What Is Bluehost Choice Plus? Complete Review & Guide (2026)

What Is Bluehost Choice Plus?

Bluehost Choice Plus is a managed shared hosting plan specifically designed for WordPress websites. The service sits in the middle tier of Bluehost's shared hosting lineup, targeting site owners who want WordPress-specific features without the complexity of managing their own server infrastructure.

The plan includes automated WordPress maintenance, daily backups, and a staging environment — features typically found in more expensive managed WordPress hosts. Bluehost positions Choice Plus as a solution for small to medium websites that need more than basic shared hosting but don't require the resources of VPS or dedicated servers.

Unlike basic shared hosting plans, Choice Plus includes WordPress-specific tooling and support from specialists who understand the platform's requirements. The service runs on shared servers, meaning multiple websites share the same physical hardware and resources.

Key Features and Specs

Bluehost Choice Plus includes several WordPress-focused features that distinguish it from standard shared hosting:

WordPress Management: The plan automatically handles WordPress core updates, plugin updates, and security patches. Users can enable or disable automatic updates through the control panel, though Bluehost recommends keeping them active for security.

Daily Backups: The service performs daily automatic backups of both website files and databases. Users can restore from backups through the Bluehost control panel, with restore points typically available for 30 days.

Staging Environment: Choice Plus includes a staging site where users can test changes, plugin updates, or theme modifications before pushing them to the live website. The staging environment mirrors the production site's configuration.

Free Domain and SSL: New customers receive a free domain registration for the first year, plus a free SSL certificate that automatically renews. The SSL certificate uses Let's Encrypt technology with automatic installation.

Cloudflare CDN Integration: The plan includes basic Cloudflare CDN integration, which caches static content across Cloudflare's global network to improve loading times for international visitors.

Resource Allocation: Choice Plus provides unmetered bandwidth and storage, though these are subject to Bluehost's fair usage policies. The shared hosting architecture means CPU and memory resources are shared among sites on the same server.

Email Hosting: The plan includes email hosting with unlimited email accounts, webmail access, and IMAP/POP3 support for desktop email clients.

Bluehost Choice Plus Pricing

Bluehost Choice Plus uses introductory pricing that increases significantly at renewal:

Introductory Pricing: New customers pay $5.45 per month when purchasing a 36-month plan upfront. Shorter terms cost more — $7.45/month for 12 months and $10.99/month for month-to-month billing.

Renewal Pricing: After the initial term, Choice Plus renews at $13.95 per month regardless of the original contract length. This represents a 156% price increase from the lowest introductory rate.

Setup and Additional Costs: Bluehost doesn't charge setup fees, but several optional add-ons increase the total cost. Domain privacy protection costs $11.88 annually, SiteLock security scanning ranges from $1.99 to $19.99 monthly, and CodeGuard backup upgrades cost $2.99 to $9.99 monthly.

The pricing structure requires careful consideration of long-term costs. While the introductory rates are competitive, the renewal pricing puts Choice Plus in line with premium managed WordPress hosts that offer more resources and features.

Performance and Locations

Bluehost operates data centers in Utah and international locations, though the company doesn't specify exact facility locations or allow customers to choose their server region. This lack of geographic distribution can impact performance for international visitors.

Performance Characteristics: Choice Plus runs on shared servers using SSD storage, which provides better performance than traditional hard drives. However, since resources are shared among multiple websites, performance can vary based on the activity of other sites on the same server.

WordPress Optimization: The servers include WordPress-specific caching and PHP optimization. Bluehost uses Apache web servers with mod_rewrite support and runs current PHP versions compatible with modern WordPress installations.

CDN Performance: The included Cloudflare CDN integration helps improve global performance by caching static content closer to visitors. However, the integration is basic and doesn't include Cloudflare's advanced features like image optimization or advanced security rules.

Uptime and Monitoring: Bluehost advertises 99.9% uptime but doesn't publish detailed uptime statistics or third-party monitoring results. The shared hosting architecture makes sites more vulnerable to performance impacts from neighboring websites than VPS or dedicated solutions.

