Nayan Dhumal
Hostinger and Bluehost are the two hosts most new bloggers end up comparing. Both are cheap to start, both are recommended on WordPress.org, and both install WordPress for you. This comparison puts their current plans side by side so you can see which one fits your blog.
If you are starting a blog, you do not need the most powerful hosting. You need something affordable, reliable and simple to set up. Hostinger and Bluehost both aim at exactly that buyer, which is why choosing between them is hard.
The good news is that neither is a bad choice. The differences are in the details: how long you have to commit, what the price becomes at renewal, how many websites you can run, and what kind of support you get.
I have not run speed or uptime tests of my own, so this is not a benchmark comparison. Every figure below comes from each company’s own website, checked on 7 October 2026, in US dollars.
Disclosure
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what I recommend.
Key takeaways
- Hostinger’s entry plan was listed at $2.99 a month on a 48-month term. Bluehost’s was $3.99 a month on a 36-month term.
- The total you pay upfront for those terms is almost the same, around $143, but Hostinger’s covers a year longer.
- Bluehost’s renewal price is lower: $9.99 a month against Hostinger’s $10.99 on the entry plans.
- Bluehost’s entry plan allows 10 websites. Hostinger’s allows 3.
- Hostinger includes free email for the first year. Bluehost offers a one-month email trial.
- Both include a free domain for the first year, free SSL and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Quick comparison
This table compares the entry plan of each host, because that is the plan most new bloggers buy.
| Point | Hostinger Premium | Bluehost Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | $2.99 per month | $3.99 per month |
| Term for that price | 48 months | 36 months |
| Paid upfront for the term | About $143.52 | About $143.64 |
| Renews at | $10.99 per month | $9.99 per month |
| Websites | 3 | 10 |
| Storage | 20 GB SSD | 10 GB NVMe SSD |
| Free domain | First year | First year |
| Backups | Weekly | Weekly |
| 2 mailboxes per site, free for 1 year | One-month trial of Pro Email | |
| Free SSL and CDN | Yes | Yes |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
| On the WordPress.org recommended list | Yes | Yes |
Pricing: what you really pay
Both hosts advertise a low monthly figure. In both cases that figure depends on a long term, and you pay for the whole term at the start.
The first term
Hostinger’s Premium plan at $2.99 a month needs a 48-month term, which comes to about $143.52 before tax. Bluehost’s Starter plan at $3.99 a month needs a 36-month term, which comes to about $143.64.
So the amount leaving your account on day one is nearly identical. The difference is that Hostinger’s payment covers four years and Bluehost’s covers three.
Renewal
After the first term, both plans renew at a higher price. Hostinger Premium renews at $10.99 a month. Bluehost Starter renews at $9.99 a month. Over a full renewal term, Bluehost is the cheaper of the two.
That may sound like a small point today. It is the price you will be paying for most of the life of your blog, so it deserves a look before you choose.
Watch out
Neither headline price is a monthly bill. Both are the total for a long term divided by the number of months. Before you pay, look at the total charged today, the length of the term and the “renews at” price. Then check the cart and remove any extras you did not ask for.
The next plan up
If you want more than the basics, the comparison shifts.
| Point | Hostinger Unlimited | Bluehost Business |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | $3.99 per month | $6.99 per month |
| Term for that price | 48 months | 36 months |
| Renews at | $16.99 per month | $13.99 per month |
| Websites | Unlimited | 50 |
| Storage | 50 GB NVMe | 50 GB NVMe SSD |
| Backups | Daily | Weekly |
| Phone support | Not listed on the plan | Included |
Hostinger’s second plan is cheaper for the first term and includes daily backups. Bluehost’s second plan costs more at the start, renews for less and adds phone support.
Features compared
Websites and storage
Bluehost is more generous with the number of sites on its cheapest plan: 10 against Hostinger’s 3. If you plan to run several small sites, that matters. Hostinger gives you more storage on the entry plan, 20 GB against 10 GB, although Bluehost’s is the faster NVMe type.
For a single new blog, either allowance is far more than you will use in the first few years.
Backups
Both entry plans include weekly backups. Hostinger moves to daily backups on its Unlimited plan. On the Bluehost plans I checked, backups were listed as weekly.
Whichever you choose, add your own backup plugin and store copies away from your host. A host’s backup is a safety net, not a backup strategy.
This is one of the clearer differences. Hostinger’s Premium plan includes two mailboxes per website, free for the first year. Bluehost’s plans list a one-month free trial of its Pro Email service, which then becomes a paid extra.
If you want an address at your own domain from day one without paying more, Hostinger has the advantage in year one. Check what email costs after the free period with either host.
WordPress tools
Both hosts install WordPress for you and include a free SSL certificate and a CDN. Bluehost lists a WordPress staging site, managed WordPress updates and AI site creation tools on all its plans. Hostinger includes a small one-time allowance of AI credits and its own WordPress tools in hPanel.
WordPress.org describes Bluehost as its longest running recommended host. Hostinger is on the same list today.
