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Clients ask me this all the time. The short answer: if the site makes money, or you bill for your time, managed WordPress hosting usually pays for itself. If it’s a hobby blog with a few hundred visitors a month, cheap shared hosting is fine. Here’s how I think about it.
What you’re actually paying for
Managed hosts like WP Engine and Pressable cost more than a $5 shared plan because they take jobs off your plate:
- Server-level caching and a CDN, so you’re not tuning a caching plugin.
- Automatic backups you can restore in a click.
- One-click staging sites for testing updates.
- Security handled at the server, plus automatic WordPress core updates.
- Support people who know WordPress, not just the server.
Doing the math
| Job | On cheap shared hosting | On managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Backups | Install a plugin, set up off-site storage, test restores | Included |
| Speed | Configure a caching plugin and a CDN | Built in |
| Staging | Plugin or a manual copy | One click |
| Security | Security plugin and firewall to manage | Handled by the host |
| When it breaks | General hosting support | WordPress specialists |
Here’s a simple example. Say your time is worth $50 an hour and you spend one hour a month on hosting chores. That’s $600 a year. Pressable starts at $250 a year and WP Engine Essential at $28 a month billed yearly, about $336 a year. Even before you count a single avoided outage, the managed plan comes out ahead.
When cheap hosting is fine
- A personal blog or portfolio with low traffic.
- You enjoy tinkering with servers and don’t mind fixing things yourself.
- The site doesn’t make money, so an afternoon of downtime doesn’t cost anything.
WP Engine or Pressable?
They’re the two managed hosts I’ve spent the most time with, and they suit different people.
| Pressable | WP Engine | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $250 a year (about $20.83/mo) | From $28/mo billed yearly |
| Entry visits | 30,000 a month | 25,000 a month |
| Entry storage | 20 GB | 10 GB |
| Backups | Hourly database, daily full | Daily |
| Support | 24/7 chat | 24/7 chat, phone on Business and up |
| Best for | Several small sites, tight budgets | Busy sites and demanding clients |
I go deeper in Pressable vs WP Engine.
Ready to stop babysitting your hosting? Pressable is the budget-friendly pick for several small sites. WP Engine is the one I use for busy client sites.
FAQ
What is managed WordPress hosting?
Hosting built only for WordPress, where the host handles caching, backups, security, staging, and core updates for you, and support knows WordPress well.
Is managed WordPress hosting faster?
Usually, because of server-level caching and a built-in CDN. A heavy theme or too many plugins will still be slow anywhere, though.
Can I switch to managed hosting later?
Yes. WP Engine has a free migration plugin and includes managed migrations on Business plans, and Pressable offers free migrations.