TL;DR
WordPress auto scaling automatically adjusts server resources to handle changes in traffic and keeps your site running smoothly. In this guide, we will look at some of the top hosting providers (hint: there are not many in the market, Cloudways Autonomous is our favorite so far) that auto scale WordPress; and learn how the technology works, its pros and cons, and compare it with traditional hosting to help you choose the best option.
1. Cloudways Autonomous
Cloudways is known for its managed cloud solutions, offering a flexible and user-friendly platform. The company’s new “Cloudways Autonomous” plan automatically adjusts its resources to meet your WordPress website’s traffic needs in real time. Coupled with other speed features, including edge caching with Cloudflare, unlimited PHP workers, and Redis Object Cache, Cloudways Autonomous performed three times better than its peers in recent benchmarks (see results here).
How Much Does Cloudways Autonomous Cost?
Pricing for Cloudways Autonomous starts at $24 per month, with new signups receiving a 30% discount for the first four months. Additional usage is charged at $1 for every 10 GB of additional bandwidth, $1 per 1,000 additional visits, and $2 per 1 GB of additional disk space.
More Details: See Cloudways Autonomous Pricing
2. LiquidWeb
LiquidWeb is a premium hosting provider known for its premium managed WordPress hosting solutions (previously branded as Nexcess). Their managed WordPress plans are designed to handle high traffic efficiently with built-in scalability features, even though they don’t specifically advertise auto scaling.
How Much Does LiquidWeb Cost?
Pricing for LiquidWeb’s managed WordPress hosting starts at $21 per month, offering substantial value with high performance and support.
Note that LiquidWeb has a hard limit on the number of auto-scaled PHP workers per site based on the plan you subscribe to. For their lowest managed WordPress hosting plan, you can auto scale up to 20 PHP workers, and this number increases to 70 for higher plans.
More Details: See LiquidWeb Pricing
3. Pressidium
Pressidium offers enterprise-grade managed WordPress hosting, focusing on performance and security. Their plans include scalability features that ensure smooth handling of increased traffic, although they don’t specifically brand it as “auto scaling.”
How Much Does Pressidium Cost?
Pricing for Pressidium starts at $24.95 per month, with various plans to suit different business needs.
More Details: See Pressidium Pricing
4. WordPress VIP
WordPress VIP provides top-tier managed hosting with a focus on large-scale enterprise solutions. It offers custom hosting plans with automatic scaling capabilities to manage traffic surges effectively.
How Much Does WordPress VIP Cost?
Pricing for WordPress VIP is tailored to individual business needs to match their premium service levels, typical entry plan starts at $25,000 per year (yes, $25k a year).
More Details: Check Out WordPress VIP
5. Pressable
Pressable delivers managed WordPress hosting with a strong emphasis on scalability and customization. Their plans feature automatic scaling to ensure optimal site performance during traffic spikes.
How Much Does Pressable Cost?
Pricing for Pressable starts at $45 per month (1 WP install, 50,000 visits and 20 GB storage), providing a balance of affordability and advanced features.
More Details: Check Out Pressable Pricing
Understanding WordPress Auto Scaling
What is WordPress Auto Scaling?
WordPress auto scaling is a feature that automatically adjusts the server resources allocated to your website in real-time based on real-time traffic demands. During high traffic periods, the system scales up resources such as CPU, memory, and PHP workers to ensure that your WordPress site remains stable and responsive. Conversely, when traffic decreases, the system scales down resources to save costs.
This dynamic resource management helps maintain optimal site performance without manual intervention – ideal for websites that often experience fluctuating traffic patterns. Whether it’s a sudden spike in visitors due to a viral post or seasonal variations in traffic, auto scaling ensures that your WordPress site can handle the load smoothly while keeping your hosting cost affordable.
How It Works
- Traffic Monitoring: The hosting platform continuously monitors your website’s traffic and resource usage.
- Dynamic Adjustment: When a traffic spike is detected, additional server resources are automatically allocated to your site.
- Load Balancing: If the traffic continues to grow, the system may also distribute the load across multiple servers to maintain performance.
- Resource Reduction: Once the traffic spike subsides, the extra resources are scaled back down to minimize costs.
Pros and Cons of WordPress Auto Scaling
As with any new technology, WordPress auto scaling comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Understanding its benefits and drawbacks can help you decide if it’s right for your website.
Pros
- Improved Performance: Keeps your site fast and responsive during traffic spikes.
- Cost Efficiency: You only pay for the resources you use, saving money during low-traffic periods.
- Automatic Management: No need for manual server adjustments; the system handles everything.
- Reliability: Maintains high uptime by distributing the load across multiple servers.
Cons
- Resource Limits: Some providers cap the amount of scaling , which might lead to operational blind spots.
