Flywheel Hosting Review: Managed WordPress for Creatives
Flywheel is a specialized managed WordPress hosting provider, now owned by WP Engine, that focuses on streamlining the workflow for designers, developers, and creative agencies building WordPress sites. Launched in 2012, Flywheel hosting differentiates itself by offering not just hosting, but a platform with built-in tools designed to simplify site creation, collaboration, billing, and client handoffs. They utilize Google Cloud infrastructure (similar to Kinsta and SiteGround) but package it with a unique dashboard and feature set aimed squarely at their target creative audience.
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Table of Contents
Key Features Tailored for Creatives
Flywheel’s platform boasts several features that appeal directly to designers and agencies:
- Intuitive Dashboard: A clean, user-friendly interface for managing sites, organizations, and collaborators.
- Blueprints: Save pre-configured WordPress sites (themes, plugins, settings) as blueprints for quickly starting new projects.
- Local Development Tool: Free ‘Local by Flywheel’ application for easy local WordPress development that syncs with Flywheel hosting.
- Collaboration Tools: Easily add collaborators (team members, clients) with specific permissions without sharing passwords.
- Staging Sites: One-click staging environments for testing changes before pushing them live.
- Client Billing Transfer: Seamlessly transfer site ownership and billing directly to clients upon project completion.
- Managed Security & Backups: Includes free SSL, malware scanning/removal, and automatic nightly backups.
- Performance Optimization: Server-level caching (FlyCache), CDN integration, and optimized infrastructure on Google Cloud.
- Growth Suite (Add-on): Tools for agencies to manage client subscriptions, recurring revenue, and reporting.
Flywheel Hosting Performance
Leveraging the Google Cloud Platform, Flywheel hosting offers solid performance comparable to other premium managed hosts like Kinsta and WP Engine. Their infrastructure, combined with FlyCache (their proprietary caching engine) and integrated CDN, delivers fast loading times suitable for professional websites and demanding client projects. While they offer different tiers, all benefit from the underlying cloud architecture and WordPress-specific optimizations, ensuring reliable performance hosting.
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Flywheel Pricing: Managed Hosting Costs
Flywheel hosting pricing starts at a relatively accessible point for managed WordPress hosting, often slightly lower than WP Engine or Kinsta’s entry plans (around $13-$15/month for the ‘Tiny’ plan). Plans scale based on the number of sites, monthly visits, storage, and bandwidth. While the initial plans are affordable, costs increase for higher-traffic sites or multi-site agency plans. It’s important to compare the included resources (visits, storage) carefully with competitors at similar price points. The Growth Suite add-on for agency client management is an additional cost. The value is found in the combination of managed hosting benefits and the specialized workflow tools for creatives.
Comparing Flywheel to WP Engine and Kinsta
- vs. WP Engine: Since WP Engine acquired Flywheel, they share underlying infrastructure but maintain distinct brands and target audiences. Flywheel focuses more on the designer/agency workflow with tools like Blueprints and easy client transfer. WP Engine might offer slightly more enterprise-level features or different support structures.
- vs. Kinsta: Both use Google Cloud and offer high performance. Kinsta might have a slight edge in raw performance benchmarks due to C2 machines (check latest specs) and includes an APM tool. Flywheel excels with its user interface, Local integration, and agency-focused tools. Pricing is generally comparable.
- vs. SiteGround: SiteGround offers strong performance at potentially lower renewal costs but uses its own Site Tools panel and lacks Flywheel’s deep agency/designer workflow integration. See our SiteGround Review.
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Conclusion: Is Flywheel Hosting Right for You?
Flywheel hosting is an outstanding choice for freelance web designers, developers, and creative agencies who build and manage WordPress websites for clients. Its intuitive platform, coupled with workflow-enhancing tools like Local integration, Blueprints, and collaboration features, can significantly streamline the development and handoff process. While offering strong performance similar to other premium managed hosts, its primary appeal lies in its dedication to the creative professional’s workflow. If you fit this profile, Flywheel offers compelling value despite its premium pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Is Flywheel owned by WP Engine?
A1: Yes, Flywheel was acquired by WP Engine in 2019. While they operate as distinct brands with slightly different focuses and toolsets, they share underlying infrastructure and resources.
Q2: What is Local by Flywheel?
A2: Local is a free desktop application developed by Flywheel that allows users to easily create and manage local WordPress development environments on their computer. It integrates smoothly with Flywheel hosting for pushing and pulling sites.
Q3: Is Flywheel good for high-traffic sites?
A3: Yes, Flywheel’s infrastructure, built on Google Cloud and featuring performance optimizations like FlyCache and CDN, is capable of handling high-traffic websites. They offer various plans designed to accommodate different levels of traffic and resource needs
