Top 5 WP Engine Alternatives: Where to After the Drama?

Since WordPress.org, the open-source platform powering WordPress websites, and WP Engine, the website hosting service, locked horns and resorted to a Wild West-styled showdown of lawsuits, users have been looking for worthy WP engine alternatives. Let’s check out some worthy contenders, their features, and pricing, and get into the nitty-gritty details to help you decide. 

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The WP Engine Drama, Explained

Happily ever after is definitely not a saying we’ll be reading at the end of the story of WordPress.org and WP Engine. If anything, it’s going to be court papers. Matt Mullenweg, a co-founder of WordPress.org and CEO of Automattic, took a jab at WP Engine in his blog post, accusing them of an unauthorized use of the “WP” brand and taking it so far as calling them a cancer to WordPress. 

WP Engine didn’t keep quiet for long. No sir. They file a lawsuit against Mullenweg and Automattic, accusing them of interfering with operations, extortion, and harm to business. In December 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted WP Engine a preliminary injunction against Mullenweg and Automattic and ordered both parties to restore the status quo. 

The aftermath — Automattic announced a major reduction in its contributions to the WordPress open-source project, from 3,988 weekly contribution hours to approximately 45, which is sending ripples of concern throughout the WordPress community. 

Alternatives to WP Engine — Reviewed

If you have cold feet about this whole WordPress vs. WP Engine thing and have started looking for WP engine alternatives, we’ve got you covered. 

1. Webflow - Overall Best Alternative to WP

Webflow isn’t just a website builder—it’s a game-changer for designers and businesses looking for total creative freedom without the technical baggage of WordPress. Unlike WordPress, which demands constant plugin updates, security patches, and developer maintenance, Webflow offers an all-in-one solution with built-in hosting, security, CMS, and e-commerce capabilities.

When faced with competition, Webflow emerges victorious from most battles. Where Squarespace limits customization, Webflow excels with pixel-perfect drag-and-drop design, responsive layouts, and no-code animations — yet still allows developers to tweak HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. 

The result? A high-performance, SEO-optimized website that loads faster, ranks better, and adapts effortlessly. Migrating from WP Engine to Webflow is a step closer to having power, flexibility, and speed when building and maintaining a website — all in one place.

2. Squarespace — Beginner-friendly WP Alternative

When WordPress starts to feel overwhelming, that’s usually the moment when webmasters look to Squarespace. It’s a hassle-free solution for building a stunning website — no coding, plugins, or maintenance required. These features make it a platform perfect for beginners, creatives, and small business owners who want a simple yet powerful website builder.

The power of Squarespace lies in the professionally designed templates and the Fluid Engine drag-and-drop editor that lets you customize entire sections effortlessly. Unlike WordPress, which requires third-party add-ons for e-commerce, SEO, and hosting, Squarespace includes everything — from unlimited hosting and AMP-compatible mobile pages to built-in online store functionality.

3. Wix — Top Choice for Portfolio Websites

Wix is a perfect WP alternative for creatives and freelancers who are looking to build a professional, visually stunning portfolio. Why? There’s no coding needed. Also, Wix boasts 800+ customizable templates, a drag-and-drop editor, and AI-powered design tools to help them run the show. 

However, Wix isn’t without its limitations. While it allows for creative freedom, those relying on templates may find customization somewhat restrictive. Once a site is published, switching templates isn’t an option, which can be a drawback for those who want to redesign later. For more complex projects, Webflow or WordPress offer greater flexibility and scalability.

4. Shopify — Best WP Engine Alternative for E-Commerce

Shopify is the strongest alternative to WP Engine when it comes to online stores. Instead of focusing on hosting alone, it provides a complete storefront solution, handling everything from product listings to checkout without the need for extra plugins.

WP Engine requires ongoing maintenance, plugin updates, and external tools to run an online store. On the other hand, Shopify handles hosting, security, and store management in one place. It’s built specifically for e-commerce, meaning you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues or constant troubleshooting.

Shopify also comes with integrated point-of-sale features, crypto payments, and seamless order management. These features have been designed to make selling easier, not more complicated — something WP Engine, as a hosting-first solution, just doesn’t match.

5. Drupal — Best Open Source WP Engine Alternative

As an open-source, scalable WP Engine alternative, Drupal offers a more flexible and developer-friendly approach. While WP Engine provides managed WordPress hosting, Drupal is a standalone content management system (CMS) that allows for deeper customization and modular content structures.

