Best WPEngine Alternatives – Recommended by Small Business Owners – Monetize.info
You have probably already heard about the recent legal battle between Automattic and WPEngine regarding WordPress brand usage. So, naturally, business owners are starting to fear for their websites’ integrity or the continuity of the hosting service and are looking for WP Engine alternatives.
Fortunately, we are not short on options, so in the following article, I will show you the six best alternatives of WPEngine you can migrate to.
WP Hosting
$ 1st Year/2nd+
Sites / Space / Traffic
Money Back
Recommended
1. WPX.net
$249.9 / $249.9
5 / 15 GB / 200 GB
30 days
Best Overall
2. DreamHost
$299 / $347.88
1 / 60GB / 300K
97 days
Best For Non-techs
3. Kinsta
$300 / $300
1 / 10 / 100GB
30 days
Best for Enterprises
4. Hostinger
$47.88 / $167.88
100 / 200 GB / 100K
30 days
Best Cost-effective
5. SiteGround
$35.88 / $215.88
1 / 10 / 10K
30 days
Best For Content Creators
6. WordPress.com
$300 / $300
1 / 50GB / Unmetered
14 days
Best For Bloggers
Our opinion about WPEngine
Before looking into the options, I would like to add that WPEngine is a reputable company with many happy customers worldwide, so there is no reason to leave if you get everything you want from your WordPress hosting provider.
However, besides the legal brand issues, some users have switched their WordPress hosting from WPEngine to other providers for other reasons.
According to the reviews left on TrustPilot, these reasons include unauthorized extra card charges, intrusive sales tactics, lack of transparency, rising costs, lack of revisions in WordPress, or concerns regarding the support received.
Best WordPress Hosting for Small Business Owners
We regularly conduct surveys in our community and monitor trends to find out what business owners evaluate the most in a hosting provider.
For instance, most hard-core WordPress developers need advanced tools, the latest software releases, and the best hardware. On the other hand, business owners value managed services, regular backups, good security and uptime, fast 24/7 support, and predictable charges.
With these in mind, I started analyzing dozens of WordPress hosts to find the best options for someone looking to switch from WPEngine.
Here are my top picks for the best WP Engine alternatives that are more affordable and reliable.
WPX.net – Our recommended Managed WordPress Hosting
WPX.net is a professionally managed WordPress hosting provider known for its high-speed performance, reasonable pricing, and customer-focused services. It offers fast loading times, aided by a custom CDN with 37 global endpoints and features like email inboxes, free daily backups, unlimited SSL certificates, and malware removal.
WPX supports up to 5 websites on its entry plan, which starts at $24.99/month (or $20.83 if paid yearly) and provides 15GB of storage and 200GB of bandwidth. The hosting is optimized for speed and reliability, with DDoS protection, LiteSpeed servers, and the “Fixed for you” guarantee for any issues.
Screenshot of the WPX.net Homepage
WPX.net Business Plan Specs:
Yearly price: $249.9/1st year
Renews at: $249.9/year
Money-Back: 30 days
Trustpilot score: 4.9/5
Free Domain: No
Free Migration: Yes
Sites Allowed: 5
Disk Space: 15GB
Traffic: 200GB Bandwidth
Check the PROs and CONs of WPX.net and decide if it is a good WPEngine alternative for you:
PROs of WPX.net
Fast and reliable professional hosting built on Google Cloud
It offers email hosting, so you don’t have to buy a 3rd party service
24/7 customer support with quick response times
Up to 5 websites can be hosted on the smallest plan
Free SSL and automatic updates
Free automated site migration included
The price is fixed and doesn’t go up after the initial term
The number of visitors is not capped, so you will not be overcharged
Have a lot of educational resources (guides, tutorials)
Endorsed by highly skilled SEOs and digital entrepreneurs
WPX.net Hosting is Best For:
JPs, Small & Medium Businesses: WPX is favored by businesses looking for fast, secure, and hassle-free managed WordPress hosting with excellent customer support.
Non-technical JPs – WPX provides hands-on customer support and offers a Fix-For-You service, appealing to users who prefer not to handle technical issues themselves
eCommerce Businesses – Fast loading speeds, reliability, and availability of LiteSpeed caching make it suitable for online stores where speed directly impacts sales and customer experience.
