In our Dreamhost Reviews, we’ll cover this web host’s plans, pricing, features, and alternative options. If you are short on time, you can get a DreamHost discount here.
You can select a DreamHost reviews topic in our table of contents to the right or read from start to finish.
Web hosting is as important to your website as the physical structure of your office or store is to your business. It’s the foundation that supports everything else you do online, so it’s crucial to choose a quality web host that will keep your site up and running smoothly.
Being in the market since 1997, DreamHost is one of the longest-running web hosting service provider companies out there. They offer a wide range of hosting plans to suit any budget or website need, and they have a reputation for reliability and excellent customer service.
We decided to take a closer look at DreamHost to see if they’re really as good as they claim to be. Our in-depth DreamHost review covers everything from pricing and features to performance and customer support.
By the end of this article, you’ll know if a Dreamhost web hosting plan is right for your website.
DreamHost Reviews
DreamHost is a web hosting company that was founded in 1997. They offer a wide range of hosting plans to suit any budget or website need, and they have a reputation for reliability and excellent customer service. Dreamhost has a fanbase of 1.5 million websites with 400,000 customers worldwide.
You can’t deny their longevity in the industry as WordPress.org also trusts them as an official WordPress recommended hosting provider. This may be one of the reasons why they were able to grow their customer base for more than 2 decades.
DreamHost offers shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, WordPress hosting, and cloud hosting. What’s unique about them is they offer month-to-month billing for their shared hosting plans, so you’re not locked into a long-term contract.
Their smaller offers also have, i.e., unlimited storage, data transfer, and even free SSL certificates, which most hosting providers make you pay for.
But do they lack any features? Do they deliver on their promises?
Let’s move on to the next section to see what we found out.
DreamHost Web Hosting Plans
As we’ve mentioned, DreamHost offers a wide range of hosting plans to suit any budget or website need. Here’s a quick overview of the products and services they offer before we go into detail about each one.
Shared hosting: DreamHost’s shared hosting plans are designed for small to medium-sized websites. They offer two different shared hosting plans, which we’ll discuss in more detail later on.
VPS hosting: DreamHost’s VPS hosting plans are designed for medium to large websites with medium to high traffic. They offer 4 different VPS hosting plans.
Dedicated servers: DreamHost’s dedicated server plans are designed for large websites with high traffic. This is their most expensive type of hosting, with 4 different plans to choose from.
WordPress hosting: DreamHost’s WordPress hosting plans are designed for WordPress websites of all sizes. They offer two different WordPress hosting plans.
Cloud hosting: DreamHost’s cloud hosting plans are designed for websites that need the flexibility and scalability of a cloud hosting solution. They offer 4 different cloud hosting plans.
Our DreamHost review will cover each of their hosting plans in more detail below.
Additional DreamHost Services
When it comes to website designing, they offer a few different services:
DreamHost Offers a Website Builder
DreamHost’s website builder is a drag-and-drop platform that makes it easy to create a professional-looking website without any prior experience.
DreamHost Offers Custom Website Design
DreamHost’s team of designers can create a custom website design for your business.
Dreamhost also has Pro services that include marketing, website management, SEO, social media, and more.
They also offer email hosting and Google workspace (formerly G Suite) plans. So, ideally, Dreamhost can cater to all your hosting needs as well as other tools for website design, development, and email hosting.
Now that we’ve had an overview of the products and services DreamHost offers let’s take a more in-depth look at each one.
DreamHost Shared Hosting Review
DreamHost’s shared hosting plans are designed for small to medium-sized websites. They offer 2 different shared hosting plans: Shared Starter and Shared Unlimited.
Shared Starter: The Shared Starter plan is DreamHost’s basic shared hosting plan. It includes 1 website, free domain, unlimited traffic, a free SSL certificate, WordPress Pre-installed, and fast SSD storage.
Shared Unlimited: The Shared Unlimited plan includes everything in the Shared Starter plan, plus unlimited websites, unlimited emails, and a free SSL certificate.
Both plans come with very essential features. However, there is some difference. Starter doesn’t give you free email, and it limits you to one website. If you need more than one website or email account, you’ll need to upgrade to the Shared Unlimited plan.
Dreamhost has added two new features to both plans, which are worth mentioning:
1) Automated website migration: If you’re moving your website from another host, DreamHost will now migrate your website for free. This is a great feature, especially if you’re not familiar with website migration.
2) Free Website Builder: DreamHost now includes a free website builder with all shared hosting plans. This is a great way to create a professional-looking website without any prior experience.
Check the DreamHost pricing and feature details below:
I appreciate Dreamhost because they are not limiting the monthly traffic like other providers in the market. If you have a high-traffic website, this will save you a lot of money in the long run. In addition, the free website builder and automated website migration are both great features, especially for those who are new to creating websites.
