Introduction
When comparing Bluehost vs HostGator, you’re comparing two brands under the same parent company—Endurance International Group (EIG). They offer identical plans, pricing and features, yet share the same chronic issues. Below you’ll learn why you should never use either host and what faster, more reliable alternatives exist.
1. Speed Test Results
In multiple speed tests, Bluehost beat HostGator in TTFB, page load and server response times—but both remain slow by industry standards. A TTFB above 800 ms and load times over 1.5 s are unacceptable for modern sites.
2. Overcrowded Servers & CPU Limits
Both hosts pack too many accounts onto the same server and enforce strict inode/CPU usage limits. Exceeding these triggers throttling or 503 errors.
- Bluehost limits: 200 000 inodes, 5 000 tables, 10 GB total DB
- HostGator limits: 100 000 inodes, 5 000 tables, 10 GB total DB
3. Shared Ownership by EIG
EIG owns over 80 brands. Their strategy: buy hosts, overcrowd servers, cut support and stall innovation. All EIG‐owned hosts suffer the same fate.
4. Terrible Support on Both
Support is outsourced and unhelpful. Wait times can exceed 48 hours. Accounts get suspended or even deleted for “fake” malware alerts.
5. User Dashboard Differences
Bluehost uses standard cPanel, which is at least familiar. HostGator’s custom panel lacks basic features—upgrading PHP or cancelling an account requires contacting support.
6. Malware Extortion Scam
Both hosts claim your site is infected and force you to buy SiteLock for up to $200/site. If you don’t comply, they suspend or delete your site.
7. TrustPilot Ratings
Their TrustPilot scores reflect support woes more than anything else.
8. Lack of Innovation
Neither host invests in new technologies. Other providers offer LiteSpeed, NVMe, container hosting or built-in caching—Bluehost and HostGator barely update PHP.
9. Better Alternatives
If you need affordable hosting, A2 Hosting outperforms both. For serious speed, managed cloud on Cloudways (DigitalOcean/Vultr) starts at $10/mo with no hidden limits, stellar support and 4.7+/5 TrustPilot ratings.
In summary: avoid Bluehost and HostGator. Overcrowded servers, hidden limits, extortion tactics and poor support make them undesirable. Choose a host that prioritizes performance, transparency and real customer care.