Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Flywheel VS Pantheon

Compare Flywheel VS Pantheon and see what are their differences

Flywheel logo Flywheel

WordPress hosting and management built for designers and agencies.

Pantheon logo Pantheon

The professional website platform for Drupal & WordPress sites.
  • Flywheel Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14
  • Pantheon Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17

Flywheel features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Flywheel offers an intuitive and clean interface, making it easy for users, including beginners, to manage their websites.
  • Staging Environment
    Flywheel provides staging environments that allow users to test changes and updates before making them live, which reduces the risk of errors.
  • Free SSL Certificates
    Flywheel includes free SSL certificates for all sites, which enhances security and trustworthiness without additional cost.
  • Automated Backups
    Daily automated backups ensure that users can easily restore their site in case of an error or data loss, providing peace of mind.
  • Excellent Support
    Flywheel is known for its responsive and helpful customer support, which can be a critical feature when troubleshooting issues.
  • Performance Optimization
    Flywheel is optimized for WordPress performance, offering fast loading times and reliable uptime.
  • Managed Security
    Flywheel includes managed security measures like malware scans, removing a significant burden from the site owner.

Possible disadvantages of Flywheel

  • Higher Cost
    Flywheel's plans are more expensive compared to some other web hosting providers, which might be a barrier for small businesses or personal sites.
  • Limited Server Locations
    Flywheel has a limited number of server locations, which might not be ideal for users looking to target audiences in specific geographical areas.
  • No Email Hosting
    Flywheel does not offer email hosting services, which means users must rely on third-party providers for their email needs.
  • Limited Customization
    Due to its managed nature, Flywheel may offer fewer customization options for advanced users compared to other hosting solutions.
  • Site Migration Limitations
    While Flywheel offers free site migration, it can sometimes face limitations and issues that require additional support or manual intervention.
  • Resource Limits
    Some of Flywheel's plans have resource limits that could constrain the performance of high-traffic websites, necessitating an upgrade to a more expensive plan.

Pantheon features and specs

  • Scalability
    Pantheon is designed to handle high-traffic websites seamlessly. It offers optimized performance and can scale resources as needed to accommodate traffic spikes.
  • Integrated DevOps
    Pantheon's platform integrates development, testing, and live environments, making it easier for developers to maintain and deploy changes with built-in version control.
  • Automated Backups
    Automatic daily backups ensure that website data is always protected and can be easily restored in case of data loss or other issues.
  • Performance Optimization
    Pantheon provides built-in caching, a global CDN, and other performance optimization tools to ensure fast load times and a smooth user experience.
  • Security
    Pantheon offers robust security features including automated updates, DDoS protection, and SSL support to keep websites secure.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The intuitive dashboard and user interface make it easy for users to manage and deploy their websites without extensive technical knowledge.

Possible disadvantages of Pantheon

  • Cost
    Pantheon's pricing is higher compared to some other web hosting solutions, which may not be feasible for smaller businesses or personal projects.
  • Limited Platform Specificity
    Pantheon is specifically designed for Drupal and WordPress websites, which limits its applicability for users who need to host sites built with other CMS platforms or custom frameworks.
  • Learning Curve
    Although Pantheon provides a powerful suite of tools, the comprehensive feature set can be overwhelming for beginners who may need time to fully understand and utilize the platform.
  • Support for Custom Server Configurations
    Pantheon does not offer as much flexibility regarding server configurations and custom setups as some other hosting providers, which may be a limiting factor for advanced users with specific needs.
  • Dependency on Internet Connectivity
    Since Pantheon is a cloud-based platform, consistent internet connectivity is essential for accessing its services and dashboard.

Analysis of Flywheel

Overall verdict

  • Flywheel is a reputable and highly recommended managed WordPress hosting provider, especially for those who prioritize ease of use and responsive support. Its focus on catering to designers and agencies makes it a valuable tool for professionals in the web development industry.

Why this product is good

  • Flywheel is often praised for its user-friendly interface, excellent customer support, and reliable performance. It is specifically optimized for WordPress websites, making it a popular choice among developers and designers looking for a hassle-free hosting solution. Other positive aspects include daily backups, free SSL certificates, and a staging environment for testing changes before going live.

Recommended for

    Flywheel is highly recommended for freelance web developers, design agencies, and small to medium-sized businesses that rely on WordPress for their websites. It is particularly suitable for users who need a streamlined, no-fuss hosting service with strong customer support and performance.

Analysis of Pantheon

Overall verdict

  • Pantheon is generally considered a good choice for developers and businesses needing reliable and efficient hosting solutions for WordPress and Drupal websites. Its robust toolset, coupled with strong performance and uptime guarantees, makes it a competitive option in the managed hosting space.

Why this product is good

  • Pantheon is a popular web hosting platform known for its ease of use, performance, and scalability specifically optimized for WordPress and Drupal sites. It offers automated workflows, high-performance infrastructure, and robust developer tools, which help streamline the development and deployment processes. Pantheon's platform includes features like version control, multi-dev environments, and integrated caching, making it a solid choice for developers and agencies managing multiple projects or large-scale sites.

Recommended for

  • Web developers working with WordPress or Drupal
  • Agencies managing multiple client websites
  • Businesses looking for scalable and high-performance hosting solutions
  • Teams in need of robust version control and workflow management tools

Flywheel videos

Flywheel Hosting - Flywheel Hosting Review

More videos:

  • Review - Exxentric kBox 4 Flywheel Training REVIEW!
  • Review - Honda H'ness CB350 First Look Review | ഇനി ഹോണ്ടയുടെ റെട്രോ യുഗം? | Flywheel Malayalam

Pantheon videos

Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen's Latest Gameplay Update!

