WordPress vs. WP Engine (2021)

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Sean Garrity Alexandra Leslie Hosting Expert
“We tested WordPress & WP Engine — The winner is WordPress!”

WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system for a number of reasons — it’s free, easy to use, and flexible enough to be leveraged for a range of site types — from blogging to eCommerce. As a result of this widespread use, almost all the major hosting providers in the industry offer some type of WordPress package. Here, we’ll compare our top-rated WordPress host, InMotion, with another big name in the space — WP Engine. Read on for our detailed analysis on how we chose the winner.

Updated: September 3, 2020
WordPress review
Overall Rating
5.0/5.0 ★★★★★
Visit WordPress »
WP Engine review
Overall Rating
4.5/5.0 ★★★★★
Visit WP Engine »
Advertiser Disclosure
Compare: Overall | Cheap Hosting | Dedicated | VPS | WordPress | Site Builder | Conclusion

Overall Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

Best Overall Rating

★★★★★ 5.0/5.0
Money Back Guarantee
90 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
WP Engine review

Best Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.5/5.0
  • Enterprise-level WordPress hosting
  • Built-in caching and staging
  • Unlimited data transfer
  • Daily backups and 1-click restore
  • 20% discount for HostingAdvice users (was $24.20/month)
  • Get started on WP Engine now.
Money Back Guarantee
60 days
Disk Space
10 GB - 30 GB
Domain Name
New or Transfer

Cheap Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

Cheap Rating

★★★★★ 4.6/5.0
  • #1 site-building software is FREE
  • Install in 1 click with top hosts
  • FREE themes to customize your WordPress site
  • Works for eCommerce, blogging, galleries, and personal sites
  • Trusted by millions of website owners
  • Get started on WordPress with InMotion Hosting.
Money Back Guarantee
90 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
WP Engine review

Cheap Rating

★★★★★ N/A

WP Engine does not currently offer this type of hosting. We would not recommend choosing this host for this hosting category.

Dedicated Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

Dedicated Rating

★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Robust blogging platform meets resource-capable dedicated servers
  • Ideal for fast-growing sites and enterprise
  • InMotion guarantees 99.99% uptime for your WordPress site
  • 1-click software installation for WordPress
  • FREE SSD storage
  • Get started on WordPress with InMotion Hosting.
Money Back Guarantee
30 days
Disk Space
500 GB - 1.2 TB SSD
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
WP Engine review

Dedicated Rating

★★★★★ N/A

WP Engine does not currently offer this type of hosting. We would not recommend choosing this host for this hosting category.

VPS Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

VPS Rating

★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Instantly provision your VPS and install WordPress with 1 click
  • SSD speed gives your WordPress site a performance boost
  • WordPress is trusted as the #1 site builder platform
  • InMotion is trusted as the #1 WordPress VPS host
  • Tons of support available via your host and online forums
  • Get started on WordPress with InMotion Hosting.
Money Back Guarantee
90 days
Disk Space
75 GB - 260 GB SSD
Domain Name
New or Transfer
WP Engine review

VPS Rating

★★★★★ N/A

WP Engine does not currently offer this type of hosting. We would not recommend choosing this host for this hosting category.

WordPress Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

WordPress Rating

★★★★★ 5.0/5.0
Money Back Guarantee
90 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE
WP Engine review

WordPress Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0

#9 out of 10 in WordPress Hosting reviews

  • 20% OFF your first payment for our readers
  • FREE Genesis Framework & StudioPress themes
  • Fast, scalable, and secure WordPress
  • FREE SSL certificate and CDN ready
  • Upgrade for geotargeting and edge security
  • Get started on WP Engine now.
Money Back Guarantee
60 days
Disk Space
10 GB - 30 GB
Domain Name
New or Transfer

Site Builder Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

Website Builder Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Intuitive, drag-and-drop site builder BoldGrid sits atop WordPress
  • Developed and supported by the InMotion Hosting team
  • Responsive themes so your WP site looks good on any device
  • FREE to download WordPress software
  • SEO-friendly end result
  • Get started on BoldGrid for WordPress now.
Money Back Guarantee
90 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
WP Engine review

Website Builder Rating

★★★★★ N/A

WP Engine does not currently offer this type of hosting. We would not recommend choosing this host for this hosting category.
Advertiser Disclosure

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WordPress vs. WP Engine - Our Conclusion

Sean Garrity Alexandra Leslie Hosting Expert
“We tested WordPress & WP Engine — The winner is WordPress!”

Our winner really raises the bar when it comes to WordPress hosting. WP Engine’s three strategically located datacenters in the US, the UK, and Japan ensure close proximity to customers, which allows for optimal page load speeds. And, with WordPress, performance makes all the difference. However, WP Engine’s price tag is a bit lofty when compared with that of others in the managed WordPress hosting space. For just a few dollars per month, InMotion delivers top-tier managed WordPress plans that include bonuses, such as free SSDs, automatic backups and security patches, and the WordPress-specific site builder BoldGrid. If you’re running WordPress, the choice should be clear — it was for us. Give our comprehensive reviews of each host a read. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a feature or two that’s just right to boost your WordPress site’s functionality.

WordPress review
Overall Rating
5.0/5.0 ★★★★★
Visit WordPress »
WP Engine review
Overall Rating
4.5/5.0 ★★★★★
Visit WP Engine »

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