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Cloudways Review (2024)

Cloudways Review (2024)

TL;DR: What We Think of Cloudways

Cloudways is not your bargain basement host, but worth every penny for serious site runners seeking premium support and top-notch hosting across multiple clouds. Newbies beware: this is high octane hosting for the seasoned operators.


Suitable for:

eCommerce, Enterprise, Managed WordPress, or Developers-friendly Hosting

Cloudways Review - Website Screenshot
HostScore
82.82%
Promo Coupon*
HOSTSCORE

Website: https://www.cloudways.com/en/

Our Evaluation: Cloudways Pros and Cons

Cloudways Pros

  • Topnotch server uptime and speed performance
  • Good abstration over complex cloud server setups with integrated dashboard
  • Outstanding customer support
  • High scalability; Autonomous plan supports auto-scaling
  • Easy server cloning, site staging, and website transfer
  • Host unlimited applications in one account
  • 25% discount for first two months with coupon “HOSTSCORE”

Cloudways Cons

  • Getting expensive – Prices increased steadily for the past few years
  • Limited trial period

Our Detail Findings & Experience with Cloudways

About Cloudways: Quick Introduction

Established in 2011 by co-founders Aaqib Gadit, Pere Hospital, and Uzair Gadit, Cloudways is a managed hosting platform that initially focused on leveraging partnerships with AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Digital Ocean to serve its customers better. The acquisition by DigitalOcean in August 2022 further solidified this partnership, enhancing Cloudways’ ability to provide superior managed hosting solutions.

Exclusive Deal Use promo code ‘HOSTSCORE’ to enjoy 30% discount for 3 months on your first Cloudways bill. Click here to check pricing and order with a discount.

Performance

Is Cloudways fast in terms of hosting speed and performance?

Yes, Cloudways hosting is fast. The managed cloud hosting provider comes with full-fledged server speed features including a built-in cache, free Object Cache Pro, NVMe SSD storage, and pre-optimized WordPress environment. Their new Cloudflare Enterprise Add-on further expands performance features like Edge Page Caching, automatic image & mobile optimization, Brotli compression, PCI DSS Compliance, Argo Smart Routing. All these make Cloudways-hosted websites quicker and more efficient.

Cloudways Autonomous for Auto Scaling

For busy WordPress sites that experience sudden traffic spike often – the new Cloudways Autonomous can be a game changer. Built on Kubernetes (GKE), it automates resource scaling and performance tuning; and only charges users based on server resources they use. While priced slightly cheaper than its peers, benchmark tests show that Cloudways Autonomous outperforms competitors like Kinsta and WP Engine in high-traffic scenarios. See test results here or visit Cloudways Autonomous to learn more.

Service Status & Performance Tests

FYI, we have been using Cloudways for years, and the web host consistently impresses us with its solid uptime and speed performance; in fact, this website you are reading (HostScore.net) is hosted on Cloudways using Digital Ocean infrastructure. Image below shows our recent speed test results at WebpageTest.

Clouwdays PerformanceClouwdays Performance

Security

Are websites hosted on Cloudways secure with server-side security?

Yes, websites hosted at Cloudways are safe. Cloudways prioritizes security with features such as auto malware scan, advanced web application firewall (WAF), DDoS protection, free SSL certificates, daily backup, . These measures protect your data and ensure your site is secure from common cyber threats.

Supports

What types of customer support does Cloudways offer?

Cloudways offers customer support that is highly praised for its technical expertise and rapid response times, assisting users effectively with complex hosting issues. Help is avaliable via live chat and email.

Value for Money

Is Cloudways worth its pricing in term of value?

Yes, Cloudways offers good value for its pricing. While not the cheapest option, it is reasonably priced considering its extensive feature offerings and long-term cost benefits. Positioned as a premium managed cloud hosting solution, Cloudways provides superior management and support compared to basic infrastructure providers and offers better performance and scalability than traditional hosting services. The premium pricing reflects the added value and enhanced performance that Cloudways delivers.

