Flywheel vs Rochen: guide for 2024

Flywheel vs Rochen: Final verdict

Looking over Flywheel vs. Rochen, both providers show strengths and weaknesses, catering to different types of users.

• 
  Flywheel (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  is a standout choice for WordPress users, offering premium features like FlyCache, global availability, and managed performance updates. Its emphasis on ease of use makes it ideal for developers and agencies managing multiple websites. The intuitive interface, staging environments, and auto-healing technology are among its highlights. However, Flywheel’s lack of email hosting and domain registration might require users to look for third-party services, potentially increasing costs.
• 
  Rochen (Overall grade: 8.5)
  
  appeals to developers with its broader range of hosting solutions and comprehensive control features like SSH, SFTP, and Git access. Its generous resource allocations, including unmetered data transfer and extensive email hosting, make it a robust, all-in-one solution for a wide array of projects. Despite its strengths, Rochen’s reliance on email-based support might be a limitation for users requiring instant assistance, and its slightly higher price point could be a concern for budget-conscious users.

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 stands out with its unparalleled uptime and outstanding performance.

Flywheel offers a higher than the standard 99.9% uptime guarantee, backed by an SLA agreement, ensuring reliable service. In a short-term, monitored test, Flywheel delivered 100% uptime with zero outages, which is impressive. The platform’s average response time of 371ms is significantly quicker than the market average, indicating swift server reactions. Flywheel also provides comprehensive support through chat, email tickets, and phone support for premium customers, ensuring assistance is readily available.

Rochen also provides a solid 99.9% uptime guarantee and extensive SLA for dedicated VMs, maintaining 100% power and network availability with proactive monitoring. The hosting service utilizes AWS Global Infrastructure for swift transfer capabilities during hardware failures. Customers can claim credits for any downtime, showcasing Rochen’s commitment to uptime. Despite Rochen’s strong offerings, Flywheel’s performance and response times give it the edge in assured availability and support on a global scale.

🏆 Winner Flywheel: Designed for ultimate WordPress performance.

When it comes to general performance, Flywheel takes the upper hand. Flywheel’s cloud platform is engineered as the fastest option for WordPress sites, leveraging super fast servers and managed caching. They offer a CDN powered by Fastly, free for users, to boost page load speeds. Flywheel’s multiple data centers contribute to their 99.9% uptime, though the specific number and locations aren’t mentioned. In contrast, Rochen also performs well with SSD NVMe storage and LiteSpeed servers, but lacks detailed performance insights or dedicated server resources.

Website Speed

Website speed is crucial for both providers, but Flywheel offers more comprehensive solutions. Flywheel uses compute-optimized dedicated servers for WooCommerce, improving site speed by up to 40%. Their Performance Insights add-on provides actionable recommendations to maintain optimal speeds. With Rochen, speed enhancements come from LiteSpeed Caching and HTTP/3, which are beneficial but not tailored to individual client needs. Flywheel’s custom caching and dedicated resources add an extra layer of speed optimization.

Scalability

Scalability is also a strong suit for Flywheel. They offer custom-built plans for any specific requirements and high-traffic needs. Users can upgrade plans to accommodate growth, while dedicated resources ensure performance isn’t compromised. Overages cost $1 per 1,000 extra monthly visitors and $1 per GB of storage, providing clear cost expectations. As for Rochen, we don’t have detailed information about their scalability or costs associated with scaling, leaving Flywheel as the more transparent and flexible option for growing sites.

Winner Flywheel: Flywheel offers extensive security measures, making it a strong choice for secure hosting.

Technical security measures

Flywheel offers solid technical security features like free SSL certificates for every site and the support for third-party SSL certificates. Rochen, in contrast, also provides free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt and offers GeoTrust SSL Certificates starting from $49.95 USD annually. Flywheel’s robust security is further demonstrated with PHP 8.1 support, while Rochen supports a broader range of PHP versions, including the latest PHP 8.3. Both hosting providers have their own WAF implementations: Flywheel uses Fastly WAF whereas Rochen employs Rochen Shield WAF. Flywheel stands out with features like auto-healing technology and nightly backups, compared to Rochen’s automatic daily and on-demand backups.

