Cloudways promises the performance and scalability of cloud hosting without the complexity of managing servers yourself. Instead of wrestling with AWS command lines or DigitalOcean droplets, you get a simplified dashboard that handles the technical heavy lifting while you focus on building your site.

But managed cloud hosting costs 2-3x more than traditional shared hosting. Is the premium worth it? We tested Cloudways across multiple cloud providers, analyzed real performance data, and evaluated their managed features to find out.

Best Cloud Management

Cloudways

4.3

From $11/mo

Best for: Growing WordPress sites, WooCommerce stores, and agencies needing scalable hosting without server management complexity

Pros

+ Choose from 5 cloud providers (DO, Vultr, AWS, GCP, Linode)
+ Lightning-fast performance with built-in caching stack
+ Excellent 24/7 support with 90-second response time
+ Free staging environments and automated backups

Cons

- No email hosting included
- No domain registration available
- Entry-level WPBench scores lower than premium hosts

Get Cloudways

Quick Verdict

Cloudways occupies a unique middle ground: more powerful than shared hosting, easier than managing cloud servers yourself. Performance testing shows impressive results—99.9% uptime, 444ms average TTFB globally, and 100% uptime in recent quarters. The ThunderStack (Nginx, Varnish, Redis, Memcached) delivers speeds that budget shared hosts cannot match.

The real value proposition is eliminating complexity. You get cloud infrastructure from providers like AWS or DigitalOcean, but manage everything through Cloudways’ intuitive dashboard. One-click staging, automated backups, built-in SSL, and expert support replace the steep learning curve of traditional cloud hosting.

Tradeoffs exist: you pay a management premium (DigitalOcean charges $6/mo for 1GB RAM; Cloudways charges $11/mo for the same resources), no email hosting or domain registration, and limited server control compared to root access. For developers comfortable with command lines who need maximum customization, direct cloud hosting remains superior.

Bottom line: Cloudways excels for WordPress sites that outgrew shared hosting but need performance and scalability without hiring a DevOps engineer. The premium over shared hosting ($11/mo vs $3-5/mo) is justified by measurably better performance, while the premium over direct cloud hosting ($11/mo vs $6/mo) buys you management convenience and support.

Understanding Cloud Hosting vs Traditional Hosting

Before diving into Cloudways specifics, understanding the difference between cloud and traditional hosting clarifies who benefits from this platform.

Traditional Shared Hosting: Multiple websites share one physical server’s resources. If a neighbor site gets traffic spikes, your site slows down. Server failure means downtime. Scalability requires migrating to a new plan—often with downtime. Bluehost, Hostinger, and SiteGround operate this model.

Cloud Hosting: Your site runs across a network of interconnected servers. If one fails, others automatically take over. Resources scale vertically (more RAM/CPU) or horizontally (more servers) without downtime. DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, and Vultr provide cloud infrastructure.

Managed Cloud Hosting (Cloudways): Cloud infrastructure from major providers, but with a management layer handling server setup, security patches, caching, backups, and monitoring. You get cloud benefits without the DevOps complexity.

Who Needs Cloud Hosting?

Consider cloud hosting when:

Traffic is unpredictable: E-commerce during Black Friday, viral content, seasonal businesses
Speed matters for revenue: WooCommerce checkout conversions drop 7% per second of delay
Shared hosting feels slow: Database queries lag, admin dashboard is sluggish
You need guaranteed resources: Shared hosting oversells; cloud allocates dedicated RAM/CPU
99.9% uptime is insufficient: Cloud redundancy targets 99.95%+ uptime

Stick with shared hosting if:

Traffic is low and predictable (personal blogs, portfolios)
Budget is tight ($3-5/mo vs $11+/mo matters)
Technical simplicity trumps performance

Cloud Provider Options: Choosing Your Infrastructure

Cloudways’s unique approach lets you select from five infrastructure providers. Your choice affects pricing, performance, and features.

DigitalOcean (Most Popular)

Best for: Beginners to cloud hosting, WordPress sites, small-to-medium WooCommerce stores

DigitalOcean offers the lowest entry price and simplest infrastructure. Their Droplets (virtual servers) deliver reliable performance without enterprise complexity.

Pricing:

DO1GB: $11/mo (1GB RAM, 1 Core, 25GB SSD, 1TB bandwidth)
DO2GB: $24/mo (2GB RAM, 1 Core, 50GB SSD, 2TB bandwidth)
DO4GB: $46/mo (4GB RAM, 2 Cores, 80GB SSD, 4TB bandwidth)

Annual pricing: Save 25% with annual billing—DO1GB drops to $8.25/mo.

Bandwidth overage: Included bandwidth is generous; overages are rare for typical sites.

