Cloudways vs WP Engine for WordPress Hosting
Cloudways and WP Engine both sell managed WordPress hosting, but they make very different tradeoffs. Here is how I think about pricing, resource limits, backups, security, performance, Safe Updates, support, and which one I would choose for real client sites.
Cloudways sponsored this comparison of Cloudways and WP Engine for practical WordPress hosting decisions, including pricing, backups, security, speed, Safe Updates, and support.
Cloudways offer: $10 in free hosting credits with exclusive promo code DAVESWIFT — https://unified.cloudways.com/signup?id=268444&coupon=DAVESWIFT&data1=DVSwA
Cloudways WP Engine comparison: https://www.cloudways.com/en/wpengine-alternative.php?id=268444&data1=DVSwA
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting for WordPress, WooCommerce, PHP applications, and scalable business sites.
WordPress site owners, agencies, WooCommerce stores, LMS sites, and businesses that want managed hosting with more control over cloud resources.
WP Engine, managed WordPress hosts, DigitalOcean/Vultr/Linode self-management
Why I compared Cloudways and WP Engine
This comparison came from a real client conversation. A new WordPress client recognized the WP Engine name and wanted to start there, but my experience with client sites has usually moved in the opposite direction: after a short period, we end up migrating away from WP Engine to something with more flexibility and better value.
Cloudways sponsored the video and is offering Dave Swift viewers $10 in free hosting credits with promo code DAVESWIFT, but the angle is based on how I actually think about hosting for e-commerce sites, learning sites, and client projects. Hosting decisions are nuanced. WP Engine can be a fit for some teams. My point is that for the kinds of dynamic WordPress sites I usually work on, Cloudways gives me more room to choose the server, scale the resources, and control costs.
The pricing difference is the first big signal
WP Engine’s entry pricing looks simple at first, but the base plan quickly feels tight for a serious WordPress site. In the video, the essential plan starts around the low-thirty-dollar range per month, with annual billing pushed up front, one site, 10 GB of storage, 75 GB of bandwidth, and a visit estimate that can become awkward for traffic spikes or dynamic sites.
That visit-based framing matters. If you are building a WooCommerce store, LMS, membership site, or any site with carts, logins, and personalized pages, you are already in the category where caching and traffic estimates get more complicated. The exact site size matters, but I would rather pay for resources I understand than worry that normal growth or bot traffic changes the economics of the plan.
Cloudways feels more like renting useful server resources
Cloudways starts from a different model. You choose a provider and server size, then pay for the resources. The entry DigitalOcean plans give you more storage than WP Engine’s entry plan and use bandwidth instead of a simple visit count. You can also spin up a server for a short test, pay hourly, and tear it down if the idea does not work.
That is a better fit for experimentation. If I want to test a plugin, stage a client idea, or build a small proof-of-concept, I do not want a full annual hosting commitment just to see whether the idea has legs. Cloudways makes that kind of testing feel normal.
Provider choice is a practical advantage
Cloudways does not hide the underlying cloud. You can choose DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, or Google Cloud options depending on the workload and budget. I usually lean toward DigitalOcean or Vultr because they are strong defaults for the kinds of WordPress and WooCommerce sites I manage.
That choice is useful because not every site needs the same hardware profile. A brochure site, a WooCommerce store, and a LearnDash site do not stress a server in the same way. Cloudways lets you start where the project is today, then scale up when the site earns the need for more resources.
Managed still means managed
A common reason people pick WP Engine is that they want managed WordPress hosting instead of raw server administration. That is reasonable. But Cloudways is also managed in the way most practical WordPress clients need: PHP, the database stack, Nginx, server setup, application launch, SSL, backups, and common operational tasks are exposed through a dashboard instead of forcing you into command-line server work.
At about 09:41 in the video, I launch a Cloudways server and WordPress application from the dashboard. The point is not that every client should care about server details. The point is that the technical control is there when you need it, while the normal site-management flow stays approachable.
Backups are close, but Cloudways gives useful levels of control
Both platforms support backups, including scheduled backups and on-demand backups. Cloudways gives you server-level backups and application-level backups, which matters if you run more than one WordPress site on the same server. You can back up one site before a risky change without treating the entire server as the unit of work.
Cloudways also supports local backups if you need a downloadable copy, while off-site backups remain the default operational safety net. For most client work, that combination is enough: scheduled off-site backups, on-demand backups before changes, and a restore path that does not require opening a support ticket for routine rollbacks.
Security is where the add-ons start to matter
WP Engine includes managed security positioning, but the details can feel bundled and proprietary from the outside. If you want more advanced protection, DDoS layers, uptime monitoring, or similar options, the cost can climb quickly.