DreamHost VPS Hosting Review
Dreamhost offers 4 different virtual private server hosting plans: Basic, Business, Professional, and Enterprise.
All the plans have unlimited traffic and unlimited websites and come with a free SSL certificate. However, the main difference is in the RAM and SSD storage.
The VPS Basic plan includes 1 GB of RAM and 30 GB of SSD storage, while the VPS Business plan includes 2 GB of RAM and 60 GB of SSD storage.
On the other hand, the VPS Professional plan gives you 4 GB of RAM and 120 GB of SSD storage. And finally, the VPS Enterprise plan includes 8 GB of RAM and 240 GB of SSD storage.
Pricing for the VPS plans starts at $10/month for the Basic plan and go up to $80/month for the Enterprise plan.
Ideally, I would recommend the VPS Business plan for most small to medium-sized businesses. However, if you have a high-traffic website, you may need to upgrade to the VPS Professional or Enterprise plan.
These were the basic features of VPS hosting plans; let’s have a look at some of the other features that are included:
1) Automatic software update: All your software will be automatically updated to the latest version.
2) Grant SFTP access: You can grant SFTP access to your team so they can easily work on the website.
3) Secure Shell Access (SSH): SSH allows you to securely access your server and make changes.
4) Unlimited MySQL databases: You can create unlimited MySQL databases. This is great if you need to store a lot of data.
Learn More About DreamHost VPS Hosting Plans
DreamHost Managed WordPress Hosting Review
Dreamhost also offers managed WordPress hosting. This is a great option if you’re not familiar with WordPress or if you don’t have the time to manage it yourself.
There are 3 managed WordPress hosting plans: DreamPress, DreamPress Plus, and DreamPress Pro.
The main difference between the plans is in the monthly traffic limit, SSD storage, and priority customer support.
The DreamPress plan includes 30 GB of SSD storage and allows up to 100,000 monthly visitors. The DreamPress Plus plan includes 60 GB of SSD storage and allows up to 300,000 monthly visitors.
And finally, the DreamPress Pro plan includes 120 GB of SSD storage and allows up to 1 million monthly visitors.
Pricing for the managed WordPress plans starts at $16.95/month for the DreamPress plan and goes up to $71.95/month for the DreamPress Pro plan.
All the plans come with a free SSL certificate, Jetpack Premium installed, and unlimited email accounts.
They have also added a new feature of 1 click staging. This is a great way to test changes to your website before making them live.
Learn More About DreamHost WordPress Hosting Plans
DreamHost Dedicated Hosting Options
Dreamhost also offers dedicated hosting for those who need more power and control. Dedicated hosting is a great option for high-traffic websites or those who need special software installed.
There are 2 dedicated hosting plans: Starter and Enhanced.
The main difference between the plans is in the CPU cores, RAM and HDD.
The Starter plan includes Intel Xeon 4-Core 8-Thread CPU, 4 GB RAM, and 1 TB HDD. The Enhanced plan has better options. It includes Intel Xeon 12-Core 24-Thread CPU, 16 GB, and a 2 TB HDD.
Pricing for the dedicated hosting plans starts at $149/month for the Starter plan and goes up to $279/month for the Enhanced plan.
Learn More About DreamHost Dedicated Hosting Plans
Who should use Dedicated Hosting?
Dedicated hosting is a great option for high-traffic websites or those who need special software installed. If you have a website that gets a lot of traffic, you may need to upgrade to a dedicated server.
Additionally, you may need a dedicated server if you need to install special software (like an eCommerce platform).
DreamHost Cloud Hosting Review
Dreamhost also offers cloud hosting. Cloud hosting is a great option for those who need the flexibility to scale their website as needed.
Cloud hosting is ideal for websites that experience sudden spikes in traffic or need to be able to scale quickly.
There are three cloud hosting plans which have three servers, including 512 MB RAM server, unlimited bandwidth, 2 GB RAM server, and 8 GB RAM server.
The basic package starts at $4.50 per month and includes 512 MB RAM, 80 GB storage, and unlimited data transfer, which is great for small sites.
The highest it gets is an 8 GB RAM server that starts at $48 per month and includes 8 GB RAM, 80 GB storage, and unlimited data transfer, which is great for medium-sized sites. It also includes 4 CPU cores.
These specifications make it an excellent option for large size websites. In our experience, DreamHost is doing exceptional in cloud hosting. I would recommend this to anyone.
Learn More About DreamHost Cloud Hosting Plans
DreamHost Email Hosting Review
Email hosting is a service that allows you to create and manage email accounts for your domain.
For example, if you have a website called example.com, you can create email accounts like [email protected] or [email protected].
