DreamHost is a company widely used by users from around the world. It proves to be a great option for those looking for a good cost-benefit ratio, especially in shared plans. Among the positive points, we highlight are excellent server performance, above-average uptime and fast and efficient support.
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DreamHost Review
DreamHost is an American hosting company, based in the state of California. It was founded in 1997 by 4 computer science students and today is among the largest in the United States.
DreamHost currently serves more than 400,000 customers in nearly 100 countries. More than 1.5 million websites, blogs, and other applications are hosted on their servers.
DreamHost Servers Location
DreamHost has 4 data centers, which are located in the United States, in the cities of Ashburn (Virginia), Portland (Oregon), Irvine (California), and Los Angeles (California). When choosing a hosting plan, it is possible to identify which data center that hosts your website and other services (eg, e-mail and database), as this information is readily available in the control panel.
The choice of the data center is determined by DreamHost. Despite this, the customer can request a data center migration, if desired, by simply opening a support ticket. As outlined by the company, the choice of data center will have no impact on the performance of the website or application. The exception is for cases where the database is in a different data center than the one used by the application. In this case, DreamHost recommends that customers contact support for database migration.
Products and Services
DreamHost offers hosting services for all types of websites and applications. They offer plans for those that are just starting out with their first website, as is the case with the shared Starter plan. But there are also more robust options, such as cloud hosting services and dedicated servers.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting plans are the cheapest in the company’s portfolio. It is possible to purchase hosting from US$2.59 per month. DreamHost has only 2 shared hosting plans, Starter and Unlimited.
Compare the features of the plans in the table below: (prices are based on a 1 year plan)
Plans | Starter | Unlimited |
WebSites | 1 WebSite | Unlimited WebSites |
Free Domain | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited |
SSL Certificate | Free | Free |
Additional fee | Unlimited | |
Starting Price/month | $3.59 | $3.95 |
The Starter and Unlimited plans are very similar in features but differ in the presence of e-mail, which is not included in Starter, and in the storage space, which is 50 GB on Starter and unlimited on Unlimited. Besides, the Starter plan allows you to host only 1 website and a maximum of 5 subdomains, while Unlimited has no restrictions on domains and subdomains.
Both plans include:
- Automatic WordPress installation
- Free website migration
- E-mails
- database and unlimited transfer (Unlimited only)
- Free SSL certificate
- Free Website Builder
- SSD Storage
- Unlimited transfer
- 100% uptime guarantee (your website online)
DreamPress (WordPress Hosting)
DreamPress is the name of DreamHost’s WordPress hosting plans. It is a managed VPS server and optimized for websites created with WordPress. The entry plan costs $16.95 per month and includes the email service.
If your looking for WordPress Hosting, I suggest reading our latest article – Best Hosting Services For WordPress – Buyers guide which gives you additional hosting options to better suit your needs.
DreamPress comes in 3 flavours : (prices are based on a 1 year plan)
Plans | DreamPress | DreamPress Plus | DreamPress Pro |
WordPress Sites | 1 Site | 1 Site | 1 Site + Staging Site |
Monthly Visits | 10 Thousand | 30 Thousand | 100 Thousand |
Storage | 30 GB | 60 GB | 120 GB |
SSL Certificate | Free | Free | Free |
Yes | Yes | Yes | |
JetPack | Free Version | Professional | Professional |
Starting Price/Month | $16.95 | $24.95 | $71.95 |
The big difference with DreamPress plans is that they are hosted on a VPS server, not on a common shared hosting. This means that there are far fewer clients per server. All data storage is located on solid-state drives (SSD), which in itself offers performance gains. Because of these resources, the company promises a much faster page loading speed than that achieved with ordinary hosting.
Other features of DreamPress plans include:
- Pre-configured WordPress on hosting
- Automatic WordPress update, plugins, and themes
- Free domain privacy
- Unlimited email accounts
- Application firewall (WAF)
- Server cache (Memcached, Varnish, and OPcache)
- HTTPS by default
- Fast provisioning (up to 5 minutes)
- Daily backups
WooCommerce (WordPress Hosting WooCommerce)
DreamHost has a plan dedicated to the famous WordPress e-commerce plugin, WooCommerce. The service also works on a managed VPS, in this case, optimized for WordPress and the WooCommerce plugin, which is $24.95 per month.
