Bluehost vs Flywheel: Which Is Better for WordPress in 2025?

Key highlights

• Compare Bluehost vs Flywheel by analyzing features, pricing, VPS hosting and website performance.
• Discover Flywheel Managed WordPress Hosting’s unique offerings like free demo sites, staging sites and nightly backups.
• Explore Bluehost’s advantages including flexible hosting plans, built-in CDN, VPS control and free SSL certificates.
• Explain the benefits of managed WordPress hosting for developers, businesses, agencies and clients managing multiple sites.
• Guide your choice by contrasting Flywheel’s plans and pricing with Bluehost’s user-friendly interface, expert support and scalability.

Ever wondered which host truly powers your WordPress site better, Bluehost vs Flywheel? Choosing the right hosting provider affects speed, security and growth.

Many users explore Flywheel Managed WordPress Hosting for agencies, yet it comes with limits. At Bluehost, we deliver flexible web hosting with automatic backups, free SSL certificates and a built-in content delivery network.

This article explores how Bluehost hosting plans compare to Flywheel hosting. You’ll discover which option works best for beginners, developers and growing businesses in 2025.

Quick Verdict

Best for Most Users: Bluehost

• ✅ WordPress.org recommended
• ✅ Unmetered traffic (no visitor caps)
• ✅ Full VPS control with root access
• ✅ Superior value and included features
• ✅ Best VPS for WordPress hosting

Best for Premium Managed: Flywheel

• ✅ White-glove support
• ✅ Agency workflow tools
• ⚠️ Higher pricing
• ⚠️ Traffic limitations on all plans

Bluehost vs Flywheel hosting: Key differences you should know

When choosing a hosting provider, most readers want a quick snapshot before digging into details. Both Bluehost and Flywheel hosting deliver strong options, but they serve different audiences.

Both are managed hosts, meaning they handle technical aspects like caching, security and updates for WordPress sites.

Bluehost hosting plans and flexibility

Bluehost is designed for flexibility. We provide a full range of hosting plans:

• Shared hosting
• VPS hosting
• Dedicated hosting
• Managed WordPress hosting

Our focus is on performance, scalability and giving you maximum value for your investment.

Flywheel Managed WordPress Hosting approach

Flywheel Managed WordPress Hosting is built specifically with agencies in mind. Flywheel offers two types of hosting:

• Standard WordPress Hosting with tiered plans (Starter, Freelance, Agency, Custom)
• WooCommerce Hosting with custom eCommerce plans through WP Engine

Flywheel provides tools like free demo sites, staging sites and an intuitive dashboard that simplify collaboration. While these features are useful, they come at a higher price point. Some advanced needs may require extra cost add-ons.

Bluehost vs Flywheel: Side-by-side comparison

Feature	Bluehost	Flywheel
Hosting type	Shared, VPS, Dedicated, Managed WordPress hosting, Cloud hosting	Flywheel Managed WordPress and WooCommerce hosting
Free SSL certificate	Yes, included with all plans	Yes, included with Flywheel hosting plan
Content Delivery Network (CDN)	Integrated CDN with every plan	Free CDN with managed hosting (powered by Fastly)
Traffic limits	Unmetered traffic	Visitor caps on all plans (25K-400K+)
VPS options	Full root access VPS starting $9.99/mo	Not available
Backups	Automatic backups with upgrade options	Nightly backups included (stored 30 days)
Staging sites	Yes, with Managed WordPress	Yes, with Freelance plan and higher
Migration	Free self-service migration tool	Free migrations with migration dashboard
Support team	24/7 chat and phone support plus Agency Partner Program support	24/7 chat support, phone support (business hours only)
Pricing	Flexible hosting plans with superior value	Higher pricing starting at $25/mo
SEO features	Integrated with Yoast SEO, plus access to professional Digital Marketing Services for SEO and traffic growth	Limited built-in SEO tools, agencies must rely on third-party plugins or external services

Now that we’ve set the stage, let’s compare Bluehost vs Flywheel side by side to see how their features truly stack up.

Performance & uptime: Which host is faster?

Your website performance impacts everything from user experience to search rankings. Slow sites lose users fast. Reliable uptime keeps your live site secure and available when it matters most.

Bluehost performance infrastructure

At Bluehost, we run on optimized servers with global data centers. Our integrated content delivery network (CDN) is included as part of our performance stack.

This helps deliver your site content closer to visitors. It reduces delay and improves speed.