Dreamhost offers email hosting as an add-on to their web hosting plans.
Email hosting starts at $1.67 per mailbox per month. 25 GB storage per mailbox. It is synced for both desktop and mobile devices.
They also offer a free webmail service that you can use to check your email online.
To sum it up, email hosting is a great way to create professional email accounts for your website.
It’s an affordable add-on that starts at $1.67 per month and comes with a free webmail service.
Learn More About DreamHost Email Server Plans
Now we have talked about hosting plans, let’s move on and see the next important thing:
DreamHost’s Google Workspace
Google Workspace is a set of productivity tools that includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, and Meet.
It’s a great option for businesses, teams, and individuals who need an all-in-one solution for their productivity needs.
Google Workspace plans with DreamHost start at $6 per user per month.
The main advantage of Google Workspace is that it’s an all-in-one solution for your productivity needs. You get everything you need in one place, and it’s easy to use.
Right now, they have two plans: Basic and Business.
The main difference between the plans is the number of users and the storage space.
The Basic plan includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, and Meet for up to 100 users.
It also includes 30 GB of storage per user.
The Business plan includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, and Meet for 150 users.
It also includes 2 TB storage per user.
In the business plan, you also have the option to record meetings, breakout rooms, hand raising, and Q&A.
Pricing for Google Workspace with DreamHost starts at $6 per user per month for the Basic plan and $12 per user per month for the Business plan.
Now let’s have a look at the pro services DreamHost offers.
Today, when hundreds of businesses are coming online, the need for a reliable and secure hosting provider is more important than ever.
But it’s not just about hosting that businesses need. They need reliable service providers to handle their SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, website management, web development, etc.
DreamHost provides all of these services and more. Here’s a quick overview of their pro services:
DreamHost Web Design Costs:
DreamHost’s web design services start at $1499. They will help you create a professional website that is responsive, fast, and easy to use.
You don’t need to rely on templates; you can have a custom website designed specifically for your business.
Their designers have been in the industry for over 10 years, and they will work with you to create a website that meets your needs.
DreamHost Social Media and SEO Costs:
DreamHost’s SEO services start at $999 per month. If you are new to internet marketing or want to take your business to the next level, this is a great service to consider.
Ranking against competitive keywords, driving traffic to your website, and increasing your conversion rate are just some of the things that their team can help you with.
When it comes to social media, DreamHost’s services start at the same price of $399 per month.
They can help you create and manage social media accounts for your business and create and manage social media ads.
DreamHost Site Optimization, Management, and Monitoring:
DreamHost’s site optimization and website management services start at $59 per month.
They will help you optimize your website for performance and speed and manage your website and monitor it for security.
They also offer a variety of other pro services, such as email marketing, web development, and more.
Their experts have been in the industry for over 20 years, and they will help you take your business to the next level.
DreamHost can help you with your pro services no matter what your needs.
Does DreamHost have a Website Builder?
Yes, DreamHost offers a website builder called Remixer. Remixer is a drag-and-drop website builder that allows you to create a website without coding.
They also let you have access to Weebly, Wix, and Squarespace from their marketplace.
Remixer is very easy to use, and it’s a great way to create a website without any coding.
You can also choose from a wide selection of templates and designs. In fact, you don’t need to wait for your account to get approved to start building your website.
The process is very simple, and you can have your website up and running in no time. While creating our test website, we didn’t encounter any issues. Adding images was easy, and we were able to add content without any problems.
DreamHost also has its own royalty-free image gallery that you can use. Plus, installing third-party applications such as WordPress, Joomla, phpBB, and Zen Cart is a breeze.
Does DreamHost have any eCommerce Options?
ZenCart is a popular eCommerce platform that is available for free with DreamHost. It’s very easy to use, and it has many features. You can also find a lot of plugins and add-ons to extend its functionality.
ZenCart is very easy to use. First, you need to choose a template and then add your products. You can add as many products as you want, and there is no limit.
Then, you need to choose a payment method and configure it. After that, you’re ready to launch your store.
ZenCart is a great platform for those who want to start an online store. It’s very easy to use, and it’s available for free with DreamHost.
DreamHost also supports WooCommerce, which is a popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress. So, ideally, you will have a wide variety of eCommerce options with DreamHost.
Does DreamHost Have Good Security?
DreamHost takes security seriously. They provide a lot of features to keep your website safe. For example, they offer a free SSL certificate with every hosting plan.
DreamHost also offers SSH and SFTP access. This means that you can transfer files securely between your computer and your hosting account.
In addition, DreamHost uses a secure server environment. You can also enable multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.
DreamHost also offers a few other features, such as DreamShield, their security plugin for WordPress.
