Reviewed by Nick Oakley, Head of Digital
Nicada Digital has built and looked after more than 800 websites since 2014, almost all of them on WordPress. Hosting is the part clients never see and always feel.
SiteGround and Bluehost are two of the names you will see most when you search for WordPress hosting. Bluehost is one of the hosts WordPress.org recommends, and it is part of Newfold Digital, a large hosting group. SiteGround is a privately owned company founded in Bulgaria in 2004, with a big following among WordPress professionals.
Before you read on
We are an affiliate for SiteGround, not Bluehost, and earn a commission if you buy SiteGround through our links. Bluehost wins on some points below and we have said so. Prices are US prices from each company's own site, checked in late September and early October 2026.
The short answer
Choose SiteGround if you want phone support on any plan, daily backups and staging, or you are outside the US.
Choose Bluehost if you are in the US, want the lowest price after year one, or want to host several sites on the cheapest plan.
At a Glance
| SiteGround | Bluehost | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | StartUp: $2.99/mo first 12 months, then $17.99 | Starter: $3.99/mo on 36 months, then $9.99 |
| Mid plan | GrowBig: $4.99, then $29.99 | Business: $6.99, then $13.99 |
| Sites on entry plan | 1 | 10 |
| Sites on mid plan | Unlimited | 50 |
| Phone support | Every plan, 24/7 | Not on Starter |
| Backups | Daily on every plan | Bluehost's pages say both weekly and daily |
| Malware removal | Paid extra | Included |
| UK site and prices in £ | Yes | No |
| Review Signal 2026 | Did not take part | Top Tier (Cloud-level plans) |
| Trustpilot | 4.9 from 30,899 | 4.5 from about 31,800 |
Price
The two companies structure their deals differently. SiteGround's low price is for your first 12 months, then it renews at the full rate. Bluehost's headline price needs a 36-month term, and its renewal prices are lower than SiteGround's.
So in the first year SiteGround is a little cheaper, and after that Bluehost is noticeably cheaper. If you plan to stay for several years and price matters most, Bluehost comes out ahead.
Two things to check with Bluehost: whether add-ons are ticked in your basket at checkout (several third-party reviews mention this), and that a free domain is deducted from any refund if you cancel in the first 30 days.
Support: SiteGround Wins
SiteGround includes phone, chat and ticket support on every plan, around the clock, from its own staff. Its Trustpilot score is 4.9 from more than 30,000 reviews.
Bluehost does not include phone support on its cheapest Starter plan. You need Business or above. Its Trustpilot score is a respectable 4.5.
Phone support on every plan
SiteGround's in-house team answers by phone, chat or ticket 24/7. GrowBig adds unlimited sites, staging and on-demand backups, plus the AI tools.
See SiteGround Plans →Put the renewal date in your diary. The price goes up after the first term.
Affiliate link. We earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Speed: Bluehost Has the Results
Bluehost did very well in the independent 2026 Review Signal benchmarks: Top Tier in the under-$25, $51–100 and $101–200 bands, and an Honourable Mention in the $25–50 band (where its firewall seems to have blocked the uptime monitors). The plans tested look like Bluehost's Cloud plans, which cost more than its basic shared hosting, so treat the results as a guide to the platform rather than to the $3.99 plan.
SiteGround did not take part in 2026, so there is no current independent result to compare. SiteGround runs on Google Cloud and is generally regarded as quick.
Backups and Safety Nets
- SiteGround backs up every plan daily and keeps 30 days. GrowBig adds staging and on-demand backups.
- Bluehost's plan cards say weekly backups, while its FAQ says daily. It also sells a paid backup add-on. Check what your plan includes before you rely on it.
- Malware: here Bluehost wins. It includes malware detection and removal. SiteGround charges for clean-up.
Outside the US: SiteGround Wins
If you are in the UK, this decides it for most people. SiteGround has a UK website, prices in pounds, a London data centre for its shared hosting and UK phone numbers. Bluehost prices in dollars and is built mainly around the US market. It has London for its VPS and dedicated servers, but we could not confirm London for its basic shared plans on its own site.
AI Tools
- SiteGround: an AI Agent for WordPress and free AI Studio tokens on every plan, plus Coderick AI for building apps. See our SiteGround AI tools guide.
- Bluehost: an AI website builder that lets you keep editing your site by chat after launch.
Which Should You Choose?
SiteGround, if:
- You are in the UK or Europe.
- You want to phone someone, whatever plan you are on.
- You want daily backups and staging.
- You want an AI agent to help run your WordPress site.
Bluehost, if:
- You are in the US and want the lowest price after year one.
- You want to host several sites on the cheapest plan.
- You want malware removal included.
If you go with SiteGround, choose GrowBig. See our SiteGround review and pricing guide. Comparing more hosts? Read SiteGround vs Hostinger and WPX vs SiteGround.
Try SiteGround with 30 days to change your mind
Start on GrowBig: unlimited sites, staging, and the AI tools included. Phone support any time, and 30 days to get your money back.
See SiteGround Plans →Put the renewal date in your diary. The price goes up after the first term.
Affiliate link. We earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SiteGround better than Bluehost?
For support, backups and UK buyers, yes. SiteGround has phone support on every plan, daily backups, staging on GrowBig, a UK website with prices in pounds and a London data centre. Bluehost is cheaper after the first term and fits more sites on its entry plan. Its Cloud plans also did very well in the 2026 independent speed tests.
Is Bluehost cheaper than SiteGround?
After the first term, yes. Bluehost's Starter plan is $3.99 a month on a 36-month term and renews at $9.99. SiteGround's StartUp is $2.99 for the first 12 months and renews at $17.99.
Does Bluehost have phone support?
Not on its cheapest plan. Bluehost's Starter plan does not include phone support; Business and above do. SiteGround includes phone support on every plan.
Which is better for UK websites?
SiteGround. It has a UK website with prices in pounds, a London data centre for shared hosting, and UK phone support. Bluehost prices in US dollars and is built mainly for the US market.
Was Bluehost in the Review Signal 2026 tests?
Yes, and it did well: Top Tier in three price bands and an Honourable Mention in another. The plans tested matched Bluehost's more expensive Cloud plans rather than its cheapest shared plans. SiteGround did not take part in 2026.
Who owns Bluehost?
Bluehost is part of Newfold Digital, which also owns several other hosting brands. SiteGround is privately owned and based in Bulgaria.