Are you looking for a hosting provider that’s fast, reliable, and easy to use?
Cloudways might just be the solution you need. It is known for its speed, top-notch uptime, and flexible options.
Whether you’re running a business, a blog, or an online store, this platform promises to keep your site running smoothly even during traffic spikes.
In this Cloudways review, we’ll explore why Cloudways is gaining popularity, what features it offers, and how it can improve your website.
Let’s find out if it’s the right choice for you!
☛ Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Web Hosting Provider in 2024
Cloudways Review 2024
Cloudways was founded in 2014 and has been a long-time partner with DigitalOcean. In 2022, DigitalOcean, a popular cloud infrastructure company, acquired Cloudways. This move brought Cloudways under DigitalOcean’s umbrella, combining their strengths to offer even better services.
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that provides easy-to-use, high-performance hosting without the hassle of managing server settings. It allows you to host your website on popular cloud infrastructure providers like DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Vultr, and Linode.
What makes Cloudways different is that it takes care of all the technical aspects, including server management, security, and updates, so you can focus on growing your website.
Key Features of Cloudways
Cloudways comes with many features designed to make web hosting easy and effective.
- Managed Cloud Hosting
- Multiple Cloud Providers
- Pay-as-You-Go Pricing
- 1-Click App Installations
- Scalable Resources
- Built-in Caching Solutions
- Free Caching Plugin (Breeze)
- Free Object Cache Pro (except DO Base Plan)
- Free Website Migration
- Enterprise-Grade Managed Security
- Automatic Backups
- 1-Click Backup & Restore
- 65+ Global Data Centers
- Latest PHP Versions (7.4 to 8.2)
- Content Delivery Network (CDN) Integration
- Staging Environment
- Optimized Stack
- Server and Application Monitoring
- Vertical Scaling
- SafeUpdates for WordPress
- Database Management
- SSH and SFTP Access
- DNS Made Easy
- Cloudways API
- Bot Protection
- Add-ons and Integrations
- 24/7 Expert Support
- 3 Days Free Trial
Cloudways Flexibility and Pay-as-You-Go Pricing
Cloudways offers flexible pricing based on your server choice and resources.
One of Cloudways’ strongest selling points is its flexibility. Unlike traditional hosting providers that lock you into their infrastructure, Cloudways lets you choose from five top cloud providers: AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode.
This flexibility allows businesses to select a provider that best meets their traffic, budget, and performance needs.
Pay-as-You-Go Model:
Cloudways uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which ensures you only pay for the resources you use. This approach is particularly beneficial for eCommerce stores and businesses with fluctuating traffic, as they can scale up during high-traffic periods and scale down during slower times, avoiding unnecessary costs.
You only pay for the resources you use, which can be scaled up or down as needed.
Pricing Plans:
- DigitalOcean: Starts at $11/month
- Vultr: Starts at $14/month
- Linode: Starts at $14/month
- AWS: Starts at $20.56/month
- Google Cloud: Starts at $37.45/month
Cloudways provides a 3-day free trial so you can test the platform before committing.
Read also: 8 Best Cloud Hosting Providers in 2024
Real-World Use Cases: How Cloudways Benefits Businesses
Cloudways is trusted by agencies, developers, and eCommerce businesses around the world.
Following are a few case studies,
Case Study 1: SoftwareHow
SoftwareHow, a leading tech blog founded by J.P. Zhang, has been offering in-depth software reviews, guides, and tips since 2016.
As the demand for consumer software surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, SoftwareHow needed a robust hosting solution that could handle increased traffic, improve site performance, and reduce operational costs.
Challenges Faced by SoftwareHow
Before migrating to Cloudways, SoftwareHow faced several key challenges:
- Site Performance: The speed and uptime of the website were inconsistent, leading to user dissatisfaction and potential loss of traffic.
- Cost Efficiency: Managing multiple hosting services was becoming increasingly expensive, with consulting fees and the need for freelance developers adding to the financial burden.
- Technical Support: Zhang needed a hosting provider that offered reliable and responsive customer support to resolve technical issues quickly.
After receiving recommendations from peers in the industry, J.P. Zhang decided to migrate SoftwareHow to Cloudways.
