WP Engine vs Cloudways Review – Which Managed Web Host is Best?

WP Engine and Cloudways are the industry’s most popular web hosts. Unless you’re a beginner, these two names are constantly mentioned in relevant hosting discussions in an online community.

But, as good and reliable as they are, several differences set them apart, making one a better choice for specific marketing needs and use cases. 

Even though both web hosts offer robust security features, easy scalability, and powerful server stacks, it’s important to understand which web host better suits your hosting needs based on budget, features, and technical knowledge. 

In this WP Engine vs Cloudways comparison, I dig into their core hosting services, server infrastructure, performance, support, pricing, and security to equip you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision.

Target Audience and Area of Expertise 

Before comparing Cloudways with WP Engine, it’s important to determine which web host aligns with your needs. Most web hosts tailor their hosting services to a segment of the audience, such as businesses or individuals.  

Their hosting services, support team, and starting pricing structure are tailored to their target audience. This is why this WP Engine and Cloudways review will kick off with a discussion of their main hosting benefits. 

WP Engine 

WP Engine is focused on managed WordPress hosting. The service is dedicated to the WordPress and WooCommerce ecosystems, making it an ideal option for businesses looking for a WordPress-only web host. 

Looking at the service rendered and price points, WP Engine is not an ideal web host for beginners; it is more geared towards mid-size SMBs and large businesses needing enterprise hosting solutions. 

WP Engine boosts expertise in optimizing the WordPress platform for peak performance and security. The expert-level support system and its custom EverCache™ make WP Engine a top choice for large marketing teams, web development agencies, and Fortune 500 companies. 

Cloudways

Cloudways offers managed cloud hosting solutions for various applications, including WordPress, PHP, Magento, Laravel, WooCommerce, and custom web development projects. This flexibility caters to a broader audience, including developers and users comfortable with a more technical environment.

It is more geared toward businesses needing to host several websites within a hosting account, access team collaboration tools, optimize server stacks, manage hosting, and receive priority support services. 

Cloudways is more suitable for beginners due to its pricing structure and easy-to-use dashboard. It gives you more control over billing and server configuration. 

However, the platform will benefit advanced users and businesses, including agencies, SMBs, developers, eCommerce store owners, e-learning platforms, and enterprises. 

Pricing and Payment Models

Price and billing structure are determining factors when choosing the right web host. You don’t want to settle for a web host that doesn’t align with your marketing budget and expense plan. 

Here, I look at how WP Engine and Cloudways make billing and payment structures convenient for their customers.

WP Engine

WP Engine offers tiered pricing plans with varying hosting costs depending on the features included and the amount of traffic allowed.

While their plans provide excellent value, they might be more expensive than Cloudways, especially for entry-level options with lower traffic volumes.

Here is a detailed list of WP Engine plans and prices. 

Note: These WP Engine plans are promotional offers of four months of free hosting for the first-year invoice. Subsequent hosting renewals will be charged at the regular price, higher than quoted above. 

Cloudways

Cloudways adopts a pay-as-you-go pricing based on your chosen server, added services, and monthly resource usage. This can be more cost-effective for smaller websites with lower traffic, as you only pay for the resources you utilize.  

However, for high-traffic websites, costs might scale higher than WP Engine’s pre-defined plans. Still, it offers a more transparent approach to hosting billing.

One of Cloudways’ advantages over WP Engine is the unlimited website installations. Your hosting plan is not capped at a specific number of sites. What matters is your server storage size and resource usage.

For instance, if the combined resource usage (CPU, bandwidth, and RAM) is within server specification limits, you can have unlimited sites on DigitalOcean with 50GB storage and 1 TB bandwidth.

On the other hand, WP Engine limits sites to 30 in its 50GB Scale plan, with a maximum traffic limit of 400k.

Cloudways has several hosting plans, making it difficult to list them here. However, here are the entry-level plans for each cloud hosting service provider. 

• DigitalOcean
• Vultr
• Linode
• Google Cloud Compute Engine
• Amazon Web Services

Note: These prices are for Cloudways’ entry-level plans on all its cloud service providers. They also apply to standard servers; premium servers are slightly higher. 

