Cloudways vs WP Engine Comparison

Our content is reader-supported. If you click on our links, we may earn a commission. How we review.

There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to hosting a website. Cloudways vs WP Engine is a popular comparison among webmasters. I am not speaking about the different providers but also the types of hosting available in the market. Most of us are familiar with shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting but today we will discuss managed cloud hosting.

Here is a head-to-head Cloudways vs WP Engine comparison that looks at features, performance, prices, and more – to help you choose between these two industry leaders in the managed Cloudways WordPress hosting space.

Want to dive right in? Then jump directly to Cloudways and WP Engine, or straight to the comparison summary.

But first, let’s take a quick look at the foundations of cloud WordPress hosting …

What is Cloud Hosting?

Unlike traditional hosting, the cloud network uses a network of servers to host the site. It keeps switching its network preferences depending on the load its servers bear at a time. Resources are managed and shared across the network to ensure maximum uptime and performance.

Therefore, cloud hosting is considered to be a high performing web hosting method and both small and large businesses are migrating their sites to this kind of hosting.

Why Do You Need Managed Cloud Hosting?

Managing a server is a hectic task and even good programmers find it challenging to configure and manage their servers effectively. Speaking of non-technical individuals, this can get even worse.

Servers in its raw state do not have any GUI to interact with and most of the tasks need to be coded in its shell. This requires an expert system administrator which cost $$$.

Managed cloud hosting takes away the worry of managing servers which is ideal for small businesses and start-ups with limited resources and capital. With managed cloud hosting they get performance, as well as their complex server related tasks, are taken care of by their provider.

Cloudways vs WP Engine – Fully Managed WordPress Hosting vs Managed Hosting

There are two common terms used in the cloud hosting industry. Managed WordPress hosting (i.e. Cloudways) and fully managed WordPress hosting (i.e. WP Engine). As the name suggests, fully managed takes care of everything including your WordPress site.

It manages your server as well as your WordPress site in case you encounter any application-related issues. Fully Managed WordPress hosting providers have a team of WordPress experts who can assist you with managing your WordPress sites such as back-ups, hacks, updates, and other site-related issues.

On the other hand, managed cloud hosting does not offer expert support on the application level. Although it completely manages the server for you and depending on the level of support it might also assist you in managing your WordPress site but it is not part of their service.

Fully managed services cost more than simple managed hosting. If you are comfortable with paying less and managing WordPress on your own then the second option might be ideal for you.

Cloudways – Managed WordPress Hosting Platform

cloudways

Cloudways is a PaaS developed on the latest technologies to provide high-performing cloud hosting to WordPress, Magento, Joomla and other PHP based applications.

Cloudways is a widely used hosting platform that offers a lot of services to multiple personas. Their customers include creative agencies, startups, freelancers, bloggers, and business owners.

Multiple Cloud Providers

cloud hosting providers

Cloudways has brought five major cloud hosting providers under one roof. Cloudways users have the option of choosing from the list of top providers while enjoying the easy-to-use platform and services built to reduce server management at the user level.

Cloudways offers servers from the following providers:

  • DigitalOcean
  • Linode
  • Vultr
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Amazon Web Services

Global Data Centers

global data centers

With Cloudways you can choose from 60+ data centers across the globe provided by five top cloud hosting providers. These data centers cover all the major regions and cities ensuring maximum coverage globally. So, with Cloudways you do not have to worry about the data center is close to your targeted market.

Optimized Stack

As a platform Cloudways succeeded because the technology it’s built on is capable of delivering high-performing services with qualities of scalability and upgrades. The platform uses multiple tools for an advanced caching mechanism like Nginx, Varnish for reverse proxying and Redis for caching database queries.

optimized tech stack

It supports both MySQL and MariaDB for databases and runs applications on the latest version of PHP.

Cloudways CDN

Content Delivery Network is viable for the sites having an audience in multiple regions. It enhances the delivery of both static and dynamic content. It is pre-installed at Cloudways Platform that can be activated in just a single click.

cloudways cdn

Free SSL Certificates

Cloudways offers free SSL certificates to its users through Let’s Encrypt. SSL is important for website security and authenticity on various web browsers. This also improves the SEO ranking of your site.

Advanced Features

As a platform, Cloudways is very mature and give close attention to detail. It is well equipped with features required by various personnel. Let’s dive deep to explore the featured platform has to offer.

Multiple Applications

server applications

At Cloudways, users are not limited to a single application: multiple applications can be launched on a single server and that includes the application of different kinds. For example, on one server I can install WordPress, Magento and PHP applications simultaneously.

Cloning

This feature allows the user to clone their application to the same and to another server effortlessly. Cloudways also allows its user to make a complete clone of their server. The cloning of an application/website is ideal for developers who can make multiple clones and modify them depending on their client’s requirements.