International Websites – WPX’s global data centers and free CDN make it suitable for websites targeting a global audience, ensuring faster load times regardless of location.
Content Creators and Bloggers – WPX’s fast load times and built-in CDN help optimize user experience and SEO, making it great for bloggers and content-heavy websites that rely on high performance.
Our Experience with WPX.net
WPX’s exceptional speed with a custom-built CDN ensures my sites load lightning-fast for users worldwide, which is crucial for SEO and user retention. Their 24/7 live chat support responds in under one minute and quickly handles all my tech issues.
The performance and support they offer give me the peace of mind to focus on growing my digital properties. In short, WPX.net has consistently delivered fast performance and reliability.
Want to find out more about the differences between WPX.net and WPEngine? Check this article.
Switch to WPX Managed Hosting
DreamHost – Best WPEngine alternative for Non-Techs
DreamHost WordPress hosting is designed to deliver a robust, reliable, and user-friendly experience for website owners. It features Optimized Performance as it utilizes SSD storage and a caching system, a User-Friendly Interface, Strong Security Features, 24/7 Customer Support, and Flexible Pricing. In addition, it comes with a 97-day money-back guarantee.
DreamHost is an excellent choice for reliable, performance-focused WordPress business hosting.
DreamHost specs:
Yearly price: $299/1st year
Renews at: $347.88/year
Money-Back: 97 days
Trustpilot score: 4.6/5
Free Domain: Yes (1st year)
Free Migration: Yes
Sites Allowed: 1
Disk Space: 60GB
Traffic: ~300,000 visitors
Check the PROs and CONs of DreamHost and decide if it is a good WPEngine alternative for you:
PROs of DreamHost
It comes with a WP AI Builder
It offers a 97-day money-back guarantee to try the service risk-free.
24/7 customer support with quick response times
Free SSL and automatic updates
Free automated site migration included
Committed to sustainability, operating on 100% renewable energy
CONs of DreamHost
Higher price compared with the competitors
The renewal price is higher after the initial term
No phone support
DreamHost is best for:
Small to Medium Businesses – With its reliable performance, strong security features, and competitive pricing, DreamHost is a great choice for SMBs
Non-Technical Users – DreamHost’s user-friendly control panel and extensive documentation make it accessible for those who may not have technical expertise
Environmentally Conscious Users – DreamHost operates on 100% renewable energy, appealing to users who prioritize sustainability in their hosting choices.
Our Experience with DreamHost
Reading their reviews of DreamHost and talking with business owners, I can conclude that they generally have a positive experience, especially regarding performance, support, and ease of use.
Want to find out more about the differences between DreamHost and WPEngine? Check this article.
Switch to DreamHost Managed Hosting
Kinsta – Best WPEngine alternative for Enterprises
Kinsta is a good WPEngine alternative for WordPress-managed hosting
Kinsta is a premium managed WordPress hosting provider built on Google Cloud’s premium tier network. It’s known for delivering fast speeds, top-tier security, and exceptional support, making it one of the best choices for high-performance WordPress hosting.
Kinsta offers fully managed hosting with features like automatic backups, a free CDN, and staging environments. With its cloud infrastructure, Kinsta ensures optimal speed and reliability for websites with high traffic demands.
Kinsta Business Plan Specs:
Yearly price: $300/1st year
Renews at: $300/year
Money-Back: 30 days
Trustpilot score: 4.8/5
Free Domain: No
Free Migration: Yes
Sites Allowed: 1
Disk Space: 10GB
Traffic: 100GB Bandwidth
Check the PROs and CONs of Kinsta and decide if it’s a good alternative to WPEngine for you:
PROs of Kinsta
Built on Google Cloud’s premium network for optimal performance and scalability
24/7 customer support with fast response times
Automatic daily backups, free SSL certificates, firewalls, and DDoS protection
Intuitive dashboard for easy site management
Features like analytics, staging environments, and automatic backups are included.
