Cloudways vs WP Engine (2024 Comparison)
Cloudways offers flexible cloud hosting with top providers, ensuring performance and reliability. Its user-friendly interface and comprehensive server management make it a valuable choice for businesses.
- Flexible cloud provider options
- User-friendly interface
- Comprehensive server management
- Limited WordPress-specific features
- Longer response times
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$14 per month
WP Engine delivers exceptional WordPress hosting with advanced security and performance features. Its seamless staging environment and specialized support make it ideal for WordPress users.
- Exceptional WordPress performance
- Advanced security features
- Seamless staging environment
- Higher price point
- WordPress-focused
Free plan?
NoStarting price
$20 per monthWhat is Cloudways?
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that simplifies the process of hosting websites. It offers a user-friendly interface, allowing you to deploy, manage, and scale applications effortlessly. With Cloudways, you can choose from top cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean, ensuring flexibility and reliability. The platform is designed to enhance performance with features like built-in caching, auto-healing servers, and free SSL certificates. Whether you're a developer, agency, or business owner, Cloudways provides the tools you need to optimize your website's performance and security, making it a valuable asset in your daily operations.
What is WP Engine?
WP Engine is a premium managed WordPress hosting service that caters to businesses and developers seeking high-performance, secure, and scalable hosting solutions. It offers a robust infrastructure optimized for WordPress, ensuring fast load times and reliable uptime. WP Engine provides advanced security features, including daily backups, malware scanning, and a global CDN, to protect your site from threats. With its user-friendly dashboard, you can easily manage your WordPress sites, making it an ideal choice for those who prioritize performance and security in their daily operations.
Pros and Cons of Cloudways vs WP Engine
Pros & Cons of Cloudways
- Cloudways allows you to choose from top cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean, providing flexibility and control over your hosting environment.
- The intuitive dashboard and one-click app installation make Cloudways easy to use, even for beginners, streamlining server management tasks.
- Cloudways offers a wide range of server management tools, including application monitoring, automated backups, and performance optimization, ensuring a smooth hosting experience.
- While Cloudways offers a versatile hosting solution, it lacks some of the specialized WordPress features that WP Engine provides, which may be a drawback for WordPress-centric users.
- Some users have reported longer response times from Cloudways' customer support, which can be frustrating when immediate assistance is needed.
Pros & Cons of WP Engine
- WP Engine is optimized for WordPress, offering fast load times and reliable uptime, making it an excellent choice for WordPress sites.
- WP Engine provides robust security measures, including daily backups, malware scanning, and a global CDN, ensuring your WordPress site is protected from threats.
- WP Engine offers a user-friendly staging environment, allowing you to test changes before going live, which is particularly beneficial for WordPress developers.
- WP Engine's premium managed WordPress hosting comes with a higher price tag, which may not be suitable for budget-conscious users.
- WP Engine is specifically designed for WordPress, which may limit its appeal to users looking for a more versatile hosting solution.
Cloudways vs WP Engine: At A Glance
Cloudways vs WP Engine: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Server Management
Cloudways offers a comprehensive server management solution that allows you to manage multiple applications with ease. Its intuitive dashboard and one-click app installation make server management a breeze. WP Engine, while providing server management, is more focused on WordPress-specific features. If you need **versatile server management**, Cloudways is the better choice.
Performance Optimization
Cloudways provides built-in caching and performance optimization tools to ensure fast load times. Its integration with top cloud providers enhances performance. WP Engine, however, excels in performance optimization for WordPress sites, offering advanced caching and a global CDN. If you prioritize **WordPress performance**, WP Engine is the superior option.
Backup and Restore
Cloudways offers automated backups and easy restore options, ensuring your data is safe and recoverable. Its backup system is reliable and user-friendly. WP Engine provides daily backups and one-click restore, with a focus on WordPress sites. If you need **comprehensive backup solutions**, WP Engine is the better choice.
Staging Environment
Cloudways provides a staging environment for testing changes before going live, but it may require some technical knowledge. WP Engine offers a seamless staging environment specifically for WordPress, making it easy to test and deploy changes. If you need **user-friendly staging for WordPress**, WP Engine is the top choice.
Content Delivery Network
Cloudways integrates with various CDNs to enhance content delivery and reduce latency. Its flexibility in choosing CDNs adds to its appeal. WP Engine offers a global CDN optimized for WordPress, ensuring fast content delivery. If you prioritize **WordPress-optimized CDN**, WP Engine is the superior option.