The Results After Migrating to Cloudways,
After migrating to Cloudways, SoftwareHow saw dramatic improvements:
- 200% Increase in Traffic: The improved performance and faster load times resulted in higher organic traffic. With Cloudways, SoftwareHow experienced a 200% surge in visitors without compromising site speed or stability.
- 50% Reduction in Load Time: Cloudways’ advanced caching features and optimized server infrastructure led to a significant reduction in page load times, improving user experience and engagement.
- Cost Savings: By consolidating hosting services under Cloudways, SoftwareHow saved approximately $300 per month. Additionally, with the help of Cloudways’ support team, the need for a freelance developer was eliminated, further reducing operational costs.
- Improved Uptime: Cloudways’ reliable uptime and monitoring tools helped Zhang rest easy, as the site no longer experienced frequent downtimes or issues that required immediate attention.
Migrating to Cloudways was a game-changer for SoftwareHow. The blog not only saw a significant boost in traffic and site speed but also enjoyed substantial cost savings and peace of mind.
Cloudways provided a scalable, reliable, and high-performance hosting solution that allowed SoftwareHow to focus on growing its content and business without worrying about technical challenges.
Case Study 2: Guru SEO Services
Guru SEO Services, based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, is a top digital marketing agency specializing in SEO and web design.
Guru SEO’s impressive track record includes increasing traffic for a variety of clients, such as driving a crypto news site’s audience from 400k to 1.3 million visitors and achieving a 400% ROI in just four months for a large crypto poker site.
Challenges Faced by Guru SEO Services
Before migrating to Cloudways, Guru SEO faced several critical challenges:
- Site Performance and Speed: SEO rankings and user experience were impacted by slower website load times, leading to reduced organic traffic.
- Client Management: Managing multiple client websites across different servers was inefficient, and deployment times were longer than desired.
- Scalability: As client traffic increased, so did the complexity of the websites. Guru SEO required a scalable hosting infrastructure to accommodate growth.
- Downtime and Security: Unreliable uptime and security concerns from the previous hosting provider risked client trust and SEO rankings.
- International Audience: Some clients targeted global audiences, requiring enhanced website accessibility and performance across multiple regions.
The Results After Migrating to Cloudways,
After migrating to Cloudways, Guru SEO achieved remarkable results:
- 45% Faster Load Times: Reduced page load times by 45%, leading to better SEO rankings and a 30% increase in organic traffic.
- 50% Faster Deployment: Cloudways’ multi-server management and site cloning features reduced deployment times by half, enabling quicker turnarounds for clients.
- 99.99% Uptime: With virtually no downtime, client trust and SEO rankings improved, ensuring a reliable and secure hosting environment.
- 200% Traffic Surge Handled Smoothly: During peak promotional periods, Cloudways’ scalable infrastructure effortlessly accommodated significant traffic spikes.
- Cost Savings: Compared to previous hosting providers, Cloudways offered a cost-effective solution while delivering superior performance and stability.
Cloudways has been a game-changer for Guru SEO and Web Design Services, enabling the agency to improve site performance, scale effortlessly, and reduce hosting costs.
With enhanced site speed, reliable uptime, and global infrastructure, Cloudways has empowered Guru SEO to deliver even greater results for its clients.
As a result, Guru SEO has strengthened its position as a leading digital marketing agency, driving success for its clients through improved SEO and web design.
Cloudways Autonomous
Cloudways Autonomous is a feature designed to simplify and automate server management tasks. This tool uses advanced technology to monitor your server, predict potential issues, and fix them before they become serious problems.
It also handles routine updates and optimizes performance without manual intervention. In short, Cloudways Autonomous is like having a virtual assistant that keeps your server healthy and running smoothly, reducing the need for constant oversight and technical expertise.
Cloudways Stack
Cloudways offers a powerful and optimized stack that ensures your website runs smoothly and efficiently, even under heavy traffic. This stack includes several advanced caching technologies, all integrated and ready to use without the hassle of a complex setup.
- Memcached: It is built into the Cloudways stack. This caching system stores frequently accessed data, allowing your website to retrieve it faster and deliver pages more quickly to visitors. It’s great for reducing the load on your server and speeding up response times.
