When it comes to WordPress web hosting services, WP Engine is one of the top choices.
If you are looking for a detailed, unbiased WP Engine review, here is everything you need to know, from pros and cons to pricing.
Bottom Line
As someone who has used various hosting services over the years, WP Engine stands out as one of the best-managed WordPress hosting providers in the market. It has all the features you need to host and manage a WordPress site (or multiple of them at once), including CDNs, an uptime guarantee, SSL certificates, themes and builders, and much more.
But there is always a catch, isn’t there? If you are not a WordPress Host, you need to look for other alternatives, as WP Engine is designed for the WordPress ecosystem only.
WP Engine Pros and Cons
Before I get into the details, here is an overview of what you can expect from WP Engine.
Pros:
- WP Engine ensures fast load times and has a 99.9% uptime guarantee.
- Advanced security features like daily malware scans and DDoS protection.
- Free SSL certificates
- Fully managed WP, PHP & MySQL updates
- 24/7 support from WordPress experts via chat and phone.
- These include staging environments, SSH access, and Git integration.
- Global CDN with 250+ data centers worldwide.
- WordPress themes and drag-and-drop website builder included
- E-commerce features like 1 click store creation, unlimited products, and live carts.
Cons:
- More expensive than many other hosting providers.
- Limited Storage and Visits on each plan.
- No email integration.
- No Free Domain
- WordPress centric only.
About WP Engine
WP Engine, founded in 2010, has become a leading name in managed WordPress hosting. It lets you create and manage high-performing websites without the hassle of handling the technical details. WP Engine is known for its speed, security, and exceptional customer support. Today, it has more than 1.5 million users and customers across 150+ countries, making it one of the most preferred WordPress hosting solutions worldwide.
WP Engine Pricing Plans
WP Engine offers various pricing plans to suit different needs. Its different WordPress and WooCommerce hosting plans can be billed monthly or annually.
- Startup Plans: Starting from $20/month for WordPress hosting and $24/month for WooCommerce hosting.
- Professional Plan: Starting at $40/month for WordPress hosting and $50/month for WooCommerce hosting.
- Growth Plans: Starting at $77/month for WordPress hosting and $94/month for WooCommerce hosting.
- Scale Plans: Starting at $194/month for WordPress Hosting and $234/month for WooCommerce Hosting.
- Core Hosting Plans: Starting at $400/month for WordPress Hosting and $800/month for WooCommerce Hosting.
Each plan includes various features to provide the best possible WordPress hosting experience. All plans include the following features:
- 24/7 WordPress Customer Support
- Advanced Security Features
- Dedicated Onboarding & Priority Support
- Environment Type
- Managed WP, PHP & MySQL Updates
- Automatic and On-demand Backups
- EverCache® for Better Performance
- Global CDN
- 99.99% SLA
- 1-click Staging and Developer Environments
Features that are unique to the WooCommerce plans are:
- One-click Store Creation
- Unlimited Products
- Unlimited Staff Accounts
- EverCache® for Woo
- Live Cart
- Instant Store Search
- Stripe Connect Integration
- Smart Plugin Manager
If you ask me, it might seem expensive compared to other platforms, but you will save thousands on integration and tools because WP Engine has everything you need in one place.
The best part is that these plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee. This guarantee ensures that you only continue with a plan if you are satisfied with the product; otherwise, you can get a full refund of your purchase.
Also, exclusively for June 2024, you have a 4-month FREE deal on annual plans on WP Engine. Click on this exclusive WP Engine Coupon to activate your offer now.
WP Engine Features Explained
Now, I will get into the features I liked the most in my personal experience using the platform.
User interface
When I joined WP Engined, I expected the same old cPanel dashboard that comes with most web hosting service providers. I was intrigued to see that while WP Engine’s dashboard was cPanel-based, it was much simpler than the others. All features to access are given on the left sidebar, and you can click on any one of them to explore them further.
It was intuitive and absolutely beginner-friendly.
The layout is straightforward, making it easy for both beginners and experienced users to navigate.
In this category, I rate it 5/5.
WordPress Ecosystem Management
Since WP Engine is for WordPress users, here are certain features exclusive to us WordPress hosts. The platform supports automatic updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins, ensuring your site stays up-to-date with the latest features and security patches. Additionally, WP Engine offers one-click staging environments, allowing you to test changes before pushing them live, which is invaluable for maintaining site stability and performance.
