In our comparison of DreamHost versus BlueHost we found their web hosting services have a lot in common.
Both DreamHost and BlueHost offer a number of unlimited features such as disk storage, email forwarding accounts, email autoresponders, bandwidth, add-on domains, subdomains, and parked domains. Both hosting packages also include free SSL secure server protection, sitebuilders, CGI, FrontPage, webmail, spam and virus email protection, PHP, PERL, Python, ecommerce options, and many multi-media features.
The areas in which DreamHost and BlueHost differ are:
DreamHost:
$8.95 with 2 year agreement*
Unlimited disk storage + 50 GB (click DreamHost link above for explanation)
Unlimited email accounts
Unlimited MySQL5 databases
Unlimited FTP users
1 Free domain registration (additional $9.95 yr)
97 day money back guarantee
VPS web hosting options
Dedicated IP options
Customer service*
Unique IP address $3.95/mo.
SSL Certificates $99.95/yr.
BlueHost:
$6.95 w/2 year agreement (Special $4.95 discount pricing for our readers, click the link above)
2500 email accounts
1,000 FTP accounts
100 MySQL databases
100 Postgre SQL databases
$25 Yahoo! and $50 Google Ad credits
Anonymous FTP
Customer Service
*DreamHost explains unlimited disk storage does not always mean "unlimited" their site explains why they advertise +50GB. DreamHost has some customer service options available for free such as wiki, forum, blog, and email. However, they do not offer a toll-free telephone number or live chat. You may purchase their premium phone support for an additional $9.95 per month which allows you to email them for support and you will be able to get 3 call backs a month.
Both are some of the best ICANN accredited domain registrars and therefore offer number of services in domain registration. Both web hosting companies also offer dedicated and VPS hosting packages. We chose to compare GoDaddy's $6.29 plan vs. DreamHost's $8.95 plan.
GoDaddy's $6.29/month plan (2 year):
150 GB Disk Space
1,500 GB Monthly Data Transfer
25 MySQL Databases
500 POP3 Email Accounts
50 FTP Users
Unlimited Domains, Subdomains, and Alias Domains
Additional domains for $1.99
Basic SSL certificate for $29.99/yr.
GoDaddy maintains over 2 million domains!! They also have all the web hosting services and tools to serve all of your website needs. By providing a basic web site hosting package that you may expand as your business grows such as business email management, sitebuilders, business tools and ecommerce, reseller hosting options, auctions, and a marketplace.
DreamHost's $8.95/mo. plan (2 year):
Unlimited Disk Storage + 50 GB (click here to visit their site for details)
Unlimited Bandwidth
Unlimited MySQL 5 Databases
Unlimited Email Accounts
Unlimited FTP Users
Unlimited Domains, Subdomains, Forwarded Domains
1 Free Domain Registration
SSL Certificates available for $99.95/yr.
97 Day Money Back Guarantee
In our DreamHost review we found if you are willing to pay for 10 years in advance you will another incredible discount in pricing to just $5.95 a month. And if you want the option of a month to month you can do that for $10.95/mo. (but there would be a $49.95 set up fee). DreamHost offers wiki, forum, blog, and email customer support services. They do not have a telephone support number for you to call
which can get a little more complicated if you are not familiar with cars but want the nitty gritty of what exactly a 210-hp 4.0L single OHC can do for you vs. a 2.0L Duratec 20 I4 engine can do. However, in that situation you usually have a nice helpful salesperson to explain (or convince) to you how every nut and bolt will work for you.
But what about when you are shopping for a web hosting company? Typically, if you are internet savvy enough to research web hosting (without looking at the entire 150,000,000 search results that will come up) you will be able to narrow your options down a to few webhosting companies that appear to have what you will need to build a website.
Each of these sites will then have a "list of features" (your nutritional facts) but within these "features" you find things like PHP, Python, Dedicated Server, VPS, ecommerce, SSL certificates, FTP users, PERL, domains etc...(Which may sound a lot like 210-hp 4.0L single OHC if you are not familiar with web hosting). But where are the salesmen who can take you by the hand and explain what exactly all of these things mean to you, your business, and/or your website?
Some of the sites may have a toll free customer support sales line you can call, which is hopefully in their offices and not answered from some other country. Otherwise it is up to you to find out what these things do for you.
We have designed this blog to give you web host reviews and comparisons, to help you understand exactly what you are getting in a web hosting package, and to help define some of these "feature" terms so you can feel good about making an educated choice when looking for a web hosting provider.
