DreamHost is one of the leading web hosting service providers. It has grown and maintained a successful hosting business for the last 18 years. It currently hosts around 1.5 million sites, blogs, and applications. IsItWP users get an exclusive 40% discount on web hosting.
4.7 / 5.0 5.0 / 5.0 5.0 / 5.0
4.0 / 5.0 4.0 / 5.0 4.0 / 5.0 4.7 / 5.0
DreamHost is one of the oldest web hosting companies, founded back in 1996, even before the advent of Google. DreamHost is now the home for over 1.5 million websites, blogs, and applications, with over 400k happy customers, spanning throughout more than 100 countries.
DreamHost offers a wide variety of web hosting plans for customers of all sizes. Their hosting services include:
Their team is top-notch, and they are always ahead of the curve when it comes to their technology stack. It is one of the officially recommended web hosts by WordPress.org and also the highest-rated web host by PCMag.com.
They offer everything you need to get your website up and running. They give you free domain registration with annual plans, free SSL encryption with Let’s Encrypt, a one-click installer for WordPress and a website builder known as Remixer for those who want to kick start a website with absolutely no coding involved.
On top of that, every shared hosting plan with DreamHost comes with a 97-day money back guarantee. That means you get full three months to try DreamHost and if you’re not fully satisfied, you can request a full refund.
They are also a domain name registrar and offer domain registration and parking services as well.
DreamHost’s shared hosting plan starts at $8.95 per month (regular price). You’ll find their extensive knowledge base immensely helpful to kick off a website from the ground up.
4.3 / 5.0
DreamHost offers cheap hosting, also known as shared hosting, which is the best choice for entry-level and small websites. With cheap hosting, you share the same physical server with many other DreamHost users. Although you share server resources like physical hard drives and RAM with other users, your website files are secured and only accessible to you.
There are 2 shared hosting plans: Shared Starter and Shared Unlimited. DreamHost lets you pay monthly, annually or every 3 years. DreamHost’s 3-year plan provides the best value with over 47% cost savings over the monthly plan.
With any of the DreamHost hosting options, you can waive off the domain name registration fees for one year. You’ll also get free SSL encryption, and 1-click WordPress installer.
Unlike most other web hosting providers, DreamHost comes with a 97-day risk-free money back guarantee.
5.0 / 5.0
DreamHost’s dedicated hosting could be the best choice for websites with high-traffic volume. With dedicated hosting, you get a complete server for your sole use, giving you much more control over the server and operating environment.
With DreamHost’s dedicated server, you get RAID 1 storage, 24×7 server monitoring and tech support, 100% network uptime guarantee, DDoS protection, full root, and shell access and more.
You get a custom-built control panel for your dedicated hosting needs with the flexibility to add or remove servers, reboot or powercycle your server whenever you need it. Plus, you can also manage your domains, websites and email address with ease.
4.6 / 5.0
Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is the best bet for you if you want to build websites with secured data or resource-heavy applications that are growing through rapid growth and expansion. With VPS, you get a tremendous amount of bandwidth and storage along with easy backup and scalability.
With every managed VPS hosting plan, you get expert assistance on installing manual security patches, user-friendly control panel, 20 x faster SSD storage.
DreamHost allows you to choose from three different VPS plans based on RAM (1GB to 4GB) and SSD storage capacity ranging from 30GB to 240GB.
If you’re technically inclined and looking for an inexpensive, scalable server that gives you full control with root access, you can choose DreamCompute, which is unmanaged VPS hosting also known as cloud hosting.
5.0 / 5.0
DreamHost’s WordPress hosting protects your website from WordPress specific vulnerabilities and malicious attacks.
With their managed WordPress hosting, you’ll get automatic WordPress updates so you can ensure your site is always updated and secured. With every plan, automatic daily backups and on-demand backups are included.
DreamHost’s managed WordPress hosting is the best solution for you if you don’t want to perform site maintenance yourself and needs WordPress specific support for maintaining your WordPress site. With Plus plan or higher, you get Jetpack Pro subscription, daily malware and scanning repair, and instant access to the extensive collection of WordPress themes.
