TL;DR
WordPress Auto Scaling automatically adjusts server resources to handle changes in traffic and keeps your site running smoothly. In this guide, we will look at some of the top hosting providers (hint: there are not many in the market, Cloudways Autonomous is our favorite so far) that auto scale WordPress; and learn how the technology works, its pros and cons, and compare it with traditional hosting to help you choose the best option.
1. Cloudways Autonomous
Cloudways is known for its managed cloud solutions, offering a flexible and user-friendly platform. The company’s new “Cloudways Autonomous” plan automatically adjusts its resources to meet your WordPress website’s traffic needs in real time. Coupled with other speed features, including edge caching with Cloudflare, unlimited PHP workers, and Redis Object Cache, Cloudways Autonomous performed three times better than its peers in recent benchmarks (see results here).
How Much Does Cloudways Autonomous Cost?
Pricing for Cloudways Autonomous starts at $24 per month, with new signups receiving a 30% discount for the first four months. Additional usage is charged at $1 for every 10 GB of additional bandwidth, $1 per 1,000 additional visits, and $2 per 1 GB of additional disk space.
More Details: See Cloudways Autonomous Pricing
2. LiquidWeb
LiquidWeb is a premium hosting provider known for its premium managed WordPress hosting solutions (previously branded as Nexcess). Their managed WordPress plans are designed to handle high traffic efficiently with built-in scalability features, even though they don’t specifically advertise auto scaling.
How Much Does LiquidWeb Cost?
Pricing for LiquidWeb’s managed WordPress hosting starts at $21 per month, offering substantial value with high performance and support.
Note that LiquidWeb has a hard limit on the number of auto-scaled PHP workers per site based on the plan you subscribe to. For their lowest managed WordPress hosting plan, you can auto scale up to 20 PHP workers, and this number increases to 70 for higher plans.
More Details: See LiquidWeb Pricing
3. Pressidium
Pressidium offers enterprise-grade managed WordPress hosting, focusing on performance and security. Their plans include scalability features that ensure smooth handling of increased traffic, although they don’t specifically brand it as “auto scaling.”
How Much Does Pressidium Cost?
Pricing for Pressidium starts at $24.95 per month, with various plans to suit different business needs.
More Details: See Pressidium Pricing
4. WordPress VIP
WordPress VIP provides top-tier managed hosting with a focus on large-scale enterprise solutions. It offers custom hosting plans with automatic scaling capabilities to manage traffic surges effectively.
How Much Does WordPress VIP Cost?
Pricing for WordPress VIP is tailored to individual business needs to match their premium service levels, typical entry plan starts at $25,000 per year (yes, $25k a year).
More Details: Check Out WordPress VIP
5. Pressable
Pressable delivers managed WordPress hosting with a strong emphasis on scalability and customization. Their plans feature automatic scaling to ensure optimal site performance during traffic spikes.
How Much Does Pressable Cost?
Pricing for Pressable starts at $45 per month (1 WP install, 50,000 visits and 20 GB storage), providing a balance of affordability and advanced features.
More Details: Check Out Pressable Pricing
Understanding WordPress Auto Scaling
Imagine this: Your WordPress site gets a sudden spike in visitors, perhaps because your latest blog post went viral or your store’s flash sale is attracting buyers. Without sufficient server resources, your website might slow down or even crash—frustrating your visitors and hurting your reputation.
This is where WordPress Auto Scaling comes in.
What is WordPress Auto Scaling?
WordPress Auto Scaling is a feature that automatically adjusts the server resources allocated to your website in real-time based on real-time traffic demands. During high traffic periods, the system scales up resources such as CPU, memory, and PHP workers. Conversely, when traffic decreases, the system scales down resources to save costs.
How Does Hosting with Auto Scaling Work?
Typically, WordPress autoscaling is implemented on cloud infrastructure. The setup involves a combination of load balancers, monitoring tools, and predefined scaling trigger. When your site’s traffic increases and resources hit pre-defined limits, the auto-scaling mechanism springs into action:
- Monitoring: Tools track server load and traffic in real time.
- Triggering: Pre-set thresholds (for instance, 80% CPU usage) activate resource scaling.
- Scaling: New server instances are launched, or additional resources are allocated.
- Load Balancing: Traffic is distributed across the scaled infrastructure, ensuring stable performance.
When the traffic subsides, resources are scaled back down, optimizing costs. This setup ensures a smooth and stable user experience even during traffic surges while optimizing resource usage (hence save money!) during quieter periods.