The WooCommerce hosting is offered in only one plan, as shown in the table below:
Plans | DreamPress | DreamPress Plus | DreamPress Pro |
WordPress Sites | 1 Site | 1 Site | 1 Site + Staging Site |
Monthly Visits | 100k Monthly Visitors | 300k Monthly Visitors | 1M+ Monthly Visitors |
Storage | 30 GB | 60 GB | 120 GB |
SSL Certificate | Free | Free | Free |
Unlimited Email | Yes | Yes | Yes |
JetPack | Free Version | Professional | Professional |
Starting Price/Month | $16.95 | $24.95 | $71.95 |
In addition to the features present in DreamPress plans, the WooCommerce plan has the following differentials:
- WordPress and WooCommerce pre-installed
- Preinstalled StoreFront theme
- WordPress updates, plugins, and automatic themes
- Daily backups
- Free SSL certificate
- Storage in solid-state drives (SSD)
- Managed scalability (to withstand times of increased traffic)
VPS Hosting (VPS Server)
DreamHost VPS servers are offered in 4 plans, all managed and based on Linux. The service starts at $13.75 a month.
Below is a comparison of the capabilities of the company’s VPS servers:
Plans | Basic VPS | Business VPS | Professional VPS | Enterprise VPS |
RAM Memory | 1 GB | 2 GB | 4 GB | 8 GB |
Storage | 30 GB | 60 GB | 120 GB | 240 GB |
Starting Price/Month | $13.75 | $27.50 | $55 | $110 |
DreamHost VPS plans do not offer root access. This means that the user is unable to install or configure services other than those provided. Depending on the goal, this may not be a problem, but if root access is desired, the company recommends cloud hosting plans.
All VPS plans provide the following features by default:
- SSD storage
- Control panel (own from DreamHost)
- RAM memory scalability
- Unlimited traffic
- Subaccounts (for resale)
- Free SSL certificate
- Unlimited traffic, email, and databases
- SSH access
- Node.js
- Apache or NGINX webserver
Dedicated Hosting
DreamHost’s dedicated servers are indicated for high traffic sites, such as large e-commerce, reseller hosting, and agencies with many customers. The company offers machines with up to 64 GB of RAM and 2 TB of storage. The cost of the server is budgeted on demand, that is, it is necessary to contact the company to obtain a quote.
Cloud Hosting
DreamHost’s cloud hosting is based on the OpenStack platform and has full root access. The plans start at US $4.50 per instance (monthly) and the charge is proportional to the time of use, without traffic costs (upload/download).
Below are examples of instances available in the cloud service:
Ram Memory | 512 MB | 2 GB | 8 GB |
CPU | 1 vCPU | 1 vCPU | 4 vCPU |
Storage | 80 GB SSD | 80 GB SSD | 80 GB SSD |
Traffic | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Starting Price (hour/month) | $0.0075/4.50 | $0.02/12 | $0.08/48 |
For DreamHost’s cloud hosting you have two options: DreamCompute and DreamObjects. The first refers to cloud computing and offers to the provision of Linux, BSD, or Windows virtual machines. All of them scalable via API and with SSD storage. The second is focused on object storage and is based on the open-source platform Ceph.
Website Builder
The DreamHost website creator has all the features expected in this type of tool. With it, it is possible to build a website entirely in the browser, without the need to deal with code and settings. The service starts at $4.95 a month and can be tested for free for 14 days.
The Remixer, which is the name given to the DreamHost website creator, is available in 2 different plans:
Plans | Standard | All Access |
Sites | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Pages | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Responsive Themes | Yes | Yes |
Free Domain (Annual Plain) | Yes | Yes |
None | Yes | |
Starting Price/month | $4.95 | $7.95 |
As we can see, the big difference between the two plans is the e-mail service, which is only available in the All Access plan. For the creation of the website, the company provides an assistant, where it is possible to create a website template, which will serve as a starting point, after 4 steps.
- Layout
- Color palette
- Images
- Sources
In addition, these are included in all plans of the website builder:
- Responsive themes
- Custom fonts
- Filters and tools for image editing
- Free Stock Photos
- SEO Tools
Another interesting point is that you can create unlimited sites in all plans. That way, it is possible to test different models and customizations at will until you get one that you like.
Domain Registration
Like many hosting companies, DreamHost offers domain registration. The company sells more than 400 domain extentions, with prices starting at $2.95 per year.
Among the extensions offered by the company, many have discounts in the first year. Below are the most popular extensions:
Extension | Ist Year | Renovation |
.with | $9.95 | $13.95 |
.online | $7.95 | $29.95 |
.me | $6.95 | $32.95 |
.blog | $12.95 | $24.95 |
.design | $10.95 | $49.95 |
.shop | $2.95 | $29.95 |
An interesting aspect of DreamHost’s domain registration is the free domain privacy service. The service allows the data of those who register a domain not to be exposed in the Whois database. Many companies charge an additional fee for this service, but DreamHost offers it for free. The benefit can be used in any international domain.
