Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to Bluehost. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend services we genuinely use and trust.
How Many Domains Can You Host on Bluehost? The number of domains you can host on Bluehost depends entirely on which hosting plan you select.
Bluehost’s Basic plan allows only one website, while the Choice Plus and Pro plans offer unlimited domains under a single hosting account. This flexible hosting structure enables you to manage multiple websites from one control panel without purchasing separate hosting for each domain.
Whether you’re running a personal blog or managing dozens of client websites, Bluehost provides scalable solutions accommodating various needs.
This guide explains exactly how many domains Bluehost plans support, the difference between plan tiers, technical limitations to consider, and best practices for managing multiple domains efficiently.
Bluehost Plan-Specific Domain Limits
Different Bluehost hosting plans impose varying restrictions on how many domains you can host simultaneously. The Basic plan restricts users to hosting a single website with one domain, making it suitable only for individuals or businesses maintaining one web presence. This entry-level option provides affordable hosting but lacks multi-site capabilities.
Bluehost’s Choice Plus and Pro plans advertise unlimited website and domain hosting, allowing you to add as many domains as you need under one account. While marketed as “unlimited,” these plans still operate under fair usage policies and resource constraints. The practical limit depends on your total resource consumption rather than arbitrary numerical caps.
VPS and dedicated server plans also support unlimited domains without official limitations. These higher-tier plans provide dedicated resources ensuring better performance when hosting multiple websites. The enhanced infrastructure handles heavier traffic loads across numerous domains more effectively than shared hosting.
Basic Plan Limitations
The Basic plan explicitly allows hosting only one website, restricting you to a single domain. This fundamental limitation means you cannot add additional domains as add-ons, though you can create unlimited subdomains under your primary domain. Subdomains like blog.yoursite.com or shop.yoursite.com function as separate sections of your main website.
Parked domains provide another workaround on Basic plans. Parked domains redirect visitors to your primary domain without hosting separate content. This strategy protects brand variations and alternative spellings while staying within the single-website restriction. However, you still cannot host genuinely independent websites on the Basic plan.
Choice Plus and Pro Plans
The Choice Plus plan removes domain restrictions, allowing you to host unlimited websites and domains. This mid-tier option suits entrepreneurs managing multiple projects, agencies handling client websites, or businesses operating several online properties. The unlimited capability provides significant flexibility compared to the Basic plan.
Bluehost’s Pro plan also offers unlimited domains with enhanced performance features. Higher resource allocations ensure better speed and stability when managing numerous websites simultaneously. The Pro plan suits users expecting substantial traffic across their domain portfolio or running resource-intensive applications.
Technical Resource Constraints
While Bluehost advertises unlimited domains on certain plans, technical resources impose practical limits on hosting capacity. Every website consumes server resources including CPU, RAM, bandwidth, and storage. These finite resources create real-world boundaries even when no official domain count restrictions exist.
Shared hosting environments distribute resources across multiple users sharing the same server. If your websites collectively consume excessive resources, Bluehost may throttle performance or request you upgrade to higher-tier hosting. Fair usage policies protect server stability for all customers sharing infrastructure.
The actual number of domains you can effectively host depends on your websites’ traffic levels, content volume, and technical complexity. Simple static websites with minimal traffic consume fewer resources than dynamic WordPress sites with thousands of daily visitors. Resource efficiency directly impacts how many domains perform well on your account.
Storage Limitations
Bluehost’s Basic plan provides 10 GB SSD storage, limiting total content across your single website. Choice Plus plans offer 40 GB SSD storage, while Pro plans provide 100 GB. These storage allocations must accommodate all websites, databases, email accounts, and files across every domain you host.
Database storage specifically limits 5 GB per individual database with accounts restricted to 10 GB total database usage across all sites. Exceeding these database limits violates Bluehost’s terms of service regardless of your plan’s “unlimited” domains. Monitor database sizes carefully when hosting multiple content-heavy websites.
