DreamHost Review

Laura Bernheim

By: Laura Bernheim

Laura Bernheim

Laura has spent more than 12 years crafting engaging and award-winning articles that share the passion behind organizations' products, people, and innovations. As a long-time HostingAdvice contributing expert, she combines a reputation for producing quality content with rich technical expertise to show experienced developers how to capitalize on emerging technologies and find better ways to work with established platforms. A professional journalist, Laura has contributed to The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, the Sun Sentinel, and the world's top hosting providers.

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Editor: Lillian Castro

Lillian Castro

Lillian brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to our team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Florida. Today, she edits HostingAdvice content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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OVERALL RATING 4.8 / 5.0
★★★★★
Features5.0 / 5.0
Ease of Use4.8 / 5.0
Pricing4.5 / 5.0
Reliability & Support5.0 / 5.0
Discount for Our Users See Deals

A leader in high-quality hosting and cloud computing, DreamHost is among the best in the business for powerful infrastructure, nuanced managed services, and reliable support. The price might be a little steep for bargain hunters, but aficionados will recognize the value of DreamHost's incredible platform.

Category Ratings

We had one of our resident hosting experts, Laura Bernheim, sign up for a DreamHost account and take it for a spin. Below are Laura’s ratings of the DreamHost experience, broken down by the types of hosting DreamHost offers.

If you decide to go with DreamHost, you may get a discount by using our link to sign up. While we often make commissions on purchases made through our links, this had no bearing on Laura’s review.

Here’s what Laura found in reviewing DreamHost:

Disclosure: When you sign up through links on our site, we often earn referral fees from partners. For more information, see our ad disclosure and review policy.

DreamHost's Overall Rating (4.8 / 5.0)

Best Overall Rating

4.8
★★★★★

Price:

Setup Time:

Laura Bernheim

Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

A top-notch host for those who know what they're looking for, DreamHost offers nuanced and performant hosting perfect for scaling websites and applications through the ranks of shared, VPS, cloud, and dedicated hosting.

We love the company's features but realize that beginners or hobbyist developers might not want to fork over the extra cash to capitalize on the performance, optimization, and managed services that DreamHost offers. If, however, your site is growing and gathering more and more traffic, few hosts will take care of you as well as DreamHost.

Managed services include infrastructure management, automatic backups and updates, malware scans, and DDoS protection. We appreciate how the independently owned company was built on a passion for open-source technologies.

DreamHost developers routinely contribute code back to communities, such as WordPress and OpenStack, and the company has used their brainpower and experience to create the open-source storage system Ceph and OpenStack cloud network virtualization tool Akanda.

As such, DreamHost support agents know what they're talking about. Available all day, every day, the in-house support team provides help worthy of DreamHost's speedy SSD-based architecture, hand-crafted control panel, WordPress-tailored solutions, and reliable managed services.

  • Unlimited traffic, storage, websites, and email
  • US-based customer support available 24/7
  • 200% faster performance with SSDs
  • Industry-leading 97-day money-back guarantee
  • Enjoy preinstalled WordPress and FREE transfer
  • Get started on DreamHost now.
Money Back Guarantee
97 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
Setup Time
4 minutes
DreamHost's Cheap Hosting (4.6 / 5.0)

Cheap Rating

4.6
★★★★★

Price:

Setup Time:

While DreamHost's price might be a little steep compared to other high-value hosting providers, the company gives customers ample time and reasons to get hooked and stick around.

The company, which started in the founders' dorm room in 1997, offers an industry-leading 97-day money-back guarantee. Additionally, DreamHost guarantees 100% uptime and will reimburse customers the cost of a whole day of hosting for each hour of downtime outside of scheduled maintenance.

We love that DreamHost seems to be genuinely built with their customers' experience and success in mind. Beyond unlimited storage and bandwidth, the company's luxurious shared hosting package boasts high-performance SSDs that make your websites perform at least 20 times faster.

Customers can also enjoy unlimited domain hosting, free domain privacy on sites registered through DreamHost, and unlimited email accounts.

We found that DreamHost's hand-crafted control panel gives easy access to all the tools beginners need to start and grow their sites: 1-click installers of top content management systems and eCommerce tools, SSL/TLS certificates from Let's Encrypt, and automated malware scans.

The company's award-winning support and service teams are staffed by self-described tech veterans, geeks, and nerds who are trained to Tier II to provide the most knowledgeable and experienced assistance.

If the extensive knowledgebase and user forums don't solve your problems, you can reach the in-house support team around the clock through phone callbacks, email tickets, Twitter, and live chat.

