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WPEngine vs Bluehost – Which One Is Worth Your Money?

WPEngine vs Bluehost – Which One Is Worth Your Money?

Hosting Comparisons, Web Hosting Comparisons

Your website’s host is an important factor to pay attention to as this is where a large part of its performance will rely on. 

Today, we’re going to talk about two of the most known hosting platforms: WPEngine and Bluehost. These two have similar approaches. The former is recognized for its developer tools, tech partners, and cloud hosting, while the latter focuses on multiple hosting solutions, website builder, and building guidance. 

In this article, we’re going to go more in-depth about what each web host offers so you can decide which will be a better platform for your goals. It will take a while to read so if you’re in a rush, check out our top 3 web hosting picks here.

Ready? OK let’s begin with our WPEngine vs Bluehost web hosting comparison!

Features of WPEngine

wpengine vs bluehost - hostingsmarts.com

First off, let us discuss the features that will be provided by WPEngine. They specialize in areas like site-building and management, open-source flexibility, site speed, scale, and security, and site analytics. Below is a brief overview of the most notable ones in each area.

1. GeoTarget

To increase both engagements and transactions, a feature called GeoTarget is integrated. This will analyze the IP address of a user and will show site contents that are related to the current geographical location found. 

Through this, you can expect improvements in the quality of content tailoring and personalization from one page to another, and will consequently lead to better site metrics.

This feature will also prevent issues regarding country-specific products which may accidentally be availed by one if no necessary cautions were provided.

2. Scalable Architecture

Traffic is not a stable site metric. This can go from the lowest of the low towards the highest one possible without even giving off preparatory signs. Major instability can lead to numerous hosting issues like bugs, inaccurate analytics, and laggy features, all of which will be a big disadvantage to your site.

Fortunately, WPEngine is equipped with Scalable Architecture that will allow it to adjust according to what is needed at the moment. Through this, services will be able to scale their functions up or down depending on the current traffic value.

3. Threat Detection and Blocking

Threat Detection and Blocking is a security feature that will automatically monitor the system for malicious and harmful elements that may threaten your website. Aside from detecting the present threats, the platform will also block them to prevent them from totally invading the system.

WPEngine focuses more on features that will help establish a better user experience online. A disadvantage of this, however, is that the overall performance of the host can be overshadowed by user-based features.

Pricing Plans of WPEngine

In this section, we will move on to talk about the pricing plans offered by WPEngine. You can expect 3 sets, one each for every hosting type. 

1. Startup

  • $30/month
  • 1 Website
  • 25,000 Visits/month
  • 10GB Storage
  • 50GB Bandwidth/month

2. Growth

  • $115/month
  • 10 Websites
  • 100,000 Visits/month
  • 20GB Storage
  • 200GB Bandwidth/month

3. Scale

  • $290/month
  • 30 Websites
  • 400,000 Visits/month
  • 50GB Storage
  • 500GB Bandwidth/month

Managed Hosting Plus, on the other hand, will give you the following choices:

1. Startup

  • $34/month
  • 1 Website
  • 25,000 Visits/month
  • 10GB Storage
  • 50GB Bandwidth/month

2. Growth

  • $125/month
  • 10 Websites
  • 100,000 Visits/month
  • 20GB Storage
  • 200GB Bandwidth/month

3. Scale

  • $310/month
  • 30 Websites
  • 400,000 Visits/month
  • 50GB Storage
  • 500GB Bandwidth/month

Lastly here are the plans for Secure Hosting:

1. Startup

  • $53/month
  • 1 Website
  • 25,000 Visits/month
  • 10GB Storage
  • 50GB Bandwidth/month

2. Growth

  • $150
  • 10 Websites
  • 100,000 Visits/month
  • 20GB Storage
  • 200GB Bandwidth/month

3. Scale

  • $350
  • 30 Websites
  • 400,000 Visits/month
  • 50GB Storage
  • 500GB Bandwidth/month

Note that every hosting solution offers custom plans. Through that, you can modify each feature according to what your site needs, and get an appropriate quote.

The Managed Hosting Solution is like the basic hosting solution so that will be suitable if you are just starting to grow your website. If your goal involves getting a plugin-compatible solution with additional functionalities, then you should look into Managed Hosting Plus.

If you want to prioritize security, and you want to go all out, then consider going for Secure Hosting.

Keep in mind that paying annually can provide you with greater discounts. This is a good payment method if you are set on committing to the platform long-term because as you may have noticed, pricing rates are a little expensive.

Pros and Cons of WPEngine

Here is a detailed list of some of the pros and cons of using WPEngine. First, here are the pros:

  • Automatic WordPress Updates

  • Effective Security Features

  • 60-Day Free Trial

The cons, on the other hand, are:

  • Expensive

  • Does not work with non-WordPress sites

  • Limited monthly storage and bandwidth

  • Incompatibility with numerous plugins

WPEngine will not be that helpful if you plan to be using other non-Wordpress Content Management Systems (CMS).  You find out more about Content Management Systems here.

