Alternative to WP Engine

If you’re looking for an alternative to WP Engine, you’ve come to the right place.

While WP Engine is a reputable hosting service, many find it to be quite costly. Is it really worth the price? In this comparison, you’ll discover that by switching to SupportHost, you can achieve the same level of performance while enjoying substantial financial savings.

It’s also worth noting that WP Engine doesn’t include services like domain registration or email hosting, so you’ll need to rely on third-party providers to cover all your website’s needs.

With SupportHost, all plans—whether shared hosting or custom WordPress hosting solutions—allow you to create unlimited email accounts. Additionally, if you register or transfer a domain, it’s free for life.

Let’s take a closer look at how SupportHost stacks up against WP Engine.

Performance

At SupportHost, we prioritize site performance. If your site attracts a high volume of traffic, we offer ideal solutions, from semi-dedicated hosting to dedicated options like cloud VPS and dedicated servers.

We migrated a site from WP Engine to SupportHost and conducted performance tests to compare the results.

As you can see from the tests, this is an unoptimized site. In fact, the tools we used to test speed offer many suggestions for improvement. The total page size is 3.46 MB, with 37% of the size due to images, and the page makes 177 requests.

Even though the site’s performance hasn’t changed much, by switching to SupportHost, the client now pays only one-third of what they were paying with their WP Engine plan.

GTmetrix

We ran a GTmetrix test before moving the site.

After the migration, we ran the test again with the same settings, measuring the speed from London:

The performance remained similar since the site still requires optimization. We’re dealing with a 3.46 MB page and 177 requests.

WebPageTest

We used WebPageTest to conduct two tests: one before and one after the transfer, using the same settings: Chrome browser, 4G network, and a Virginia (USA) location.

Here are the results before the transfer:

And here are the results after switching to SupportHost:

There is a slight improvement, though it’s clear the site still needs optimization for better performance.

Pingdom

Using Pingdom, we measured load times, page size, and the number of requests. Compared to GTmetrix, this tool provides less detailed information on how to improve site performance.

We conducted two tests from London; here is the result before the migration:

Below is the result after migrating the site to SupportHost:

Here, we notice an improvement in the total page load time.

Sucuri

Sucuri’s LoadTimeTester tool allows us to perform a speed test from different locations simultaneously. At the end, it also provides an average of the results obtained.

Here is the test performed on WP Engine before moving the site:

And here is the result of the test after migrating to SupportHost:

As you can see, the average load time improved after the migration.

Resource Management

With SupportHost hosting plans, we use a resource monitoring system to track RAM, CPU usage, and running processes.

This system is essential in shared hosting environments, as it helps ensure optimal performance for all sites. Without such a system, there’s always a risk that one account could monopolize the server’s resources, causing disruptions for other sites.

With us, this doesn’t happen. In addition to ensuring adequate resources for all sites, we avoid overselling by limiting the number of accounts on each server.

We follow a transparent policy so that whichever plan you choose, you’ll know exactly what resources are allocated to it.

We aim to make plan selection easy:

• If you already have a site, you can refer to the estimated monthly visits shown in the table for each plan.
• If it’s a new project, you can start with the most affordable plan and easily scale up to a plan with more resources as needed.

PHP Versions

A versatile hosting service should offer the ability to customize your site’s configuration to avoid conflicts. Special attention should be given to the PHP version in use, as not all providers allow customization or version selection.

With SupportHost, you can easily change the PHP version across all plans. The process is straightforward: simply use the PHP selector in cPanel. You can also assign different PHP versions to specific folders, allowing you to modify the version for just one folder or subdomain within your account.

As new stable and updated PHP versions are released, they will be made available to you. Currently, the versions you can choose from are: 4.4 / 5.1 / 5.2 / 5.3 / 5.4 / 5.5 / 5.6 / 7.0 / 7.1 / 7.2 / 7.3 / 7.4 / 8.0 / 8.1 / 8.2 / 8.3.

Please note that when activating a new plan, the latest stable version is always set by default for security reasons.