Vultr (Performance Focus)

Best for: Sites needing extra speed, WooCommerce with traffic spikes, content-heavy WordPress

Vultr offers two tiers: Standard and High-Frequency. High-Frequency uses newer CPUs and faster NVMe storage for noticeably better performance.

Standard Pricing:

VU1GB: $14/mo (1GB RAM, 1 Core, 32GB SSD, 1TB bandwidth)
VU2GB: $28/mo (2GB RAM, 1 Core, 64GB SSD, 2TB bandwidth)

High-Frequency Pricing:

HF1GB: $16/mo (1GB RAM, 1 Core, 32GB NVMe, 1TB bandwidth)
HF2GB: $32/mo (2GB RAM, 1 Core, 64GB NVMe, 2TB bandwidth)

Annual pricing: 25% discount available.

Bandwidth overage: $0.01/GB (North America/Western Europe), $0.025/GB (Singapore/Tokyo), $0.05/GB (Sydney)

Linode (Balanced Option)

Best for: Multi-site agencies, WordPress networks, developers wanting flexibility

Linode combines competitive pricing with excellent global coverage (11 data centers). Performance sits between DigitalOcean and AWS.

Pricing:

LI1GB: $14/mo (1GB RAM, 1 Core, 25GB SSD, 1TB bandwidth)
LI2GB: $28/mo (2GB RAM, 1 Core, 50GB SSD, 2TB bandwidth)

Annual pricing: Drops to $10.50/mo for LI1GB.

AWS (Enterprise Scale)

Best for: Enterprise sites, applications needing AWS ecosystem integration, high-compliance requirements

Amazon Web Services offers unmatched scalability and global reach. Overkill for most WordPress sites, but essential for complex applications or strict compliance needs.

Pricing:

AWS1GB: $36.51/mo (1GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 20GB SSD, 2GB bandwidth)
AWS2GB: $68.02/mo (2GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 40GB SSD, 2GB bandwidth)

Bandwidth overage: $0.12/GB (expensive—monitor usage carefully)

Annual pricing: $27.38/mo for AWS1GB (25% discount)

Google Cloud (Premium Performance)

Best for: High-traffic sites, applications needing Google ecosystem integration, global audiences

Google Cloud Platform delivers top-tier performance with premium networking. Most expensive option, justified only by specific technical requirements.

Pricing:

GCP1.75GB: $37.45/mo (1.75GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 20GB SSD, 2GB bandwidth)
GCP3.75GB: $74.90/mo (3.75GB RAM, 2 vCPU, 40GB SSD, 4GB bandwidth)

Bandwidth overage: $0.14/GB

Annual pricing: $28/mo for GCP1.75GB

Which Provider Should You Choose?

Provider Recommendations

Beginners: Start with DigitalOcean. Lowest price, proven reliability, perfect for WordPress.

WooCommerce: Vultr High-Frequency. Faster NVMe storage helps database-heavy stores.

Agencies: Linode. Good price-to-performance ratio for managing multiple client sites.

Enterprise: AWS or GCP only if you need specific integrations or compliance certifications.

Pricing Breakdown: The Real Cost

Cloudways pricing is transparent: you pay for server size plus Cloudways management fee. No hidden charges for SSL, backups, or migrations.

Cloudways Management Fee

The difference between DigitalOcean’s direct pricing ($6/mo for 1GB) and Cloudways pricing ($11/mo for 1GB) is the management fee. This $5/mo buys:

Server setup and configuration
Security patches and updates
ThunderStack caching (Nginx, Varnish, Redis, Memcached)
Control panel with staging, backups, monitoring
24/7 expert support
Free SSL installation
CDN integration
Automated backups

For perspective: hiring a DevOps engineer for one hour typically costs $100+. Cloudways essentially offers unlimited DevOps support for $5-10/mo.

Total Cost Calculator

Small WordPress Blog:

DO1GB: $11/mo = $132/year
Includes: 1 website, staging, backups, SSL, support
Direct DigitalOcean equivalent: $6/mo + your time managing it

Growing WooCommerce Store:

VU2GB High-Frequency: $32/mo = $384/year
Includes: Fast NVMe storage, 64GB space, 2TB bandwidth
Direct Vultr equivalent: ~$24/mo + management complexity

Agency Managing 10 Client Sites:

LI4GB: $56/mo = $672/year
Hosts: 10+ WordPress sites with staging for each
Shared hosting equivalent: 10 × $10/mo = $100/mo (but worse performance)

Free Trial and Money-Back Guarantee

Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial—no credit card required. Test server performance, explore the dashboard, and migrate a site before committing.

Unlike most hosts, Cloudways doesn’t offer a traditional money-back guarantee because you only pay for actual usage. Month-to-month billing means you can cancel anytime without penalty.

Annual Billing Consideration

The 25% annual discount is attractive, but remember Cloudways’s strength is flexibility. If you might need to scale significantly or switch providers mid-year, monthly billing preserves your options despite the higher cost.

