InterServer's pricing table lists one rate, $4.95/mo, with no separate promo-then-renewal split anywhere on the page. Bluehost's Starter plan runs $4.99/mo on a 12-month term and renews at $11.99/mo -- a 2.4x jump once the introductory term ends. Both numbers sit close together on paper. What separates them is the pricing model behind each: InterServer's flat rate is InterServer's actual differentiator against nearly every other host in this space, while Bluehost follows the standard intro-price-then-renewal pattern that InterServer's page conspicuously does not have.
Both hosts carry a live HostingDive affiliate relationship, so the commission question that complicates some comparisons doesn't apply here -- the difference between these two comes down entirely to pricing structure and included specs.
Disclosure: HostingDive may earn a commission if you buy through the InterServer or Bluehost links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Quick Comparison
| Criterion | InterServer | Bluehost (Starter) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $4.95/mo (Monthly Pricing, no term commitment) | $4.99/mo (12-month term) or $3.99/mo (36-month term) |
| Renewal price | Not disclosed -- no separate renewal figure exists for InterServer's flat-rate model | $11.99/mo (12-month term) or $9.99/mo (36-month term) |
| Websites | Unlimited domains | 10 websites |
| Storage | Unlimited disk space | 10GB NVMe storage |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited transfer | ~40,000 monthly visits included (Starter) |
| Support | 24/7 phone, chat, and ticket | Not part of this capture for Starter |
| Rail on this page | CLOAK -- HostingDive affiliate link | CLOAK -- HostingDive affiliate link |
| Verdict | Best for buyers who want one predictable rate with no renewal-shock math to do | Best for buyers who want the lowest possible per-month number and are fine locking a term to get it |
InterServer: Full Spec Breakdown
InterServer's pricing page names no distinct plan tier -- it labels its own table "Monthly Pricing" rather than a product name, and that label is what this comparison uses rather than inventing a plan name that doesn't appear on the page. The base rate is $4.95/mo. InterServer also shows longer prepay terms on the same static pricing table (not a toggle -- all terms are visible at once): Half Year at $28.21 total ($4.70/mo), Yearly at $53.46 total ($4.45/mo), 2-Year at $100.98 total ($4.20/mo), and 3-Year at $142.56 total ($3.96/mo). Setup fee is $0 across the board.
Included with the account: unlimited disk space, unlimited transfer, unlimited domains, free website migration handled by InterServer's own team, a 30-day money-back guarantee, cPanel, and 24/7 phone, chat, and ticket support. InterServer also lists 275 one-click-install scripts available through the control panel.
Here's the structural point worth naming explicitly: InterServer's pricing table has no separate "renews at" figure anywhere on the page. Every other host in this comparison advertises an intro rate and a higher renewal rate. InterServer doesn't have that split -- the $4.95/mo monthly rate (or whichever prepay term you choose) is the ongoing rate, not a promo that steps up later. That absence is not a gap in this capture; it's InterServer's actual pricing model, and it's the single biggest reason to consider InterServer over a host with a steep renewal jump.
What InterServer's captured page does not state: SSL terms, a free domain offer, backup frequency, or an uptime percentage/SLA figure. This comparison does not claim any of those for InterServer because none of them appear on the captured pricing page.
Bluehost: Full Spec Breakdown
Bluehost sells two relevant tiers here -- Starter and Business -- each with term-length variants that change the per-month price. Always name both the plan and the term length together; the same plan prices differently depending on how long you commit.
Starter, 12-month term: $4.99/mo, renewing at $11.99/mo. Includes 10 websites, 10GB NVMe storage, and roughly 40,000 monthly visits.
Starter, 36-month term: $3.99/mo, renewing at $9.99/mo -- same plan, same feature set, a lower per-month rate for the longer upfront commitment. A prior live-page reconciliation this cohort ran found a $3.79/mo figure attached to Bluehost elsewhere on HostingDive; that number matches neither Starter term and was almost certainly a transcription error. It is not repeated here, and $3.79/mo should not be treated as a valid Bluehost price anywhere.
Business, 12-month term: $7.99/mo promotional rate, renewing at $15.99/mo. Includes 50 websites, 50GB NVMe storage, and roughly 200,000 monthly visits. No 36-month Business rate was captured this cohort -- if you need that figure, treat it as not independently verified rather than assuming it scales down proportionally from the 12-month rate.
Two features apply across the entire Bluehost lineup, not gated to a higher tier: a free WP Migration Tool and a staging environment. Both are listed as all-plans features, including Starter.
Head-to-Head: Pricing (Intro and Renewal)
InterServer's model removes the intro-vs-renewal question almost entirely. Whatever term you pick -- monthly at $4.95, or a prepay down to $3.96/mo at 3 years -- that rate holds; there is no disclosed step-up later. Bluehost's model is the opposite: every price is explicitly split into an intro number and a renewal number, and the gap is real. Starter's 12-month term more than doubles at renewal ($4.99 to $11.99/mo, a 2.4x jump); the 36-month term more than doubles too ($3.99 to $9.99/mo, a 2.5x jump). Business jumps from $7.99 to $15.99/mo, exactly 2x.
