ChemiCloud vs Bluehost: Independent Host vs Newfold Empire
Table of Contents
You’re comparing ChemiCloud vs Bluehost because one showed up in Google and the other got recommended by a YouTuber making $150 per signup.
Here’s what they don’t tell you: Bluehost is owned by Newfold Digital, a conglomerate that owns 50+ hosting brands and has a documented pattern of running them into the ground. ChemiCloud is an independent Bulgarian company with modern hardware and no corporate overlord.
My commissions:
- ChemiCloud: ~$100/sale (I recommend them)
- Bluehost: $0 (I rejected their $65-150/sale program because the product is garbage)
My recommendation hierarchy:
- Hetzner - $0 commission, best unmanaged VPS
- Scala Hosting - +$100 commission, best managed VPS
- ChemiCloud - ~$100 commission, best shared hosting
This ChemiCloud vs Bluehost comparison will show you why modern hardware from an independent company beats a corporate empire running 2012-era processors.
Quick Verdict: ChemiCloud vs Bluehost
TL;DR: ChemiCloud has 344% renewal increase (worse percentage than Bluehost’s 303%). But ChemiCloud uses AMD EPYC 9354 (3.8 GHz) while Bluehost uses undisclosed/outdated Intel Xeon processors. ChemiCloud has no CPU throttling, 500k inode limit, and 10-200 free migrations. Bluehost throttles at 25% CPU, caps at 200k inodes, and charges for migrations. ChemiCloud wins on total value.
ChemiCloud vs Bluehost vs Scala
| Feature | ChemiCloud | Bluehost | Scala VPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intro Price | $4.49/mo | $5.45/mo | $44.95/mo |
| Renewal Price | $19.95/mo | $21.99/mo | $44.95/mo |
| Renewal Increase | 344% | 303% | 0% |
| CPU | AMD EPYC 9354 (3.8 GHz) | Undisclosed/Intel Xeon | AMD EPYC 9474F (4.1 GHz) |
| CPU Throttling | No | Yes (25% max) | No |
| Inode Limit | 500,000 | 200,000 | Unlimited |
| Web Server | LiteSpeed | Apache | OpenLiteSpeed |
| Storage | PCIe 4.0 NVMe | NVMe | PCIe 5.0 NVMe |
| Free Migrations | 10-200 | 0 | Unlimited |
| Owner | Independent (Bulgaria) | Newfold Digital (50+ brands) | Independent |
| My Commission | ~$100 | $0 (rejected) | +$100 |
Winner: ChemiCloud destroys Bluehost on hardware, performance, and value. But if you can afford $45/mo, Scala VPS is better than both.
Why I Don’t Recommend Bluehost
Bluehost rejected, commission: $0
I could make $65-150 per Bluehost signup. Instead, I recommend ChemiCloud for ~$100 and Hetzner for $0.
Why I rejected Bluehost:
-
Owned by Newfold Digital - Same company that owns HostGator, Domain.com, and 50+ brands. They acquire hosts and run them into the ground.
-
Outdated/undisclosed hardware - They won’t tell you what CPUs they use. HostGator (same company) runs AMD Opteron 6376 from 2012. Bluehost is likely similar.
-
CPU throttling - 25% CPU limit for 90 seconds before throttling kicks in. Your site slows down, support tells you to upgrade.
-
The SiteLock scam - Bluehost and HostGator allegedly push SiteLock “malware removal” for $199+ even when your site has no actual malware.
-
BBB complaints - Pattern of complaints documented by the Better Business Bureau.
ChemiCloud accepted, commission: ~$100
I make similar money from ChemiCloud. The difference: ChemiCloud actually works.
- Independent company (Sofia, Bulgaria, founded 2016)
- Modern AMD EPYC 9354 (3.8 GHz) processors
- No CPU throttling (100% allocation)
- 500k inode limit (2.5x Bluehost)
- 10-200 free migrations
You shouldn’t trust me blindly. Verify everything I claim using the sources linked throughout this article.
ChemiCloud vs Bluehost: The Direct Comparison
Pricing: Who Actually Costs More?
Bluehost Pricing
Advertised: “Starting at $5.45/month!”
Reality:
- Year 1: $5.45/mo (requires 3-year prepayment = $196.20 upfront)
- Renewal: $21.99/mo
- Increase: 303%
Hidden costs:
- Migrations: Not included (DIY or pay)
- Domain renewal: $18.99/year
- SiteLock (if they scare you): $199+/year
- Forced upgrades when CPU limits hit: $$$
Source: Bluehost pricing
ChemiCloud Pricing
Advertised: “Starting at $4.49/month!”
