Are you wondering which is better for your website—Bluehost or Squarespace? You’re not alone. Choosing the right platform is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when building your online presence. Both Bluehost and Squarespace offer beginner-friendly tools to help you launch a website, but they cater to different needs. Bluehost gives you the flexibility and control of WordPress hosting, while Squarespace provides an all-in-one website builder experience. But which one offers better value, customization, performance, and long-term growth?
In this comparison, we’ll break down everything—from pricing and ease of use to SEO features and support—to help you decide which is the right platform for your blog, business, or portfolio. If you’re leaning toward Bluehost, you might want to explore this comprehensive Bluehost hosting evaluation for deeper insights on performance, real-world usage, and why it’s a trusted choice for WordPress users worldwide.
Bluehost Vs Squarespace 2025 (Quick Comparison)
| Feature | Bluehost | Squarespace | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hosting Plans & Flexibility | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, Managed WP hosting. Scalable. | Only builder-based hosting with fixed plans. No server control. | Bluehost |
| 2. Performance (Speed & Uptime) | 99.98% uptime, ~400ms speed, SSD, CDN, data centers. | 99.90% uptime, ~700ms speed, limited customization. | Bluehost |
| 3. Security Features | Free SSL, SiteLock, CodeGuard, advanced security options. | Basic SSL and DDoS protection. No backup restore or custom firewall. | Bluehost |
| 4. Ease of Use & Control Panel | cPanel access, FTP, MySQL, file manager. Beginner-friendly UI. | Drag-and-drop editor only. No access to file system or backend. | Bluehost |
| 5. WordPress Optimization | Official WordPress.org recommended. WP Pro hosting with Jetpack. | No WordPress support. Proprietary CMS only. | Bluehost |
| 6. Customer Support | 24/7 chat, phone, ticket system, and WordPress-trained agents. | Live chat only on weekdays. No phone or tech-level support. | Bluehost |
| 7. Pricing & Long-Term Value | Starts at $2.95/mo. Free domain & email. More storage and features. | Starts at $16/mo. Domain/email only on yearly plans. | Bluehost |
| 8. Website Migration & Onboarding | Free WordPress site migration. Guided onboarding & 1-click installs. | No WordPress migration tools. Manual rebuilding needed. | Bluehost |
| 9. Free Domain & Extras | Free domain (1st year), free business email, $100+ ad credits. | Free domain only with annual plan. Paid email via Google Workspace. | Bluehost |
| Overall Verdict | Best for long-term growth, flexibility, and WordPress users. | Good for beginners who want an all-in-one drag-and-drop site. | Bluehost ✅ |
💙 My Honest Take: Why I Still Recommend Bluehost After 12 Years
I’ve been using Bluehost for the past 12 years, and despite what you might read in some negative reviews, it has consistently delivered the best value for my money. From fast WordPress installation and a beginner-friendly dashboard to responsive support and solid uptime—it just works.
If you’re starting your blog in 2025 and don’t want to get overwhelmed with technical setups, Bluehost is the safest, smartest, and most affordable way to launch.
✅ I still use it for many of my blogs
✅ It’s officially recommended by WordPress.org
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✅ And it takes less than 15 minutes to launch your blog
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If you’re evaluating the Bluehost shared hosting tier, then this Bluehost pricing guide covers everything you need to know. And if Bluehost isn’t the only host you’re considering, check out our best blog hosting list.
Read Detailed Review of Bluehost Hosting Services
- Bluehost Dedicated Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost VPS Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost WooCommerce Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost Cloud Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost WordPress Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost Web Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost Webmail Setup 2025
- Why Use Bluehost for WordPress in 2025
- Bluehost Basic vs Choice Plus vs eCommerce
- How to Start a WordPress Blog on Bluehost in 2025
Bluehost vs Squarespace Comparison 2025: Which Hosting is Better?
If you’re deciding between Bluehost and Squarespace in 2025, you’re likely looking for the best blend of reliability, flexibility, and value. Both platforms are popular for different reasons—Bluehost is one of the most recommended hosting services, especially for WordPress users, while Squarespace is known for its sleek, all-in-one website builder approach. But which one should you trust for your online presence in 2025? Let’s break it down feature by feature.