Performance Optimization and Hosting Features

WP Engine

WP Engine is built on an NGINX server stack, with other components, such as Varnish, Memcached, and Object Cache, optimized for WordPress-specific hosting environments. This makes it unmatched by an average shared hosting server. 

One powerful performance feature is WPEngine’s proprietary caching technology, EverCache™, which delivers blazing-fast hosting speeds for websites on its servers. 

According to WP Engine testing, EverCache™ technology is optimized for WordPress caching and boosts page speed by 40%. 

It doesn’t matter whether your website receives 20k visitors a day or 15k page views in a few minutes; performance never slows down. WPEngine EverCache™ ensures your site remains responsive and fast for all visitors. 

WP Engine also offers daily automatic and on-demand backup; you can restore backup data for up to 40 days. 

Cloudflare free CDN (Content Delivery Network) is integrated with WP Engine hosting as part of your hosting features. 

The features include Cloudflare Polish, which automatically optimizes WordPress images using lossless or lossy compression and converts them to WebP for supported web browsers. 

WP Engine also offers free SSL certificates and serves all assets from the Cloudflare CDN edge, reducing HTTP requests to the origin server and improving server response time. 

To further protect your site and ensure performance stability, WP Engine offers Smart Plugin Manager, which automatically runs a Visual Regression Test on recent updates to check for compatibility issues. 

This plugin checks if a recent update hurts site performance. However, I learned that it is a separate purchase costing $100 per year. 

In fact, WP Engine offers several add-on purchases, such as Page Speed Boost, Site Monitoring, Genesis Pro, and Global Edge Security. 

So, you might want to consider additional costs when purchasing a plan. 

Another important point is that WP Engine guarantees a 99.99% SLA for sites on its premium isolated servers. This might not be available for most WP Engine sites hosted on their shared hosting environments. 

Let’s look at how Cloudways optimizes its hosting server for optimized performance.

Cloudways

Cloudways offers a set of server stacks that power its hosting infrastructure, delivering an optimal user experience. 

Debian 11, nicknamed Bullseye, is the foundational OS that all other components run on. 

In addition, Cloudways uses Apache and NGINX servers, PHP-FPM, and MariaDB, and runs the following optimization services: Memcached, Redis, Object Cache Pro, and Varnish to provide a well-balanced, optimized web server.  

You can choose from five cloud service providers: DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, Google Compute, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). You can also select a provider that best suits your needs in terms of pricing, geographic location, application, data centers, and desired features.

This variety means Cloudways has more server locations and hosting options than WPEngine, which only provides Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Services. 

Like WP Engine, Cloudways offers one-click application installation, automated and on-demand backups, and a dedicated cache plugin, Breeze.

But this plugin is not as powerful as other popular options, such as WP Rocket and NitroPack. You may want to test different options for better performance and website speed. 

However, Cloudways’ integrated Cloudflare Enterprise add-on (which improves TTFB and reduces latency, loading times, and bandwidth costs) delivers better performance than WP Engine.

With its Cloudflare Enterprise add-ons, you have access to performance and security features, such as Polish and Mirage (image and mobile optimization), 200 edge networks, Scrapeshield, DDoS protection, Argo Smart Routing network, bot traffic protection, WAF, and SSL certificate, all for just an extra $4.99 per month. 

This ensures that your website is secure, uses the best technology, and is optimized for performance, regardless of where your visitors come from. 

Regarding performance, WP Engine and Cloudways are at the top of their game. 

WP Engine uses SATA SSD storage drives and free CDN and Nginx extensions, providing faster website performance. It also uses multiple caching mechanisms, such as Varnish, Memcached, and Redis, in addition to built-in cache functions. 

But Cloudways beats WP Engine thanks to its NVMe storage, especially on high-frequency servers. This type of storage makes it faster to retrieve and process data than the SSD storage used by WP Engine.

NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) storage is generally faster than SATA SSD drives, reduces latency, uses fewer CPU cycles, and is recommended for gaming because it can transfer data to/from storage up to 5 times faster than SATA SSD drives.

Cloudways servers will generally perform better than WP Engine WordPress hosting servers. Cloudflare Enterprise CDN, used by Cloudways, ensures your website loads faster, improves time to first bytes and server response time, and resolves Core Web Vitals issues.

