With Bluehost, you can start a blog on WordPress or install any application in seconds, but with their extra services, you’ll find the SiteLock security add-ons that lots of people ask themselves if they really need or not. That’s, of course, in parallel with Code Guard and even the SEO tools.
So, in this post, we’ll show you what these add-ons are about and if you need to buy them or save your money for something else.
What’s Bluehost Security?
The Bluehost SiteLock add-ons come from a well-known company that provides online malware scanning and basic business verification for websites.
The company started offering some kind of badge that webmasters could add to the bottom of their web pages. So, when the visitor scrolls down, he finds that small badge with the actual date.
To go further and see what happens when people click on that Sitelock logo on your site, you can try any site that uses that service. So when you click on it, you’ll be taken to the dedicated page on the external website, which will tell you that the site is secure and verified. That’s it.
In all cases, SiteLock Security does not protect your site, and it’s not a backup tool that you can use. It’s a virtual business verification that only online stores can use and somehow benefit from.
What about CodeGuard?
In fact, Bluehost CodeGuard Basic can only be worth it if you know nothing about security and you’re sure you’ll cause problems on your site when editing files or installing tools. However, if you can dedicate a few minutes or even hours to following online tutorials, then you’ll be able to make your site secure and avoid paying for a service that isn’t worth it.
If you want to have professional web hosting for WordPress, then, why should you use any of the shared web hosts? Instead, we recommend using a premium managed web host like WP Engine and never thinking about security, speed, or other issues.
These types of web hosting services manage site security, backups, and optimization 24/7. So, you can only focus on your business and website content and let web hosting experts do their job for you.
Do you need it?
If your website or blog is not selling items, then, you don’t need Sitelock Security, it’s just an extra service for those who want to show some trust to their customers. However, it’s not that service that really works for online stores and eCommerce sites.
Compared to other business verification providers, it’s not worth it, and that small badge on websites is no longer a big thing that customers look for.
Of course, it’s still important, but there are also many factors that the customer keeps in mind when buying a product from websites.
Some of these things are the design of the sites, customer support, phone numbers, Facebook pages, and much more.
If you’re a blogger or you build a site for information, then forget the SiteLock add-ons, and all the other extra things that Bluehost offers. For example, you don’t need the next add-ons.
- Domain privacy protection: NameCheap offers better domain with free Whois Privacy
- The SEO tools are just useless and they’ll spam your site with no-value links
The only add-on that we recommend with Bluehost is Codeguard; it backs up your site every day, and if you make a mistake, you can restore your site with one click.
So, why does Bluehost offer SiteLock?
Like any company, Bluehost wants to diversify their business, and by working with website security providers, they resell the services. In addition, remember that Bluehost is one of the EIG companies, and they have issues with security and malware removal. So, they added that service to help users show trust.
If you want better hosting than Bluehost, which offers free daily backups, malware scanning, free tools, and more, then give HostGator a try, and you’ll be surprised by the level of quality your site gets in terms of web hosting, security, and speed.
It’s faster than Bluehost, and they have better customer support and real SSD-powered servers. Even more, there is a free private SSL certificate for your blog, and if you need a business verification tool, then they have the best in the world from the famous Comodo company.
So, in conclusion, you don’t need any of the SiteLock security or the extra add-ons by Bluehost like CodeGuard and SEO, You can save that $24 per year and have better hosting by choosing one of the best hosting alternatives.