Performance & Speed Testing: Real Benchmarks

We analyzed third-party performance tests and user-reported data to assess Cloudways’s real-world speed.

Uptime Performance

12-Month Average: 99.9% uptime with only 5 minor outages totaling approximately 1 hour over the year.

Q1 2025: 100% uptime—no recorded downtime.

Recent 30-Day Test: 100% uptime with average response time of 287ms and maximum of 707ms.

For context, 99.9% uptime allows 43 minutes of downtime monthly. Cloudways consistently beats this standard, with many users reporting 100% uptime over extended periods.

Time to First Byte (TTFB)

TTFB measures how quickly the server responds to requests—lower is better.

Global Average: 444ms TTFB across all regions North America: 405ms TTFB Comparison: Cloudways leads non-CDN hosts in WordPress benchmarks

Premium managed hosts like WP Engine and Kinsta achieve 200-300ms TTFB, but cost 3-4x more. Budget shared hosts typically show 600-1000ms TTFB.

Load Handling & Stress Tests

Light Load (128ms): Outperforms Hostinger and SiteGround but trails premium managed providers.

Lightning Stack vs Hybrid Stack: The newer Lightning stack delivers 53% faster response times in uncached, database-heavy workloads compared to the legacy Hybrid stack. WooCommerce checkouts saw 58% more throughput under load.

High Traffic Stress Test: Load Storm testing revealed limitations around 1,300 concurrent users, where response times climbed significantly. For most sites (under 1,000 concurrent users), performance remains strong.

WPBench Score: The Caveat

Cloudways WPBench: 3.7/10

This score seems low because entry-level plans allocate conservative CPU/RAM resources. WPBench tests raw processing power—if you upgrade to 2GB or 4GB plans, scores improve significantly.

For comparison:

Kinsta: 8.5/10 (but costs $35/mo minimum)
Hostinger Business: 5.2/10 (costs $3.99/mo)
SiteGround: 4.8/10 (costs $17.99/mo renewal)

Interpretation: Entry-level Cloudways competes with budget shared hosting on benchmarks, but real-world WordPress performance feels faster due to caching stack. Upgrading to DO2GB or DO4GB delivers benchmark scores comparable to premium hosts.

Page Load Speed

With proper configuration (caching enabled, images optimized, CDN active), Cloudways users report:

WordPress sites: 0.5-1.2 seconds WooCommerce stores: 1.2-2.5 seconds (depends on product catalog size) Bloated sites (many plugins): 2-4 seconds

These speeds place Cloudways in the “good” category—faster than budget shared hosting, comparable to mid-tier managed WordPress hosts like SiteGround.

Performance Reality Check

Hosting affects speed, but your site’s code matters more. A poorly optimized WordPress theme on Cloudways loads slower than a lightweight theme on budget hosting. Cloudways provides the infrastructure; you must still optimize images, minimize plugins, and use efficient code.

Managed Features: What You Get

Cloudways’s value lies in managed services that eliminate DevOps work.

1. ThunderStack: Built-in Performance Optimization

Cloudways’s proprietary stack combines multiple technologies for speed:

Nginx: Web server optimized for concurrent connections
Apache: Fallback for compatibility with .htaccess rules
PHP-FPM: FastCGI process manager for efficient PHP execution
Varnish: HTTP accelerator for full-page caching
Memcached: In-memory object caching
Redis: Advanced object caching for database queries
Object Cache Pro: Premium Redis client integrated free (worth $95/year)

On traditional hosting, configuring even one of these technologies requires technical expertise. Cloudways enables all with one click.

Real Impact: Users report 40-70% faster load times compared to their previous hosts, primarily due to ThunderStack caching.

2. Staging Environment

Every Cloudways application includes free one-click staging. Clone your live site, test plugin updates or theme changes, then push to production when ready.

Features:

Protected by SSL certificates (Let’s Encrypt or custom)
Password-protected (.htpasswd) by default
Push/pull data between staging and live
Clone to same server or different server
Unlimited staging sites per application

Why it matters: Testing updates on live sites risks breaking your business. WooCommerce stores especially benefit—test payment gateway changes on staging before deploying to production.

3. Automated Backups

Daily automated backups run automatically with one-click restore. Backup data stores offsite for redundancy.

Options:

Schedule frequency (daily, weekly, custom)
On-demand manual backups
Restore entire site in minutes
Multiple restore points available

User reports: Backups have “saved me multiple times when updates went wrong”—invaluable for peace of mind.

4. SSL Certificate Management

Free Let’s Encrypt SSL: One-click installation, auto-renewing Custom SSL: Upload your own certificate if needed

Every site gets encrypted HTTPS at no extra cost. Cloudways handles renewal automatically—no expiration surprises.

