1. Introduction
WordPress is among the easiest and most effective ways to build a new website, but finding good hosting for sites based on this CMS can be difficult. Poor quality hosting can lead to security problems, slow load times, unreliable service and difficult site migration, all of which can be disastrous for a commercial site. WP Engine is a web host designed especially for the needs of WordPress users that offers a range of extra services to improve reliability.
2. Detailed Description
WP Engine is a small company based out of Austin, Texas. Founded by experienced IT entrepreneurs, this hosting service is intended to specifically meet the needs of WordPress site owners. WP Engine’s founders boast hands-on involvement with the development of WordPress, as well as multiple features designed to make sites based on this CMS run smoothly.
3. Benefits
WP Engine advertises fastest WordPress hosting and worry-free website operation. This company also promotes its services based on a range of different benefits. These include:
- Expert support
WP Engine advertises specific support with no tiered structure to impose delays or extra paperwork. This company also maintains a staff composed entirely of WordPress experts and offers support for problems and questions regarding your CMS, in addition to standard bandwidth and server issues. - Speed and scalability
Because WordPress can be difficult to use effectively on large sites, WP Engine offers special caching and scalability features in its architecture. Called EverCache, this architecture is designed to work even when sites receive as many as 15,000 visitors at the same time, with no loss in loading speed. - 60 day risk-free trial
This service allows users to try its services for up to 60 days with a money-back guarantee. - WordPress-specific extras
A set of curated themes and plug-ins allows WordPress users to quickly and easily sort through the options and choose the best one for their needs. WP Engine keeps these plug-ins updated and provides support for all of them, including fixing security holes and bugs. - Experienced staff
WP Engine is composed entirely of specialists who are familiar with WordPress, including some techs who contributed to the project in its early stages. The non-tiered support arrangement allows users to talk directly to these experienced staff members about specific problems. - Security features and services
This company provides a segregated environment to isolate each customer’s data and maintains full backups in case of hacking, hardware failure or other problems. WP Engine also conducts in-house scanning to detect potential security holes as well as maintaining contracts with outside security firms.
4. Pros
This WordPress hosting provider offers an easy to use service with a range of features and beneficial extras for website owners who want to reduce their workload and improve site stability. According to past and current customers, this service’s best features include:
- No commitment required
Because WP Engine offers month to month service without a long-term contract, it’s easy to try the service or host a short-term site. You can move your website whenever you choose, as long as you notify WP Engine in writing. - Fast, stable servers
According to current WP Engine customers, this service offers average response times of around 512 milliseconds and extreme server stability, even when sites receive a sudden uptick in traffic levels. - WordPress-specific hosting
Because this service is designed specifically for WordPress sites, it reduces the amount of hand-adjustment and user maintenance required. Users also mention that their sites run more smoothly on WP Engine’s optimized architecture. - Consistent up-time
While no hosting service can actually provide 100 percent up-time, WP Engine’s customers note that they have experienced outages only very briefly and infrequently, primarily for expected maintenance. - Smooth migrations
WP Engine offers assisted migrations handled by the customer or paid site migrations handled entirely by their staff. This makes the entire process of moving a website to this hosting company much easier.
5. Cons
WP Engine offers customized services and reliable help for experts and WordPress beginners alike. No Web host is perfect, however. Just like any other hosting service, WP Engine has a few disadvantages. Past users point out the following issues with this host:
- High costs
At about 30 percent more expensive than most WordPress hosting, with extra fees for additional sites, EP Engine is a costly choice. - No email hosting
Unlike many hosts, this company does not provide email hosting, leaving users to provide their own email addresses. - No cPanel available
cPanel, the most common site-management tool on many hosting services, is absent from WP Engine. It has been replaced by the host’s customized tools. - Lack of 24/7 and chat support
Because WP Engine is a relatively small company with no outside customer service, support is available via phone or email only. The support staff are also not available around the clock, which can lead to delays if a problem happens during off hours. - WordPress-only hosting
No other CMSs are supported.
6. Pricing
This service offers several different payment plans for customers who choose their hosting services. Personal accounts start at $29 per month and offer 1 install and up to 25,000 visits per month with 10 Gb local storage and unlimited data transfers. Professional accounts allow multiple sites, 100,000 visits per month, and 20 Gb local storage for $99 per month. Business memberships provide 25 installs, up to 400,000 visits per month, and 30 Gb local storage at a cost of $249 per month. Additional fees apply for extra personal sites or assisted site migration.
WP Engine also offers customized Premium accounts for users who need to handle very large traffic volumes. While there is no long-term commitment required, this company does offer two months of free hosting to any users who pre-pay for a year of service in advance. New users can take advantage of the company’s 60-day money-back guarantee if they aren’t satisfied with their hosting experience.
7. Sales Region
This company is based in the United States and provides information primarily in English, targeting primarily North American customers. As a virtual hosting provider, however, WP Engine offers its services to customers all over the world. Payment is via Recurly, a secure billing gateway capable of processing credit card payments from customers anywhere in the world.
8. Recommendations For Prospective Customers
For established WordPress sites that need fast, stable hosting or beginners who want a friendly WordPress environment with help at every step of the way, WP Engine is a reliable choice with plenty of features. However, this host may not be appropriate for users on a tight budget or those who don’t wish to use WordPress CMS.
9. Overall Rating: 
If you’d like to learn more about WP Engine and its different WordPress hosting plans,
visit the WP Engine’s Official Site.
Accuracy Disclosure: V K Rajagopalan has not directly tested this product, but has conducted research into the alleged results of other users who claim to have used the product. The accuracy of both the publisher’s research and alleged user results cannot be guaranteed.
The content on this page is not to be considered as Professional Advice. For all purposes, this content is to be treated as for “Entertainment Only”.
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