Operational security measures

Flywheel’s operational security is enhanced with real-time intrusion detection via Intelligent IP Blocking and Plugin Security Alerts that warn users of vulnerabilities. Rochen adopts a proactive approach, including malware scanning and protection, with real-time scanning of file uploads through Imunify360. Both providers offer free malware cleanup services. Flywheel’s data privacy and access controls include a role-based permission model and federated identity service, while Rochen emphasizes OS level account segregation and end-to-end encryption for data transmission. Both providers run 24/7 server monitoring, but Flywheel’s 24/7/365 support and free migrations give it an edge.

Compliance and certifications

Flywheel excels in compliance with strict regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, GDPR, 21 CFR Part 11, and GCP, providing various functionalities to meet these standards. Rochen is fully GDPR-compliant with measures like a new Privacy Notice and Data Processing Agreement but does not specify compliance with other regulations like HIPAA. Both Flywheel and Rochen have obtained SOC 2 audits, ensuring they meet high security standards.

🏆 Winner
Rochen: A versatile hosting provider with a focus on generous resource allocations and comprehensive security features.

Both Flywheel and Rochen offer robust and user-friendly solutions for hosting websites, each catering to distinct user needs. Flywheel focuses on providing a comprehensive WordPress-specific experience with managed hosting, offering features like FlyCache, global availability, and managed performance and security updates. Flywheel’s unique selling points include expert WordPress support, auto-healing technology, and free site migrations, making it an attractive option for developers and agencies who prioritize ease of use and specialized WordPress support. However, Flywheel does not offer domain registration or email hosting, potentially adding extra costs for users requiring these services.

Rochen, on the other hand, offers a broader range of solutions accommodating various website types through its different plans. Incorporating thoughtful developer-friendly features such as SSH and SFTP access, Git, and staging environments, Rochen appeals to developers managing multiple projects or needing more granular control. Its unmetered data transfer, instant activation, and robust security measures like malware protection and free cleanup set it apart. Rochen also includes comprehensive email hosting, making it a one-stop solution compared to Flywheel’s reliance on third-party services.

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 Rochen 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:

Flywheel does not provide native email hosting, instead recommending external services like Google Workspace. This requires additional setup and costs for users. In contrast, Rochen offers a complete email hosting service with built-in spam filtering and transaction email capabilities, making it easier for users to manage all their web and email needs in one place.

🏆 Winner Rochen:Rochen scores slightly higher overall, mainly due to the robust features included in their plans and the transparency of what’s included.

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’s Tiny plan is priced at $13/month when billed annually and offers 5GB storage and 20GB bandwidth for one WordPress site, while Rochen’s equivalent Solo plan for WordPress costs $18.95/month with 10GB SSD storage and unmetered data transfer. Flywheel’s Agency plan, set at $242/month, accommodates up to 30 sites with 50GB storage and 500GB bandwidth, whereas Rochen’s Reseller plan at $59.95/month supports 50 sites with 80GB SSD storage and unmetered data transfer. Notably, Flywheel provides additional features such as PHP 8.1, FlyCache, and a CDN powered by Fastly across all its plans, while Rochen offers unmetered premium data transfer and more staging sites.

Enterprise plans

Flywheel’s Agency plan caters to up to 30 sites with 50GB storage and 500GB bandwidth for $242/month. It includes additional features such as PHP 8.1, a CDN by Fastly, and 24/7 chat support. Rochen’s Reseller plan, priced at $59.95/month, covers 50 sites with 80GB SSD storage and unmetered bandwidth, providing added flexibility with unlimited subdomains and parked domains. Enterprises needing comprehensive site management might find Flywheel’s bespoke Custom plan advantageous, though it requires custom pricing. Both providers offer substantial features but cater to different scales of enterprise needs.

🏆 Winner
Flywheel: In terms of ease of use, Flywheel stands out due to its flexible and affordable site migration options, intuitive custom admin panel, advanced setup features, and a highly praised help center.