  • Automated malware scans
  • Unlimited domain hosting
  • Unlimited email accounts with POP/IMAP/SMTP
  • FREE eCommerce store tools and PCI compliance
  • Streamlined proprietary control panel
  • Get started on DreamHost now.
Money Back Guarantee
97 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
Setup Time
4 minutes
DreamHost's Dedicated Hosting (4.8 / 5.0)

Dedicated Rating

4.8
★★★★★

Price:

Setup Time:

When your high-traffic site outgrows VPS, turn to DreamHost for premium dedicated hosting at a reasonable rate. The 20-year-old hosting provider offers servers with three times more cores and four times more RAM compared to well-known competitors.

What's more, DreamHost includes up to 2TB of SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, and a 100% uptime guarantee. All dedicated servers come with full root and shell access, along with DDoS protection, RAID-1 storage, and unlimited MySQL databases.

With DreamHost's custom control panel, customers can quickly add, remove, or reboot servers with just a few clicks. We appreciate that DreamHost prides itself on providing open-source solutions, contributing to and supporting developer communities, and maintaining expert-level support teams.

In addition to running Ubuntu Long Term support, DreamHost supports PHP, Perl, Python, and Ruby. DreamHost has datacenters on both coasts and offers integration with the Cloudflare content delivery network, making sure your content loads quickly, no matter where your traffic comes from.

DreamHost's newest facility, dubbed "Data Center Alley," includes 2N+2 power redundancy and dual water lines for redundant cooling. Around-the-clock staffing, a 1Gbps internet connection, and emergency generators can give dedicated hosting customers peace of mind that their sites will stay online for the long haul.

  • Up to 12 cores available
  • Full root and shell access
  • DDoS protection and 24/7 server monitoring
  • Fully managed and customizable hardware options
  • RAID-1 HDD or SSD storage
  • Get started on DreamHost now.
Money Back Guarantee
N/A
Disk Space
240 GB SSD - 2 TB HDD
Domain Name
New or Transfer
Setup Time
8 minutes
DreamHost's VPS Hosting (4.7 / 5.0)

VPS Rating

4.7
★★★★★

Price:

Setup Time:

With scalable RAM and SSD storage, DreamHost's VPS plans give customers a powerful, speedy, and stable environment ripe for growth.

RAM ranges from 1GB to 8GB, while storage varies between 30GB and 240GB. While DreamHost's VPS storage space and RAM options are in line with the industry average, DreamHost layers on a bevy of additional perks that turns their already competitive prices into big bargains.

Starting with all-SSD infrastructure, which boosts your website or application's speed by 20 times compared to standard SATA disk drives, DreamHost also includes a dedicated IP address and free SSL/TLS certificates, as well as unlimited bandwidth, domain hosting, and email accounts.

You can manage your virtual servers through DreamHost's custom control panel, which has been developed for more than 15 years. Although we originally missed the familiarity of cPanel or Plesk, we quickly adapted to DreamHost's sleek, modern panel.

Easily scale your virtual servers up or down based on your expected needs. For an added performance boost, DreamHost offers an add-on MySQL VPS service that puts your website's database on its own isolated server.

Linux-VServers dedicate an initial 2300MB of RAM to your site, giving customers a sneak peek at what DreamHost's dedicated hosting looks like.

  • Custom web-based control panel
  • Unlimited MySQL databases
  • Easily scalable RAM
  • High-performance SSD drives
  • 5 years of security updates with Ubuntu Long Term Support
  • Get started on DreamHost now.
Money Back Guarantee
N/A
Disk Space
30 GB SSD - 240 GB SSD
Domain Name
New or Transfer
Setup Time
6 minutes
DreamHost's WordPress Hosting (4.9 / 5.0)

WordPress Rating

4.9
★★★★★

Price:

Setup Time:

One of only three hosting providers recommended by the WordPress Core team, DreamHost has actively contributed to the WordPress community for more than a decade.

The company's platform is optimized for the incredibly popular content management system, and plans include easy setup, automated updates and backups, unlimited bandwidth, and 24/7 specialized support.

DreamHost does an admirable job tailoring its shared hosting service around WordPress, but we're most impressed with the company's fully managed WordPress solution, DreamPress.

Launched in 2013, DreamPress offers enhanced speed, scaling, and security by configuring various settings and plugins that streamline WordPress installation, databases, and server operations. DreamPress adds multiple caching layers and isolates server resources to perform more than five times faster than shared hosting.

We love that DreamHost allocates two VPS servers for each DreamPress customer: one optimized for the frontend and the other for MySQL.

You'll get the same SSD storage found elsewhere in DreamHost plans, but DreamPress dynamically auto-scales memory to grow with your traffic. Support and security are further tailored to WordPress with automatic updates and a firewall that blocks known WordPress vulnerabilities and offers protection from brute-force attacks.