Total file and folder counts (inodes) face limitations preventing excessive system resource consumption. While specific inode limits vary, accumulating too many files across multiple domains triggers usage warnings. Optimize your sites by removing unnecessary files and compressing media to stay within acceptable resource parameters.
CPU and RAM Constraints
Bluehost monitors CPU and RAM usage across all websites on your account. Excessive resource consumption triggers throttling or suspension notices. Websites generating high traffic simultaneously across multiple domains strain shared hosting resources more quickly than single-site accounts.
Resource-intensive applications like e-commerce platforms, membership sites, or high-traffic blogs consume more CPU and RAM per visitor. Hosting numerous such sites on shared hosting often requires eventual upgrades to VPS or dedicated servers providing guaranteed resources.
Monitor your resource usage through Bluehost’s control panel metrics. If you consistently approach resource limits, consider optimizing websites through caching, CDN implementation, and code optimization before adding more domains to your account.
Bandwidth Considerations
Bluehost offers unmetered bandwidth on most plans, meaning they don’t charge per gigabyte of data transfer. However, “unmetered” differs from “unlimited” bandwidth. Bluehost expects normal website usage patterns and may restrict accounts generating abnormal traffic consuming excessive bandwidth.
Roughly 10,000 monthly visits might consume approximately 50 GB bandwidth depending on page size and content. Multiply this across multiple domains to estimate total bandwidth needs. Sites serving large media files or videos consume bandwidth faster than text-based websites.
If bandwidth usage significantly exceeds typical patterns for your hosting tier, Bluehost may contact you about upgrading. They rely on fair usage rather than hard caps, but excessive consumption triggers intervention protecting other users on shared servers.
Add-On Domains vs. Subdomains vs. Parked Domains
Bluehost supports three distinct domain configurations serving different purposes for multi-site management. Add-on domains host completely separate websites under one hosting account. Subdomains create distinct sections within your main domain. Parked domains redirect traffic to your primary site.
Each domain type serves strategic purposes when managing multiple online properties. Add-on domains suit independent projects needing unique branding and content. Subdomains organize related content under a unified brand identity. Parked domains protect your brand by capturing traffic from alternative domain variations.
Choosing appropriate domain configurations optimizes organization, resource usage, and visitor experience. Learn the difference between domain names and web hosting to fully grasp how domains relate to your hosting infrastructure.
Add-On Domains Explained
Add-on domains let you host completely independent websites with unique domain names under one Bluehost account. Each add-on domain operates as a separate website with its own content, email accounts, and visitor statistics. Content for add-on domains stores in distinct folders within your public_html directory.
This functionality allows managing multiple distinct business ventures, client projects, or personal websites without paying for separate hosting accounts. Add-on domains provide cost-effective scalability for web developers, digital agencies, and entrepreneurs operating multiple online properties.
Subdomain Functionality
Subdomains extend your primary domain by adding prefixes like blog.example.com or shop.example.com. These sections share the main domain’s hosting resources and appear as parts of your primary website brand. Subdomains organize different website sections logically without requiring separate domain registrations.
All Bluehost plans support unlimited subdomains, even the Basic plan restricted to one primary domain. This flexibility enables complex site structures with distinct areas for blogs, stores, support centers, or regional content variations. Subdomains share your main domain’s SEO authority and brand recognition.
Parked Domain Usage
Parked domains redirect visitors to your primary website automatically. If someone types an alternative domain into their browser, they land on your main site seamlessly. Parked domains protect your brand by capturing traffic from common misspellings, alternative extensions, or related domain names.
For example, if your business operates at example.com, you might park example.net, example.org, and examplebusiness.com, redirecting all traffic to your primary domain. This strategy prevents competitors from registering similar domains while consolidating traffic to one main website.
WordPress Multisite Hosting Capabilities
WordPress multisite functionality enables running unlimited WordPress websites from a single WordPress installation. Bluehost fully supports WordPress multisite hosting on plans allowing multiple domains. This powerful feature centralizes management for agencies, schools, franchises, and large blog networks.