At face value, InterServer's $4.95/mo monthly rate and Bluehost's $4.99/mo Starter 12-month rate are nearly identical. The difference shows up in year two: an InterServer customer on the monthly rate is still paying roughly $4.95/mo (or less if they'd chosen a prepay term), while a Bluehost Starter 12-month customer is paying $11.99/mo -- more than double, for the same plan they signed up for.
Head-to-Head: Site Limits and Storage
This is where Bluehost's tiered structure pulls ahead for buyers who need it. InterServer's account includes unlimited domains and unlimited disk space regardless of which term you pick -- there's no ceiling to plan around. Bluehost caps Starter at 10 websites and 10GB NVMe storage; buyers who need more move up to Business (50 websites, 50GB NVMe storage) at a materially higher price ($7.99/mo promo, $15.99/mo renewal).
For a single-site or small-portfolio buyer, InterServer's unlimited domains figure is mostly theoretical headroom rather than a practical requirement. For an agency or a buyer managing more than 10 sites, Bluehost's Starter cap becomes a real constraint that forces an upgrade to Business -- a cost InterServer's flat, uncapped model avoids entirely.
When to Choose InterServer
- Buy if you want to avoid doing renewal-shock math a year from now -- InterServer's rate doesn't have a disclosed step-up.
- Buy if you're managing more than 10 domains and don't want a site-count ceiling forcing a plan upgrade.
- Buy if 24/7 phone support matters to you -- InterServer states phone, chat, and ticket support are all available around the clock.
- Skip if you need a stated SSL policy, a free domain, or an uptime SLA in writing -- none of those are stated on InterServer's captured pricing page.
When to Choose Bluehost
- Buy if you want the free WP Migration Tool and staging environment on even the cheapest plan -- both are all-plans features at Bluehost, not upsells.
- Buy if you can commit to the 36-month Starter term and want the lowest available per-month number ($3.99/mo) among Bluehost's own tiers.
- Buy if your site is likely to outgrow 10 websites or 10GB -- Business's 50-site, 50GB ceiling gives real headroom InterServer's unlimited figure doesn't need to prove since it has no cap to begin with, but Bluehost's tiering makes the upgrade path explicit and priced.
- Skip if a renewal price more than doubling your monthly cost is a dealbreaker you'd rather avoid entirely.
The Fine Print
InterServer's flat-rate structure is the standout fact here: no other host in HostingDive's current comparison set skips the promo-then-renewal split the way InterServer does. That said, InterServer's captured page is silent on SSL, free domain offers, backup frequency, and uptime guarantees -- ask directly before signing up if any of those matter to your decision. Bluehost's renewal prices are explicit and mandatory disclosures on this page: Starter renews at $11.99/mo (12-month term) or $9.99/mo (36-month term), and Business renews at $15.99/mo. Do not quote any Bluehost intro price without the matching renewal figure, and never cite $3.79/mo for Bluehost -- that number does not match any certified Bluehost term.
Both links on this page are live HostingDive affiliate cloaks: InterServer at hostingdive.com/go/interserver/ and Bluehost at hostingdive.com/go/bluehost/.
See the full review for InterServer and Bluehost on HostingDive -- with intro vs renewal pricing and support response time data.
Comparing Bluehost against other hosts? Our Hostinger vs Bluehost comparison breaks down how Bluehost's tiered plans measure up against Hostinger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does InterServer's price go up after the first term?
No disclosed renewal figure exists on InterServer's captured pricing page. Its flat-rate model has no promo-then-renewal split -- the rate you sign up at (monthly $4.95/mo, or a lower prepay rate) is the ongoing rate, not an introductory price.
What is Bluehost's Starter plan renewal price?
It depends on the term. The 12-month term renews at $11.99/mo (from a $4.99/mo intro). The 36-month term renews at $9.99/mo (from a $3.99/mo intro). Always name which term a Bluehost Starter price refers to.
Is $3.79/mo a real Bluehost price?
No. A prior live-page reconciliation on HostingDive found $3.79/mo attached to Bluehost, but that figure matches neither the 12-month nor the 36-month Starter term and appears to be a transcription error. The certified Starter rates are $4.99/mo (12-month) and $3.99/mo (36-month).
Does InterServer limit the number of websites I can host?
No. InterServer's account includes unlimited domains, unlimited disk space, and unlimited transfer regardless of which pricing term you select.
Which host includes staging environments?
Bluehost includes a staging environment across its entire plan lineup, including the Starter tier -- it is not gated to a higher plan. InterServer's captured pricing page does not mention staging.
Do both InterServer and Bluehost pay HostingDive a commission?
Yes. Both links on this page are live HostingDive affiliate cloaks, so a purchase through either link may generate a commission for HostingDive at no extra cost to you.