users with less technical experience.

Winner: Bluehost

Namecheap and Bluehost are easy to use. However, Bluehost is slightly more intuitive for users of all abilities.

Bluehost’s straightforward dashboard allows for quick site setup and management, making Bluehost the winner in this category. 

Bluehost Pricing & Value

To compare pricing and value, let’s look at two of the main services offered by these providers: shared hosting and domain registration. 

Shared Hosting

Bluehost offers four shared hosting plans:

Basic: $2.95 per month

• Domain Name
• 1 Website
• 10 GB SSD
• Free CDN

Choice Plus: $5.45 per month

• Domain Name
• Unlimited Websites
• 40 GB SSD
• Free CDN

Online Store: $9.95 per month

• Domain Name
• Unlimited Websites
• 100 GB SSD
• Free CDN

Pro: $13.95 per month

• Domain Name
• Unlimited Websites
• 100GB SSD
• Free CDN
• Free Dedicated IP
• Optimized CPU Resources

Domain Registrar

Bluehost offers many top-level domains at discounted rates for your first year. The rates do go up upon renewal. 

For Example:

• .com: $12.99 (Renews at $19.99)
• .net: $14.99 (Renews at $19.99)
• .biz: $9.99 (Renews at $21.99)
• .info: $11.99 ( Renews at $21.99)

Namecheap Pricing & Value 

Namecheap offers three Shared hosting plans:

Stellar: $2.17 per month

• Domain name
• 3 Websites
• 20 GB SSD
• 30 Domain-Based Mailboxes

Stella Plus: $3.54 per month

• Domain Name
• Unlimited Websites
• Unmetered SSD
• Unlimited Domain-Based Mailboxes
• AutoBackup

Stellar business: $6.84 per month

• Domain Name
• Unlimited Websites
• 50 GB SSD
• Unlimited Domain-Based Mailboxes
• AutoBackup & Cloud Storage

Domain Registrar

Namecheap also offers their TLDs at a discounted rate for the first year, with an increase in price upon renewal.

For example:

• .com: $10.96 (renews at $20.02)
• .net: $13.70 (renews at $20. 57)
• .biz: $5.46 (renews at $10.96)
• .info: $3.40 (renews at $28.80)

Winner: Namecheap

Namecheap and Bluehost offer competitive pricing plans for shared hosting and domain name registration with discounts on select domains.

However, Namecheap offers the most value overall, with more features included in their base plans at a lower cost than Bluehost.

How Secure is Bluehost?

Bluehost takes security very seriously, utilizing server-level firewalls and IP blocking to protect its servers from malicious attacks.

They also provide malware scanning, removal tools, and email account protection.

Additionally, they offer a free SSL certificate with all plans, ensuring your site is secure and encrypted.

How Secure is Namecheap?

Namecheap also takes user security seriously, with anti-virus software installed on all their servers and regular backups of customer data.

They also provide a free SSL certificate with every hosting plan to ensure your website is secure and protected against malicious attacks such as DDoS.

They also offer two-factor authentication for extra security. 

Winner: Namecheap

Both Bluehost and Namecheap offer excellent security measures to keep your data safe. However, Namecheap offers two-factor authentication, which gives them the edge in this category.

Namecheap is the winner in this category! 

Can We Trust Bluehost?

Yes, you can trust Bluehost.

Bluehost has been the industry’s legitimate and reliable web hosting provider since 2003.

Bluehost is one of the most popular domain name registrars and web hosting providers worldwide, with over two million websites hosted on their platform.

Can We Trust Namecheap?

Yes, you can trust Namecheap! 

As one of the top domain name registrars, it provides an affordable and reliable option for web hosting and domain registration needs.

Since 2000, customers have taken advantage of their services. The long-standing business has helped millions create successful websites, build brands online, establish an online presence, or even start an online store.

Winner: Tie

When it comes to trustworthiness, you can’t go wrong with either Namecheap or Bluehost.

While Namecheap has been in the game a few years longer than Bluehost, both companies have been in the web hosting industry for over a decade and provide reliable services that customers can trust.

Is Bluehost Customer Support Good?

Bluehost offers 24/7 live chat with knowledgeable and helpful agents to answer any questions or assist with any issue you may have.

They offer a variety of tutorials, videos, blog posts that help users get started quickly, and detailed FAQs for further reference. 

Their support staff is available to assist with any technical issues you may face, from setting up a domain name to troubleshooting server errors.

Is Namecheap Customer Support Good?

Namecheap also offers excellent customer support services.

Namecheap offers 24/7 ticketed email support and live chat agents, so you can get help quickly with any issue or question.

However, they do not offer phone support, which can be a downside if you prefer speaking to someone on the phone.

Winner: Bluehost

Bluehost is the winner regarding customer support, as they offer phone support and 24/7 live chat.

Phone support allows users to get in touch with a real person quickly if they need help or have an issue that must be solved immediately.

Bluehost’s top-notch customer support provides users with the confidence they need to maintain a successful website.

Does Bluehost Offer WordPress Hosting?

Bluehost offers WordPress hosting and managed WordPress Hosting. 

