Hosting Reviews · Web Hosting
Bluehost Pricing Explained: Intro vs Renewal Costs
Pricing Guide • Renewal Costs • Total Cost
Bluehost pricing looks simple on the plan grid: three plans, three low monthly prices. The catch is that those prices only apply to your first term, and what you pay after that is two to two and a half times higher on the cheaper plans.
This guide explains how Bluehost pricing works, what each plan costs on the promotional term and at renewal, and what you will really pay over three and six years. Every total is our own arithmetic on Bluehost’s published prices, checked on November 13, 2026, and every step is shown so you can redo it with current numbers.
If you want the full picture of features as well as prices, read our Bluehost review first.
Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy Bluehost hosting through them, TechCognate may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and features were checked against Bluehost’s official pages on November 13, 2026, and we have not hands-on tested the service. Bluehost changes plans and promotions often, so confirm current pricing before you buy.
Quick answer: On a 36-month term, Bluehost costs $3.99, $6.99 or $14.99 a month for Starter, Business and eCommerce Essentials. They renew at $9.99, $13.99 and $21.99 a month. Over the first three years Starter costs $143.64 in total; the next three years at the renewal rate cost $359.64.
- Cheapest plan: Starter, $3.99 a month promo, $9.99 at renewal (two and a half times higher).
- Smallest renewal jump in percentage terms: eCommerce Essentials, $14.99 to $21.99 (about 47% higher).
- Hidden costs to plan for: domain renewal after year one, Pro Email after its one-month trial, and tax.
- Safety net: a 30-day money-back guarantee on hosting, minus a domain fee if you took the free domain.
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How Bluehost Pricing Works
Bluehost, like most large shared hosts, uses introductory pricing. You pay a discounted rate for your first term, and the plan then renews automatically at what Bluehost calls the “then-current regular rate” unless you cancel before renewal. Three points shape what you pay:
- The term: the prices on the shared and WordPress hosting grids are for a 36-month term. The pricing page does not list 12-month prices, so you will need to check checkout for shorter terms.
- Upfront billing: a 36-month plan is normally paid for at the start of the term, so the real upfront amount is the monthly price times 36, plus tax.
- The renewal rate: after the first term, the listed renewal price applies. Bluehost labels the promos as savings against that rate: 60% off Starter, 50% off Business and 32% off eCommerce Essentials.
Those savings labels match the arithmetic. For Starter, ($9.99 minus $3.99) divided by $9.99 is about 60%. For Business, ($13.99 minus $6.99) divided by $13.99 is about 50%. For eCommerce Essentials, ($21.99 minus $14.99) divided by $21.99 is about 32%.
Your Bluehost bill from checkout to renewal
Where each cost appears over the life of a 36-month plan.
Based on Bluehost’s shared hosting, WordPress hosting and pricing pages, checked November 13, 2026.
Bluehost Plan Prices: Promo vs Renewal
These are the three plans on Bluehost’s shared and WordPress hosting pages. Prices exclude tax.
| Plan | Promo (36 months) | Renews at | Increase per month | Renewal vs promo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $3.99 a month | $9.99 a month | +$6.00 | About 2.5 times (+150%) |
| Business | $6.99 a month | $13.99 a month | +$7.00 | About 2 times (+100%) |
| eCommerce Essentials | $14.99 a month | $21.99 a month | +$7.00 | About 1.5 times (+47%) |
The percentage column is our arithmetic. For example, Starter’s $6.00 increase divided by its $3.99 promo price is about 150%. Business’s $7.00 increase divided by $6.99 is about 100%, and eCommerce Essentials’ $7.00 divided by $14.99 is about 47%.
Above these plans Bluehost lists an Enterprise and Custom option with no public price; you contact sales for a quote. Bluehost also sells VPS, dedicated and cloud hosting, but the official pricing page did not show prices for them when we checked, so we have left them out.
