Bluehost vs Wix – “Choose This One…”

Bluehost vs Wix

85.8 %

Overall Score

Bluehost vs Wix

80.8 %

Overall Score

Bluehost and Wix serve different needs in the web hosting and site-building space. Bluehost is a traditional web hosting provider, known for its compatibility with WordPress and emphasis on robust hosting solutions like shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting. It provides users with full control over website management, offering powerful customization tools but requires some technical knowledge to get the most out of its features.

Wix, on the other hand, is a website builder that combines hosting and site-building tools in a single platform. It’s designed for simplicity, offering a drag-and-drop editor with numerous templates and a suite of built-in tools, making it ideal for users who want to quickly build a site without technical expertise. Wix includes hosting in its plans and emphasizes ease of use over deep customization or control.

Bluehost is better suited for those who want more control, scalability, and the ability to use WordPress or other CMS platforms. Wix is best for users who prefer an all-in-one solution for rapid, code-free website creation.

Bluehost

Performance: |5.0| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bluehost generally provides solid performance for WordPress sites, with reliable uptime and good speed, especially on higher-tier plans. Its hosting options support scalability, though performance may vary on shared plans when sites receive heavy traffic.

Uptime: |4.9|⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bluehost generally provides strong uptime, around 99.9%, especially on higher-tier plans where dedicated resources reduce downtime risks. Its uptime reliability makes it a solid choice for WordPress and other CMS sites that require stability.

Customer Service: |4.8|⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bluehost offers 24/7 customer support through chat, phone, and a knowledge base, making it accessible for users with varied technical questions. Their support is particularly helpful for WordPress-related issues, as the team is well-versed in common CMS needs.

Wix

Performance: |4.8| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wix offers stable performance for small to medium sites built on its platform, with fast load times due to its optimized infrastructure. However, Wix is less flexible for handling high-traffic spikes, making it better suited to smaller websites rather than high-demand applications.

Uptime: |4.9|⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wix also maintains high uptime, close to 99.9%, thanks to its managed infrastructure, which is optimized for the sites built on its platform. However, Wix’s uptime performance is typically geared toward smaller websites rather than high-demand, complex sites.

Customer Service: |4.7|⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wix provides customer support via email, chat, and phone, though response times can vary based on the plan. Premium users receive priority support, and Wix’s comprehensive help center covers most platform-specific questions. However, Wix support may have limitations with more technical or advanced hosting queries.

Overall Comparison Bluehost vs Wix

The primary difference between these two providers is that Wix is a website builder platform with beautiful templates, allowing you to quickly create your site. In contrast, Bluehost is a web hosting provider offering affordable hosting plans with a robust control panel.

AspectBluehost Wix
Hosting TypeWeb hosting providerWebsite builder with integrated hosting
Best For WordPress and CMS usersNon-technical users needing easy setup
Hosting OptionsShared, VPS, Dedicated Managed hosting included with site builder
Ease of UseModerate, with cPanel interfaceVery easy, drag-and-drop editor
CustomizationHigh, with access to codingLimited; template-based
Performance Good speed, especially on higher-tier plans Optimized for small to medium sites
eCommerceAvailable on advanced plansBuilt-in eCommerce on all plans
Customer Support24/7 phone and chat support Email, chat, phone; priority on premium
Pricing Affordable, with various plan tiers Competitive, with free and premium options

1. Plans and Pricing

When it comes to pricing, there’s a clear difference between Wix and Bluehost. Wix is generally more expensive, with paid plans ranging from $10.50/month to $79.50/month, covering options from basic sites to eCommerce capabilities. Unlike Bluehost, Wix also offers a free plan. On the other hand, Bluehost’s popular shared hosting plans range from $1.99/month to $9.99/month.

To compare the value of each provider’s entry-level plans:

Both Wix and Bluehost offer a free domain, a free SSL certificate, and hosting for one website. However, their offerings diverge from there:

Wix Combo ($10.50/month): Includes 3GB storage, 30 minutes of video hosting, and no ads on the website.

Bluehost Basic ($1.99/month): Includes 50GB storage and 5 email accounts.