DreamPress uses NGINX, HTTP2, and Let's Encrypt SSL/TLS certificates to balance performance and privacy.

  • WordPress hosting for up to unlimited sites
  • FREE WordPress website migration
  • Fully managed hosting with DreamPress plan
  • NEW WordPress website builder tool
  • 1 of 3 providers endorsed by WordPress.org
  • Get started on DreamHost now.
Money Back Guarantee
97 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
Setup Time
4 minutes
DreamHost's Website Builder (4.6 / 5.0)

Website Builder Rating

4.6
★★★★★

Price:

Setup Time:

For a while, the only knock on DreamHost was the lack of a website builder for beginners unfamiliar with web design. With the relatively recent debut of Remixer, however, DreamHost has come up with yet another way to appeal to site owners.

Hosting providers creating their own site builders can be a risky venture — why devote resources to trying something new when there's a tried-and-true outside option such as Weebly?

DreamHost, however, seems to have hit a home run with Remixer. We love how the clean and modern interface directs users straight to whatever tools they need.

Remixer offers several professional-grade templates that appeal to a surprisingly wide range of uses: small businesses, professionals, travelers, creatives, music, events, and even documentation. Remixer lets you preview each theme in desktop, tablet, and mobile (portrait AND landscape) views before getting to work.

The builder interface itself is equally impressive, giving users the options to customize, move, and add content based on row-based layouts.

More experienced site owners will appreciate access to HTML code and the ability to use Markdown to format text. Being a leader in WordPress web hosting, DreamHost enables users to export their Remixer website to WordPress to take advantage of powerful features such as SSL certificates, blogging, ecommerce, WordPress plugins, and other tools associated with the popular CMS.

If you're looking for a sleek, refreshing site builder, sign up for a shared hosting plan with DreamHost to access Remixer. Upgraded plans also include email accounts to give users a well-rounded and complete experience.

  • Remixer enables users to create and manage sites without code
  • Preview themes for desktop, tablet, and mobile (portrait and landscape)
  • Responsive, professional themes
  • Royalty-free images from Pixabay
  • Easily export to WordPress
  • Get started on DreamHost now.
Money Back Guarantee
97 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
Setup Time
4 minutes

Features

(5.0 / 5.0)

Commitment to Customers and Communities

  • DreamHost has remained independently owned for decades and fosters core values, such as a 100% uptime guarantee, to better serve both customers and developers.
  • Passionately protecting users' privacy, DreamHost enforces a strong anti-spam policy and includes domain privacy and SSL/TLS certificates for free.
  • With platforms engineered around WordPress, OpenStack, and NGINX, DreamHost backs developer communities by providing open-source tools whenever possible.

Cloud Computing and Object Storage

  • SSD cloud servers create scalable environments billed by the hour at discounted rates.
  • Launch and scale performant virtual machines ready for SSH access in 30 seconds or less with DreamCompute, which gives you fine-grained control with full root access and OpenStack API.
  • For cloud storage needs, DreamObjects offers a fully scalable solution for app developers and anyone with big data. DreamObjects is compatible with Amazon S3 and OpenStack Swift APIs and integrates with WordPress to automate several functions.

Easy and Secure Domain Management

  • Domain privacy is included with all eligible domains registered through DreamHost. Protect yourself and shield your personal information from strangers. ICANN-accreditation means enhanced protection and security.
  • Every domain name comes with flexible autorenewals, locking and forwarding options, along with simplified DNS management tools and custom nameservers.
  • Choose from among more than 350 domain extensions, which DreamHost highlights based on trends, sales, and newness.

Expert Support and Managed Services

  • In-house customer support teams are available 24/7/365 through live chat and email. All technical support agents are trained to Tier II before working with customers.
  • Specialized teams build, support, and closely manage all aspects of WordPress hosting and OpenStack products — freeing you up to focus on your business or web content.
  • Managed services at all hosting levels go beyond updates and monitoring to fine-tune configurations and optimize server operations to boost each site's performance.

Ease of Use

(4.8 / 5.0)
Customized Control Panel
DreamHost Review
Support Tailored to Your Issue
DreamHost Review
Remixer: DIY Site Builder
DreamHost Review

DreamHost engineers have cultivated and developed a proprietary control panel that acts as a hub for everything its customers need. The sleek, minimalist interface gives users complete management over all aspects of their hosting account. In addition to a site builder called Remixer, customers can contact support and access DreamHost's knowledgebase and forums directly from the panel.