Additionally, their month-to-month pricing model eliminates the need for large upfront fees, making it a flexible and cost-effective choice for many users.

Clouwdays Pricing ModelClouwdays Pricing Model

Overall Users Satisfaction

What do users say about Cloudways?

Cloudways is considered by many to be the best hosting solution in the market.

Based on our collected data and market feedback, customers often highlight Cloudways for its excellent hosting performance, outstanding customer support, and impressive built-in features. The Cloudways Support Team is highly regarded for their patience, quick response, and knowledge in resolving technical issues. Readers who need frequent technical help in hosting their websites should take note of this.

For additional insights, please refer to the user reviews section below.

Beginners Friendliness

Is Cloudways suitable for beginners?

We do not recommend Cloudways to smaller blogs or newbies. The platform does offer an easy-to-use integrated dashboard, managed security, and impressive performance – which all are great for those new to web hosting.

However, it’s 100% – 150% more expensive than traditional shared hosting, which likely to be an overkill for most new websites.

Small Business Friendliness

Is Cloudways suitable for small businesses?

Cloudways is ideal for businesses requiring more than just an informational website, such as SaaS providers, startups, and online stores​. The service provides access to multiple cloud platforms, offers extreme scalability, and easy management via an integrated dashboard. These features are beneficial for small businesses that need reliable performance and the ability to scale as they grow.

Web Developers Friendliness

Is Cloudways suitable for web developers?

Cloudways is highly suitable for developers, thanks to its advanced and integrated stack that simplifies complex tasks.

Powerful Caching Mechanism

The platform integrates powerful caching solutions like Memcached, Varnish, Nginx, and Redis. These tools can significantly enhance your site’s performance without complicated setups. With these caching solutions, you can speed up your applications, handle heavy traffic with ease, and reduce server load for a smoother user experience.

Ready-to-Use Staging, Auto Backup, and White-label Invoicing Tool

Beyond performance, it offers a range of features designed to simplify a developer’s job. Automatic backups ensure data safety, while staging environments let you test new features without affecting the live site. Git integration makes deploying code straightforward, helping streamline workflows and improve efficiency.

Clouwdays Auto BackupClouwdays Auto Backup

Plus, the new client billing feature supports white label invoicing and helps users to automate payment collections from customers.

While the lack of email hosting and the higher price tags might be a turn off, the overall convenience and performance make Cloudways a solid option for developers.

Host Own Email

Can you host custom email accounts with Cloudways?

Unfortunately, the email hosting feature does not come with Cloudways hosting plans by default. You can setup your email accounts on their platform, but that will requires additional fees ($1/mo per email account). Alternatively, you can also use a third-party email provider such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 (also requires additional fees).

Onboarding

Is Cloudways easy for new customers to start with?

The onboarding process for Cloudways is straightforward and user-friendly. The process begins with a selection from a variety of cloud providers (Digital Ocean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, and Google Cloud), allowing users to customize their server resources according to their needs. This flexibility includes scaling server resources up or down as required, optimizing operational costs. Once you are in, everything from application installation to server launch and asking for technical supports is managed through a sleek user dashboard.

Free Trial

Is Cloudways available for a free trial?

Yes, Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial period. If you are not satisfied with their services for any reason, you can cancel within this period and receive a full refund.

Try now: Click here to signup at Cloudways official website

Cloudways Plans & Pricing

Cloudways works as a managed cloud hosting platform by offering a choice of top cloud infrastructure providers including DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, and Google Cloud. Their service excels in boosting website performance and providing easy scalability – which is ideal for a range of users, from solo developers to large businesses. The combination of managed security, support, and user-friendly platform integration makes Cloudways a comprehensive and adaptable hosting solution.

Consider Renewal Prices When Choosing

When evaluating hosting options, it is important to note that many hosting companies offer substantial discounts during the initial signup period, but prices often increase significantly upon renewal. Be sure to research and compare the renewal prices and not just the introductory rates to understand the true cost of hosting over time.

