Tuesday, March 21, 2023

WP Engine Web Hosting Review (2023)

Unsure if WP Engine is the best host for your website? This WP Engine review looks closely at the pros and cons of each web host and which sites work best with the platform.

Choosing the wrong web host can be a long-term problem because your site will not load fast enough, or the tools are not advanced enough for your needs.

I wrote this WP Engine hosting review because I understand what it is like to choose the wrong host and later regret it. Also, I have several years of experience working with leading hosting services.

If you are a business owner looking for secure hosting, you need this WP Engine review more than anyone.

Determining whether or not WP Engine is for you may initially seem too complex. But I promise reading this WP Engine review gives you all the necessary answers and information.

Let’s check out everything this host offers!

What is WP Engine?

WP Engine is a website hosting platform that handles all the technical aspects of running a WordPress site.

Managed hosting makes it easier for businesses, developers, and content creators to focus on creating great content without worrying about managing their servers or security.

One of the most attractive features of WP Engine is its speed.

The company uses a powerful WordPress-optimized stack, so your site will load much faster than other web hosting platforms.

Also, WP Engine has an impressive set of features and tools to help you manage your website.

For instance, you can quickly deploy any version of WordPress and get access to maintenance, security updates, automated backups, and more.

WP Engine offers several benefits that other providers do not.

If this sounds like something you want to learn more about, keep reading this WP Engine review for more information! 

WP Engine Overview

Before writing this WP Engine review, the TYB team and I thoroughly tested the web host.

For instance, we set up a staging site and observed how well hosting WP Engine can perform.

We tested the following aspects: 

  • Performance
  • Speed
  • Uptime
  • Customer support
  • Ease of use
  • Hosting options
  • Advantages and disadvantages

We also reviewed WP Engine pricing and the differences between hosting options.

Let’s review everything this hosting company offers its customers in 2023!

Performance

After setting up multiple staging sites, we tested WP Engine’s performance metrics.

One metric we tested was an influx of website visitors.

This stress testing proved that the hosting service delivers precisely what it promised.

Load times and uptime performed well on the staging sites even when there was an unexpected spike in website traffic.

Reliable performance is critical for eCommerce sites because slow load times lead to lost sales and website visitors.

If your WordPress site loads slowly with WP Engine, consider checking the number of visitors and ensure your selected plan is designed to handle that number.

Speed

This WP Engine review would not be complete without a speed test.

Fortunately, the hosting provider delivers fast loading speeds and server response times.

For instance, the host’s Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) averages 481ms, which is impressive.

LCP is critical because it contributes to Google’s search engine rankings.

Further, WP Engine allows customers to choose between several data centers, meaning load times are fast regardless of your audience’s location.

WordPress sites do not have to worry about optimal website speed when using WP Engine because the host consistently provides impressive speeds.

Uptime

One thing WP Engine customers never have to worry about is reliability.

The provider consistently returns 100% uptime and excellent server response times, much lower than the industry average.

Further, WP Engine’s platform rarely has outages (which is impressive).

Therefore, WP sites do not risk losing potential customers or sales because the website is down.

Regarding uptime reliability, your WordPress website does not have to risk wavering support.

Customer Service

WP’s team provides several customer support options.

For instance, customers can reach the support team via 24/7 live chat, email, and telephone.

However, phone support is only available on the Professional plan.

Still, WP Engine provides reliable support from agents who respond quickly when you have a question via live chat.

Therefore, phone support is not a critical feature you will miss out on if you do not choose the Professional plan.

WP Engine offers many desirable features, and excellent customer support is one of those features!

Ease of Use

WP Engine hosting is relatively easy to use. 

For example, the control panel and website management tools are modern and perform efficiently.

However, several customers have had trouble adding a domain name.

Fortunately, the customer service team is always ready to help and offers clear step-by-step instructions.

Besides that, this managed WordPress host is easy to use and includes many intuitive features.

Variety of Hosting Options 

WP Engine offers the following types of hosting:

  • Managed WordPress
  • WooCommerce
  • Agency Client Management
  • Headless WordPress

Also, this hosting provider offers several add-on tools to improve customer relations, website speed, security, and organization.