- Varnish: It is a web accelerator that caches static content like images, CSS, and HTML, reducing the time it takes to load web pages. Varnish is especially useful for high-traffic websites, as it can handle large volumes of traffic without affecting your website’s performance.
- Nginx: It is a high-performance web server that works alongside Varnish to improve your website’s ability to handle simultaneous requests. Nginx is known for its efficiency in serving static files quickly, which further enhances the overall speed of your website.
- Redis: It is another caching solution integrated into the Cloudways stack. Redis specializes in caching database queries, making it ideal for dynamic websites such as eCommerce stores or apps that rely on frequent database interactions. It helps to ensure smooth and fast website operations by reducing the time needed to fetch data from the database.
With these integrated caching technologies—Memcached, Varnish, Nginx, and Redis—Cloudways provides a robust performance boost without requiring any complicated setup. This means that whether you’re managing an eCommerce store or a high-traffic blog, Cloudways ensures your website stays fast and responsive, delivering a great user experience.
How to Launch PHP Stack on Cloudways?
Launching the PHP stack on Cloudways is a simple and straightforward process that can be done in just a few steps as following:
1. Sign Up for a Cloudways Account
If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to sign up for one on the Cloudways website. You can take advantage of their free trial to test the platform.
2. Select Your Application
Once you’ve logged in to your Cloudways dashboard, click the “Launch” button. From the application list, choose PHP as your application type. Cloudways allows you to launch different types of PHP-based apps, making it versatile for various development needs.
3. Choose a Cloud Provider
Cloudways lets you choose from five top cloud providers: AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode. Each of these providers offers different levels of performance, pricing, and scalability. Select the one that best suits your project’s needs.
4. Configure Server Settings
After selecting a cloud provider, you’ll need to configure your server. Choose the size of the server (CPU, RAM, storage) and the location of the data center closest to your target audience for faster load times.
5. Launch Your Server
Once your server settings are configured, click “Launch Now.” Cloudways will automatically set up the server, including your selected PHP stack. This process typically takes a few minutes.
6. Access Your Application
Once your server is ready, you can access your PHP application via the Cloudways dashboard. You’ll be able to manage settings like database access, SSL certificates, domain management, and more directly from the platform.
Cloudways Speed and Performance
Cloudways is designed to deliver fast performance, and it lives up to that promise.
- Cloud Infrastructure: By using top cloud providers, Cloudways ensures that your website benefits from powerful servers and cutting-edge technology.
- Global Data Centers: With over 65 data center locations across the world, you can choose a server location close to your audience, reducing load times.
- Multiple Caching Layers: Built-in caching tools like Varnish, Redis, and Memcached help your website load quickly by storing frequently accessed data.
- Content Delivery Network (CDN): Integrating with a CDN, such as Cloudflare, ensures that your website content is delivered swiftly to users across the globe.
- PHP 8 Support: Cloudways supports the latest PHP versions, making your website faster and more secure.
Read also: 15 Effective Ways to Increase your WordPress Website Speed
Cloudways Uptime
Cloudways offers an impressive 99.99% uptime guarantee, meaning your website is rarely down. This is achieved through:
- Reliable Cloud Infrastructure: Cloudways leverages the stability of well-known cloud providers to ensure consistent uptime.
- Auto-Healing Servers: The platform has servers that can automatically recover from common problems without causing downtime.
- Regular Updates and Patches: Cloudways continuously updates the servers and software to prevent security risks that could cause downtime.
Cloudways Ease of Use
Cloudways is designed to be easy to use, even for beginners who may not have technical knowledge.
Here’s why:
- Intuitive Dashboard: The Cloudways dashboard is user-friendly and allows you to manage multiple servers and websites without needing technical skills.
- 1-Click Installations: Installing applications like WordPress takes just one click, making it accessible for non-techies.
- Server Settings Made Simple: You can easily configure server settings through the dashboard without dealing with code.
- Automated Tasks: Cloudways handles routine tasks like backups, updates, and security checks, allowing you to focus on your website.