CONs of Kinsta
High pricing compared with their competitors
Low storage space on first plans, which may “force you” to upgrade pretty quickly
There is no phone support offered
There is no email hosting, so you will have to rely on 3rd party providers
Kinsta Hosting is Best For:
High-Traffic Websites – Their infrastructure powered by Google Cloud provides excellent performance, making it ideal for websites that handle a lot of visitors
Businesses and Enterprises – With its premium features, scalability, and top-tier security, Kinsta is a great choice for companies and enterprises that require a reliable, high-performance platform to ensure uptime and fast load times.
Agencies and Developers—Kinsta is an attractive option for web developers and agencies managing multiple client websites. It offers tools like staging environments, Git, SSH access, and site cloning.
E-commerce Sites – The platform’s speed optimization, CDN integration, and security features (such as automatic backups and DDoS protection) make it an excellent choice for e-commerce businesses using WooCommerce.
Our Experience with Kinsta
Their 24/7 live chat support responds in under one minute and quickly handles all my tech issues. The performance and support they offer give me the peace of mind to focus on growing my digital properties. In short, WPX.net has consistently delivered fast performance and reliability.
You can read an actual performance comparison between Kinsta and WPEngine here.
Switch to Kinsta Managed Hosting
Hostinger – Best Cost-Effective WPEngine alternative
Hostinger is one of the most affordable WordPress hosting providers, offering a great combination of price, performance, and support. It is ideal for small businesses and personal websites looking for budget-friendly managed WordPress hosting without compromising quality.
We particularly found its customer service to be one of the best in the industry, with faster response times and quicker resolutions.
Hostinger provides fast load times, free SSL, and built-in caching. For a performance boost, it uses LiteSpeed web servers and caching with custom tweaks to further optimize it for WordPress websites. Hostinger also offers a straightforward and easy-to-use control panel for beginners.
Hostinger is a cost-effective alternative to WPEngine
Hostinger Business Plan Specs:
Yearly price: $47.99/year
Renews at: $143.88/year
Money-Back: 30 days
Trustpilot score: 4.6/5
Free Domain: Yes
Free Migration: Yes
Sites Allowed: 100
Disk Space: 200GB
Traffic: ~100 000 visits monthly
The pricing for the first year and renewals has been calculated using their 4-year pricing plan and the monthly renewal after that.
Check the PROs and CONs of Hostinger and decide if it is a good WPEngine alternative for you:
PROs of Hostinger
Offers some of the most competitive prices in the industry, starting at $2.99/month
24/7 customer support with pretty quick response times
Up to 100 websites can be hosted on the business plan
Free SSL and automatic updates
Free automated site migration included
CONs of Hostinger
Can be forced to switch to a higher plan or overcharged in case of an attack as the number of visitors is limited
During checkout, there are upsells for services such as emails, backups, domain privacy, or advanced security.
Some users report slow response times or varying quality in resolving complex issues.
Hostinger.net Hosting is Best For:
JPs and Small Businesses: Hostinger offers cost-effective business plans perfect for startups and growing businesses.
WooCommerce Websites: LiteSpeed caching’s fast loading speeds, reliability, and availability make it suitable for online stores where speed directly impacts sales and customer experience.
International Websites: Hostinger’s global data centers and free CDN (Content Delivery Network) suit websites targeting a global audience, ensuring faster load times regardless of location.
JPs with Multiple Websites: Offering up to 100 website hosting in one package makes it a perfect choice to host a network of sites
Read here a side-by-side comparison of Hostinger and WPEngine services.
Our Experience with Hostinger
Hostinger offers excellent value for its price point. It provides fast speeds and helpful features for beginners and small businesses. Its customer support is responsive and available 24/7.
Switch to Hostinger Managed Hosting
SiteGround – Best WPEngine Alternative for Content Creators
SiteGround is one of the most popular WordPress hosting providers, known for excellent customer service, fast speeds, and rock-solid security. Whether you’re a beginner or an established business, SiteGround offers reliable hosting with scalable options.
Their hosting infrastructure is built on Google Cloud, offering fast loading speeds and excellent uptime. It also provides free SSL certificates, automatic updates, daily backups, and built-in caching for faster performance.