3-Year Total Cost: Promo Term vs Renewal Term
This is the table most buyers need. It compares what a 36-month term costs at the promotional rate with what the same 36 months cost at the renewal rate, assuming you renew for another 36 months at the listed price.
| Plan | First 36 months (promo) | Next 36 months (renewal) | Difference | 6-year total and average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $3.99 × 36 = $143.64 | $9.99 × 36 = $359.64 | +$216.00 | $503.28 (about $6.99 a month) |
| Business | $6.99 × 36 = $251.64 | $13.99 × 36 = $503.64 | +$252.00 | $755.28 (about $10.49 a month) |
| eCommerce Essentials | $14.99 × 36 = $539.64 | $21.99 × 36 = $791.64 | +$252.00 | $1,331.28 (about $18.49 a month) |
How the six-year figures work: add the two 36-month totals, then divide by 72 months. For Starter, $143.64 plus $359.64 is $503.28, and $503.28 divided by 72 is $6.99. For Business, $251.64 plus $503.64 is $755.28, which is $10.49 a month. For eCommerce Essentials, $539.64 plus $791.64 is $1,331.28, which is $18.49 a month.
Two caveats. First, these totals exclude tax and add-ons. Second, Bluehost renews at the “then-current” regular rate, which could differ from today’s listed renewal price, and the renewal term may not be 36 months. Treat the second column as an estimate based on current figures.
Promo month vs renewal month, per plan
What one month costs on the first term compared with after renewal.
Source: Bluehost shared hosting page, checked November 13, 2026. Totals exclude tax.
Check Today’s Bluehost Pricing →
What Is Included in the Price
All three plans include these at no extra cost, according to Bluehost’s plan grids:
- A free domain for the first year (12- and 36-month terms, redeem within 90 days, premium domains excluded).
- Free SSL (Let’s Encrypt) and a free CDN.
- NVMe SSD storage: 10 GB on Starter, 50 GB on Business, 100 GB on eCommerce Essentials.
- A staging site, caching, SSH and WP-CLI, and malware scanning.
- Backups. The plan grid lists weekly backups, while the WordPress hosting FAQ says daily off-site backups, so check current backup frequency before you rely on them.
- A 30-day money-back guarantee.
Business and eCommerce Essentials add phone support, AI-powered malware removal and free domain privacy for the first year. eCommerce Essentials adds WooCommerce auto-install plus payments, subscriptions and memberships. For a feature-by-feature view, see our Bluehost plans compared guide.
Costs That Are Not in the Headline Price
These are the items that turn a $3.99 plan into a bigger bill. Plan for them before you check out.
- Domain renewal: the free domain lasts one year, then renews at the then-current rate. The pricing page points to your renewal center for that rate and does not list it, so we cannot give a number. Our Bluehost free domain guide covers the conditions.
- Domain privacy: free for the first year on Business and eCommerce Essentials only. We could not confirm the price after that.
- Pro Email: a one-month free trial, then $2.99 a month according to the pricing and WordPress hosting pages (the shared hosting terms we read said $2.50). At $2.99, the 35 paid months left in a 36-month term would cost $104.65 ($2.99 × 35).
- Tax: all listed prices exclude VAT, GST or sales tax where it applies.
- Add-ons at checkout: extra security or backup tools may be offered. Bluehost’s FAQ mentions SiteLock and CodeGuard as optional add-ons; untick anything you do not need.
Promotions and Discounts
When we checked, Bluehost was running a “Buy More, Save More” offer from October 1 to November 30, 2026. Its terms give 15% off one eligible product, 20% off two or 25% off three or more bought in the same order. The terms say the discount applies to the first 12-month term only, billed upfront, and cannot be combined with other offers. Eligible products listed include shared hosting and VPS hosting.
Because promotions change often, check our Bluehost deals page and the checkout itself before you buy. Do not stack assumptions: a 12-month discount does not change the 36-month promo price.
Refunds: What You Get Back
Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on hosting. Its terms say it does not refund cancellations after 30 days, and most add-ons, such as domains, are excluded. If your plan came with the free domain, a non-refundable domain fee is deducted from the refund, and you keep the domain. Test your site early in the window so you have time to decide.
How to Pay Less for Bluehost
- Pick the smallest plan that fits: Starter covers 10 websites, which is enough for most single blogs and business sites. Upgrade only for phone support, storage or WooCommerce tools.