- Provider Dependency: Effectiveness depends on the hosting provider’s infrastructure.
Five Use Cases and Scenarios – When Do You Need It?
WordPress auto scaling is particularly beneficial for websites that experience fluctuating traffic patterns. Here are some specific scenarios where it can be a total game-changer.
1. WooCommerce Stores During Sales Events
Online stores and eCommerce sites often experience traffic surges during sales events, holidays, or special promotions. Auto scaling ensures that your site can handle the increased load, providing a smooth shopping experience for customers and preventing potential loss of sales due to slow website performance.
2. Content Websites with Viral Posts
Sites can experience a sudden spike in visitors when their content goes viral. This surge can be both a big payday and a potential nightmare if your web host cannot handle the traffic load.
Auto scaling solves this issue by adjusting your server resources in real-time to accommodate the surge, ensuring that your site remains accessible and performs well even with a large influx of traffic.
3. Online Course Platforms
Educational websites offering online courses or webinars may experience traffic increases during enrollment periods or live sessions.
Auto scaling helps these platforms maintain a stable and responsive experience for students – regardless of how many users log in simultaneously.
4 Media and Entertainment Sites
Streaming services, gaming sites, and other media platforms often have unpredictable traffic patterns. Auto scaling ensures that these sites can handle varying loads without interruptions, providing a seamless user experience.
5. Event Ticketing and Government Service Sites
When a service goes online or an event opens its ticket sales, these sites often face a massive influx of users trying to access the site simultaneously. Auto scaling prevents crashes and slowdowns by dynamically adjusting the server resources. Needless to say, this is crucial for websites to provide an orderly user experience and ensure transactions are processed efficiently.
Alternatives to WP Auto Scaling
What Are Your Options?
While WordPress auto scaling offers numerous benefits, it might not be the best fit for every website. In case you were unsure or think it is not for you, there are two alternative hosting options that we recommend:
VPS Hosting
Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting provides dedicated resources on a virtually-shared server. It offers more control and customization compared to shared hosting, making it a good choice for sites that need more power and flexibility.
Although VPS hosting doesn’t automatically scale resources, it allows you to upgrade your plan as your site grows. This option is suitable for websites with steady growth and predictable traffic patterns.
Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress hosting is a service where the hosting provider takes care of all the technical aspects of running WordPress, including updates, security, and backups.
While it typically doesn’t include auto scaling, managed WordPress hosting offers optimized performance and support tailored specifically for WordPress sites. This is ideal for users who want a hassle-free experience and don’t expect frequent traffic spikes.
WP Engine and Kinsta are two most notable names in managed WordPress hosting. Go check out!
Cost Analysis – Which Option Offers More Value?
Naturally, you’ll weigh the costs involved when considering auto scaling versus traditional hosting options.
Auto Scaling Costs
Auto scaling can lead to variable costs depending on your traffic. Typically, you pay a fixed price for a lower subscription plan that offers the minimum resources needed for your website. This model is beneficial during low-traffic periods but might become more expensive during traffic spikes.
For example, Cloudways Autonomous charges additional fees for extra bandwidth, visits, and disk space beyond the base plan. This pricing model is flexible but requires careful monitoring during high traffic periods to manage expenses.
Traditional Hosting Costs
Traditional hosting plans, like VPS or managed WordPress hosting, usually come with fixed monthly fees.
VPS hosting plans allow for upgrades to higher tiers as your site grows, offering predictable costs but less flexibility during sudden traffic surges. Managed WordPress hosting provides a stable environment and expert support with fixed costs but may not handle unexpected traffic as efficiently as auto scaling.
Comparative Example
- VPS Hosting: A VPS plan might cost $30 per month with the option to upgrade as needed. This is predictable but less adaptable to sudden traffic changes.
- Managed WordPress Hosting: Managed plans might start at $24 per month, offering stability and ease of use but potentially struggling with large traffic spikes.
- Auto Scaling: Cloudways Autonomous starts lower at $24 per month, with additional costs based on usage. This can be cost-effective during low traffic but potentially expensive during high traffic periods.
Overall, auto scaling offers a significant advantage if your site can operate effectively with a lower server setup during low traffic. This way, you only pay for additional server resources during high traffic periods, potentially saving money compared to fixed-cost plans. This makes auto scaling a better option for websites with fluctuating traffic patterns, ensuring performance and cost efficiency.
Final Thought
Choosing the right hosting solution for your WordPress site is crucial for maintaining performance, reliability, and cost efficiency.
WordPress auto scaling offers a dynamic approach to adapting the needs of websites with variable traffic. While traditional hosting options like VPS give price stability and predictability, auto scaling stands out for its ability to handle sudden traffic surges smoothly.
By understanding the benefits and limitations of each of these hosting solutions – you can make an educated decision that best suits your website’s needs.
