Flywheel vs Pressable: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over Flywheel vs. Pressable, both hosting providers offer strong performance and comprehensive features that cater well to specific needs.

• 
  Flywheel (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  is particularly renowned for its specialization in WordPress hosting. It excels in providing a user-friendly experience,
  comprehensive developer tools, and superior support for WooCommerce sites. Flywheel’s managed caching, fast servers,
  and performance insights ensure it stands out for site speed and reliability. However, users might find its higher pricing
  and limited email services as potential drawbacks. The platform’s commitment to high uptime, combined with features like
  free migrations, local development environments, and detailed user management roles, make it an excellent choice for agencies
  and freelancers.
  
• 
  Pressable (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  offers a well-balanced suite of features optimized for performance and security, making it suitable for media-rich and
  high-traffic websites. With a strong uptime guarantee, global CDN, and responsive customer support with certified WordPress
  engineers, Pressable delivers excellent reliability. The platform’s robust set of security features, including proactive
  malware scanning and Jetpack Security, assures users of site safety. While its pricing may seem steep and it does not
  provide direct email hosting, the automatic scaling and user-friendly dashboard positions Pressable as a compelling choice
  for serious developers and businesses seeking dependable performance and flexibility.
  

Hosting types offered

Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.

Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in
certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.

Detailed comparison

🏆 Winner Flywheel: Flywheel offers exceptional uptime and availability with impressive performance metrics.

Flywheel guarantees a high uptime of 99.9%, backed by their SLA. In a monitored two-week test, Flywheel achieved 100% uptime with zero outages, displaying their reliability. The average response time was 371ms, significantly better than the market average. Flywheel’s customer support operates 24/7/365, ensuring assistance is always available through various channels.

Pressable also offers a strong uptime guarantee of 100%, supported by a geo-redundant automatic failover system. This ensures continuous operation even during traffic surges or node failures. Pressable’s proactive monitoring and redundant data centers contribute to high availability and fault tolerance. Their support team is available around the clock to address any potential issues promptly.

🏆 Winner: Pressable Optimized for exceptional WordPress performance and reliability.

When comparing the performance of Flywheel and Pressable, both hosts offer impressive speed and quality in their services. Flywheel operates on a cloud platform designed for maximum WordPress performance, utilizes managed caching handled at the server level, and includes super fast servers. It also benefits from a CDN powered by Fastly and dedicated resources for better performance. In contrast, Pressable provides lightning-fast performance with a global network of 28+ data centers across six continents, a custom resource management system for traffic bursts, frequent and performant CPUs, and a 5.2 milliseconds static performance test response time. Flywheel offers a caching solution called FlyCache along with a CDN, while Pressable includes a free CDN and performs real-time site replication for enhanced reliability.

Website Speed

Flywheel’s managed caching, fast servers, and performance insights add-on work together to optimize WordPress site speed significantly. It utilizes server-level caching, meaning no plugins are needed to help maintain speed. Flywheel also benefits from auto-healing technology and compute-optimized servers tailored for WooCommerce sites, potentially increasing site speed by up to 40%. Pressable boasts quick performance through its global network of data centers, a custom resource management system, and highly frequent CPUs. The hosting provider also takes advantage of real-time replication and robust infrastructure to maintain a great speed.

Scalability

Flywheel offers custom plans tailored to specific traffic needs and provides dedicated servers, but it requires customers to upgrade plans manually if traffic increases. Overages are billed at $1 per 1,000 extra monthly visitors and $1 per GB of storage over the limit. Pressable offers auto-scaling, making it easier to handle traffic spikes without manual upgrades. In addition, Pressable’s flexible plans can accommodate varying traffic and disk requirements. The cost structure for scaling is not specified for Pressable.

🏆 Winner Flywheel: Provides a highly secure and comprehensive hosting solution with a wide range of advanced security features and compliance measures.

Technical security measures:

Flywheel offers free SSL certificates and supports third-party SSL certificates, whereas Pressable also provides free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt. Both providers use web application firewalls (WAF) to protect against threats. Flywheel’s additional features include intelligent IP blocking and plugin security alerts, which are not specified by Pressable. Flywheel supports PHP 8.1, while Pressable ensures a current PHP version. Flywheel includes nightly backups with storage for 30 days, while Pressable offers automated daily backups.

Operational security measures:

Flywheel offers 24/7/365 support and free migrations for all sites, while Pressable includes hack recovery assistance and uses redundant data centers for enhanced operational reliability. Flywheel’s auto-healing technology allows WordPress sites to self-recover from service failures. Both providers include malware scanning, but Flywheel includes free malware removal if an infection occurs. Flywheel’s additional security plugins like Wordfence and Sucuri add another layer of operational security, which isn’t specified for Pressable.