1. Hosting Plans and Flexibility
Bluehost offers a wide range of hosting options—shared, VPS, dedicated, and WordPress hosting—catering to everyone from beginners to advanced users. This flexibility allows you to scale your hosting as your business grows.
Squarespace, on the other hand, offers fixed all-in-one plans. These plans include hosting, but they’re tightly coupled with the Squarespace website builder, limiting customization and flexibility. You can’t install your own CMS or tweak server settings.
Data-driven facts:
- Bluehost shared hosting starts at $2.95/month.
- Offers 4+ tiers: Shared, WordPress, VPS, Dedicated.
- Squarespace plans start at $16/month, all builder-bound.
- No access to server-level settings or different hosting types.
Winner: Bluehost
Why? Bluehost gives you room to grow. Whether you’re starting a blog or launching a SaaS platform, Bluehost offers flexible options without locking you into one system.
2. Performance: Speed, Uptime & Reliability
Bluehost powers over 2 million websites and has invested in modern infrastructure, including SSD storage, CDN integration, and multiple data centers to enhance performance.
Squarespace hosts all websites on its own infrastructure optimized for its builder, but you don’t get control over caching, CDN settings, or speed optimization plugins.
Data-driven facts:
- Bluehost uptime: 99.98% (source: HostingFacts).
- Bluehost average load time: 350–400 ms.
- Squarespace uptime: 99.90% (limited transparency).
- Squarespace load time: 700–800 ms on average.
Winner: Bluehost
Why? Bluehost outperforms Squarespace on load times and uptime benchmarks. Its server-level caching and global CDN options give websites a significant speed boost.
3. Security Features
Bluehost includes a wide range of security tools—free SSL certificates, malware detection, SiteLock security, spam protection, and CodeGuard backups.
Squarespace also offers free SSL and DDoS protection, but lacks deep-level control over security features or access to firewall and malware scan settings.
Data-driven facts:
- Bluehost includes CodeGuard Basic on Choice Plus plans.
- Offers free SSL on all plans + optional premium add-ons.
- Squarespace does not offer backup restoration features.
- Limited access to customize or add 3rd-party security layers.
Winner: Bluehost
Why? Bluehost wins for offering layered, customizable security—ideal for serious website owners who need more than just basic protection.
4. Control Panel & Ease of Use
Bluehost uses the industry-standard cPanel, enhanced with a beginner-friendly dashboard. You get access to file manager, database, DNS settings, and more.
Squarespace skips the traditional hosting dashboard in favor of an intuitive website editor. While beginner-friendly, it doesn’t provide backend access or flexibility for developers.
Data-driven facts:
- Bluehost’s interface supports both beginners and advanced users.
- Squarespace is fully closed-source with no access to cPanel.
- Bluehost supports 1-click installs, FTP access, cron jobs, and more.
- Squarespace users can’t manage databases or files directly.
Winner: Bluehost
Why? Bluehost gives you complete control, whether you’re a newbie or developer. Squarespace feels limiting once you outgrow its visual editor.
5. WordPress Optimization: Official vs Basic
Bluehost is officially recommended by WordPress.org and provides tailored hosting with performance optimization, staging environments, and built-in caching.
Squarespace does not support WordPress at all. You’re limited to its proprietary CMS.
Data-driven facts:
- Bluehost is 1 of only 3 WordPress.org-recommended hosts.
- Offers WP Pro plans with staging and Jetpack integration.
- Squarespace offers no WordPress installation or support.
- Bluehost provides automatic updates and plugin management.
Winner: Bluehost
Why? Bluehost is made for WordPress. If WordPress is your platform of choice (and it is for 43% of websites globally), Squarespace isn’t even in the race.
6. Customer Support: Real Help When You Need It
Bluehost offers 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and tickets. Their team is trained for WordPress and technical hosting issues.
Squarespace provides email support and live chat during limited hours. It’s responsive for builder-related issues, but less useful for technical troubleshooting.
Data-driven facts:
- Bluehost has 24/7 live chat and phone support.
- Squarespace offers live chat Monday–Friday only.
- Bluehost has detailed knowledge base and WordPress-specific help.
