Cloudways and Kinsta are the most popular for their speed, reliability, and user-friendly features, but they cater to different types of users.
Cloudways is known for its flexibility. It lets you choose from several cloud providers, such as AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode offers pay-as-you-go pricing, and includes advanced tools for developers.
On the other hand, Kinsta focuses on simplicity. It provides an all-in-one fully managed WordPress hosting solution with excellent support and a global network of servers designed for speed and ease of use.
This article will explain the main differences between Cloudways and Kinsta in simple terms so you can choose the one that best fits your needs, whether you’re running a personal blog or a business website.
Let’s start differentiating Cloudways vs Kinsta.
Cloudways vs. Kinsta 2025: Summary
| Feature | Cloudways | Kinsta |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Type | Cloud-based hosting with multiple provider options (AWS, GCP, Linode, DigitalOcean, Vultr) | Fully managed WordPress hosting using Google Cloud |
| Free Domain | No | No |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Dashboard | Custom | Custom |
| Storage | 25 GB | 10 GB |
| Performance | Highly scalable infrastructure, supports auto-healing servers, and offers choice of multiple clouds | Optimized for WordPress, uses Google Cloud’s premium tier for speed and reliability |
| Data Centers | 65+ Globally (covering USA, Europe, Asia, Africa, and more) | 37 Globally (focused on high-performance Google Cloud locations) |
| Speed Optimization | Offers caching solutions like Breeze and Varnish; integrates Cloudflare Enterprise (optional) | Built-in caching via Kinsta Cache, Cloudflare Enterprise CDN included |
| Security Features | Free SSL, dedicated firewalls, two-factor authentication, and bot protection | Free SSL, DDoS protection, automatic backups, Cloudflare integration, and proactive monitoring |
| Email Hosting | Not included; requires a third-party email service (e.g., Rackspace or G Suite) | Not included; email hosting must be configured separately |
| Backups | Automated daily backups with on-demand backups available | Automatic daily backups, optional hourly backups (extra cost), external backups supported |
| Uptime | Dependent on the chosen cloud provider; high reliability reported | Excellent uptime due to Google Cloud infrastructure and proactive monitoring |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat, ticketing system, and optional advanced support add-ons | 24/7 live chat with WordPress experts; extensive knowledgebase |
| Free Website Transfer | 1 Free website transfer | Yes (Unlimited) |
| Banned Plugins | No restrictions on plugins, providing flexibility | Bans specific plugins that duplicate built-in functionalities like caching and security |
| Staging Environment | Offers staging for all plans, allowing easy testing and deployment | Provides staging with 1-click tools through the MyKinsta dashboard |
| Ease of Use | Custom control panel designed for multi-cloud management | Proprietary MyKinsta panel designed specifically for WordPress users |
| CDN | Yes (Free Cloudflare), and Optional integration with Cloudflare Enterprise or other CDNs | Free built-in Cloudflare Enterprise CDN |
| Target Audience | Developers, Tech-savvy users, Agencies managing diverse applications | WordPress-centric businesses, WooCommerce stores, Users preferring simplicity |
| Free Trial/Guarantee | Free trial available for 3 days (limited setup); no money-back guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Scalability | Vertical scaling available (may require server cloning for some providers) | Easy scaling via dashboard without downtime |
| Pricing | Fixed and Flexible pay-as-you-go pricing Starting Price: $11/mo | Fixed pricing Starting Price: $35/mo |
| Detailed Review Link | Cloudways Review | Kinsta Review |
| Competitors | Top Cloud Hosting Providers | Top Managed WordPress Hosting Providers |
Cloudways vs. Kinsta | A Detailed Comparison
Speed and Performance
➯ Cloudways
It uses ThunderStack technology, combining NGINX, Varnish, Apache, and Redis to optimize server performance. Through its cloud partners, you also get access to SSD storage and more than 65 data centers globally. With Cloudflare Enterprise CDN, site speed is further enhanced, especially for visitors from different regions.
➯ Kinsta
It is powered by Google Cloud Platform’s premium tier and delivers consistently fast performance. Its servers are equipped with C2 machines for high-speed processing. Kinsta’s in-house caching (including page, database, and object caching) minimizes load times, and its CDN by Cloudflare ensures rapid content delivery worldwide.