At a glance, Bluehost offers considerably more storage than Wix. However, Bluehost focuses primarily on hosting, whereas Wix provides a full-featured website builder along with hosting.

Another key detail: Wix has a free plan with limited resources (500MB of both storage and bandwidth), restricted to Wix subdomains, and displays Wix ads, though it’s useful for testing the builder without cost.

When it comes to renewal, Bluehost increases rates, which is common in the hosting industry. Wix, as a website builder, doesn’t follow this trend, keeping rates stable.

Plan TypeBluehost Wix
Starting Price $2.95/month (Basic Plan) $16/month (Combo Plan)
Basic Plan $2.95/month $16/month
Most Popular Plan$5.45/month (Plus Plan) $27/month (Unlimited Plan)
eCommerce Plan $9.95/month (Online Store) $35/month (Business Basic)
Free Domain Yes, for the first year No, available with premium plans
Free SSL CertificateYesYes
Money-Back Guarantee30 days14 days
Renewal PricingHigher than introductory rates Higher than introductory rates

Wix offers four website plans, priced between $10.50/month and $45.00/month when billed annually. For business needs, Wix provides three Business plans, ranging from $27.00/month to $79.50/month, also on an annual billing cycle.

Depending on your requirements, here are two plans to consider:

Combo ($10.50/month): Ideal for a personal or small business website, this plan includes essential features suited for these types of sites.

Business Unlimited ($32.00/month): Perfect for small businesses needing eCommerce functionality and enhanced security, this plan provides additional storage, ad credits, and extra marketing tools.

2. Features

Bluehost offers impressive features and ranks among the top hosting providers. Based on our research, we rated it 4.2 out of 5—a strong score, though it focuses solely on hosting.

Wix, by contrast, delivers a complete website-building experience in one convenient package. It provides templates, marketing tools, SEO options, a powerful editor, an app store, and hosting as well. While Bluehost’s hosting performance is superior, with more storage and overall power, Wix offers a broader range of tools beyond hosting alone. Reflecting this versatility, we rated Wix’s features at 4.9 out of 5 stars.

FeatureBluehost Wix
Hosting TypesOffers shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting plansIntegrated hosting and site builder platform
Storage 10 GB SSD2GB
Free DomainFree domain for the first year Free Wix subdomain; custom
domain with premium plans
Free SSL CertificateYes (first year)Yes
Automatic BackupsDaily Website Backups (Free 1st year),
not with Basic Plan
Yes
Control PanelAdvanced control panel (cPanel) Intuitive interface; limited back-end control
Email AccountsFree (up to 10 accounts)No
Free Site MigrationFree WordPress migration (1 site)
or paid (up to 5 sites)
Free manual migration with the
help of third-party apps
Money-Back Guarantee30-day14-day trial period for Premium plans
Support24/7 customer supportPriority support on premium plans

Bluehost, by contrast, is a hosting provider that allows you to build a website using any content management system (CMS) you prefer, with a strong focus on the popular WordPress platform.

Comparing Wix and Bluehost is very possible—in fact, it’s a common decision for those building their first website, given the popularity and beginner-friendly approach of both.

So, which is better? Is there a clear winner? The only way to find out is to put these two companies to the test.

Hosting Management

AspectBluehost Wix
Control PanelcPanel for easy management Custom dashboard
Setup Process Requires some technical knowledge Quick and user-friendly setup
Website MigrationFree site migration for WordPress Limited migration options
Performance MonitoringResource usage and performance stats availableBasic performance metrics provided
Backup Options Automatic backups available on higher plans Manual backups; no automatic feature
ScalabilityHighly scalable with various hosting optionsLimited scalability for larger websites
Security Features Free SSL, malware protection, and monitoring Built-in security features
Updates ManagementUser-managed updates for plugins/themesAutomatic updates for the platform

Pricing of Bluehost Hosting

Bluehost hosting price

Pricing of Wix Hosting

wix pricing

3. Performance

Performance can make or break a website, so to determine which provider is faster, I tested both Wix and Bluehost for reliability and speed across three key areas. Both proved equally reliable, though Bluehost demonstrated faster speeds, while Wix handled higher traffic loads effectively.

Here’s a closer look at the results:

Uptime and Response Time

Each provider was tested over different time periods—Bluehost for two months and Wix for just over a month.