Application Monitoring
Cloudways provides application monitoring tools to track performance and identify issues. Its monitoring features are comprehensive and easy to use. WP Engine also offers application monitoring, with a focus on WordPress performance. If you need **detailed application monitoring**, Cloudways is the better choice.
Pricing Comparison of Cloudways and WP Engine
We’ve compiled the pricing tables and highlighted the key features of both Cloudways and WP Engine to aid in your decision-making process. Let’s explore what each platform has to offer.
Cloudways Pricing Plans
- 1 Core processor to handle basic computing tasks.
- 25 GB storage for essential data and applications.
- 1 TB bandwidth to support moderate traffic levels.
- Free SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
- 1 Core processor for improved computing capabilities.
- 50 GB storage for more data and applications.
- 2 TB bandwidth to support higher traffic levels.
- Free SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
- 2 Core processor for advanced computing tasks.
- 80 GB storage for extensive data and applications.
- 4 TB bandwidth to support high traffic levels.
- Free SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
- 4 Core processor for demanding computing tasks.
- 160 GB storage for large data and applications.
- 5 TB bandwidth to support very high traffic levels.
- Free SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
- 8 Core processor for intensive computing tasks.
- 320 GB storage for massive data and applications.
- 6 TB bandwidth to support extremely high traffic levels.
- Free SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
- 8 Core processor for complex computing tasks.
- 640 GB storage for extensive data and applications.
- 7 TB bandwidth to support extremely high traffic levels.
- Free SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
- 12 Core processor for highly complex computing tasks.
- 960 GB storage for extensive data and applications.
- 8 TB bandwidth to support extremely high traffic levels.
- Free SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
- 16 Core processor for the most demanding tasks.
- 1280 GB storage for extensive data and applications.
- 9 TB bandwidth to support extremely high traffic levels.
- Free SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
WP Engine Pricing Plans
- 24/7 WordPress technical expertise for continuous support.
- Managed WP, PHP & MySQL updates for seamless performance.
- Proactive WordPress security to protect your site.
- Site monitoring alerts to keep track of site health.
- Ongoing technical planning & business reviews for strategic growth.
- Custom onboarding for personalized setup experience.
- On-demand site health assessments for proactive maintenance.
- Prioritized senior technical support for critical issues.
- Dedicated technical account manager for personalized support.
- Advanced DDoS & managed WAF for enhanced security.
- Application performance monitoring for optimal site performance.
- Platform designed with burst capacity for handling traffic spikes.
Our Rating Methodology
We conduct extensive testing on each hosting service, assessing performance, security, scalability, and more. Additionally, we analyze user reviews for real-world insights. Each of the 7 evaluation factors is weighted to provide a final score, ensuring you avoid unreliable hosting solutions.
Cloudways or WP Engine: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose Cloudways If You Need ...
- Flexible cloud provider options
If you are looking for a **versatile hosting solution with flexible cloud provider options**, Cloudways is the ideal choice. Its integration with top cloud providers like AWS and Google Cloud ensures that you have control over your hosting environment.
- User-friendly interface
If you are a **beginner or small business owner looking for an easy-to-use hosting platform**, Cloudways offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies server management and application deployment.
Choose WP Engine If You Need ...
- Exceptional WordPress performance
If you are a **WordPress user seeking exceptional performance and reliability**, WP Engine is the top choice. Its platform is optimized for WordPress, ensuring fast load times and reliable uptime.
- Advanced security features
If you prioritize **advanced security measures for your WordPress site**, WP Engine offers robust security features, including daily backups, malware scanning, and a global CDN, to protect your site from threats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key differences between Cloudways and WP Engine?
Which platform is more cost-effective, Cloudways or WP Engine?
Is Cloudways suitable for WordPress hosting?
Does WP Engine offer a staging environment?
How does customer support compare between Cloudways and WP Engine?
Which platform offers better scalability, Cloudways or WP Engine?
Martin Lunendonk
Martin Lunendonk is a senior tech writer specializing in website builders, web hosting, and ecommerce platforms. With a background in finance, accounting, and philosophy, he has founded multiple tech startups and worked in medium to large tech companies and investment banking, bringing deep expertise and reliable insights to his software reviews.