Site Migration

Migrations are very easy with the Cloudways Platform. The migration plugin can be used to migrate any WordPress site from any location to the Cloudways server.

migration tools

Staging Environment

Cloudways recently launched its complete staging feature through which files and databases can be pushed and pulled from the application. This is a great feature as it let the user work on the site comfortably without cloning or migrating the whole site from the development environment to the production environment.

cloudways staging

This feature as of now is still in beta state and has been tested extensively by Cloudways Team and its customers. Staging is an ideal solution for all web developers to test new features on their site and to selectively push or pull code without affecting the live site.

Besides this Cloudways also offers a staging URL to test out the website which can be cloned to the production server when the development process is completed.

Monitoring

Server monitoring is important in order to understand your consumption at any given time. This lets you align your expenses and resources better with your ROI. Cloudways has a complete monitoring module that let you see stats in real-time as well as has an integration available for WPEngine New Relic.

Scalability

Depending on the server, Cloudways users can scale their servers vertically almost instantaneously. This does not require any approvals from the support team and can be done using the platform itself.

Plans and Pricing

Cloudways has packages available for all types of customers. Cloudways hosting packages accommodate bloggers, freelancers, big and small business owners. The lowest package which is a 1GB server from DigitalOcean starts from $10/mo which can sustain traffic of 30K plus visitors. Other packages come with a different set of hardware and provider.

cloudways pricing plans

Application Utilities

Managed cloud hosting makes life easier and this is exactly what Cloudways does. Many complex features can be managed in just a single click.

For example, if you need to launch a WordPress site with WooCommerce capabilities then you may simply choose the WordPress with a WooCommerce instance from the drop-down and the site will automatically be launched with WooCommerce. Not just that its varnish settings will also be configured according to that.

Similarly, WordPress multisite can also be launched in just a single click which when done manually can get a bit confusing for beginners.

24/7 Expert Support

Cloudways users can live chat with their 24/7 expert support. For less urgent issues support tickets can also be opened and they also have an organized knowledge base support.

WP Engine – Fully Managed WordPress Hosting

wp engine

WP Engine is a company known for its performance and cutting-edge features. They are a fully managed WordPress hosting provider. They are the pioneers in managed WordPress hosting and over the course of time have acquired big names as their customers such as SoundCloud, WPBeginner and WebDev Studios.

Cloud Providers

WP Engine uses servers from Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Service. Both are the top hosting providers. WP Engine users can choose servers from these two providers depending on their requirements.

Multiple Data Centers

WP Engine has 18 data centers around the world. Depending on the targeted market; users can pick the data center nearest to their location.

wp engine data centers

Advanced Stack

Like Cloudways, WP Engine is built on cutting-edge technology as well. It powers its servers using high-performing tools like Nginx, Varnish, and Memcached. Users can use their preferred programming languages such as PHP, Python and Ruby.

User-Friendly Features

Being one of the trusted hosting providers, WP Engine offers features necessary for both the management and performance of a WordPress site. Let’s have a look at some of the features it offers.

Site Migration

The migration tool makes the WordPress migration from any host to WP Engine easy. The tool is pre-built in the platform. It runs the whole migration automated.

Staging Sites

There is a difference between staging and staging sites. We have seen what staging is at Cloudways. WP Engine does not support staging it supports the Staging Site feature that can be cloned to the production server when development is completed. This feature can be used to test new features and later can be applied to the site in a production environment.

Expert Support

wordpress support

WP Engine offers excellent support when it comes to WordPress. They have experts on board who can get involved in case the user faces any issues on his server or WordPress website.

Managed Security

wp engine security features

WP Engine claims to protect your site from security vulnerabilities by identifying attacks beforehand. It uses an active system to protect your site from any possible attacks and provide many security features to further harden the security.

Backup and Recovery

Backups are necessary for all WordPress sites and WP Engine manages them for you. It keeps offsite backups of your valuable files database and the media library so in an event of any data loss the recovery can be made easily. They also offer immediate disaster recovery to minimize any kind of loss at the customer’s end.

Monitoring

For server monitoring, WP Engine also uses New Relic capabilities. It also uses Spark and Qubole for analytics. It monitors server resource consumption, storage, and database. Their team is proactive to resolve any server related issues flagged by their monitoring system.

Plans and Pricing

WP Engine offers four packages for different kinds of users. Their startup package starts from $28.00 which can cater to up to 25K visitors and has a bandwidth of 50GB.

wp engine pricing plans

Application Utilities

applications and tools

Besides managing your server, WP Engine helps the user to optimize their WordPress site and offers features like page performance which helps you in enhancing the performance of your WordPress site.

This tool is integrated into the Dashboard and can be used to monitor site performance and gives valuable insight. Another cool feature is the content performance analysis. This tool helps the user to understand and analyze their content and to determine how well it is performing on various channels.