Read also: 15 Effective Ways to Speed Up Your WordPress Website
Email Hosting
➯ Cloudways
It does not provide built-in email hosting. However, you can integrate third-party services like Rackspace Email for professional email solutions. Cloudways offers Rackspace Email add-on at $1/mailbox/mo.
➯ Kinsta
Here also, you won’t get email hosting. Users need to rely on external providers such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
Uptime
➯ Cloudways
It partners with top-tier cloud providers like AWS and DigitalOcean, ensuring high uptime. While it does not offer specific uptime guarantees, its infrastructure reliability minimizes downtime.
➯ Kinsta
It provides a 99.9% uptime SLA backed by Google Cloud’s robust network. Automatic server health checks every 2 minutes help proactively address potential issues.
Data Centers
➯ Cloudways
It allows you to choose from over 65 data centers across five major cloud providers. This flexibility means you can host your site close to your target audience for better speed.
DigitalOcean Data Centers:
Vultr Data Centers:
Linode Data Centers:
AWS Data Centers:
Google Cloud Data Centers:
➯ Kinsta
It offers fewer data centers (35+) but strategically places them through Google Cloud’s premium network. This setup ensures top-notch connectivity and low latency.
Kinsta Managed WordPress Hosting Data Centers:
Kinsta Application and Database Hosting Data Centers:
CDN
➯ Cloudways
It offers Cloudflare Enterprise CDN which improves performance by delivering content from the nearest server. It’s optional but affordable, making it suitable for smaller budgets.
➯ Kinsta
It includes Cloudflare CDN for free with all plans. This integration not only boosts speed but also adds security features like DDoS protection.
Read also: Top 10 CDN Providers
Website Transfer
➯ Cloudways
It offers one free site migration with expert assistance. Additional migrations are chargeable, but it’s Migrator Plugin allows DIY transfers for WordPress sites.
➯ Kinsta
Kinsta offers unlimited free premium migrations handled by its team. The process ensures a smooth transfer without downtime.
Data Backup
➯ Cloudways
It provides automatic backups with flexible scheduling. You can set backups to run every hour to once a week, and restoring them is simple. If you want offsite backup then it will cost you $0.033/GB per server.
➯ Kinsta
It includes daily automatic backups across all plans, with the option to create manual backups. Premium add-ons allow for hourly backups, ideal for dynamic sites. The backup retention period is from 14 to 30 days according to the plan.
Website Staging
➯ Cloudways
It allows one-click staging environments where you can test changes before going live. All the staging applications will be SSL enabled.
➯ Kinsta
It offers a more seamless staging experience. You can push changes from staging to live with a single click, making it perfect for developers and agencies. Each plan contains the same number of staging environments as WordPress installs count.
Kinsta also offers premium staging environments where you can add up to 5 premium staging environments. Premium staging environments are more powerful compared to standard staging environments. The premium staging environments pricing is $20 per month/environment.
Banned Plugins
➯ Cloudways
It has no strict list of banned plugins but recommends avoiding certain caching plugins to prevent conflicts with its built-in caching features.
➯ Kinsta
It maintains a list of banned plugins, primarily those that duplicate built-in features (like caching or backups) or negatively impact performance.
Following is the list of only a few banned plugins. You can check here for a complete list of banned plugins and details.
| Caching Plugins | Backup Plugins | Performance Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| WP Rocket LiteSpeed Cache Cache Enabler | All-in-One WP Migration BackupBuddy BackWPup Duplicator Pro Snapshot WP DB Backup WP DB Backup Made | Better WordPress Minify P3 Profiler WordPress GZIP Compression: JCH Optimize |
Customer Support
➯ Cloudways
It offers 24/7 live chat support and a ticketing system. For more advanced support, you can get an add-on. Cloudways offers two paid add-ons for advanced support: Advanced and Premium. The pricing is $100/mo and $500/mo respectively.
Following is the comparison of one free and two paid advanced support add-on features.
➯ Kinsta
It delivers 24/7 support through live chat, backed by WordPress experts. Its multilingual support team is highly praised for resolving complex issues quickly. The support is available in the following 5 languages.
- English
- Italian
- French
- Portuguese
- Spanish
Dashboard
➯ Cloudways
Cloudways dashboard is designed for flexibility, offering detailed server and application controls, making it a favorite among developers.