SiteGround specs:
Yearly price: $35.88/1st year
Renews at: $215.88/year
Money-Back: 30 days
Trustpilot score: 4.8/5
Free Domain: Yes (1st year)
Free Migration: Yes
Sites Allowed: 1
Disk Space: 10GB
Traffic: 10,000 visitors
SiteGround is our 2nd WPEngine alternative.
Check the PROs and CONs of SiteGround and decide on a good WPEngine alternative:
PROs of SiteGround
Fast and reliable hosting built on Google Cloud
Have a lot of educational resources (guides, tutorials)
24/7 customer support with quick response times
Free SSL and automatic updates
Free automated site migration included
CONs of SiteGround
Higher renewal prices after the initial term
Limited storage on lower-tier plans
Expert site migration costs an extra $30
SiteGround is best for:
Small to Medium-Sized Businesses – SiteGround’s reliable performance, affordability, and easy-to-use tools make it ideal for small and medium businesses looking for quality hosting.
Bloggers and Content Creators—SiteGround offers features like automatic WordPress updates, one-click staging, and daily backups that are great for bloggers and content creators who want a hassle-free hosting experience.
Users Seeking Top Customer Support – SiteGround is known for its 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and tickets, making it great for users who value responsive customer service.
Security-Focused Users – It offers advanced security features like free SSL, daily backups, and proactive monitoring, making it a good fit for users who prioritize security and data protection.
Read here for a side-by-side comparison between WPEngine and SiteGround.
Our Experience with SiteGround
I haven’t used SiteGround yet, but reading their reviews on TrustPilot and talking with entrepreneurs makes me strongly believe that their solid uptime, responsive customer support, and fast loading speeds would satisfy most business owners.
Switch to SiteGround Managed Hosting
WordPress.com – Best WPEngine alternative for Bloggers
WordPress.com is a popular hosted platform for building websites. Its paid plans start at $4/mo for personal websites, but you can’t install plugins. If you switch from WP Engine, you must begin with at least its Business plan ($25/mo) or the Commerce plan ($45/mo) if you run an online shop.
With WordPress.com, you will get powerful performance with global edge caching and high-burst capacity. The number of visitors is also unrestricted, which makes it a good choice for high-traffic websites.
For security, WordPress.com comes with a built-in firewall and CDN. This protects your website against malware, DDoS attacks, and other security threats. It also offers built-in site backups and easy 1-click site restoration for extra peace of mind.
WordPress is a good WPEngine alternative
WordPress.com Business Plan Specs:
Yearly price: $300/1st year
Renews at: $300/year
Money-Back: 14 days
Trustpilot score: 1.6/5
Free Domain: Yes (1st year)
Free Migration: Yes
Sites Allowed: 1
Disk Space: 50GB
Unmetered Traffic: Yes
Check the PROs and CONs of WordPress.com and decide if it is a good WPEngine alternative for you:
PROs of WordPress.com
Unrestricted traffic
Global CDN with 28+ locations
Automatic updates and built-in security
SEO and Management built-in tools
Easy-to-use site management
WP Engine customers are offered free website migration
CONs of WordPress.com
Limited flexibility compared to self-hosted WordPress.org
Customizations and plugins are only available on higher-tier plans
No free migration services
WordPress.com is Best For:
Bloggers and Personal Websites – It’s a top choice for bloggers due to its focus on content creation, built-in themes, and seamless integration with the WordPress editor.
Beginners and Non-Technical Users—This is an easy-to-use platform with pre-configured settings, ideal for those without technical expertise.
Small Websites – WordPress.com is well-suited for simple personal sites, portfolios, and small business websites that don’t require advanced customization or scalability.
Hassle-Free Maintenance – WordPress.com handles security, backups, and updates automatically, making it ideal for users who prefer a hands-off approach to site management.
Read here for a side-by-side comparison between WPEngine and WordPress.com.
Our Experience with WordPress.com
We used WordPress.com for hosting when we started, and we’ve been pretty happy with considering all the integrations and features of the platform, like Jetpack, along with free themes and customization. However, after our website had grown, we had to move, but I can recommend WordPress.com for bloggers, non-tech users, and beginners.
Switch to WordPress Managed Hosting
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you find the best alternative to WP Engine for your hosting needs. If you are considering switching from WPEngine, tell me why and what alternative you would choose.