Managed WordPress hosting · Kinsta vs Bluehost
Kinsta vs Bluehost in 2026: Prices, Renewals and Support Compared
Bluehost costs less. Its Starter tier is 3.99 USD a month on a 36-month term (143.64 USD) and renews at 9.99 USD a month, 119.88 USD a year. Kinsta’s Single 35k is 35 USD a month or 350 USD a year, with no multi-year term and no renewal step. Kinsta adds daily backups and migrations by its own team. Prices read 23 September 2026.
Affiliate link: the Kinsta button is an affiliate link and Kinsta pays us a commission if you sign up through it; you pay Kinsta’s list price either way. The Bluehost link is a plain link; Bluehost pays us nothing.
Written and checked by Sascha Martins, Promo Code Network, Switzerland
Kinsta vs Bluehost: entry price, prepaid term and renewal
Bluehost’s 3.99 USD covers the whole 36-month term; the renewal rate of 9.99 USD applies from month 37. Its “Save 60%” label compares the two Bluehost prices, not Bluehost with another host. This page uses the 36-month term, the one Bluehost’s advertised 3.99 USD belongs to. Kinsta bills by the month or the year at one list price.
| Plan | First term | Prepayment required | After the first term | Per year after the first term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinsta Single 35k | 35 USD monthly; 350 USD yearly | A month or a year, not 36 months | Same list price | 350 or 420 USD |
| Bluehost Starter | 3.99 USD a month | 36 months: 143.64 USD | 9.99 USD a month | 119.88 USD |
| Bluehost Business tier | 6.99 USD a month | 36 months: 251.64 USD | 13.99 USD a month | 167.88 USD |
Kinsta pricing page (USD, before tax) and Bluehost’s WordPress hosting page (USD, VAT not included), both read 23 September 2026. Kinsta’s billing terms, including the first month free, are on Kinsta pricing and billing terms.
Total cost of Kinsta and Bluehost over 36, 48 and 60 months
| Period | Bluehost Starter | Kinsta Single 35k, annual | Kinsta Single 35k, monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 36 months | 36 × 3.99 = 143.64 USD | 3 × 350 = 1,050 USD | 36 × 35 = 1,260 USD |
| 48 months | 143.64 + 12 × 9.99 = 263.52 USD | 4 × 350 = 1,400 USD | 48 × 35 = 1,680 USD |
| 60 months | 143.64 + 24 × 9.99 = 383.40 USD | 5 × 350 = 1,750 USD | 60 × 35 = 2,100 USD |
| Each further year | 119.88 USD | 350 USD | 420 USD |
List prices before tax; renewal months at 9.99 USD. Kinsta’s first free month would remove one 35 USD payment on monthly billing.
Backups, staging, CDN and migrations at Kinsta and Bluehost
| Item | Kinsta Single 35k | Bluehost Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Backups | Automatic every 24 hours, kept 14 days; every 6 hours 20 USD, hourly 100 USD per site a month | Weekly website backups |
| Staging | Free one-click staging | WordPress staging site listed |
| CDN | Included with edge caching, 125 GB CDN bandwidth a month | Free CDN |
| Migrations | Unlimited, free, carried out by Kinsta’s migrations team | Free site migration tool |
| Sites | 1 WordPress install; extra site 30 USD a month | 10 websites, 10 GB NVMe storage |
Kinsta pricing page and the Starter card on Bluehost’s WordPress hosting page, 23 September 2026.
Traffic model, support channels and refund window
| Item | Kinsta Single 35k | Bluehost Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic | 35,000 visits a month; site stays online above it, notices at 80% and 100%, overage billed per additional 1,000 visits | “Ideal for 40K visits/mo”; no limit or overage price published |
| Support | Chat, 24/7, in 8 languages | Chat, 24/7; phone support not included on Starter, included from the Business tier |
| Refund window | 30 days for first-time customers; overages and one-time fees excluded | 30 days on hosting; not for monthly terms, domain fees or most add-ons; card payments only; a fee for a free domain is deducted |
Bluehost’s refund has the most conditions of the two: hosting only, card payments only, no refund on monthly terms or most add-ons, and the value of a free domain is deducted. On a 36-month prepayment of 143.64 USD, a refund in the first 30 days returns the hosting fee less that domain charge. Kinsta’s refund conditions are on Kinsta refund policy.
Verdict: Kinsta vs Bluehost
Price and total cost: Bluehost, 143.64 USD for 36 months against 1,050 USD, and 119.88 USD a year afterwards against 350. Prepayment: Kinsta, which bills by the month or the year, while Bluehost’s price needs 36 months. Inclusions: Kinsta backs up daily, Bluehost Starter weekly; Kinsta’s team migrates your sites, Bluehost offers a tool; staging and a CDN at both. Sites and traffic: Bluehost, 10 websites against one. Support: 24/7 chat at both, no phone on either entry plan. Refunds: 30 days at both, with more exclusions at Bluehost.
Kinsta vs Bluehost: common questions
What does Bluehost cost after the first 36 months?
Does Bluehost Starter include phone support?
How often are backups made?
Does the Bluehost money-back guarantee cover everything?
How many sites can I run on the entry plan?
Sources
- Kinsta: WordPress hosting plans, prices in both line-ups, first month free, inclusions, add-ons, overage FAQ. Read 23 September 2026.
- Kinsta: Terms of Service, renewal and fee changes, and Money-Back Guarantee, conditions and plan cancellation. Read 23 September 2026.
- Bluehost: Managed WordPress Hosting, Starter and Business cards (36-month term, renewal rates, features, support), money-back terms and migration tool. Read 23 September 2026.