The performance profile makes Choice Plus suitable for informational websites, small business sites, and blogs with moderate traffic levels. High-traffic sites or those requiring consistent performance under load would benefit from VPS or dedicated hosting solutions.

Who Is Bluehost Choice Plus Best For?

Bluehost Choice Plus works well for specific use cases where managed WordPress features outweigh the limitations of shared hosting:

Small Business Owners: Business owners who want a professional website but lack technical expertise benefit from the automated maintenance and WordPress-specific support. The staging environment allows testing changes without risking the live site.

Bloggers and Content Creators: Individual bloggers or small content teams appreciate the automated backups and updates, which remove the burden of manual WordPress maintenance. The included CDN helps with content distribution.

WordPress Beginners: New WordPress users benefit from the specialized support team and automated features that reduce the learning curve. The managed approach prevents common WordPress maintenance mistakes.

Budget-Conscious Site Owners: During the introductory period, Choice Plus offers managed WordPress features at shared hosting prices, making it attractive for cost-sensitive users who need more than basic hosting.

The service is less suitable for high-traffic websites, e-commerce sites requiring guaranteed resources, or users who need server-level customization options.

Pros and Cons of Bluehost Choice Plus

Pros:

• Automated WordPress Maintenance: The service handles core updates, plugin updates, and security patches automatically, reducing maintenance overhead for site owners
• Daily Backups with Easy Restore: Automated daily backups provide peace of mind, and the restore process through the control panel is straightforward for non-technical users
• Staging Environment: The ability to test changes before going live is valuable for maintaining site stability, especially during theme or plugin updates
• WordPress-Specialized Support: Support agents understand WordPress-specific issues and can provide more targeted assistance than general hosting support
• Competitive Introductory Pricing: The initial pricing makes managed WordPress features accessible to budget-conscious users

Cons:

• Significant Renewal Price Increase: The 156% price jump at renewal makes the long-term cost considerably higher than alternatives
• Shared Hosting Limitations: Resource sharing can impact performance during traffic spikes or when neighboring sites consume excessive resources
• Limited Server Locations: The lack of global data center options can impact performance for international audiences
• Minimal Customization: Shared hosting restricts server-level modifications, limiting optimization options for advanced users
• Fair Usage Policy: Despite advertising unlimited resources, the service includes fair usage policies that can restrict resource-intensive sites

Bluehost Choice Plus Alternatives

SiteGround WordPress Hosting: SiteGround offers managed WordPress hosting with superior performance optimization, multiple data center locations, and staging environments. Their pricing is more transparent with smaller renewal increases, and they provide better caching technology and security features.

WP Engine: As a premium managed WordPress host, WP Engine provides dedicated WordPress infrastructure, automatic scaling, advanced security, and global CDN. While more expensive, WP Engine offers guaranteed resources and enterprise-grade performance without the limitations of shared hosting.

Kinsta: Kinsta runs WordPress sites on Google Cloud Platform infrastructure with automatic scaling, global data centers, and premium performance optimization. Their pricing is transparent with no surprise renewal increases, and they provide staging environments and automated backups on all plans.

Each alternative offers different trade-offs between cost, performance, and features, making direct comparison important for finding the right fit.

Final Verdict

Bluehost Choice Plus occupies a specific niche as an entry-level managed WordPress solution with useful features at an initially attractive price point. The automated maintenance, daily backups, and staging environment provide genuine value for WordPress site owners who prefer managed solutions over DIY hosting.

However, the significant renewal price increase and shared hosting limitations require careful consideration. The service works well for small to medium WordPress sites during the introductory period, but the long-term value proposition becomes questionable when renewal rates kick in.

The choice depends on your specific needs and budget timeline. If you need managed WordPress features immediately and can commit to evaluating alternatives before renewal, Choice Plus offers a reasonable entry point. For long-term projects or sites expecting growth, starting with a more scalable solution might prove more cost-effective.

Compare Bluehost Choice Plus with alternatives on HostingSpotter to find the right host for your workload.