Every plan also includes an SSL to keep your site secure. Backups are available through CodeGuard or higher-tier plans, giving you added protection against data loss.

At Bluehost, our Web Hosting is built to support teams as well. We combine:

• Reliable uptime
• Scalable resources
• Performance tools that give agencies more flexibility to manage multiple client sites

Flywheel performance features

Flywheel hosting is powered by Google Cloud infrastructure. It includes nightly backups stored for 30 days and staging tools.

Flywheel also offers FlyCache (custom caching technology) and a CDN powered by Fastly. While this makes Flywheel Managed WordPress Hosting a good fit for agencies, it relies heavily on Google’s infrastructure.

That means fewer options if you need more control over your main server or detailed website performance insights.

VPS hosting comparison: Root access and control

For users who need server-level customization, VPS hosting makes a critical difference. The best VPS for WordPress provides full control over your hosting environment.

Bluehost VPS gives you complete root access. You can:

• Install custom software
• Configure server settings
• Optimize performance based on your exact requirements

This level of control is essential for developers and growing businesses.

Flywheel does not offer traditional VPS hosting. Their managed approach limits server-level customization. While convenient for some users, it restricts advanced configuration options.

VPS Feature	Bluehost VPS	Flywheel	Winner
Root Access	✅ Full control	❌ Managed only	Bluehost
Custom Software	✅ Install anything	❌ Limited stack	Bluehost
Server Configuration	✅ Complete control	❌ Restricted	Bluehost
Starting Price	$9.99/mo	$25/mo (no VPS option)	Bluehost

For developers seeking the best VPS for WordPress, Bluehost provides enterprise-level control at a competitive price point.

Also read: How to Improve Page Speed for Better Performance

Bluehost vs Flywheel: Which offers better WordPress tools and site management?

At Bluehost, we are proud to be an officially recommended WordPress.org host. This recognition highlights our strong partnership and trusted WordPress hosting environment.

Bluehost WordPress integration and tools

We make it simple to launch a WordPress site. With one-click install, guided onboarding and a user-friendly interface, anyone can start quickly. Our custom dashboard helps users manage their WordPress websites with ease.

Developers and growing businesses get access to:

• Staging sites
• Git integration
• WP-CLI tools

A staging site allows you to test and preview website changes without affecting your live site. This facilitates smoother updates and development workflows.

At Bluehost, we go further with a free migration tool, integrated CDN and options across Shared, VPS and Dedicated hosting plans. This flexibility lets you scale from one project to multiple sites without switching your current host.

Flywheel WordPress collaboration features

Flywheel focuses on agencies. Flywheel hosting plans include:

• Free demo sites
• Staging sites (Freelance plan and higher)
• Blueprints for saving site configurations
• Organizations for team collaboration
• Local development environment
• Site cloning features

These features simplify managing multiple sites for clients. Flywheel also offers 10 StudioPress themes and the Genesis Framework included with all plans.

While useful, they suit teams more than individuals building a single WordPress website.

Which offers better WordPress management?

Our tools are built for agencies, developers and beginners alike. You can easily build a secure WordPress website with:

• Free SSL certificates
• Automatic backups
• A clear intuitive dashboard

Bluehost’s combination of flexibility, VPS options and official WordPress.org recommendation makes it the superior choice for most users.

Also read: How to build AI WordPress Website?

Security & backups: How safe are Bluehost and Flywheel?

At Bluehost, we take website security seriously. Your data protection and site safety are our top priorities.

Bluehost security features

Every plan includes a free SSL certificate to keep your site secure. Our servers use advanced firewalls and malware detection to block threats.

We also encourage strong passwords and safe login practices.

We offer automatic backups through CodeGuard on selected hosting plans. This helps restore a WordPress site quickly if something goes wrong. Higher-tier plans add daily backups for extra protection.

Flywheel security approach

Flywheel hosting includes nightly backups stored for 30 days and simple restore options. Their managed WordPress hosting environment is protected by:

• Malware scanning
• Plugin security alerts (notifies when vulnerable plugins pose risks)
• Auto-healing technology (sites heal themselves after service failures)
• Built-in staging to test changes before going live

Which host provides better security?

The difference is flexibility. With Bluehost, you can:

• Add SiteLock
• Enable privacy features
• Choose extra security without high extra cost

Our support team is available 24/7 to help you resolve issues and verify your account if needed.

Whether you run one WordPress website or manage multiple sites, you get peace of mind. We give you the tools to secure, back up and manage your hosting with confidence.