Pros and Cons of WordPress Auto Scaling
As with any new technology, WordPress auto scaling comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Understanding its benefits and drawbacks can help you decide if it’s right for your website.
Pros
- Improved Performance: Keeps your site fast and responsive during traffic spikes.
- Cost Efficiency: You only pay for the resources you use, saving money during low-traffic periods.
- Automatic Management: No need for manual server adjustments; the system handles everything.
Cons
- Resource Limits: Some providers cap the amount of scaling , which might lead to operational blind spots.
- Setup Complexity: Requires proper configuration, which can be challenging for beginners.
- Provider Dependency: Effectiveness depends on the hosting provider’s infrastructure.
When Do You Need a WP Host with Auto Scaling?
A WordPress host with auto scaling is essential if your site faces traffic spikes or fluctuating demand. For online stores running on WooCommerce, auto scaling can make all the difference during big sales events or promotions. It provides the extra power needed to keep the site fast and transactions smooth, even under heavy demand.
Content sites benefit from auto scaling too, especially when posts go viral. These traffic surges can overwhelm standard resources, causing slowdowns or crashes. With auto scaling, server resources adjust in real-time, keeping the site responsive and accessible to all visitors.
Online course platforms and media sites also see traffic peaks—whether during enrollment, live sessions, or high-demand streaming hours. Auto scaling provides the flexibility to handle these spikes, ensuring a stable user experience. Similarly, event ticketing and government service sites face intense, sudden demand when ticket sales or essential services open online. Auto scaling manages these high-traffic moments by adding resources as needed to prevent crashes and support smooth transactions.
Alternatives to WP Auto Scaling Hosting
While WordPress auto scaling offers numerous benefits, it might not be the best fit for every website.
In case you were unsure or think it is not for you, there are other hosting options that offer stability and performance:
Alternative #1: VPS Hosting
Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting provides dedicated resources on a virtually-shared server. It offers more control and customization compared to shared hosting, making it a good choice for sites that need more power and flexibility.
If you’re considering VPS hosting, ScalaHosting and Verpex are excellent providers. ScalaHosting offers a solid in-house built control panel (SPanel) and scalable VPS solutions tailored to WordPress, while Verpex offers affordable VPS plans that come with great support.
Alternative #2: Dedicated Server Hosting
With Dedicated Server Hosting, your site has an entire physical server to itself, offering consistent performance and maximum control. This option is ideal for sites with steady, resource-heavy demands, as well as those that require specific configurations for optimal performance.
While dedicated servers don’t scale dynamically like auto-scaling plans, they provide reliable power for traffic that’s more predictable.
For dedicated hosting, we recommend LiquidWeb. Known for its high-performance dedicated server and Heroic Support™, the company is a solid choice for WordPress users needing reliable, fixed resources without the need for rapid scaling.
Which Option Offers More Value?
Naturally, you’ll weigh the costs involved when considering auto scaling versus traditional hosting solution.
Auto scaling often operates on a pay-as-you-go model, which can be cost-efficient for sites with unpredictable traffic. Take Cloudways Autonomous for example – Its lowest plan starts at $24 per month, with additional costs based on usage.
You only pay for the resources you use, scaling up during traffic spikes and down during quieter periods. This flexibility can be cost-effective during low traffic, but also lead to unexpected costs if traffic surges aren’t carefully monitored.
On the other hand, VPS hosting typically comes with fixed monthly fees based on the resources allocated to your plan. While this makes budgeting easier, scaling up usually requires upgrading to a higher-tier plan. Providers like ScalaHosting and Verpex offer affordable entry points for smaller sites (for as low as $12/mo) – making VPS a cost-effective solution for predictable traffic.
Dedicated server hosting, while often the most expensive option upfront, provides consistent, high performance for sites with stable and heavy resource demands. With fixed costs and no shared resources, you won’t face sudden price hikes. A lower-tier managed dedicated hosting at LiquidWeb costs about $60 a month and delivers excellent value for resource-intensive WordPress sites.
Final Thought
WordPress auto scaling is a powerful solution for websites experiencing rapid growth or unpredictable traffic surges. It ensures stability, fast loading speeds, and optimized costs by automatically adjusting server resources.
That said, a host with auto scaling may not be the best fit for every website. If your traffic is steady or you require predictable costs – consider alternatives like dedicated or VPS hosting. Each option has its strengths—evaluate your needs carefully to choose the best fit.
Ultimately, the right hosting provider should offer not just the features you need but also reliable support, transparent pricing, and scalability for your website’s future growth.