Multisite installations create a network where you manage core WordPress updates, themes, and plugins once across all sites. Each site maintains unique content, design, and domain while sharing underlying infrastructure. This efficiency saves time, reduces storage requirements, and simplifies maintenance dramatically.
There’s no strict WordPress-imposed limit on multisite installations. The number of sites depends entirely on your hosting resources—CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth capacity. Bluehost provides the infrastructure needed to host multiple WordPress sites easily on one multisite hosting plan.
Setting Up WordPress Multisite
Install WordPress, enable the multisite feature in wp-config.php, choose between subdomain or subdirectory structure, configure your network settings, and create subsites. Bluehost simplifies this process with guided setup assistance and expert support for multisite hosting configurations.
From your network dashboard, you create unlimited WordPress websites each with unique domains, designs, and content. Install themes and plugins once to share across all sites, saving storage space and reducing server strain. This centralized control dramatically streamlines managing large site networks.
Multisite Performance Considerations
WordPress multisite demands more resources than single-site installations due to managing multiple websites simultaneously. Choose hosting with NVMe SSD storage, built-in CDN, object caching, and optimized servers ensuring fast load times across your entire network.
Monitor resource usage carefully as your multisite network grows. More sites mean more database queries, file operations, and traffic handling. Upgrade to VPS or dedicated hosting when shared hosting resources become insufficient for your expanding network.
Best Practices for Hosting Multiple Domains
Strategically managing multiple domains on Bluehost requires organization and resource awareness. Create clear directory structures separating each domain’s files logically. Use descriptive folder names corresponding to domain names ensuring easy identification when accessing server files.
Implement caching solutions like WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache reducing server load across all websites. Caching dramatically improves performance while allowing you to host more domains within resource limits. CDN integration further reduces bandwidth consumption and speeds up global content delivery.
Regularly audit resource usage monitoring CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth consumption. Remove inactive websites consuming resources unnecessarily. Optimize images, databases, and code across all domains minimizing footprint. Efficient sites allow hosting more domains successfully.
Domain Organization Strategies
Categorize domains by purpose—client sites, personal projects, test environments, or business divisions. This mental organization helps prioritize maintenance and resource allocation. Focus optimization efforts on high-traffic, revenue-generating domains first.
Document each domain’s purpose, credentials, and important dates in a spreadsheet or management tool. Track expiration dates, renewal costs, and associated hosting details. This documentation prevents domains from expiring accidentally and losing valuable online properties.
Security Across Multiple Domains
Secure all domains comprehensively even if hosting multiple sites on one account. Compromised sites threaten your entire hosting environment. Implement strong passwords, regular updates, malware scanning, and web application firewalls across every domain.
Enable automatic backups ensuring you can restore any site if security incidents occur. Bluehost includes daily backups on Choice Plus plans protecting all your domains automatically. Learn how to protect domains from hackers comprehensively.
Performance Optimization
Optimize each domain individually focusing on page speed, mobile responsiveness, and user experience. Poor-performing sites consume excessive resources hurting overall account performance. Fast, efficient websites allow hosting more domains within resource constraints.
Use performance testing tools like GTmetrix, Pingdom, or Google PageSpeed Insights identifying optimization opportunities. Address issues systematically across your domain portfolio. Consider upgrading to VPS hosting when optimization alone can’t maintain acceptable performance.
When to Upgrade Your Hosting Plan
If you consistently hit resource limits despite optimization efforts, upgrading becomes necessary. Warning signs include frequent slowdowns, suspension notices from Bluehost, or inability to add desired domains due to resource constraints.
VPS hosting provides dedicated resources ensuring better performance and reliability when managing numerous domains. Dedicated servers offer maximum control and resources for large-scale operations hosting dozens or hundreds of websites. Cloud hosting provides scalability automatically adjusting resources based on demand.
Calculate cost-benefit ratios comparing multi-site shared hosting against separate hosting accounts or upgraded plans. Sometimes the convenience of managing all domains through one Bluehost account justifies slightly higher hosting costs compared to managing multiple separate accounts.