Also read: How to Backup WordPress Website?

Bluehost vs Flywheel: Which hosting dashboard is easier to use?

At Bluehost, we focus on making hosting simple for every user. The way you interact with your hosting account daily shapes your overall experience.

Bluehost intuitive dashboard

Our user-friendly interface combines cPanel with a custom dashboard. This makes it easy to:

• Access your WordPress website
• Manage plugins
• View performance insights

Our intuitive dashboard helps beginners launch a demo site or live site quickly. You can verify your site name, manage subdomains and explore advanced features without confusion.

The design is built for both small businesses and developers managing multiple sites.

We also provide guided onboarding. New customers get step-by-step instructions to:

• Set up their WordPress site
• Install SSL certificates
• Configure CDN settings

These tools save users valuable time when moving from a current host.

Flywheel dashboard

Flywheel’s dashboard is streamlined and designed specifically for agencies. Their intuitive dashboard focuses on team collaboration.

Features like privacy mode and free demo sites help clients review work before launch. Flywheel also offers a migration dashboard to submit, prioritize and monitor migration progress in one place.

While effective for agencies, it lacks the flexibility larger hosting companies like Bluehost offer.

Which dashboard is easier to use?

At Bluehost, our goal is balance. We make hosting:

• Powerful for developers
• Supportive for agencies
• User friendly for beginners

Whether you manage one site or many, you can easily build, discover and secure your WordPress projects without stress.

Also read: How to Customize Your WordPress Dashboard?

Bluehost vs Flywheel pricing: Which hosting plan offers more value?

Pricing often determines which hosting provider you choose for the long term. Let’s compare how both platforms structure their plans.

Bluehost hosting plans and pricing

At Bluehost, we offer flexible hosting plans designed to deliver maximum value. You can start with Shared hosting, then scale to VPS or Dedicated servers as your website grows.

Every plan includes:

• Free SSL certificate
• Integrated CDN
• Access to our 24/7 support team

Our managed WordPress hosting options come with automatic backups, staging tools and performance features at no extra cost. This gives small businesses and developers the freedom to manage multiple sites without stretching their budget.

Flywheel pricing breakdown: Plans and traffic limitations

Flywheel hosting takes a different approach. Flywheel pricing starts higher because it focuses only on Flywheel Managed WordPress Hosting.

Flywheel plans include two categories:

Standard WordPress Hosting Plans:

• Starter plan: ($25/month) 1 site, 25,000 visits/month, 10GB storage, 50GB bandwidth
• Freelance plan: ($96/month) Up to 10 sites, 100,000 visits/month, 20GB storage, 200GB bandwidth
• Agency plan: ($242/month) Up to 30 sites, 400,000 visits/month, 50GB storage, 500GB bandwidth
• Custom plan: (Custom pricing) 30+ sites, millions+ visits, custom storage and bandwidth

WooCommerce/eCommerce Hosting:

• Custom pricing through WP Engine partnership
• Optimized specifically for WooCommerce stores
• Includes Instant Store Search powered by ElasticPress
• 60-day money-back guarantee (excludes Agency and Custom plans)

Each Flywheel plan includes features like nightly backups, free demo sites and an intuitive dashboard. However, these hosting plans come with strict visitor limits.

If your site exceeds the monthly traffic cap, you must upgrade or face potential performance issues. You can add additional sites to existing plans for $20/month per site.

Traffic caps vs unmetered hosting comparison

Here’s what many users miss when comparing Flywheel pricing to Bluehost:

Feature	Bluehost	Flywheel	Winner
Traffic cap	Unmetered traffic	25K–400K+ visits/month	Bluehost
Overage charges	$0	Must upgrade plan	Bluehost
Bandwidth	Unlimited	50GB–500GB (metered)	Bluehost
Starting price	$3.99/mo (Shared)	$25/mo (Starter plan)	Bluehost
VPS starting price	$9.99/mo (unmetered)	Not available	Bluehost
Additional sites	Included in plan	$20/mo per site extra	Bluehost

While helpful for agencies and clients, these hosting plans may not offer the best value for freelancers or individuals building a single WordPress site.

The difference is flexibility. At Bluehost, you get more payment options, broader hosting plans and scalability that supports beginners and enterprise-level customers alike.

With Flywheel plans, you pay more upfront but get fewer paths to grow beyond a managed WordPress setup with restrictive traffic limits and bandwidth caps.

Also read: How Much Does It Cost to Build a WordPress Website?