Following is a view of Cloudways application management. You can access files of any application using SFTP. You don’t have direct access to the files.
➯ Kinsta
Following is the MyKinsta dashboard, which is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate. It provides features like analytics, resource usage tracking, and simple staging options.
Kinsta dashboard is much easier than the Cloudways dashboard.
Security
➯ Cloudways
Following is the list of security features that you will get with all Cloudways hosting plans.
- Server Level Firewall (powered by Imunify 360)
- Monitor Login Attempts (using Fail2ban)
- IP & Country Allow/Block
- Vulnerability Scanner
- Bruteforce Protection
- Bot Protection
- DoS Protection (SSH + HTTP)
- Malware Scanning
- Server & App Monitoring
- Auto-Healing Servers
- Web Honeypot to Detect and Trap Malicious Bots
- Layer 3 & 4 DDoS mitigation
- Regular Security Patches & Updates
- Two-factor Authentication
➯ Kinsta
Following is the list of security features that you will get with all Kinsta hosting plans.
- GCP’s IP-based Protection Firewall
- Cloudflare’s Enterprise-Level Firewall
- DDoS Protection
- Google Cloud Platform’s Premium Network
- Wildcard SSL
- HTTP/3 Support
- Free SSH Access
- Proactive Hack Prevention
- Regular Uptime Checks (480 Times Daily for Uptime)
- Two-factor authentication
- Automatic Backups
- Hack Fix Guarantee
- Geo-IP Blocking
- Isolated LXC Containers
Cloudways vs Kinsta: Global Customer Review
Customer Feedback
Cloudways
Check below the feedback of reddit users for Cloudways.
Kinsta
Check below the feedback of reddit users for Kinsta.
Trustpilot Reviews
Cloudways
Kinsta
G2 Reviews
Cloudways
Kinsta
Cloudways vs Kinsta: Plans and Pricing
Cloudways Plans
| Plan | RAM | Processor | Storage | Bandwidth | Price Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean | |||||
| DO1GB | 1 GB | 1 Core | 25 GB | 1 TB | $11 /mo |
| DO2GB | 2 GB | 1 Core | 50 GB | 2 TB | $24 /mo |
| DO4GB | 4 GB | 2 Core | 80 GB | 4 TB | $46 /mo |
| DO8GB | 8 GB | 4 Core | 160 GB | 5 TB | $88 /mo |
| VULTR | |||||
| Vultr1GB | 1 GB | 1 Core | 25 GB | 1 TB | $14 /mo |
| Vultr2GB | 2 GB | 1 Core | 55 GB | 2 TB | $28 /mo |
| Vultr4GB | 4 GB | 2 Core | 80 GB | 3 TB | $54 /mo |
| Vultr8GB | 8 GB | 4 Core | 160 GB | 4 TB | $99 /mo |
| Linode | |||||
| Lin1GB | 1 GB | 1 Core | 25 GB | 1 TB | $14 /mo |
| Lin2GB | 2 GB | 1 Core | 50 GB | 2 TB | $28 /mo |
| Lin4GB | 4 GB | 2 Core | 80 GB | 4 TB | $59 /mo |
| Lin8GB | 8 GB | 4 Core | 160 GB | 5 TB | $105 /mo |
| AWS | |||||
| AWS Small | 2 GB | 2 Core | 20 GB | 2 GB | $38.56 /mo |
| AWS Medium | 4 GB | 2 Core | 20 GB | 2 GB | $91.84 /mo |
| AWS Co Large | 4 GB | 2 Core | 20 GB | 2 GB | $164.50 /mo |
| AWS Large | 8 GB | 2 Core | 20 GB | 2 GB | $183.22 /mo |
| Google Cloud | |||||
| GCE Small | 1.75 GB | 1 Core | 20 GB | 2 GB | $37.45 /mo |
| GCE Medium | 3.75 GB | 1 Core | 20 GB | 2 GB | $84.12 /mo |
| GCE Large | 7.5 GB | 2 Core | 20 GB | 2 GB | $152.14 /mo |
| GCE XL | 15 GB | 4 Core | 20 GB | 2 GB | $241.62 /mo |
Cloudways Add-ons Pricing
- Enterprise Cloudflare CDN: $4.99/domain/mo
- Cloudways SafeUpdates: $3/app/mo
- Malware Protection: $4/app/mo
- Rackspace Email: $1/mailbox/mo
- Advance Support: $100/mo
- DNS Made Easy: $0.50/month/domain
Kinsta Plans
Note: The following pricing is for the monthly subscription. If paid annually then you will get 2 months free.
