Cloudways vs WP Engine2026
Cloudways
Web Hosting
Managed cloud hosting on AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean without server management headaches.
WP Engine
Web Hosting
Premium managed WordPress hosting trusted by 1.5 million websites worldwide.
Our Verdict
Cloudways has the pricing advantage ($14/mo vs $20/mo).
Choose Cloudways if…
teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage
Choose WP Engine if…
teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage
Side-by-Side Comparison
Green highlight = advantage on that metric.
| Feature | Cloudways | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting price | $14/mo | $20/mo |
| Free tier | ||
| Free trial | 3 days | |
| Ratings & Reviews | ||
| User rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Features & Capabilities | ||
| Best for | small to mid-sized businesses | small to mid-sized businesses |
| Tracked features | 7 | — |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2011 | 2010 |
| Verified listing | ||
Pricing
Cloudways
SubscriptionWP Engine
SubscriptionCloudways
$14/moWP Engine
$20/moCloudways
WP Engine
Cloudways
3 daysWP Engine
Ratings & Reviews
Cloudways
No reviews yetWP Engine
No reviews yetFeatures & Capabilities
Cloudways
small to mid-sized businessesWP Engine
small to mid-sized businessesCloudways
7WP Engine
—Company
Cloudways
2011WP Engine
2010Cloudways
WP Engine
Key Differences
Cloudways
$14/mo✓
WP Engine
$20/mo
Cloudways
3 days✓
WP Engine
Not available
Cloudways is best for…
Strengths
- Managed cloud without complexity
- Choose from 5 cloud providers
- Excellent performance and uptime
- Agency-friendly
WP Engine is best for…
Strengths
- Best-in-class WordPress performance
- Staging environment on all plans
- Daily backups with one-click restore
- Expert WordPress-only support
Pricing Comparison
Cloudways
From $14/mo
DigitalOcean 1GB server from $14/month.
WP Engine
From $20/mo
Starter plan from $20/month for 1 site. Growth at $115/month.
Pricing information is verified periodically. Visit each vendor's pricing page for current rates and plan details.
Feature Comparison
Only in Cloudways
- WordPress Hosting
- Free SSL Certificate
- CDN
- Automatic Backups
- Staging Environment
- One-Click WordPress Install
- Uptime Monitoring
Alternatives & More Comparisons
Alternatives to Cloudways
Alternatives to WP Engine
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the main difference between Cloudways and WP Engine?
- Cloudways has the pricing advantage ($14/mo vs $20/mo). Choose Cloudways if you need it for teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage. Choose WP Engine if you need it for teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage.
- Is Cloudways cheaper than WP Engine?
- Cloudways is cheaper at From $14/mo vs From $20/mo. Note that pricing tiers vary — check each vendor's current pricing page for up-to-date details.
- Can I switch from Cloudways to WP Engine?
- Yes — most teams can migrate from Cloudways to WP Engine with a data export/import process. Check whether both tools support CSV or API data export before starting. It's advisable to run both tools in parallel for a short period to verify your data migrated correctly.
- Does Cloudways or WP Engine offer a free trial?
- Cloudways offers a free trial of 3 days. WP Engine does not currently offer a free trial — check their pricing page for any trial promotions.
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