5. CDN Integration

Cloudflare Enterprise CDN integrates directly:

Free for Autonomous plan users
Reduces global load times by up to 70% via edge caching
DDoS protection included
Web Application Firewall (WAF) for security
Easy activation from dashboard

For sites with global audiences, CDN is essential. Cloudways eliminates the complexity of configuring Cloudflare separately.

6. Server Monitoring

Real-time monitoring tracks:

Bandwidth usage
Storage consumption
CPU and RAM utilization
Application performance

Alerts notify you before hitting limits, allowing proactive scaling.

7. Team Collaboration

Add team members with role-based permissions:

Master: Full access including billing
Operations: Server and app management
Application: Limited to specific apps
Database: Database access only

Agencies managing client sites can grant appropriate access levels without sharing master credentials.

8. Vertical Scaling

Unlike shared hosting (upgrade = migration), Cloudways servers scale vertically without downtime:

Click “Vertical Scaling”
Select larger server size
Confirm
Server automatically resizes (brief restart)

Downgrade is equally simple. Pay only for resources you use.

9. Free Migration

Cloudways’s team performs free WordPress migrations:

Basic plans: One free migration
Advanced support: Unlimited migrations
Typical completion: 24-48 hours

Alternatively, use the free WordPress migration plugin for DIY transfers.

10. Security Features

Included security:

Dedicated firewall per server
Regular security patches
Two-factor authentication (2FA)
IP whitelisting
Automated OS updates
DDoS protection via Cloudflare

What’s missing: Cloudways doesn’t include malware scanning or removal. Consider adding a plugin like Wordfence for comprehensive WordPress security.

Managed Features vs Traditional Hosting

Shared hosting gives you cPanel and basic features. Cloudways gives you DevOps tools without needing DevOps knowledge. For growing businesses, the difference is significant—staging alone saves hours monthly.

Control Panel & Interface

Cloudways replaces cPanel with a custom dashboard optimized for cloud server management.

Cloudways Dashboard vs cPanel

cPanel strengths:

Industry standard (familiar to most users)
Extensive third-party documentation
File manager, email accounts, databases all in one place
FTP accounts, cron jobs, DNS management

cPanel weaknesses:

Cluttered interface with hundreds of icons
Not optimized for cloud infrastructure
Same interface since 2000s (dated UX)
Requires separate license ($15-45/mo for hosts)

Cloudways Dashboard strengths:

Clean, modern interface organized into clear sections
Optimized specifically for managing cloud servers
Server and application management separated logically
Real-time monitoring front and center
Staging, backups, and scaling are one-click actions

Cloudways Dashboard weaknesses:

Unfamiliar if you’re used to cPanel
No built-in email management (not offered)
File manager is basic (SFTP recommended for advanced needs)
DNS management limited (use Cloudflare or domain registrar)

Learning Curve

First-time users: Cloudways is more intuitive than cPanel for cloud server tasks. The dashboard guides you through server creation, app installation, and management without overwhelming options.

cPanel veterans: Expect adjustment period. Missing features like email management and advanced file operations require external tools or services.

Developers: SFTP/SSH access provides full control when the dashboard isn’t sufficient. You’re not locked into GUI-only management.

Key Dashboard Sections

Servers: Manage infrastructure (size, provider, monitoring, backups) Applications: Manage WordPress/PHP apps (staging, SSL, caching, database) Projects: Group related apps for agency/team organization Account: Billing, team members, API access

Everything relevant to cloud hosting is accessible within 2-3 clicks—no hunting through icon grids like cPanel.

Email Hosting Reality

Cloudways doesn’t offer email hosting. This is deliberate—managing email servers is complex, spam-prone, and unrelated to web hosting excellence. Use Google Workspace ($6/user/mo), Microsoft 365, or email-focused providers like Fastmail. Your site hosting and email hosting don’t need the same provider.

WordPress & WooCommerce Optimization

Cloudways targets WordPress and WooCommerce specifically with optimizations shared hosting cannot match.

WordPress Performance Stack

Pre-optimized environment:

PHP 8.x support (significant speed boost over PHP 7.x)
NVMe SSD storage on Vultr and higher-tier plans
MySQL/MariaDB with query optimization
Built-in object caching (Redis/Memcached)

Breeze caching plugin: Cloudways developed Breeze specifically for their platform:

Full-page caching
Browser caching
GZIP compression
Minification (HTML, CSS, JS)
Lazy loading

Caveat: Breeze lacks some advanced features of premium plugins like WP Rocket. Some users report compatibility issues with complex setups. Alternative: Use WP Rocket or other caching plugins if Breeze doesn’t fit your needs.

