Dreamhost is one of the oldest and most popular web hosting providers in the industry, known for its affordable pricing, reliable performance, and excellent customer support. Dreamhost offers various hosting solutions, including shared hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers.
As this server is not new, you may find it recommended by many. Surprisingly, most of these recommendations are very positive, praising its affordable pricing, abundant resources, good performance, and strong security.
To see if these claims are true, we just need to put Dreamhost to the test. We have checked and evaluated the provider in this Dreamhost review for performance, value for money, security, and various features to help you decide if it is the right web hosting provider for you.
Pros and cons of DreamHost
Things we like
- The plans are affordable and feature-rich
- Excellent performance test results
- The website setup process is easy
- Register a free domain name
- Free SSL with all plans
- Includes daily backups
- Automated WordPress migration
- WP Website Builder
Things we don’t like
- Paid malware removal tool
- Data centers are only available in the US
DreamHost Management – is it easy to use?
DreamHost is user-friendly, particularly for WordPress sites. As a top hosting provider in 2024, DreamHost has an easy-to-use control panel. WordPress can be installed in a single click, and DreamHost provides several WordPress-focused services like auto-updates and security checks.
DreamHost setup
DreamHost is easy to use and you can set up your website quickly. Here’s how:
- 1. Select a hosting plan. DreamHost has different plans to suit your needs and budget. After selecting a plan, create an account and start setting up.
- 2. Get a domain name. If you don’t have one, you can get one from DreamHost. We also successfully transferred an existing domain name to DreamHost.
- 3. Install WordPress. DreamHost has a one-click WordPress installation, so you can start using WordPress quickly. However, we found it can sometimes be a bit slow.
- 4. Pick a theme and plugins. DreamHost provides many free and premium WordPress themes and plugins. We liked that you can select a theme and plugins that fit your website’s requirements and style.
- 5. Begin creating your website. After installing WordPress and picking a theme and plugins, you can start making your website. DreamHost provides many resources like tutorials and support articles to help you get started.
DreamHost control panel
DreamHost has a unique control panel that’s easy to use and navigate. It lets you manage your website features like files, email accounts, and databases.
It works much like a standard cPanel, but it might seem basic if you’re used to more advanced panels. However, for beginners, it’s perfect. For example, here’s how you can handle your email accounts on the DreamHost control panel:
Here are some of the key features of the DreamHost control panel:
- Domain Overview section – a detailed dashboard containing more information and settings specific to each of your sites
- CDN – manage your content delivery network to improve website speed
- File management – manage your website’s files and folders easily
- Email accounts – create and manage email accounts for your domain
- SSL certificates – install and manage SSL certificates for your website
One of the things that I like most about the DreamHost control panel is the fact that it is very well-documented. There are many tutorials and support articles available online, so you can easily learn how to use all of the features of the control panel.
However, what we’d like to see added to the DreamHost control panel is a more robust set of security features. Currently, the DreamHost control panel offers basic security features, such as SSL certificates and IP blocking.
DreamHost for WordPress websites
DreamHost is a popular web hosting provider that is also known for its excellent support for WordPress. DreamHost offers a variety of features that make it easy to install, manage, and secure your WordPress website.
Generally, installing WordPress on DreamHost was very easy during our tests. You can install WordPress with just a few clicks from the DreamHost control panel. DreamHost also offers a one-click WordPress installation option, which makes it even easier to get started.
If you already have a WordPress website hosted elsewhere, you can also easily migrate it to DreamHost. DreamHost offers a free WordPress migration service that will help you move your website to DreamHost with minimal downtime.
Moreover, DreamHost offers a variety of additional WordPress plugins that you can use to enhance your website’s functionality. These plugins include security plugins, SEO plugins, and performance plugins.On the downside, while it does take just a couple of clicks to set up a WordPress site, DreamHost can take a while to install your WordPress. We waited over 20 minutes until it was finished. Other providers either do it instantly or take no longer than several minutes, so this could be a deal-breaker for some users.
Essential features: SSL, email hosting, and staging
In web hosting, three indispensable features stand out – SSL, email hosting, and staging. Below, we’ll talk about each feature to help you make an informed decision when choosing your web hosting plan with Dreamhost.Dreamhost offers free SSL certificates with all their hosting plans. This means your website visitors can browse your site with confidence, knowing that their data is encrypted and secure. Whether you opt for shared hosting, VPS hosting, or dedicated server plans, SSL is included at no extra cost, ensuring that your site is protected and ranks well in search engines.
Another essential feature DreamHost offers is email hosting. Its email hosting services vary depending on your plan. With their own Dreamhost email hosting, you can create personalized email addresses, enhancing your professional image. The number of email accounts and storage limits may differ between plans, so be sure to check the specifics of your chosen package.We found creating a new email account is as simple as clicking on the Create New Email Address button and following the instructions there – filling out details like a wanted mailbox name, passwords, and so on.
Additionally, Dreamhost also offers integration with Titan and Google Workspace, giving you the flexibility to select the email solution that best suits your needs.
Additionally, Dreamhost also offers integration with Titan and Google Workspace, giving you the flexibility to select the email solution that best suits your needs.
Dreamhost’s email hosting comes packed with features, including spam filters, announce lists, and compatibility with popular email clients. This ensures that your communication is seamless and efficient. Other than that, it’s a pretty standard email hosting service.
Now, if you’re looking to develop and test your website before making it live, staging is a game-changer. Dreamhost offers staging environments with their managed WordPress hosting and VPS hosting plans. This feature allows you to create a duplicate of your website in a secure and isolated environment. You have the option to stage your WordPress or DreamPress site. On DreamPress, you can opt for a 1-click staging that we really liked. There’s also a video tutorial explaining the process.
During staging, you can make changes, test plugins, and ensure everything works flawlessly before deploying the updates to your live site.
