What it is
DreamHost is an independent shared and managed WordPress host that has been running since the nineties. It is one of the few budget hosts whose pricing does not rely on a hidden renewal jump.
It is also an official WordPress.org recommended host, and unusually for this bracket it includes domain privacy and unlimited bandwidth without treating them as upsells.
I recommend it to people who want cheap hosting without feeling managed by a marketing funnel.
What it does
Standard shared hosting done properly: one-click WordPress, free SSL, free domain privacy, automated daily backups on most plans and a custom panel that is simpler than cPanel.
Their managed WordPress product adds caching and staging, which is worth comparing against dedicated managed hosts before buying.
Performance is respectable rather than fast. Better than HostGator, behind Hostinger, well behind managed hosting.
Support is email and chat, competent on account matters and slower than a managed host on anything technical.
Who it's for
Features
Pros and cons
Pricing
| PLAN | WHAT YOU GET | WORTH IT FOR |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Starter | One site, daily backups. | A single small site. |
| Shared Unlimited | Unlimited sites and email. | Several small sites. The value tier. |
| DreamPress | Managed WordPress with caching and staging. | Compare against Cloudways first. |
| VPS | Dedicated resources. | Sites outgrowing shared hosting. |
Renewal pricing is close to the introductory rate, which is unusual and genuinely valuable when comparing four-year totals.
Shared Unlimited if you host more than one site, Starter if you host one. Skip DreamPress in favour of Cloudways at that price.
Alternatives
My verdict
DreamHost is the shared host I recommend to people who have been stung by renewal pricing elsewhere. What you pay in year one is close to what you pay in year three, and the basics that other hosts sell as add-ons are included.
It is not fast in absolute terms. If speed is your priority at this budget, Hostinger wins; if predictability and fair dealing are, this does.
When the site starts earning, move to Cloudways or Kinsta. Until then, this is a comfortable place to be.
Try DreamHost →Who should use it
Who should avoid it
Related articles
Affiliate disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through one, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and it never changes the price you pay. It also does not decide what appears on this page: I recommend tools with no affiliate programme just as readily, and leave off tools with generous ones when they do not deserve the space.