How to Purchase a Dedicated IP Address

Looking to purchase a Dedicated IP address? An IP address is a unique identifier for any device connected to the internet. This article is your guide to understanding an IP address and, more importantly, how to purchase a Dedicated IP address for your account. Read on to learn the process and benefits of getting your dedicated IP.

• What is an IP Address?
• Shared IP vs. Dedicated IP Address
• Benefits of a Dedicated IP Address
• How to Purchase a Dedicated IP
• Understanding Billing and Renewal of Dedicated IPs
• Summary

What is an IP Address?

An Internet Protocol (IP) address uniquely identifies a computer or server on the Internet.

The IP address is a dotted-quad number, such as 123.456.78.90. No other computer or server on the same network or internet can simultaneously have the same IP address.

When we use domain names to access a website or online service, we use a human-readable shortcut corresponding to the server's IP address. DNS servers automatically translate domain names into IP addresses each time we use a domain name.

Shared IP vs. Dedicated IP Address

Shared hosting accounts come with one shared IP address and no dedicated IP address. You can find your site's current shared IP address in your Account Manager.

Shared IP addresses are more frequently used than dedicated IPs. When you use a shared IP address, multiple websites share the same IP address. Your web browser communicates with the DNS and server to display the correct website. Hundreds of sites could use the same IP address with a shared IP address.

A Dedicated IP address is a unique internet protocol (IP) address that is yours and your site alone. It means all the traffic to and from your domain name or hosting account will be identified with that specific IP address.

For additional information about the difference between Shared and Dedicated IPs, please see our article Understanding Shared IP vs. Dedicated IP.

Benefits of a Dedicated IP Address

Here are some of the advantages of having a dedicated IP address.

Improved Email Deliverability

A dedicated IP address reduces the risk of emails being flagged as spam. Your email reputation will not be affected as compared to shared IP users who engaged in spammy behavior. This is essential for businesses that rely on email marketing as it improves sender reputation and that leads to higher Inbox placement rates.

Enhanced Security and Reputation

With a dedicated IP address, you have entire control over the IP address' reputation. It also provides a secure connection to your organization's resources, allowing you to manage access to specific resources. You avoid potential access issues that can occur when many sites share the same IP address and resources.

Faster FTP Access and Management

A dedicated IP address can simplify FTP access and management. It plays an important role in establishing user restrictions and whitelisting specific IPs for security.

Easier Troubleshooting and Identification

Diagnosing network or server issues is made easier with a dedicated IP address as it is easier to pinpoint the source of the problem.

How to Purchase a Dedicated IP

Depending on your hosting plan, you can purchase a certain number of dedicated IP addresses.

Dedicated IP for a Shared Hosting Plan

Currently, Shared hosting plans do not include the option for a dedicated IP address.

Dedicated IP for a VPS Hosting Plan

All of our VPS hosting plans come with 1 dedicated IP address, but VPS hosting owners can request an additional IP address at no extra cost, allowing them to have a maximum of 2 IP addresses.

Dedicated IP for a Dedicated Hosting Plan

All of our Dedicated hosting plans are initially provisioned with 1 dedicated IP address. However, Dedicated server owners can request up to 2 IP addresses, allowing them to have a maximum of 3 IP addresses.

Bluehost's policy for IP address distribution may change to comply with the guidelines set by the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). We reserve the right to deny any request to a dedicated IP if we find that the justification is insufficient or if the current IP usage is inappropriate.

Please note that changing to a dedicated IP will take approximately 4 hours to complete. During this time, your website may appear to be down, but you will not need to change your nameservers.

Understanding Billing and Renewal of Dedicated IPs

Here are some billing and renewal reminders about your dedicated IP address.

Prorated Monthly Charges

The monthly rate or term is prorated to match the expiration date of the hosting account. This means if you purchase a dedicated IP mid-billing cycle, you'll only be charged for the remaining portion of that month.

Renewal with your Hosting Plan

To simplify the renewal of dedicated IPs and ensure continuous service, your dedicated IP address will automatically renew whenever your hosting plan is renewed.

Integrated Renewal Settings

The dedicated IP address has no renewal settings separate from the hosting term. This means if the hosting plan is set to expire, then the dedicated IP will also expire. Its lifecycle is entirely managed through your hosting plan's renewal settings.

Summary

Learn about the benefits of dedicated IP addresses and how to purchase one. This article covers the basics of IP addresses, explains the differences between shared and dedicated IP addresses, and outlines the benefits of IP addresses, such as improved email deliverability and security. It also includes the steps on how to purchase a dedicated IP and information on its billing and renewal.