Signs You Need More Resources
Websites loading slowly or timing out frequently indicate resource insufficiency. Database connection errors suggest your account struggles handling concurrent traffic across multiple domains. Bluehost support contacting you about resource usage represents a clear upgrade signal.
Inability to run desired plugins or features due to memory limits demonstrates your current plan’s inadequacy. If you’re rejecting new projects or domains because you can’t add them to your account, upgrading immediately enables business growth.
Choosing the Right Upgrade Path
VPS hosting suits users managing 10-50 websites needing guaranteed resources and better performance. Dedicated servers work for large agencies or businesses managing 50+ client sites requiring maximum control. Cloud hosting provides flexibility for unpredictable traffic patterns across domain portfolios.
Compare upgrade costs against potential revenue from additional client websites or business projects. The ability to host more domains often pays for itself through new opportunities previously impossible on limited hosting.
Domain Registration and Management
Bluehost’s integrated domain management lets you register new domains, transfer existing ones, and manage everything from one control panel. This consolidation simplifies administration compared to coordinating between separate registrars and hosting providers.
Bluehost offers free domain registration for the first year with qualifying hosting plans. This benefit reduces initial costs when launching new websites. After the first year, domains renew at standard rates typically ranging from $11-18 annually depending on extension.
Domain privacy protection shields your personal information from public WHOIS databases. Enable privacy on all domains preventing spam, unwanted solicitation, and security threats. Learn more about how domain name privacy works and its importance.
Adding Domains to Your Account
Purchase domains through Bluehost’s domain search or transfer existing domains from other registrars. The add domain feature in your control panel walks you through the setup process. Point domain nameservers to Bluehost’s servers connecting domains to your hosting infrastructure.
Configure DNS settings, create email accounts, and install applications like WordPress for each new domain. Bluehost’s one-click installers streamline website setup across all your domains. Automation features help you launch sites quickly without repetitive manual configuration.
Managing Domain Portfolio
Use Bluehost’s domain manager organizing all your domains, checking expiration dates, and renewing registrations. Enable auto-renewal preventing accidental domain losses from forgotten renewals. Learn about buying domains long-term for protection strategies.
Perform a domain name search when adding new domains to your portfolio. Choose good domain names strategically and avoid common mistakes that create problems. Consider trademark issues before registration.
Real-World Hosting Scenarios
Understanding practical applications helps clarify how many domains work for different use cases. A freelance web developer might host 5-10 client websites on a Choice Plus plan comfortably. These relatively simple business sites with moderate traffic perform well within shared hosting resources.
Digital marketing agencies managing 20-30 client websites often operate on VPS hosting for guaranteed performance. The dedicated resources ensure all client sites remain fast and reliable without resource competition. This professional setup justifies VPS costs through improved client satisfaction.
Bloggers operating content site networks might host 10-15 WordPress blogs on multisite installations. Shared plugins, themes, and centralized management make this efficient. Traffic levels across the network determine whether shared or VPS hosting proves sufficient.
Small Business Owners
Small businesses typically need hosting for one primary domain plus a few related properties. A main business website, separate blog domain, and branded short domain for marketing campaigns comfortably fit on Choice Plus plans. This configuration suits most small business requirements affordably.
Additional domains might include alternative extensions protecting your brand or geographic variations targeting different markets. Country code domains help businesses serve international markets effectively.
Web Development Agencies
Agencies managing multiple client websites benefit from Bluehost’s multi-domain support. Consolidating client sites on one hosting account simplifies billing and management. However, consider whether clients prefer independent hosting accounts they control directly.
Some agencies host development versions on their accounts while clients maintain production sites independently. This separation protects client independence while providing agencies with convenient staging environments.
Portfolio and Hobby Sites
Individuals running multiple hobby projects, portfolios, or experimental sites utilize unlimited domain capabilities extensively. A photographer might host separate portfolio domains for different photography styles. A content creator might operate multiple niche blogs across various interests.
