WP Engine is one of those hosts which has forsaken all and chosen to focus their entire business on WordPress hosting only. They offer Cloud-based managed WordPress hosting which is powerful, slightly justifying their rather hefty price tag. Aside from that, two core benefits stand out here – their in-house built caching system, knwon as EverCahce, and specialized WordPress support staff.
Good for: Managed WordPress, or Developers-friendly Hosting
Website: https://wpengine.com/
What We Think About WP Engine Hosting
WP Engine Pros
- Outstanding server uptime and speed performance
- Round-the-clock WordPress-specialized support
- Developer-friendly environment
- Genesis framework and StudioPress themes included
- Choice of 20+ server locations in four continents
WP Engine Cons
- Email hosting services not included
- Only WordPress plans available
- Bandwidth and some server resources are highly limited
- No white-glove site migration
WP Engine – Our Experiences & Findings
| Performance | As a managed WordPress hosting provider, WP Engine is renowned for its impressive uptime and speed performance. The web host runs on Google’s cloud infrastructure and comes with built-in caching mechanism (EverCache). These make sites hosted on WP Engine platform loads quickly and more efficient. The company publishes their server and network service status publicly, click here to visit. |
| Security | WP Engine excels in security, offering top-notch measures to safeguard your website. Their platform boasts features like free SSL, daily backup, to ensure your data remains secure and your site impervious to common cyber threats. |
| Supports | WP Engine provides expert assistance through 24/7 phone, live chat, and email support. Their support team is highly knowledgeable about WordPress-specific issues – which is a significant advantage for WordPress site owners. |
| Value for Money? | Managed WordPress hosting services like WP Engine tend to be more expensive due to their specialized focus on WordPress optimization and performance. These platforms provide a suite of tailored services including automatic updates, enhanced security, and expert WordPress support, which contribute to their higher cost. When considering WP Engine, it’s important to evaluate your hosting needs to find out whether the additional cost for these specialized features aligns with your requirements. |
| What Other Users Think? | WP Engine demonstrates high user satisfaction according to our collected customer feedback data. Customers frequently commend WP Engine for its exceptional server performance and WordPress expert support. Many note that their website speed gets an instant boost right after shifting to WP Engine platform. Furthermore, the platform’s strong security features, including regular updates and robust protection against threats, receive significant praise. |
| Suitable for Newbies? | WP Engine might not be the best choice for solo bloggers or newbies. Although it offers a user-friendly dashboard and specialized support, its resource limitations and lack of email services could be significant drawbacks. The platform is designed more for users deeply invested in WordPress, and its plans are pricier compared to alternatives better suited for beginners or those with simpler needs​. |
| Suitable for Small Business? | WP Engine’s focus on WordPress-specific hosting and its expertise in this area make it a strong contender for businesses that need advanced WordPress features and support. The platform’s managed technical details, advanced network options, and multiple data center locations provide a robust infrastructure for growing businesses. However, the relatively high cost and limited resources may be a concern for some small businesses. |
| Suitable for Web Developers? | For web developers, WP Engine is a very attractive option – especially for those specializing in WordPress development. The platform offers a WordPress-only cloud platform, developer-friendly tools, and a range of advanced features like the Genesis Framework and integrated local development environments. However, the absence of email hosting and domain name registration, along with its WordPress-exclusive focus, means it may not suit developers looking for a more versatile hosting solution. |
| Onboarding | The onboarding process for WP Engine is smooth but tailored more towards experienced WordPress users rather than beginners.
Making payment will trigger their system to send you your account details. This will contain all the information you need to get started with them. For users familiar with WordPress, WP Engine’s interface and dashboard are straightforward to navigate, enhancing the startup process and making site migration seamless with their migration plugin. However, beginners might find the platform challenging at first due to its developer-focused design. |
Learn more, visit WP Engine online.
WP Engine Plans & Pricing
WP Engine’s product offerings include a range of managed WordPress hosting solutions. They cater to various user needs, from small businesses to large enterprises, with services like automated site maintenance, expert WordPress support, and specialized WooCommerce hosting for eCommerce.
When evaluating your options, it’s crucial to remember that many hosting companies offer substantial discounts during the initial signup period, but the pricing often increases significantly upon renewal. You should thoroughly research and compare the renewal prices, not just the introductory rates, to understand the true cost of hosting over an extended period.
To help you make a more informed decision, we have prepared two tables below which compare the initial signup and subsequent renewal costs of WP Engine services with several other providers that we actively monitor.
Review WP Engine Signup Price
| Web Host | Shared | VPS | Dedicated | Cloud | WordPress | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WP Engine | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $35.00 – 675.00/mo | $15.00 – 145.00/mo | $ – /mo |
| BlueHost | $2.95 – 13.95/mo | $29.99 – 69.99/mo | $89.98 – 139.99/mo | $ – /mo | $2.95 – 13.95/mo | $ – /mo |
| Hostens | $1.00 – 4.00/mo | $5.25 – 21.00/mo | $49.99 – 89.99/mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $13.13 – 52.50/mo |
| Hostinger | $2.49 – 8.99/mo | $5.99 – 17.99/mo | $ – /mo | $8.99 – 29.99/mo | $2.49 – 8.99/mo | $ – /mo |
| Hostgator | $3.75 – 6.25/mo | $34.99 – 93.99/mo | $89.98 – 139.99/mo | $4.50 – 13.95/mo | $4.50 – 13.95/mo | $4.76 – 14.36/mo |
| Vice Temple | $3.75 – 44.00/mo | $28.00 – 418.00/mo | $165.00 – 2420.00/mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo |
Review WP Engine Renewal Price
| Web Host | Shared | VPS | Dedicated | Cloud | WordPress | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WP Engine | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $35.00 – 675.00/mo | $30.00 – 145.00/mo | $ – /mo |
| BlueHost | $11.99 – 28.99/mo | $79.99 – 142.99/mo | $179.99 – 259.99/mo | $ – /mo | $11.99 – 28.99/mo | $ – /mo |
| Hostens | $4.00 – 16.00/mo | $7.50 – 30.00/mo | $49.99 – 89.99/mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $18.75 – 75.00/mo |
| Hostinger | $11.99 – 24.99/mo | $13.99 – 49.99/mo | $ – /mo | $24.99 – 64.99/mo | $11.99 – 24.99/mo | $ – /mo |
| Hostgator | $9.99 – 19.99/mo | $79.95 – 149.95/mo | $179.99 – 279.00/mo | $8.95 – 17.95/mo | $8.95 – 17.95/mo | $12.99 – 21.99/mo |
| Vice Temple | $3.75 – 44.00/mo | $28.00 – 418.00/mo | $165.00 – 2420.00/mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo |
Bottomline: Is WP Engine Right for You?
We highly recommend WP Engine for experienced site owners in need of high-performance WordPress hosting solutions. Its outstanding server uptime, specialized WordPress support, and extensive server location options make it a robust choice for WordPress-centric projects.