4.8 / 5.0
DreamHost offers WooCommerce hosting for users who want to quickly build an online store without the tedious process of WordPress and WooCommerce installation. WooCommerce hosting is almost similar to the Plus plan of managed WordPress hosting. The only difference is that WooCommerce will be preinstalled on your account.
Upon subscribing to a WooCommerce hosting plan, you can easily get your online store up and running just by logging into your WordPress dashboard. The storefront theme is preinstalled with WooCommerce hosting. You’ll also get a Jetpack Pro subscription.
Here’re a few things we liked about DreamHost
Here are a few limitations of DreamHost…
Does Dreamhost live up to their uptime promise?
To test the server performance for our DreamHost review, we’ve created a test WordPress site using the default Twenty Seventeen theme and dummy content for theme development, including images. This way our test site looked and behaved like an actual average WordPress site.
After setting up our test site, we ran a speed test on our site using Pingdom.
As you can see in the results, our DreamHost test site loaded in less than half a second. That’s faster than 97% of all tested sites, which is incredible for a site without any performance optimization plugins.
Apart from Pingdom, we also used a testing tool called Load Impact to figure out whether our DreamHost site can survive a traffic surge. Load Impact sent some virtual users (VUs) to our site and gradually built up to 100 visitors at a time to test how the server handles it.
In the chart, you can find a blue line (VUs active) which shows the number of virtual users sent to our DreamHost site and a green line (VU load time) which represents how much time it took to load a web page for a user.
As you can see, DreamHost’s performed was great and consistent throughout the test. The number of live visitors on the site doesn’t have an impact on site performance.
The content of your site can have an impact on your page loading time. For instance, if your site contains too many images, it will take more time to load. In fact, images account for most of the downloadable bytes in a typical site.
To get a more accurate result for our test, instead of solely analyzing page load time, we decided to test the actual server response time with Bitcatcha by ignoring the content of our page entirely.
Bitcatcha works differently than Pingdom. It ignores the content of your page and records the page loading time from eight different global locations: New York, LA, London, Brazil, India, Singapore, Japan, and Australia. The speed for each location is measured three separate times, and then the results are averaged.
From the result, you can see that DreamHost server response time remained under less than half a second for all geographic locations. It was particularly great in the United States.
If you need help with DreamHost’s hosting service, you can check out their extensive knowledge base that comprises of tutorials and recommendations. You’ll find DreamHost’s support portal immensely helpful for building and growing your website with a DreamHost hosting account.
DreamHost provides live chat and ticket based support for free with every hosting plan. The main drawback is that Live Chat is only available during 5am – 10pm PST, 7 days a week.
The DreamHost support team strives to answer all emails within 24 hours. Although call back requests are available, they’re not included in every hosting package. You’ll have to subscribe to it separately either by making a one-off payment or monthly subscription. Bear in mind that callbacks cannot be made for numbers outside the United States and Canada.
If you’re just starting out with a new website, you can choose DreamHost’s shared hosting plan.
There are 2 shared hosting plans: Shared Starter and Shared Unlimited.
For WordPress optimized hosting, you can choose from their managed WordPress hosting plans.
Take a detailed look at the pricing of different DreamHost hosting plans.
| PLAN | DISK SPACE | BANDWIDTH | PRICE |
| Shared Hosting | Unlimited | Unlimited | $2.59 / mo. |
| WordPress Hosting Starter | Unlimited | Unlimited | $2.59 / mo. |
| Basic VPS Hosting | 30 GB | Unmetered | $10 / mo. |
| Dedicated Hosting | 1 TB | Unlimited | $169 / mo. |
Having helped thousands of users choose a web hosting plan and start their website, we have answered just about every question you can think of. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about DreamHost.
Which DreamHost plan should I get?
The answer really depends on your hosting needs. When you’re starting out, simply choose their shared hosting plan. DreamHost has only a single shared hosting plan, which makes it easy to get started with an account. If you want to create an online store, then we recommend using their WooCommerce hosting which is specifically designed to handle eCommerce websites.
Can DreamHost handle high traffic?