WP Engine also enables you to change the PHP version, with options between 7.4 and 8.0. However, we are unsure how frequently they update the available versions. For instance, as of today, the most recent version (8.2) is not yet available.

Staging

When developing a website, it’s common to revisit your work multiple times—making changes, undoing them, or deciding to alter the design.

While implementing these changes, especially when your site is live, it’s crucial not to disrupt the experience for visitors. Instead of making changes directly on the live site and risking complications, it’s better to work on a copy.

The most practical approach is to use the staging function, which allows you to create a safe working environment where you can test changes and modifications without affecting the live site.

Your visitors can continue browsing the live site while you make updates in a staging environment. Once you’re done, you can apply the changes to the live site, and your visitors will see the new version.

However, if you work directly on the live site and a change affects the functionality of any element on the page, your visitors may encounter issues. For example, consider newsletter sign-up buttons that stop working or the layout of the page becoming distorted.

Recognizing the importance of staging, at SupportHost we’ve included it free of charge with all hosting plans, even the most affordable ones.

Staging is also available with WP Engine, though it’s unclear if it’s as user-friendly as our one-click feature. Sometimes advanced tools can be difficult to use and may not be accessible to everyone.

Backup

SupportHost provides automatic daily backups at no extra cost, thanks to our integration with Jetbackup. You can also manually create backups at any time via cPanel.

For VPS and dedicated server plans, we create a daily snapshot of the entire account and retain the last 7 copies. You can optionally add a disaster recovery service to this backup system.

All other plans feature daily backups that are stored for 30 days. Even with shared and WordPress hosting plans, you’re well-covered in case of issues.

WP Engine also offers automatic daily backups, but their site doesn’t specify how long they are kept.

More advanced options

SupportHost includes site management tools that WP Engine does not provide.

With SupportHost, all plans include SSH access, Git, and cron jobs.

One of WP Engine’s major limitations comes from its restrictions.

WP Engine offers pre-configured solutions that significantly limit customization options for users.

Specifically, you won’t be able to edit certain configuration files, including:

• php.ini
• .htaccess
• nginx.conf (for servers running Nginx).

Additionally, the wp-config.php file is only partially editable.

Another point to consider is that WP Engine disables post revisions by default. If you want to reactivate them, you’ll need to request it from their support, and even then, they are limited (a maximum of 3 revisions, which are automatically removed every 60 days).

There are also plugin restrictions with WP Engine. For instance, plugins such as caching tools like W3 Total Cache and backup and migration plugins like Duplicator are disallowed.

In short, if you choose a WP Engine hosting plan, you won’t have full control, and you’ll need to comply with their rules. If you’re seeking more flexibility, SupportHost is the WP Engine alternative for you.

SSL Certificate

Most hosting service providers today include an SSL certificate as part of their plans. However, it’s a good idea to confirm that the certificate provided meets your specific needs.

On SupportHost, sites benefit from a free SSL certificate issued by Let’s Encrypt.

This certificate is automatically installed and renewed, meaning no manual intervention is required on your part. The included certificate is a wildcard SSL, so it’s valid not only for the primary domain associated with your account but also for all subdomains (e.g., blog.domain.com).

If you need a different type of certificate, such as an Extended Validation (EV) certificate, you can install it on any plan without restrictions.

WP Engine includes an SSL certificate that is only valid for a single domain. This means that subdomains will not have a valid SSL certificate. Additionally, with the Startup plan, you cannot import third-party certificates, so to use a different certificate, you’ll need to upgrade to a different plan.

WordPress hosting features: SupportHost vs WP Engine comparison

Let’s compare the offerings from SupportHost and WP Engine for WordPress hosting plans.

SupportHost offers four specific WordPress plans. In addition, you can choose from any of our shared or semi-dedicated plans and select WordPress (or another CMS), which will come pre-installed and ready to use. If you have more advanced needs, such as custom configurations, you can explore our VPS cloud hosting plans or dedicated server options.

WP Engine offers four “Managed WordPress” plans, varying in available storage, monthly traffic, number of websites, and the estimated number of monthly visits. Unlike SupportHost, WP Engine does not clearly indicate whether it’s easy to upgrade from one plan to another.

