The Fallout Between WordPress and WP Engine: What You Need to Know
WordPress stands tall as one of the most widely-used content management systems (CMS), powering over 40% of all websites on the internet. Yet, there’s a point of confusion that has sparked much debate: WP Engine is not WordPress.
The branding and marketing strategies used by WP Engine have often left many users, including experienced developers, under the impression that WP Engine is synonymous with WordPress itself. This misunderstanding is more than a simple branding issue—it's led to a rift between the two.
WP Engine: A Beneficiary of Brand Confusion
WP Engine is a premium managed hosting provider that exclusively supports WordPress websites. They offer optimised hosting environments specifically tailored for WordPress, but their branding suggests a much deeper connection. Many users mistakenly believe that WP Engine is directly affiliated with WordPress or that it’s a subsidiary of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and the broader WordPress open-source community.
This confusion has only grown, largely because WP Engine’s entire business model revolves around WordPress. Yet, WP Engine is a separate, for-profit entity. Their marketing subtly implies they are an extension of the official WordPress ecosystem, and this confusion has led to WP Engine profiting from the trust users place in WordPress itself.
The Real Fallout: The Core Disconnect
The primary cause of friction between the two comes down to fundamental differences in how each operates. WordPress is open-source—it’s built by the community, for the community. A key promise of WordPress is transparency and user control. Whether you're editing a post, revising content, or maintaining a site, WordPress gives users full ownership and the ability to undo mistakes thanks to its built-in revision history feature.
WP Engine, however, has made operational decisions that compromise this core feature. In an effort to cut storage costs, WP Engine disables the WordPress revision system across their platform. Revisions are an essential part of what makes WordPress robust—they allow users to track changes and undo mistakes. By turning off this feature, WP Engine is undermining a key aspect of what makes WordPress so trusted. This decision cuts costs for WP Engine but weakens the overall value of WordPress for users who rely on that feature for data integrity.
The Bigger Picture: Corporate Profits vs. Open-Source Values
At the heart of this fallout is a broader issue facing the open-source world: how for-profit companies benefit from open-source software without giving back. Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, is deeply involved in supporting the WordPress project. They contribute thousands of hours of developer time to the platform. In contrast, WP Engine, which generates significant revenue from hosting WordPress sites, contributes a mere fraction of the resources back to the open-source community that sustains its business.
This disparity is highlighted by the involvement of private equity firms like Silver Lake, which has invested heavily in WP Engine. Private equity firms are notorious for focusing on maximising profits, often at the expense of the communities and ecosystems they leverage. WP Engine, backed by Silver Lake, contributes very little back to the WordPress community despite generating hundreds of millions in revenue from it.
What This Means for Businesses Using WordPress
For businesses relying on WordPress as their CMS, the fallout with WP Engine presents a cautionary tale. While WP Engine might offer convenience with its managed hosting services, it’s important to understand what you may be giving up by using their platform. The lack of WordPress revision support is just one example of how WP Engine is putting profit before user experience and trust.
If you’re building a business or personal brand with WordPress, it’s critical to use a hosting provider that fully supports the platform’s features and core values. WordPress’s promise to its users is about control, data security, and the ability to manage your own content without interference. WP Engine’s decision to disable such an essential feature erodes that trust.
The Future of WordPress and WP Engine’s Relationship
The future relationship between WordPress and WP Engine remains uncertain. As WP Engine continues to grow and evolve with significant financial backing, it's likely that more conflicts will arise regarding how much WP Engine contributes to WordPress and how it uses the platform to turn a profit. The open-source community behind WordPress will need to ensure that large for-profit entities don't hollow out the core of what makes WordPress special—its commitment to openness, user control, and community-driven innovation.
If you're a business owner or developer looking to get the most out of WordPress, it’s essential to partner with a hosting provider that aligns with your goals. Don't compromise on the core features and trust that make WordPress powerful. Whether you’re starting fresh or looking to switch from WP Engine, our team is here to help you find the right solution for your WordPress site. Contact us today for a consultation and let’s ensure your content is protected and your website performs at its best!