Automattic appears to have created a site that draws attention to the number of customers that have left WP Engine for another web host. The site includes a searchable database of websites hosted on WP Engine that can also be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet.
The name of the website is WP Engine Tracker, it features a prominent Automattic logo and a link to an associated GitHub repository that shows an Automattic employee is the developer of the website.
Ongoing Dispute Between Automattic And WP Engine
The website is the latest escalation in a dispute initiated by Matt Mullenweg, WordPress co-founder and CEO of Automattic, who argues that WP Engine’s contributions to WordPress development fall short. WordPress relies on contributions and sponsorships from volunteers, businesses, and individuals who benefit from the platform. The underlying principle is that the more everyone contributes the more the entire community benefits, strengthening WordPress’s position as the world’s most popular content management system.
The text of the website features a number representing the websites that have left WP Engine and an explanation:
“This is the number of websites that have left WP Engine and found a new home since Sep 21, 2024.
Search below to see if a site is still hosted by WP Engine”
Comments Left On WP Engine Tracker GitHub Repository
The website links to a GitHub repository that lists the author of the WP Engine Tracker website as being someone who works for Automattic.
Screenshot Of Author Listed On GitHub Repository
The Issues tab of the official GitHub repository contains critiques of the project and some criticism.
The first comment notes that the counter is incorrect because it claims to count websites that have left WP Engine but that it should be saying how many domains have left. The reason is because of the “websites” listed redirect to one domain, which means that the count is inflated.
Another person commented:
“It’s possible some folks have left WordPress as well, so saying sites have left WP Engine doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve gone to another web host that supports WordPress. This is a really tacky endeavor. I am not impressed at all.”