Cloudways vs WP Engine
When it comes to web hosting, Cloudways and WP Engine are frequently compared, and for good reason. Both offer reliable hosting, but their target audiences and strengths differ significantly. Cloudways scores 8.6/10 in our testing, though your specific needs might favor the other option.
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Quick Answer
Cloudways beats WP Engine for most users. It scores 8.6/10 vs 8.4/10 and choose from 5 cloud providers. Choose WP Engine if you need excellent wordpress-specific optimization.
Cloudways
WinnerManaged cloud hosting with 5 provider options
Starting from
$14/mo
WP Engine
Premium managed WordPress hosting for businesses
Starting from
$20/mo
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 |
| Starting Price | $14/mo | $20/mo |
| User Reviews | ||
| Resources | ||
| Storage | 25GB SSD | 10GB SSD |
| Bandwidth | 1TB | 50GB |
| Websites | Unlimited | 1 |
| Email Accounts | None | None |
| Features | ||
| Free Domain | ||
| WordPress Optimized | ||
| CDN Included | ||
| Security & Reliability | ||
| Free SSL | ||
| Uptime Guarantee | 99.99% | 99.99% |
| Backup | On-demand | Daily |
Pros & Cons Breakdown
Cloudways
- Choose from 5 cloud providers
- Excellent performance and scalability
- Pay-as-you-go pricing
- Free SSL and CDN
- Staging environments
- Server cloning and scaling
- No email hosting included
- Steeper learning curve
- No domain registration
WP Engine
- Excellent WordPress-specific optimization
- Automatic daily backups
- Free CDN and SSL
- Genesis framework included
- Staging environments
- Enterprise-grade security
- Most expensive option
- No email hosting
- Visitor limits on all plans
Key Difference
The most significant difference is value positioning. Cloudways offers excellent quality at a lower price point ($14.00/mo), while WP Engine ($20.00/mo) targets users who want premium features and are willing to pay for them.
Which Should You Choose?
Cloudways
Choose Cloudways if you prioritize choose from 5 cloud providers, need unlimited usage, or value excellent performance and scalability.
WP Engine
Choose WP Engine if you prioritize excellent wordpress-specific optimization, or value automatic daily backups.
Our Verdict
After thorough testing, Cloudways is our winner with a rating of 8.6/10 compared to WP Engine's 8.4/10. Cloudways stands out for its choose from 5 cloud providers and excellent performance and scalability. Cloudways also offers better value at its price point. However, WP Engine remains an excellent choice if excellent wordpress-specific optimization is your priority. There's no universally "wrong" choice here - both are quality options that serve their target audiences well.
Thinking of Switching?
Migrating between Cloudways and WP Engine requires moving your files and databases. Both offer migration assistance, but plan for potential downtime. Consider timing your switch with your renewal date to avoid paying for overlap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cloudways better than WP Engine?
Cloudways scores higher in our testing (8.6/10 vs 8.4/10). Cloudways excels at choose from 5 cloud providers, while WP Engine is better for excellent wordpress-specific optimization.
Which is cheaper, Cloudways or WP Engine?
Cloudways is more affordable at $14.00/mo vs $20.00/mo. Cloudways offers 30% savings.
Cloudways vs WP Engine: which should I choose?
Choose Cloudways if you prioritize choose from 5 cloud providers. Choose WP Engine if you need excellent wordpress-specific optimization. Both are solid web hosting options.
What's the main difference between Cloudways and WP Engine?
The main difference is Cloudways offers managed cloud hosting with 5 provider options, while WP Engine focuses on premium managed wordpress hosting for businesses.