If you're launching a blog, portfolio, or client project in 2025, chances are you've come across Bluehost. It’s been around for over two decades, endorsed by WordPress.org, and remains one of the most recommended shared hosting services.
But is Bluehost still developer-friendly? Is it worth choosing for modern web projects, or should you look at alternatives like DigitalOcean, Hostinger, or VPS-based setups?
We tested Bluehost's shared hosting service in early 2025 and here’s what we found.
What's New in Bluehost in 2025?
- Bluehost has added a few updates this year aimed at ease-of-use and faster onboarding:
- AI-powered onboarding assistant (auto-installs WP, configures DNS, suggests templates)
- Refreshed control panel UI — faster and cleaner
- Updated PHP support (v8.2 out of the box)
- CDN support built-in (via Cloudflare)
- Email spam filters have improved significantly
For devs working with small WordPress sites or low-traffic apps, this is a solid entry-level toolset.
Real-World Hosting Test Results
We spun up a default WordPress site using Astra + caching plugin, hosted on Bluehost’s Basic Shared plan.
Results over 60 days:
- Uptime: 99.96%
- Load Time (U.S.): 480–530ms
- Load Time (Asia): ~650ms
- Support response (chat): ~3–5 minutes
Load times are competitive for shared hosting. And for clients who need a reliable WP host with low setup friction, Bluehost still works.
Pros and Cons (From a Dev Perspective)
Pros:
- Easy WordPress installs
- Free SSL + domain + email hosting
- Clean, upgraded dashboard
- Support is fast for simple queries
- Solid enough for non-mission-critical projects
Cons:
- No SSH on Basic plan (Plus+ required)
- Aggressive upsells during checkout
- No staging environments
- Renewal pricing jumps after 1 year
💸 Pricing Snapshot (as of July 2025)
Plan Promo Price Renewal Price
Basic Shared $2.95/mo $10.99/mo
Plus Shared $5.45/mo $13.99/mo
Choice Plus $5.45/mo $17.99/mo
Online Store $9.95/mo $24.99/mo
Final Thoughts for Developers & Freelancers
If you’re a developer managing light websites, blogs, or client WordPress setups — Bluehost still gets the job done. It's not a replacement for VPS, and it lacks dev tools like staging or CI/CD integration. But for under $3/month (promo rate), it’s a no-frills starter option.
If you want more detail, tech specs, and coupon advice, check out this complete Bluehost hosting breakdown we recently published:
Complete Bluehost hosting breakdown
We go deeper into performance metrics, platform quirks, and how to keep costs down.
Conclusion
- Bluehost works well for low- to mid-tier WordPress projects
- Avoid if you need full control, staging, or SSH (on the basic plan)
- Best value when used with verified offers
- Still a solid pick in 2025 for client work, portfolios, or affiliate blogs
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