Flywheel provides an intuitive and custom-built admin interface tailored specifically for WordPress site management. Its platform offers a user-friendly experience, making it accessible for both technical experts and non-technical users. Flywheel’s dashboard is clean, well-organized, and simplifies site management tasks with features like staging environments, local development options, and site cloning. Additionally, Flywheel’s admin panel includes dynamic elements such as Blueprints to help users quickly set up complex site configurations without hassle.

Rochen, on the other hand, utilizes the standard cPanel which is well-known for its comprehensiveness and reliability. cPanel’s extensive features make it a powerful tool for managing websites, email accounts, databases, and more. While cPanel offers robust capabilities that appeal to technically inclined users, its extensive options can sometimes be overwhelming for those less experienced. However, with its clear layout and abundant online documentation, many user needs are adequately met.

Both Flywheel and Rochen offer migration services for websites, but their approaches and costs differ. Flywheel stands out with its Migration Dashboard to submit, prioritize, and monitor progress, coupled with the ability to easily clone sites. It provides a smooth, no-cost migration for all sites. Rochen also provides free migrations, handling up to 10 sites typically within 24 hours, which is highly beneficial for users with multiple sites. Both providers ensure that migrating sites is a seamless experience without additional financial burdens.

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. Rochen 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
Rochen: A superior hosting provider for user management features.

Flywheel offers an expansive set of capabilities for managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility, providing full access for collaborators, which includes site management, SFTP access, database management, and WordPress admin access. Collaborators, however, are limited in billing management, site deletion, site reset, and site name changes. On the other hand, the specific capabilities of Rochen are not detailed, but the higher score suggests enhanced flexibility and potentially more comprehensive user management features, making it a more appealing choice for detailed role and permission management.

The user interface and tools offered by Flywheel for managing users support a streamlined approach. User roles such as collaborators have an intuitive management system involving simple buttons for adding or removing roles. This, coupled with seamless SFTP and database management integration, ensures an efficient user experience. Rochen’s user interfaces and tools specifics are not described, but the higher assessment score might imply a more user-friendly, efficient management system that enhances ease of use for administrators.

Flywheel’s access control measures allow collaborators vast access but restrict certain actions like billing and site deletions. This balance of control and limitation can manage a growing number of users effectively. Rochen’s higher score hints at a more effective access control system that might better handle scalability, ensuring seamless user role management as user numbers increase.

Flywheel user roles table:

🏆 Winner
Flywheel: The platform scores higher in customer support evaluation, showing strength in all categories, particularly in availability and the range of communication channels.

Flywheel and Rochen both offer 24/7 customer support, but their services differ in several ways. Flywheel provides chat and phone support for general inquiries, with designated hours for account verification, renewals, and cancellations. Technical assistance is available from 7 a.m. to midnight EST, via phone or a Help Ticket for email support. They have separate contact numbers for US and international customers. However, some users have reported issues such as slow response times and communication difficulties, often attributed to outsourcing.

On the other hand, Rochen also offers round-the-clock support via live chat, phone, and tickets, with a notable emphasis on providing comprehensive tech support across all plans. On higher-tier plans, Rochen offers advanced technical support, assisting with significant hosting changes like server configurations and software installations. While Rochen generally receives positive feedback, some complaints highlight longer wait times for resolving complex issues, a challenge common in the hosting industry.

Flywheel vs Rochen: User feedback

Flywheel is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface, efficient website management tools, and overall performance, particularly for WordPress sites. Users appreciate the inclusive features such as SSL, backups, and support for local site developments. However, there are concerns regarding the recent changes in pricing plans and occasional slow customer service responses. Additionally, while the platform excels in handling multiple client websites, it might not be the best fit for smaller-scale operations or sites requiring extensive custom server configurations.

Users appreciate Rochen for its seamless and efficient website migration service and the reliability offered by its US and UK data centers. The experience is generally smooth and hassle-free, making it a preferred choice for many. On the downside, some users find the customer support lacking due to its limited availability via email and the response time being slow. Additionally, the pricing is considered slightly higher than expected.

Flywheel vs Rochen: FAQ