With WordPress hosting, you get an optimized environment for running your website and a robust suite of tools to help you manage it.

Does Namecheap Offer WordPress Hosting?

Yes, Namecheap also offers managed WordPress hosting. 

With this hosting plan, you get an optimized environment explicitly tailored for running WordPress sites and access to tools that help you manage your website.

Winner: Bluehost

When it comes to WordPress Hosting, Bluehost is the winner. 

They offer both WordPress and managed WordPress hosting, giving customers more options when setting up their websites.

Will Bluehost Help With Website Migration 

Bluehost offers website and email account transfers to help you move your existing websites to their platform.

They offer up to five free websites and 20 email accounts with all their products and plans. In addition, they provide step-by-step guides that make the transfer process easy and stress-free.

Will Namecheap Help With Website Migration 

Namecheap offers a comprehensive suite of migration services to easily bring over everything you need to start or switch your online presence.

They guarantee migration within 24 hours and ensure minimal downtime during the entire process, promising no more than 15 minutes of interruption or your first year free!

Winner: Namecheap

When it comes to website migration, Namecheap is the clear winner.

Their promise of minimal downtime during transfers and their guarantee to complete the transfer within 24 hours gives users confidence when moving their sites over. 

Does Bluehost Offer Email Hosting 

Bluehost offers Google Workspace email starting at $6 a month.

This includes access to Gmail, Calendar, Chat, and other collaboration tools that help your team stay connected no matter where they are.

Does Namecheap Offer Email Hosting 

Namecheap offers email hosting starting at just $1.24 a month.

All plans include 

• anti-spam protection and security
• free forwarding email addresses
• 00GB of storage space per mailbox

They make it easy for you to customize the look of your emails with their template editor and provide a host of other features, such as email auto-responders, SMTP/POP3 protocol support, and more. 

Winner: Namecheap

When it comes to email hosting, both Namecheap and Bluehost are great options.

However, Namecheap offers more features for a fraction of the cost.

Does Bluehost Have a Website Builder?

Bluehost offers a website with drag-and-drop functionality built into its cPanel.

It is easy for beginners and experienced web admins and allows you to customize your website however you want. 

However, Bluehost’s website builder is not its main area of focus, and most Bluehost users opt to build their websites with WordPress.

Does Namecheap Have a Website Builder?

Namecheap does not have a website builder.

Namecheap offers WordPress hosting and has a comprehensive help guide to setting up a website with WordPress.

Winner: Bluehost

When it comes to website builders, Bluehost wins on the merit of having a website builder at all. 

While it isn’t their most vital feature, the host still provides users with an easy drag-and-drop website builder in the cPanel.

On the other hand, Namecheap does not have a website builder and is better suited for those who prefer to build their websites with WordPress.

Bluehost Alternatives 

If you’re already familiar with Bluehost, these are some web hosting alternatives to consider.

A2 Hosting

A2 hosting is one of the most reliable high-performance web hosting providers. 

With their fine-tuned SwiftServer platform, you can expect up to 20 times faster page loads than competing solutions.

Whether you’re a small business needing shared hosting or a developer looking for powerful VPS hosting, A2 Hosting has something for everyone.

They specialize in WordPress Hosting and Dedicated Servers that offer outstanding bandwidth and faster performance no matter how much traffic your site receives.

With their unbeatable customer service, they make sure to meet all your hosting needs quickly.

Dreamhost

DreamHost is a trusted leader in web hosting services, with over 20 years of experience in the industry! 

Since 1997, the company has provided quality shared hosting and VPS solutions to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

DreamHost’s network consists of Apache, nginx, and lighttpd web servers running on the Ubuntu operating system, this ensures an optimal performance that customers can depend on.

Additionally, they offer cloud storage and computing services so developers can do more with their resources.

With DreamHost’s reliable services and dedication to customer satisfaction, you can find a perfect solution for your hosting needs!

Namecheap Alternatives 

If you don’t think Namecheap is the right web hosting provider for your business, then check out these other services from other providers.

Godaddy

GoDaddy is a popular name when it comes to hosting services.

They offer website-building tools, domain name registration, email hosting, and more for small businesses.

With their multiple hosting plan tiers, you can choose the right fit for your needs and budget.

Dreamhost

DreamHost doesn’t just offer hosting solutions; they’re also a domain registrar! 

They provide reliable domain name registration services and an easy-to-use web control panel to manage all your domains in one place.

Their name servers are fast and secure, so you can ensure your website will stay up and running without any issues.

Now You Decide

Both Namecheap and Bluehost are excellent choices when it comes to web hosting.

But if you want more features and additional services, Namecheap can provide a better overall experience with their name servers, faster page loading speeds, free forwarding email addresses, and more storage space per mailbox.

On the other hand, Bluehost offers a great website builder and additional services like domain name registration and cloud storage.

No matter which option you choose, both companies will provide reliable hosting solutions – now it’s up to you to decide which one best fits your needs!

Which one are you going with for your web hosting needs? Namecheap or Bluehost? Let us know in the comments below!

Namecheap Vs. Bluehost FAQ