Dashboard
Hostinger uses its own control panel, hPanel. Bluehost has its own account dashboard too. Both are designed for beginners. I would not choose between these hosts on the dashboard alone.
Performance and uptime
I have not tested either host’s speed, so I will only report what each company states.
Hostinger says its hosting runs on LiteSpeed web servers, with NVMe storage on its higher plans. Bluehost lists NVMe SSD storage on all the plans I checked and states a 99.99 percent uptime commitment, with a service credit if it falls short.
Published claims only go so far. Your theme, images and plugins will affect your loading speed at least as much as the host. Once your blog is live, test it yourself. My guide to speeding up WordPress explains how.
Support and refunds
Both hosts offer support around the clock. Bluehost lists 24/7 live chat, and includes phone support from its Business plan upward. Its Starter plan is marked as not including phone support. Hostinger’s main channel is live chat.
Both have a 30-day money-back guarantee on hosting. Bluehost states that the guarantee does not cover most add-ons, such as domains, and that a domain fee is deducted if you keep a free domain after cancelling. Expect similar conditions with any host, and read the refund terms before you buy.
Pros and cons of each
Hostinger
Pros
- Lower listed price, and the first term lasts four years
- Free email for the first year
- More storage on the entry plan
- Daily backups on the second plan
Cons
- Only 3 websites on the entry plan
- Higher renewal price
- The best price needs the longest commitment
Bluehost
Pros
- 10 websites on the entry plan
- Lower renewal price
- Staging site listed on every plan
- Phone support from the Business plan
Cons
- Email is a paid extra after a one-month trial
- Weekly backups on the plans I checked
- Less storage on the entry plan
Which one should you choose?
| If this sounds like you | Choose |
|---|---|
| You want the lowest cost over the first four years | Hostinger |
| You want email at your own domain included at the start | Hostinger |
| You want daily backups without paying much more | Hostinger Unlimited |
| You plan to run several small sites on the cheapest plan | Bluehost |
| You care most about the long-term renewal price | Bluehost |
| You want to be able to phone support | Bluehost Business |
For one new blog on a tight budget, I lean towards Hostinger. The first term is longer for the same money, and the free email is useful. If you already know you will run several sites, or you would rather pay less at renewal, Bluehost is the better match.
Whichever you pick, the steps afterwards are the same. My guide on how to start a blog takes you from hosting to your first published post, and my roundup of the best hosting for a new blog covers more options if neither of these feels right.
How to decide in ten minutes
If you are still unsure, work through these steps with both pricing pages open.
- Decide how long you will commit. Three years or four? If neither feels comfortable, look at the price of a 12-month term with each host.
- Write down the total due today. Use the figure at checkout in your own currency, including tax, not the monthly rate.
- Write down the renewal price. Multiply it by twelve to see your yearly cost after the first term.
- Count your websites. One blog fits either host. Four or more small sites on the cheapest plan points to Bluehost.
- Decide about email. If you need a mailbox at your own domain straight away, note what each host charges for it.
- Check backups. If you publish several times a week, daily backups are worth paying a little more for.
Most people find that one of these points settles the question. If none of them does, the two hosts are equally good for you, and you can choose on price alone.
A note on switching later
Your choice is not permanent. A WordPress blog can be moved from one host to another in an afternoon, and both of these companies provide migration tools. Many bloggers start on a cheap plan, stay for the first term, and then compare prices again before renewing. Set a reminder a month before your term ends so that the renewal does not catch you by surprise.
It is also worth remembering what hosting cannot do. Neither host will bring you readers. That comes from choosing the right topics and publishing useful posts regularly. If you have not settled on a topic yet, my guide on how to choose a profitable blog niche is the better use of your next hour.
Compare the current offers
Prices change often. Check today’s price, term and renewal rate on each host’s own site before you decide.
Sources I checked
All checked on 7 October 2026:
- Hostinger web hosting page for plans, prices and features.
- Bluehost shared hosting page for plans, prices, features and the guarantee.
- WordPress.org hosting page for the recommended hosts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hostinger cheaper than Bluehost?
On the entry plans, the listed monthly price is lower at Hostinger: $2.99 against $3.99 when I checked. Because the terms differ, the amount paid upfront is almost the same. Hostinger’s renewal price is higher, so Bluehost becomes cheaper after the first term.
Which is better for a beginner?
Both are built for beginners and install WordPress for you. Hostinger suits a single blog on a tight budget. Bluehost suits someone who wants to run several sites or prefers to have phone support available on a higher plan.
Do both hosts include a free domain?
Yes. Both include a free domain name for the first year on the plans I checked. After that you pay the normal yearly renewal fee for the domain.
Are Hostinger and Bluehost recommended by WordPress?
Both appear on the hosting page of WordPress.org, which lists a small number of recommended hosts.
Can I move from one host to the other later?
Yes. A WordPress blog can be moved between hosts, and many hosts provide a migration tool or service. Take a full backup before you start.
Do these prices include tax?
No. The prices I quote are the listed prices before tax, and they vary by country. Check the total in your own currency at checkout.