When it comes to choosing a hosting provider for WordPress sites, the options are vast. From shared hosting to premium managed solutions, the decision often depends on the level of control you want, your budget, and your website’s specific needs.
One hosting provider that has garnered attention in the WordPress community is Pressable (probably because it’s by Automattic, the creator of WordPress and WooCommerce). Specializing in managed WordPress hosting, Pressable offers robust features tailored to WordPress users. My comprehensive review will dive deep into Pressable’s hosting services, key features, pros and cons, pricing structure, and how it compares to competitors in the space.
What is Pressable Hosting?
Pressable is a managed WordPress hosting provider designed to offer a streamlined and high-performance environment for WordPress websites. Founded in 2010 by the same team behind the popular hosting service ZippyKid (which changed to Pressable in 2013), Pressable has established itself as a go-to solution for users seeking high-quality managed WordPress hosting.
Unlike traditional shared hosting providers, Pressable focuses solely on WordPress, providing a fully managed experience that includes performance optimization, security, updates, backups, and dedicated customer support. It’s designed for those who want the best WordPress without the hassle of managing servers or dealing with technical issues.
Pressable Review
Product Name: Pressable
Product Description: Pressable is a managed Wordpress website host by Automattic, the folks behind Wordpress itself, as well as the e-commerce platform WooCommerce.
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Overall Value
Consumer Reviews
This is the aggregate score of reader reviews we’ve received on Pressable. Have a good or bad experience with Pressable? Feel free to leave your own review in the comments. Please note that only ratings with valid review content will be published and counted.
Key Features of Pressable Hosting
Pressable provides a range of features that cater to various website needs, whether you’re an individual blogger or a growing business. Below are some of the key features that set Pressable apart from other hosting providers:
1. Managed WordPress Hosting
Pressable’s managed WordPress hosting is designed for website owners who want a hands-off hosting experience. It includes automatic updates, security patches, and backups—everything is managed behind the scenes so you can focus on creating content and running your business.
2. Performance Optimization
Pressable is optimized for performance out of the box. It utilizes a combination of technologies to ensure that WordPress sites load quickly and reliably, including:
- Content Delivery Network (CDN) integration to cache static files and improve load times globally.
- Advanced caching techniques at both the server and application levels.
- SSD storage for faster data retrieval and improved overall performance.
3. Scalability
Pressable’s hosting plans are designed to grow with your website. Pressable’s infrastructure can scale to accommodate higher demands as your traffic increases. This is an essential feature for businesses anticipating growth, as it ensures that your website will remain fast and responsive, even during periods of high traffic.
4. Security Features
Security is a critical consideration when choosing a hosting provider. Pressable offers various security features, including:
- Daily backups of your site, with the option for on-demand backups.
- The filesystem is backed up daily, and database backups are made hourly. If you install the free BlogVault integration, you will have real-time update and restore capabilities (any time any edit or change is detected, you can roll back if you don’t like it).
- Free SSL certificates to ensure encrypted connections between users and your website.
- Automatic malware scanning and removal.
- Firewall protection and DDoS mitigation to prevent attacks.
- One-click staging environments to test changes safely before going live.
5. 24/7 Expert Support
Pressable provides round-the-clock support from WordPress experts. Whether you need assistance with a technical issue or advice on optimizing your site, the support team is available 24/7 via live chat, email, or phone (depending on the plan). Pressable’s support is highly regarded for its quick response times and technical knowledge.
6. Built-in Caching and CDN
The built-in caching system works seamlessly with Pressable’s hosting environment, further optimizing your site’s performance. Additionally, the included CDN ensures that your content is distributed globally, so your website can load quickly from any location.
7. Free Site Migration
Moving your website from another hosting provider can be a daunting task. Pressable offers free website migration to help users transition their existing sites to its platform. The migration process is handled by Pressable’s support team, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal downtime.
DIY Migration—Pressable also simplifies website migration using its plugin. I’ve migrated at least three sites this way, including WeRockYourWeb.com, with no issues.
8. Developer-Friendly Features
Pressable also offers several developer-friendly features, including:
- SSH and SFTP access for secure file transfers.
- WP-CLI is used to manage WordPress installations from the command line.
- Staging environments for testing changes without affecting the live site.
- Git integration for version control and streamlined deployments.
9. Integrated Managed WooCommerce Hosting
If you’re running an online store, Pressable offers specialized hosting for WooCommerce sites. This includes enhanced performance, security, and scalability, ensuring that your e-commerce platform is optimized for speed and reliability.
Pros of Pressable Hosting
Pressable’s managed WordPress hosting offers many advantages, which are worth considering when deciding whether it’s the right choice for your site.
1. Great Performance
Pressable’s performance optimization, including built-in caching, a CDN, and SSD storage, results in fast website load times. Users can expect smooth, responsive performance if you’re running a personal blog, a business site, or an online store.
2. High-Level Security
With its suite of security features, including SSL certificates, malware scanning, automatic backups, and firewall protection, Pressable goes the extra mile to keep your site secure. Hackers often target WordPress websites, and Pressable’s proactive security measures can provide peace of mind.
3. Solid Customer Support
Pressable’s customer support is another standout feature. Their support team is knowledgeable, responsive, and available 24/7. WordPress beginners and experienced users alike will appreciate the expertise and assistance provided by Pressable’s team.
4. Ease of Use
For users who want a hassle-free hosting experience, Pressable’s managed service simplifies many technical aspects of running a WordPress website. Automatic updates, backups, and site migrations make it easy to get started without worrying about server management.
5. Free Site Migration
Pressable offers free migrations for users moving from one host to another. This makes switching to Pressable easier for those not technically inclined, as the company handles the process for you.
