Bluehost

4.2 (9.8k reviews)

WordPress recommended hosting provider with website builder and ecommerce soluti...

VS 2026

Cloudways

4.6 (3.4k reviews)

Managed cloud hosting platform with multiple cloud providers and developer tools...

Bluehost vs Cloudways: Which Is Better in 2026?

Comprehensive comparison of Bluehost and Cloudways covering features, pricing, pros & cons, and our expert verdict to help you make the right choice for your business.

Quick Overview

Bluehost

  • Best for: WordPress beginners, Bloggers
  • Starting price: $2.95/mo
  • Category: hosting
  • Founded: 2003
View Full Profile

Cloudways

  • Best for: Developers, Agencies
  • Starting price: $14/mo
  • Category: hosting
  • Founded: 2011
View Full Profile

Feature Comparison

Side-by-side feature comparison to help you understand the key differences between Bluehost and Cloudways.

Feature
Bluehost
Cloudways
Website Builder
WordPress Hosting
Free SSL
Free Domain
SSD Storage
Email Hosting
Daily Backups
24/7 Support

Our Verdict

After extensive testing and analysis, Cloudways edges out as the winner in this comparison. While both tools excel in their respective areas, Cloudways offers better overall user satisfaction. Bluehost remains a strong alternative, especially for users who prioritize wordpress beginners.

Winner

Cloudways

Best for Developers and Agencies. Multiple cloud providers.

Try Cloudways
Alternative

Bluehost

Best for WordPress beginners and Bloggers. WordPress recommended.

Try Bluehost

Pros & Cons

Bluehost Pros & Cons

Pros
  • WordPress recommended
  • Free domain first year
  • Easy WordPress install
  • Good uptime
  • Affordable entry price
Cons
  • Higher renewal rates
  • Upsells during checkout
  • Backups cost extra
  • Site migrations cost

Cloudways Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Multiple cloud providers
  • Excellent performance
  • Pay-as-you-go
  • Free migrations
  • Staging environment
Cons
  • No email hosting
  • Learning curve
  • No domain registration
  • Extra cost for add-ons

Pricing Comparison

Compare the pricing plans and see which tool offers better value for your budget.

Bluehost

subscription
Starting from $3 /mo
Basic $3 /mo
  • 1 website
  • 10GB SSD
  • Free CDN
Choice Plus $5 /mo
  • Domain privacy
  • Auto backups
  • 1 year CodeGuard
Pro $14 /mo
  • Dedicated IP
  • SSL certificate
  • Domain privacy

Cloudways

subscription
Starting from $14 /mo
DigitalOcean 1GB $14 /mo
  • 1GB RAM
  • 25GB SSD
  • 1TB bandwidth
AWS Small $39 /mo
  • 2GB RAM
  • 20GB SSD
  • AWS infrastructure
Google Cloud $37 /mo
  • 1.7GB RAM
  • 20GB SSD
  • GCP infrastructure

Which Tool Is Best For You?

Choose Bluehost if you need:

  • WordPress beginners
  • Bloggers
  • Small businesses
  • First-time website owners
  • WordPress recommended
  • Free domain first year
Try Bluehost Free

Choose Cloudways if you need:

  • Developers
  • Agencies
  • Growing businesses
  • WooCommerce stores
  • Multiple cloud providers
  • Excellent performance
Try Cloudways Free

Bluehost vs Cloudways FAQ

What are the main differences between Bluehost and Cloudways?

Bluehost focuses on wordpress beginners with wordpress recommended, while Cloudways excels at developers with multiple cloud providers. Key differences include pricing structure, feature depth, and target user base.

Is Bluehost or Cloudways better for small businesses?

Both tools have paid plans. For small businesses with limited budgets, consider starting with the tool that offers Bluehost's lower starting price of $2.95/month.

What is the pricing difference between Bluehost and Cloudways?

Bluehost starts at $2.95/month, while Cloudways starts at $14/month. Both offer multiple pricing tiers with different feature sets.

Can Bluehost integrate with Cloudways?

While direct integration may vary, both Bluehost and Cloudways support third-party integrations through platforms like Zapier. Bluehost integrates with WordPress, WooCommerce, CloudFlare, while Cloudways works with WordPress, Magento, Laravel.

Which tool is easier to use, Bluehost or Cloudways?

Based on user reviews, Cloudways generally receives higher marks for ease of use with a 4.6 rating. However, ease of use can depend on your specific needs and technical background. Bluehost is known for free domain first year.

Does Bluehost or Cloudways offer better customer support?

Both Bluehost and Cloudways provide customer support, with options varying by plan tier. Bluehost offers support through standard support channels. Check each tool's specific plan for support details.

What are the pros of Bluehost compared to Cloudways?

Bluehost's main advantages include: WordPress recommended, Free domain first year, Easy WordPress install. Compared to Cloudways, it's particularly strong for wordpress beginners.

What are the cons of Bluehost compared to Cloudways?

Bluehost's potential drawbacks include: Higher renewal rates, Upsells during checkout. Cloudways may be a better choice if these limitations affect your use case.

Should I switch from Bluehost to Cloudways or vice versa?

Consider switching if your current tool doesn't meet your needs. Key factors include: current pain points, migration complexity, team training, and total cost of ownership. Use our ROI calculator to estimate the potential impact of switching.

Which tool is best for hosting in 2026?

In 2026, Cloudways leads in this comparison with a 4.6 rating. However, the best choice depends on your specific requirements. Bluehost excels for wordpress beginners, while Cloudways is ideal for developers.

Written by

AM
Alex Morgan Senior SaaS Analyst

Alex has spent over 8 years analyzing and comparing business software solutions. With a background in enterprise software sales and product management, he brings hands-on experience to every review. Alex specializes in CRM, marketing automation, and sales enablement tools.

127 articles
CRMMarketing AutomationSales Tools