Reality:
- Year 1: $4.49/mo (3-year prepayment = $161.64 upfront)
- Renewal: $19.95/mo
- Increase: 344%
What’s included:
- 10-200 free migrations
- Imunify360 security (no SiteLock upsell)
- LiteSpeed caching
- Free domain (first year)
- No CPU throttling (no forced upgrades)
Source: ChemiCloud pricing
Pricing Winner
On renewal percentage: Bluehost wins (303% vs 344%)
On absolute renewal cost: ChemiCloud wins ($19.95/mo vs $21.99/mo)
On total cost of ownership: ChemiCloud destroys Bluehost
Here’s why:
Bluehost total annual cost (realistic scenario):
- Renewal: $21.99/mo × 12 = $263.88
- When you hit CPU limits: “Please upgrade to Pro plan”
- Pro plan: $28.99/mo × 12 = $347.88
- SiteLock if they scare you: $199+
- Realistic total: $350-550/year
ChemiCloud total annual cost:
- Renewal: $19.95/mo × 12 = $239.40
- No CPU throttling = no forced upgrades
- Imunify360 included = no SiteLock upsell
- Total: $239.40/year (stays constant)
Winner: ChemiCloud - Lower absolute cost, no forced upgrade trap, no security upselling.
Performance: Modern Hardware vs Corporate Cost-Cutting
Bluehost Hardware
What Bluehost tells you: Nothing. They don’t disclose CPU specs.
What we know:
- CPU: Undisclosed (HostGator, same parent, uses AMD Opteron 6376 from 2012)
- RAM: Undisclosed
- Storage: NVMe (at least they upgraded this)
- Web Server: Apache (slowest option)
- PHP Handler: LSPHP
CPU Limits:
- 25% CPU maximum for 90 seconds
- After 90 seconds at 25%: throttling kicks in
- When throttled: 503 errors, slow loading
- Support response: “Upgrade to higher plan”
ChemiCloud Hardware
What ChemiCloud tells you: Everything.
- CPU: AMD EPYC 9354 (3.8 GHz, 4th gen, 5nm)
- RAM: 3GB (Turbo plan), 100% allocation
- Storage: PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs
- Web Server: LiteSpeed (faster than Apache/Nginx)
- PHP Handler: LSPHP with LiteSpeed Cache
CPU Limits:
- 3 CPU cores, 100% allocation
- No artificial throttling
- Scalable to 6 cores/6GB RAM on higher plans
- When you outgrow shared: migrate to VPS (no forced upgrade trap)
Performance Winner
Real-world impact:
Bluehost:
- 2012-era processors (if similar to HostGator)
- Apache web server (processes requests sequentially)
- CPU throttling at 25% = slow under load
- Result: Sluggish WordPress, slow WooCommerce checkout
ChemiCloud:
- 2022 AMD EPYC processors (10+ years newer)
- LiteSpeed web server (event-driven, concurrent requests)
- No CPU throttling = consistent performance
- Result: Fast page loads, reliable under traffic spikes
The hardware gap is generational. It’s not 10% faster. It’s fundamentally different technology.
Winner: ChemiCloud - Modern processors, faster web server, no throttling.
The Ownership Problem
Bluehost: Newfold Digital Empire
Who owns Bluehost:
- Newfold Digital (formerly Endurance International Group)
- Acquired Bluehost in 2010
- Also owns HostGator, Domain.com, Web.com, and 50+ brands
The Newfold pattern:
- Acquire respected hosting company
- Cut infrastructure costs (older hardware, overcrowded servers)
- Outsource support (quality declines)
- Raise renewal prices
- Add upsells (SiteLock, “premium” support)
- Repeat with next acquisition
Evidence:
- Bluehost was well-regarded before 2010 EIG acquisition
- Check r/webhosting sentiment shift after acquisition
- BBB complaints: Pattern of complaints documented
ChemiCloud: Independent Company
Who owns ChemiCloud:
- Founded 2016 in Sofia, Bulgaria
- Independently owned (not private equity, not EIG/Newfold)
- ~50+ employees
- Focus: Quality shared hosting, not acquisitions
Why independence matters:
- No corporate pressure to cut costs
- No pattern of running companies into the ground
- Investment goes to hardware, not acquisitions
- Incentive: Keep customers happy, not maximize extraction
Winner: ChemiCloud - Independent beats corporate empire.
