GitHub|Since 2007
Wptr Lab

USBluehostvsAutomattic (WordPress.com)US

Head-to-head hosting performance comparison based on real test data

Test Date: 2/23/2026

Bluehost
WPTR ScoreWinner369 ms
Rank#23
TTFB113ms
Time to 1MB103ms
Score369
LCP513ms
FCP313ms
Automattic (WordPress.com)

Automattic (WordPress.com)

View Details →
WPTR Score2119 ms
Rank#589
TTFB204ms
Time to 1MB798ms
Score2119
LCP604ms
FCP404ms

Our Verdict

Bluehost wins with 113ms TTFB (vs Automattic (WordPress.com)'s 204ms)

TTFB Breakdown (Connection Phases)

PhaseBluehostAutomattic (WordPress.com)Winner
DNS Lookup8ms4msAutomattic (WordPress.com)
TCP Connection8ms32msBluehost
TLS Handshake8ms32msBluehost
Server Processing98ms136msBluehost
Total TTFB122ms204msBluehost

Technology & Security Features

Bluehost

Server/CDNcloudflare
HSTS Disabled
Brotli Compression Enabled
HTTP/3 (QUIC) Disabled
Page Size440.7 KB

Automattic (WordPress.com)

Server/CDNnginx
HSTS Enabled
Brotli Compression Enabled
HTTP/3 (QUIC) Enabled
Page Size317.9 KB
1/3
Bluehost Security Features
3/3
Automattic (WordPress.com) Security Features

TTFB Comparison Over Time

Understanding the Metrics

WPTR Score: Wptr Lab Real-Load Score: (Time to 1MB x 2.4) + TTFB. Raw server & network performance (Lower is better).
TTFB: Time to First Byte - How fast the server responds
Time to 1MB: Time to 1MB - Time taken to download 1MB of data (lower is better)
LCP: Largest Contentful Paint - When main content loads
FCP: First Contentful Paint - When first content appears
Score: Overall performance score (0-100)

A Note on Hosting Selection

While TTFB and performance metrics are important indicators, choosing the right hosting provider involves many other factors: security measures, customer support quality, uptime guarantees, scalability options, and pricing structure. Academic research emphasizes that a balanced approach considering all these aspects leads to better long-term outcomes.

Chizhov, A., & Fesenko, A. (2025). Web hosting companies' client solutions: A study of a strategic standpoint. Corporate & Business Strategy Review. doi.org/10.22495/cbsrv6i1art14

Data in this comparison is obtained through independent tests using our TTFB Checker tool.