Wp Engine vs Flywheel: Which WordPress Host Reigns?
Choosing the right WordPress hosting provider can feel like navigating a minefield. With countless options, it’s tough to know where to start. Two popular contenders often top the list: WP Engine and Flywheel. Both offer managed WordPress hosting, but they cater to different needs and budgets.
This comparison dives deep into the features, pricing, and performance of WP Engine vs Flywheel, helping you make an informed decision. We’ll explore their strengths and weaknesses, covering everything from ease of use to customer support. Get ready to find the perfect host for your WordPress website.
Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a beginner, understanding the nuances of WP Engine and Flywheel is crucial. We’ll break down the technical jargon and provide clear insights, so you can choose the hosting solution that best aligns with your goals. Let’s get started!
Specs at a Glance
| Feature | WPE | Flywheel |
|---|---|---|
| Managed WordPress Hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Staging Environments | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic Backups | Yes | Yes |
| Security Features | Yes | Yes |
| CDN Included | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Support | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Free SSL Certificates | Yes | Yes |
| Website Migration | Free | Free |
| Developer Tools | Yes | Yes |
| Uptime Guarantee | Yes | Yes |
| Scalability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Global Data Centers | Yes | Yes |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Pricing
- Wp Engine: WPEngine offers a range of plans, starting with entry-level options for smaller sites and scaling up to enterprise solutions. Pricing is generally considered higher than some competitors, but it reflects the premium features and support provided. They offer transparent pricing with overage fees.
- Flywheel: Flywheel provides more simplified pricing tiers, often considered more user-friendly, especially for beginners. Their plans are generally more affordable at the entry level, focusing on managed WordPress hosting for designers and agencies. They also have a custom plan option.
- Winner: Flywheel
Performance & Speed
- Wp Engine: WPEngine is known for its high-performance infrastructure, including a global CDN, caching, and optimized server configurations. They utilize advanced technologies to ensure fast loading times and excellent uptime, though the level of performance depends on the chosen plan.
- Flywheel: Flywheel also prioritizes speed with a built-in CDN, optimized servers, and caching. They have a good reputation for performance, making it a reliable option for fast-loading websites, and they offer performance monitoring tools.
- Winner: Tie
Security
- Wp Engine: WPEngine offers robust security features, including proactive threat detection, malware scanning and removal, and a web application firewall (WAF). They provide free SSL certificates and regularly update their security protocols.
- Flywheel: Flywheel provides security features like free SSL certificates, daily backups, and malware scanning. They focus on securing the WordPress environment, and they offer security-related tools and features.
- Winner: Tie
Ease of Use
- Wp Engine: WPEngine has a user-friendly dashboard and control panel, making it easy to manage WordPress websites. It offers one-click staging environments and automated backups, simplifying common tasks.
- Flywheel: Flywheel is designed with a focus on simplicity, particularly for designers and agencies. The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, with features like site cloning and staging environments that are simple to use.
- Winner: Flywheel
Customer Support
- Wp Engine: WPEngine provides 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email. They have a comprehensive knowledge base and a team of WordPress experts to assist with technical issues, though response times can vary depending on the plan.
- Flywheel: Flywheel offers customer support through live chat and email. They are known for responsive and helpful support, and their team is specifically trained in WordPress.
- Winner: Tie
Staging Environments
- Wp Engine: WPEngine provides easy-to-use staging environments for testing website changes before going live. This feature is standard across all plans and is designed for seamless deployment.
- Flywheel: Flywheel offers easy-to-use staging environments, allowing users to clone and test changes. Staging is a core feature that’s accessible across all plans, making it easy to manage updates.
- Winner: Tie
Backups & Restore
- Wp Engine: WPEngine offers automated daily backups and the ability to restore sites with a single click. They retain backups for a certain period, ensuring data safety.
- Flywheel: Flywheel provides automated daily backups and easy one-click restore options. They offer a simple interface for managing backups.