This is how the Cloudways dashboard looks like,
Cloudways CDN
Cloudways announced Cloudflare Enterprise CDN as its new content delivery network (CDN) option, replacing the previous Cloudways CDN for new users. This shift to Cloudflare Enterprise CDN enhances website performance and security with advanced features such as faster content delivery, optimized load times, and DDoS protection.
Cloudflare’s global network ensures that users experience faster website access from any location by caching content closer to the visitor.
With this change, Cloudways CDN is no longer available to new users, as Cloudways has chosen to focus on the superior capabilities of Cloudflare’s Enterprise-level CDN.
Existing customers using Cloudways CDN can continue to benefit from it, but new customers will exclusively access Cloudflare Enterprise CDN’s robust features for improved speed, security, and global reach. This marks a strategic move by Cloudways to offer more advanced and reliable CDN services.
Cache & Security Analytics for Cloudflare Enterprise
Cache Analytics
Using Cache Analytics, you can track how well your website’s cached content is performing. This means you’ll see how much data is being served from the cache, which helps your site load faster and reduces the load on your servers. The analytics also provide insights into which resources are being cached effectively and where improvements can be made to further optimize your site’s speed.
Security Analytics
It monitors and reports on security threats in real time. You can see data on potential attacks, such as DDoS attempts or suspicious activities, and learn how your site’s defenses are responding. This helps ensure that your website is protected from harmful traffic, giving you peace of mind.
Together, these analytics tools provide users with clear, actionable data to improve both website performance and security, all within the Cloudflare Enterprise CDN environment.
Object Cache Pro
Object Cache Pro is a premium caching solution integrated into Cloudways to help speed up WordPress websites. It works by storing database query results in memory, so the next time the same data is needed, it can be retrieved quickly without having to go back to the database. This reduces the time it takes for your website to load, especially for complex websites with lots of data or traffic.
The partnership between Cloudways and Object Cache Pro means that users now have access to this high-performance caching tool, which is usually reserved for large businesses or high-traffic websites.
Object Cache Pro is built to handle advanced caching with more stability and speed than regular caching tools. It’s designed for WordPress, making it a perfect fit for users looking to boost their site’s performance without complicated setup or technical expertise.
In simple terms, Object Cache Pro helps your website run faster by reducing the amount of work your database needs to do, making your site more responsive for visitors, and improving overall user experience.
Cloudways Data Centers
With over 65 data centers available, Cloudways lets you choose a server location that is closest to your target audience. For example, if most of your website visitors are in the United States, you can select a data center in New York or San Francisco. If your audience is primarily in Europe, you could choose a data center in London, Frankfurt, or Amsterdam.
This global coverage also means that if you need to expand your reach or target a new region, you can easily switch to a different data center location on Cloudways.
The availability of data centers around the world is one of the reasons why Cloudways is known for delivering fast and reliable web hosting.
Cloudways Email Hosting
Cloudways does not provide built-in email hosting, but you can easily set it up using their add-ons.
For professional email hosting, Cloudways offers the Rackspace Email add-on, which allows you to create custom email addresses like you@yourdomain.com. This add-on ensures reliable email service with features like spam filtering and secure email access.
For sending large volumes of emails (such as newsletters), Cloudways provides the Elastic Email add-on. You can also use the SMTP add-on to connect your website to an external email service, improving the deliverability of emails like contact form notifications or order confirmations.
These options make it easy to manage your email needs while hosting your website on Cloudways.
Client Billing
Client Billing simplifies how agencies handle billing for their clients by allowing them to create and send invoices directly through the Cloudways platform. This feature eliminates the need for third-party billing software, making the entire process more efficient and manageable.
With Client Billing, agencies can easily assign specific resources and services to individual clients and generate customized invoices based on those allocations. This makes it easy to track costs and ensures transparency between the agency and its clients.
Additionally, it helps agencies manage their cash flow better by streamlining the payment process, allowing them to focus more on their core business activities instead of administrative tasks.
Client Billing is a game-changing feature for agencies, making client management and invoicing much simpler and more professional.
Malware Add-on
The Malware Add-on by Cloudways is a robust security feature designed to protect websites from harmful malware threats. It offers automatic and on-demand malware scanning, helping users detect and remove malicious software before it can cause any damage to their websites.
