Are you thinking of creating a personal website? Whether your goal is to write or run a business online, then Bluehost and Squarespace might be the right option for you, as they both have the capability to assist you.
These options are two of the most common talked about hosts worldwide, both having the ability to develop a website in accordance with your own personal needs. However, the questions often asked is, which is better?
The two share similarities, but also contain major differences. So if you’re new to web hosting/building, or have the experience and are just seeking new options, then continue on with this article, and let’s explore this together.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the main and most important components so that you can evaluate well and see which one is better for you regardless of whether you have a blog or an e-commerce store. So, let’s get right to it and see the pros and cons on a deeper level.
Big Differences At a Glance
- Bluehost uses more of a standard cPanel.
- Squarespace has appealing design templates, which can be better for designers, online stores, photographers, and bloggers.
- Squarespace has a 14-day free trial, whereas Bluehost has a 30-day money back guarantee.
- Bluehost is less expensive starting at $2.95/month, with current discounts vs Squarespace starting at $12.00/month.
- Bluehost provides an option at $5.00 or five minute free plugins, which can allow you more feature access, where Squarespace won’t allow or provide this.
- Squarespace is considered an all in one website builder, so, therefore, you can’t download WordPress. Bluehost, on the other hand, can and is highly supported by WordPress.
- Both have 24/7 customer support. Most people consider Squarespace “top-notch,” efficient and prompt. Where Bluehost lacks support, it appears to be more based upon the efficiency of the support team than the efficiency and support of the customers.
What is Bluehost?
To have a website there are two items you must obtain, one of them being a web host and the other a domain.
Bluehost is one of the most popular and trusted hosting sites, supporting over a million websites all over the world. It is affordable with cheap plans and only starting at $2.95/month.
Being that Bluehost uses a standard cPanel and is supported by WordPress, helps navigating easily. It has 24/7 customer support, so if you’re new to web building there will always be someone there to guide you via email, chat or over the phone.
What is Squarespace?
Similar to Bluehost, this brand is also known all over the world, it is commonly one of the trusted brands out there. Squarespace has unique templates, and is an all-inclusive option, making setup an easy process.
This brand is beneficial, and well thought out. What’s best about this company is that all the key items are already there for you. Just get started and that’s it; no fuss and no mess to deal with.
SquareSpace also provides 24/7 support. Although it may be more of a pricer option at $12.00/month, they promise convenience for a new developer.
Features
Both Squarespace and Bluehost help millions of users with web building. By providing both web host and domains, this gives new developers the ability to create a website from scratch. Each choice, however, has some different approaches.
Platforms
Bluehost provides more of a standard, easy to navigate cPanel. This provides you with instruments, such as the ability to download WordPress, marketplace, advanced setting tools, etc.
If you are familiar with WordPress management system, once downloaded, this can be easily accessible with just a click of a button.
The CMS is self explanatory, even if you don’t have major knowledge in coding. The editing system also allows you access to images, videos, formatting layouts and more.
Squarespace has a platform in which provides the idea for new users to not have to worry about hiring custom developers, or having to perform coding themselves.
It is an all in one brand, and can easily aid newcomers and non technicians into building their website from scratch. However, it is slightly difficult to use.
Squarespace does not support WordPress. It has its own content management system. It provides a simple editor system, drag-and-drop feature, and a style editor.
Squarespace is also known as a full developer, allowing users full control over customization on their final products.
Hosting Plans/Prices
Both Squarespace and Bluehost provide unlimited bandwidth and storage options.
However, although their plans are named differently, Bluehost provides unlimited bandwidth, storage, and unlimited domain access for all three of their plans. Their prices don’t exceed $5.45/month.
Squarespace will ultimately provide unlimited access. However, prices can go up to as much as $40.00/month, depending on which plan you choose.
Although their features are unique, Bluehost is more of an affordable option.
Navigation and Design
Bluehost is designed to create an automated WordPress based website, this supports essential instruments and tools all in one place.
Navigating is easy with drag-and-drop capabilities, allowing for effectiveness when editing.
Squarespace also has a drag-and-drop feature. It claims to be a 100% tool. However, when put to the test, you will notice nothing happens sometimes when hovering over images and templates.
In the long run, you will need access to the style editor feature. This is considered the heart of the platform design. It allows users to resize elements, media content and more.
Both of these brands include mx records or mail exchange. The mail exchange is responsible for accepting email messages on behalf of a domain.
Although some brands do not offer this feature, we feel it is an important one to consider. This is because most servers require it.
Ease of Use
If you know the basics of coding and understand most hosting terms, then Bluehost would be the best option for you.
With its built-in WordPress advantages and all WP plugin access, the results could be endless.
Squarespace uses its own control management system. This means it has its limits. Honestly, it does not provide an easy to use interface.
