Cloudflare vs. Pressable

WordPress Edge Cache Solutions Compared

Speed, reliability, and security are influenced by how your site is served at the network’s edge. In this CDN comparison, we explore how Cloudflare and Pressable approach WordPress edge caching and which is better suited to high-traffic WordPress sites and WooCommerce stores..

Slow or inconsistent performance is one of the biggest challenges for growing WordPress sites. Without caching, WordPress has to dynamically generate and deliver a page from the origin server every time someone visits. If the server is a long way from the visitor or under heavy load, even a well-optimized site feels slow.

Most WordPress sites rely on a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to keep them loading quickly and consistently. CDNs move content closer to visitors, reducing the distance and the load on the origin server.

Cloudflare is the biggest name in the CDN space, and many WordPress hosting companies include basic Cloudflare services for free. At Pressable, we take a different path. Every Pressable plan includes Pressable Edge Cache, which was built for WordPress by Automattic’s WordPress experts.

In this Cloudflare vs. Pressable comparison, we’ll explore the differences between Cloudflare and Pressable Edge Cache and explain why Edge Cache may be a superior choice for large and growing WordPress sites. 

What Is Pressable?

Pressable is a managed WordPress hosting platform for agencies, ecommerce retailers, and sites with complex or custom hosting requirements. Pressable is part of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and WordPress VIP. The company’s cloud WordPress hosting platform, which also powers WordPress.com, was built from scratch to maximize WordPress performance and reliability.

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Our Customers Love Pressable

The rating of this product is 5 out of 5

Been with Pressable for over 4 years and I’ve yet to experience any downtime at all. It’s the most reliable hosting provider I’ve used over the last decade!
Andrew Burridge

The rating of this product is 5 out of 5

Great value for the quality of hosting received and AMAZING support. I have tried other hosts such as WP Engine and Kinsta. The interactions I have had with Pressable have been amazing.
Paul Van York

The rating of this product is 5 out of 5

Overall, what you pay for is what you get. This is a great hosting company for any skill set but the peace of mind that Pressable has your back is the premium!
Lenny Mauricio

What is Cloudflare?

Cloudflare is a global cloud services provider best known for its large content delivery network, DNS platform, and DDoS mitigation network. Founded in 2010, it has grown into one of the most widely used performance and security services on the internet. Its entry-level services are often bundled into hosting plans, and countless WordPress sites use it as a front-facing CDN or DNS provider.

Pressable vs. Cloudflare Comparison Table

Pressable Managed WordPress Hosting Cloudflare Standard Configuration
Primary Role Fully managed WordPress hosting with built-in performance, security, and scaling. Global DNS, CDN, and security proxy service.
Core Caching Model WordPress-aware full-page caching and static asset caching at 28 global edge locations Static asset caching by default.
Full-page caching for WordPress requires manual Page Rules and/or Automatic Platform Optimization (APO).
Cache Purging Automatic cache purge on WordPress events. No automatic WordPress event-based purging.
WordPress Integration Cache behavior and invalidation designed for WordPress and WooCommerce. Requires rule configuration to avoid caching logged-in users or WooCommerce sessions.
WooCommerce Support Checkout, cart, My Account, and session-controlled pages automatically bypass cache. Without APO or custom rules, Cloudflare may cache dynamic ecommerce pages incorrectly.
DDoS Handling Built-in global network with Anycast routing and edge load balancers.
Defensive Mode with proof-of-work challenges. 		Enterprise-class DDoS protection is available on paid plans.
Firewall A WordPress and WooCommerce-specific web application firewall (WAF). General-purpose WAF
Configuration Requirements Minimal configuration. Requires manual Page Rules, caching exclusions, SSL settings, and WooCommerce-safe rules.
Pricing Edge Cache is included in every plan. Key features like APO, WAF, and bot protection require paid upgrades.
WordPress Hosting Suitability A purpose-built environment where caching, CDN, security, and scaling work together with WordPress. Useful for DNS and static file delivery, but not optimized for WordPress hosting.

Don’t Let Slow Hosting Throttle Your Growth

Pressable isn’t just a faster host, it’s a smarter long-term bet built for high performance without the high stress.

  • Seamless auto-scaling during traffic spikes
  • Real-time performance tracking and proactive alerts
  • Built-in CDN, caching, and scaling tools included
  • 24/7 WordPress expert support
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Caching and Edge Delivery

Pressable’s Edge Cache speeds up WordPress by caching full pages and static assets at the network edge and refreshing them automatically when content changes. It recognizes WordPress patterns, so dynamic actions like carts, checkouts, and account pages are never cached accidentally.

Cloudflare’s CDN works differently. It primarily caches static files unless you add custom rules or enable APO, and those configurations must be managed separately from WordPress. Pressable’s caching is built into the hosting platform, while Cloudflare’s caching is an add-on layer that has to be shaped around WordPress.