This add-on works by scanning files, databases, and other critical areas for potential security risks, ensuring that websites stay safe from hacks and vulnerabilities.
Once malware is detected, the add-on provides detailed reports and recommendations for resolving the issue. Users can easily clean their sites with a single click, minimizing downtime and preventing data breaches.
This proactive approach to security ensures that websites are always protected, and users don’t have to worry about unexpected threats.
Cloudways Security
Cloudways offers the following security features:
- Free SSL Certificates: Every website hosted on Cloudways can be secured with a free SSL certificate, ensuring encrypted data transfer.
- Dedicated Firewalls: The platform uses advanced firewalls to block unauthorized access to your website.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adding an extra layer of security to your account by requiring a second form of verification.
- Automatic Backups: Regular backups ensure that you can quickly restore your website if something goes wrong.
- IP Whitelisting: Control who can access your website by allowing only trusted IP addresses.
Cloudways Support
Cloudways offers 24/7 customer support through live chat and a ticketing system. Additionally, it has an extensive knowledge base with guides, tutorials, and troubleshooting tips. You can also purchase the Advanced or Premium Support add-ons if you need priority support.
- Standard Support offers a live chat option only to resolve infrastructure or platform issues.
- Advanced Support offers a live chat option only with extra customization support. The advanced support pricing starts from $100/mo.
- Premium Support offers live chat and call options in which you can take help through calls for any type of technical issue. The premium support pricing starts from $500/mo.
The quality of support is generally good, with quick response times and knowledgeable staff ready to help with technical issues.
How to Point Your Domain to Cloudways
Following is the video tutorial that walks you through all the steps to point your domain to Cloudways. The video covers everything from finding your server’s IP address on Cloudways to updating your DNS settings with your domain registrar.
It also shows how to add your domain in the Cloudways dashboard and explains how to enable SSL for a secure connection. This step-by-step tutorial makes the process easy to follow, even if you’re new to web hosting. Watch the video to smoothly set up your domain with Cloudways!
Cloudways Money Back Guarantee
Cloudways provides a 3-day free trial with no credit card required. During this trial, you can test out the platform and see if it meets your needs.
For any payments made after the trial, Cloudways follows a pay-as-you-go model, which means you only pay for the resources you use each month. While there isn’t a traditional long-term money-back guarantee, you have the flexibility to cancel your account at any time, and you’ll only be charged for the time you’ve used the service.
Cloudways Addons
Cloudways offers the following add-ons that enhance the functionality of your hosting and make managing your website even easier.
1. Enterprise Cloudflare CDN
Cloudflare Enterprise is a powerful content delivery network (CDN) that speeds up your website and protects it from attacks. With this add-on, your site’s content is cached at multiple servers worldwide, so it loads faster for visitors no matter where they are. It also includes advanced security features to protect against online threats.
- Starting Price: $4.99/domain/mon
2. Cloudways SafeUpdates
SafeUpdates is a feature designed to make updating WordPress websites easier and safer. Keeping your website up-to-date is important for security and performance, but updates can sometimes break things or cause errors.
SafeUpdates helps prevent that by automatically taking a backup of your site before applying any updates. It then checks the website after the update to make sure everything is still working properly.
If the update causes any issues, SafeUpdates can roll back to the previous version, so your site stays online without any disruptions. It also allows you to schedule updates at a time that’s convenient for you, ensuring minimal impact on your site’s traffic.
In simple terms, SafeUpdates takes the worry out of updating your WordPress site by backing it up and testing the updates for you. This way, your site remains secure and running smoothly, even after updates.
- Starting Price: $3/app/mon
3. Malware Protection
The Malware Protection add-on from Cloudways helps keep your website safe from harmful software and online threats. Malware is like a virus for websites—it can cause damage, steal information, or make your site act strangely.
The Malware Protection add-on helps prevent this by regularly scanning your website for any signs of malware or suspicious activity.
If the add-on detects any potential threats, it notifies you immediately and can even remove the malware to ensure your website stays secure.
