WPX Hosting is a premium web hosting service specializing in managed WordPress hosting, established in 2013 by Terry Kyle and Georgi Petrov. It is well-regarded for its speed, reliability, and excellent customer support.
Suitable for: eCommerce, Enterprise, Managed WordPress, or Developers-friendly Hosting
Website: https://www.wpx.net
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- WPX Hosting Specifications
- Major Downsides
- Slow TTFB
- No Redundancy System
- Frequent Downtimes
- Lack of Object Cache
- Inferior CDN (XDN)
- W3 Total Cache vs. LiteSpeed Cache
- Undefined Resource Limits
- Limited Data Centers
- Notable Advantages
- User-Friendly Dashboard
- Competitive Pricing
- Email Hosting
- Conclusion
- Alternatives to WPX Hosting
- Rocket.net
- NameHero
- ScalaHosting
- Cloudways
- Final Thoughts
1. Introduction
Hey there, fellow tech enthusiast! 👋 If you’re scouring the web for an honest review of WPX Hosting, you’ve landed in the right spot. I’m about to break down the nitty-gritty of this hosting service, focusing primarily on its flaws, but we’ll also touch on the good stuff. Grab a coffee, and let’s dive in!
2. WPX Hosting Specifications
Before we get into the juicy bits, let’s set the stage with some specs:
| Plan | Type | Server | Cores/RAM | Storage | CDN Locations | Full Page Caching | Data Centers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Plan | Shared | LiteSpeed | 1 core/1GB | 15GB / SATA | 36 | No | 3 (Chicago, London, Sydney) |
| Professional Plan | Shared | LiteSpeed | 1 core/2GB | 20GB / SATA | 36 | No | 3 (Chicago, London, Sydney) |
| Elite Plan | Shared | LiteSpeed | 1 core/3GB | 40GB / SATA | 36 | No | 3 (Chicago, London, Sydney) |
3. Major Downsides
Slow TTFB
Let’s kick things off with Time to First Byte (TTFB). WPX aims for a TTFB of under 400ms globally. However, this is not fast enough, especially when compared to other hosts like Rocket.net, which averages <100ms. A slow TTFB can significantly affect your site’s load time and overall performance.
No Redundancy System
Here’s a major red flag: WPX does not have a redundancy system. This means there’s a single point of failure, which was painfully evident during the global outage on August 2, 2021. Thousands of websites, including WPX’s own site, were down for about 5 hours. Instead of addressing the issue, WPX blamed their partner’s deceased CEO. Yikes!
Frequent Downtimes
Downtime is a killer for any website, and WPX has had more than its fair share. With no network status page, it’s challenging to track uptime, but numerous reports of downtime can be found across various forums and review sites. Frequent downtimes with no monitoring system in place? That’s a big no-no.
Lack of Object Cache
WPX does not support Redis or Memcached. Object caching is crucial for speeding up your site and reducing server load, especially for WooCommerce or dynamic sites. The absence of this feature puts WPX at a disadvantage compared to other hosts that offer robust caching solutions.
Inferior CDN (XDN)
WPX’s CDN, known as XDN, has only 36 Points of Presence (PoPs) and doesn’t support full page caching. In contrast, QUIC.cloud (used by LiteSpeed) has 83 PoPs and offers dynamic caching, among other speed and security features. This makes WPX less efficient in delivering content quickly to a global audience.
W3 Total Cache vs. LiteSpeed Cache
WPX uses LiteSpeed servers but insists on recommending W3 Total Cache instead of LiteSpeed Cache. LiteSpeed Cache offers far more features to improve core web vitals, such as:
- Delaying JavaScript
- Removing unused CSS
- Asynchronous CSS loading
- Preloading links
- Lazy loading videos and images
Using W3 Total Cache means missing out on these critical optimizations.
Undefined Resource Limits
Most hosts list clear resource limits in their Terms of Service (TOS). WPX, however, leaves many things vague and at their discretion. Their TOS mentions that accounts can be terminated without a refund for excessive use of resources, but it doesn’t specify what constitutes “excessive use.” This lack of transparency can be concerning for users.
Limited Data Centers
WPX has only three data centers located in Chicago, London, and Sydney. If your audience is not near these locations, your site’s performance could suffer. A more extensive network of data centers would be beneficial for reducing latency and improving load times globally.
4. Notable Advantages
User-Friendly Dashboard
WPX uses a custom dashboard that’s easy to navigate, especially for beginners. It simplifies tasks like managing email, backups, SSL, staging, and FTP. However, advanced users might find it lacking in control and features compared to other hosting dashboards.
Competitive Pricing
WPX offers competitive pricing, especially for the features provided. Their plans include:
- Business Plan: $20.83/month (yearly)
- Professional Plan: $41.58/month (yearly)
- Elite Plan: $83.25/month (yearly)
These prices are reasonable, but remember, you get what you pay for.
Email Hosting
WPX includes email hosting, which is a nice touch. However, there have been reports of issues with their email services, such as problems with sending emails to the same domain. This might require additional troubleshooting or alternative solutions.
5. Conclusion
WPX Hosting has some serious shortcomings, particularly in terms of performance, reliability, and transparency. While it offers a user-friendly experience and competitive pricing, these factors are overshadowed by the frequent downtimes, lack of redundancy, and inadequate caching solutions. If your website relies heavily on speed and uptime, you might want to consider other options.
6. Alternatives to WPX Hosting
Rocket.net
Rocket.net offers cloud hosting with faster NVMe SSDs, 32 cores/128GB RAM, Redis, and Cloudflare Enterprise. This makes it a powerhouse for reducing TTFB with 285 PoPs, APO, Argo Smart Routing, and load balancing. It’s a solid choice for WooCommerce or dynamic sites.
NameHero
NameHero’s Turbo WordPress plan provides shared LiteSpeed hosting with NVMe storage, which can significantly enhance your site’s performance. It’s a good option for those looking for LiteSpeed hosting at an affordable price.
ScalaHosting
ScalaHosting’s Entry WP Cloud plan offers cloud LiteSpeed hosting with NVMe storage. It’s a great choice for users who need scalable and efficient hosting solutions.
Cloudways
Cloudways is a popular choice for those who need flexible cloud hosting. With various plans and providers like DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud, you can find a plan that suits your needs. However, Cloudways’ support might not be as robust as WPX.
7. Final Thoughts
Choosing the right hosting provider is crucial for your website’s success. While WPX Hosting has some appealing features, its significant downsides cannot be overlooked. If uptime, performance, and transparency are top priorities for you, exploring other hosting options might be the best route.