Reviewed by Nick Oakley, Head of Digital
Nicada Digital has built and looked after more than 800 websites since 2014, almost all of them on WordPress. Hosting is the part clients never see and always feel.
WP Engine has been one of the best-known premium WordPress hosts since 2010. It is reliable and well run. But its pricing is built around visits per month, it does not host email, and its headline yearly price is a first-year offer for new customers. For many small businesses there are better-value options.
Our affiliate links
We are affiliates for WPX and SiteGround and earn a commission if you buy through our links. We are also a Kinsta affiliate. We are not affiliates for WP Engine, Cloudways or Rocket.net. Prices from each company's own site, 1 October 2026, in US dollars.
What WP Engine Costs
WP Engine's Essential plan is $35 a month, or $336 for the first year paid yearly (about $28 a month), for one site, 10GB and 25,000 visits a month. Its pricing page says first-year pricing is for new customers and that renewal pricing is subject to change. The three-site version is $65 a month. Going over your visits costs $2 per 1,000. Email is not included, and its AI plugin-update tool is a paid add-on on Essential. In the UK, Essential is £30 a month or £288 for the first year.
The Alternatives at a Glance
| Host and plan | Price | Sites | Visit cap | Malware removal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPX Business | $24.99/mo yearly, steady | 5 | None | Yes | Included |
| SiteGround GrowBig | $4.99 year one, then $29.99 | Unlimited | None stated | Yes | Paid |
| Kinsta Launch | $30/mo yearly | 1 | ~75,000 | No | Included |
| Cloudways | From $11/mo | Unlimited per server | None | Paid add-on | Paid add-on |
| Rocket.net Starter | $25/mo yearly | 1 | Unmetered | No | Protection included |
| WP Engine Essential (for reference) | $28/mo first year | 1 | 25,000 | No | On request |
1. WPX: Best Overall Alternative
WPX gives a small business more for less than WP Engine's entry plan:
- Five sites, no visit caps, no overage charges.
- Email with unlimited mailboxes included.
- Malware scans and removal on every plan.
- A steady price, not a first-year offer.
- Top Tier in every WordPress band it entered in the 2026 Review Signal benchmarks. WP Engine did not take part.
- Free site moves, done for you, usually within 24 hours.
What you give up: SSH and WP Engine's developer tooling. See our WPX review.
Leaving WP Engine? WPX moves you for free
Five sites, no visit caps, email and malware removal included, for $24.99 a month paid yearly. WPX copies your site across, usually within a day.
See WPX Plans →Already sure? Pay yearly. You get two months free.
Affiliate link. We earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
2. SiteGround: Phone Support and AI Tools
SiteGround GrowBig offers unlimited sites, email, staging and free AI tools, with 24/7 phone support. Very cheap in year one, then $29.99. See our SiteGround review.
3. Kinsta: The Like-for-Like Premium Option
If you like WP Engine's premium, developer-focused approach, Kinsta is the closest match, with a bigger visit allowance (about 75,000 on its $35 Launch plan) and free malware removal. No email. See Kinsta alternatives.
4. Cloudways: Developer Control, Pay as You Go
Choose your own cloud server from $11 a month, billed hourly, with unlimited sites per server. Email and malware protection cost extra.
5. Rocket.net: One Busy Site
$30 a month, or $25 paid yearly, for one site with unmetered visitors and malware protection included. No email.
A Note on the 2024 Dispute
In September 2024, WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg publicly criticised WP Engine and blocked it from WordPress.org resources. WP Engine sued Automattic and Mullenweg in October 2024, and in December 2024 a US federal court granted WP Engine a preliminary injunction restoring its access. We mention it because it is why some people started looking; it is not, on its own, a reason to move.
Which Should You Choose?
- Small business, want more sites, email and no caps: WPX.
- Want phone support or AI tools: SiteGround.
- Want a similar premium developer host: Kinsta.
- Developer on a budget: Cloudways.
Moving? Our guide to moving a WordPress site to a new host covers how to do it without downtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to WP Engine?
For most small businesses, WPX. Its Business plan holds five sites with no visitor cap, includes email and malware removal, and costs $24.99 a month paid yearly. WP Engine's Essential plan holds one site with 25,000 visits a month. For phone support and AI tools, SiteGround. For a like-for-like premium host, Kinsta.
Why do people leave WP Engine?
Common reasons are visit caps with overage charges ($2 per 1,000 extra visits), no email hosting, add-ons that cost extra, and a first-year price that is a promotion for new customers. Some also left after WP Engine's 2024 legal dispute with Automattic.
What happened between WP Engine and WordPress?
In September 2024 WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg publicly criticised WP Engine and blocked it from WordPress.org resources. WP Engine sued Automattic and Mullenweg in October 2024, and in December 2024 a US federal court granted WP Engine a preliminary injunction restoring its access.
Is there a cheaper alternative to WP Engine?
Yes. WPX Business is $24.99 a month paid yearly for five sites, and SiteGround GrowBig is $4.99 a month in year one for unlimited sites. Both include email, which WP Engine does not.
How do I move away from WP Engine?
WPX moves WordPress sites for you free, usually within 24 hours. Keep WP Engine running until the new site is checked and your domain is pointed at the new host.