Compliance and certifications:

Flywheel is HIPAA compliant and integrates de-identification standards. It supports GDPR, 21 CFR Part 11, and GCP, and is SOC 2 audited. Pressable suggests compliance with GDPR and PCI, although specific details are not provided. This makes Flywheel a more robust option for compliance requirements.

🏆 Winner Flywheel: Managed WordPress hosting with extensive features and strong developer tools.

Both Flywheel and Pressable offer managed WordPress hosting, but they cater to different needs and preferences. Flywheel shines with its beginner-friendly approach and robust platform features. It provides free migrations, customized caching through FlyCache, and CDN integration for speed. Flywheel’s local development environment and staging sites enhance the user’s workflow, making website creation and testing straightforward. Flywheel’s unique selling points include nightly backups, a 14-day free demo site, and premium themes via the Genesis Framework, which could attract users looking for a hassle-free WordPress experience. The standout feature of Flywheel is its dedicated account manager and quarterly business reviews, which add a personal touch to its customer service.

Pressable emphasizes performance and security, offering automatic scaling, daily file backups, and hourly database backups. Its dashboard is user-friendly, allowing easy access to website data, developer tools, and one-click domain management. While Flywheel does not offer GitHub integration, Pressable does, making it a strong choice for developers who need seamless code deployment. Pressable’s proactive malware scanning and threat monitoring provide an added layer of security. Notably, Pressable includes Jetpack Security with its plans, a significant value-add for users focused on site safety. Both services offer essential developer tools like SSH and SFTP access, but Pressable’s focus on automated updates and security might appeal more to users who prioritize a hands-off experience.

Both providers support a range of users from beginners to experts with user-friendly website builders and WordPress staging areas. However, in terms of developer tools, both Flywheel and Pressable offer robust options including SSH access, support for multiple programming languages, and Git for version control, thus appealing to developers looking for advanced capabilities.

Email services:

Email services at Flywheel does not offer email hosting services, recommending third-party providers like Google Apps instead. It focuses on managed WordPress hosting without email integration. Pressable similarly does not provide email hosting but ensures transactional email capabilities necessary for website functionality, like form submissions. Users requiring extensive email services will need to integrate third-party solutions, as neither provider offers bespoke email hosting packages directly. Pressable’s inclusion of Jetpack Security, however, could benefit users needing robust spam protection.

🏆 Winner
Pressable: Pressable provides a well-rounded suite of hosting plans with superior features and pricing options.

Evaluating the pricing of plans among various hosting providers can be complex due to their differing pricing and renewal strategies. Additionally, certain plans require annual commitments, which adds to the difficulty of making comparisons. The prices listed are based on monthly commitments; plans requiring annual commitments are indicated. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.

Flywheel offers a range of hosting plans aimed at different user needs. Their Tiny Plan starts at $13/month, and the Agency Plan goes up to $242/month. All plans provide features tailored to WordPress users such as FlyCache, CDN, SSL certificates, and 24/7 chat support. Pressable’s plans start at $40/month and offer higher-end features such as unmetered bandwidth, advanced geographical redundancy, and AMD EPYC Milan CPUs. Moreover, Pressable’s plans scale significantly, offering up to 100 WordPress installs and 2,000,000 visits per month. Both providers offer custom plans, making them flexible for enterprise demands.

Enterprise plans

For enterprise-level hosting, Flywheel and Pressable both offer custom plans. Flywheel provides tailored Enterprise Plans with custom pricing, offering a robust array of features like multiple sites, custom storage, and bandwidth options. Pressable’s Enterprise Plans equally offer custom pricing but come with additional benefits like geo-redundant cloud infrastructure and AMD EPYC Milan CPUs. Both providers cater well to large enterprises, but Pressable has a slight edge with its comprehensive set of features at scalable price points.

🏆 Winner Flywheel: Flywheel offers a highly intuitive and developer-friendly WordPress hosting experience.

Flywheel provides users with a unique custom dashboard that is designed to be accessible for both technical and non-technical users. This dashboard offers several features like free migrations, 14-day demo sites, local development environments, and staging sites, allowing users to develop and manage their sites easily. The inclusion of Blueprints and site cloning simplifies repetitive tasks, making the platform a prime choice for agencies and developers who need an efficient setup. The layout and ease-of-use make Flywheel highly user-friendly, even for those who may not have extensive technical expertise.

Pressable’s dashboard is equally sleek and intuitive, emphasizing ease of use and modern design. It provides quick access to essential tools and website data, making it simple to manage WordPress and WooCommerce websites. The dashboard’s user experience is designed to cater to both novice and experienced users alike. Features like one-click cloning, straightforward domain management, and easy SFTP access further enhance its appeal. While Pressable’s dashboard is powerful and accessible, Flywheel’s additional features like local development environment and Blueprints give it a slight edge.

