BlueHost vs SiteGround vs CloudWays
- simcha22
- January 5, 2022
You may be wondering, why choose BlueHost, SiteGround, and CloudWays as a comparison, if there are so many other hosting providers out there. The answer is a simple one: These are 3 of my favorite. No, I haven’t tested every single provider out there (there’s new ones every day) – I have tried a bunch, and found these to be overall solid options. That being said….
I never liked all the initial fluff and stuff when I read blogs, so we’re going to get right into it.
Less time to read? Here's a brief overview:
- BlueHost excels as the simplistic one. Easy for non-geeks to navigate, lowest priced plans, and a clean UI.
- SiteGround comes in the middle ground. An intuitive interface becomes a pleasure to use, also affordable, and packed with utilities.
- CloudWays is the geek-centric platform. A plethora of options and configurations can leave you confused - or thrilled.
1. Ease of Use
First let’s begin with BlueHost. Possibly the most popular on this list, as well as the oldest, BlueHost ironed itself out as the more “reliable” GoDaddy (that’s correct, I am not a fan of GoDaddy). Bluehost has the most typical sort of layout that you’d be looking for. For beginners and those disinclined to spend time figuring out a new platform, BlueHost is the way to go. Simple menu’s with easy to navigate tabs, you won’t be hard-pressed to find what feature you need right away.
CloudWays, on the other hand, is a complete 180 degrees. I would recommend CloudWays only if you’re willing to take the time to learn the software. I’m not saying it takes a brain surgeon to figure it out, rather it just isn’t the standard, and will require some time to “play around with it”. That being said, I’m a geek and I love trying out new programs, so it was actually exciting for me. The styling looks super sleek and futuristic, so if needing a very 2022 looking site is at the top of the list, this fits the bill.
SiteGround comes in as the in between middle man. The interface will certainly require some time to get used to, though once you do, you will be rewarded with a very pleasant experience. They took away the regular visualisations including cPanel which BlueHost and many other providers use, and instead they created their own look… and I LOVE IT. They have very simplistic, yet innovative, styles and colors- more of a mosaic vibe.
2. Cost/Pricing
When it comes to affordability, BlueHost takes the cake. At the time of this writing they are running a promotion of $2.95/month for 12 months, and then only $9.99 thereafter- if you choose 36 month promo the price starts at $4.95. SiteGround comes in second, offering $3.99/month for 12 months with a $14.99/month standard rate- they don’t offer a 36 month deal. CloudWays is really not that far behind, especially if you don’t mind looking past the initial year of promos. They offer a “Get Started” free trial, and charge full price thereafter. The least expensive does come in at either $10 or $12/month, (depending on if you choose standard or premium), but this is the most watered down version.
All this being said, unless really pressed for cash I wouldn’t go for the cheapest plan of any. One thing I’ve learnt is that the there’s a reason they are the bottom of the barrel. Generally, once you sign up and start playing around with your web tools, you come to realize that you need certain “extra’s” that are only added on at a higher tier, as explained in the Features section. Take a look at the table below for the rest of the pricing comparisons.
As you can see, CloudWays takes the cake when it comes to the most expensive in the group. However, an important thing to note is that you really are getting a “higher level” of web hosting. While SiteGround & BlueHost are offering shared hosting, with CloudWays you’re getting your own dedicated platform. More on Dedicated VS Shared further down.
3. Features
This really depends on what level/tier package you’ll be paying for. However, we will break it down as simple as possible. Also it should be noted that this is not an exhaustive list, rather we will focus on the most important ones and the differences that you might look for. (For example, BlueHost, SiteGround, and CloudWays all offer Free CDN and Free SSL for your sites, but we did not list them below. If you’re unsure what these are, stay tuned for our next blog.)
Lowest tier
In addition to the above table, all plans offer just about the same CPU power, as well as caching, emails, and other standard hosting offers.
CloudWays is the clear winner here, especially since most people don’t need so much space for their website. However you’ll have to get over the lack of promo pricing, and pay the $10/Month.
Mid-tier
So what exactly is the difference between Dedicated & Shared Hosting and what do they mean?
The reason Dedicated Hosting solutions cost more than double what Shared Hosting costs, is because with Dedicated the providers are creating a unique space for you online to host your websites. They give your websites its own CPU cores, RAM, memory space, and everything is only yours. Shared hosting on the other hand, is exactly what it means: you share the “computer components” of your websites together with many other clientele- this is exactly how the hosting providers themselves can charge such a low price to host your websites, you’re getting the “group discount”.
Highest-tier
Ready to speed up your website? Try these tricks:
1. Caching your website so it loads quicker- all providers in this matchup offer free CDN which should help.2. Compress your images so it takes up less space. It also helps the page load quicker.3. Keep your site up to date with the latest programming language updates- whenever there’s an update, it generally helps the speed of the site as well.4. Delete any bloatware on the site. Are you using WordPress? I’m sure there are plugins sitting there that don’t need to be. Shopify? Plenty of images from old products to delete. Oh, and let’s not forget the product itself- if you aren’t selling it, get rid of it. The list goes on…4. Customer Service
Arguably the most important factor on the list. Beginning with BlueHost- possibly the most popular provider as well as the oldest, BlueHost ironed itself out as the more “reliable” GoDaddy (that’s correct, I am not a fan of GoDaddy). But although their customer service does stand out better than providers not in todays comparison, it pales when taking on SiteGround or CloudWays. The wait times are longer and in my experience the reps weren’t “up to par”.
Many hosting providers have veered away from any ability to actually reach out via phone- in 2022, it’s all done through chat. But what if you need to speak to someone? We all have those times where the chat box won’t cut it. Thanks to SiteGround, you get both options, and they excel in both. Whether you decide to chat or talk on the phone, you are sure to have minimal wait time, and your question to be answered right away.
CloudWays is known for amazing customer service, and they certainly are head to head with SiteGround. If I were choosing between the two I probably wouldn’t focus on who wins in the customer service arena, and rather decide which one offers the features I need, along with the pricing I’m okay with.
To close off and help you make the best decision- if you’re able to handle the learning curve, and are willing to spend the extra dough, go with CloudWays, you truly are getting what you pay for. If you’re looking for something fresh that will appease you and won’t take as long to figure out, SiteGround is the way to go. Finally, if you’re looking for the best priced option, or if you simply want the typical run of the mill kind of ]provider, then BlueHost is for you.
PS: Afterscript.IO offers white gloved service to setup, configure, and take care of all your hosting needs. If you’re looking for an agency to get you up and running without having to spend any time yourself figuring it out, we’re here for you.