DreamHost Support
DreamHost offers technical support through two main channels: online chat (chat) and ticket system (email). The company also serves and guides clients on social networks.
Phone support is also offered but is only free of charge on DreamPress Plus and Pro plans, which have a limited number of calls. Shared hosting plans can rely on telephone service, but must be paid for separately. The service works in the callback system, that is, you must inform, via ticket, that you want telephone assistance and a company technician will contact you. The call costs US $ 9.95 per request or US $14.95 for 3 monthly requests. It is practically the value of some hosting plans from DreamHost itself, so something to use only in cases of emergency.
In addition to the service channels, DreamHost has a very comprehensive knowledge base, with guides for the operation of all its products. The company also maintains a forum where customers can post their questions and exchange information about the services.
Online Chat Service
Chat support must be requested within the DreamHost customer panel. Once inside the panel, simply locate the Support -> Contact Support area in the side menu. When accessing the page for the first time, you must select the subject for which you want support from a drop-down list.
After selecting the subject, the options to start a chat, submit a ticket, or request a phone call will be displayed.
Before starting the chat itself, you must select the domain for which you want to attend. After selecting the domain, just click the button to start the conversation.
When you click the button, the chat window opens and you can enter your problem.
Service via Ticket
Just like chat service, to open a ticket you need to access the DreamHost client panel. When accessing the support area, on the panel, you can view a list with the history of all open tickets.
It is interesting to note that some tickets are generated automatically and are available to the customer in this area. This is the case, for example, of calls via chat, whose conversation history is saved here. Other examples include the automatic renewal notice for SSL certificates and occasional maintenance notices.
To open a new ticket, the procedure is similar to chat: you must select a category from the Category drop-down list. Then, just click the Submit a ticket button.
To open the ticket effectively, you must fill in a field with the subject and indicate the domain for which you want to attend. After that, just describe the problem and submit the order.
Social Media
DreamHost also provides a service through social networks. This type of service is only for initial contact, basically they guide customers with problems to the appropriate service channel.
But it is interesting to note that even customers with tickets in progress can receive some kind of service and update through social networks.
Server Performance and Resources for Developers
DreamHost servers have excellent performance, comparable with the best companies in this segment. Below we will go through some of the technologies used and how these contribute to the great performance.
DreamHost is amongst the hosting companies that have chosen to use SSD technology for data storage. The acronym comes from Solid State Drive. Unlike traditional HDs, the SSD has no moving parts (discs), which makes recording and retrieving data much faster. Poorly compared, it would be like a big flash drive. SSDs are used both for storing files and databases and, according to the company, can be up to 200% faster compared to other technologies.
The caching system on the OPcache server is enabled by default on all Shared and DreamPress plans. The feature can also be activated in VPS, dedicated, and cloud plans. The system benefits sites and applications that use the PHP programming language by storing previously run scripts in memory. In addition to reducing server load, OPcache also increases the speed of cached queries.
The web server used by default is Apache. NGINX is available for use only on VPS and dedicated server plans. This is an aspect that can frustrate, at first glance, enthusiasts of the powerful NGINX cache system. However, the company claims that the possibilities for configuring Apache are greater at this time and that only sites with a lot of traffic can find real benefit in using NGINX. In fact, from the experience we have with DreamHost, the Apache configuration performed by the company does not present any performance-related problem.
For developers, Git and Subversion version control systems are enabled by default on all hosting plans. Among the available programming languages, in addition to the expected PHP, it is also possible to run applications in Ruby, Python, Java, and others. As it is a Linux hosting, Microsoft languages are not compatible with DreamHost.
In addition, all plans allow SSH and FTP access. To use the terminal, simply enable SSH access through the control panel.
Server Stability
DreamHost is one of the few companies that guarantee 100% uptime in the service contract. This means that the company is committed to keeping the hosting server running 24 hours a day, without interruption.
Backups
The company performs automatic backups of servers, e-mails, and databases, however, it does not offer any guarantees about these backups.
There is a manual backup system for customers on the control panel. It is available at Billing & Account -> Backup your account. There are no customization options. When starting the procedure, the backup of the entire account will be performed and will be available for download. To run the backup, just click on the button available on the page.
The procedure can take several minutes and the customer is informed by email when the backup is complete. The backup files are available in the same folder and can be downloaded directly in the browser or via FTP/SSH.