Resource Limits: The Real Difference
Bluehost Limits
According to Bluehost’s official documentation:
- Inodes: 200,000 maximum (50,000 soft limit)
- CPU time: ~8% of CPU cycles (enforced inconsistently)
- Database tables: 5,000 maximum
- Total database storage: 10GB
- Single database limit: 5GB
What this means:
- 2-3 WordPress sites with WooCommerce = hit inode limit
- Modest traffic (5,000-10,000 visits/day) = CPU throttling
- When you hit limits = 5xx errors, slow site
- Support response = “Upgrade to expensive plan”
ChemiCloud Limits
- Inodes: 500,000 (2.5x Bluehost)
- CPU: 3 cores, 100% allocation (no throttling)
- RAM: 3GB dedicated
- Database: More flexible limits
What this means:
- Medium WordPress sites work without issues
- Traffic spikes don’t trigger throttling
- When you outgrow shared hosting = migrate to VPS (natural progression, not forced upgrade)
Winner: ChemiCloud - 2.5x more files allowed, no CPU throttling.
Support Quality
Bluehost Support
What I’ve observed:
- Average wait: 45+ minutes for live chat
- Outsourced support (common complaint)
- Scripted responses
- Pressure to upgrade when problems occur
- SiteLock pushing when “malware detected”
BBB Rating: F rating
Google Rating: 1.3/5 stars
ChemiCloud Support
What I’ve observed:
- Average response: ~16 minutes
- In-house support team
- Technical knowledge (not just scripts)
- Focus on solving problems, not upselling
TrustPilot Rating: 4.9/5 stars
Winner: ChemiCloud - Measurably better support by every metric.
The SiteLock Problem (Bluehost-Specific)
This deserves its own section because it’s one of the most predatory practices in web hosting.
How it allegedly works:
- You host with Bluehost
- You receive email: “Malware detected on your site!”
- Support recommends SiteLock scanning ($199+ per site)
- If you don’t buy: threats of account suspension
- The “malware” is often false positive or minor issue
- Even after manual cleanup: support keeps pushing SiteLock
Why this is problematic:
- Bluehost profits from security failures they should prevent
- Free tools (Wordfence, Sucuri Scanner) can clean most issues
- $199+ for what should be included security
ChemiCloud approach:
- Imunify360 security included free
- No third-party “malware removal” upsells
- Security is part of the hosting, not profit center
Verify yourself:
- Search Reddit for “Bluehost SiteLock”
- Check BBB SiteLock complaints
Why You’re Comparing the Wrong Hosts
You searched “ChemiCloud vs Bluehost” because:
- Bluehost advertises heavily (they pay $65-150/signup)
- YouTubers recommend Bluehost (same commission)
- WordPress.org “recommends” Bluehost (WordCamp sponsorship correlation)
- ChemiCloud showed up in real reviews
Here’s the actual question you should ask:
“Should I use shared hosting at all?”
If budget allows: Skip both, get Scala VPS at $44.95/mo (0% renewal increase, dedicated resources)
If you need cheapest option: Skip both, get Hetzner at €5.46/mo (0% renewal increase, unmanaged)
If you MUST use shared hosting: ChemiCloud beats Bluehost by every metric
What You Should Actually Use
If You Need Shared Hosting (Managed, cPanel)
Don’t use: Bluehost - Newfold empire, CPU throttling, outdated hardware, SiteLock upsells
Use instead: ChemiCloud
Why:
- AMD EPYC 9354 (3.8 GHz) vs Bluehost’s undisclosed old CPUs
- LiteSpeed vs Apache (significantly faster)
- 500k inode limit vs 200k (2.5x more)
- No CPU throttling vs 25% limit
- 10-200 free migrations vs none
- Imunify360 included vs SiteLock upsells
- Independent company vs Newfold empire
Yes, ChemiCloud has 344% renewal increase. Still cheaper than Bluehost in absolute terms ($19.95/mo vs $21.99/mo), with no forced upgrade traps.
If You Need Managed VPS (Best Option)
Don’t use: Bluehost or ChemiCloud shared plans
Use instead: Scala Hosting VPS
Why:
- $44.95/mo → $44.95/mo (0% renewal increase)
- AMD EPYC 9474F @ 4.1 GHz (faster than ChemiCloud)
- Dedicated resources (not shared)
- SPanel included (saves $15/mo cPanel license)
- Unlimited migrations
Read full Scala Hosting review
If You Can Handle Unmanaged VPS (Cheapest)
Don’t use: Anything managed if you have Linux skills
Use instead: Hetzner
Why:
- €5.46/mo (~$6) for CX22 VPS
- 0% renewal increase - price never changes
- AMD EPYC/Intel Xeon CPUs
- NVMe SSDs
- German engineering, excellent uptime
- I make $0 - still recommend because it’s the best value
Migration: Leaving Bluehost for ChemiCloud
Don’t wait until renewal. Bluehost bills 15 days early.
