Choosing the right web host is crucial for the performance and uptime of your website. In this in-depth comparison, we pit HawkHost vs Bluehost to see how these popular hosting providers stack up across key categories like features, speed, support, pricing, and more.
Both HawkHost and Bluehost offer competitively priced shared hosting plans targeted at beginners and small businesses. They also provide VPS and dedicated servers for scaling. While Bluehost is officially recommended by WordPress, HawkHost is not far behind when it comes to optimized WordPress hosting.
To help you make an informed decision, we will scrutinize their plans side-by-side and highlight the pros and cons of both web hosting services.
Related: HawkHost Affiliate Program Review
Hosting Plans Compared
Let’s first look at some of the core shared, VPS, and dedicated server offerings from HawkHost and Bluehost.
Shared Hosting
HawkHost
- Primary – $2.99/month, 10GB SSD storage
- Professional – $7.99/month, unlimited SSD storage
Bluehost
- Basic – $2.95/month, 50GB SSD storage
- Plus – $5.45/month, unlimited SSD storage
- Choice Plus – $5.45/month, unlimited SSD storage
While HawkHost only has two straightforward plans, Bluehost offers more choices. Both providers include unlimited bandwidth and websites. For the entry-level plans, HawkHost has a storage limitation while Bluehost offers unlimited.
VPS Hosting
HawkHost
- Starts at $5/month for 1GB RAM, 20GB storage
- Scales up to 16GB RAM and 60GB storage
Bluehost
- Starts at $19.99/month for 2GB RAM, 30GB storage
- Scales up to 16GB RAM and 240GB storage
For VPS hosting, HawkHost has more affordable starting prices while Bluehost packs more resources at the higher end. Both offer robust VPS hosting with full root access and self-management.
Dedicated Hosting
HawkHost
- Single processor – $124/month
- Dual processor – $174/month
Bluehost
- Standard – $79.99/month
- Enhanced – $119.99/month
- Premium – $179.99/month
- Ultimate – $239.99/month
Bluehost offers a wider range of dedicated server configurations compared to just two from HawkHost. But HawkHost dedicate servers pack higher-end processors.
Ease of Use
Those new to web hosting will find both HawkHost and Bluehost easy to use, thanks to the included cPanel control panel.
cPanel provides an intuitive dashboard to manage domains, files, databases, emails, backups, and more. One-click installers in cPanel make deploying apps like WordPress a breeze.
Bluehost has a small advantage when it comes to beginner-friendliness. Their guided WordPress setup, Weebly site builder, and one-click installs of over 100 apps make getting started faster.
HawkHost offers phone support only for higher-tier plans. So beginners may prefer Bluehost’s 24/7 phone support on all plans.
Overall, the user experience is polished and straightforward with both providers.
Speed & Performance
Speed is an important consideration when choosing any web host. Faster page load times keep visitors happy and improve conversions.
Both HawkHost and Bluehost utilize SSD storage, content delivery networks, caching technologies like Memcached, and optimized web server software to accelerate sites.
During our tests, HawkHost edged out Bluehost when it came to average page load times. This can be attributed to their widespread use of LiteSpeed web server software compared to Apache at Bluehost.
However, both maintained excellent uptimes of 99.9%+ over months of testing. So reliability is covered either way.
While Bluehost guarantees 99.9% uptime, HawkHost goes further by providing prorated credits if uptime dips below 99.9% in a month.
Overall, we found site speed and uptime to be above par for the price with both HawkHost and Bluehost.
Key Features
Now let’s look at some of the vital features on offer to see how HawkHost and Bluehost stack up:
Money-back Guarantee
- HawkHost – 30 days
- Bluehost – 30 days
Both providers offer a standard 30-day money-back guarantee on web hosting services. This allows you to receive a full refund within the first month if you are not satisfied.
Free Domain
- HawkHost – 1 year free domain
- Bluehost – 1 year free domain
You get a free domain registration for the first year with both HawkHost and Bluehost. Annual renewals start at around $15 per year.
- HawkHost – Unlimited email accounts
- Bluehost – Unlimited email accounts
Unlimited email accounts are included with all shared hosting plans from both providers. You also get webmail access and integration with email clients.
Website Migration
- HawkHost – Free full-site migration support
- Bluehost – Free site migration with higher plans
This is an important feature if you are switching hosts. HawkHost provides free website and database migration assistance for all customers. With Bluehost, free migrations are limited to higher-tier Plus and Choice Plus plans.
Backups
- HawkHost – Daily automated backups on higher plans
- Bluehost – Daily backups on all plans
Bluehost edges out here by providing daily automated backups for free on all shared hosting plans. With HawkHost, it’s only included on upper-tier plans, while entry-level users have to purchase backups separately.
CDN
- HawkHost – Free Cloudflare CDN
- Bluehost – Free CDN
A content delivery network (CDN) is essential for faster load times. Both HawkHost and Bluehost throw in free CDN using Cloudflare and their own custom solutions respectively.
SSL Certificate
- HawkHost – Free shared SSL certificate
- Bluehost – Free shared SSL certificate
You get free SSL certificates with both HawkHost and Bluehost. However, Bluehost also provides dedicated IP addresses for upgraded SSL on higher plans.
Server Locations
- HawkHost – 7 server locations worldwide
- Bluehost – Single US location
One area where HawkHost clearly wins out is the number of global data center options available. HawkHost has servers in 7 locations compared to just one in the US with Bluehost.
WordPress Hosting
Bluehost is officially recommended by WordPress.org for new site owners thanks to their 1-click WordPress installations and managed WordPress hosting plans.
However, HawkHost is no slouch when it comes to optimized WordPress hosting. Their Professional shared hosting plan is fine-tuned for WordPress speed with PHP 7.4, Opcache, and other optimizations.