Both web hosts make it easy to scale hosting resources during peak performance periods. 

Ease of Use

WP Engine

WP Engine emphasizes a user-friendly interface that simplifies website management tasks. Their intuitive dashboard and streamlined functionalities suit beginners and users with limited technical knowledge.  

WP Engine handles server management and technical complexities, allowing users to focus on creating and managing their WordPress content.

Since WP Engine is focused on WordPress sites, efforts have been made to ensure the platform and custom control panel are tailored to WordPress functionalities. 

Cloudways

Cloudways offers a user-friendly interface, too, but managing server resources might require a slightly steeper learning curve than WP Engine.  

While basic functionality is straightforward, users comfortable with server administration and technical configuration can leverage Cloudways’ features for greater control and customization.

Beginners familiar with the traditional cPanel interface will need a few moments to adjust to the Cloudways interface and server and domain management tools. 

WP Engine and Cloudways provide server management and administration via SSH and SFTP tools such as FileZilla. 

You can manage website files, plugins, and database queries effectively. 

Security Measures

In terms of security, WP Engine and Cloudways provide airtight protection at both the server and application levels to ensure your WordPress website is fully protected. 

At a minimum, you have a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt, dedicated firewall protection (Cloudways also uses Fail2ban), a malware scanner, and suspicious traffic and bot protection.

Both web hosts ensure regular OS and software updates, as well as automatic WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates. 

Since both Cloudways and WP Engine use Cloudflare CDN, your website is fully protected against DDoS attacks, with multiple-layer mitigation—3, 4, and 7—eliminating malicious bots and traffic.

However, WP Engine might have a slight edge in security because of its WordPress-specific platform. Its security features are tailored to the WordPress ecosystem.

But that’s not on Cloudway’s part; its robust security features, partnerships, Cloudflare integration, use of Fail2ban, and up-to-date PHP version ensure your website is not vulnerable to attack. 

Cloudways and WP Engine let you enable two-factor authentication, which provides additional security measures against unauthorized access to your account.

Customer Support

On several occasions, I have engaged with WP Engine customer care reps, mainly to inquire about product offerings and hosting features. 

The support is very responsive, dedicated, and always ready to provide helpful answers to my queries.

But that is just as a potential customer.  

One thing that puts WP Engine ahead of Cloudways in customer support is its WordPress focus and expert-level experience. 

The WP Engine team eats, breathes, and sleeps WordPress all day. They know the WordPress ecosystem like the back of their hand. 

This could be an advantage for WP Engine’s support over Cloudways’, which is more diverse and answers support and technical questions for several content management systems. 

This could be a factor to consider if you require in-depth assistance with WordPress functionality or troubleshooting issues related to the WordPress platform.

However, as a Cloudways user, I use WordPress, and the support has been excellent. There is no sign of inefficiency or insufficient knowledge of the WordPress platform. Whenever I contact Cloudways support for help, my issues are resolved promptly and efficiently. 

Cloudway offers 24/7 online support, help guides, blog posts, tutorials, and videos.

WP Engine offers phone-in calls.

Cloudways doesn’t offer phone support, but it can schedule appointments by phone. After completing the form, you can schedule a call with the Cloudways sales team. 

There is more to Cloudways support that you must know. Cloudways offers three levels of support: Standard, Advanced, and Premium. 

Standard support is free and available for all users; the advanced support add-on ($100/mon) and the Premium support add-on ($500/mon) offer extra and priority support for server-level and application troubleshooting and inquiries. Learn more about Cloudways’ support levels here.

While on the page, go through the “Out of Scope” section, which explains situations where Cloudways support is not intended, no matter your support level.

WP Engine extends chats and phone support to users on the Professional, Growth, and Scale plans. The startup plan limits support access to online chats only. 

Scalability and Future Growth

WP Engine and Cloudways’ infrastructure is designed to scale seamlessly as website traffic grows. 

They offer upgrade options to accommodate increased traffic volume and ensure your website maintains optimal performance in high-traffic periods. 

Both hosts can scale your server resources vertically (increasing processing power and RAM) or horizontally (adding more servers) based on your website’s needs. 