To help you in making an informed decision, we have prepared two tables below that compare the initial signup costs and renewal costs of Cloudways services with several other providers we monitor.

Exclusive Deal Use promo code ‘HOSTSCORE’ to enjoy 30% discount for 3 months on your first Cloudways bill. Click here to check pricing and order with a discount.

Compare Cloudways’s Signup Cost Against Competitors

Web Host Shared VPS Dedicated Cloud Managed WP Windows
Cloudways $ – /mo $ – /mo $ – /mo $11.00 – 1056.00/mo $14.00 – 487.00/mo $ – /mo
WP Engine $ – /mo $ – /mo $ – /mo $35.00 – 675.00/mo $15.00 – 145.00/mo $ – /mo
Verpex $2.99 – 8.99/mo $12.00 – 30.00/mo $39.50 – 113.40/mo $2.99 – 8.99/mo $3.00 – 9.00/mo $18.00 – 95.40/mo
Servers.com $ – /mo $5.37 – 692.04/mo $104.9 – 712.64/mo $5.37 – 692.04/mo $ – /mo $ – /mo
BlueHost $2.95 – 13.95/mo $29.99 – 69.99/mo $89.98 – 139.99/mo $ – /mo $2.95 – 13.95/mo $ – /mo
Hostens $2.00 – 8.00/mo $5.25 – 21.00/mo $49.99 – 89.99/mo $ – /mo $ – /mo $13.13 – 52.50/mo

Compare Cloudways’s Renewal Cost Against Competitors

Web Host Shared VPS Dedicated Cloud Managed WP Windows
Cloudways $ – /mo $ – /mo $ – /mo $11.00 – 1056.00/mo $14.00 – 487.00/mo $ – /mo
WP Engine $ – /mo $ – /mo $ – /mo $35.00 – 675.00/mo $30.00 – 145.00/mo $ – /mo
Verpex $6.00 – 15.00/mo $20.00 – 50.00/mo $79.00 – 189.00/mo $6.00 – 15.00/mo $6.00 – 15.00/mo $30.00 – 89.00/mo
Servers.com $ – /mo $5.37 – 692.04/mo $104.9 – 712.64/mo $5.37 – 692.04/mo $ – /mo $ – /mo
BlueHost $11.99 – 28.99/mo $79.99 – 142.99/mo $179.99 – 259.99/mo $ – /mo $11.99 – 28.99/mo $ – /mo
Hostens $4.00 – 16.00/mo $7.50 – 30.00/mo $49.99 – 89.99/mo $ – /mo $ – /mo $18.75 – 75.00/mo

Caution: Prices May Vary Web hosting prices can change frequently. For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing information, please visit the official Cloudways website.

Is Cloudways the Right Choice for You?

Known for its stellar hosting performance and unparalleled customer support, Cloudways stands out in the managed cloud hosting arena. Picture an expert support team that’s always on, ready to serve up solutions on a silver platter, 24/7. With scalability that flexes like a gymnast, in both server power and data transfer, it’s a dream for sites that thrive on agility.

While Cloudways’ price point sits above the bargain bin, the return on investment in terms of site speed, reliability, and the peace of mind that comes with top-tier support and scalability is undeniable. It isn’t just recommended for those who need high-performance hosting; it’s a beacon for anyone looking to elevate their online experience, ensuring that your digital presence is not just noticed, but remembered.

Summary of Cloudways Pros and Cons

Cloudways Pros

  • Topnotch server uptime and speed performance
  • Good abstration over complex cloud server setups with integrated dashboard
  • Outstanding customer support
  • High scalability; Autonomous plan supports auto-scaling
  • Easy server cloning, site staging, and website transfer
  • Host unlimited applications in one account
  • 25% discount for first two months with coupon “HOSTSCORE”

Cloudways Cons

  • Getting expensive – Prices increased steadily for the past few years
  • Limited trial period

Cloudways Alternatives to Consider

In case Cloudways is not right for you, below are some alternatives to consider. You can also find more options in our hosting reviews page (full list).

- September 4, 2024