Drupal isn’t reliant on a specific host, which gives users more control over server configurations, security protocols, and integrations. However, take that with a grain of salt. Compared to Webflow, which comes with integrated hosting that almost guarantees the elusive “four nines” (99,99%) of uptime, Drupal depends on the performance of the third-party hosting solution. 

Because of its modular architecture and highly customizable content types and workflows, Drupal is a top solution for large-scale websites like government platforms. With these websites, WP Engine might feel restrictive.

Security is another key advantage. Drupal has a proven track record for handling vulnerabilities effectively. There’s no denying that Drupal requires technical expertise from its users so they can use it to the fullest extent, but the trade-off is unparalleled flexibility — something WP Engine’s WordPress-based ecosystem can’t fully match.

Should You Just Choose Another WordPress Hosting Instead?

Moving away from WP Engine does not guarantee that some of the issues that have crept up so far will disappear. Sure, choosing a different hosting service will help you keep WordPress as your CMS, but the challenges of hidden costs, potential disruptions, and limitations will still be lurking.

The unique selling points other WP hosting services boast about online are, for one, more competitive pricing upfront. However, costs can quickly add up with essential add-ons like backups, security, and performance optimizations — features WP Engine once bundled but now uses to justify price hikes.

There’s also the question of vendor stability. WP Engine’s legal dispute with WordPress.org shows that unexpected turn of events can hurt users, not just providers. The bottom line is that when you choose a different host, you don’t eliminate the risk of similar policy changes, contract disputes, or forced migrations that disrupt site performance and workflow.

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How to Pick the Best WP Engine Alternative for You

If you want a different hosting service for your WordPress website or a complete change of scenery and a new CMS entirely, there are plenty of things for you to consider before making the switch. Here’s what you need to factor in when making that decision. 

1. Define Your Website’s Purpose

Not every WP Engine alternative works for every business. That’s a given. If you're running an e-commerce store, Shopify makes more sense. It even comes with store management features. For design-heavy sites, Webflow gives you more control. Bloggers might prefer to stay with WordPress on a different host. It all boils down to knowing what you want to accomplish. The rest is easy. 

2. Ease of Use vs. Flexibility

The best choice: WP Engine

It’s no mystery — WP Engine simplifies WordPress management, which helps out beginners who don’t want to hire webmasters. When you move to Webflow or Drupal, it will bring you more customization options, but there’s also a learning curve. On the other hand, Squarespace and Wix offer less flexibility but are easier to use thanks to their intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and other features. 

3. Customization & Scalability

The best choice: Webflow

In website development and design, there are one-size-fits-all solutions, but that doesn’t cut it for all users. Webflow and Shopify offer deep customization. For example, Webflow gives you full control over layouts, animations, and interactions. Designers can create pixel-perfect sites without writing code, while developers can refine everything using custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Squarespace and Wix work best for smaller sites that need a polished setup without much tweaking. Businesses that plan to expand must ensure their platform can handle growth.

4. Cost Beyond the Base Plan

The best choice: WordPress (without plugin cost & hosting)

WP Engine is expensive, which is one of the reasons Mullenweg went after them. However, if you switch to another platform just to save money, don’t be so sure you will. For example, Shopify adds transaction fees of up to 2% per sale if you use a third-party payment system. Always keep your budget and the pricing plans of CMS providers handy so that you can cross-reference them and make the best possible decision. 

5. Consider SEO and Marketing Tools

The best choice: Webflow

A worthy WP engine alternative must help SEO and marketing efforts. After all, unless your website can drive traffic and conversions, why have it in the first place? Webflow offers advanced SEO control, allowing users to edit meta titles, descriptions, and schema markup directly. On the other hand, Squarespace provides basic SEO tools and built-in email campaigns but lacks the depth of customization found in Webflow. If you want that organic traffic, then site speed and content management are key. On the other hand, if you aim for email campaigns and social media ads for your store, then Shopify could be the way to go. 

Conclusion

The WP Engine fallout has users weighing their options, but it isn’t just about leaving — it’s about finding a better fit. Each platform comes with trade-offs, which makes the choice ever so difficult. If e-commerce is the focus, then it’s a no-brainer — Shopify simplifies store management and is the go-to option. 

On the other hand, if you are going for design freedom, performance, and flexibility matter, Webflow is the strongest alternative. If anything, it comes with built-in security and hosting. 

For users looking for a scalable site without WordPress headaches, Webflow is the way forward, and Flow Ninja paves that way with good intentions. We specialize in seamless Webflow migrations and custom site builds. Reach out, and let’s see what we can do for you and your website. 

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