As the battle between Automattic and WP Engine continues, it’s important to understand the complexities of WP Engine’s WordPress hosting service.
In this review, we delve into the pros and cons of their hosting plans, pricing, security, and customer service to help you make the best choice for your web hosting. We also explore the current state of their conflict with Automattic and the resulting change in consumer sentiment.
Table of Contents
- What is WP Engine
- The Difference Between WP Engine and WordPress.com
- WP Engine Major Features
- Pricing
- Customer Service
- Security
- Performance
- WP Engine Overall Pros and Cons
- WP Engine’s Ongoing Battle with Automattic
- Consumer Sentiment
What Is WP Engine
WP Engine offers managed WordPress hosting that focuses exclusively on WordPress websites, ensuring optimized performance and security. WP Engine handles all technical aspects of hosting, including server management, updates, and security, so that users focus solely on their website content.
Unlike traditional hosting services, WP Engine focuses solely on WordPress, offering solutions made for small businesses, eCommerce stores, and enterprise-level companies. With features like Git version control, staging environments, and enhanced security measures, WP Engine simplifies hosting for its customers. It’s built to help users focus on growing their websites without worrying about the technical aspects.
The Difference Between WP Engine and WordPress.com
WordPress.com and WP Engine are two popular platforms for hosting WordPress websites, but they cater to different needs and audiences.
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a hosting service powered by Automattic, founded by Matt Mullenweg, one of WordPress’s original creators. It aims to simplify website creation by offering an all-in-one solution that includes hosting, themes, and plugins in one place. WordPress.com is ideal for beginners, bloggers, and small businesses looking for a hassle-free way to create a WordPress site without worrying about technical details.
WP Engine
Unlike WordPress.com, WP Engine is a managed hosting provider specializing in WordPress. It provides high-performance hosting environments tailored for developers, businesses, and enterprise-level operations. It’s ideal for users who require greater control, performance, and support, such as web developers, agencies, and large companies.
WP Engine Major Features
WP Engine is built for users who want a seamless hosting experience, focusing on speed, security, and top-tier support.
Here are WP Engine’s standout features:
- Managed WordPress hosting: WP Engine handles updates, security, and backups for its customers. This means they can focus on creating content and growing their business, leaving any technical jargon to their team of experts.
- Advanced security: They offer multiple layers of protection, including daily malware scans, intrusion detection, and DDoS protection.
- Staging area & Git integration: WP Engine allows clients to create a staging site to test changes before going live. Additionally, their Git version control makes it easy for developers to manage website-related code.
- Fast performance: With their EverCache technology and CDN integration, WP Engine ensures a website is quickly accessible regardless of the visitors’ traffic or geographical location.
WordPress Hosting Plans
WP Engine provides fully managed WordPress hosting with various plans made for different needs:
- Managed WordPress hosting: Ideal for small businesses and blogs
- Managed WooCommerce hosting: Optimized for eCommerce websites
- Secure hosting: Extra security with firewall and DDoS protection
- Custom enterprise hosting: Dedicated resources and premium security for large-scale operations
Plans vary by WordPress installs, traffic limits, storage, and bandwidth. WP Engine offers advanced features like Git version control, staging environments, free SSL, and cutting-edge technologies, making it an all-purpose managed WordPress hosting solution.
WP Engine Pros:
- Performance-optimized infrastructure: WP Engine boasts a robust hosting environment for WordPress, employing advanced caching mechanisms and CDN integration for enhanced page load speeds.
- Managed updates and backups: Automated WordPress core updates and daily backups are included in all plans.
WP Engine Cons:
- Limited Customization: Some users feel constrained by certain limitations in customizing server configurations, as WP Engine emphasizes managed services, limiting direct server access for users.
Pricing
WP Engine is more expensive than shared hosting options but offers more advanced features for serious businesses. Plans start at $30/month for basic managed hosting and can go upwards of $290/month for high-traffic sites. All plans come with free SSL, CDN integration, and access to premium themes.
Pros:
- Value-added features: Despite being on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, WP Engine’s plans offer value-added features such as the Genesis Framework, StudioPress themes, and robust security tools, justifying the premium pricing for many users.
Cons:
- Scalability costs: WP Engine’s pricing structure can become cost-prohibitive as website traffic and resource requirements increase. Users need to assess the plans’ scalability and associated costs carefully.
Customer Service
With 24/7 customer support via phone and live chat, WP Engine is very good at assisting its clients. Their team comprises WordPress experts, meaning that any technical issues are resolved quickly and efficiently. Premium and Enterprise plans also offer additional consultative services and dedicated onboarding.
Pros:
- Expert support: WP Engine’s customer service is often lauded for its assistive and responsive support team, deep knowledge of WordPress-related issues, and server management.
Cons:
- Limited in-house development: Despite efficient support, some users have noted that WP Engine’s focus on managed services might result in limitations when seeking custom development solutions that go beyond the standard offerings.