Bluehost vs Flywheel support: Who helps customers better?

Customer support can make or break your hosting experience. Let’s compare how both providers handle support requests.

Bluehost 24/7 support availability

At Bluehost, we know issues can happen anytime. That is why our support team is available 24/7 by chat and phone.

You can also access:

• Detailed guides
• A knowledge base
• In-dashboard help through WonderHelp

This ensures every user gets fast answers and expert support when needed.

At Bluehost, we combine always-on customer support with proactive solutions. From free migrations and verifying accounts to troubleshooting plugins or improving website performance, our team helps keep your WordPress website secure and running smoothly.

Flywheel support options

Flywheel also provides strong service with 24/7 chat support. Their support team is skilled in Flywheel Managed WordPress Hosting.

They help agencies with:

• Staging sites and demo sites
• Free migrations through their migration dashboard
• Technical WordPress issues

However:

• Phone support is limited to business hours (9am-5pm CST, Monday-Friday)
• Phone support is not included in Starter plans
• Agency and Custom plans receive dedicated account managers and quarterly business reviews

Which host offers better support?

Flywheel’s support is great for agencies during business hours with dedicated account managers at higher tiers. Bluehost delivers help to businesses, developers and individual customers alike at any time.

No matter the size of your site, you can reach us anytime via phone or chat.

Also read: How to Contact Bluehost Support?

Bluehost vs Flywheel: Which host supports SEO better?

Optimizing your WordPress website for search is just as important as hosting it. Strong website performance, fast load times and reliable uptime already give you an SEO boost.

Bluehost built-in SEO tools

At Bluehost, we go beyond hosting. We provide built-in SEO integrations like Yoast SEO. This is one of the most trusted plugins for:

• Optimizing content
• Keywords
• Meta tags

In addition, our customers can access professional digital marketing services. This includes:

• SEO audits
• Website optimization
• Campaigns designed to drive traffic and improve rankings

Also read: How to Choose Between Yoast Premium vs Free SEO

Flywheel SEO capabilities

Flywheel hosting focuses on managed WordPress performance with features like FlyCache and Fastly CDN. These improve site speed, which indirectly benefits SEO.

Flywheel offers a free Google Analytics add-on to help track site performance. However, it does not offer dedicated SEO services or marketing support.

While agencies may add their own SEO stack, Flywheel provides fewer built-in resources to directly improve visibility.

Which host is better for SEO?

With Bluehost, you get more than a hosting provider. You get a partner that helps you:

• Discover new customers
• Optimize your WordPress site for search
• Build long-term online growth

Bluehost’s integrated SEO tools and professional marketing services give you a significant advantage over Flywheel’s limited SEO offerings.

Bluehost vs Flywheel alternatives: What other WordPress hosts should you consider?

Bluehost and Flywheel are strong choices for WordPress hosting, but they’re not the only providers in the market. If you’re exploring alternatives, it’s worth comparing features, performance and customer support.

Bluehost’s comprehensive hosting approach

At Bluehost, we focus on flexibility and value. Our plans are built to scale with your website performance needs:

• Shared hosting
• The best VPS for WordPress
• Dedicated hosting
• Managed WordPress hosting

You also get:

• Free SSL certificates
• Automatic backups
• An integrated CDN
• Access to professional digital marketing services like SEO optimization with Yoast SEO

That’s why we’re one of the few hosting providers officially recommended by WordPress.org.

Other WordPress hosting alternatives

WP Engine: A premium managed WordPress host with strong security and advanced features. Their plans include:

• Daily backups
• Automatic updates
• A global content delivery network

However, their pricing is significantly higher compared to Bluehost. Note: Flywheel is now part of WP Engine, and Flywheel’s eCommerce hosting is powered by WP Engine’s infrastructure.

Nexcess: Known for scalable managed WordPress plans with performance monitoring and strong customer support.

Nexcess is a good option for growing businesses. However, it lacks the agency-focused hosting solutions available at Bluehost.

Which alternative offers the best value?

When comparing, think about what matters most: scalability, included features or advanced capabilities. Bluehost delivers all three in one platform.

This makes it an ideal choice for beginners, businesses, developers and agencies alike.

Bluehost vs Flywheel: Which hosting provider is right for you?

At Bluehost, we built our hosting plans for flexibility. Choosing a reliable web host is essential to ensure optimal website performance and security.

Who should choose Bluehost?

