logo

WP Engine vs Hostwinds (2024 Comparison)

author image
Author

Martin Lunendonk

Last Update

Nov 08, 2024

We earn a commission from partner links on Keevee. Commissions do not affect our editor's opinions or evaluations.

Excellent Value For Price
4.6

0

author image
WP Engine

WP Engine offers a premium WordPress hosting experience with advanced features, robust security, and expert support, making it an ideal choice for businesses seeking a reliable and high-performance hosting solution.

  • Excellent WordPress-specific features
  • Robust security measures
  • 24/7 expert support
  • Higher cost compared to others
  • Limited to WordPress hosting

Free plan?

No

Starting price

$20 per month
Excellent Value For Price
4.3

0

author image
Hostwinds

Hostwinds provides affordable and versatile hosting solutions with reliable uptime and a range of options, making it a great choice for budget-conscious users seeking a dependable hosting provider.

  • Affordable hosting plans
  • Versatile hosting options
  • Reliable uptime guarantee
  • Less WordPress-specific features
  • Support may lack WordPress expertise

Free plan?

No

Starting price

$5.24 per month

What is WP Engine?

WP Engine is a managed WordPress hosting platform that offers robust performance, security, and scalability for businesses of all sizes. It provides a seamless experience for developers and marketers alike, with features like automated backups, one-click staging, and a global CDN. WP Engine helps its customers by ensuring their websites are fast, secure, and always up-to-date, allowing them to focus on growing their business without worrying about technical details.

What is Hostwinds?

Hostwinds is a versatile web hosting provider offering shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting solutions. It caters to a wide range of customers, from small businesses to large enterprises, by providing reliable and scalable hosting services. Hostwinds helps its customers by offering 24/7 support, a user-friendly control panel, and a 99.9999% uptime guarantee, ensuring their websites run smoothly and efficiently.

Pros and Cons of WP Engine vs Hostwinds

author image

Pros & Cons of WP Engine

Excellent WordPress-specific features
  • WP Engine offers a range of WordPress-specific features, such as one-click staging and automated backups, making it an ideal choice for WordPress users seeking advanced functionality.
Robust security measures
  • With daily backups, malware scanning, and a global CDN, WP Engine ensures your site is protected from potential threats, providing peace of mind for business owners.
24/7 expert support
  • WP Engine's support team consists of WordPress experts available around the clock to assist with any issues, ensuring you receive the help you need when you need it.
Higher cost compared to others
  • WP Engine's premium features come at a higher price point, which may not be suitable for budget-conscious users seeking more affordable hosting options.
Limited to WordPress hosting
  • WP Engine is specifically designed for WordPress hosting, which may not be suitable for users seeking a more versatile hosting solution for other platforms.
author image

Pros & Cons of Hostwinds

Affordable hosting plans
  • Hostwinds offers a range of affordable hosting plans, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious users seeking reliable hosting solutions without breaking the bank.
Versatile hosting options
  • With shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting options, Hostwinds caters to a wide range of customers, providing flexibility and scalability as your business grows.
Reliable uptime guarantee
  • Hostwinds offers a 99.9999% uptime guarantee, ensuring your website remains accessible and operational, providing peace of mind for business owners.
Less WordPress-specific features
  • While Hostwinds offers a range of hosting options, it lacks the WordPress-specific features that WP Engine provides, which may be a drawback for WordPress users.
Support may lack WordPress expertise
  • Hostwinds' support team may not have the same level of WordPress expertise as WP Engine, which could be a concern for users seeking specialized WordPress support.

WP Engine vs Hostwinds: At A Glance

Decision FactorWP EngineHostwinds
Value to Price
Excellent4.5
Good4.2
Ease of Use
Excellent4.6
Excellent4.4
Functionality
Excellent4.7
Excellent4.3
Scalability
Excellent4.8
Excellent4.5
Integrations
Excellent4.6
Excellent4.3
Customer Support
Excellent4.7
Excellent4.4
Security
Excellent4.9
Excellent4.6
Overall Rating
Excellent4.6
Excellent4.3

WP Engine vs Hostwinds: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features

FeaturesWP EngineHostwinds
Performance
Excellent4.8
Excellent4.5
Backup and Restore
Excellent4.7
Excellent4.4
CDN Integration
Excellent4.6
Excellent4.3
SSL Certificates
Excellent4.9
Excellent4.6
Staging Environment
Excellent4.8
Excellent4.5
Uptime Guarantee
Excellent4.7
Excellent4.6

Performance

WP Engine offers exceptional performance with its managed WordPress hosting, ensuring fast load times and reliable uptime. Hostwinds also provides good performance, but its focus is more on general hosting needs. If you prioritize top-notch performance, WP Engine is the better choice.