This means you don’t have to worry about your site getting hacked or infected because the add-on actively works to protect your data and keep everything running smoothly.
- Starting Price: $4/app/month
4. Rackspace Email
Need professional email hosting for your business? The Rackspace Email add-on allows you to set up custom email addresses (like you@yourdomain.com) and manage them easily. It provides reliable email service with spam filtering, making communication smoother.
- Starting Price: $1/mailbox/mon
5. DNS Made Easy
DNS Made Easy is a premium add-on service introduced by Cloudways to enhance the performance and reliability of DNS management for websites. It offers an enterprise-grade DNS solution, providing faster DNS query resolution, and ensuring that websites load more quickly and efficiently.
With a global network of DNS servers, DNS Made Easy minimizes downtime and ensures that your site remains accessible even during high traffic or attacks, thanks to its built-in DDoS protection and redundancy.
By utilizing this service, Cloudways users benefit from reduced latency, improved site stability, and enhanced security, all of which contribute to a seamless browsing experience for visitors.
- Starting Price: $0.50/month/domain
Cloudways Trustpilot Reviews
Cloudways has got 4.5-star ratings out of 5-star from a total of 2512 reviews on Trustpilot.
You can check and read all Cloudways reviews on Trustpilot from here.
Cloudways Pros and Cons
Pros
- Managed Hosting
- Flexible Cloud Providers
- Flexible Pay-As-You-Go Pricing
- Fast Load Times
- High Uptime
- Global Data Centers
- Easy Scalability
- Easy-To-Use Platform
- 1-Click Staging And Backups
- Strong Security Features With Regular Backups
- Multiple Cloud Providers To Choose From
- Free Website Migration
- 24/7 Support
- No Long-Term Contracts
Cons
- No Domain Registration
- No Built-In Email Hosting
- No Free CDN
Cloudways Free Trial
Cloudways offers 3 days of free access to their platform, and the best part is, you don’t need to provide a credit card to sign up. This means you can start the free trial with just your email address and explore all the features Cloudways offers.
During the trial, you can test the hosting environment, set up websites, and see how well Cloudways works for your needs. You’ll get to experience things like the user-friendly dashboard, server management, speed optimization, and 1-click app installations. It’s a perfect opportunity to see if Cloudways is the right fit for you before you commit to any payments.
If you decide to continue after the trial, you can upgrade to a paid plan and only pay for the resources you use. But if it’s not the right choice for you, you can simply let the trial expire, and there’s no obligation. It’s a hassle-free way to give Cloudways a test drive.
Cloudways vs. Other Hosting Providers
Cloudways stands out from other hosting providers in several key areas, particularly because it offers managed cloud hosting services that focus on flexibility, performance, and ease of use.
1. Managed Cloud Hosting vs. Traditional Hosting
Cloudways:
Cloudways specializes in managed cloud hosting, where you can choose to host your site on cloud infrastructure provided by major cloud platforms such as AWS (Amazon Web Services), Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, or Linode. Cloudways handles server management, including updates, security, and performance optimization, so you can focus on managing your websites and applications.
Traditional Hosting Providers:
Many hosting providers offer shared, VPS (Virtual Private Server), or dedicated hosting. In these cases, users may have to manage their servers or rely on support teams to handle technical tasks like updates, scaling, and performance optimizations. Traditional hosting can be less flexible than cloud hosting when it comes to scaling and resources.
2. Server Management and Ease of Use
Cloudways:
The platform simplifies cloud hosting by managing server-related tasks for users. Cloudways provides an intuitive control panel that offers one-click app installations, server scaling, security patches, backups, and performance monitoring. This level of automation reduces the need for technical expertise.
Other Hosting Providers:
Depending on the type of hosting, some providers (like VPS or dedicated hosting providers) require users to handle server management tasks themselves. For beginners, this can be complex, requiring manual server configurations or using command-line tools.
3. Cloud Infrastructure Providers
Cloudways:
Unlike other hosting companies that own their own infrastructure, Cloudways operates as a platform that connects users to major cloud infrastructure providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean. This allows for more flexibility in terms of the data center location, scalability, and infrastructure features.
