Compared 2026-09-05 using published specs and documentation.
WP Engine is one of the oldest premium managed WordPress hosts. Cloudways adds a full managed layer — 24/7 support, backups, security patching, staging and scaling tools — on top of raw cloud servers. The comparison below uses published pricing from both providers' official pages.
Spec-by-spec
| Feature | Cloudways | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $11/mo ✔ | ~$20-25/mo (Startup) |
| Visit caps | None (server-dependent) ✔ | Yes, per plan |
| Apps | WordPress + 15 more ✔ | WordPress only |
| Free trial | 3-day ✔ | 60-day money-back (paid upfront) |
| Built-in CDN | CloudwaysCDN add-on | Included ✔ |
| Backups | Daily automated | Daily automated |
| Support | 24/7 | 24/7 |
Price per real capacity
WP Engine's entry plan caps visits and installs. Cloudways' $11 server has no artificial caps, and you scale resources with a click when traffic grows — usually cheaper than jumping WP Engine tiers.
If you only run WordPress
WP Engine's platform is undeniably refined. But its premium shows in price, and you're locked into a WordPress-only ecosystem. Cloudways keeps every future option open.
Our verdict
Winner: Cloudways on value and flexibility. WP Engine remains a premium option for WordPress-only teams that want maximum platform polish.
★★★★½ 4.7/5
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WP Engine more expensive than Cloudways?
Yes — entry around $20-25/mo vs Cloudways $11/mo, and WP Engine plans cap monthly visits.
Does Cloudways include a CDN?
CloudwaysCDN is available as a cheap add-on; the base platform is already cache-optimized.
Which has better support?
Both offer 24/7 support; Cloudways support is included at every price point.
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