Bluehost vs FatCow: Which Is Cheaper for a New Website?
The lowest advertised monthly figure rarely tells you what hosting will cost. Here is how to compare the first bill, renewal, domain, and extras—and when Bluehost makes sense.
Check the Bluehost 50% Discount Offer
Offer eligibility and final savings depend on the plan, term, region, and checkout. Review the total before you pay.
Affiliate disclosure: MentorsReview may earn a commission if you buy through our Bluehost link, at no extra cost to you. Our recommendation is based on the buying criteria below; the checkout price determines the actual deal.
Quick answer
For a new WordPress site, check Bluehost first. Its current Starter plan includes WordPress tools, SSL, a first-year domain on eligible terms, and 24/7 chat support. But we cannot honestly call Bluehost cheaper than FatCow today without a current FatCow checkout quote for the same term. FatCow’s older “Original” pricing in this article is outdated; use the comparison worksheet below to decide from actual totals.
Choose Bluehost if…
You want a straightforward WordPress launch and the discounted first-term total plus renewal fits your budget. The Starter tier is usually enough for a first blog; compare tiers before paying for extras.
Consider keeping FatCow if…
You already have a working site there and the renewal quote is acceptable. Moving hosts takes time and may involve email, domain, and backup work. Compare your existing bill before migrating just for a promotional rate.
Bluehost vs FatCow: what can we verify?
The old version compared “Bluehost Basic” at $2.95 a month with “FatCow Original” at $4.08, then calculated three years of savings. Those figures are not reliable for a new purchase in 2026. Bluehost currently markets Starter, and its displayed starting price changes with the selected term. We could not verify a current, publicly available FatCow new-customer price and renewal schedule. Do not treat the historical numbers as live offers.
| Buying question | Bluehost Starter | FatCow |
|---|---|---|
| Current new-customer price | Check the linked offer and select your billing term; promotional price varies. | Request or inspect a current checkout quote before comparing. |
| Renewal | Bluehost publishes a renewal schedule; the price varies by term and account. Confirm the amount shown at checkout. | Check your account renewal notice or written quote. |
| Website allowance | Bluehost currently advertises up to 10 sites on Starter, subject to plan terms. | Verify the exact current plan limits. |
| Storage | Bluehost currently advertises 10 GB NVMe SSD on Starter. | Check the current allowance and acceptable-use terms. |
| Domain and SSL | First-year domain on eligible terms and SSL are advertised; domain renewal costs extra. | Check the offer and later domain renewal. |
| Support | 24/7 chat advertised for Starter; phone support is not included on the currently displayed Starter plan. | Confirm support channels with FatCow before purchasing. |
Plan details reflect public Bluehost pages checked September 23, 2026. Offers can change. FatCow details need a current quote; blank certainty is better than a false price comparison.
How to find the genuinely cheaper option
Compare the same billing length and the same needs. A “per month” number on a long term can mean you pay the whole term up front. The best comparison is your total out-of-pocket cost over the period you expect to keep the site.
Two-year cost worksheet
First payment + first renewal + domain renewal + required add-ons + taxes = two-year total, assuming a 12-month initial term and another 12 months of service. For a 36-month initial term, compare the full 36-month invoice and the later 36-month renewal instead.
- Open both checkout pages or get written quotes on the same day.
- Choose the same term length and currency for each host.
- Record the hosting subtotal paid today—not just the monthly equivalent.
- Record the next renewal amount and date, plus domain renewal.
- Remove optional extras you do not need; add any necessary backups, email, or privacy charges.
Example, not a live offer: A plan billed at $4/month for 12 months costs $48 today. If it renews at $12/month and the domain costs $18 in year two, the two-year total is $48 + $144 + $18 = $210, before tax or add-ons. Repeat the arithmetic with your actual quotes for both providers.
Which Bluehost plan should a beginner choose?
Start with Starter for a simple blog, portfolio, or small business site if its storage and resource limits fit. Bluehost currently advertises WordPress setup tools, SSL, weekly website backups, and chat support. Do not buy a larger tier solely because the checkout highlights it. Pick Business only if its higher allowances or included features solve a real need; check whether any email product is a free trial with a later charge.
WordPress.org lists Bluehost among its recommended hosts, which is a useful signal for WordPress compatibility. That recommendation does not prove that Bluehost is fastest, cheapest, or the best support experience for every site. If your site is already on FatCow and performs well, include migration time in your decision.
Where hosting bills grow
Renewal after the promotion
Introductory discounts end. Bluehost publishes different renewal figures for monthly, 12-month, and 36-month terms. The renewal price in your account or order summary is the number to save. Put a calendar reminder before renewal so you can compare options while you still have time to act.
Domains and privacy
A “free domain” generally refers to the first year on eligible purchases; domain renewals are separate. Check whether domain privacy is included in your chosen tier and whether the domain extension you want qualifies. Domain registration charges may not be refunded if you cancel hosting.
Backups, email, and security
Confirm how often backups run and how easily you can restore one. Inspect optional security services, professional email trials, and paid add-ons before entering payment. A clean, smaller order is often better than a bundle of tools you will not use.
Is switching from FatCow worth it?
For an existing FatCow customer, compare your actual renewal invoice with Bluehost’s full first-term and next-term totals. A host migration can affect files, databases, DNS, email inboxes, and downtime. Make independent backups of the website and email, verify the destination site, then change DNS. Keep the old account active until the new site and email both work. Bluehost advertises a free site migration tool, but check whether it supports your particular site and email setup.
If you are starting from scratch, the migration issue disappears. Bluehost Starter is a reasonable first quote to obtain; you can decide whether the offer fits once you see the checkout total.
Our verdict
Bluehost is our practical pick for a new WordPress site when its offer and renewal both meet your budget. The verified features and simpler new-site path are the reasons, not an invented claim that it costs less than FatCow in every case. For current FatCow users, stay or switch based on your own renewal quote, migration effort, and the features you use.
Check My Bluehost Discount and Checkout Total
Frequently asked questions
Is Bluehost cheaper than FatCow?
Possibly, but the answer depends on both current quotes, the term, renewal, domain, and extras. Historical $2.95 and $4.08 figures are not a dependable current comparison.
Does the Bluehost link guarantee 50% off every plan?
No. It is the supplied 50% discount offer link, but eligibility and the actual discount must be confirmed on the landing page and checkout. Compare the charged total with the normal offer for the same plan and term.
Will I pay monthly if the page says “per month”?
Not necessarily. Many promotional monthly equivalents require an annual or multi-year upfront purchase. Confirm the billing term and first payment at checkout.
Does Bluehost Starter include phone support?
Bluehost’s current public Starter plan lists 24/7 chat and explicitly says phone support is not included. Higher tiers may differ.
Can I get my money back?
Bluehost describes a 30-day money-back policy for eligible new hosting purchases, with exclusions. Domains and many add-ons are treated differently, and the retained domain fee may be deducted. Read the policy for the exact plan you purchase.
Should I move an existing FatCow site for the discount?
Only after comparing the long-term total and checking the migration work. Preserve backups, confirm email transfer, and keep the old hosting active until the new site is verified.
How we checked
We reviewed Bluehost’s public hosting plan, pricing, renewal, and refund pages, plus WordPress.org’s host directory on September 23, 2026. We did not perform independent uptime benchmarks or complete a FatCow purchase; no performance winner or FatCow current price is claimed.