These personal projects typically generate modest traffic making them ideal for shared hosting’s cost-efficiency. As individual sites grow popular, consider migrating high-traffic domains to separate hosting while maintaining smaller sites on multi-domain shared hosting.
Cost Comparison: Multiple Domains vs. Multiple Accounts
Hosting multiple domains on one Bluehost account costs significantly less than purchasing separate hosting for each website. One Choice Plus plan costs $5.45-$8.99 monthly (promotional pricing), while multiple Basic plans would multiply costs by the number of websites.
The savings compound when managing 5, 10, or more domains. Beyond direct hosting costs, administrative time decreases dramatically managing one account versus coordinating multiple separate hosting accounts. This efficiency has real value for busy website owners.
However, performance trade-offs exist. Multiple domains share resources on one account, potentially creating performance issues if one site experiences traffic spikes. Separate hosting accounts isolate websites completely preventing cross-contamination of issues.
Budget-Friendly Solutions
For entrepreneurs and small businesses watching expenses carefully, multi-domain hosting provides unbeatable value. The ability to host unlimited domains on Bluehost’s Choice Plus plan for under $10 monthly enables ambitious web projects without proportional cost increases.
Check domain pricing when budgeting for multiple domains. While hosting might be shared, each domain still requires annual registration fees. Budget $11-18 yearly per domain for renewals even when hosting is consolidated.
Enterprise Considerations
Large organizations might prefer separating critical websites across multiple hosting accounts or dedicated servers. This isolation prevents cascading failures where one compromised site threatens others. Mission-critical websites justify dedicated hosting costs.
Consider whether unified management outweighs isolation benefits. Some enterprises use multi-domain hosting for internal tools, microsites, and campaigns while maintaining primary websites on dedicated infrastructure. This hybrid approach balances cost and performance strategically.
Migration and Transfer Considerations
Transferring existing websites to Bluehost allows consolidating domains previously scattered across multiple hosts. Bluehost offers free site migration assistance for certain plans, handling technical transfer complexity. This service proves invaluable when moving multiple websites simultaneously.
Plan migrations carefully to minimize downtime. Migrate domains one at a time testing thoroughly before proceeding. Learn about transferring domains without losing SEO to protect your search rankings during consolidation.
Coordinate domain transfers and website migrations as separate processes. Transfer domain registration to Bluehost optionally while definitely migrating website hosting. Some users prefer maintaining domain registration with specialized registrars while using Bluehost exclusively for hosting.
Site Migration Process
Backup all websites completely before migration. Export databases, download files, and document configurations. Import content to Bluehost hosting, recreate databases, and update configuration files pointing to new servers.
Test websites thoroughly on Bluehost before updating domain nameservers. Use temporary URLs or hosts file modifications previewing sites before making DNS changes public. Only point domains to Bluehost after confirming everything functions correctly.
Managing Domain Transfers
Transfer domains between registrars requires authorization codes and may take 5-7 days to complete. During transfers, websites continue functioning normally if hosting migration preceded domain transfer. This staging prevents downtime from affecting your online presence.
Some users choose not to transfer domains to Bluehost, preferring specialized domain registrars. This separation allows switching hosting providers easily without coordinating domain transfers. Either approach works—choose based on your preference for unified versus specialized management.
Your Multi-Domain Hosting Strategy
The number of domains you can host on Bluehost depends primarily on your chosen plan and resource usage patterns. Basic plans support only one domain, while Choice Plus and Pro plans allow unlimited domains constrained only by fair usage policies and technical resources.
Most users successfully host 10-30 domains on shared hosting depending on traffic levels and site complexity. Agencies and power users managing more extensive portfolios benefit from VPS or dedicated hosting providing guaranteed resources and better performance.
Start with Bluehost’s Choice Plus plan if you need multi-domain support. Monitor resource usage as you add domains, optimizing sites for efficiency. Upgrade to VPS hosting when shared resources become insufficient for your growing domain portfolio. Strategic domain management on Bluehost enables scalable online presence supporting business growth affordably.