- Take the longest term you are sure about: the 36-month price locks in the low rate for three years. If you are unsure about the host, a shorter term costs more per month but limits your risk.
- Skip extras you do not need: cancel the Pro Email trial if you use another email provider, and untick paid add-ons at checkout.
- Calendar both renewals: the domain renews after one year and the hosting after the term ends.
- Compare before renewal: a month before the term ends, check whether the renewal rate still suits you or whether moving is worth the effort.
Which price should you budget for?
A quick path from how long you plan to stay to the number that matters.
Averages are our arithmetic on Bluehost’s listed prices, checked November 13, 2026, before tax and add-ons.
Is Bluehost Good Value?
On the first term, yes for most small sites: $143.64 for three years of hosting with a free first-year domain, SSL, CDN and staging is a low entry cost. At renewal the value depends on the plan. Starter at $9.99 a month is still a modest monthly cost, but the jump from $3.99 is large. eCommerce Essentials has the smallest relative jump, because its promo discount is the smallest.
Value also depends on what you would otherwise pay for. If you need phone support or more than 10 GB of storage, Business at $6.99 is a better deal than adding services elsewhere. If you only need a simple blog and are cost sensitive, compare it with the hosts in our best cheap web hosting for beginners guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Bluehost per month?
On a 36-month term, Starter is $3.99 a month, Business is $6.99 and eCommerce Essentials is $14.99, before tax. Prices were checked November 13, 2026.
What does Bluehost cost after the first term?
The listed renewal prices are $9.99 a month for Starter, $13.99 for Business and $21.99 for eCommerce Essentials. Bluehost renews at the then-current regular rate, so confirm the figure before your term ends.
How much will I pay upfront?
A 36-month plan is paid for at the start: $143.64 for Starter, $251.64 for Business or $539.64 for eCommerce Essentials, plus tax and any add-ons.
Why is the Bluehost renewal price so much higher?
The first-term price is a promotional discount on the regular rate. Bluehost labels it as 60% off Starter, 50% off Business and 32% off eCommerce Essentials. At renewal the regular rate applies.
Does Bluehost offer monthly billing?
The plan grids show 36-month prices, and the pricing page does not list shorter terms. Check checkout for the terms available and their prices.
Is the domain free forever?
No. It is free for the first year, then renews at the then-current rate. You must redeem it within 90 days of buying hosting.
How much is Bluehost email?
Pro Email has a one-month free trial. The pricing and WordPress hosting pages say it then renews at $2.99 a month; one terms page we read said $2.50. Cancel the trial if you do not need it.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, within 30 days for hosting. Most add-ons are excluded, and a non-refundable domain fee is deducted if your plan included the free domain.
Is Bluehost cheaper than other hosts?
Its promo prices are low, but renewal prices matter more over time. Compare the six-year averages above with the hosts in our budget hosting guide before you decide.
Final Verdict
Bluehost pricing is fair once you read it properly. The first 36 months are cheap: $143.64 for Starter, $251.64 for Business and $539.64 for eCommerce Essentials. After that, budget for $9.99 to $21.99 a month plus domain renewal and any email you keep. Over six years, our arithmetic puts Starter at about $6.99 a month, Business at about $10.49 and eCommerce Essentials at about $18.49. If those numbers work for your site, Bluehost is a straightforward way to get started, and the 30-day refund window gives you time to test it.
Sources
- Bluehost shared hosting plans and terms (bluehost.com/hosting/shared), checked November 13, 2026
- Bluehost WordPress hosting plans and FAQ (bluehost.com/wordpress/wordpress-hosting), checked November 13, 2026
- Bluehost pricing page, Free Domain Policy and Buy More, Save More terms (bluehost.com/pricing), checked November 13, 2026
Jaykishan Panchal
Founder & CEO, TechCognate · SEO Strategist & WordPress Expert
Jaykishan Panchal is the founder of TechCognate and an SEO strategist with 15+ years of hands-on experience driving organic growth for businesses worldwide. He specialises in technical SEO, content strategy and GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation), helping brands stay visible in both traditional search and AI-driven discovery.
- Technical SEO
- Content Strategy
- AI & GEO
- Google Ads
- E-Commerce SEO