DreamHost vs WP Engine (March 2025) – “What’s the Real Story?”

While DreamHost features a wide array of web hosting plans and services, WP Engine focuses solely on managed WordPress hosting. With DreamHost’s recent offering of DreamPress (their own premium WP services), this comparison is focused on WordPress hosting only.

With that in mind, be aware that if you’re looking for an all-inclusive web hosting solution with premium WP features, you’ll want to consider DreamHost. WP Engine does not offer domain name services, email services, and other features you would find with other web hosting companies. However, WP Engine does offer many premium services that you won’t get elsewhere. If you already have your domains registered elsewhere (such as with Go Daddy, etc.), you already have your email solution in place, and you’re looking for the most comprehensive WordPress hosting option, you should definitely take a look at WP Engine.

Be aware that neither of these solutions is cheap. Depending on how many WP sites you need hosted, the cost will be significantly more than your standard shared hosting solutions. However, if your WordPress sites are receiving a mass amount of traffic, you would be wise to consider DreamHost and WP Engine.

DreamHost vs WP Engine: Differences

Advantages of DreamHost over WP Engine:

WordPress.org Recommended
Free Domain plus Privacy
Remixer Website Builder
97 Day Money Back Guarantee

Advantages of WP Engine over DreamHost:

Completely WordPress Focused
Expert WordPress Support
EverCache Technology for Faster Websites
Free StudioPress Themes Included
Automatic and Snapshot Data Backups
Full Website Staging Platform
Transferable Installs and Billing Transfer for Agencies
Free Page Performance Diagnostics

DreamHost vs WP Engine: Website Speed and Performance

WP Engine is the winner in this category. WP Engine’s EverCache technology and optimized environment continues to provide superior website speed and page loading results. While DreamHost has improved their website speed, WP Engine remains the better choice if you want faster performing WordPress websites.

Below are some sample speed test results from GTmetrix:

DreamHost vs WP Engine: Website Staging

Both WP Engine and DreamHost (with DreamPress) provide excellent website staging functionality that allows you to easily create a staging site and move changes into production after testing them out. Along with staging and production, WP Engine also allows you to work in a development environment, so they get a slight edge in this category.

DreamHost vs WP Engine: Data Backup and Restore

Data backup and restore is another area where both WP Engine and DreamHost excel. However, while you get automatic data backup with each host, WP Engine allows you to perform on-demand snapshot backups whenever you want. With DreamHost, you are limited to one on-demand backup per day. Also, WP Engine retains your data for 30 days, while DreamHost allows you to restore from only the previous two weeks. For those reasons, WP Engine is the winner here.

DreamHost vs WP Engine: Customer Support

Although DreamHost has made great strides in improving their customer support, WP Engine is still the winner in this category. WP Engine provides outstanding managed WordPress hosting support. The support team there is always very responsive. And, unlike DreamHost, their live chat support is available 24/7.

DreamHost

Started Business: 1997
BBB Rating: A+
Data Center Location: Irvine, CA; Ashburn, VA; and Hillsboro, OR

Price: $7.95 mo.
Unlimited Bandwidth: Yes
Unlimited Storage: Yes
Unlimited Email: Yes
Host Multiple Domains: Yes

Hosting Interface: DreamHost Control Panel
Server Uptime: 100%
Full Refund Period: 97 Days
Dedicated Hosting Available: Yes

Free Extras:
CloudFlare CDN
Free Let’s Encrypt SSL
Free Domain with WhoIs Privacy

Advantages of Choosing DreamHost:

Optimized WordPress Hosting
WordPress Partner since 2005
100% Uptime Guarantee
Remixer Website Builder
Cloud Storage Services Available

Click here for more details on DreamHost

WP Engine

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

Price: $20 mo. – $58 mo. (Premium Customized Plans also available)
Unlimited Bandwidth: Yes
Unlimited Storage: Yes
Unlimited Email: No
Host Multiple Domains: No

Hosting Interface: WP Engine Client Portal
Server Uptime: 99.95%
Full Refund Period: 60 Days
Dedicated Hosting Available: Yes

Free Extras:
CDN (Content Delivery Network) (Professional and Business plans)
EverCache technology speeds up page-load time
Free Let’s Encrypt SSL
WordPress Solution Center

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.
Free StudioPress themes are included with your hosting plan.
Managed upgrades and daily backups.
Staging area environment where you can test out plugins or themes.
Expert support staff.
They automatically scan for and fix hacking attempts on your site.
More Data Center Location Options

Click here for more details on WP Engine

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