How to Add a Website in Shared Hosting Plan

There's more than one way to get a website live on your Bluehost shared hosting account. Which method makes sense depends on where you're starting from: do you want help designing the site, are you starting completely from scratch, or are you bringing over a site that already exists somewhere else?

This article gives you a quick overview of each path and links you to the detailed how-to guide for the method you choose.

Method 1: Build a New Website with an AI Tool

If you don't have a site yet and want the fastest path to a finished design, this is the recommended starting point. Bluehost's AI Site Creator asks you a few questions about your site and your experience level, then generates a set of ready-to-use design options you can preview, customize, and publish.

This method walks you through installing WordPress via the Bluehost Portal and then using the AI Site Creator to generate your site's design, structure, and initial content.

Method 2: Start from a Blank Environment

If you'd rather build a site manually — or you want to use a content management system (CMS) other than WordPress — you can add a website to your hosting account without going through the AI-assisted setup.

This guide covers both routes:

• Installing WordPress through the Bluehost Portal without using the AI Site Creator
• Installing another CMS, such as Joomla or Drupal, through cPanel's Softaculous Apps Installer

Method 3: Migrate an Existing Website

If you already have a WordPress site — whether it's hosted elsewhere or you just want to move a copy into a fresh installation — you don't need to rebuild it. Bluehost's self-service migration tool, powered by InstaWP, transfers your files, database, and content into your Bluehost account.

This guide covers both migration scenarios:

• Moving an existing WordPress site directly from another host into your Bluehost account
• Creating a new WordPress installation first, then importing your existing site's content into it

Summary

There are three main ways to create a website on your Bluehost shared hosting account: build one with the AI Site Creator, start from a blank environment (WordPress or another CMS), or migrate a WordPress site you already have. Each method links out to a dedicated step-by-step guide so you can follow the process that fits your situation.