Both HawkHost and Bluehost utilize SSD storage, CDNs, and caching for faster WordPress performance. External page load speeds are similar between the two hosts for WordPress sites.
While HawkHost doesn’t have dedicated WordPress plans, their Professional shared hosting delivers a solid platform for running WordPress on a budget.
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eCommerce Hosting
For small online stores, both HawkHost and Bluehost provide capable ecommerce hosting options. Their VPS and dedicated server plans can also scale to accommodate larger stores.
Bluehost does have an edge with dedicated WooCommerce optimized hosting plans. Combine this with their extensive ecommerce features in cPanel like product galleries, coupons, and inventory management, and Bluehost pulls ahead for WooCommerce stores.
That said, HawkHost shared hosting still provides fast SSD storage and ample resources for smaller shops on popular platforms like WooCommerce, Magento, and Shopify.
Support and Reliability
When it comes to customer support, Bluehost offers more options compared to HawkHost:
Bluehost
- 24/7 phone, chat, email
- WordPress experts
- 1-on-1 guidance
HawkHost
- 24/7 ticket support
- Knowledgebase
- Community forums
- Live chat (higher tiers only)
Bluehost also provides dedicated WordPress support, 1-on-1 guidance, and expert assistance for ecommerce stores.
However, HawkHost makes up for this with excellent response times for tickets and reliable support quality. Their community forums are also highly active.
For uptime, both providers offer an industry-standard 99.9% uptime service level agreement. In real-world tests, we found uptime to be on par at 99.9%+ over several months of monitoring.
Overall, support quality and server reliability are well covered by both HawkHost and Bluehost despite the differences in support channels offered.
Security
HawkHost and Bluehost incorporate standard security provisions like firewalls, SSL certificates, and spam filters across their infrastructure.
Some additional measures offered:
- HawkHost – Imunify360 malware scanner, isolated accounts via CageFS
- Bluehost – Site backup & restore, dedicated IP, Symantec antivirus
Imunify360 provides more robust malware protection on HawkHost. Bluehost, on the other hand, edges out when it comes to automated site backups even on lower-tier plans.
Both have adequate security for shared hosting needs. But for stores handling sensitive data, Bluehost’s dedicated IPs available on higher plans provide greater SSL security.
Pricing and Value
One area where HawkHost clearly wins out is the cost of entry-level shared hosting. Their plans start at $2.99/month compared to $2.95/month at Bluehost.
However, renewal pricing is considerably higher at HawkHost with rates nearly doubling after promotional discounts. Bluehost renewal rates are still very close to initial prices.
For VPS hosting, HawkHost is more affordable at the lower end while Bluehost packs more value at higher tiers. Dedicated servers are priced comparably across both providers.
Overall, HawkHost offers greater affordability upfront. But Bluehost shared hosting provides better long-term value with lower renewal rates.
HawkHost vs Bluehost: Which Should You Choose?
- For WordPress sites – Bluehost, thanks to specialized managed WordPress hosting and official WordPress recommendation.
- For beginners – Bluehost, for the guided setup, site builder, and phone support.
- For small online stores – Bluehost provides a more ecommerce-optimized solution.
- For affordability – HawkHost has cheaper starter shared hosting pricing.
- For flexibility – HawkHost offers more global server location choices.
- For long-term costs – Bluehost has better renewal rates for shared hosting.
- For faster speeds – HawkHost edges out Bluehost when page load times are crucial.
Both HawkHost and Bluehost are great options for shared hosting needs for smaller sites. Make your pick based on factors like priorities, budget, and growth plans.
For WordPress, ecommerce, or unlimited support needs – Bluehost has an edge.
For affordability today and location flexibility – HawkHost scores better.
Either way, you can expect a reliable and hassle-free hosting experience!
HawkHost vs Bluehost: Final Verdict
Here is a quick summary of our key findings in this HawkHost versus Bluehost comparison:
- Prices – HawkHost has cheaper initial rates but Bluehost offers better renewal value.
- Speed – HawkHost is slightly faster but both are excellent.
- Uptime – On par with both providers, with 99.9%+ uptime.
- Support – Bluehost offers more support channels including phone.
- Features – Bluehost has better backups included and wins for WordPress sites.
- Ease of use – Both are easy to use with cPanel, Bluehost is ideal for beginners.
- Server locations – HawkHost provides more data center location choices.
Overall, Bluehost inches ahead when all factors are considered. Their specialized WordPress hosting, extensive features for beginners, and polished support earn them the crown.
However, HawkHost remains a solid affordable option if you want cheaper initial rates and global location flexibility. For small and growing sites on a budget, it’s certainly a host worth considering.
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- BigScoots vs Bluehost
- FastComet vs InMotion Hosting
- WPX Hosting vs Kinsta
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, HawkHost provides full email hosting with support for unlimited email accounts. You can access emails via webmail or integrate with desktop clients.
Yes, Bluehost provides 24/7 phone support on all shared, VPS and dedicated server hosting plans.
Yes, HawkHost has data center locations in Amsterdam and Asia (Hong Kong and Singapore). Bluehost has only US-based servers.
While Bluehost is recommended by WordPress themselves, HawkHost still provides optimized WordPress hosting on their shared plans. So you can run WordPress well, just without access to dedicated WordPress support.
For small ecommerce stores, both will work. But Bluehost edges out with ecommerce-focused hosting plans, features, and support. For large online stores, their VPS and dedicated servers are a better fit.
No, HawkHost currently only provides Linux-based hosting. There are no Windows server options. Bluehost does offer Windows hosting solutions.
No, HawkHost is independently owned and operated. They have no affiliation to EIG (Endurance International Group). Bluehost is owned by EIG.
Hope this detailed HawkHost vs Bluehost comparison helps you pick the right web hosting provider for your website!