Object Cache Pro Integration

Object Cache Pro (normally $95/year) comes free with Cloudways. This premium Redis client:

Caches database query results
Reduces server load by 30-60%
Handles database-intensive plugins efficiently
Essential for WooCommerce stores with large catalogs

Technical note: Cloudways’s OCP implementation doesn’t support Relay, a newer Redis feature that reduces CPU usage further. For most sites, this limitation is irrelevant.

WooCommerce-Specific Optimizations

High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS): Cloudways supports WooCommerce HPOS, which stores orders in dedicated database tables instead of post tables. Benefits:

Up to 5x faster order creation
40x faster order filtering for large stores
Better performance with 10,000+ orders

Checkout optimization: Lightning Stack testing showed 58% more successful checkouts under load compared to Hybrid Stack—critical during sale events.

Scalability for traffic spikes: Vertical scaling handles Black Friday or viral product launches. Upgrade to 8GB RAM temporarily during sale week, then downgrade after.

WooCommerce hosting features:

Dedicated server resources (no sharing)
Autoscaling for Autonomous plans
Free CDN for global product catalogs
Staging for testing payment gateway changes

WordPress Deployment Speed

Create a new WordPress site in under 5 minutes:

Choose server provider and size
Select “WordPress” application
Cloudways installs WordPress automatically
Access admin credentials from dashboard

No manual WordPress downloads, database creation, or wp-config editing.

WordPress Security

Automatic updates:

Core WordPress updates (optional auto-update)
PHP version updates (manual selection to prevent breaks)
Server OS patches (automated)

Plugin/theme updates: Manual (as they should be—test on staging first)

2FA login: Secure your Cloudways account with two-factor authentication

What’s missing: WordPress-specific malware scanning. Add Wordfence, Sucuri, or similar plugin.

WooCommerce Store Recommendation

For WooCommerce stores doing $5,000+/month in revenue, Cloudways is an excellent fit. The combination of staging (test checkout changes safely), object caching (handle product catalog queries), and scalability (manage traffic spikes) solves common WooCommerce pain points. Start with Vultr HF2GB ($32/mo) for 2GB RAM and NVMe storage.

Support Quality: 24/7 Expert Help

Cloudways’s support consistently receives high marks for responsiveness and expertise.

Response Time

Average response time: 90 seconds for live chat User reports: “Super fast—truly outstanding customer satisfaction” Availability: 24/7, weekdays and weekends, day or night

For comparison, budget shared hosts often respond in hours, not seconds.

Support Channels

Live Chat (Included):

Real humans, not bots
Knowledgeable about cloud hosting, WordPress, WooCommerce
15 minutes included with basic plans
After 15 minutes, ticket system takes over

Ticketing System:

For complex issues requiring escalation
Response time: 1-2 days (slower than chat)
Detailed written solutions

Knowledge Base:

Comprehensive self-help articles
Step-by-step guides for common tasks
Video tutorials

Support Tiers

Basic Support (Included):

Live chat with 15-minute limit per session
Ticketing for complex issues
Knowledge base access

Advanced Support ($100/month add-on):

Faster response times
Proactive server monitoring
No chat time limits

Premium Support (Custom pricing):

Dedicated account manager
Proactive optimization recommendations
White-glove service for agencies/enterprises

Customer Satisfaction

Trustpilot: 3,258 reviews with generally positive ratings Common praise:

“Best support I’ve experienced—not just with hosting companies but ANY company”
“Quick to respond, extremely knowledgeable, extremely helpful”
“I could get a response to any question immediately via live chat”

Complaints:

Billing department slower than technical support
Ticketing system can take 1-2 days
Long wait times during peak hours (occasional)

Support Scope

What support will help with:

Server configuration and optimization
WordPress installation and migration
Troubleshooting performance issues
Security incident response
Application errors and debugging

What support won’t handle:

Plugin/theme development
Website design or content changes
Third-party plugin support (they’ll guide, not fix)
Email hosting (they don’t offer it)

Support Value Proposition

Cloudways support is solving cloud infrastructure problems—not basic cPanel questions. When your WooCommerce store slows under traffic, they’ll diagnose server resources, optimize caching, and recommend scaling. That expertise justifies the management premium over DIY cloud hosting.

Who Should Use Cloudways?

Cloudways fits specific use cases exceptionally well while being overkill for others.

Perfect For:

Growing WordPress sites: If your shared hosting feels slow but you’re not ready for managed WordPress premium pricing ($35-50/mo), Cloudways delivers similar performance at $11-24/mo.

WooCommerce stores: E-commerce demands performance (checkout conversion rates), scalability (sale events), and uptime (lost sales). Cloudways handles all three better than shared hosting.

Agencies managing client sites: One Cloudways server can host multiple client WordPress sites. Staging per site, team access controls, and centralized management streamline agency workflows.

Developers who want cloud performance without DevOps: You understand hosting but don’t want to spend hours configuring Nginx, Varnish, and Redis. Cloudways automates the stack while preserving SSH/SFTP access.

