Bluehost vs Namecheap:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Namecheap had more branded searches than Bluehost among domain and hosting providers worldwide. Namecheap had about 1.2 million branded searches, while Bluehost had 201,000. Namecheap made up 12.3% of all domain and hosting provider searches we track, and Bluehost accounted for 2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about domain and hosting providers, Bluehost and Namecheap each appeared in two of the five answers. Bluehost was mentioned before Namecheap in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Namecheap, about 6 searches for every 1 for Bluehost
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Bluehost, named ahead of Namecheap in 2 of 3 answers
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Top domain and hosting providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Bluehost was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Namecheap was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Bluehost was listed before Namecheap in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Hostinger5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Porkbun3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
SiteGround3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Namecheap2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Bluehost2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
DreamHost2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- GoDaddy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about domain and hosting providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which domain and hosting provider should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best domain and hosting providers?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best domain and hosting provider for a website?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best web hosting”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“website hosting provider”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is Bluehost or Namecheap more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Bluehost and Namecheap by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven domain and hosting providers we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Namecheap, Bluehost. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | GoDaddy | Hostinger | Namecheap | Porkbun | SiteGround | Bluehost | DreamHost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 39.7% | 42.4% | 10.9% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 0.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 39.3% | 42.6% | 10.9% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 0.81% |
| Dec 2025 | 39.4% | 42.7% | 10.9% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 0.66% |
| Jan 2026 | 40.1% | 41.9% | 11.3% | 1.5% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 0.56% |
| Feb 2026 | 38.5% | 40.7% | 13.1% | 1.8% | 3.2% | 2.2% | 0.65% |
| Mar 2026 | 39.9% | 41.8% | 11.2% | 1.9% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 0.56% |
| Apr 2026 | 34.6% | 43.4% | 14.6% | 2% | 2.9% | 2% | 0.59% |
| May 2026 | 35.7% | 44.9% | 12.3% | 2% | 2.5% | 2% | 0.61% |
| Jun 2026 | 38.8% | 40.6% | 13.3% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.66% |
| Jul 2026 | 38.5% | 40.7% | 13.4% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.66% |
| Aug 2026 | 36.9% | 39.3% | 15.9% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 0.64% |
| Sep 2026 | 42.6% | 37.5% | 12.3% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2% | 0.61% |
How has the Bluehost and Namecheap comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Namecheap was ahead of Bluehost in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bluehost’s share of searches among domain and hosting providers worldwide moved from 2.2% to 2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 201K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Namecheap’s share of searches among domain and hosting providers worldwide moved from 10.9% to 12.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1M to 1.2M.
How did search popularity change for domain and hosting providers worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Namecheap lost share of searches among domain and hosting providers worldwide, from 15.9% to 12.3%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Bluehost’s and Namecheap’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
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