Security and Protection

Pressable evaluates traffic where WordPress runs, using the full, unmodified request to identify malicious behavior. That visibility lets the platform assess and respond to logins, form activity, and the interaction patterns unique to WordPress and WooCommerce.

Cloudflare inspects traffic before it reaches the host and filters requests at the proxy layer. It protects against large-scale attacks, but the request is rewritten before it arrives at WordPress, so the hosting provider doesn’t get the information it needs to manage and filter traffic effectively.

Management, Support, and Troubleshooting

Pressable’s performance, caching, and security all run inside one environment, so logs, request data, and other interactions line up cleanly. When something needs investigating, every signal comes from the same system.

With Cloudflare’s proxy active, part of the request is handled before it reaches the host, and part is handled at WordPress. That split introduces two sets of logs, two sources of truth, and more potential points of conflict. The central difference is operational clarity: Pressable offers a single, unified view, while Cloudflare introduces an additional layer that must be checked separately.

Cost and Configuration Complexity

Pressable delivers a complete performance and security stack in every plan, with no extra products to activate and no caching rules to manage. Cloudflare provides a free tier, but advanced caching, stronger security rules, and bot protection all sit behind paid plans. It also requires explicit configuration to prevent caching issues with WordPress.

Pressable’s setup is ready from day one, while Cloudflare’s effectiveness depends on add-ons, rules, and ongoing tuning.

  • Is Cloudflare Right for You?

    Cloudflare is a good fit for small sites and very big sites. Smaller sites and hobby projects benefit from its free CDN, basic security filtering, and fast DNS, which often deliver noticeable improvements without requiring changes to the hosting environment. At the other end, highly technical teams and enterprise users value Cloudflare for its granular controls, custom rules, and the ability to shape traffic in detail.

    Cloudflare is suitable for:

    • Low-traffic or non-critical sites that want simple global asset delivery
    • Teams running their own infrastructure or needing advanced configurability
    • Developers who prefer a network-level toolset with extensive tuning options
  • Is Pressable Right for You?

    Pressable is the right choice for agencies and high-traffic WooCommerce stores or business sites that need predictable performance and guaranteed availability. It is a reliable partner for organizations where uptime and stability directly affect revenue or client success.

    Pressable is suitable for:

    • Digital agencies managing client sites at scale
    • Fast-growing content or business sites
    • Moderate to high-traffic WooCommerce stores

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Why Choose Pressable as Your Cloudflare Alternative

Easy-to-Use Managed WordPress Hosting

Pressable takes care of your site so you don’t have to. From setup to day-to-day management, Pressable is simple, streamlined, and stress-free.

Keep Your Sites Safe With Built-In WordPress Security

All of our WordPress managed hosting accounts include powerful, always-on security features to safeguard your site against vulnerabilities and threats.

Stay Online With High-Availability WordPress Hosting

Downtime isn’t an option. Pressable’s infrastructure is built for resilience, with automatic failover and global redundancy to keep your site available around the clock.

Get Help From WordPress Experts, Anytime

Connect with a support team that knows WordPress inside and out. There are no support tiers, no scripted responses, and no long wait times. Just answers from people who understand WordPress and our hosting platform.

Scale Without Limits or Penalties

As your traffic grows, Pressable grows with you. The platform scales automatically to handle traffic spikes and growing audiences.

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Frequently Asked Questions by Cloudflare Users

  • Yes, although we recommend that you use Cloudflare for DNS only. This setup keeps your DNS management on Cloudflare’s platform while allowing Pressable’s Edge Cache, security systems, and performance tools to operate with full visibility. Pressable does not recommend enabling the Cloudflare proxy for most sites because proxying changes the request before it reaches WordPress and can interfere with hosting-layer security and troubleshooting.

  • Pressable is the more reliable choice for WooCommerce because its caching and security systems are designed to recognize WooCommerce’s dynamic behavior. Cloudflare can accelerate WooCommerce stores, but HTML caching requires careful rule configuration, and unintended caching of dynamic pages can cause disruptive user issues. Edge Cache avoids these problems by default and handles WooCommerce customer interactions safely.

  • Technically, a content delivery network (CDN) is a distributed network of servers that stores copies of content in multiple locations. When someone visits your site, the CDN can serve files from the nearest point of presence instead of your origin server, which reduces load times and improves reliability.

    Pressable uses the term CDN for its older static-asset delivery system. Edge Cache is the newer, more advanced version. It is a global, WordPress-aware edge delivery layer that caches not just images, JavaScript, and CSS, but also full HTML pages. Because it works together with Pressable’s local caching systems, it avoids common issues with dynamic WordPress and WooCommerce behavior and delivers faster, more consistent performance.

  • Pressable uses Batcache on the server to create and store full-page HTML, and the Edge Cache builds on that foundation. The edge layer respects Batcache’s Time To Live (TTL) settings, so if you extend the Batcache cache duration, the Edge Cache will also keep content available for longer. Each point of presence maintains its own copy of cached pages, which means individual regions may briefly serve different cache generations, but all of them follow the Batcache rules set at the origin.

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