| Plan | Websites | Visits | Storage | CDN | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-site plans | |||||
| Single 35k | 1 Site | 35,000 | 10 GB | 150 GB | $35 /mo |
| Single 65k | 1 Site | 65,000 | 10 GB | 250 GB | $50 /mo |
| Single 125k | 1 Site | 125,000 | 10 GB | 500 GB | $90 /mo |
| Single 315k | 1 Site | 315,000 | 10 GB | 750 GB | $170 /mo |
| Single 500k | 1 Site | 500,000 | 15 GB | 1000 GB | $290 /mo |
| Multiple-site plans | |||||
| WP 2 | 2 Sites | 70,000 | 20 GB | 250 GB | $70 /mo |
| WP 5 | 5 Sites | 125,000 | 30 GB | 500 GB | $115 /mo |
| WP 10 | 10 Sites | 315,000 | 40 GB | 750 GB | $225 /mo |
| WP 20 | 20 Sites | 500,000 | 50 GB | 1000 GB | $340 /mo |
| WP 40 | 40 Sites | 750,000 | 60 GB | 1500 GB | $450 /mo |
Kinsta Add-ons Pricing
- PHP memory: $50 /site /mo
- External backups: $2 /site /mo + $1 /GB Bandwidth
- Extra backups for Every 6 Hours: $20 /site /mo
- Extra backups for Every Hour: $100 /site /mo
- Premium staging environments: $20 /mo /environment
- Redis caching: $100 /site /mo
- Reverse proxy: $50 /site /mo
- Disk space: $20 for 20 GB/mo
- Additional WordPress sites: $30 /site /mo
Cloudways vs Kinsta: Which to Choose in 2025?
Why You Should Choose Cloudways?
- Affordable pay-as-you-go pricing model.
- Host unlimited websites on any plan.
- Multiple cloud providers (AWS, GCP, DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode).
- Highly customizable server settings.
- Supports multiple platforms beyond WordPress.
- Offers developer-friendly tools like SSH, Git, and staging environments.
- Broad global coverage with over 65 data center locations.
- Advanced features like two-factor authentication, bot protection, and auto-healing servers.
- Free Object Cache Pro with all plans except DO standard basic.
- Free trial available for 3 days.
Disadvantages of Choosing Cloudways
- No email hosting is included.
- Requires technical expertise for optimal use.
- Lacks a traditional money-back guarantee.
- Proactive monitoring is available only as an add-on.
- The user interface can be overwhelming for beginners.
Why You Should Choose Kinsta?
- Built-in edge caching and Cloudflare Enterprise CDN are included for free.
- Fully managed WordPress hosting with excellent performance and speed.
- Superior security with proactive monitoring, enterprise-grade firewalls, and DDoS protection.
- User-friendly MyKinsta dashboard designed specifically for WordPress.
- High-quality support from WordPress experts is available 24/7.
- Easy scalability without downtime.
- 37 data centers worldwide through Google Cloud’s premium network.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
Disadvantages of Choosing Kinsta
- Fixed pricing plans may be expensive for small-scale users.
- Restricted to WordPress-only hosting.
- Limited plugin flexibility due to banned plugins.
- No email hosting is included.
- Overages may incur additional charges.
Discount Offers
Cloudways
You can get 20% OFF on your first invoice using the promo code “wpressblog“. Here is the detailed guide on “How to use Cloudways promo code“. Cloudways also offers huge discounts on the Black Friday sale.
Kinsta
Currently, Kistsa offers the first month free on all hosting plans whether it is monthly or annual. You can learn more about the Kinsta discount offers here. Kinsta also offers a 50% discount during the Black Friday sale.
Alternatives to Cloudways and Kinsta
Following are the best alternatives to Cloudways and Kinsta
FAQs
Cloudways offers managed cloud hosting where users can select from providers like AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode, or Vultr. It is designed for flexibility, allowing developers and businesses to manage various applications, not just WordPress. Kinsta, on the other hand, focuses exclusively on fully managed WordPress hosting. It is optimized for WordPress sites and uses Google Cloud’s premium-tier network to deliver high performance and reliability.