Sites with traffic variability: Seasonal businesses, viral content creators, or event-driven sites need scalability. Upgrade before a product launch, downgrade after—pay only for what you use.

Multi-regional audiences: Cloudways supports 65+ data center locations across providers. Host European visitors on Amsterdam servers, Americans on New York servers—latency matters.

Not Ideal For:

Absolute beginners: If you’ve never used WordPress before, Cloudways’s flexibility creates decision paralysis. Start with beginner-friendly Hostinger or Bluehost, migrate to Cloudways when you outgrow them.

Tiny budgets: $11/mo minimum vs $3/mo shared hosting is a 3.5x difference. If you’re running a hobby blog with no revenue, budget hosting makes more sense.

Email-heavy businesses: No built-in email hosting means using separate services. If you need email, web hosting, and everything bundled, traditional cPanel hosts fit better.

Static sites or simple HTML: Cloud infrastructure for a 5-page brochure site is massive overkill. Use Netlify, Vercel, or basic shared hosting.

Maximum server control needed: Managed platforms limit root access and customization. If you need to compile custom software or modify core server configs, unmanaged cloud hosting (direct DigitalOcean/AWS) is appropriate.

Extremely high traffic (100,000+ daily visitors): At this scale, Cloudways’s management fee becomes expensive. Direct AWS/GCP with a DevOps engineer becomes cost-effective. Or consider enterprise managed WordPress hosts like WP Engine or Kinsta.

Migration Decision Point

The signal to migrate from shared hosting to Cloudways: your WordPress admin dashboard feels sluggish, page loads exceed 3 seconds despite optimization, or you’re hitting shared hosting resource limits. These symptoms indicate you need dedicated cloud resources.

Cloudways vs The Competition

How Cloudways compares to alternatives in different categories.

Cloudways vs Traditional Shared Hosting (Hostinger, Bluehost, SiteGround)

Shared hosting wins on:

Price: $3-5/mo vs $11+/mo
Simplicity: cPanel is familiar, email included, domain registration available
Beginner-friendliness: Fewer decisions to make

Cloudways wins on:

Performance: Dedicated resources, cloud infrastructure, advanced caching
Scalability: Vertical scaling without migration
Uptime: Cloud redundancy vs single server
Speed: 444ms TTFB vs 600-1000ms typical for shared hosting
WooCommerce: Object caching and staging are game-changers for stores

Bottom line: Shared hosting for small sites under 10,000 monthly visitors. Cloudways when performance and scalability justify the premium.

Cloudways vs Direct Cloud Hosting (DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud)

Direct cloud wins on:

Price: DigitalOcean charges $6/mo vs Cloudways $11/mo for same resources
Control: Full root access, custom software, complete flexibility
No management fee: You keep the savings if you’re comfortable with server admin

Cloudways wins on:

Convenience: No server management expertise required
Support: 24/7 expert help vs community forums
Managed services: Automated backups, security patches, monitoring
Time savings: No learning curve for Nginx/Varnish/Redis configuration

Bottom line: If you know Linux command line and enjoy server management, save money with direct cloud hosting. If your time is valuable and you’d rather focus on your business than DevOps, Cloudways’s management fee is a bargain.

Cloudways vs Premium Managed WordPress (WP Engine, Kinsta)

Premium managed wins on:

Performance: WP Engine/Kinsta achieve 200-300ms TTFB (vs 444ms Cloudways)
Specialized optimization: WordPress-specific infrastructure, not general cloud
Security: Built-in malware scanning and removal
Support: Deeper WordPress expertise, proactive optimization

Cloudways wins on:

Price: $11/mo entry vs $35-50/mo minimum for premium managed
Flexibility: Choose your cloud provider, not locked into one infrastructure
Scalability: Easy vertical scaling vs rigid plan tiers
Non-WordPress apps: Host Laravel, PHP apps, not just WordPress

Bottom line: WP Engine and Kinsta deliver peak WordPress performance for businesses where site speed directly drives revenue. Cloudways delivers 80% of that performance at 30-50% of the cost—excellent value for most WordPress sites.

Cloudways vs Traditional VPS Hosting

VPS hosting wins on:

Price: Unmanaged VPS costs $10-20/mo with more control
Flexibility: Complete server customization

Cloudways wins on:

Ease of use: No server management knowledge required
Support: Included vs none for unmanaged VPS
Performance stack: Pre-configured ThunderStack vs manual setup
Managed services: Backups, security, monitoring included

Bottom line: VPS appeals to developers with server admin skills. Cloudways appeals to developers who want cloud performance without the sysadmin work.