WPEngine’s plans are also a little pricey so beginners may not be able to keep up with it especially if profit is not yet stable at the time. It does, however, have a reputable name when it comes to security so it’s worth taking a note.

So does Bluehost offer a more affordable and reliable solution? Let’s find out…

Features of Bluehost

For the features of Bluehost, you can expect them to revolve more around different hosting solutions instead of web areas.

wpengine versus bluehost web hosting comparison
To be specific, the available solutions in the platform include WordPress Hosting, Managed WordPress, Shared Hosting, Dedicated Hosting, VPS Hosting, and Online Store. All of these will serve different functionalities for different purposes.

Below are some of the best features present in the platform:

1. WordPress Integrations

Bluehost works directly with WordPress and is one of their 3 endorsed platforms, a huge plus. By availing of a plan from them, you can expect a one-click WordPress installation, along with its additional plugins. These will enable you to extend the functionalities of your site, and its capabilities as a hosted platform. Updates will also be provided automatically.

2. Website Creator

In addition to hosting your site, you will also have the chance to create new landing pages, and other pages at that, to further establish your own brand. With this, you will be able to save more money because you will not have to pay for third-party services. This will also be provided no matter what plan you purchase.

Alongside this, you will also be provided with custom themes and templates which will be helpful in the long run.

3. Free Site Attachments

Probably the best thing about Bluehost is the fact that it offers numerous benefits for free. These include free SSL Certificates, domains, CDN, Office 365, Domain Privacy, and Automated Backups.

These are commonly offered on other platforms but most of them will require additional charges before you can even access them. This is the complete opposite of the hosting platform at hand. Some of these will be available for a whole year, while some absolutely have no expiration.

4. Domain Manager

In terms of hosting, getting a hold, and managing each and every domain of your website is important. Doing so will assure that each gets the appropriate uptime possible. Domain errors and issues can also be prevented.

Taking this into account, Bluehost provides a feature called Domain Manager so site masters can easily purchase, manage, modify, transfer, and basically do anything related to keeping their domains in place.

Most, if not all, of the features integrated into the platform, are mainly focused on hosting. This means that you can rely on this platform if your goal involves bringing your website to the best online uptime possible.

Pricing Plans of Bluehost

Bluehost offers more specific plans because of the categorized hosting solutions. Below is a full overview.

bluehost vs WP Engine - Bluehost pricing plans and packages - hosting smarts
First, here are the pricing plans for WordPress Hosting:

Basic WordPress

  • $2.95/month
  • 1 Website
  • 50GB Storage

Plus WordPress

  • $5.45/month
  • Unlimited Websites
  • Unlimited Storage

Choice Plus WordPress

  • $5.45/month
  • Unlimited Websites
  • Unlimited Storage

For Managed WordPress, which is a relatively new plan, below are what you can expect:

Managed WordPress Build

  • $14.95/month
  • 1 Website
  • 50,000 Visitors/month
  • 20GB Storage

Managed WordPress Grow

  • $29.95
  • 1 Website
  • 150,000 Visitors/month
  • 40GB Storage

Managed WordPress Scale

  • $49.95
  • 1 Website
  • 500,000 Visitors/month
  • 80GB Storage

When it comes to Shared Hosting, here are the plans that you can avail:

Basic Shared

  • $5.95/month
  • 1 Website
  • 50GB Storage

Plus Shared

  • $7.95/month
  • Unlimited Websites
  • Unlimited Storage

Choice Plus Shared

  • $8.95/month
  • Unlimited Websites
  • Unlimited Storage

Pro Shared

The Pro Plan is a custom plan to which you can adjust features according to your current needs.

There are other solutions such as WooCommerce Hosting, Dedicated Hosting, and VPS Hosting, but the above solutions are some of the most commonly used.

Keep in mind that the prices stated above are fixed for a 36-month term so it will be best if you are determined on committing to Bluehost to get the most out of your money. Even so, it is still evident that the platform is one of the few that offers the most budget-friendly pricing rates.

Pros and Cons of Bluehost

Let’s now go on to the pros and cons of Bluehost. Here’s a list of the pros:

  • Lots of site freebies

  • Affordable

  • Suitable for long-term plans

  • Offers specific hosting solutions

  • Easy-to-use interface

  • Can be integrated with numerous site platforms

On the flip side, below are the cons:

  • Lacks security authentication

  • Fixed for annual terms

Bluehost evidently offers more advantages than disadvantages. This is a perfect hosting platform for any site no matter the base. It is also made to be beginner-friendly as you can see with its interface and pricing rates.

WPEngine vs Bluehost – Final Words

With its easy-to-use interface and affordable web hosting plans, Bluehost is the best choice here, especially if you’re just starting out. Bluehost is also one of only 3 web hosting companies to be endorsed by WordPress which gives you further peace of mind.

Bluehost is our number one web hosting pick and to find out more about why we rate it so highly, read our comprehensive Bluehost review.

If you’re ready to get started right now, click here to sign up with Bluehost at the special discounted price of just $2.95.