Source – techcrunch.com
Mullenweg’s Scathing Criticism of WP Engine
Automattic CEO and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg has publicly condemned WP Engine, a managed WordPress hosting provider, labeling it a “cancer to WordPress.” Mullenweg, speaking at WordCamp US 2024, criticized WP Engine for profiteering from the open-source WordPress project without making significant contributions to its growth. WP Engine has been monetizing WordPress since 2010, and Mullenweg claims they are disabling essential features, which undermines the platform’s core offerings. WordPress, an open-source platform powering over 40% of the web, relies on both individual users and companies to maintain its ecosystem. While companies like Automattic, founded by Mullenweg himself, contribute heavily to the platform’s development, he accuses WP Engine of falling short.
A significant part of Matt Mullenweg’s frustration stems from the disparity between the contributions made by Automattic and WP Engine. Mullenweg pointed out that Automattic contributes approximately 3,900 hours weekly to WordPress’ development, while WP Engine contributes only 40. Both companies, he noted, are of similar size, each generating around half a billion dollars in revenue. He urged the WordPress community to consider other hosting providers, criticizing WP Engine for prioritizing profit over the platform’s integrity.
WP Engine and Private Equity Influence
Matt Mullenweg extended his criticism to WP Engine’s main investor, Silver Lake, a private equity firm with over $100 billion in assets. He argued that Silver Lake is more focused on extracting value from the platform rather than supporting the open-source ideals of WordPress. He emphasized that the WordPress community should reflect on which companies align with the platform’s values and choose hosting providers that contribute positively to the ecosystem.
Addressing an audience question, Matt Mullenweg clarified his stance on WP Engine, suggesting that customers should evaluate alternative hosting providers like Hostinger, Bluehost, or Pressable when their contracts with WP Engine come up for renewal. He also highlighted that switching providers is now easier than ever, thanks to improved data migration processes.
Concerns Over WP Engine’s Practices
In the wake of his comments, Matt Mullenweg published a follow-up blog post where he doubled down on his accusations, reiterating that WP Engine’s actions are detrimental to WordPress. He expressed concern that WP Engine’s branding confuses customers into believing that the company is affiliated with WordPress, which it is not. Mullenweg further criticized WP Engine for disabling core WordPress features, such as storing content revisions, which is essential for users who need to revert their content. WP Engine limits this function, only allowing up to three revisions, and these are automatically deleted after 60 days. Mullenweg contended that this decision was driven by financial motives, as storing revisions incurs additional costs for the company.
Matt Mullenweg concluded by arguing that WP Engine’s approach compromises the integrity of WordPress. By limiting revision history, WP Engine undermines WordPress’ promise of content management and protection. This, he stated, goes against the very principles of the platform, leaving users vulnerable if they make mistakes in their content. TechCrunch has reached out to WP Engine for a response to Mullenweg’s claims but has yet to receive a comment.
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