Per questo confronto abbiamo selezionato i piani con stima di visite mensili simili. Visto che WP Engine non mostra sul sito le risorse come CPU e RAM ci siamo potuti basare solo sul numero di visitatori.

WordPress 2 VS Startup

Features	WordPress 2 (SupportHost)	Startup (WP Engine)
Regular price	59 €/year	280 €/year
Monthly visits	30,000 Visits	25,000 Visits
Web space	40 GB SSD	10 GB
Hosted sites	1	1
Monthly traffic	Unlimited	50 GB
Free domain
Hosting features
Email accounts	Unlimited
MySQL databases	Unlimited	Unspecified
Unlimited subdomains
FTP accounts	Unlimited
WordPress preinstalled
cPanel and Softaculous
Free SSL certificate		✔
Third-party SSL certificates
PHP version of your choice		✔
Advanced features
Staging
GIT
SSH connection
Free automatic backups		✔
Free secondary MX
WP-CLI
Uptime	99.9%	99.95%
Antivirus and antispam (Email)
Editable configuration files

WordPress 4 VS Growth

Features	WordPress 4 (SupportHost)	Growth (WP Engine)
Regular price	150 €/year	1070 €/year
Monthly visits	100,000 Visits	100,000 Visits
Web space	60 GB SSD	20 GB
Hosted sites	Unlimited	10
Monthly traffic	Unlimited	200 GB
Free domain
Hosting features
Email accounts	Unlimited
MySQL databases	Unlimited	Unspecified
Unlimited subdomains
FTP accounts	Unlimited
WordPress preinstalled
cPanel and Softaculous
Free SSL certificate		✔
Third-party SSL certificates
PHP version of your choice		✔
Advanced features
Staging
GIT
SSH connection
Free automatic backups		✔
Free secondary MX
WP-CLI
Uptime	99.9%	99.95%
Antivirus and antispam (email)
Editable configuration files

It’s important to highlight a key difference between SupportHost and WP Engine. With SupportHost, the monthly visits shown in the tables are not limits but estimates to guide you in choosing the right plan.

WP Engine, however, bases its pricing on a cap for monthly visits. If you exceed this limit, you’ll be charged extra depending on how far you go beyond the threshold. It’s essential to consider this if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises on your bill.

As the table shows, there’s also a significant gap in the cost of the plans. It’s no coincidence that the most negative reviews on Trustpilot tend to focus on disappointment with the pricing.

According to user feedback, WP Engine plans are described as expensive, with performance falling short of expectations. Many users also warn about hidden costs, especially related to the monthly visit limits.

Once you exceed the visit limit for your plan, you’ll be charged an additional $2 for every 1,000 extra visits. However, these thresholds are unclear since the plan tables refer to estimated visits rather than a precise monthly limit.

A common issue is that WP Engine’s solutions are preconfigured to their standards, but buyers aren’t informed of the hardware specifications for their plans. For instance, basic details such as RAM availability, CPU, or process limits are not disclosed.

In the table we reviewed earlier, I didn’t show hardware resources because WP Engine doesn’t display them. However, SupportHost clearly shows what resources are associated with each plan on its respective pages. With SupportHost, you always know exactly what you’re purchasing.

Alternative to WP Engine: hosting plans for WooCommerce

WP Engine’s eCommerce plans offer the same features as its WordPress plans, with the exception of a few added features like automatic plugin updates.

Once again, the hardware resources for these plans aren’t specified, and since the estimated monthly visits remain the same, it’s safe to assume there’s no difference from the WordPress plans.

SupportHost offers four WooCommerce hosting plans, all equipped with LiteSpeed to ensure optimal performance.

These plans are designed specifically for the needs of eCommerce, and we’ve structured them to include more hardware resources compared to WordPress plans. It’s no surprise that even the entry-level plan (WooCommerce 1) can handle approximately 45,000 visits per month.

Tip: With LiteSpeed and LSCache, you get a caching system that helps boost the performance of your eCommerce site.