- Bluehost response time: ~30 seconds (live chat average).
Winner: Bluehost
Why? When your site goes down at 3 AM, Bluehost is there. Squarespace’s limited support window is a deal-breaker for mission-critical sites.
7. Pricing Breakdown & Long-Term Value
At first glance, Squarespace seems simpler with all-in-one pricing. But you’re paying for limitations. Bluehost offers better value for advanced features and scalability.
Data-driven facts:
- Bluehost basic hosting: $2.95/month (with free domain).
- Squarespace Personal Plan: $16/month (no email or advanced marketing).
- Bluehost includes 1 free domain + email + 50GB SSD.
- Bluehost renewal rate (Basic): ~$9.99/month vs Squarespace: $23/month.
Winner: Bluehost
Why? Bluehost offers long-term value by including email, domain, and scalability options—perfect for cost-conscious solopreneurs and small businesses.
8. Website Migration & Onboarding
Bluehost offers free WordPress migration and an easy onboarding wizard for beginners. You can also install hundreds of apps with one click.
Squarespace doesn’t support importing WordPress sites directly. You’ll need to manually rebuild content in their builder, which is time-consuming and restrictive.
Data-driven facts:
- Bluehost: Free WordPress site migration.
- 1-click installer for 100+ apps.
- Squarespace: No official migration tools.
- Manual page-by-page migration required from WordPress.
Winner: Bluehost
Why? Bluehost respects your time. If you’re switching platforms or starting fresh, Bluehost’s onboarding tools and migration support are far superior.
9. Free Domain and Other Advantages
Bluehost includes a free domain for 1 year, custom email accounts, unlimited bandwidth, and marketing credits—boosting value significantly.
Squarespace offers no free domain on monthly plans and charges extra for email through Google Workspace.
Data-driven facts:
- Bluehost: Free domain for 1st year on all plans.
- Squarespace: Free domain only on annual billing.
- Bluehost includes free email; Squarespace charges $6/user/month.
- Bluehost offers $100+ ad credit (Google Ads).
Winner: Bluehost
Why? Bluehost piles on the perks—domain, email, credits, and bandwidth. Squarespace’s clean design doesn’t make up for hidden costs.
Final Verdict: Bluehost Wins in 2025
When you compare Bluehost and Squarespace across hosting plans, speed, security, support, WordPress integration, and long-term value—Bluehost emerges as the better choice for most users in 2025.
Squarespace is great for people who want an all-in-one, drag-and-drop builder and don’t care about technical flexibility. But for bloggers, entrepreneurs, and businesses that plan to grow, Bluehost is hands-down the better investment.
Why Choose Bluehost?
- Offers unmatched flexibility and scalability.
- Official WordPress recommendation.
- 24/7 support and faster loading times.
- Free domain, email, migration, and app installs.
- Better value at lower pricing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bluehost better than Squarespace for WordPress websites?
Yes. Bluehost is officially recommended by WordPress.org and offers optimized WordPress hosting with built-in performance and security features. Squarespace does not support WordPress at all.
Which one is cheaper in the long run: Bluehost or Squarespace?
Bluehost is more cost-effective in the long term. It starts at $2.95/month and includes a free domain, email, and better scalability. Squarespace starts at $16/month with fewer features.
Does Squarespace offer more design templates than Bluehost?
Squarespace offers professionally designed templates with a drag-and-drop builder, but Bluehost gives you access to thousands of WordPress themes and plugins—offering more flexibility in design.
Can I migrate my website from Squarespace to Bluehost?
Yes, but it’s a manual process since Squarespace does not support automated WordPress migration. Bluehost offers free WordPress migration tools to make the process easier.
Which hosting provider is better for eCommerce?
Both support eCommerce, but Bluehost (with WordPress + WooCommerce) offers more flexibility, scalability, and control for online stores compared to Squarespace’s built-in tools.
Which one is more beginner-friendly in 2025?
Squarespace is more beginner-friendly out-of-the-box due to its visual builder. However, Bluehost offers a guided setup and cPanel, which becomes more powerful and flexible as you grow.
Do both offer customer support 24/7?
No. Bluehost offers 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and tickets. Squarespace only offers live chat on weekdays and email support, with no phone option.