Examined Sep 25, 2026 A discount, size unpublished No link we may carry Bluehost's referral gives the friend a real discount on hosting, and its binding terms never put a number on it.
What you get
| You, buying hosting through a customer's referral link | A discount, size unpublished |
|---|---|
| You, buying only a domain or an add-on through the link | Nothing, and no referral counted |
| Starter hosting, 36-month term | $3.99 a month, renewing at $9.99 |
In addition, by making a valid Referral, your Referral will receive a discount on their web hosting purchase from Bluehost.
The terms also say: “Unless otherwise stated, Rewards have no monetary value and may not be redeemed for cash.” They are not transferable and cannot be sold.
Do this, in this order
- Get the link from a customer, because no site may hand it to you. A customer logs in to the Bluehost Portal, selects Refer a Friend, enters an email address, and the link is ready; the help article suggests sharing it by email, Facebook, X or Messenger. The terms require that customer to live in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom and be 18 or over.
- Buy hosting, not a domain. The terms say: “Please note that a Referral must purchase Bluehost hosting services and that other Bluehost services (e.g. domains, add-on services, etc.) do not qualify under the Program.”
- Price the renewal before the discount. On the plans page we read, Starter is $3.99 a month for a 36-month term and renews at $9.99 a month; Business is $6.99 renewing at $13.99; eCommerce Essentials is $14.99 renewing at $21.99. Thirty-six months at $3.99 is $143.64. The same three years at $9.99 would be $359.64. An unsized discount on the first figure does not change the second.
- Redeem the free domain inside 90 days, and know what it costs later. One free domain for one year comes with 12- or 36-month plans, must be redeemed within 90 days of purchase, and renews after the first year at the then-current rate until canceled. A newly registered domain cannot be transferred to another registrar for the first 60 days.
- Write down day 3 and day 30. The refund article says: “Between three (3)-thirty (30) days, you may request a refund on certain hosting services for new signups only. Refunds for domain registration fees are not available.” After that: “Renewals are only refundable within the fifteen (15)-day prebill window.” Refunds take 5 to 7 business days to appear.
What Bluehost's terms leave open
The terms carry no date. They also reserve the right to cancel, modify or terminate the program at any time for any reason. Your discount as the friend is described only as a discount on your web hosting purchase.
Bluehost caps what it can owe you at $100. The terms limit its liability for the whole program: “OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING WITH RESPECT TO THESE TERMS AND THE PROGRAM WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).”
The affiliate program is a different animal, and it is why this page has no link. The help article says: “Refer a Friend is different from the Bluehost Affiliates program.” The affiliate agreement bars affiliates from posting discounts or other content about Bluehost without written consent, and from using its links or marks in any way that portrays it negatively. A page like this one cannot sign that, so it carries nothing.
Is it worth your time?
If you have already decided on Bluehost and someone you know hosts there, ask for the link. It costs nothing and the terms promise you a discount on the hosting purchase, even if nobody will tell you the size until checkout. Then judge the plan on its second price, not its first: three years of Starter at the renewal rate is $359.64, against $143.64 for the first term.
If the link is the reason you are choosing Bluehost, stop. An unsized discount on a 36-month commitment is not a reason, and the terms favor Bluehost: refunds end at day 30 and the free domain is charged back if you leave. If you only want to try it, the 3-to-30-day refund window needs no link.