Both Flywheel and Pressable offer free migration tools. Flywheel provides a Migration Dashboard where users can submit, prioritize, and monitor their migration progress, making the process transparent and straightforward. In contrast, Pressable offers a friction-free experience via its Automated Migration plugin, simplifying site transfer for users of all skill levels. Both services ensure hassle-free migrations, but Flywheel’s Migration Dashboard adds an extra layer of user control and transparency.

Flywheel has an extensive help documentation library that covers various aspects, from getting started and account management to developer-specific information. It also offers 24/7/365 chat support and phone support during business hours, providing multiple avenues for assistance. Additionally, Flywheel includes managed plugin updates and performance insights. Pressable also offers 24/7 expert support, along with a comprehensive knowledge base that includes categorized articles and tutorials for various needs. While both platforms have solid support resources, Flywheel’s additional perks like the Migration Dashboard and managed plugin updates give it a slight lead.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Flywheel offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. Pressable also boasts a detailed help center with an intuitive search function and around-the-clock support via live chat, phone, and ticketing, ensuring comprehensive user support.

🏆 Winner Flywheel: Flywheel provides extensive user management features that enable detailed control and collaboration.

Both Flywheel and Pressable offer different user management capabilities that cater to various usage needs. Flywheel stands out due to its comprehensive user roles and permissions. Collaborators on Flywheel have near-complete access to site management, SFTP, and database management, restricted only in billing and site deletion. On the other hand, Pressable offers simpler collaborator access but excels with a broader set of developer tools like SSH, WP-CLI, and Git Integration. Flywheel makes it easier to add/remove collaborators with a few clicks, whereas Pressable emphasizes secure file transfer and ease of credential sharing to maintain site security. Flywheel’s detailed roles ensure extensive site control for collaborators, making it ideal for larger teams working cohesively.

Regarding user interfaces and tools, Flywheel’s dashboard allows collaborators to manage almost every aspect of the site, except billing and site deletion, directly from the central interface. They also have capabilities like database management and SFTP access, which can be seamlessly integrated with the Flywheel interface. Pressable’s user interface highlights ease of use, displaying site listings, collaborators, and site specifics immediately upon login. It consolidates essential information in one view and provides direct access to essential tools. Flywheel’s dashboard is robust and detailed, giving users more granular control, while Pressable focuses on simplicity and quick access.

When evaluating access control effectiveness, both platforms ensure site security but through different means. Flywheel limits key actions like billing management and site deletion to the owner, ensuring these critical functions are secure. Collaborators can change significant site settings but within controlled boundaries. Pressable prioritizes security with daily backups, malware scanning, and firewall implementation. Their model of password resets and staging environments ensures security while allowing complex changes without affecting the live site. Flywheel’s user roles and permissions make handling large teams straightforward, while Pressable’s security-minded access control along with developer tools supports a robust yet flexible environment for growing user bases.

Flywheel user roles table:

Pressable user roles table:

🏆 Winner
Pressable: Offers superior customer support with certified WordPress engineers and lightning-fast response times.

Flywheel and Pressable provide exceptional customer service, but each has unique strengths. Flywheel offers 24/7/365 chat support, email/ticket support, and limited phone support. Their customer service team includes dedicated account managers, making it ideal for personalized support. Flywheel stands out with features like free migrations, real-time support for WooCommerce, and nightly backups, catering primarily to freelancers, agencies, and those with high-traffic sites.

Pressable, on the other hand, delivers round-the-clock support primarily through online channels, with an average response time of under two minutes and resolution time under ten minutes. With certified WordPress engineers handling support, the company maintains an impressive customer satisfaction rate of 98% or better. Pressable offers additional services like free SSL certificates, global CDN, hack recovery assistance, and a managed WordPress environment, making it a strong choice for those needing reliable, rapid customer service.

User feedback

Flywheel is highly regarded for its intuitive user interface, efficient WordPress management, and reliable speed and performance. Customers appreciate the ease of site migration, robust support, and included features like SSL and backups. However, some users highlight concerns over recent pricing changes, slower customer service response times, and issues with email limits and staging environments. Despite a few drawbacks, Flywheel is praised for its agency-oriented focus, making it a strong choice for professionals managing multiple client websites.

Overall, users have expressed high satisfaction with the hosting provider, citing exceptional customer support, fast response times, and reliable uptime as standout features. The platform’s ease of use, fast website speeds, and seamless integration with WordPress are frequently praised. Although some users noted that accessing core files and the staging environment process could be more straightforward, these issues do not significantly detract from their positive experiences. The main minor drawback highlighted is the pricing, which some users feel is on the higher side, but they acknowledge it is justified by the outstanding quality and support provided.

FAQ