Pros

  • Advanced custom control panel
  • Websites are hosted on advanced cloud hosting infrastructure
  • WP Engine security is high-end
  • Industry-leading customer service agents

Cons

  • WP Engine pricing is more expensive than most hosts
  • Server resources are somewhat limited
  • Domain management is complex

WP Engine Hosting Review

WP Engine is an excellent option if you are looking for a WordPress host.

The managed hosting WP Engine offers is one of the best in the industry.

WP Engine provides the following benefits for hosting:

  • Top-notch customer service
  • Reliable performance
  • Fantastic uptime

Hosting Types

WP Engine offers the following hosting types:

  • Managed WordPress Hosting
  • eCommerce WooCommerce Hosting
  • Advanced Hosting
  • Headless WordPress Hosting

Let’s go over each of these in more detail.

Managed WordPress Hosting

WP Engine review; managed WP hosting

Web Hosting Plans 

  • Startup Plan: $20 per month for one year (One site, 25,000 visits per month)
  • Professional Plan: $40 per month for one year (Three sites, 75,000 visits per month)
  • Growth Plan: $77 per month for one year (Ten sites, 100,000 visits per month)
  • Scale Plan: $194 per month for one year (30 sites, 400,000 visits per month)
  • Premium: Starts at $600 per month 

Plan Features

  • 60-day money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 support from WordPress experts
  • Fully managed hosting environment
  • Automated updates, daily backups, one-click test site staging
  • Premium WordPress themes
  • 200% page speed increase
  • Reliable uptime
  • Free automated migrations
  • Dedicated hosting servers
  • Data centers around the world
  • WordPress-optimized caching

SSL Included & Activated?

  • Free SSL certificates and other state-of-the-art security measures

Our Take 

Choosing WP Engine to be your managed WordPress host is a no-brainer. 

Some customers think the higher prices are enough to ignore the hosting provider.

However, everything you get regarding managed hosting is worth the extra few dollars.

The hosting services provide excellent site speed, performance features, amazing customer service, and more advanced security measures than expected.

Also, WP Engine has plans built for everyone, from beginner users to high-traffic sites.

WP’s WordPress hosting services are some of the best in the hosting industry, and the TYB team and I highly recommend them!

eCommerce WooCommerce Hosting

WP Engine review; WooCommerce hosting

Web Hosting Plans 

  • Startup Plan: $24 per month for one year (One site, 25,000 visits per month)
  • Professional Plan: $50 per month for one year (Three sites, 75,000 visits per month)
  • Growth Plan: $94 per month for one year (Ten sites, 100,000 visits per month)
  • Scale Plan: $234 per month for one year (30 sites, 400,000 visits per month)
  • Premium: $800 per month 

Plan Features

  • Two times faster website speeds with EverCache
  • High-performance cart
  • Simplified store maintenance
  • Store blocks (faster setup)
  • Instant Store Search
  • Higher conversion rates
  • DDoS migration
  • Managed WAF
  • Encrypted global network routing
  • Managed Content Delivery Network
  • Automated plugin updates
  • Web application firewall
  • Security in your web hosting
  • Automatic site migration

SSL Included & Activated?

  • No free SSL certificate (there are numerous other security features)

Our Take

If you are running an online store, WP Engine’s hosting services have everything you need and more.

The user portal is easy to use, and WP Engine’s plans are affordable for the features you receive.

Further, the security elements WP Engine includes in every plan are extensive and worth the price.

Think about it; your customers do not want to shop on a site that is not secure.

With WP Engine, you can trust your data and customer information are secure.

Also, you will notice improved site performance when you decide to become a WP Engine customer and host your store with the company.

Advanced Hosting

WP Engine review; advanced hosting

Web Hosting Plans 

  • Growth Plan: $113 per month for one year (Ten sites, 100,000 visits per month)
  • Scale Plan: $275 per month for one year (30 sites, 400,000 visits per month)
  • Specialized Agency Packages: $700 per month (starting price)

Plan Features

  • Automate client billing
  • Schedule clients reports
  • Brand your client journey
  • Leverage WP Engine hosting
  • Integrate Google Cloud and Analytics
  • Comprehensive dashboard
  • Personalized data
  • Integrated with Stripe
  • Free hacking remediation
  • Global server locations
  • Plugin updates
  • 99.99% uptime guarantee

SSL Included & Activated?

