Bluehost AI Store: Set Up and Upgrade from Free Trial to Paid Sell Online Plan

Bluehost offers the AI Store, an AI-powered store management solution that simplifies the process of building, launching, and managing your online store without any technical complexity. This user-friendly platform is built on WordPress and WooCommerce, and it works alongside the AI Website Builder. To access the AI Store, simply upgrade to the Sell Online plan.

With the AI Store, you can set up and run your online store through natural conversations, removing the need for technical knowledge or manual configuration. Starting in July 2025, customers on our AI Website Builder free trial will have the opportunity to convert to the paid Sell Online plan, gaining full access to the new AI Store experience.

What Does the AI Store Do?

AI Store simplifies the management of an online business by utilizing AI to perform essential tasks, such as:

• Creating and managing products
• Tracking and fulfilling orders
• Handling payments (currently through Stripe)
• Providing insights and performance data for the store
• Assisting with store updates using AI chat

Step-by-Step Guide from Free Trial to the Sell Online Plan

To enjoy the great features of the AI Store, follow these important steps. The AI Store works together with the free trial of the AI Website Builder. Make sure you understand these steps—especially Step 2 below—to ensure everything works correctly.

Step 1: Start your free trial with the AI Website Builder

Your journey begins with a free trial of the AI Website Builder, allowing you to design and preview your website. During this stage, you can do the following by simply entering prompts:

• Build and design your website using AI assistance
• Use AI to edit pages and posts
• Get your website ready to go live.

Think of this as your planning and setup phase!

To get started:

1. Go to the Bluehost.com website, then click on the AI Tools "New" tab.

   

   You can also access this link directly: https://www.bluehost.com/ai-website-builder.

2. On the AI Website Builder page, enter a prompt to start creating your website.

   

   • If you're not sure what prompt to use:
     1. Scroll down the page a little bit to find suggested prompts.

        

     2. You can simply click the Use this prompt button to select one.

        

   • If you want to modify a suggestion:
     1. Click Edit Prompt.

        

     2. Make your changes in the text box, and then click Use edited prompt.

        

   Once you scroll back up, you will see that your AI Website Builder prompt box is filled out with your selected or edited prompt.

   

3. Click on Get Started.
4. You will be redirected to the My Site page, where you can customize your website further by entering its description in the text box on the left pane. It's similar to providing prompts in a chat.

   

   Please don't close this tab, as this is where your website is being created.

For detailed instructions on how to use this page, please refer to the Getting Started with Bluehost AI Website Builder article. You can also watch a short video on that page to guide you through the process of setting up your AI Website Builder.

Step 2: Request a Store in Your Initial Prompt

So, this is the most important step in the entire setup process. If you do not clearly say you want to sell your products or services, your store will NOT be created. Skipping this important step during setup means you will not see the Sell Online plan later on. Additionally, the "Upgrade" option to access the AI Store will not be available.

You may ask, 'Why?'

The system only installs the "Store" (WooCommerce) IF your initial prompt clearly mentions selling a product or running a store. 

✅ What You Should Do

While you're setting up your AI Website Builder (Step 1 ⤴), ensure that you mention this in your prompt or something similar.

• A clear intention to sell.
• A brief mention of the products or services you offer.

There is no mention of selling, so no store will be set up.

❌ What You Should Not Do

If you didn't request a store or didn't mention you want to see during the setup stage:

• WooCommerce will not be installed
• The upgrade function to the Sell Online plan will not appear.
• You cannot access or manage the AI Store features

Step 3: Upgrade to the Sell Online Plan

After setting up your website during the free trial stage, you can launch it by upgrading to the Sell Online plan.

If you are ready to publish your website, click on Upgrade within the builder and then select Continue with Sell Online.

What's Next?

Once you successfully upgrade to the Sell Online plan, you'll finally get access to the AI Store dashboard, the central hub for managing your online business.

For details on how to access the AI Store through your Bluehost Portal, refer to the Bluehost AI Store: Accessing the Bluehost AI Store article.

To learn how to navigate the AI Store dashboard, please visit the Bluehost AI Store: Navigating the AI Store Dashboard article.

Summary

The Bluehost AI Store makes it easy to build and manage an online store without technical know-how. Built on WordPress and WooCommerce, this solution uses the AI Website Builder to help users manage everything from products to payments through simple conversations. To get started, customers can sign up for a free trial of the AI Website Builder, request a store during setup, and then upgrade to the Sell Online plan. Once they upgrade, they'll have access to a user-friendly dashboard with all the tools needed to efficiently run their online business.