When comparing SiteGround vs WP Engine, we find SiteGround to be the better web host overall. Both are excellent hosts in the premium range but SiteGround stands out for its wider range of plans that extend beyond WordPress hosting. SiteGround also offers exceptional speed performance and very robust security offerings.
WP Engine offers fantastic support for WordPress websites but its higher cost and narrowed scope make it less versatile as a hosting solution.
In this article, we compare SiteGround vs WP Engine on the grounds of plans, pricing, features included and performance. We also compare their data center coverage, software supported, developer tools, customer support, and security features. Finally, we answer the question of “SiteGround vs WP Engine: Which is better for you?”
Plans
| Hosting Plan Type | SiteGround (US$ /month) | WP Engine (US$ /month) |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | $3.99 – $10.69 | Not Available |
| VPS Hosting | Not Available | Not Available |
| WordPress Hosting | $3.99 – $10.69 | $20 – $2000 |
| Cloud Hosting | $100 – $400 | Not Available |
| Dedicated Hosting | Not Available | Not Available |
| Reseller Hosting | $6.69 – $100 | Not Available |
| Managed Hosting Available? | Shared Hosting, Cloud Hosting, WordPress Hosting | WordPress Hosting |
SiteGround offers a much broader range of hosting plans compared to WP Engine. SiteGround provides 4 types of hosting which are Shared, WordPress, Cloud, and Reseller hosting. This caters to a wide variety of use cases. WP Engine specialize entirely on WordPress hosting but do offer a comprehensive range of WordPress hosting packages that range from basic plans, to custom and enterprise-level plans. This makes WP Engine an appealing option for WordPress users but entirely unsuitable for any websites not built on WordPress.
Pricing
| Pricing Type | SiteGround (US$ /month) | WP Engine (US$ /month) |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Price | $2.99 | $20 |
| Renewal Price | $17.99 | $20 |
| Monthly Payment Option? | Yes | Yes |
The cost of both SiteGround and WP Engine are higher than the average web host rate and places them in a more premium pricing tier. SiteGround’s pricing begins at an attractive $2.99 per month, but it’s important to note that the renewal price jumps significantly to $17.99 per month. WP Engine starts at a much higher price of $20 per month but maintains this price upon renewal which helps users avoid any surprise increases. Both hosts offer monthly payment options, which are helpful for short-term budget management.
Features Included
| Feature | SiteGround | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Space | 10 GB SSD | 10 GB SSD |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | 50 GB |
| Number of websites | 1 | 1 |
| Email Hosting | Unlimited accounts | No |
| Free Domain | No | No |
| AI Website Builder | No (Weebly only) | No |
| Unlimited Storage | No | No |
| Unlimited/Unmetered Bandwidth | Yes | No |
| Additional Features | Automated updates, custom tools with managed WordPress plans, Advanced priority support, Easy Git integration, Ability to add collaborators | Automated WordPress updates |
SiteGround offers slightly more generous features than WP Engine. SiteGround offers unlimited email hosting whilst WP Engine does not provide email hosting. SiteGround also offers unmetered bandwidth whilst WP Engine limits bandwidth to 50 GB. Both hosts offer the same storage capacities and managed WordPress services such as automatic updates and patches.
Performance
| Performance Feature | SiteGround | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| CDN | Yes, inhouse (SiteGround CDN) | Yes, Cloudflare |
| Type of SSD Server | SSD | SSD |
| Caching | Yes | Yes |
| Uptime Guarantee | 99.9% | 99.95% |
| Additional Performance Features | NGINX-based static and dynamic cache, Out-of-the-box SuperCacher, Google Cloud infrastructure | LightSpeedWP, EverCache® caching for WordPress |
WP Engine outperforms SiteGround very slightly in uptime, offering a 99.95% guarantee compared to SiteGround’s 99.9%. Both hosts provide solid performance features that include fast SSD servers and a CDN. WP Engine uses Cloudflare CDN and SiteGround utilizes its in-house CDN. One of SiteGround’s core strengths is its use of Google Cloud infrastructure for its servers. It also utilizes NGINX-based caching. WP Engine’s EverCache® technology and LightSpeedWP are optimized specifically for WordPress, making it an excellent choice for WordPress sites needing high-speed performance.
Data Center Coverage
| Geographical Coverage | SiteGround | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Data Centers | 11 | 14 |
| HQ Location | Sofia, Bulgaria | Austin, Texas, US |
| Data Center Locations | USA (Iowa, Virginia, Texas, California), Netherlands (Eemshaven), UK (London), Germany (Frankfurt), France (Paris), Spain (Madrid), Australia (Sydney), Singapore | USA (Iowa; South Carolina; Oregon; Montreal), Belgium, UK (London), Germany (Frankfurt), Netherlands, Finland, Taiwan, Japan (Tokyo), Australia (Sydney), Singapore, Israel (Tel Aviv) |
WP Engine offers wider data center coverage with 14 geographic locations. Data centre locations include Israel and Japan, which SiteGround does not cover. This extensive global presence makes WP Engine great for sites targeting audiences within or nearby these specific countries. SiteGround’s 11 data centers are well-distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. They offer solid coverage but with slightly fewer options compared to WP Engine.