We are the right choice for:

• Beginners looking for reliable WordPress hosting
• Small businesses who need a scalable WordPress hosting environment
• Developers who want VPS control and flexibility
• Agencies managing multiple client sites

With features like:

• Free SSL certificates
• Automatic backups
• A built-in content delivery network

You can grow your WordPress website without switching your current host. Our expert support team and simple user-friendly interface make it easy to build and manage multiple sites.

Bluehost also supports agencies through our Agency Partner Program. These solutions provide:

• Advanced tools
• Dedicated resources
• Added support to help teams manage client websites with confidence

This means agencies can grow on the same platform that already works for individuals and businesses.

Who should choose Flywheel?

Flywheel hosting is focused solely on agencies and design teams. Flywheel offers tools like:

• Free demo sites
• Privacy mode
• Nightly backups stored for 30 days
• Blueprints for site templates
• Organizations for team collaboration
• StudioPress themes and Genesis Framework

These simplify collaboration with clients. Their intuitive dashboard and focus on managed WordPress hosting make it appealing if you manage staging sites or work with teams.

However, Flywheel pricing starting at $25/month and traffic restrictions (25,000 visits on the Starter plan) may limit scalability.

The final verdict

The main difference is flexibility. Bluehost fits almost any user, from a blogger to an enterprise-level customer needing the best VPS for WordPress.

Flywheel fits agencies managing WordPress websites for several clients but may feel restrictive for individuals who want advanced control or wider hosting options.

When you compare Bluehost vs Flywheel, the decision is clear:

• Choose Bluehost for premium hosting that scales
• Choose Flywheel if your priority is agency collaboration with premium Flywheel plans and you can work within traffic limits

How to migrate from Flywheel to Bluehost easily?

We understand moving your website from Flywheel to Bluehost is important, and we’re here to help make it smooth for you. Here’s a clear step-by-step guide to migrate your WordPress site.

Manual migration process from Flywheel

Migrating from Flywheel requires a manual approach. Follow these steps carefully to ensure a successful transfer.

Step 1: Set up your Bluehost environment

Log in to your Bluehost Account Manager and set up your hosting environment. Create an FTP account on Bluehost for file transfers.

Step 2: Backup your Flywheel site

Use Flywheel’s backup tools to create a complete backup. You can also export your WordPress files and database via their dashboard or FTP.

Step 3: Download website files

Connect to Flywheel via FTP using a client like FileZilla. Download all your WordPress files to your local computer.

Step 4: Export your database

Access Flywheel’s phpMyAdmin and export your WordPress database as an SQL file. Save this file to your local computer.

Step 5: Create a new database on Bluehost

Log into your Bluehost cPanel. Create a new MySQL database and user. Assign the user to the database with all privileges.

Step 6: Upload files to Bluehost

Use Bluehost’s File Manager or FTP to upload your WordPress files. Transfer them to the public_html directory or your chosen folder.

Step 7: Import your database

In Bluehost’s phpMyAdmin, import the SQL database file you exported from Flywheel.

Step 8: Update wp-config.php

Edit the wp-config.php file in Bluehost. Update it to reflect the new database name, user and password.

Step 9: Update DNS settings

After these steps, update your domain’s DNS settings to point to Bluehost servers.

Free migration service available

If you’d prefer not to handle the technical migration yourself, Bluehost offers free WordPress migration services within 30 days of signup. Our team will handle the entire process for you.

What to expect after migration

If you are moving from Flywheel Managed WordPress Hosting, you will notice added flexibility. You can scale with:

• Shared hosting
• VPS hosting
• Dedicated hosting plans

You also get access to:

• Advanced features
• Automatic backups
• An integrated CDN to boost website performance
• Unmetered traffic (no more visitor caps)

Migrating is often the biggest hurdle. At Bluehost, we provide detailed guides and free migration assistance to remove the stress. You can focus on growing your WordPress website.

Also read: Ultimate Website Migration Checklist

Final thoughts

When it comes to Flywheel vs Bluehost, the choice depends on how you plan to grow. Flywheel web Hosting works well for agencies managing multiple clients with its Blueprints and Organizations features.

However, Flywheel pricing starting at $25/month for a single site and traffic caps (25,000 to 400,000+ visits) can be limiting for long-term scalability. Bluehost gives you the flexibility to move from shared to the best VPS for WordPress or Dedicated hosting as your site expands.

With free migrations, automatic backups and a user-friendly interface, we make hosting simple and powerful. If you want maximum value for your investment and room to scale without visitor limits, choose Bluehost and start your WordPress journey today.

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