Speaking of which:

• SupportHost’s entry-level WooCommerce plan costs €69 per year (including renewal).
• WP Engine’s Startup eCommerce plan has a regular renewal cost of €408 per year.

Free migration

If you want to migrate from WP Engine or another hosting provider, you can take advantage of our free migration service.

When you switch to SupportHost, you won’t have to worry about transferring your site. One of our technicians will handle the migration for you. All you need to do is request the transfer and provide us with the necessary details.

With WP Engine, the migration is performed via a plugin. This means you’ll need to manage the site transfer yourself and ensure there’s no data loss or site downtime during the process.

24-Hour expert support

At SupportHost, we treat every customer the same: personalized support from real experts. Unlike other providers that categorize support into tiers and offer different levels based on the plan you purchase, at SupportHost, our technicians are available 24 hours a day, no matter what.

The preferred method of contact is through our ticketing system. Simply reach out, and we’ll provide a solution to your issue quickly. If you have specific needs, you can also request a callback. Unlike WP Engine, which doesn’t seem to offer multilingual support, we provide assistance in both Italian and English.

With WP Engine, the available contact channels vary by plan. For example, with the Startup plan, only chat support is available.

According to feedback from some WP Engine customers, support access is often unnecessarily complicated by the use of a bot, which directs users to different channels but delays contact with an actual representative. Additionally, reviews have indicated a general decline in WP Engine’s support quality over recent years.

Affiliation

If you’re seeking an affiliate program with recurring commissions, SupportHost is the best alternative to WP Engine.

With WP Engine, you can choose commissions only on the first payment: 100% of the referred client’s first payment of the month or $200.

SupportHost, on the other hand, offers recurring commissions: you receive 15% every time the client renews. Alternatively, you can opt for a one-time payment equal to 40% of the client’s initial purchase.

Differences between SupportHost and WP Engine

In the table below, we’ve highlighted the key differences between the hosting solutions offered by SupportHost and WP Engine.

SupportHost	WP Engine
At SupportHost, we prioritize transparency. Our prices remain consistent, even at renewal, ensuring you always know exactly what you’ll pay—no unpleasant surprises.	WP Engine offers an initial discount, making the plans appear cheaper. However, upon renewal, the situation changes. You also need to be mindful of exceeding monthly visit limits, as this will incur additional charges.
Our hosting plans are all-inclusive: you can register or transfer a domain, and it’s included in the price permanently.	WP Engine does not offer domain registration; you’ll need to register your domain elsewhere and account for the extra cost.
With SupportHost, you can create unlimited email accounts with our hosting plans.	WP Engine does not provide email hosting, meaning you’ll need to use a third-party service for email functionality.
Every SupportHost plan comes with daily automatic backups, and with our WordPress plans, backups are stored for 30 days.	WP Engine includes daily backups, it’s unclear how long they are retained.
Before purchasing, you can review the hardware resources available to you, including RAM, CPU, and disk space.	WP Engine provides preconfigured solutions but does not disclose the technical specifications of its plans.
We offer advanced tools like SSH access, and you can edit configuration files such as .htaccess and wp-config.php, giving you full control over your WordPress site.	With WP Engine, control is limited: you cannot edit configuration files, article revisions are disabled, and certain plugins are restricted from installation.
All our plans include an SSL certificate that covers subdomains as well.	WP Engine’s SSL certificate does not extend to subdomains.
We provide free site migration services. If you switch to SupportHost, one of our technicians will handle the transfer for you.	Switching to WP Engine requires you to use a plugin, and you’ll need to manage the migration yourself.
At SupportHost, our support response time is guaranteed. We offer support in both English and Italian.	WP Engine appears to only offer support in English, without multilingual options.

Switch to SupportHost

You can make the switch from WP Engine to SupportHost with ease, knowing our support team will handle your migration for free.

Want to confirm that SupportHost is a reliable alternative to WP Engine?

Activate a 14-day trial plan—completely free of charge and risks. No credit card required, and no automatic renewals. It’s as straightforward as it sounds.