Software Supported
| Software Feature | SiteGround | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Control Panel | Site Tools (proprietary) | Management tools: SFTP, phpMyAdmin, SSH Gateway, remote database access, WP-CLI, MySQL command line |
| 1-Click WordPress | Yes | Yes |
| OS Supported | Linux | Linux |
SiteGround’s proprietary Site Tools control panel is user-friendly and tailored to its hosting environment. WP Engine lacks a traditional control panel like cPanel and instead offers a suite of advanced management tools. This includes SFTP for file management, phpMyAdmin, SSH Gateway for file management, remote database access and MySQL command line. Both hosts support 1-Click WordPress installation to simplify the process of getting started with WordPress. Both hosts specialize in hosting that runs on the Linux operating system.
Developer Tools
| Developer Tool | SiteGround | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Staging Tools | Higher plans | Yes |
| Root Access | No | No |
| GIT access | Yes | Yes |
| WP-CLI | Yes | Yes |
| Cron Jobs | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple PHP Versions | Yes | Yes |
| SSH | Yes | Yes |
| Node.js Support | No | Yes |
| Python Support | Yes | Yes |
| Java Support | No | Yes |
| Django Support | No | No |
| Perl Support | Yes | No |
| Ruby on Rails Support | No | Yes |
| ASP.NET | No | No |
WP Engine provides a more extensive set of developer tools compared to SiteGround, especially with support for Node.js, Java, and Ruby on Rails. Both hosts support essential tools like GIT, WP-CLI, and SSH, but SiteGround limits certain features like staging tools to its higher plans only. WP Engine’s broader language and framework support gives WordPress developers more flexibility and control over their hosting environment. WP Engine thus better suits complex WordPress projects that need more diverse development tools.
Customer Support
| Customer Support Feature | SiteGround | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Support Methods | Live chat, phone support, helpdesk tickets | Live chat on lower plans, Phone and email on higher plans |
| Support Hours | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Website Migration | Yes | Yes |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 60 days |
SiteGround provides a comprehensive support system, offering 24/7 live chat, phone support, and helpdesk tickets for all users. WP Engine also offers 24/7 support but limits phone and email support to higher-tier plans. This is a significant drawback for users on entry-level plans. However, WP Engine offers a longer 60-day money-back guarantee compared to SiteGround’s 30-day guarantee. This gives WP Engine users twice as long to evaluate their services risk-free. Both hosts offer free website migration to make it easy for users to switch providers.
Security Features
| Security Feature | SiteGround | WP Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Backups | Automatic daily backups | Daily and on-demand backups |
| DDoS Protection | Yes, in-house | Cloudflare and layer 3 & 4 DDoS protection |
| Firewalls | Yes | Yes |
| Proactive Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Unique Security Features | Custom WAF, AI Anti-Bot System | Cloudflare CDN, Layer 3 & 4 DDoS protection, Global Edge Security with managed WAF |
Both SiteGround and WP Engine offer robust security features that include free SSL, high-level firewalls, and proactive monitoring. SiteGround provides a custom WAF and an AI Anti-Bot System to further enhance its defense against automated threats. Both hosts offer daily automatic backups. WP Engine’s Global Edge Security includes advanced DDOS Mitigation and a dedicated team of real people constantly monitoring security.
SiteGround vs WP Engine: Which Is Better For You?
SiteGround is the better host. Use SiteGround if you’re a growing business or eCommerce site since you are able to start with shared hosting and eventually scale to cloud hosting. Also use SiteGround for high-traffic forum and membership sites where reliable performance is important. Also use SiteGround if you intend to host a website that is built on other CMSes (Content Management Systems) rather than WordPress. This includes Joomla and Drupal websites. Finally, use SiteGround if you’re looking for reseller hosting since WP Engine does not offer this type of hosting.
Use WP Engine if you’re managing a high-traffic WordPress site that requires strong performance and WordPress-centric support. Also use WP Engine if you’re looking to run an eCommerce site that’s powered by a WordPress plugin like WooCommerce and you require managed services.
Compare more web hosting options here.
Who is SiteGround?
SiteGround is a web host founded in 2004 in Sofia, Bulgaria. It focuses on delivering high-performance web hosting that leverages Google Cloud and SuperCacher technology. Its high renewal prices and limited resources on lower-tier plans might concern budget-conscious users. Check our SiteGround review for additional information.
Who is WP Engine?
WP Engine is a web host established in 2010 in Austin, Texas. It specializes in managed WordPress hosting. WP Engine also uses Google Cloud Servers and EverCache® technology to optimize performance. WP Engine provides great WordPress expertise but its high cost and restricted plugin options are drawbacks for some users. See more details in our WP Engine writeup.