- Winner: Tie
Developer Tools
- Wp Engine: WPEngine provides developer-friendly features, including Git integration, SSH access, and a local development environment (Local by Flywheel). They offer tools to streamline the development workflow and deploy code.
- Flywheel: Flywheel, through its partnership with Local by Flywheel, offers a powerful local development environment. They also provide SSH access on some plans and Git integration.
- Winner: Tie
Winner by Category
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Flywheel |
| Features | WP Engine |
| Pricing | Flywheel |
| Support | Tie |
| Scalability | WP Engine |
What They Have in Common
- Managed WordPress Hosting: Both WP Engine and Flywheel provide fully managed WordPress hosting, taking care of server management, security, and updates. This allows users to focus on their website content and business goals.
- Staging Environments: Both platforms offer staging environments, enabling users to test changes and updates before pushing them live to their production websites. This helps prevent errors and ensures a smooth user experience.
- Automatic Backups: Automatic daily backups are a standard feature with both WP Engine and Flywheel, providing peace of mind and data protection. Users can easily restore their websites to a previous state if needed.
- Security Features: Both hosting providers prioritize security, offering features like firewalls, malware scanning, and security monitoring to protect websites from threats. They also regularly update their security protocols.
- Customer Support: Both WP Engine and Flywheel offer 24/7 customer support via various channels, including live chat, phone, and email, ensuring users can get help whenever they need it.
WP Engine Vs Flywheel Buying Guide
Ease of Use
WP Engine and Flywheel both prioritize user-friendliness, but they approach it differently. WP Engine provides a more streamlined, hands-off experience, ideal for users who prefer minimal technical involvement. Their managed WordPress hosting handles updates, security, and backups automatically. Flywheel also offers a user-friendly interface, particularly appealing for designers and agencies. They emphasize collaborative tools and site staging. Choosing between them depends on your preference for automation versus control over specific details.
Flywheel provides a more design-centric interface. WP Engine’s dashboard is intuitive, but Flywheel’s is more visually appealing for design teams. Both offer one-click staging environments for testing updates before going live. Ultimately, both platforms are significantly easier to use than self-hosting, making them great choices for beginners and experienced users alike.
Performance and Speed
Both WP Engine and Flywheel are known for their fast and reliable performance. They utilize optimized server configurations and caching technologies to ensure quick loading times for websites. WP Engine leverages its proprietary EverCache technology for exceptional speed, especially under heavy traffic loads. Flywheel also employs robust caching and CDN integration, contributing to fast page load speeds. They provide the option to choose data centers closer to your audience, minimizing latency.
Both providers prioritize excellent uptime and optimize their servers for WordPress. The specific performance differences will depend on your website’s configuration, traffic, and the chosen hosting plan. Consider testing both platforms with a sample site to determine which best suits your needs.
Pricing and Plans
WP Engine’s pricing structure is generally more premium, reflecting its comprehensive features and high level of support. They offer a range of plans, catering to different traffic volumes and resource needs. Flywheel’s pricing is often perceived as slightly more accessible, with plans tailored to designers and agencies. They offer flexible options, including a ‘pay-as-you-go’ plan for short-term projects. Both offer discounts for annual subscriptions.
Consider the features included in each plan, such as storage, bandwidth, and the number of sites allowed. Evaluate your current and projected website traffic to select the plan that best aligns with your budget and requirements. Both offer various plan levels, so comparing features is crucial.
Security Features
Security is a paramount concern for both WP Engine and Flywheel. Both providers offer robust security measures to protect your websites from threats. WP Engine provides proactive security monitoring, malware scanning, and free SSL certificates. Flywheel similarly emphasizes security, with daily backups, free SSL certificates, and managed security updates.
Both platforms implement firewalls and intrusion detection systems to prevent unauthorized access. Regular security audits are performed by both providers to identify and address vulnerabilities. The overall security posture of both platforms is very strong, providing peace of mind to website owners.
Customer Support
WP Engine is known for its exceptional customer support, offering 24/7 availability via phone, live chat, and email. Their support team is highly knowledgeable about WordPress and provides prompt and effective assistance. Flywheel also offers excellent customer support, though their availability may vary slightly depending on the plan. They provide support via live chat and email.
