Choose WordPress.com if…
- you care most about the renewal bill: $9.00/mo vs $9.99/mo after the intro term.
WordPress.com vs Bluehost: WordPress Hosting Prices Compared
Bluehost is the cheaper of the two over 5 years: its entry plan (Starter) costs $383.40 including renewals, $96.60 less than WordPress.com Personal at $480.00.
Across the 6 measurable points below, WordPress.com comes out ahead on 2 and Bluehost on 4. Prices are the intro and renewal rates from our plan data; the 5-year cost assumes you buy the intro term, then renew at the regular rate.
At a Glance
| WordPress.com | Bluehost | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Personal | Starter |
| Starting intro price | $4.00/mo | $3.99/mo |
| Entry plan renewal price | $9.00/mo | $9.99/mo |
| Renewal increase | +125% | +150% |
| 5-year cost (entry plan) | $480.00 | $383.40 |
| Websites (entry plan) | 1 | 10 |
| Storage (entry plan) | 6 GB | 10 GB |
| Plans listed | 4 | 3 |
| Control panel | Custom panel | cPanel |
Highlighted cells mark the better value on that row.
Choose Bluehost if…
- you want the lowest upfront price: $3.99/mo vs $4.00/mo for WordPress.com.
- you plan to stay for years: the entry plan costs $383.40 over 5 years vs $480.00.
- you run several sites: the entry plan allows 10 websites vs 1.
- you need more room for media and backups: 10 GB vs 6 GB on the entry plan.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
WordPress.com plans
| Plan | Intro | Renewal | Intro term | 5-year cost | Websites | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal | $4.00/mo | $9.00/mo | 1 year | $480.00 | 1 | 6 GB |
| Premium | $8.00/mo | $18.00/mo | 1 year | $960.00 | 1 | 13 GB |
| Business | $25.00/mo | $40.00/mo | 1 year | $2,220.00 | 1 | 50 GB |
| Commerce | $45.00/mo | $70.00/mo | 1 year | $3,900.00 | 1 | 50 GB |
All WordPress.com plan details · WordPress.com renewal price
Bluehost plans
| Plan | Intro | Renewal | Intro term | 5-year cost | Websites | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $3.99/mo | $9.99/mo | 3 years | $383.40 | 10 | 10 GB |
| Business | $6.99/mo | $13.99/mo | 3 years | $587.40 | 50 | 50 GB |
| eCommerce Essentials | $14.99/mo | $21.99/mo | 3 years | $1,067.40 | 100 | 100 GB |
Pros and Cons
WordPress.com
- Zero maintenance (fully managed)
- Free plan available
- Global CDN included
- Limited customization on lower plans
- Cannot upload plugins on cheaper tiers
- More expensive for full features
Bluehost
- User-friendly for beginners
- Officially recommended by WordPress.org
- Affordable introductory pricing
- High renewal rates
- Aggressive upselling during signup
- No monthly billing option
Recent Pricing and Plan Changes
WordPress.com
Full WordPress.com price historyBluehost
Full Bluehost price historyWordPress.com vs Bluehost FAQ
Is WordPress.com cheaper than Bluehost?
On the intro term, Bluehost is cheaper: Starter starts at $3.99/mo, compared with $4.00/mo for WordPress.com Personal.
Which renews cheaper, WordPress.com or Bluehost?
WordPress.com renews cheaper: $9.00/mo for Personal, versus $9.99/mo for Bluehost Starter.
How much do WordPress.com and Bluehost cost over 5 years?
Buying the intro term and then renewing, the entry plans cost $480.00 at WordPress.com (Personal) and $383.40 at Bluehost (Starter) over 5 years.
Which gives more storage, WordPress.com or Bluehost?
On the entry plans, WordPress.com Personal includes 6 GB of storage and Bluehost Starter includes 10 GB.