This allows for granular control over your hosting environment. 

So, even if your business gets a few thousand visitors, but suddenly spikes to several thousand hits daily or in a few minutes, your server automatically scales up resources to handle the high traffic volume. 

But you need to be aware of the extra charges that come with exceeding your bandwidth and traffic limits. 

As per Cloudways, you need to check the hourly server rate for your specific server. 

On its part, WP Engine charges $2 for every 1,000 extra visitors over your allowed limits. 

In summary, your business is foolproof from sudden growth and scalability. WP Engine and Cloudways are reliable web hosts for scalability and future growth. 

Additional Considerations Between WP Engine and Cloudways 

Free Trials and Money-Back Guarantees 

WP Engine does not offer a free trial of its hosting plans, but it does have a 60-day money-back guarantee, providing some peace of mind if you’re unsatisfied with its service. 

Cloudways does offer a free 3-day trial, with no credit card required. You can sign up for free and try the platform.

However, unlike WPEngine, there is no money-back guarantee after the trial period. I guess that’s why there’s a free trial offer. 

The two options offer WP Engine more advantages and reasons to subscribe to its hosting plan.

For some users, Cloudways’ three-day free trial may not be enough to test drive the platform. WP Engine’s 45-day money-back guarantee window gives you more peace of mind over your purchase.

45 days is more than enough to test the hosting plan and make your decision.

Staging

You can deploy your application to a test hosting environment for development, debugging, or testing updates to your website and application. 

A staging environment is available on both Cloudways and WP Engine. 

Domain Name Management 

Cloudways and WP Engine do not provide domain name registration services. You must register your domain name with a registrar like Namecheap, Hostinger, HosPapa, or HostGator. 

Then configure DNS to point to your hosting server with either of the two web hosts. 

Free Migration

WP Engine offers manual and automated plugin migration from any web host to its platform. You can move your site to WP Engine with one click and continue your business within a few minutes of completing the process.

Check the page for more in-depth details on the automated migration tool and the do-it-yourself process.

Cloudways also offers a seamless migration process via its WordPress Migrator plugin. I used this plugin to migrate from Namecheap to Cloudways, and the experience was excellent. It takes only a few minutes to move the entire WordPress database.

However, you can request your first and only free migration from Cloudways support. Subsequent migration requests need payment, but I advise using the free WordPress migration plugin. The process is easy.

Plugin Restrictions

Before subscribing to WP Engine, review its list of disallowed WordPress plug-ins. WP Engine is known to ban some plugins from its hosting environment.

Also, some server modules and functions are disabled. This means that some plugins, while not restricted, might not work correctly with the WP Engine platform.

Since using Cloudways, I have never heard of any plugin restrictions. This is another advantage of Cloudways over WP Engine if you demand plugin flexibility and control.

Most WordPress plugin functions, such as email, marketing, security, design, WooCommerce, etc., work perfectly with the Cloudways platform.

Ideally, Cloudways is the preferred choice for exploring WordPress beyond the hosting platform’s rules.

Focus on Environmental Sustainability

If environmental responsibility concerns you, consider that WP Engine has made significant strides toward utilizing renewable energy sources to power its infrastructure. 

Cloudways also offers some eco-friendly options depending on the cloud provider you choose.

Conclusion – Choosing Between WP Engine vs Cloudways 

Ultimately, the best choice between WP Engine and Cloudways depends on your needs and priorities. 

Here’s a quick recap to guide your decision. 

Choose WP Engine if you prioritize a user-friendly experience and top-tier performance optimized for the WordPress ecosystem.

Your website requires robust security features and automatic updates, and you value exceptional 24/7 customer support from WordPress experts.

On the other hand, consider Cloudways if you’re a developer, agency, or SMB, or if you’re comfortable with a more technical hosting environment and want greater server control.

You’re on a budget and require a pay-as-you-go pricing model for a smaller website or a more transparent billing option. 

If you need cloud hosting for applications beyond WordPress and require flexibility, choose a provider that meets your business needs. 

By carefully considering the factors outlined in this in-depth comparison, you can make an informed decision and select the managed WordPress hosting provider that empowers your website to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.