Both platforms have extensive knowledge bases and documentation to help users troubleshoot common issues. The quality of customer support is a critical factor, especially for users who are not technically proficient. Reviews generally indicate high satisfaction with the support provided by both WP Engine and Flywheel.
Features and Integrations
Both WP Engine and Flywheel offer a range of features designed to simplify WordPress website management. WP Engine provides features like staging environments, one-click backups, and a global CDN. Flywheel offers similar features, with a focus on collaborative tools for designers and agencies. They provide a site-staging feature for testing changes before they go live.
Both offer integrations with various third-party services, such as email marketing platforms and analytics tools. Consider the specific features and integrations that are essential for your website’s functionality and workflow. Both platforms provide valuable tools for WordPress website management and deployment.
Who Should Buy What?
Buy WP Engine If…
- You need advanced features like EverCache and Genesis Framework integration.
- You require extensive performance optimization tools and analytics.
- You want a wide range of plans to choose from.
- You need specialized solutions for enterprise-level websites.
Buy Flywheel If…
- You are a designer or agency managing multiple client sites.
- You value a user-friendly interface and streamlined workflow.
- You prefer a more affordable option for smaller websites.
- You want features like local development tools built in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is managed WordPress hosting?
Managed WordPress hosting is a specialized type of hosting where the provider handles the technical aspects of running a WordPress website. This includes tasks such as server maintenance, security updates, backups, and performance optimization. It allows website owners to focus on their content and business without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. Both WP Engine and Flywheel offer managed WordPress hosting services.
How do WP Engine and Flywheel differ in terms of scalability?
Both WP Engine and Flywheel offer scalable hosting solutions, allowing you to upgrade your plan as your website traffic grows. WP Engine provides plans with varying resource allocations, and they have the ability to handle large spikes in traffic. Flywheel also offers scalable plans, allowing you to easily adjust your resources as needed. They also provide options for custom, high-traffic solutions.
Which platform offers better security features?
Both WP Engine and Flywheel prioritize security and provide robust features to protect your website. Both offer security monitoring, malware scanning, and free SSL certificates. They implement firewalls and intrusion detection systems, and they perform regular security audits. The specific security features are very similar, making both a secure choice.
What is the difference in staging environments?
Both platforms offer staging environments, which are crucial for testing changes before deploying them to your live website. WP Engine provides a straightforward staging environment that is easy to use. Flywheel’s staging environment is particularly well-integrated with its design-focused tools and workflow. Both provide a safe and effective way to test updates.
Does either offer a free trial?
Neither WP Engine nor Flywheel typically offer a free trial. However, both offer money-back guarantees. WP Engine offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try their service risk-free. Flywheel also often provides a money-back guarantee, though the specific terms may vary. Check their respective websites for the most up-to-date details.
Which is better for e-commerce websites?
Both WP Engine and Flywheel support e-commerce websites, but WP Engine may have a slight advantage with its optimizations for WooCommerce. WP Engine has specific features and optimizations for WooCommerce stores, including specialized caching and security measures. Flywheel also works well for e-commerce, but WP Engine’s focus on WooCommerce can be beneficial.
What is the benefit of using a CDN?
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers distributed globally that caches your website’s content and delivers it to users from the server closest to their location. This significantly improves website loading speed, especially for users located far from your origin server. Both WP Engine and Flywheel integrate CDNs to enhance website performance.
Final Verdict
Both WP Engine and Flywheel offer excellent managed WordPress hosting solutions, each catering to different needs. WP Engine excels in comprehensive features, robust performance, and premium support. Flywheel stands out with its user-friendly interface, design-centric tools, and competitive pricing. The choice depends on your priorities: advanced features and support vs. ease of use and price.
Ultimately, both are solid choices and the best fit will depend on specific needs. Flywheel may be a better choice for design agencies, while WP Engine is great for those who value extensive features and support.
Winner: WP Engine