SiteGround vs WP Engine (April 2024) – “The Winner!”

For managed WordPress hosting, these are two of the best choices available. But while SiteGround offers a variety of web hosting services including WordPress, WP Engine is totally focused on WP hosting. Does that make a difference? Both of these companies provide the specific resources and features necessary for excellent WordPress management and performance. So, let’s see which one is better suited for you.

Both SiteGround and WP Engine offer different levels of WordPress hosting plans from single site to more advanced or enterprise levels. On the value scale, SiteGround comes out on top as their hosting plans have impressive features but cost less than WP Engine. However, although the Business and Enterprise level plans at WP Engine are more expensive, the amount of power and resources you get are able to allow more traffic to your sites per month.

If you’re looking for managed WordPress hosting, I would definitely take a look at SiteGround and WP Engine. For personal blogs, SiteGround is probably the better choice. However, if you need small business hosting or an enterprise level solution, then WP Engine is the winner.

Video: SiteGround vs WP Engine

Check out our video for a quick overview of SiteGround vs WP Engine.

SiteGround vs WP Engine: Differences

Advantages of SiteGround over WP Engine:

• Includes WordPress Starter for Easier Site Creation
• Superior Customer Support
• SuperCacher Technology for Faster Speed

Advantages of WP Engine over SiteGround:

• Completely WordPress Focused
• Expert WordPress Support
• EverCache Technology for Faster Websites
• Free StudioPress Themes Included
• Automatic and Snapshot Data Backups
• Transferable Installs and Billing Transfer for Agencies
• Free Page Performance Diagnostics
• 60 Day Money Back Guarantee

SiteGround vs WP Engine: Website Speed and Performance

WP Engine is the winner in the website speed category. Although SiteGround still provides quality WordPress hosting, their speed isn’t quite as consistent as it used to be—at least not in our testing. By contrast, WP Engine remains one of the best web hosts that we’ve tested (and that I use personally) for overall website speed and performance. Below are some of our sample speed test results via GTmetrix:

SiteGround vs WP Engine: Website Staging

WP Engine and SiteGround both include excellent website staging functionality which is easy to use. However WP Engine includes staging with all of their hosting plans whereas SiteGround does not offer it with their StartUp plan. Additionally, WP Engine provides development, staging, and production environments. So, in this category, WP Engine is the winner.

SiteGround vs WP Engine: Data Backup and Restore

Here again, both WP Engine and SiteGround have excellent automated backup and data restore capabilities. Although as with staging, SiteGround doesn’t include on-demand backup functionality with their StartUp plan while WP Engine includes all backup capabilities with all of their managed hosting plans. So here again, WP Engine gets the advantage.

SiteGround vs WP Engine: Customer Support

Quite honestly when it comes to support, SiteGround and WP Engine are two of the absolute best choices—especially when it comes to WordPress. Both web hosts provide some of the most responsive and attentive support that I’ve ever experienced. In this category, it’s a tie.

SiteGround

Started Business: 2004
BBB Rating: A+
Data Center Location: Chicago IL, Amsterdam NL, Singapore SG, London UK

Price: $2.99 mo. – $7.99 mo.
Unlimited Bandwidth: Yes
Unlimited Storage: No (10GB – 30 GB)
Unlimited Email: Yes
Host Multiple Domains: Yes (except StartUp plan)

Hosting Interface: SiteGround Client Portal
Server Uptime: 99.9%
Full Refund Period: 30 Days
Dedicated Hosting Available: Yes

Advantages of Choosing SiteGround:

• Free website transfer.
• Servers on three continents.
• Content delivery network included.
• Managed WordPress and Joomla services available.
• In-House SuperCacher service included.
• Automatic WordPress Plugin Updates
• cPanel and Softaculous interfaces.
• They offer phone, email, and chat support.
• Fast and responsive live chat support.

Choose SiteGround if:

• You Want Less Expensive Hosting.
• You Want a Better User Interface.
• You’re a Blogger.

> Choose SiteGround

WP Engine

Started Business: 2013
BBB Rating: A-
Data Center Location: U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia

Price: $23 mo. – $56 mo. (Premium Customized Plans also available)
Unlimited Bandwidth: Yes
Unlimited Storage: No
Unlimited Email: No
Host Multiple Domains: Yes (except Personal Plan)

Hosting Interface: WP Engine Client Portal
Server Uptime: N/A
Full Refund Period: 60 Days
Dedicated Hosting Available: Yes

Advantages of Choosing WP Engine:

• You can try it risk free for 60 days.
• Faster Performance with Google Cloud Platform Virtual Machines.
• WP Engine Migration Plugin for easily transferring your site over.
• Managed upgrades and daily backups.
• Staging area environment where you can test out plugins or themes.
• Free Let’s Encrypt SSL
• Segmented Backup Downloads
• Automated Security Updates
• Expert support staff.
• They automatically scan for and fix hacking attempts on your site.
• More Data Center Location Options

Choose WP Engine if:

• You Want a Faster Website.
• You Need Premium WordPress Features.
• You’re a WordPress Developer or Agency.
• You Need Responsive Customer Support.
• You Want a Longer Money Back Guarantee.

> Choose WP Engine

How Does SiteGround Compare with Other Web Hosts?

SiteGround vs A2 Hosting
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SiteGround vs Bluehost
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SiteGround vs DreamHost
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SiteGround vs GoDaddy
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SiteGround vs GreenGeeks
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SiteGround vs HostGator
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SiteGround vs InMotion Hosting
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SiteGround vs InterServer
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SiteGround vs iPage
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SiteGround vs Jaguar PC
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SiteGround vs Liquid Web
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SiteGround vs Namecheap
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SiteGround vs Wix
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How Does WP Engine Compare with Other Web Hosts?

WP Engine vs Bluehost
While WP Engine focuses solely on managed WordPress hosting, Bluehost offers a wide variety of hosting services. Therefore, this comparison is based specifically on Bluehost’s WordPress optimized hosting versus WP Engine…

WP Engine vs DreamHost
While DreamHost features a wide array of web hosting plans and services, WP Engine focuses solely on managed WordPress hosting…

WP Engine vs HostGator
How does HostGator’s new WordPress hosting compare to WP Engine? Both WP Engine and HostGator offer three levels of Managed WordPress Hosting plans…

WP Engine vs InMotion Hosting
This comparison focuses on how InMotion’s Business Hosting Plan compares to WP Engine. In other words, how does a top non-managed hosting plan compare with a top managed hosting plan when it comes to WordPress…

WP Engine vs Liquid Web
In this comparison of WP Engine vs Liquid Web, we take a look at two titans when it comes to premium managed WordPress hosting…

WP Engine vs Media Temple
Here’s a comparison of two heavyweights in the managed WordPress hosting field. Both WP Engine and Media Temple are well-known throughout the WordPress community…

Recommendation

For most websites, in this comparison we would recommend WP Engine. See our WP Engine review ratings below: