When it comes to premium managed WordPress hosting, both Kinsta and WP Engine are industry leaders. They provide excellent performance, security, and support for WordPress websites, but there are important differences between them. Understanding these differences will help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs.
In this guide, we’ll compare Kinsta vs WP Engine in terms of performance, pricing, features, and support to determine which one might be the best choice for your website.
Overview of Kinsta and WP Engine
Kinsta
Kinsta is a premium managed WordPress hosting provider that runs on the Google Cloud Platform. It focuses on providing high-performance, speed, and security for WordPress websites. Kinsta is known for its user-friendly dashboard, scalability, and developer-friendly tools.
WP Engine
WP Engine is one of the pioneers of managed WordPress hosting. It’s built on top of Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services (AWS), providing a reliable and fast hosting experience. WP Engine has a strong reputation for customer support, robust security, and a range of plans designed to cater to various business sizes.
Performance and Speed
Both Kinsta and WP Engine use top-tier cloud infrastructure (Google Cloud Platform), but they have slight differences in performance features and optimization.
Kinsta’s Performance
- Google Cloud Platform: Kinsta uses Google’s C2 virtual machines, which are known for their high speed and low latency.
- Built-in Caching: Kinsta offers server-level caching with four types of caches (object, database, page, and opcode). This ensures faster loading times.
- Content Delivery Network (CDN): Kinsta provides free integration with Cloudflare, which comes with built-in CDN, DDoS protection, and SSL certificates.
- Automatic Scaling: Kinsta’s infrastructure is designed to handle sudden traffic surges, automatically scaling resources to maintain performance.
WP Engine’s Performance
- Google Cloud & AWS: WP Engine offers servers on both Google Cloud and AWS, giving users flexibility in choosing their preferred data center.
- EverCache: WP Engine uses a custom-built caching system known as EverCache to handle high traffic without slowing down.
- CDN Integration: WP Engine offers a CDN powered by StackPath for faster content delivery across the globe.
- Global Data Centers: With over 20 data centers worldwide, WP Engine ensures that your website is hosted close to your audience, reducing latency.
Performance Winner: Both hosts offer excellent performance due to their cloud infrastructure. However, Kinsta’s integration with Cloudflare and the use of Google’s C2 machines make it slightly faster for most users.
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is often a deciding factor when choosing a hosting provider. Let’s see how Kinsta and WP Engine stack up against each other in terms of cost.
Kinsta Pricing
Kinsta’s pricing is based on the number of visits and storage, and all plans come with the same core features:
- Starter Plan: $35/month – 1 WordPress install, 25,000 visits, 10 GB storage, 50 GB CDN bandwidth.
- Pro Plan: $70/month – 2 WordPress installs, 50,000 visits, 20 GB storage, 100 GB CDN bandwidth.
- Business Plans: Start at $115/month – More installs, traffic, and storage.
- Enterprise Plans: Custom pricing for very high-traffic sites.
WP Engine Pricing
WP Engine offers tiered pricing, and each plan increases in price based on traffic and storage:
- Startup Plan: $20/month (billed annually) – 1 WordPress install, 25,000 visits, 10 GB storage, 50 GB bandwidth.
- Professional Plan: $39/month (billed annually) – 3 WordPress installs, 75,000 visits, 15 GB storage, 125 GB bandwidth.
- Growth Plan: $77/month (billed annually) – 10 WordPress installs, 100,000 visits, 20 GB storage, 200 GB bandwidth.
- Scale Plan: $193/month (billed annually) – 30 WordPress installs, 400,000 visits, 50 GB storage, 500 GB bandwidth.
Pricing Winner: For entry-level plans, WP Engine’s Startup Plan at $20/month is more affordable than Kinsta’s Starter Plan at $35/month. However, Kinsta offers more predictable pricing based on visits, whereas WP Engine bases pricing on both traffic and storage.
Features Comparison
Both Kinsta and WP Engine come packed with features tailored for WordPress sites. However, there are subtle differences in their offerings.
Kinsta Features
- Free Migrations: Kinsta offers unlimited free migrations for users switching from other hosts.
- Staging Environments: Each plan includes one-click staging, which allows users to test changes before going live.
- Daily Backups: Automatic daily backups are included in all plans, with the option to create manual backups.
- Developer Tools: Kinsta provides SSH access, Git integration, and WP-CLI support for developers.
- Automatic Scaling: Resources can automatically scale based on traffic demands.
WP Engine Features
- Free Migrations: WP Engine offers a migration plugin to make it easy for users to transfer their site.
- Staging and Development Environments: WP Engine offers three environments (development, staging, and production) for seamless workflow management.
- Daily Backups: Automatic backups are included, with the ability to restore from backups with one click.
- Genesis Framework: WP Engine users get free access to the Genesis Framework and 35+ premium StudioPress themes, valued at over $2000.
- Security Features: WP Engine offers EverCache, a proprietary caching system, along with real-time threat detection and SSL certificates.
Features Winner: WP Engine slightly edges out Kinsta in terms of features because it offers access to the Genesis Framework and additional staging environments.
Security
Both Kinsta and WP Engine offer robust security features that ensure your WordPress site is safe from attacks.
Kinsta’s Security
- Cloudflare Integration: Kinsta’s partnership with Cloudflare provides DDoS protection, SSL certificates, and a Web Application Firewall (WAF).
- Automatic Backups: Kinsta offers daily automatic backups and system snapshots.
- Hacker Fix Guarantee: If your site is hacked, Kinsta offers free fixes.
WP Engine’s Security
- Managed Security: WP Engine provides real-time threat detection, automated security updates, and SSL certificates.
- EverCache: Built-in caching and firewall protection ensure your site remains secure under heavy traffic.
- Malware Scanning: WP Engine scans and removes malware from your site, if needed.
Security Winner: Kinsta has an edge here, thanks to its partnership with Cloudflare, which provides enhanced security features like DDoS protection.
Customer Support
Both Kinsta and WP Engine are known for their excellent customer support, but there are some differences in how they deliver it.
Kinsta’s Support
- 24/7 Support: Available through live chat and the ticketing system.
- Knowledge Base: Kinsta offers an extensive library of tutorials and troubleshooting guides.
- Multilingual Support: Available in multiple languages, making it ideal for global users.
WP Engine’s Support
- 24/7 Support: Available through live chat, phone, and email (depending on the plan).
- Priority Support: Higher-tier plans include priority support with faster response times.
- Comprehensive Documentation: WP Engine offers extensive guides and troubleshooting information for all users.
Support Winner: WP Engine wins slightly due to its availability of phone support, which Kinsta doesn’t offer.
Kinsta vs WP Engine: Which is Best for You?
- Choose Kinsta if you need better performance, higher scalability, and the security features offered by Cloudflare. Kinsta is a solid choice for developers and businesses that require top-notch performance and easy scaling.
- Choose WP Engine if you’re looking for lower entry costs, strong features, and access to premium tools like the Genesis Framework. WP Engine is great for small businesses, bloggers, and anyone who wants an easy-to-manage, feature-packed WordPress hosting solution.
In the end, both hosts offer exceptional value, but the choice between Kinsta and WP Engine depends on your budget, technical needs, and the level of support you prefer.