Moving Your Domain to Bluehost: How to Avoid Email Downtime

Updated 2026-10-04 · Hosting Reviews

Moving your domain to Bluehost doesn’t have to mean losing email access. Follow this practical guide to transfer your domain, keep your business email alive, and pick the right hosting plan for a smooth, cost‑effective launch.

Why Bluehost Is a Good Fit for Small Businesses

Bluehost offers shared, cloud, and VPS options that start as low as current pricing, making it easy to scale as your site grows. Their control panel is beginner‑friendly, includes free SSL, and one‑click WordPress installs—perfect for anyone who wants a professional domain and email without a steep learning curve.

What You Need Before the Transfer

Gather these items so the move goes smoothly:

1. Current domain registrar login (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap).
2. Access to your existing DNS records, especially MX (mail) settings.
3. A Bluehost account with a hosting plan that matches your site’s needs.
4. Any website files or a WordPress backup if you’re moving an existing site.

Having these ready prevents last‑minute scrambling and helps you move domain to Bluehost without downtime for email.

Choosing the Right Hosting Type

For a typical small business site with a blog or simple e‑commerce, shared hosting is usually sufficient. If you expect rapid growth, a cloud plan gives more resources and faster scaling. VPS is for developers who need full control over the server environment.

Cost ranges (subject to change) are roughly:

• Shared: $3‑$8/month
• Cloud: $8‑$15/month
• VPS: $15‑$30/month

All plans include a free domain for the first year and a free SSL certificate.

Step‑by‑Step: Transfer Your Domain and Preserve Email

Follow these steps to move domain to Bluehost without downtime for your business email.

1. Back up current DNS records. Screenshot or copy MX, TXT (SPF/DKIM), and any custom CNAME entries.
2. Set up a temporary DNS zone on Bluehost. In the Bluehost control panel, add a new domain and use the "Custom Nameservers" option. Enter the same MX records you copied earlier.
3. Verify email flow. Send a test email to an address on the domain. If it arrives, the DNS is correctly pointing to Bluehost’s mail servers.
4. Update the registrar. Log in to your current registrar, replace the nameserver list with Bluehost’s nameservers (provided in your account). This change usually propagates in 1‑4 hours.
5. Monitor for issues. Keep an eye on both inbound and outbound email for the next 24‑48 hours. If any messages bounce, double‑check the MX and SPF records.
6. Finalize website migration. Once DNS is stable, move your site files or import your WordPress backup via Bluehost’s one‑click installer.

Because the MX records are in place before the nameserver switch, email continues working throughout the process.

Speed, Security, and Ongoing Maintenance

After the transfer, focus on performance and protection:

• Enable the free SSL. Bluehost automatically installs it, but activate it in your CMS settings.
• Use a caching plugin. For WordPress, plugins like LiteSpeed Cache work well on Bluehost’s servers.
• Set up automatic backups. Bluehost offers daily backups on most plans—schedule them to keep a restore point.
• Keep software updated. WordPress core, themes, and plugins should be updated regularly to block vulnerabilities.

These basics keep your site fast, secure, and reliable for customers and search engines alike.

FAQ

Will moving my domain affect my existing email accounts?

No, as long as you copy the MX, SPF, and DKIM records to Bluehost before changing nameservers. Email will continue to route through the same mail servers.

Do I need a separate hosting plan for my business email?

Bluehost includes email hosting on most shared and cloud plans, so you don’t need an extra service. Just configure the MX records as described.

What if my domain registrar doesn’t allow easy DNS export?

Manually copy the records from the DNS management screen. It’s a bit of extra work, but it ensures you have the exact settings to re‑create on Bluehost.