2 Best WP Engine Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 7 min read
WP Engine is a popular tool for businesses and agencies requiring premium wordpress hosting. With pricing starting at $25/mo, it can be expensive for many teams. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 2 best WP Engine alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 2
- Free alternatives: 0 ()
- Best overall: Kinsta
- Best free: N/A
Why Look for WP Engine Alternatives?
People commonly look for WP Engine alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: At $25/mo, WP Engine isn't cheap, especially for small teams and startups.
- Feature gaps: Expensive and wordpress only are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find WP Engine overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WP Engine | ✗ No | $25/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Businesses and agencies requiring premium WordPress hosting |
| Kinsta | ✗ No | $35/mo | ⭐ 4.6 | No | High-traffic WordPress sites and agencies |
| Cloudways | ✗ No | $14/mo | ⭐ 4.4 | No | Agencies and developers managing multiple sites |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Kinsta
Premium WordPress hosting powered by Google Cloud Platform.
Kinsta is a premium managed WordPress hosting provider that runs entirely on Google Cloud Platform. Known for exceptional performance, security, and developer tools, Kinsta serves high-traffic WordPress sites and agencies that need enterprise-level hosting.
Pros
- ✓ Best-in-class performance
- ✓ Excellent support
- ✓ Developer tools
- ✓ Google Cloud infrastructure
Cons
- ✗ Expensive
- ✗ WordPress only
- ✗ No email hosting
- ✗ Overage charges
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting platform for agencies and developers.
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that simplifies cloud infrastructure for agencies, developers, and businesses. It offers managed hosting on top cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean with features like staging environments, automated backups, and 24/7 support.
Pros
- ✓ Easy cloud management
- ✓ No server management needed
- ✓ Great performance
- ✓ Developer-friendly
Cons
- ✗ No free plan
- ✗ Limited server locations
- ✗ Pricing can add up
- ✗ Learning curve for beginners
🏆 Our Recommendations
Best Overall Alternative:
Kinsta — High-traffic WordPress sites and agencies
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to WP Engine?
While there aren't direct free alternatives, several options offer generous free tiers or trials.
Is there an open-source alternative to WP Engine?
There are no widely-used open-source alternatives to WP Engine at this time, but several affordable options exist.
What is the cheapest alternative to WP Engine?
Several alternatives offer competitive pricing starting from lower rates than WP Engine's $25/mo.
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