It also has a built-in drag-and-drop website builder, especially designed to work in the WordPress workplace with around 10 WordPress themes from StudioPress to work on and build on to create stunning websites.
You also have a local developers hub to add in custom code if you have experience with the #1 WordPress local development tool Local.
Overall, 5/5.
WooCommerce Features
Here is a list of features for you that are WooCommerce-specific:
- Smart Caching with EverCache for optimized caching for WooCommerce to ensure fast load times, even during peak traffic.
- Live Cart Functionality ensures the shopping cart is always up-to-date without requiring page reloads.
- Stripe Integration for secure payment processing.
- 1 click store creations
- Automated updates and backups to keep your data safe and sound.
Again, I had no complaints in this category, and I would give it a 4/5 only because it has no email integration.
Speed Tests and Performance
Now, how do you know that WP Engine can be trusted to deliver good performance for your websites? Here are some details. The platform has an overall performance grade of A for speed tests with both lightweight and multipurpose themes. Average load times were always below a minute, and with their 99.9% uptime guarantee, WP Engine really stood out when it comes to performance and page loadings.
They also have 250+ data centers worldwide, which is way more than most other web hosts in the market, making them provide good service across the globe.
They also have features like Lazy loading images, videos, iFrames, Instant code cleanups, minimal code lines, and an EverCache Caching system that makes it super fast.
Again, my website’s performance was significantly boosted, and I have found no complaints about the service. I rate it 5/5.
Security Features
WP Engine takes security seriously. They offer a suite of advanced security features, including:
- Daily Malware Scans that automatically scan for malware and vulnerabilities.
- DDoS Protection that protects against distributed denial-of-service attacks.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF) that filters out malicious traffic to keep your site secure.
- Automatic daily backups with the ability to perform manual backups on-demand.
- Free SSL certificates to encrypt data and secure transactions.
Now, all of this is clearly accessible from your dashboard, and you will also receive an email alert in case WP Engine senses a threat. That’s more than enough to keep your website secure even if you are a WooCommerce website owner, and it can work in peace.
Customer support
As someone who has used multiple platforms to host websites, one of the main reasons I switched to WP Engine in the first place is that it has a 96% customer satisfaction score. I was impressed by their enormous knowledge base and online resources. Almost all issues, including guides on how to set up an account on the WP engine, are available for new users.
All of their plans include live support via chat, and if you sign up for a high tier, you will also receive a one-on-one priority support option via call.
That being said, WP Engine’s customer support is quick, satisfactory, and trustworthy.
Who Should Choose WP Engine?
Now, coming to the most crucial question of all. Who should choose WP Engine, or should you choose WP Engine?
First and foremost, WP Engine is for WordPress users only.
Second, it’s best if you have a domain and email integration of your own because WP Engine does not include these in its plans.
Apart from this, if you own a WordPress or WooCommerce website and want a sturdy, high-performing, secure, and compatible hosting service for your WordPress ecosystem, you can sign up with your eyes closed.
And if you are still confused, you can always take advantage of their 60-day free trial period on every plan to try out the platform risk-free and see if it suits your needs.
I hope this detailed WP Engine Review helps and that you have found the answers you seek.
Until Next Time,
Happy Hosting Folks!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is WP Engine free?
No, WP Engine is a premium managed WordPress hosting service with various pricing plans to suit different needs. However, you can sign up for the WP Engine free trial period of 60 days and try out the platform. Click here to sign up.
Does WP Engine offer a free trial?
WP Engine does not offer a traditional free trial, but it does provide a 60-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try its services risk-free. This 60-day free trial period gives you access to all premium features, and if you are unsatisfied, you can request a full refund before the trial period ends.
What are the pros of WP Engine?
WP Engine stands out due to its managed hosting services, exceptional performance, advanced security features, and top-tier customer support. It also has a 60-day money-back guarantee and is currently offering a four-month free sale that will expire soon.
Does WP Engine support non-WordPress sites?
No, WP Engine is specifically designed for WordPress sites and offers features and optimizations tailored to the WordPress ecosystem. Visit the WP engine to learn more.
What is the 4-month free offer?
In June 2024, WP Engine offers an exclusive deal for 4 months free when you purchase any annual plan. You can save up to $300 on your yearly purchase on WP Engine, and there is a 60-day money-back guarantee to ensure you are satisfied with your experience.