More videos:

  • Review - Pantheon Gameplay Preview | League of Legends
  • Review - 7 Wonders Duel Pantheon Review - with Zee Garcia

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Flywheel and Pantheon)
Web Hosting
23 23%
77% 77
Cloud Hosting
25 25%
75% 75
Hosting
18 18%
82% 82
WordPress Hosting
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Flywheel and Pantheon

Flywheel Reviews

10+ Best Free 60 Day Trial Web Hosting [No Credit Card Required]
Flywheel started in 2012 and now works in good condition. Flywheel provides managed WordPress hosting. Their charges are a little high but we can afford them because of their services.
Best Web Hosting Affiliate Programs in 2023
While the specific duration of their tracking cookies remains undisclosed, the opportunity to earn substantial commissions through Flywheel’s affiliate program is certainly promising.
Source: digiexe.com
15 Best Web Hosting Free Trial 2023 (No Credit Card Required)
Click on this exclusive link to get a 14 day free trial of Flywheel. Now click on the Get Started button and on the next page you will have to type basic information.
8 GoDaddy Alternatives & Why You Need One
Why Use Flywheel over GoDaddy: Flywheel offers a more affordable alternative to WordPress agencies and freelancers than GoDaddy. It offers workflow tools that freelancers and agencies need to collaboratively create WordPress websites for themselves and for their clients, as well as features like caching, CDN, staging sites, and daily backups to keep your sites fast, secure,...
6 Best Bluehost Alternatives & Competitors
Built on tough network infrastructure, Flywheel is highly optimized for scale, speed, and security. Unlike other services providing at no cost trials, Flywheel offers free demo sites. With the demo service offered by a cheap Bluehost alternative, you can generate various test sites and try out exclusive features that it puts on your way.

Pantheon Reviews

We have no reviews of Pantheon yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pantheon should be more popular than Flywheel. It has been mentiond 19 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Flywheel mentions (9)

  • WordPress Drama: From the Sidelines
    Anecdote: I'm helping a family member set up a personal brand website. He has a brand/marketing person for the content/design, but wanted me to manage the tech side of email, domains, providers, etc. I've used Wordpress a handful of times in my life, but it's an easy recommendation to make. We've spent maybe 30 mins a week for the past few weeks chipping away at it. We chose https://getflywheel.com/ as the managed... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Top 20 Web Hosting Services in 2024 - Choose the Best for Your Website 🚀
    Flywheel 🪐 Managed WordPress hosting built for designers and agencies, starting at $15/month. Discover more: Flywheel. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Extremely slow loading times because of "Waiting for server response" during the server requests.
    I need to check with you all if I'm crazy or not, because I'm using getflywheel.com as hosting/server provider and the staging website of my site (very simple woocommerce) I'm experiencing extremely slow server response times see here (the green portion of the bar is "Waiting for server response"). I've reached to their customer support and they are saying they allocated the same amount of server resources for my... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Am I making a mistake by hosting 20 websites on a single server?
    I'm in the process of moving all my Wordpress sites over to getflywheel.com. The pricing is comparable to running my own server (which I also do) but I don't have to worry about uptime, backups, etc. I also like that every site I publish gets attached to their content network (think Akamai or similar) so that site outages are eliminated. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Can I use Divi without paying for a Wordpress Business Plan?
    If you want to keep your life simple, you can use a Wordpress boutique host like Flywheel as they make it all easy to operate for someone without a ton of experience, and they have awesome support. Their plans start at $15/month, and their basic plan is plenty for most people. I love their service. I currently host 80+ sites with them. https://getflywheel.com/. Source: about 2 years ago
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Pantheon mentions (19)

  • A list of SaaS, PaaS and IaaS offerings that have free tiers of interest to devops and infradev
    Pantheon.io — Drupal and WordPress hosting, automated DevOps, and scalable infrastructure. Free for developers and agencies. No custom domain. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Simple auth + consumers
    Creating an account at pantheon.io (its free) and setting up a base install of a drupal 10 site there, learning how you can use their git repo to work with your code base, and hosting the site there. (sandbox environments are free). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • What are web developers and agencies using to build their clients sites?
    I run a majority of my client work on pantheon.io - you can read a case study of a high traffic site I launched there, 9 years ago, that handled a homepage link from nytimes.com with zero problems https://pantheon.io/blog/tavern-green-gets-details-right-pro-website-alphex-pantheon. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Best CMS, Plug-ins, etc for directory site with saved user favorites
    Regardless of which way you go,yYou can give it all a try for free by creating an account on Pantheon, which will let you spin up a free Drupal sandbox site, as well as a free WordPress sandbox site. Source: over 2 years ago
  • need ongoing access to revisions from old drupal 7 site
    I had to do this for a job a few years ago. I created a sandbox version of the site on pantheon.io and removed all editing permissions. On additional discovery that they only needed the static content, I created a static site using SiteSucker (mac app store). They were able to put this folder on their local machine to access anytime. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Flywheel and Pantheon, you can also consider the following products

WP Engine - Hassle-Free WordPress Hosting

Bluehost - One of the largest and most trusted web hosting services powering millions of websites. Join Bluehost now and get a FREE domain name!

Kinsta - The best managed WordPress hosting, powered by Google Cloud and LXD orchestrated Linux containers. Let us handle caching, security, updates, and more.

A2Hosting - Need Fast, Reliable Web Hosting? A2 Hosting Is The Leader In Optimized Hosting For Any Need! Try Our Hosting Service Today!

SiteGround - Hosting services crafted for top speed, unmatched security, 24/7 fast and expert support! Trusted by more than 350000 domains.

GoDaddy - GoDaddy makes registering Domain Names fast, simple, and affordable. Find out why so many business owners chose GoDaddy to be their Domain Name Registrar.