Other Hosting Providers:
Traditional hosting companies usually own and manage their own servers in specific data centers. Some companies, especially smaller providers, may have limited locations or scalability compared to large cloud providers.
4. Scalability
Cloudways:
Cloudways excels in scalability because it uses cloud infrastructure. Users can easily scale their resources (CPU, RAM, storage) up or down based on traffic and usage needs, often with just a few clicks. This is ideal for websites that experience variable traffic.
Other Hosting Providers:
Shared and VPS hosting plans from traditional providers may have limits on scalability. Upgrading resources often requires moving to a different plan or server, which can lead to downtime or increased complexity.
5. Pricing Model
Cloudways:
Cloudways offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model. Users pay only for the resources they consume, which can make it more cost-effective for certain types of applications and websites with fluctuating traffic.
Other Hosting Providers:
Traditional hosting providers often use fixed pricing tiers, where you pay a set fee regardless of the actual usage. For small websites, this might be more predictable, but for larger or more variable traffic websites, it can be less cost-efficient.
6. Performance Optimization
Cloudways:
Cloudways emphasizes performance with features like built-in caching, a content delivery network (CDN) integration, and optimized server configurations for speed. The use of SSD storage and cloud infrastructure also boosts performance.
Other Hosting Providers:
Performance can vary depending on the type of hosting. Shared hosting is typically slower because resources are shared among many users. VPS or dedicated hosting may offer better performance, but optimization may depend on the user’s expertise in server management.
7. Security
Cloudways:
Cloudways includes advanced security features like dedicated firewalls, automated backups, two-factor authentication (2FA), and free SSL certificates. The platform regularly updates servers with security patches and handles security management for users.
Other Hosting Providers:
Many hosting providers offer basic security features like SSL and backups, but advanced security measures may require manual configuration or come as paid add-ons. Users may also need to take additional steps to secure their servers.
8. Support and Maintenance
Cloudways:
Cloudways provides 24/7 customer support through live chat, a ticketing system, and a knowledge base. Their managed service means they handle much of the server maintenance for you, which can be an advantage for users who don’t want to deal with technical aspects.
Other Hosting Providers:
While many traditional hosting providers offer support, the quality and responsiveness of customer support can vary. Some may offer managed services, but others may require users to handle more technical issues themselves or upgrade to a higher tier for full support.
Cloudways vs. Competitors: Summary
Cloudways | WP Engine | Kinsta | |
---|---|---|---|
Hosting Type | Managed Cloud Hosting | Managed WordPress Hosting | Managed WordPress Hosting |
Cloud Infrastructure | Google Cloud, AWS, DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode | Google Cloud, AWS | Google Cloud |
Pricing Model | Pay-as-you-go, Flexible | Fixed Pricing | Fixed Pricing |
Uptime | 99.99% | 99.99% | 99.99% |
TTFB (Server Response) | 200-300 ms | 200-400 ms | 200-300 ms |
Page Load Time | 1-2 seconds | 1-2 seconds | 1-2 seconds |
Scalability | Seamless scaling | Seamless scaling | Seamless scaling |
Global Data Centers | 65+ locations | 20+ locations | 35+ locations |
Caching Mechanisms | Advanced caching | Advanced caching | Advanced caching |
Backups | Automatic daily backups | Automatic daily backups | Automatic daily backups |
Key Differentiators | Choose from multiple cloud providers; cost-effective pay-as-you-go pricing | Advanced WordPress features, integrated dev tools | Fast autoscaling and excellent performance with GCP |
Starting Price | $11/mo | $20/mo | $30/mo |
Get Cloudways | Get WP Engine | Get Kinsta |
Is Cloudways the Right Choice for You?
Cloudways is an excellent choice if you want:
- Faster website performance and reliable uptime.
- Flexible hosting plans that can scale with your website’s growth.
- User-friendly dashboard and managed hosting services to simplify your workload.
Cloudways Alternative
The following are the best alternatives to Cloudways,
FAQs on Cloudways Managed Hosting
Is Cloudways still good?
Yes, Cloudways remains a solid choice for hosting due to its flexibility, performance, and ease of use. It offers managed cloud hosting with top cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode, and it’s known for excellent speed, scalability, and security features. Cloudways consistently receives positive reviews for its managed services and user-friendly interface.