DreamHost is capable of handling high traffic. But keep in mind that it all depends on the plan you choose. If your site starts consuming too much resources, then DreamHost will ask you to upgrade to a higher plan.
Can I upgrade my DreamHost plan later?
We always recommend users to start with the smaller plans and upgrade as needed. DreamHost makes it very easy for you to upgrade.
Does DreamHost offer a month-to-month payment option?
Yes! DreamHost offers month-to-month payment option. However, keep in mind that they offer significant discounts for longer-term deals.
Can I create subdomains in DreamHost?
Yes, you can easily create subdomains in DreamHost using the cPanel.
Do I have to register my domain name with DreamHost?
No. While you can claim a free domain name while purchasing a hosting plan, you’re not obliged to register a domain name with DreamHost. You can use Godaddy, NameCheap, or any of your preferred domain name registrar.
Does DreamHost offer free SSL?
Yes, DreamHost offers free SSL with all of their plans. Ecommerce plans come with dedicated IPs and private SSL.
Do I need to purchase the addons that DreamHost offers me?
No, you do not need to purchase any addons at the time of purchase. Should you decide that you need them later, you can always add them to your account.
Does DreamHost really offer unlimited disk space and bandwidth?
Just like any other hosting company, DreamHost also advertises unlimited resources. When they say unlimited, it just means that you don’t have to worry about disk storage or bandwidth because you get enough resources to operate a small site in a normal condition.
Can I create an ecommerce site on DreamHost?
Absolutely. DreamHost’s WooCommerce hosting plan comes pre-configured with all the things you need to start an online store.
Wondering how DreamHost stacks up against other web hosting companies? See our side-by-side comparison to see for yourself.
We think DreamHost offers a very reliable platform for hosting your websites. Their starting prices may be slightly higher than the competition, but being upfront about the prices, they leave no room for confusion down the line. With a DreamHost plan, you don’t find any hidden charges and comes with an unlimited website and email hosting.
We were also impressed with their custom control panel and quick support. DreamHost could be the best solution for you if you don’t want a cPanel based backend option. We rate DreamHost as an excellent choice for hosting any kind of website.
All DreamHost plans include a money-back guarantee. 
I love Dreamhost! Can’t say enough so I’ll just say they’re the best.
Quick email response to my support request! Resolution received in a timely manner, couldn’t be happier with the level of service.
Unimpressive control panel. Choose dreamhost because they are in California.
Dreamhost’s technical help is quick and detailed. Not being a techie, I need that extra measure of explanation. I have come to expect that their technical team will provide thorough answers. Well done, DreamHost!
As a user with only the basics of website management (business owner), I am happy to find top notch customer service.
I’ve been a happy Dreamhost customer for 6-7 years now, and can’t imagine leaving. Their customer support team are helpful and quick. Pretty much the opposite of Comcast. That should be their new slogan “Dreamhost: We’re The Opposite of Comcast.”
SOLD! Take my money!
I’ve been using DH for 10 years, with Virtual Private Server and the monthly chat support service. Despite having unlimited bandwidth and storage I’m looking to move off them because of email issues, and, too a lesser extent, slow page load times.
For some reason, DH just doesn’t seem to be able to host email consistently. Sign up with Google and it works for years. With DH, there are problems every few months. Email stops working. iOS devices can’t log in. The latest: when I check my email accounts in the panel, my email user names have been replaced with my DH user name. The support guys don’t see that on their end, but it seems to affect my email.
I run a business and I need reliable email. Too many problems with DH, especially for what I pay for their services. You’d think guys from CalTech could do better. But they’re too busy adding stuff to make the basics work.
Where do I begin with how much I <3 Dreamhost. Their monthly email newsletter is one of the best things ever. They are real geeks who love what they do. These are not corporate IT guys who are wasting time until they can get a "real" job. This is who you want hosting your server, no matter how small it is. These guys get how fun it is to hack computers into massive cloud based virtual machines. Every issue I have ever had has resulted in me being even happier that I chose Dreamhost. Their backend panel options are functional, efficient and useful. Their online wiki is stocked with helpful information written to help you go from padowan to jedi linux master.
I am proud of Dreamhost, and I brag about them often.
