Cloudways vs Bluehost
Two web hosting affiliate programs, compared field by field on verified terms. Every figure below was checked against the official program page; each profile links the source. Scoring follows our public rubric.
$50–$125 per sale, or $30 + 7% lifetime (hybrid) · 90 days cookie
Strong — best for developer, agency and performance-focused content
Bluehost
WordPress-recommended hosting · Hosting
$65+ per sale (tiered to $100+) · 30 days cookie
Fair — best for beginner bloggers monetizing setup tutorials
The verdict
Cloudways — 78/100
Cloudways wins by 15 points on stronger earnings structure, a longer attribution window (90 days vs 30 days), lower payout friction. Bluehost still makes sense for a specific fit: beginner bloggers monetizing setup tutorials.
Verified terms, side by side
| Field | Cloudways | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | $50–$125 per sale, or $30 + 7% lifetime (hybrid) | $65+ per sale (tiered to $100+) |
| Model | Hybrid (bounty + recurring) | One-time bounty |
| Cookie duration | 90 days ✓ | 30 days |
| Est. $/first referral | ~$80 ✓ | ~$70 |
| Network | In-house | In-house |
| Payout threshold | $50 | $100 |
| Payout methods | PayPal, wire | PayPal, wire |
| Payment terms | Monthly, ~NET 45 | NET 45+ |
| Geo focus | Global | Global |
| Terms verified | 2026-08 | 2026-08 |
Score breakdown
Subscores are 1–10, weighted per the methodology.
Earnings power (35%)
Attribution window (20%)
Trust & conversion (20%)
Payout reliability (15%)
Ease of entry (10%)
Why pick Cloudways
- Choice of bounty or hybrid lifetime model
- 90-day cookie beats most hosts
- Technical audience = lower refund rates
Watch out
Requires more sophisticated traffic than shared hosting
Full Cloudways profile →Why pick Bluehost
- Instant approval, easy start
- Low-price entry plans convert beginners
- Decades of affiliate program history
Watch out
Product reputation has slipped among reviewers
Full Bluehost profile →