During that month, Wix experienced 5 brief outages, totaling 7 minutes of downtime, resulting in a solid 99.99% uptime.

Page performance bluehost

Page Performance of Wix

Wix Page performance

Website Speed

Now, let’s see how Wix and Bluehost perform with fully built websites.

To test this, I added templates and demo content to sites on each provider. Since Wix doesn’t use WordPress and Bluehost does, the templates varied slightly.

To keep conditions fair in this Wix vs. Bluehost comparison, I tested both from the US, with each site hosted on US-based data centers.

4. Ease of Use

In this Wix vs. Bluehost comparison, both providers excel in ease of use. Wix offers a sleek, custom-designed control panel for managing your site, while Bluehost provides a native management dashboard integrated with a customized version of cPanel. Both platforms also offer easy-to-use tools for website building.

Bluehost:

Moderate Complexity: While Bluehost offers a user-friendly interface, it requires some technical knowledge, especially for managing advanced features and settings.

cPanel Access: Users have access to cPanel, which provides various tools for managing domains, databases, and files, but it may be overwhelming for beginners.

WordPress Integration: The one-click WordPress installation simplifies setting up a WordPress site, but ongoing management may require familiarity with the platform.

Support Resources: Comprehensive tutorials and customer support are available to help users navigate the platform.

Wix:

User-Friendly Interface: Wix is designed for simplicity, featuring a drag-and-drop editor that allows users to build websites without any coding skills.

Template Variety: Users can choose from numerous pre-designed templates, making it easy to create visually appealing sites quickly.

All-in-One Solution: Hosting, domain registration, and site-building tools are integrated into one platform, reducing the complexity of managing multiple services.

Intuitive Features: Built-in tools for SEO, eCommerce, and social media integration are straightforward, making it easy for users to enhance their sites.

Hosting Provided

Bluehost hosting provided
wix hosting provided

What Our Customers Have to Say?

Bluehost

ReliabilityMany users praise Bluehost for its reliable uptime and consistent performance, especially for WordPress sites.

Customer Support: Customers appreciate the 24/7 support, often highlighting the helpfulness of the team in resolving technical issues.

Ease of Use: While some users find the cPanel interface a bit complex, others appreciate the variety of tools available for managing their sites.

Value for Money: Users often mention the affordability of Bluehost’s plans, especially for the features provided in entry-level packages.

Wix

User-Friendly Interface: Customers love the drag-and-drop builder, noting that it makes website creation accessible for those with no technical skills.

Design Flexibility: Users frequently praise the variety of templates and customization options available, allowing for visually appealing websites.

Customer Support: Feedback on customer support is mixed, with some users reporting positive experiences while others mention delays in response times.

Performance for Small Sites: Many users find Wix suitable for small to medium-sized sites, appreciating the built-in tools for SEO and eCommerce.

Advantage of Bluehost and Wix

BluehostWix
cPanel, WordPress-friendly Simple drag-and-drop builder
Reliable with scalable options Stable for small to medium sites
High, with coding and cPanel access Wide template selection
24/7 chat and phonePriority support on premium plans
Available on higher plans Built-in on most plans
Affordable starting rates, discountsFree version; competitive for basic sites
Highly scalable Simple upgrades within Wix
Free domain (1st year); free SSL Free SSL and subdomain

Disadvantage of Bluehost and Wix

BluehostWix
Complex for beginnersLimited backend control
Slower on shared plans Not ideal for high-traffic sites
Technical setup needed for advanced Limited beyond templates
Mixed response times Slower support on basic plans
Setup needed for advanced features Limited for large stores
Higher renewal rates Costly premium plans
Advanced plans pricier Limited for resource-heavy sites
Domain renewals cost extraCustom domain requires premium plan

5. Support

When it comes to customer support, Wix and Bluehost differ significantly. Wix provides support through tickets or callback requests, but no live chat option. In contrast, Bluehost offers multiple support options, including 24/7 live chat and phone support. Both providers also have extensive knowledge bases on their websites.

To contact Wix’s support, you’ll first need to interact with a chatbot before submitting a ticket or requesting a callback, which can slow down the process.