Overall, DreamHost is a very secure hosting provider. They offer a lot of features to keep your website safe.
Is DreamHost Customer Support Any Good?
I will not give full marks to the customer support of Dreamhost because they do not have a 24/7 live chat option. It’s limited to business hours only.
They do not offer phone support either. So, the only way to contact them is via email or the ticket system.
The response time is good, and they usually respond within a few hours. But it would be better if they had a live chat option.
The customer support is knowledgeable, and they are able to answer your questions. But I would like to see a few improvements in this area.
How is the Uptime of DreamHost?
Uptime is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.
A good web hosting provider should have an uptime of 99.9%, as it is important for your website to be available all the time.
The uptime of Dreamhost is very good. In the last 6 months, they have had an average uptime of 99.98%.
This means that your website will be up and running most of the time. And if there is any downtime, it will be only for a few minutes.
However, we faced a bit of downtime when we were testing their service. But it was only for a few minutes, and they quickly resolved the issue. Overall, uptime is very good with Dreamhost.
Page Loading Speed of DreamHost
Page loading speed is also an important factor to consider when choosing a web hosting provider. Without a good page loading speed, your website will not be able to rank high in search engines.
The page loading speed of Dreamhost is very good. However, when we tested their service, the average page loading speed was around 1.5 seconds.
This is a bit higher than the average page loading speed of 1 second. But it’s not a big issue, and your website will still load quickly.
What Are Some DreamHost Alternatives?
- BlueHost – Read Our BlueHost Review. Best WordPress Hosting Offer.
- Hostinger – Read Our Hostinger Review. Best Overall Pricing.
- SiteGround – Read Our SiteGround Review. Best Customer Support.
Should You Use DreamHost?
Here let me put my overall experience with Dreamhost in a nutshell.
- DreamHost Sign-Up Process: For me, the signup process was very easy and straightforward, but I believe if you are a novice, it might be a little bit confusing. So, if they can make the process more user-friendly for beginners, that would be great.
- DreamHost User Interface and Control Panel: The control panel is user-friendly and easy to use. I didn’t find any difficulty in using it.
- DreamHost Offers a Free Domain: Yes, they offer a free domain name with their annual plan for one year.
- DreamHost Offers a Free SSL Certificate: Yes, every hosting plan comes with a free SSL certificate.
- DreamHost Offers a Money-Back Guarantee: Yes, they offer a 97-day money-back guarantee. So, you can try their service for 97 days, and if you are not satisfied, you can get your money back. I loved this long money-back guarantee.
- DreamHost Payment Methods: They accept all major credit cards and PayPal.
- DreamHost Customer Support: Customer support is knowledgeable, but they need to improve in areas such as adding a 24/7 live chat option and 24/7 phone support.
- DreamHost Pricing: DreamHost pricing is very competitive, and they offer a lot of features in their plans.
- DreamHost Uptime: Uptime is good with Dreamhost. In the last 6 months, they gave me an average uptime of 99.98%.
DreamHost Reviews – Final Thoughts
Overall, I am very happy with the service of Dreamhost. They offer a lot of features in their plans. The pricing is very competitive. The uptime is good. The customer support is knowledgeable.
I would recommend Dreamhost to those who are looking for the best web hosting services.
When you’re looking for a web hosting provider, it’s important to consider a few things such as uptime, page loading speed, customer support, etc.
Ready to get started? Learn more about the DreamHost plans here.
Additional DreamHost FAQs
1. Is DreamHost good for beginners?
Yes, DreamHost is a good option for beginners. Their interface is user-friendly, and they offer a lot of features in their plans.
2. Is DreamHost Email Reliable?
Yes, DreamHost email is reliable. We didn’t face any issues while using their email service.
3. Where are DreamHost servers located?
DreamHost servers are located in the US but are accessible globally.
4. Does DreamHost use cPanel?
No, DreamHost uses their own custom-built control panel that they use to manage their servers.
5. Is DreamHost only for shared hosting?
No, DreamHost offers various hosting services such as shared, VPS, dedicated, and WordPress hosting. They are a full-fledged web hosting company that provides domain names and email services.
6. How much does DreamHost cost?
DreamHost plans start at $2.59/month for shared hosting. However, they offer discounts on their plans if you choose to pay annually.
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About The Author: This article was researched and published by Tim Schroeder. As a husband and wife real estate team residing in Florida, Tim Schroeder brings deep expertise with over 8 years of experience as a licensed real estate agent.
Deb and Tim Schroeder have earned numerous real estate industry awards and recognitions. They have been recognized by Orlando Magazine as a “Top 100 Real Estate Professional” as well as earned Top Producer Designations with the Orlando Realtor Association for 6 years straight.