When it comes to choosing the best managed WordPress hosting provider, two names often stand out: Cloudways and WP Engine. Both have established a reputation for providing reliable, high-performance hosting solutions. However, each platform caters to slightly different user needs, making it crucial to understand their unique offerings. If you’re exploring WP Engine alternatives or considering Cloudways, this comprehensive comparison will help you make an informed decision.
What Makes Cloudways and WP Engine Stand Out?
Before diving into the comparison, let’s take a closer look at what makes these two hosting solutions popular among WordPress users:
- Cloudways: Known for its flexibility and ease of use, Cloudways offers managed cloud hosting with servers from leading providers like DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Vultr, and Linode. The platform provides powerful performance features such as optimized caching, server-side security, and vertical scaling, making it an ideal choice for developers, agencies, and SMBs.
- WP Engine: A premium managed WordPress hosting provider, WP Engine specializes in offering an enterprise-level experience with advanced security features, high-speed performance, and reliable customer support. It is particularly suited for users looking for a high-end solution with features tailored specifically for WordPress websites.
Now, let’s break down the comparison across different key aspects.
1. Performance & Speed
Performance is a top priority for both Cloudways and WP Engine, and they go the extra mile to ensure your WordPress sites load quickly and run smoothly. Here’s how they compare:
- Cloudways: Offers multiple server locations and cloud providers, allowing users to choose data centers that are closest to their audience. This reduces latency and enhances page load speed. With built-in caching mechanisms like Varnish, Memcached, and Redis, as well as a dedicated content delivery network (CDN), Cloudways ensures optimal performance.
- WP Engine: Leverages Google Cloud and AWS infrastructure to deliver high-speed performance. WP Engine’s EverCache technology and Global CDN further boost website speed. Additionally, WP Engine conducts regular performance audits to identify and fix performance bottlenecks.
Verdict: Cloudways offers more flexibility in terms of server configurations and performance optimization, making it a suitable choice for users with specific performance needs. WP Engine, on the other hand, provides out-of-the-box performance enhancements tailored specifically for WordPress.
2. Ease of Use
The user experience of a hosting platform can significantly impact your day-to-day site management tasks. Here’s how Cloudways and WP Engine compare in terms of ease of use:
- Cloudways: Designed for users who want control over their server configuration but don’t want the hassle of managing infrastructure. The Cloudways platform has an intuitive dashboard that simplifies server and application management, making it easy to perform tasks like scaling, deploying, and monitoring websites. However, the learning curve can be slightly steep for beginners.
- WP Engine: Offers a more streamlined user interface that is specifically optimized for managing WordPress sites. With features like one-click staging, automated backups, and an easy-to-navigate control panel, WP Engine is more beginner-friendly and designed to simplify WordPress management.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a straightforward hosting experience, WP Engine is the way to go. Cloudways, however, is ideal for users who prefer more control over their server settings.
3. Scalability and Flexibility
Scalability and flexibility are essential for growing websites. Here’s how Cloudways and WP Engine differ in this area:
- Cloudways: Offers vertical scaling, allowing users to increase server resources like RAM and CPU on the fly. With multiple cloud providers, Cloudways makes it easy to switch between different data centers and upgrade server specifications as your site traffic grows.
- WP Engine: Also supports scalability but within the confines of its pre-set hosting plans. You can easily upgrade to a higher plan as your site grows, but the level of customization and flexibility is more limited compared to Cloudways.
Verdict: Cloudways provides more flexibility in terms of scaling options, making it ideal for websites that experience fluctuating traffic or need highly customizable server configurations.
4. Security Features
Security is a top concern for website owners and website development company, and both Cloudways and WP Engine have robust security features.
- Cloudways: Implements a multi-layered security approach, including firewalls, two-factor authentication (2FA), IP whitelisting, and regular security patching. Additionally, Cloudways offers application isolation, ensuring that a security breach on one application does not affect others.
- WP Engine: Takes security seriously with features like daily backups, free SSL certificates, threat detection, and automated security updates. WP Engine’s security team constantly monitors for vulnerabilities and implements patches as needed.
Verdict: WP Engine provides a more comprehensive security package tailored specifically for WordPress, while Cloudways offers solid, customizable security settings.
5. Pricing Structure
Pricing is often a deciding factor for many users. Here’s how the pricing models of Cloudways and WP Engine compare:
- Cloudways: Uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model, meaning you only pay for the resources you consume. Pricing starts as low as $10/month for DigitalOcean servers and varies based on your choice of cloud provider. This flexible pricing model is excellent for those who want control over their expenses and can be particularly relevant for businesses asking how much does it cost to make an app.
- WP Engine: Has a more rigid pricing structure with fixed plans starting at $20/month (Startup Plan) and going up based on the number of sites and storage requirements. The pricing is higher than Cloudways, but it includes features like Genesis Framework and StudioPress themes, making it a good value for users needing these extras.
Verdict: Cloudways offers more flexibility and cost-efficiency, while WP Engine’s pricing, though higher, includes premium features that add value.
6. Support and Customer Service
Reliable customer support can make or break your hosting experience. Here’s how the support services compare:
- Cloudways: Provides 24/7/365 support via live chat, ticketing, and a comprehensive knowledge base. Additionally, Cloudways offers an Advanced Support add-on and a Dedicated Support add-on for users who need faster response times and priority support.
- WP Engine: Offers 24/7/365 chat support on all plans and phone support on higher-tier plans. The support team consists of WordPress experts who can assist with both hosting and WordPress-specific issues.
Verdict: WP Engine has a slight edge when it comes to specialized WordPress support, while Cloudways offers excellent overall support with more customizable options.
Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Choose?
Both Cloudways and WP Engine have their strengths and cater to different user needs. If you’re looking for a flexible, scalable solution with the freedom to choose your cloud provider, Cloudways is the ideal choice. It’s particularly suitable for developers, agencies, and businesses with specific performance and configuration needs.
On the other hand, if you need a user-friendly, all-in-one managed WordPress hosting experience with excellent security and support, WP Engine is a strong contender. Its focus on delivering a high-quality WordPress experience makes it perfect for users who prefer a more hands-off approach.
Ultimately, the choice between Cloudways and WP Engine boils down to your specific needs and budget. If you’re still on the fence, it’s worth exploring a trial of both platforms to see which one aligns best with your goals.
By evaluating these WP Engine alternatives, you can ensure you’re selecting the right platform to support your WordPress website’s growth and success.