Security
Security is one of WP Engine’s main selling points. Alongside their automatic updates and backups, WP Engine partners with third-party firms to perform regular security audits and code reviews. The platform protects against common threats like brute force attacks, malware, and SQL injections. If your site is ever compromised, WP Engine promises to fix it for free.
Performance
When it comes to speed and reliability, WP Engine scores good points there, too. Websites hosted on WP Engine consistently loaded in less than a second, with an average response time of 133 ms. Combined with the built-in CDN and EverCache, these results ensure that your site can handle traffic spikes without sacrificing performance.
WP Engine Overall Pros and Cons
While WP Engine comes equipped with many powerful features, some very noticeable drawbacks need to be addressed in our review. Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of WP Engine:
Pros:
- Blazing-fast performance: CDN and EverCache technology keep your site fast, even during high traffic.
- Top-notch security: Free site repairs in the event of a hack, regular updates, and proactive protection.
- Developer-friendly tools: Git integration, staging environments, and easy migration features.
- Great customer support: 24/7 access to WordPress experts, ready to help.
Cons:
- Higher cost: More expensive than traditional web hosting solutions.
- No domain registration: You must register domains separately, as WP Engine does not offer this service.
- Restricted plugins: WP Engine lists disallowed plugins that may conflict with their optimized servers.
WP Engine’s Ongoing Battle with Automattic
There is an ongoing conflict between Automattic, the parent company of WordPress, and WP Engine. While Automattic and WP Engine started on relatively amicable terms, their paths began to diverge as WP Engine became a dominant player in the managed WordPress hosting space, directly competing with Automattic’s hosting services.
Automattic CEO and WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg called out WP Engine for turning off revision tracking, a core WordPress feature, to save costs. The WordPress founder said they were misusing the “WP” brand to confuse users into thinking it was part of WordPress.
WP Engine hit back with legal action, claiming fair use of the WordPress name and back-and-forth of cease-and-desist letters. The controversy caused the WordPress and web hosting communities to be worried about trademark use and open-source project governance.
WP Engine was temporarily blocked from WordPress.org, breaking site updates and plugin functionality. Mullenweg framed the conflict as a trademark dispute, but WP Engine claimed it targeted their customers and tools.
As the situation escalated further, WP Engine sued Automattic and Mullenweg, alleging abuse of power and governance conflicts. The legal fight has raised broader concerns in the open-source world about control over WordPress, with some developers worried about reliance on commercial interests.
Consumer Sentiment
Consumers are watching as Automattic and WP Engine navigate their respective paths in the web hosting field at this moment. Some consumers are concerned about the potential impacts of the two companies’ battles on service stability and support in the shifting industry landscape.
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Conclusion
WP Engine’s managed WordPress hosting is a great option if you want high performance, security, and expert support. But it’s not for everyone, especially if you want customization or cost-effective scaling.
Given the current news, potential consumers are advised to remain informed and investigate their hosting options based on their individual requirements. The battle between Automattic and WP Engine is a reminder that the web hosting industry is always changing, so choose your partners wisely and think long-term about your hosting choices.
In the end, when considering WP Engine as a hosting partner, you should assess your needs, weigh the pros and cons, and monitor the developments within the hosting landscape to make an informed decision.
With the future of Automattic vs. WP Engine uncertain, you might want to look for alternative hosting options. There are many providers out there that offer great WordPress hosting options.
A provider like HostPapa offers premium WordPress Hosting services with a wide range of valuable features at competitive prices. It’s always a good idea to look into other WordPress hosting providers, so you can find the one that best fits your business needs.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
Does WP Engine offer free domain registration?
No, WP Engine does not include domain registration, so you must register your domain elsewhere.
What makes WP Engine unique?
It includes advanced features like Git version control, staging environments, free SSL certificates, and cutting-edge technology specifically created for WordPress.
How much does WP Engine cost?
The entry-level WP Engine plan currently costs the equivalent of $20 a month if you pay yearly or $30 a month if paid monthly.
Why is WP Engine so expensive?
The cost is largely attributed to its superior performance compared to shared hosting, resulting in faster load times and the capacity to accommodate more visitors. This enhanced performance positively impacts SEO, conversion rates, and overall user satisfaction.
Can I transfer my existing WordPress site to WP Engine?
Yes, WP Engine offers easy migration tools for transferring your existing WordPress site to their platform.
Is WP Engine good for eCommerce?
Yes, WP Engine offers a dedicated WooCommerce hosting plan, optimized for online stores with powerful features like store search and eCommerce templates.
Does WP Engine have customer support?
WP Engine provides 24/7 live chat support for all users, as well as 24/7 phone support for growth plans and more.
Is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes, WP Engine offers a 60-day money-back guarantee for its annual plans.
Will the Automattic vs WP Engine feud affect my website?
The answer is unclear, but if you are an active WP customer, keep an eye out for your site. Delayed plugin updates or limited access to new themes could become a bigger issue as the lawsuit unfolds.