  • Free SSL is not included (there are many other security features included in this plan)

Our Take 

As good as WP’s managed WordPress plans are, the advanced hosting is even better.

WP Engine is a great solution if you manage several WordPress sites and want to build a strong, reliable brand.

The ability to build custom plans and add on services like more sites, plugin managers, increased security, and site monitoring.

Also, WP Engine provides in-depth data and analytics associated with your hosting account.

WP’s WordPress engine is powerful and can handle several pieces of data and sudden traffic spikes without losing speed.

Headless WordPress Hosting

WP Engine review; Headless WordPress hosting

Web Hosting Plans 

  • Atlas Sandbox: $0 per month
  • Atlas Solutions: Price varies depending on the website size and added features

Plan Features

  • 24/7 expert support
  • Custom domain support
  • Production deployments
  • Additional sites
  • Auto-scaling
  • Auto-healing frontend platform
  • 99.95% uptime SLA
  • White glove launch support
  • Advanced DDoS mitigation
  • Highest level of security
  • Managed web application firewall

SSL Included & Activated?

  • Free SSL certificates are not included (The hosting service provides the most advanced security features)

Our Take 

WP Engine offers the best headless WordPress hosting. 

Customers can build custom plans and enjoy a monthly price built off their needs.

Therefore, customers do not pay for things they do not need.

WP Engine also offers enhancements to each plan, meaning customers get even more customization options.

Also, WP Engine allows users to try Headless hosting through Atlas Sandbox with a free trial.

The free trial provides the following:

  • How-to guides
  • Full feature access
  • Developer tooling

Most web hosts cannot compare their Headless WordPress hosting services to WP Engine!

WP Engine Website Services Review

Now let’s look at some of the WP Engine website services available.

WordPress Development

Web Hosting Plans 

WP Engine has three environments designed for better workflow.

These environments include:

  • Development: An environment that acts as a sandbox for a website builder
  • Staging: An environment primarily used as a copy of your live website where you can test a default theme, introduce changes, etc.
  • Production: This environment serves as the live version of your site, where you publish changes when you are satisfied with them.

Plan Features

  • Easy to create a staging environment
  • No need to install WordPress (it is done automatically)
  • Customizable themes
  • Secure managed hosting
  • Hundreds of templates
  • Intuitive
  • Efficient workflow

SSL Included & Activated?

  • No SSL is included or activated.

Our Take 

WP Engine did an excellent job making the staging and development portions easy to use.

WP Engine’s plans allow customers to test certain features without permanently changing the live site.

Also, this WordPress host allows you to choose from several pre-made templates and customize them to your liking.

We recommend WP Engine for website development and staging features.

Website Monitoring

Web Hosting Plans 

  • Managed WordPress hosting: $20 per month (starting price)
  • eCommerce Solutions for Woo: $50 per month (starting price)
  • Advanced Solutions: $600 per month (starting price)

Plan Features

  • Alerts when there are errors detected
  • In-depth analytics
  • Regular website checks
  • 60-day money-back guarantee
  • Daily backups
  • 24/7 website monitoring

SSL Included & Activated?

  • SSL certificate is not included in this plan

Our Take 

With WP Engine’s website monitoring, WordPress users can enjoy advanced website monitoring and reassurance.

WP Engine monitors server performance and traffic, helping spot and prevent any threats.

There is a firewall to automatically direct traffic, allowing only approved apps and protocols to go through.

Also, an in-house WP Engine protection team continuously audits and troubleshoots your site.

Regular automated and manual backups are also included for WordPress sites, ensuring everything is updated.

The hosting service also offers Global Edge Security, which costs $300 annually.

The security features are impressive, but the included security elements WP Engine has are suitable.

Alternatives to WP Engine

Some alternatives to WP Engine include the following:

  • Hostinger
  • A2 Hosting
  • DreamHost

Hostinger

Hostinger is an excellent alternative to WP Engine.

Hostinger offers a reliable, secure hosting platform and servers guaranteed to be available 99.99% of the time.

Unlike WP Engine, Hostinger includes free SSL certificates with each plan so customers can ensure their websites’ security from day one.

The host also has a wide range of plans, from basic to advanced WordPress hosting, suitable for users with different needs.