Pricing

(4.5 / 5.0)

Shared Starter Plan

WordPress Starter Plan

Shared Unlimited Plan

While you'll pay a premium for top-tier shared hosting, DreamHost is much more competitively priced at the VPS and dedicated hosting levels. We appreciate the unlimited resources, 100% uptime guarantee, and award-winning support, but inexperienced customers will likely skip to a simpler option. Hosting consumers with a more refined palette will be more willing to pay the shared hosting price before scaling to one of the company's managed offerings. An unheard-of 97-day money-back guarantee gives DreamHost plenty of time to prove its services are worth the investment.

Reliability & Support

(5.0 / 5.0)

How can you argue with a 100% uptime guarantee? DreamHost will reimburse customers the cost of one day's worth of hosting for every hour of downtime outside of scheduled maintenance. Between modern infrastructure and an emphasis on managed services, DreamHost takes a uniquely plugged-in and hands-on approach to reliability. The company's in-house customer support team provides expert service and technical expertise. Each agent is trained to Tier II, and DreamHost maintains dedicated support teams for WordPress and OpenStack issues.

DreamHost Includes:

24/7/365 Tier II Support Through Email Tickets, Plus Additional Support via Chat and Phone. Knowledgebase, User Forums, and 100% Uptime Guarantee

Other Hosts vs. DreamHost

Wondering how DreamHost stacks up againt other web hosting services? See our host-vs-host reviews below and compare them side by side.

DreamHost vs. JustHost

In a high-speed race to the finish line, web hosts JustHost and iPage rev their engines for a chance at the gold cup.

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JustHost vs DreamHost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
JustHost vs DreamHost

Overall Rating

★★★★ 3.7/5.0

DreamHost vs. HostGator

Science was one of my favorite subjects in grade school.

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DreamHost vs HostGator

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
DreamHost vs HostGator

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.5/5.0

DreamHost vs. GoDaddy

Some folks dream of an island getaway, while others aspire to vacation in the Alps.

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DreamHost vs GoDaddy

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
DreamHost vs GoDaddy

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.7/5.0

DreamHost vs. Media Temple

We’re daydreaming of the best web host in this comparison.

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DreamHost vs Media Temple

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
DreamHost vs Media Temple

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0

DreamHost vs. GreenGeeks

Sandy beaches, warm sun, and the headquarters of two wildly popular web hosting companies.

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GreenGeeks vs DreamHost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
GreenGeeks vs DreamHost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0

DreamHost vs. A Small Orange

We’re dreaming of citrus in this comparison — DreamHost and A Small Orange show off their features, price, and support to earn the title of “winner.

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A Small Orange vs DreamHost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
A Small Orange vs DreamHost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0

DreamHost vs. Hostwinds

This was one of the most challenging comparisons we’ve seen.

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Hostwinds vs DreamHost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
Hostwinds vs DreamHost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0

DreamHost vs. InMotion

Bloggers and business owners pay special attention — if you’re looking to get your WordPress site up and running, you will need a provider that offers plans explicitly built to power the software.

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InMotion vs Dreamhost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
InMotion vs Dreamhost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

DreamHost vs. A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting and DreamHost are similar to two rocket ships blasting into orbit with high-powered server infrastructure and maximum speed.

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A2 Hosting vs DreamHost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
A2 Hosting vs DreamHost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

DreamHost vs. Bluehost

As bloggers know, your online dream can quickly become your worst nightmare if you experience unexpected downtime and page load issues with your site.

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DreamHost vs Bluehost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
DreamHost vs Bluehost

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

DreamHost vs. SiteGround

DreamHost, one of the OG web service providers, has earned a solid reputation in the 20-plus years since its inception.

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DreamHost vs SiteGround

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
DreamHost vs SiteGround

Overall Rating

★★★★★ 5.0/5.0

DreamHost is the winner
4 out of 11 times.

The Rundown

Laura Bernheim

Laura Bernheim

Hosting Expert:

To recap, here's a rundown of what DreamHost has to offer

Site owners who are tired of bargain-basement hosting plans and looking to take a more serious step forward will revel in DreamHost's well-rounded feature set and dedication to a positive customer experience. With 100% uptime and 97-day money-back guarantees, in addition to top-level support and managed services, DreamHost caters to user needs with the full range of hosting options. Sit back and rest easy knowing that DreamHost's SSD infrastructure and unlimited storage, bandwidth, domains, and email accounts are all primed to make your dream website a reality.

DreamHost review

Overall Rating

4.8 / 5.0
★★★★★

About The Author

Laura has spent more than 12 years crafting engaging and award-winning articles that share the passion behind organizations' products, people, and innovations. As a long-time HostingAdvice contributing expert, she combines a reputation for producing quality content with rich technical expertise to show experienced developers how to capitalize on emerging technologies and find better ways to work with established platforms. A professional journalist, Laura has contributed to The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, the Sun Sentinel, and the world's top hosting providers.
Laura Bernheim
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