Specific backups, such as only the website or application, can normally be done using various techniques. The company provides, in its knowledge base, several tutorials for making backups of applications such as WordPress and others.
Free SSL Certificate
DreamHost offers the Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate free of charge to all customers and in all plans. Let’s Encrypt is a certificate issuer that has been growing exponentially in recent years. It was created by a group of companies that have the common goal of making the web a safer place. So far, Let’s Encrypt has issued more than 50 million free certificates.
Let’s Encrypt is integrated with DreamHost services and, to be issued, the customer only needs to activate the option on the panel. The procedure is completely automated. After issuance and installation, an email is sent to the customer informing that the certificate has been successfully issued and installed. Let’s Encrypt is automatically renewed every 3 months. At the time of the renewal, the customer also receives an email notification confirming that the renewal has been carried out. A copy of these notices is recorded on the control panel, in the tickets area.
Other certificate options are available on the customer panel, such as the Comodo SSL certificate, for $15 USD annually. Among the main differences of the Comodo certificate for Let’s Encrypt, we can mention the annual renewal and a guarantee issued by the company that provides compensation in case of breach of encryption. There is also the possibility to import a certificate issued by another company.
Control Panel
DreamHost uses a control panel created by the company itself for the administration of its services. The control panel includes specific areas for all company plans. There are also areas dedicated to the administration of domains, users, support, and advanced administration. The affiliate program, where it is possible to indicate the company and receive a commission for sales, is also present on the panel for all customers.
When you access the panel for the first time, there is a welcome screen. It contains some of the company’s most recent notices and also the disclosure of some of the services. Although this initial screen does not seem to be very useful, considering that we are accessing a control panel. Perhaps it would be more interesting if it displayed shortcuts to the most used features on the panel. Here is the suggestion:
The main navigation menu is located in the side column, on the left of the screen. When clicking on any of the options, an accordion-type menu opens, with sub-options for the selected section. In this way, you have access to many other options for each service.
The management options for shared hosting are only available in areas corresponding to specific resources such as email, domain, account, and billing, etc.
A positive point, and which covers this little usability of the panel a little, is the good knowledge base of DreamHost, which has tutorials and explanations for all the items found there.
Migration of Sites
DreamHost does not offer free website migration! Instead, there are several tutorials in DreamHost’s knowledge base explaining how to migrate your sites to your servers.
If you still want them to migrate your site, you can contact the service separately, for $99, paid only once. The migration, in this case, is carried out within 48 hours after requesting the service.
Clients Satisfaction
DreamHost is one of the companies recommended by WordPress.org as a reference hosting provider for WordPress. This indication alone would already be an indicator of credibility. But it is also possible to find testimonials from the creators of great sites and who trust DreamHost to keep their sites published. This is the case, for example, with Syed Balkhi, founder of the website WPBeginner.com.
Another point worth mentioning is the 97-day money-back guarantee offered by DreamHost. This means that after hiring a plan, you have up to 97 days to test the service. If for any reason you are not satisfied, the service is canceled and the money paid is returned in full, without question. The money-back-guarantee is not something practiced by all hosting companies, but it is common to find some that offer up to 30 days of guarantee. Therefore, these little more than 3 months stand out before the competition.
The money-back-guarantee is only available on Shared Hosting plans.
Payment Methods
For new customers, the only accepted payment method is the credit card. According to the company, this is a security feature that prevents fraudulent accounts from being created, used, and then abandoned. Considering the long money-back guarantee period, it makes sense.
After this first payment, another method can be chosen, such as the one listed below:
- Credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club)
- Electronic check / ACH
- PayPal
- Gift Certificate
- Check or money order (US accounts only)
Conclusion: is DreamHost good?
DreamHost is a company widely used by customers from around the world. It proves to be a great option for those looking for a good cost-benefit ratio, especially in shared plans. Among the positive, we highlight the excellent server performances, above-average uptime (100% guarantee in the contract) with fast and efficient customer support.
Review Summary
Final Verdict
Would I use DreamHost services? yes. and here’s why.
Dreamhost offers 4 points of contact for customer support which is very rare when it comes to hosting companies. They also guarantee a 100% uptime on your website, which again is very rare in this industry. However, one thing to point out is phone support which is only a viable option on ‘2’ hosting plans, out side of these plans, you’ll have to dig deep and pay for phone support.
After reading through our DreamHost review 2021, which I hope offers some insight, its time to make up your own mind regarding your budget and hosting needs.
DreamHost is amongst the top hosting companies to date, however, alternatives do exist such as GreenGeeks which are 300% green, SiteGround and also BlueHost.