The prices for the plans are very reasonable, with monthly rates starting at $2.99 per month when you purchase one year in advance.

WP Engine has better security, but Hostinger is more affordable and has more plans available.

A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting is another good alternative to WP Engine.

The host offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, so you can be sure your website will always stay online and run smoothly.

A2 Hosting’s plans come with complimentary SSL certificates (even the basic plan!) and unlimited email accounts, so customers can rest easy knowing their site is secure.

The host also offers amazingly fast speeds, thanks to the company’s SSD drives and Turbo servers.

A2 Hosting’s plans start at $3.92 per month when you purchase one year in advance, making them an affordable choice for webmasters on a budget.

A2 Hosting stands out because of its speed, resulting in faster page load times.

However, Turbo Boost servers are only available on the more expensive plans.

DreamHost

DreamHost is an excellent alternative to WP Engine for those looking for reliable, secure hosting.

DreamHost’s plans come with a complimentary SSL certificate and unlimited monthly bandwidth.

The platform also offers automated backups and restores, so you can be sure your data is always safe.

Further, the host allows customers to customize their plans to get only the features they need.

DreamHost also offers one-click WordPress installation and unlimited storage space for all plans.

It has a 99.9% uptime guarantee, so you can be sure your website is always available for visitors.

DreamHost’s cloud hosting plans start at $2.59 per month when you purchase one year in advance, so it is an affordable hosting solution for WordPress users.

Overall, DreamHost is an excellent alternative to WP Engine for those looking for an easy-to-use and reliable hosting platform.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, WP Engine hosting is a great choice for WordPress users who need reliable, secure website hosting.

It offers several excellent features, such as managed WordPress hosting, advanced website monitoring, firewalls, an in-house WP Engine security agency, and automated and manual backups.

Alternatives to WP Engine, such as Hostinger, A2 Hosting, and Dreamhost, are great options and offer competitive prices, reliable security, speed, and plan flexibility.

Still, WP Engine hosting has the edge regarding advanced security features and customer service.

Given the advanced data, security, and functionality, WP Engine’s managed WordPress hosting is unbeatable.

Let us know in the comments section if this WP Engine review was helpful for you!

WP Engine FAQ

What is the difference between WordPress and WP Engine?

WP Engine is a managed WordPress hosting provider that provides optimized hosting solutions for WordPress sites. It offers advanced features such as automated backups, firewalls, and an in-house security team to ensure your website remains safe and secure. WordPress, on the other hand, is an open-source content management system (CMS) used by millions of websites. It is a web-based platform that can be used to build and manage any website, from a personal blog to an online store.

Does WordPress own WP Engine?

No, WordPress does not own WP Engine. WP Engine is an independent company that provides managed hosting solutions for WordPress sites. While WP Engine does offer its users access to the WordPress CMS platform and other features, such as automated backups and firewalls, it is a separate entity from WordPress.

Is WP Engine free?

No, WP Engine is not free. Its plans start at $20 per month and go up to $290 per month, depending on the features and resources you need. For more information about WP Engine’s pricing plans, visit the website.

Which hosting is best for WordPress?

The best hosting for WordPress depends on your specific needs and budget. WP Engine is a great choice for those who need reliable, secure, managed hosting with advanced features. Alternatives such as Hostinger, A2 Hosting, and Dreamhost are excellent options and offer competitive prices, reliable security, speed, and plan flexibility.

Can WP be hacked?

Yes, WP can be hacked. While WordPress is a secure platform, it is not entirely bulletproof, and attackers could access your website in several ways. It’s important to take the necessary steps to secure your website against hackers, such as keeping your WordPress core, plugins, and themes up-to-date.

How secure is WP Engine?

WP Engine is a highly secure hosting platform for WordPress sites. It offers numerous features to protect your website, including managed WordPress hosting, advanced website monitoring, firewalls, an in-house WP Engine security team, and automated and manual backups. Overall, WP Engine provides reliable and comprehensive security for your WordPress website.

Is WP Engine a hosting site?

Yes, WP Engine is a hosting site. It is a managed WordPress hosting provider that provides optimized hosting solutions for WordPress websites. WP Engine offers reliable security, advanced features such as automated backups and firewalls, and excellent customer service.

The post WP Engine Web Hosting Review (2023) appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

No comments:

Post a Comment