Step 1: Sign Up for ChemiCloud
- Visit ChemiCloud
- Choose Turbo plan (best value)
- Select billing period
- Complete purchase
Step 2: Request Free Migration
ChemiCloud offers 10-200 free migrations depending on plan:
- Open support ticket: “Free migration from Bluehost”
- Provide Bluehost cPanel credentials
- ChemiCloud migrates everything (usually 24-48 hours)
- They handle files, database, email, everything
Step 3: Test Before Switching DNS
- Use ChemiCloud’s temporary URL to test site
- Verify all pages load correctly
- Test forms, checkout (if WooCommerce)
- Check SSL certificate
Step 4: Update DNS
- Log into domain registrar (or Bluehost if domain there)
- Update A record to ChemiCloud’s IP
- Wait for DNS propagation (24-48 hours)
Step 5: Cancel Bluehost
Important:
- Download final backups first
- Disable auto-renewal immediately
- Request cancellation in writing
- Get confirmation
Bluehost cancellation tricks to watch for:
- Early billing (15 days before renewal)
- Retention offers (ignore them)
- “Processing” delays
Migration cost comparison:
| Method | Cost | Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChemiCloud free migration | $0 | 24-48 hours | None |
| DIY migration | $0 | 2-4 hours | Medium |
| Hire migration service | $50-$150 | 1-2 days | None |
Real User Experiences
Bluehost Complaints
Common patterns on Reddit and TrustPilot:
“My site kept getting 503 errors. Support said I was hitting CPU limits and needed to upgrade to a $30/mo plan.” - r/webhosting
“Got an email saying my site had malware. They wanted $199 for SiteLock. I scanned with Wordfence - nothing found.” - TrustPilot
“Tried to cancel. Spent 45 minutes on hold. Got transferred 3 times. Finally got through and they tried to upsell me.” - BBB complaint
ChemiCloud Experiences
“Migrated from SiteGround. ChemiCloud support handled everything. Site is faster now.” - TrustPilot
“344% renewal increase sucks, but I’m not getting hit with CPU limits or upgrade pressure like at Bluehost.” - r/webhosting
“Been with ChemiCloud 2 years. No surprise charges, no forced upgrades. Just works.” - TrustPilot
The pattern: Users migrating from Bluehost to ChemiCloud report better performance, no CPU throttling, and less aggressive upselling.
The Bottom Line: ChemiCloud vs Bluehost
Direct comparison verdict:
ChemiCloud vs Bluehost is like comparing a 2024 Honda Civic to a 2006 Corolla with a “luxury” badge slapped on it.
If you must choose between them: ChemiCloud wins by every metric that matters.
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | ChemiCloud | AMD EPYC 9354 vs undisclosed/old CPUs |
| Performance | ChemiCloud | LiteSpeed vs Apache, no throttling |
| Resource limits | ChemiCloud | 500k vs 200k inodes, no CPU throttling |
| Pricing | ChemiCloud | $19.95/mo vs $21.99/mo renewal |
| Total cost | ChemiCloud | No forced upgrades, no SiteLock trap |
| Support | ChemiCloud | 16 min response vs 45+ min wait |
| Ownership | ChemiCloud | Independent vs Newfold empire |
What you should actually do:
- Need shared hosting? → ChemiCloud (better than Bluehost by every metric)
- Can afford $45/mo? → Scala VPS (0% renewal, dedicated resources)
- Have Linux skills? → Hetzner (~$6/mo, 0% renewal, I make $0)
Commission disclosure:
- ChemiCloud: ~$100/sale (I recommend)
- Bluehost: $0 (rejected their $65-150/sale program)
- Scala: +$100/sale (I recommend)
- Hetzner: $0/sale (I still recommend because it’s the best)
Verify This Yourself
Want to see the raw data behind my claims? Check out the data spreadsheets - technical details, ownership records, pricing, and more.
Don’t trust me. Verify everything:
Bluehost claims:
- Official pricing (check renewal prices)
- Resource limits
- BBB profile
- Newfold Digital ownership
ChemiCloud claims:
- Official pricing
- TrustPilot reviews
- Hardware specs: Contact support, they’ll tell you
My commission claims:
- Bluehost affiliate program: I’m not in it (rejected)
- ChemiCloud affiliate program: Exists, pays ~$100/sale
- Hetzner: No affiliate program (verify on their site)
Legal Note: This comparison contains both documented facts (linked to sources) and my personal opinions based on those facts. When I say Bluehost is “garbage,” that’s my opinion based on the documented hardware, resource limits, and complaint patterns.
Affiliate disclosure: I make money from affiliate links to ChemiCloud (~$100/sale), Scala Hosting (+$100/sale), and nothing from Hetzner ($0/sale). I rejected Bluehost’s $65-150/sale program because the performance doesn’t justify the recommendation.
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