SiteGround vs WP Engine

by Gralio Mar 10, 2025

SiteGround and WP Engine are both reputable hosting providers, but they target different user needs. SiteGround is a great option for budget-conscious users who value customer support and ease of use. WP Engine is better suited for larger businesses or those with high-traffic WordPress sites requiring top-tier performance and security.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 645 reviews and 60 websites, saving 4 hours, 5 minutes of reading.

SiteGround

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WP Engine

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About

SiteGround is a website hosting platform used by businesses of all sizes. They offer various hosting services, including reseller hosting, managed WordPress hosting, cloud hosting, and more. SiteGround focuses on providing fast and secure hosting solutions with easy-to-use management tools. They are known for their strong customer support and specialized tools for WordPress users.

WP Engine is a leading provider of managed hosting specifically designed for WordPress websites. They offer a range of plans suitable for businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. WP Engine is known for its high-performance infrastructure, robust security features, and expert WordPress support. Their focus is on delivering a fast, secure, and reliable platform for businesses to build and manage their WordPress websites with ease.

Summary

Main difference

SiteGround offers more affordable plans and strong customer support, making it a good starting point for smaller businesses or those new to WordPress. WP Engine provides superior performance, advanced security features, and specialized WordPress expertise, catering to businesses with high-traffic sites and complex needs.

Relative strengths of SiteGround (compared to WP Engine)

More affordable pricing, especially for smaller businesses or those starting out.
Excellent customer support, known for responsiveness and helpfulness.
User-friendly interface for managing websites and hosting services.

Relative weaknesses of SiteGround (compared to WP Engine)

Performance can be less consistent than WP Engine, especially under high traffic.
Security features, while present, are not as advanced as WP Engine.
Fewer specialized WordPress tools and expertise compared to WP Engine.

What companies are using SiteGround and WP Engine?

No data

NIC Utah in partnership with Utah.Gov

10up

Ticketmaster

Petco

Who should use SiteGround VS. WP Engine

SiteGround offers fast and secure website hosting with exceptional customer support. Users praise the easy-to-use interface and seamless WordPress integration, but some have noted high renewal costs and occasional traffic blocks. Best for businesses prioritizing performance and ease of use.

WP Engine offers managed WordPress hosting known for its performance, security, and support. Users praise the easy setup, reliable uptime, and robust security features. However, some find the cost higher than other options and dislike the limitations on site traffic and storage. Ideal for businesses of all sizes needing a hassle-free WordPress experience.

Ideal for businesses of all sizes, especially those using WordPress.
Strong fit for industries like healthcare, finance, education, and media, where secure and reliable hosting is critical.

Best for small businesses (1-100 employees), medium businesses (101-1000 employees), and large enterprises (1000+ employees).
Particularly well-suited for E-commerce, Software/IT/Telecommunications, and Marketing/Advertising.

SiteGround and WP Engine features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Managed WordPress Hosting

Supported

SiteGround offers managed WordPress hosting, handling technical complexities so businesses can focus on content.

Supported

WP Engine is a managed WordPress hosting platform handling technical complexities so businesses can focus on content.
Performance Optimization

Supported

SiteGround optimizes WordPress sites for speed with its own plugin and Cloudflare integration.

Supported

WP Engine optimizes WordPress sites for speed and user experience with features like caching and a CDN.
Website Security

Supported

SiteGround offers malware scanning, intrusion detection, and DDoS mitigation.

Supported

WP Engine offers advanced security measures, including malware scanning, intrusion detection, and DDoS mitigation.
Drag and drop editor

Supported

SiteGround offers a drag-and-drop website builder powered by Weebly.

Partially supported

WP Engine supports drag and drop website building via third-party WordPress page builders.
Website templates

Partially supported

SiteGround supports templates primarily via third-party integrations like WordPress.

Supported

WP Engine offers pre-designed and customizable website templates, including StudioPress themes and curated site templates.
Subdomain management

Supported

SiteGround supports creating and managing subdomains through its Site Tools platform.

Supported

WP Engine allows creating and managing subdomains through the user portal and DNS configuration.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

-0.43

Rather negative sentiment

No data
Customer Service

+0.8

Strongly positive sentiment

No data
Ease of Use

+0.87

Strongly positive sentiment

No data
Reliability and Performance

+0.54

Rather positive sentiment

No data
Ease of Implementation

+1

Strongly positive sentiment

No data
Scalability

-1

Strongly negative sentiment

No data

SiteGround and WP Engine Pricing

SiteGround offers reseller hosting plans suitable for various needs. The GrowBig plan allows managing multiple websites with collaborator access. The GoGeek and Cloud plans offer white-label hosting services, enabling clients to manage sites without SiteGround branding. The Cloud plan provides custom package configuration and user access management.

Plans

User sentiment

Rather negative

-0.43

See full Pricing page

WP Engine offers tiered subscription plans for WordPress hosting, with prices varying based on the plan's features and capacity. They offer a 60-day money-back guarantee for new Startup, Professional, Growth, and Scale plans. The pricing model is based on monthly payments on an annual contract.