6. Scalability
Pressable’s hosting plans are scalable, meaning you can upgrade or adjust your resources as your site grows. This is essential for businesses or individuals anticipating increased traffic or needing additional resources.
7. Developer Features
Pressable caters to developers with its developer-friendly features, such as SSH access, Git integration, and staging environments. These features provide flexibility and control for users who need a more hands-on approach to managing their WordPress sites.
Cons of Pressable Hosting
Despite its many strengths, Pressable hosting has some downsides. Understanding these drawbacks can help you make a more informed decision.
1. Pricing
Pressable’s pricing is higher than that of some of its competitors, especially considering that many entry-level plans are limited in storage and traffic. While the features are robust, smaller websites or users on a tight budget may find Pressable’s pricing prohibitive. The base plans are typically more expensive than shared hosting options, although they include many more features.
That said, their pricing is very competitive compared to other managed WP hosting providers (think Kinsta and WP Engine).
2. Limited Plans for Smaller Websites
Pressable’s plans may be too resource-heavy for very small or new websites that don’t yet require much storage or traffic. For users with modest needs, more affordable alternatives, such as Bluehost or SiteGround’s lower-tier plans, may better fit their budget.
3. Lack of Email Hosting
Pressable does not include email hosting as part of its package. If you want to use a custom domain email address (e.g., you@example.com), you’ll need to find a separate email provider, such as G Suite or Microsoft 365. This adds extra complexity for those who want an all-in-one solution.
4. Fewer Data Centers
Pressable offers fewer data center locations than some competitors. While they provide a CDN to help distribute content globally, sites with very specific geographic requirements may find other hosts with more extensive server locations more suitable.
5. Lack of Plugin Compatibility
This deal-breaker led us to move We Rock Your Web to another provider (we’re currently on WP Engine). What happened? After migrating from Kinsta to Pressable, we suddenly noticed that many of our pages were loading blank (with no content except the header and footer). We started troubleshooting and got in touch with Pressable tech support via chat, who identified two plug-ins that were potential culprits:
- Easy Social Share Buttons (the social sharing buttons you see at top and bottom of our articles). The plugin is a bit resource intensive, but nothing that a host like Kinsta or WP Engine can’t handle. It’s also kept up-to-date.
- WP Review – the review plugin we use on this site and our other brands. Pressable’s complaint was that it had not been updated in several years. This is true, but it is still supported, for sale, and listed as compatible on the website (and we have no issues running it on other hosts).
Pricing of Pressable Hosting
Pressable’s pricing is structured around four main tiers, catering to various use cases. While pricing is competitive for managed WordPress hosting, it’s important to remember that Pressable’s service is targeted at users who want premium features.
Here’s a breakdown of Pressable’s plans as of 2024:
1. Starter Plan ($19/month)
- 1 Website
- 1 GB Storage
- 50 GB Monthly Visits
- Free SSL & CDN
- Free Site Migration
- Daily Backups
2. Personal Plan ($39/month)
- 3 Websites
- 3 GB Storage
- 75 GB Monthly Visits
- Free SSL & CDN
- Free Site Migration
- Daily Backups
3. Business Plan ($79/month)
- 5 Websites
- 5 GB Storage
- 150 GB Monthly Visits
- Free SSL & CDN
- Free Site Migration
- Daily Backups
- Enhanced Performance Features
4. Enterprise Plan (Custom Pricing)
- 10+ Websites
- 10 GB+ Storage
- 300 GB+ Monthly Visits
- Free SSL & CDN
- Free Site Migration
- Daily Backups
- Advanced Performance Features & Custom Solutions
Upgrading (or downgrading) your plan is easy – you can upgrade and downgrade your hosting plan with a mouse-click (and prorated pricing adjustment) within the Pressable interface.
Pressable Hosting vs. Competitors
When comparing Pressable to its competitors, the main differentiating factors are its performance, security features, and managed Word
Press-specific services. However, several alternatives in the managed WordPress hosting space provide similar or even more flexible offerings.
1. WP Engine
WP Engine is one of the most well-known names in the managed WordPress hosting space. Like Pressable, it offers a fully managed WordPress hosting environment with excellent performance, security, and support. However, WP Engine tends to be a bit pricier than Pressable, and some users may find that Pressable offers a slightly more affordable solution for similar features.
2. Kinsta
Kinsta is another premium managed WordPress hosting provider. Kinsta is renowned for its performance optimization, offering features similar to those of Pressable, including automatic backups, a global CDN, and staging environments. Kinsta’s pricing is also higher, but its performance is widely regarded as top-notch.
3. SiteGround
SiteGround is a strong competitor in the WordPress hosting space, offering both managed WordPress hosting and shared hosting. SiteGround’s performance is outstanding, and its customer support is excellent. However, SiteGround tends to be less specialized than Pressable, and its managed WordPress plans are priced slightly lower.
4. Bluehost
Bluehost is often recommended as a budget-friendly option for WordPress hosting, especially for beginners. It offers both shared and managed WordPress hosting options. While Bluehost is less expensive, it may lack some of the premium features and performance that Pressable provides.
Conclusion
Pressable is an excellent choice for those seeking a managed WordPress hosting provider that balances performance, security, and ease of use. With features like automatic updates, free migrations, and 24/7 expert support. It is also one of the more affordable managed hosting solutions for WordPress (both Kinsta and WP Engine cost significantly more).
Want to compare Pressable to our other picks for website hosting this year? View our WordPress hosting comparison to see picks in categories ranging from budget hosting, to managed hosting, and even dedicated servers.
Do you think you’ll try Pressable? Let me know in the comments!