Great first experience. I love that they provide free hosting for non-profits and they set it up right away. When I had issues with setting up the WordPress, they replied back the same day and answered my questions.
I love DreamHost. Their support is prompt, efficient, comprehensive and personal. Their documentation is outstanding. I volunteer with non-profits and love directing them to DreamHost.
I’m so frustrated with Dreamhost. I’ve had the same problem for several months now, and every person I ask gives me a different reason and solution for the problem… and so far none of the suggestions have helped at all.
Not impressed and will probably move somewhere else.
Timely email responses from our account rep. Thank you! However, from time to time, I would still like to speak to someone live, especially being a “non-techy” person… but there is no 800# to call =(
Dreamhost have great customer service. Kind, professional and timely. I am a very happy customer.
I just switched 2 weeks ago from another hosting. I did need some support to set up my site since the size of the import file was about 80 Mb. I requested help from Dreamhost and they performed it pretty well.
have been using Dreamhost since year 2000, and I have recommended to many of my friends that it provides great service and support. One feature I found missing the ability for administrator to configure/COPY incoming mails to another email address (in panel.dreamhost.com) – i.e. retaining all incoming emails to the original addressee…as in t he forward email option, once email is downloaded by the designated addressee/s, the original addressee may not be able to receive those mails.
Great and patient customer service. Reliable long term hosting and advancee notification on payments due.
Recently Dreamhost replaced the traditional CPanel with their own panel. Except on the new Panel options there is no ‘Hosting’ option. Uploading the public folder or viewing the file structure can only be done via FTP or SFTP. I took 3 emails before I got a decent answer back from Dreamhost. Their people are pretty awesome but their panel really leaves a lot to be desired. I’ll be migrating my sites to another provider.
We have been at dreamhost for a long time,, more then 10 years, and I like that they can help you at any level of understanding, and all problems big and small somehow get solved. This environment always changes, and they adapt to it very well. So we feel at home and save. sounds silly but that is the situation.
I have been with DreamHost Since 2000. I can honestly say that I would not think about using any other web hosting service. I have used a lot just to compare services and expand and nothing compares to what DreamHost has to offer. Customer service has always been spot on. Even through just email, responses usually take just a few hours. Thanks DreamHost! and Keep up the great service!
Excellent first experience. DreamHost was recommended to me by a friend who also a tech professional. One of the reasons he gave was the support. I’m a complete newbie so ran into some first-timer problems setting up my new email. DreamHost support replied very quickly and gave me an explanation for my problem and links to follow to learn how to solve it. Thanks, DreamHost support guys!
I built a client website on my domain. I needed help to export the files and download SQL. I live chatted with Dreamhost rep who sent me links to the tutorials that explained how to find the information that I needed. I was satisified with the speed and information that I obtained from customer service.
I don’t like the website interface, though. I had little cause to login and use the Dreamhost interface as I made all site updates via wp-admin. On the rare occasion that I did use the Dreamhost interface I found that it is not at all intuitive and I had a hard time finding the information that I needed. My client uses a different web host. When I logged in to upload the files/SQL I found the interface to be intuitive and easy to use with clearly labeled icons for major areas of the site.
Excellent support and wonderful web panel.
It’s the best support I’ve ever worked with.
I’ve been using dreamhost for 5 years and there is no reason to leave.
I related via e-mail that my web site was being controlled and manipulated by a former employee who was finding great joy in making threats to either shut down or harm my web site. Made numerous attempts to get my issue fixed. Was stonewalled at every turn. When I asked via e-mail to please give me options to fix my problem, I got what looked like a form letter response. Not only did it take a long time for someone to respond, they did nothing to help me fix my problem nor did they offer any options to fix my problem. I find it hard to believe that I am the first customer that this has ever happened to and was looking for options of which I was offered none.
I’ve been with DreamHost over 10 years. I’m a small customer but the few times I’ve needed help I needed it! I’ve always gotten a response and the problem solved within an hour. And I don’t ever recall downtime.
I highly recommend Dreamhost both for price and service above and beyond the price.
just getting started ,and I am a novice at all things web but found Dream host to be easy to work with.