Before you complete Bluehost’s registration process, the site will offer direct access to a package of additional web hosting services, including domain privacy protection, a 30-day trial for Microsoft 365 mailbox, SEO tools, and more. While these services may seem essential to hosting a successful website, you won’t need all of them. This leaves many members wondering which Bluehost extras they need.
Although many of the Bluehost Package Extras may seem tempting, the majority are unnecessary and can be safely skipped without affecting the quality of your website. The only exception to this rule is domain privacy protection, which we recommend for all users. If you wish to benefit from services similar to what Bluehost offers, you can easily find better options elsewhere.
If you are considering a Bluehost account, I highly recommend their core services. However, during the sign-up process, think twice about which extras you pay for. In this article, I’ll share an overview of each extra, discuss what they’re designed to do, and review whether they’re worth purchasing. So, before you complete your registration, be sure to read this comprehensive guide.
What are Bluehost Package Extras?
While signing up for Bluehost’s web hosting services, the platform offers new members a list of five additional web hosting services, which they refer to as “Package Extras.” These services are designed to improve the quality, performance, and security of your site and include:
- Domain Privacy Protection: This service keeps your personal information, such as your name and address, private. It also protects you from spam and identity theft.
- SEO Tools: This service helps you to optimize your website for search engines.
- Microsoft 365 Mailbox: This service provides you with a 30-day trial for a Microsoft 365 mailbox.
- SiteLock Security: This service protects your website from malware and other security threats.
- CodeGuard Basic: This service backs up your website and allows you to restore it if it is hacked.
Each service is offered at a discounted rate, albeit Bluehost does charge the price of a full annual subscription upfront. In total, if you were to select all five options, you would end up paying an additional $297.60, which Bluehost markets as a 50% discount, saving you $145.44. This, of course, is a big investment, leading many to wonder if it’s necessary.
Do I Need Domain Privacy Protection?
I highly recommend that you select the domain privacy protection service. This is a service that keeps your personal information, such as your name and address, private while also protecting you from spam and identity theft. These issues are becoming increasingly common, and the last thing you want is for your personal information to fall into the wrong hands.
What is Domain Privacy Protection?
When you register a domain name, your personal information is automatically added to the WHOIS database. This database is publicly accessible and can be used by anyone to find your personal information. Domain privacy protection replaces your personal information with the information of a proxy server.
This way, whenever someone looks up your domain name, they will only see the proxy server’s information rather than your own. This protects you from unwanted spam emails and identity theft while also keeping your personal information private.
Price of Domain Privacy Protection
Domain privacy protection is offered at a discounted rate of $11.88 per year. This is a fairly reasonable price, especially if you consider the alternative of having your personal information leaked to the general public, including spam marketers and identity thieves.
My Recommendation
I highly recommend that you select the domain privacy protection service. Not only does it help to protect your private information, but it’s also a smart way to limit the number of unwanted emails that find their way into your inbox. And, considering that it costs less than a dollar a month, Bluehost’s Domain Privacy Protection is certainly priced fairly.
Is CodeGuard Basic Worth It on Bluehost?
CodeGuard Basic is a service that backs up your website and allows you to restore it if it is hacked. This is a valuable service in theory but also something that you can easily find elsewhere and at a lower cost.
There are a handful of free options that do the same exact thing as CodeGuard Basic so, unless you’re willing to pay for a premium CodeGuard account, it’s not really worth it.
What is CodeGuard Basic?
CodeGuard Basic is a website backup service that helps to protect your website from hackers and crashes. It works by taking a snapshot of your website every day and storing it in a secure off-site location.
If your website is altered without your permission, CodeGuard can restore it to a previous version at the click of a mouse. However, as we’ve already noted, there are a handful of free services that offer the same service.
Price of CodeGuard Basic
CodeGuard Basic is offered at a discounted rate of $2.99 a month. This may seem like a reasonable price, especially when you consider the alternative of losing your entire website but, compared to a service like BackWPuP, which is free, it’s not really worth paying for the basic package extra.
My Recommendation
I recommend that you skip CodeGuard Basic. While it’s a valuable service, it’s one that you can easily find elsewhere. There are many reputable website backup services available, and most of them are cheaper than CodeGuard. Plus, by skipping this option, you’ll save roughly $36 on your final checkout.
As an alternative, consider a similar service such as BackWPuP. BackWPuP is a WordPress plugin that stores a backup file and snapshot of your website in the same that CodeGuard Basic does but it’s easier to use and only takes a few minutes to set up. And, best of all, it’s completely free through WordPress!
Is Bluehost SEO Tools Necessary
Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to include SEO content and analytics on your website. However, Bluehost’s set of SEO tools, called SEO Tool Start, likely won’t deliver the full range of services you’ll need to create a successful website. While it may seem like a good idea for some beginner web developers, their package is simply too vague to say whether it’s an effective product.
What is Bluehost SEO Tools Start?