Backup and Restore

WP Engine provides automated daily backups and easy restore options, giving you peace of mind. Hostwinds offers backup services, but they may require more manual intervention. If you value hassle-free backups, WP Engine is the superior option.

CDN Integration

WP Engine includes a global CDN to enhance site speed and performance, making it ideal for businesses with a global audience. Hostwinds offers CDN integration, but it may require additional setup. If you need seamless CDN integration, WP Engine is the better choice.

SSL Certificates

WP Engine provides free SSL certificates for all sites, ensuring secure connections. Hostwinds also offers SSL certificates, but they may not be included in all plans. If you need comprehensive SSL coverage, WP Engine is the superior option.

Staging Environment

WP Engine offers a one-click staging environment, allowing you to test changes before going live. Hostwinds provides staging options, but they may require more manual setup. If you need a seamless staging experience, WP Engine is the better choice.

Uptime Guarantee

WP Engine offers a strong uptime guarantee, ensuring your site is always available. Hostwinds also provides a solid uptime guarantee, but its focus is more on general hosting needs. If uptime is critical, WP Engine is the superior option.

Pricing Comparison of WP Engine and Hostwinds

We’ve compiled the pricing tables and highlighted the key features of both WP Engine and Hostwinds to aid in your decision-making process. Let’s explore what each platform has to offer.

author image

WP Engine Pricing Plans

Startup
For Small Businesses
$20

per month

Try For Freeright_arrow
Startup includes:
  • 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.
Core
For Growing Businesses
$400

per month

Try For Freeright_arrow
Includes Startup, plus:
  • 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.
Enterprise
For Large Enterprises
$2,000

per month

Try For Freeright_arrow
Includes Core, plus:
  • 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.
author image

Hostwinds Pricing Plans

Basic
For Individuals
$5.24

per month

Try For Freeright_arrow
Basic includes:
  • Unlimited disk space allows for extensive data storage.
  • Host 1 domain, perfect for a single website.
  • Free SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
  • 24/7 support to assist with any hosting issues.
Advanced
For Small Businesses
$6.74

per month

Try For Freeright_arrow
Includes Basic, plus:
  • Softaculous auto-install for easy app installations.
  • Unlimited subdomains for better site organization.
  • Free dedicated IP for enhanced security.
  • Instant setup to get your site live quickly.
Ultimate
For Large Enterprises
$8.24

per month

Try For Freeright_arrow
Includes Advanced, plus:
  • Unlimited email accounts for professional communication.
  • Nightly backups to secure your data daily.
  • Full management support for hassle-free hosting.
  • Free website migration for easy transition.

Our Rating Methodology

We thoroughly evaluate each hosting service, focusing on key factors like performance, security, and scalability. By analyzing user reviews and conducting in-depth testing, we ensure our recommendations fit your needs. Each factor is weighted to provide an accurate final rating, helping you make informed decisions.

Decision FactorScoring Weight
Value to Price
20%
20%
Ease of Use
20%
15%
Functionality
20%
25%
Scalability
20%
15%
Integrations
20%
10%
Customer Support
20%
10%
Security
20%
5%

WP Engine or Hostwinds: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?

Choose WP Engine If You Need ...

  • Advanced WordPress features

    If you are a WordPress user seeking advanced features like one-click staging and automated backups, WP Engine is the ideal choice. Its WordPress-specific tools enhance site management and performance, making it a top choice for WordPress users.

  • Robust security measures

    If you prioritize security and need features like daily backups and malware scanning, WP Engine is the superior option. Its robust security measures ensure your site remains protected from potential threats.

Choose Hostwinds If You Need ...

  • Affordable hosting solutions

    If you are a budget-conscious user seeking affordable hosting plans, Hostwinds is the better choice. Its range of affordable plans provides reliable hosting solutions without breaking the bank.

  • Versatile hosting options

    If you need versatile hosting options, such as shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting, Hostwinds is the ideal choice. Its flexibility and scalability cater to a wide range of customers, providing options as your business grows.

Frequently Asked Questions

author image
Author

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.