// comparison · prices and terms checked November 2026
Bluehost vs HostGator 2026: same parent company, different prices and fine print
Both brands belong to Newfold Digital and share a lot, including much of the Terms of Service wording. The differences are in what each plan includes and in a few rules that can cost you money. I've been a HostGator customer since 2013 and ran a trial site on Bluehost around 2017; Bluehost's 2026 side comes from its plan pages, checkout and Terms.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Business plans cost about the same to start, but Bluehost Business renews lower ($13.99 vs $21.99 on 36 months).
- Bluehost includes weekly backups and staging on every plan; HostGator lists backups on Business and Pro only.
- HostGator has 24/7 phone support and refunds PayPal; Bluehost phone is 7am-12am Eastern and refunds card payments only.
- Bluehost requires turning off auto-renewal 16 days before your term ends.
Side by side
| Bluehost | HostGator | |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Newfold Digital | Newfold Digital |
| Entry plan (36 mo) | Starter: $3.99 → $9.99, 10 sites | Hatchling: $3.75 → $10.99 |
| Mid plan (36 mo) | Business: $6.99 → $13.99, 50 sites | Business: $6.25 → $21.99, 50 sites |
| Backups | Weekly on every plan; daily on eCommerce | Weekly on Business and Pro only |
| Staging | Every plan | Not listed as a plan feature |
| VPS NVMe 2 (24 mo) | $4.49 → $5.69 | $3.59 → $4.95 |
| AI All-Access Pack | $17/mo | $20/mo |
| Phone support | 7am-12am Eastern, not on Starter | 24/7 |
| Monthly billing | Yes in the cart, $15.99+ (no refund) | Yes, $12.95+ (no refund) |
| Terms in one cart | Monthly, 1, 3 and 4 years side by side | Monthly, 1 and 3 years |
| Daily backup add-on | $2.99/mo | $1.99/mo |
| Refund payment methods | Credit card only (checkout also takes PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay) | Card or PayPal |
| Auto-renew opt-out | 16 days before term end | Any time before renewal |
| Uptime in the Terms | 99.99% shared, 5% coupon if missed | No uptime credit in the Terms |
HostGator prices from my own carts; Bluehost from its plan pages; both November 11, 2026. Terms: HostGator June 10, 2026; Bluehost August 21, 2026.
Which to choose
- Several small sites, and you want backups and staging included: Bluehost Business on 36 months.
- You want to pay with PayPal, need 24/7 phone help, or prefer classic cPanel: HostGator. See my 13-year HostGator review.
- Cheapest entry price: HostGator Hatchling ($3.75), but Bluehost Starter ($3.99) allows 10 sites and includes weekly backups.
Compare today's prices
Both run holiday sales in November 2026.
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