Although Squarespace can limit you, it does give newcomers a more suitable opportunity to build from scratch. All without the headache of developing and coding all on your own.
When it comes to blogging, it comes down to how easily accessible the interface is. With more than half of bloggers choosing Bluehost at 100%, due to being able to access WordPress.
WordPress being such an easy and efficient host, provides necessary plugins, that can make it limitless for bloggers. With a low-cost rate, you’re definitely getting more for less the amount in cost.
Website Speed
BlueHost has a faster speed average according to speed tests. With a loading time of 0.6s only, BlueHost beats SquareSpace by a whopping 1.7 seconds.
Hopefully, Squarespace has a trick up their sleeve to get a nice leg up on BlueHost, because load time is definitely an important factor in websites.
It is a key factor that people use when deciding whether or not they want to continue to use a specific website. Nobody likes a slow website.
Limitations
BlueHost may have the advantage over Squarespace when it comes to load time. But when it comes to storage, Squarespace definitely has the advantage.
Squarespace offers you unlimited storage while BlueHost only offers you 50 GB of storage (with a basic package). We are not saying 50 GB is not a lot of storage; it certainly is a lot. But in a way, it limits you to just that amount of storage while Squarespace has no limits in the storage area. What’s better than no limits? If you’re one to use a lot of storage for your websites, Squarespace will be the better fit for you.
Other than storage, BlueHost and Squarespace do not really have any other limitations.
They both offer unlimited bandwidth and you can host an unlimited amount of websites (within the storage range). And they each have control panels.
So with either one of these hosting sites, you do not really have much holding you back which is quite the way to make a competition like this neck and neck.
Which is Better for SEO?
Naturally, you are going to want a hosting site that will promote your website in the best way. Without a website that appears often in the search engine, you really don’t have a good website.
Another factor is load time, which BlueHost has a leg up on. Because of the advantage BlueHost has in the speed department, more visitors are going to be attracted to a website that loads faster for them.
Squarespace is not going to be the hosting site that attracts visitors as moves a whole 1.7 seconds slower than Bluehost, as mentioned above.
Which is Better for Ecommerce?
In this case, if you are not really worried about search engine optimization, Squarespace is the better option for you.
Squarespace is especially good for ecommerce owners because their ecommerce features aren’t as complicated to use and it takes less time to set up a small ecommerce.
BlueHost makes you go through a lot of unnecessary steps that Squarespace will not put you through in order to set up your ecommerce. So if you are one to prefer taking the faster, easier route, then you will want to go with Squarespace for ecommerce.
Pricing Plans
Overall, BlueHost’s prices are lower compared to Squarespace. They are also way more transparent about what they offer, giving you the opportunity to decide whether or not the pricing seems fair.
For a basic package, you will pay $3.95/mo (this is a discounted price) and for a plus package, you pay $5.95/mo (also a discounted price). With the basic package, you get one website and 50 GB of storage.
With the plus package, you get unlimited websites and unlimited storage. Both packages come with a free SSL certificate and unmetered bandwidth.
Squarespace will charge you more per month, and it might even be significantly more depending on what type of website you want. If you are looking for a personal website, which can be used for personal blog posts or the promotion of creative writing, you pay $12/mo.
For business, good for monitoring transaction fees, you pay $18/mo. Both websites, however, come with unlimited bandwidth and storage as well as a mobile-optimized website to be used through mobile apps.
Realistically, it looks like Squarespace isn’t very open about what they’re offering and why they’re offering it for so much. Transparency is everything, and it is certainly something that Squarespace seems to lack according to multiple different sources.
Customer Support
Both hosting sites are known for their multiple channels in order to reach customer support. If you prefer over-the-phone conversations with people, not a problem.
Both BlueHost and Squarespace allow you to have phone conversations with real-life professionals. Other ways for you to communicate with customer service professionals for both BlueHost and Squarespace include live instant messaging chats, and you can also file tickets for professional assistance to get your issue looked at.
If you’re one to use your emails more often, Squarespace is the way to go as they offer you the ability to talk via email with customer service representatives.
While BlueHost has a leg up on Squarespace for speedy responses to customers, Squarespace evens out the competition with video tutorials on managing issues so that customers can try to solve their problems on their own first.
They can also use these video tutorials to hop on a technology learning curve, that way their knowledge in technology can gradually increase as time go on.
Final Verdict?
Both hosting sites are exceptional in their own unique ways, whether it may be unlimited storage, lower prices, tutorials to help customers, etc.
But when it all comes down to it, BlueHost has Squarespace beat overall. With faster loading speeds, lower and transparent prices (as well as all the tools you need for less). And the fact that it’s better for SEO, BlueHost is the hosting account that you will want to invest in for the long term, though Squarespace is a great close second.
Do you have any experience with either provider? What did you like? What did you dislike? Which would you choose – Bluehost vs Squarespace? Tell us in the comments section!
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