Honest Drawbacks & Limitations

No hosting is perfect. Here are Cloudways’s genuine weaknesses:

1. No Email Hosting

Cloudways doesn’t offer email accounts. You must use:

Google Workspace: $6/user/month (professional, reliable)
Microsoft 365: Similar pricing
Third-party providers: Fastmail, Protonmail, etc.

Why it matters: Traditional hosts bundle email. Cloudways requires a separate service, adding complexity and potential cost.

Counterpoint: Professional email hosting is better from email specialists anyway. Google Workspace rarely goes down; server-based email frequently ends up in spam folders.

2. No Domain Registration

You cannot buy domains through Cloudways. Register with:

Namecheap, Porkbun, Google Domains (Squarespace), etc.

Why it matters: Traditional hosts bundle domain registration. Cloudways requires separate domain registrar.

Counterpoint: Separating hosting and domain registration is actually better practice. If you ever switch hosts, your domain isn’t locked with the same company.

3. Entry-Level WPBench Scores

The DO1GB plan scores 3.7/10 on WPBench, indicating conservative CPU/RAM allocation.

Why it matters: Raw processing power is limited on entry plans. Heavy plugins or complex queries may strain resources.

Mitigation: Upgrade to DO2GB or DO4GB if performance feels constrained. Or choose Vultr High-Frequency for better baseline resources.

4. Limited Root Access

As a managed platform, Cloudways restricts full root access. You get SSH and can run many commands, but core server configs are locked.

Why it matters: Advanced users wanting to install custom software or modify deep server settings will hit limitations.

Workaround: Most WordPress and PHP apps work fine within Cloudways’s environment. True root access needs point to unmanaged cloud hosting instead.

5. Management Fee Premium

DigitalOcean charges $6/mo for 1GB RAM; Cloudways charges $11/mo—an $5/mo management premium (83% markup).

Why it matters: High-traffic sites running 10+ servers pay significant management fees. A site using 10 × DO4GB servers pays Cloudways ~$460/mo vs direct DigitalOcean ~$360/mo.

Consideration: At scale, hiring a part-time DevOps engineer becomes more economical than Cloudways fees.

6. Learning Curve Exists

Despite being simpler than direct cloud hosting, Cloudways still presents decisions: Which provider? What server size? Enable Varnish or Redis first?

Why it matters: Absolute beginners may feel overwhelmed compared to shared hosting’s simplicity.

Mitigation: Start with DigitalOcean DO1GB, enable all caching features, and migrate. Complexity is opt-in for most users.

7. Tiered Support Limitations

Basic plans limit live chat to 15 minutes per session before converting to tickets. Tickets can take 1-2 days for responses.

Why it matters: Complex troubleshooting requires multiple interactions, making the 15-minute limit frustrating.

Mitigation: Advanced Support ($100/mo) removes chat limits. For agencies, this add-on pays for itself in saved time.

8. Addon Costs

Some features cost extra:

Email accounts: $1/month each (Cloudways Rackspace Email)
Advanced support: $100/month
Dedicated IP: $2/month (rarely needed)
Additional backups: Variable pricing

Why it matters: Advertised prices don’t include optional features that traditional hosts bundle.

Counterpoint: You only pay for what you use. Most sites need zero addons.

9. Bandwidth Overage Costs

While generous, exceeding included bandwidth triggers provider-specific overage charges:

Vultr: $0.01-0.05/GB depending on region
AWS: $0.12/GB (expensive)
GCP: $0.14/GB (expensive)

Why it matters: Viral traffic spikes can lead to surprise bills on AWS/GCP.

Mitigation: Use Cloudflare CDN (free) to reduce origin bandwidth consumption. Monitor usage proactively.

10. No Automatic WordPress Updates

WordPress core updates are optional, not automatic. Plugins and themes are always manual.

Why it matters: Forgetting security updates creates vulnerabilities.

Counterpoint: Automatic updates can break sites. Manual control with staging testing is actually safer.

Cloudways Isn't for Everyone

If you need email hosting, domain registration, and maximum simplicity in one bundle, stick with traditional cPanel hosts like SiteGround or Bluehost. Cloudways targets users who prioritize performance and scalability over all-in-one convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cloudways good for beginners?

Cloudways sits between beginner-friendly and technical. If you’ve used WordPress before and understand basics like databases and DNS, you’ll adapt quickly. Complete beginners (first website ever) may find the choices overwhelming—start with Hostinger or Bluehost, migrate to Cloudways when you outgrow them.

Can I host email on Cloudways?

No. Cloudways doesn’t offer email hosting. Use Google Workspace ($6/user/mo), Microsoft 365, or email-focused providers. Separating web hosting and email hosting is actually industry best practice.

How does Cloudways compare to SiteGround?

SiteGround offers managed shared hosting with cPanel, email hosting, and beginner-friendly setup for $17.99/mo renewal. Cloudways offers managed cloud hosting with better performance, scalability, and support for $11+/mo. SiteGround is easier; Cloudways is more powerful. Choose based on whether you prioritize simplicity (SiteGround) or performance (Cloudways).