WordPress Support

We already know the expert WordPress support WP Engine offers to its users. It also offers live chat and bot support through its platform and customers can also take advantage of the FAQs on its website.

Another great thing WP Engine has to offer is access to Genesis Framework and 35+ premium, WordPress StudioPress themes that come included with all plans.

Cloudways vs WP Engine Comparison

 CloudwaysWP Engine
Cloud ProvidersGCE, AWS, Linode, Vultr, DigitalOceanGCE, AWS
Data Centers60+18
PricingFrom $12 / monthFrom $35 / month
SupportLive chat, Knowledge base, Ticket, CloudwaysBotLive chat, Ticket
StagingYesYes
ApplicationsWordPress, Joomla, Magento, PHP, DrupalWordPress
OSLinuxLinux
Free SSL CertificateYesYes
CDNYesYes
Staging URLYesYes
CloningYesYes
Fully Managed HostingNoYes
WP Expert SupportNoYes
MigrationYesYes
Site BackupYesYes
Unlimited AppsYesNo
PHP 7YesYes
IP WhitelistingYesNo
MonitoringYesYes
More InfoVisit Cloudways.comVisit WPEngine.com

Cloudways vs WP Engine Takeaway

Cloudways and WP Engine may have their own differences and similarities. Cloudways offers budget-friendly pricing plans. This provides the tools for your WordPress site’s blazing speed at just a fraction of its cost.

WP Engine is great if you want this provider to take care of everything for you. However, you have to pay more fees than usual for such services. So, if you want to know who is the real winner in this Cloudways vs WPEngine comparison, it’s definitely Cloudways!

FAQ

Wpx hosting vs Cloudways: what’s the difference?

Cloudways offers a range of features, such as easy scalability, server monitoring, and advanced caching options. However, it is worth noting that WPX Hosting specializes in WordPress hosting, whereas Cloudways caters to a broader range of applications.

Ultimately, the choice between WPX Hosting and Cloudways depends on the specific needs and preferences of the users. When comparing WPX vs Cloudways, it is important to note that both companies have their own unique strengths and cater to different types of users.

WPX specializes in managed WordPress hosting, providing users with a hassle-free experience and top-notch performance. On the other hand, Cloudways offers a wide range of cloud hosting options, allowing users to choose from multiple cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean.

Ultimately, the choice between Cloudways vs WPX hosting depends on individual needs and preferences, as both companies have proven to be reliable and efficient in their respective areas of expertise.

WP Engine vs Cloudways: what’s the difference?

When comparing WP Engine and Cloudways, it becomes apparent that both hosting providers offer distinct features and benefits. WP Engine is a managed WordPress hosting platform known for its reliable performance, advanced security measures, and exceptional customer support services.

Comparing WPEngine vs Cloudways, there are several distinct differences to consider. WP Engine is a managed WordPress hosting provider that offers a highly optimized and secure environment for hosting WordPress sites. They provide a range of features tailored specifically for WordPress, such as automatic backups, staging environments, and content delivery network (CDN) integration. On the other hand, Cloudways is a cloud hosting platform that supports multiple content management systems, including WordPress.

What are the best Cloudways alternatives?

For those seeking alternatives to Cloudways, there are several options available in the market. One such alternative is DigitalOcean, a popular cloud provider known for its simplicity and scalability. Another alternative is AWS (Amazon Web Services), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that offers a wide range of services and features.

Cloudways vs Bluehost: what’s the difference?

When comparing cloud hosting providers, Cloudways and Bluehost are often pitted against each other due to their popularity and reputation within the industry.

Cloudways, a managed cloud hosting platform, offers users the flexibility to choose from multiple cloud providers, including AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean, enabling them to scale their website’s resources as needed. Bluehost, on the other hand, primarily focuses on shared hosting services, catering to a wide range of customers with different hosting needs.

While Bluehost does offer cloud hosting plans, its offerings may not match the level of customization and control provided by Cloudways. Ultimately, the choice between Cloudways and Bluehost depends on the specific requirements and preferences of the user.

Widget area not found.
Stay informed! Join our newsletter
Subscribe now and get free access to subscriber-only guides, tools, and resources.
You can unsubscribe at any time. Your data is safe.
Stay informed! Join our newsletter
Subscribe now and get free access to subscriber-only guides, tools, and resources.
You can unsubscribe at any time. Your data is safe.
Stay informed! Join our newsletter!
Subscribe now and get free access to subscriber-only guides, tools, and resources.
Stay Up-to Date! Join our Newsletter
You can unsubscribe at any time. Your data is safe.
My Company
Stay Up-to Date! Join our Newsletter
🙌 You are (almost) subscribed!
Head over to your email inbox, and open the email I sent you to confirm your email address.
My Company
You are Subscribed!
Thank You for your subscription. We send out newsletter with insightful data every Monday.
Share to...