Bluehost Customer Support

Availability: Offers 24/7 support via live chat and phone, ensuring assistance is accessible at any time.

Expertise: Support staff are knowledgeable, particularly in WordPress-related queries, providing efficient resolutions.

Resources: Provides a comprehensive knowledge base with tutorials and guides for self-help.

Response Time: Generally prompt, though some users report occasional delays during peak times.

Wix Customer Support

Availability: Offers 24/7 support through live chat and phone for premium users, ensuring round-the-clock assistance.

User-Friendliness: Support is tailored for beginners, assisting with website building and design queries.

Resource Center: Extensive help center with articles and video tutorials to guide users through various features.

Prioritization: Premium plan users receive priority support, leading to faster response times.

Wix offers free callback support in multiple languages—including English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Only English support is available 24/7, while the others have limited hours. These multilingual options earn Wix some extra points.

On the other hand, Bluehost is easier to reach with more support options, including live chat. Plus, wait times for an agent to join the chat are typically short.

6. Security

When it comes to security, Wix and Bluehost differ significantly. Bluehost, as a hosting provider, allows you to manage most security measures, but many features are available only as add-ons. In contrast, Wix offers a range of integrated security features, although you have limited control over them.

Both providers include free SSL certificates and DDoS protection.

Security FeatureBluehostWix
SSL CertificatesFree SSL on all plans Free SSL on all plans
Malware Protection Malware scanning on premium plansBuilt-in malware protection
Backup Options Auto backups on higher plansManual backups; auto on premium
FirewallsNetwork firewall Built-in firewall
DDoS ProtectionIncluded Included
Updates User-managed for WordPress/plugins Automatic platform updates
Security AlertsReal-time alerts Real-time alerts
Access Control Customizable on advanced plans Basic access control

Wix Security Features

24/7 Website Monitoring: Helps prevent malicious attacks on your site.

PCI Compliance: Ensures that all card payment transactions are secure.

2-Step Verification: Adds an extra layer of security during login.

Automatic Backups: Managed through the Site History feature, allowing easy restoration of previous versions if needed.

On the other hand, most of Bluehost’s additional security features come at an extra cost:

There is no default firewall or malware protection, but you can add these for $5.99/month.

Backup options are only available with at least the Choice Plus plan; otherwise, they cost an additional $2.99/month.

Final Recommendations

Category BluehostWix
Ease of Use Users with tech skillsBeginners wanting an easy builder
PerformanceScalable, high-performance sites Small to medium sites with steady traffic
Customization Advanced coding optionsQuick setup with templates
Customer Support 24/7 support for WordPress Priority support for premium users
eCommerce Customizable online storesSmall to medium eCommerce sites
Pricing Affordable long-term plansFree or low-cost starter plans
Scalability Sites needing VPS or dedicated hosting Simple sites without high demand
Security Custom security options Built-in platform security

Frequently Asked Questions

Bluehost is primarily used for web hosting, particularly for WordPress sites, offering various hosting plans like shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting.

Wix is a website builder that integrates hosting, allowing users to create and manage websites without coding knowledge.

Wix is generally easier for beginners due to its drag-and-drop interface and user-friendly setup.

Yes, both platforms allow you to use your own domain name; Bluehost offers a free domain for the first year, while Wix requires a premium plan for a custom domain.

Bluehost is better suited for high-traffic sites due to its scalable hosting options, including VPS and dedicated servers.

Bluehost offers 24/7 support via chat and phone, while Wix provides support primarily through chat and phone for premium users.

Yes, both platforms support eCommerce, with Bluehost offering advanced features on higher-tier plans and Wix providing built-in eCommerce tools on all plans.

Bluehost offers more customization options with access to coding and plugins, while Wix is limited to template-based customization.

Bluehost provides free SSL, malware protection, and backups on higher plans, while Wix includes free SSL and built-in security features.

Yes, Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, while Wix provides a 14-day money-back guarantee on premium plans.

Bluehost often offers lower starting prices, but renewal rates can be higher. Wix has a free version but may be more expensive for premium features.

Yes, you can migrate your site from Bluehost to Wix or vice versa, but the process may require manual intervention, especially for complex sites.

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