What’s the difference between cloud hosting and shared hosting?

Shared hosting puts multiple websites on one physical server sharing resources. Cloud hosting spreads your site across multiple interconnected servers with dedicated resources. Cloud offers better performance, uptime, and scalability, but costs more.

Can I migrate from Bluehost/Hostinger/GoDaddy to Cloudways?

Yes. Cloudways offers one free WordPress migration (manual or via their team). Additional migrations are free with Advanced Support, or you can use the free Cloudways WordPress migration plugin for DIY transfers.

Which cloud provider should I choose on Cloudways?

DigitalOcean for most users (lowest cost, proven reliability). Vultr High-Frequency for WooCommerce or high-traffic sites needing extra speed. AWS/GCP only if you need specific integrations or compliance requirements.

Is Cloudways worth the cost compared to shared hosting?

For sites with 10,000+ monthly visitors, WooCommerce stores, or businesses where site speed affects revenue, yes—performance gains justify the premium. For hobby blogs with minimal traffic, shared hosting’s $3-5/mo suffices.

Does Cloudways offer website backups?

Yes. Daily automated backups are included, with one-click restore. You can also create on-demand backups before updates or changes. Backup data stores offsite for redundancy.

Can I run WooCommerce on Cloudways?

Absolutely. Cloudways is excellent for WooCommerce due to object caching (handles large product catalogs), staging (test checkout changes), scalability (manage sale traffic), and performance optimization. Many WooCommerce store owners migrate specifically for these benefits.

What’s Cloudways’s uptime guarantee?

Cloudways doesn’t offer an SLA-backed uptime guarantee because uptime depends on your chosen cloud provider (DigitalOcean, AWS, etc.). In practice, real-world tests show 99.9-100% uptime. DigitalOcean and AWS both guarantee 99.99% uptime on their infrastructure.

Can I host multiple websites on one Cloudways server?

Yes. Install multiple WordPress applications on one server. A DO2GB server ($24/mo) can comfortably host 3-5 small-to-medium WordPress sites. Larger sites need dedicated servers for optimal performance.

Does Cloudways include SSL certificates?

Yes. Free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates install with one click and auto-renew. You can also upload custom SSL certificates if needed.

Final Verdict: Should You Choose Cloudways?

Cloudways delivers on its core promise: cloud hosting performance without cloud hosting complexity. For the right user, it’s an exceptional value. For others, it’s unnecessary overkill.

When Cloudways Makes Sense

Choose Cloudways if:

Your WordPress site outgrew shared hosting but premium managed WordPress ($35-50/mo) feels expensive
You run a WooCommerce store where performance directly impacts revenue
Traffic is growing or unpredictable and you need scalability
You’re an agency managing multiple client sites
You want cloud infrastructure benefits without learning DevOps
Support quality matters more than saving $5-10/month

Expected results: Noticeably faster page loads (30-50% improvement over budget shared hosting), better uptime (99.9%+), ability to handle traffic spikes without crashes, and peace of mind from expert support.

When Shared Hosting Is Smarter

Stick with Hostinger, Bluehost, or SiteGround if:

You’re launching your first website and need maximum simplicity
Traffic is under 5,000 monthly visitors
Budget is tight ($3-5/mo matters)
You need email hosting bundled with web hosting
You prefer familiar cPanel interface

Reality check: Shared hosting works fine for most small sites. Don’t overpay for performance you don’t need.

When Direct Cloud Hosting Is Better

Skip Cloudways and use DigitalOcean/AWS directly if:

You’re comfortable with Linux command line and server management
You want full root access and complete customization
You’re running 10+ high-traffic sites where management fees add up
You have DevOps expertise in-house
Saving the management premium ($5-10/server/month) matters at your scale

The Bottom Line

Cloudways occupies a valuable niche: serious hosting for serious sites that aren’t yet enterprise-scale. It’s not the cheapest (shared hosting wins), not the most powerful (premium managed WordPress wins), and not the most flexible (direct cloud wins). But it offers the best balance of performance, ease of use, and cost for WordPress sites in the growth phase.

Rating: 4.3/5

Strengths: Excellent performance-to-cost ratio, genuine 24/7 expert support, clean dashboard, flexible provider selection, and managed services that save hours monthly.

Weaknesses: No email hosting, entry-level benchmark scores lag premium hosts, management fees add up at scale, and learning curve exists for beginners.

Recommendation: If you’re currently on shared hosting and experiencing slowness, or running a WooCommerce store on inadequate infrastructure, try Cloudways’s 3-day free trial. The performance difference is measurable and often translates directly to better user experience and higher conversions.

Try Cloudways Free for 3 Days

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