Bluehost’s SEO Tools Start is a set of website optimization tools designed to help you improve your website’s ranking in search engine results pages. The service includes a keyword research tool, a website analysis tool, and a link-building tool. However, these are all fairly basic tools and won’t deliver the powerful SEO content you need to improve your website’s ranking.
If you’re hoping to increase traffic to your website, you’ll need to invest in a more comprehensive SEO strategy that includes other essential components such as content marketing, targeted links, email campaigns, and social media promotion.
Price of SEO Tools Start
Bluehost offers SEO Tools Start at a discounted rate of $1.99 a month. Although this is a reasonable price compared to other SEO platforms, it’s not really worth it considering that you can find far superior products for only slightly more money each month.
My Recommendation
I recommend that you skip SEO Tools Start. While it is a good idea to optimize your website for search engines, Bluehost’s set of tools is too basic to be effective. There are plenty of other SEO tools on the market that can do a better job of improving your website’s ranking and drawing in new conversions.
As an alternative, I recommend subscribing to WordPress, which starts at less than $5 a month and naturally works in tandem with Bluehost. Additionally, you can add Google Webmaster Tools to your website without paying another dime.
Is Getting Bluehost Microsoft 365 Mailbox Worth It?
The services you’ll find with Microsoft Email 365 are fairly standard across most email providers. Despite this, it’s more expensive than its competitors. You’ll also find that some of the features are only available with a second paid subscription. In other words, you’ll be paying for the same email services you’d get with Google, along with a few other options you could access through WordPress or cPanel.
What is Microsoft 365 Mailbox?
Microsoft 365 Mailbox is a cloud-based email service that helps you manage your email more effectively through a package of Email Essentials. This includes tools to help you organize your inbox, filter messages, and find old emails more easily. It also provides access to a variety of productivity-enhancing features, such as the ability to snooze messages and schedule email messages to be sent at a later time.
For developers, there are also a few built-in tools for creating branded email templates and personalized email address to be used with clients. However, some of these features are only accessible with an additional Premium Email Essentials subscription, adding to the overall price of the service.
Price of Microsoft 365 Mailbox
New members registering for Bluehost can access a free 30-day subscription to Microsoft 365. At the end of that 30-day period, they are then charged an annual fee of $99.99. This is well above what you would pay for a similar service elsewhere so, regardless of the free 1-month subscription, avoid this Package Extra at all costs.
My Recommendation
Microsoft 365 Mailbox just isn’t worth it, even with the free month-long trial. You can find similar services at a fraction of the price, and most won’t require you to sign up for an annual subscription. For that reason, I recommend that you skip this package extra and find a better email service elsewhere.
I recommend using Google Workspace instead. Formerly known as G Suite, it’s a collection of productivity and collaboration tools developed by Google, including Gmail, Calendar, Chat, Jamboard, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, and Sites. These tools can be used both in the web interface and through mobile apps, making them far more effective and applicable.
Do I Need SiteLock Security on Bluehost?
In theory, SiteLock is a good idea. The program scans through your website, identifies potential malware, quarantines it, and then automatically deletes the hazardous files. And, while every website should have a similar program, SiteLock simply won’t provide the comprehensive range of services your site needs.
Unlike other antimalware services, SiteLock only scans your domain once a day, and many of its other features are already covered by the SSL certificate provided through your Bluehost subscription. In other words, it’s not very effective and, if you’re looking for the safety of an antimalware program, SiteLock won’t be of much benefit.
What is SiteLock Security?
SiteLock uses a combination of proprietary technology and human intelligence to scan websites for malware and vulnerabilities. It then automatically removes any malware it finds and patches any vulnerabilities it detects. In addition, SiteLock’s DDoS protection system monitors traffic to and from websites in real-time, identifying and blocking attacks before they can cause damage.
You can add SiteLock to your website in one of two ways: through a Bluehost plugin or by adding a snippet of code to your website’s header. The plugin is more comprehensive, as it not only scans your website for malware and vulnerabilities but also automatically removes any malware it finds and patches any vulnerabilities it detects.
Price of SiteLock Security
Through your Bluehost subscription, you can access a SiteLock plugin for just $2.99 a month, billed as an annual fee of $35.88. While there’s no denying that this is much more affordable than a competitor service, SiteLock’s range of features pales in comparison.
My Recommendation
I recommend skipping SiteLock. While it’s a good idea to have an antimalware program, SiteLock isn’t going to provide the comprehensive range of services your site needs. There are plenty of other antimalware services on the market that will do a better job of protecting your website.
As an alternative, I would recommend using the Wordfence Security plugin for WordPress. This plugin provides a comprehensive set of security features, including malware scanning, vulnerability detection, firewall protection, and real-time traffic monitoring. Plus, it’s completely free to use.
Final Thoughts
You may be tempted to pay for added Package Extras but, in most cases, you’ll find better versions of these services elsewhere. As we’ve pointed out, we recommend paying for the domain privacy protection service, as it’s an essential part of site safety, but the other services can be easily replaced with better options at a fraction of the cost—usually free.