Cloudways takes a more modular approach. You can add Cloudflare Enterprise through Cloudways for a small per-domain monthly cost, and that brings a serious firewall/CDN layer into the stack. You can also add malware protection through Imunify360 for automatic scanning and cleanup. Those are still add-ons, but the value is easier to understand because they are tied to recognizable security tools.
Performance is not just one plugin
Site speed affects conversion, especially for stores, course sites, and lead-generation sites. WP Engine’s NitroPack add-on can help with optimization, but it is another monthly cost on top of the hosting plan.
Cloudways starts with its server stack, then layers in tools like Breeze, Cloudflare Enterprise, and Object Cache Pro. Object Cache Pro is especially important for WooCommerce and LMS sites because database-heavy pages are often where normal page caching stops helping. Getting that included in the Cloudways stack changes the value calculation pretty dramatically.
Safe Updates closes a common WordPress maintenance gap
Automatic plugin updates are useful only if they do not quietly break the site. WP Engine offers automated plugin updates with visual regression testing as an add-on. Cloudways has a similar feature called Safe Updates.
Safe Updates can run plugin updates, perform visual regression checks, and help roll back if something breaks. In the video, I call this a fairly even category in terms of capability. The difference is that Cloudways keeps the per-site pricing low enough that it is easier to justify across multiple client sites.
Support depends on how much help you expect
Both platforms have support paths, but the structure is different. WP Engine includes chat support on lower tiers and phone support on higher plans. Cloudways includes 24/7 chat and ticket support, then offers advanced and premium support plans for more hands-on help.
The advanced Cloudways support tier is interesting because it includes proactive investigation. If Cloudways detects a problem, their team can investigate instead of only sending you an alert. For agencies or business owners who want managed hosting but do not want every server issue dumped in their lap, that is the kind of support upgrade that can make sense.
Who I would choose Cloudways for
I would look hard at Cloudways for WooCommerce stores, LMS sites, membership sites, agency-managed client sites, and builders who want more control than a tightly boxed managed WordPress plan. It is especially compelling when you care about bandwidth, storage, server choice, Cloudflare Enterprise, Object Cache Pro, and the ability to scale resources without changing hosting philosophies.
I would still be honest about fit. If a team wants a completely hands-off, single-vendor, enterprise-style WordPress relationship and does not care much about cost efficiency, WP Engine may still be comfortable. But for most practical WordPress operators I work with, Cloudways gives more useful control for the money.
My take
For the WordPress sites I usually advise on — client sites, WooCommerce stores, learning sites, and projects that need room to grow — I would usually start with Cloudways before WP Engine. The combination of server choice, bandwidth-based resource thinking, Cloudflare Enterprise, Object Cache Pro, Safe Updates, backups, and scalable support makes the total package stronger for the money.
That does not mean WP Engine is useless or wrong for everyone. It means that if you are choosing hosting based on practical value, flexibility, and the ability to run dynamic WordPress sites without getting boxed into tight limits, Cloudways deserves a serious look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cloudways cheaper than WP Engine?
In the comparison shown in the video, Cloudways generally gives more server resources and flexibility for the money. The exact cost depends on provider, server size, add-ons, and traffic, but Cloudways can be much more cost-effective for dynamic WordPress sites.
Is this a sponsored Cloudways video?
Yes. Cloudways sponsored the video and is offering Dave Swift viewers $10 in free hosting credits with promo code DAVESWIFT, and I disclose that clearly. The comparison is still based on how I evaluate hosting for real WordPress and client sites.
Does Cloudways include backups?
Cloudways supports scheduled off-site backups, on-demand backups, server-level backups, and application-level backups. Local backups are also available when you need a downloadable copy.
What is the biggest WP Engine limitation discussed here?
The main issue is not one single feature. It is the combination of visit/resource limits, low entry storage, and paid add-ons that can make the total cost climb for dynamic WordPress sites.
Why does Object Cache Pro matter for WordPress hosting?
Object Cache Pro can improve database-heavy WordPress workloads, especially WooCommerce, LMS, and membership sites. Those sites often need more than simple page caching because carts, logins, and course progress are dynamic.
Can Cloudways run WooCommerce sites?
Yes. Cloudways can launch optimized WordPress and WooCommerce applications, and it offers server choices, caching, Cloudflare, backups, malware protection, and Safe Updates that are useful for WooCommerce.
Who should still consider WP Engine?
WP Engine can make sense for teams that want a familiar managed WordPress brand, a more boxed-in hosting model, and do not mind paying more for that experience. For many practical client sites, I prefer the flexibility of Cloudways.