Plans

User sentiment

Strongly negative

-1

See full Pricing page

SiteGround and WP Engine review insights

625 reviews analysed from and

Users love

Exceptional customer support, readily available and highly knowledgeable.
Fast and reliable hosting with minimal reported downtime.
Easy-to-use interface for website management, especially for WordPress users.
Blazing fast site speeds, often attributed to their server infrastructure and optimization tools.
Seamless website migration process, often handled by SiteGround support.

Exceptional customer support, highly praised for responsiveness and expertise
Easy setup and management of WordPress sites, even for non-technical users
Reliable uptime and performance, ensuring site availability and speed
Robust security features, including automatic updates and daily backups
Seamless staging environment for testing changes before deployment

Users dislike

Unjustified Traffic Blocks: SiteGround blocks legitimate traffic at the slightest temporary increase.
Cryptic Messaging: Their messages are cryptic and often induce panic.
High renewal costs make it difficult to stay with the service long-term.
Email marketing add-on has yielded poor results for some users.
Recent switch from SolarWinds spam protection to SiteGround's own system has led to increased spam and email deliverability issues.

High cost compared to other hosting options, but often cited as "worth it"
Limitations on site traffic and storage can be problematic
Lack of direct file access (e.g., no Cpanel or equivalent) requires FTP
Occasional caching issues require manual purging or support intervention
Aggressive upselling and sales calls can be bothersome

SiteGround and WP Engine Ratings

G2

4.3/5

(272)
Capterra

4.6/5

(68)
TrustPilot

4.8/5

(20)
Glassdoor

3.9/5

(61)

G2

4.6/5

(285)
Glassdoor

3.9/5

(449)

Company health

Employee growth

5% increase in the last year

No change in the last year

Web traffic

3% decrease in the last quarter

21% decrease in the last quarter

Financing

No data

September 2017 - $291M

How do SiteGround's email deliverability issues compare to WP Engine's?

SiteGround has recently experienced increased spam and email deliverability issues attributed to a switch from SolarWinds spam protection to their own system. WP Engine has no reported widespread email deliverability problems and focuses on providing a reliable and secure platform, suggesting fewer potential email-related disruptions.

Which product offers better control for technically savvy users?

WP Engine offers better control for technically savvy users. While SiteGround provides tools like DNS and subdomain management, WP Engine's focus on performance optimization, advanced security measures, and a staging environment provides more granular control over the server environment and website behavior. This, along with the ability to leverage the full power of WordPress and its ecosystem, makes WP Engine more suitable for users who require a high degree of technical control.

What are the advantages of SiteGround?

SiteGround offers more affordable initial pricing compared to WP Engine, making it a better option for budget-conscious users. SiteGround provides a broader range of hosting services beyond managed WordPress hosting, including shared hosting, cloud hosting, and reseller hosting, catering to diverse needs. Users praise SiteGround's exceptional customer support and easy-to-use interface, especially for WordPress users, contributing to a positive user experience. SiteGround's focus on fast and reliable hosting, combined with their specialized tools for WordPress, makes it a strong choice for WordPress users.

What are the disadvantages of SiteGround?

SiteGround's disadvantages include high renewal costs, cryptic error messages that can cause confusion, and recent email deliverability issues due to a change in their spam protection system. Some users also report unjustified traffic blocks and ineffective email marketing add-ons.

Alternatives to SiteGround and WP Engine

WPOven

WPOven is a managed WordPress hosting provider catering to businesses and agencies of all sizes. They offer unlimited site hosting on all plans, making it easy to manage multiple websites from one dashboard. WPOven boasts fast loading speeds, robust security features, and 24/7 customer support. With a focus on performance and ease of use, WPOven aims to handle the technical aspects of hosting so users can concentrate on their business goals.

Google Workspace

Google Workspace is a suite of online productivity and collaboration tools for businesses of all sizes. It includes popular apps like Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet and more. Google Workspace aims to provide a seamless and integrated experience for communication, document creation, file storage, and team collaboration, all accessible from any device with an internet connection. It stands out with its user-friendly interface and strong collaboration features.

Kinsta

Kinsta is a premium hosting service specifically designed for WordPress websites. It offers fast loading times, high security, and a user-friendly dashboard for managing your websites. Key features include automatic backups, security monitoring, and 24/7 customer support. Kinsta is a good option for businesses that value performance, security, and need a hosting service that simplifies website management.

ChemiCloud

ChemiCloud is a web hosting company that caters to web developers, small businesses, and those looking to start their own hosting business. They offer a variety of hosting services including reseller hosting, shared hosting, WordPress hosting, and VPS, all on a fast and secure cloud platform. ChemiCloud stands out with its excellent customer support and a strong emphasis on ease of use. They also provide website building tools and domain registration.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a website building platform that offers managed WordPress hosting, making it easy to create and manage websites without technical expertise. It provides various features such as website themes, plugins, and secure hosting. WordPress.com is known for its user-friendly interface, scalability, and a wide range of design options suitable for businesses and individuals. It's a popular choice for building anything from blogs to business websites.

Pantheon

Pantheon is a website operations platform designed for building, launching, and running professional websites. It offers tools and services including website hosting, development workflows, security features, and performance optimization. Pantheon primarily caters to organizations with Drupal and WordPress sites, enabling teams to collaborate on website development, streamline workflows, and maintain website stability and security.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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