What are the disadvantages of Cloudways?
Some potential disadvantages include:
- No domain registration: Cloudways does not provide domain registration services, so you will need to register your domain elsewhere.
- No email hosting: Email hosting isn’t included by default, though third-party services like Rackspace can be integrated.
- Complex pricing: The pay-as-you-go model can be confusing for beginners who prefer flat-rate pricing.
- Not a traditional cPanel: Cloudways uses its own control panel, which may take time to get used to if you’re accustomed to traditional cPanel hosting.
Is Cloudways good for beginners?
Cloudways can be a good option for beginners who want the power of cloud hosting but don’t want to manage technical tasks. While it may not be as beginner-friendly as traditional shared hosting providers, the platform simplifies most of the cloud server management with an easy-to-use interface, one-click application installations, and automated server maintenance. Beginners with basic technical understanding should be able to navigate it after some initial learning.
Is Cloudways only for WordPress?
No, Cloudways supports multiple applications, not just WordPress. While it is popular for managed WordPress hosting, Cloudways also allows you to host other applications like Magento, Drupal, Joomla, Laravel, and custom PHP apps. It is a versatile platform suitable for various web applications.
Is Cloudways good for ecommerce?
Yes, Cloudways is excellent for ecommerce sites. It supports popular ecommerce platforms like Magento, WooCommerce, Prestashop, and others. The platform offers fast load times, optimized caching, scalable cloud infrastructure, and robust security features, all of which are crucial for ecommerce websites. Additionally, it allows for easy scaling as your online store grows.
Is Cloudways owned by DigitalOcean?
Yes, DigitalOcean owns Cloudways. In 2022, DigitalOcean acquired Cloudways for $350 million.
Which is better, DigitalOcean or Vultr on Cloudways?
Both DigitalOcean and Vultr are excellent cloud providers available on Cloudways. Which is better depends on your specific needs:
- DigitalOcean: Known for its simplicity, reliability, and widespread use, it is slightly cheaper and offers predictable performance.
- Vultr: Known for offering more data center locations and slightly better performance options (such as High-Frequency servers), Vultr may be a better choice for those looking for edge locations or advanced configurations.
Does Cloudways offer a free website migration service?
Yes, Cloudways offers a free website migration service for one website. Their support team assists you with migrating your site from your current hosting provider to Cloudways. For additional migrations, there may be a fee, but there are also DIY migration tools provided for those who wish to handle it themselves.
Does Cloudways offer a free trial?
Yes, Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial without requiring a credit card. During this trial, users can explore the platform, launch servers, and test applications before committing to a paid plan.
Is Cloudways secure?
Yes, Cloudways prioritizes security with features like dedicated firewalls, regular security patching, free SSL certificates, IP whitelisting, and two-factor authentication (2FA). Additionally, they offer managed security to protect your websites from potential threats.
Does Cloudways have a staging environment?
Yes, Cloudways offers a staging environment where you can test new features, plugins, and updates before deploying them to your live site. This ensures that changes won’t disrupt your website’s functionality.
Can I host multiple websites on Cloudways?
Yes, you can host multiple websites on a single Cloudways server. The platform supports multiple applications, making it easy to manage and deploy different websites from one dashboard.
What kind of support does Cloudways offer?
Cloudways provides 24/7 customer support through live chat and ticketing. Their support team is knowledgeable and can assist with various issues related to server management, application deployment, and more.
Final Words
Cloudways offers a powerful, flexible, and easy-to-use managed cloud hosting platform that’s suitable for many types of websites. Whether you’re a small business owner, a blogger, or running an e-commerce store, Cloudways can help you achieve better website performance, security, and scalability.
Get Cloudways Free Trial
If you’re ready to take your website to the next level, consider giving Cloudways a try – especially with the 3-day free trial that lets you test the platform risk-free.
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Cloudways Review 2024
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Summary
Cloudways’s managed cloud hosting services, multiple cloud providers, easy server management, automatic backups, and excellent performance make it an excellent choice for businesses looking for a secure and scalable hosting solution.
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