This WP Engine review helps you to learn more about this provider and to make an informed choice about whether they represent a good choice for hosting your own website. Established in 2010 in Texas, WP Engine is a specialist WordPress hosting provider which has become increasingly popular over the years. In its first year of operation it turned over more than $1 million and since that time it has just gone from strength to strength. As a WordPress hosting specialist, WP Engine do not offer any other types of packages, so WP Engine shared hosting is not an option. However they do cater well for the needs of the million of websites all over the world that are supported by the WordPress application.
Address: WP ENGINE, 504 LAVACA STREET, SUITE 1000, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701, UNITED STATES
Mobile No: +1.512.827.3500
E-mail: SALES@WPENGINE.COM
Sales Hours: 7AM – 7PM
WP Engine Web Hosting Plans
While no WP Engine shared hosting plan exists, there are four different WordPress hosting plans to select from. Their premium package can be customised to meet the needs of the customer while the other three packages have unlimited bandwidth but restrictions on the amount of data storage and visitor numbers they can receive every month.
The Personal plan is aimed at the needs of individual small-scale bloggers and permits one WordPress install with a total of 25,000 visitors each month. The next level Professional plan has a more generous allowance of up to 100,000 visitors monthly and up to 10 installs while the Business plan allows for 25 installs and as many as 400,000 visitors each month.
It is worth noting that the number of visitors is defined by WP Engine internally and may not correspond with the figures provided by Google Analytics. The definition of a visit is a unique IP address which visits the site within a period of 24 hours. If bots and crawlers visit your site, this also counts against your total of visitors for the month.
Compared to some other providers, these are not especially appealing plans as some competitors offer lower prices with unlimited visitor numbers and data storage. The WP Engine Personal plan starts at a hefty $29 per month which is a lot more than some other companies are asking for more features.
As WP Engine is a dedicated WordPress hosting service, the WordPress content management system is already installed. WP Engine makes it very simple to create content even for those who have no previous experience and their system is compatible with most popular plug ins. Unlike some other providers however it is not a standard web hosting service so it is not possible to migrate a non-WordPress site from your own Linux or Windows based server.
WP Engine Security and Customer Service
The WP Engine data centres are locked down, with no access permitted by company personnel. The firm also employ 2 security firms to continuously audit their systems for any exploits. Servers are also regularly scanned for viruses and any hacks, so customers can rest assured of the safety of their data. As every customer has a separate install, hosted on individual databases with their own security details, the chance of being hacked is minimal. Automatic backups are carried out every day and the data is stored for a full 60 days. Your site will be scanned for malware every day, and should you be hacked you can have peace of mind that any damage will be rectified by the WP Engine technical team free of charge.
WP Engine provide a very comprehensive knowledgebase to give support to customers, or they can use a password protected ticket system. Although there is a telephone helpline, this is only open between the hours of 9 AM and 6 PM CST which is not particularly convenient when compared to WP Engine’s competitors, however response times are fairly rapid and the team are knowledgeable. Outside these hours, email support can be provided 24/7.
Extra Features Offered With WP Engine Web Hosting
WP Engine guarantee that an uptime of 100% with compensation of 5% of the monthly fee paid for every hour of downtime experienced. This policy is clearly outlined in the Service Level Agreement.
Customers can choose from one of three data centres – London, Tokyo or Texas depending on their sphere of operation. Customers can opt to switch data centres without having to cancel their plan.
Should you find that your package does not meet your website’s needs you can take advantage of the generous 60 day money back guarantee, double the length of the satisfaction guarantee offered by some other providers.
What Are the Upsides and Downsides of WP Engine Web Hosting?
A disadvantage of WP Engine web hosting is that it is only specifically designed for WordPress sites which means you cannot migate a non-WordPress site from any other provider. WP Engine also do not provide any email addresses so you have to look to another provider in order to obtain this feature.
Anyone who is wanting a site specifically for WordPress is sure to be able to find a suitable package to meet their needs from WP Engine, however some of the functionality and features are more basic than those offered by other suppliers and the cap on data and vistor numbers can be a deterrent. While WP Engine’s packages are considerably more expensive than other traditional shared hosting providers, you are paying extra for a WordPress tailored service and you will be able to guarantee that you will be able to access the best level of support on the product should you suffer from a problem. WP Engine help you to get the most out of your WordPress website.