Kinsta is built for WordPress optimization and provides features like built-in caching, Cloudflare Enterprise CDN, and high-performance Google Cloud C2 machines, making it an excellent choice for speed. Cloudways offers comparable performance through its integration with top cloud providers, server-side caching, and optional Cloudflare Enterprise add-ons. The performance on Cloudways largely depends on the chosen cloud provider and user configurations.
Neither Cloudways nor Kinsta provides built-in email hosting. Users must rely on third-party solutions like Google Workspace, Zoho Mail, or Rackspace to manage their emails.
Kinsta provides 24/7 live chat support with WordPress experts and offers a well-maintained knowledge base for self-help. Cloudways also offers 24/7 live chat and a ticketing system, with the option to upgrade to premium support plans for quicker resolutions and expert assistance.
Cloudways does not restrict plugin usage, allowing users full flexibility to install any plugin they want. Kinsta, however, bans certain plugins that overlap with its built-in features, such as caching and backup plugins, to ensure optimal performance and security.
Cloudways offers vertical scaling options, but scaling may require server cloning for some cloud providers. Kinsta provides a straightforward scaling process via its user-friendly dashboard, enabling users to upgrade plans without downtime, which makes it particularly attractive for non-technical users.
Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial, allowing users to test its features, though it lacks a money-back guarantee. Kinsta, in contrast, provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving users more time to evaluate its services risk-free.
Cloudways is highly developer-friendly, offering tools like SSH access, Git integration, multiple PHP versions, and a custom control panel for multi-cloud management. Kinsta also supports developers with SSH, Git, WP-CLI, and a staging environment, and provides DevKinsta for local development. Both platforms cater well to developers, but Cloudways offers broader flexibility for non-WordPress projects.
Both platforms prioritize security. Cloudways includes features like dedicated firewalls, bot protection, two-factor authentication, and auto-healing servers, with optional proactive monitoring as an add-on. Kinsta provides advanced security with Cloudflare Enterprise integration, free SSL, daily backups, proactive threat detection, and automatic fixes for vulnerabilities.
Cloudways uses a fixed (starting at $11/mo) and flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model based on the selected cloud provider, making it suitable for diverse budgets. Kinsta follows a fixed-tier pricing model, starting at $35/month with additional charges for resource overages. The pricing structure reflects Kinsta’s focus on fully managed WordPress hosting.
Cloudways is ideal for users who need flexible hosting options, support for various platforms beyond WordPress, and a cost-effective pricing model. It suits tech-savvy developers, agencies managing multiple applications, and businesses requiring customizable cloud setups.
Kinsta is best for businesses and individuals focused solely on WordPress hosting. It is perfect for those who want a simple, fully managed solution with excellent performance, security, and a user-friendly interface.
Cloudways provides access to over 65 data centers worldwide across multiple cloud providers, ensuring extensive geographic coverage. Kinsta leverages 37 Google Cloud data centers globally, focusing on performance and reliability for WordPress sites.
Cloudways lacks built-in email hosting and a money-back guarantee. Additionally, its interface and setup process may be challenging for beginners or non-technical users.
Kinsta’s fixed pricing and WordPress-only hosting limit its appeal to users seeking flexibility or hosting for non-WordPress applications. Plugin restrictions can also be a downside for users who rely on specific tools.
Final Words
If you need flexibility, control over your cloud infrastructure, and support for multiple platforms beyond WordPress, Cloudways might be the better choice. It offers cost-effective pricing, a variety of cloud provider options, and a high degree of customization. However, it may require more technical know-how, and some advanced features come as add-ons.
On the other hand, if you’re focused exclusively on WordPress and prefer a fully managed solution with excellent performance, security, and a user-friendly interface, Kinsta is a great option. With superior customer support, a specialized control panel, and seamless integration with Google Cloud, it’s perfect for businesses and developers who want a hassle-free hosting experience for WordPress sites.
Ultimately, Cloudways is ideal for those who need flexibility, while Kinsta excels in managed WordPress hosting.
Check out other managed WordPress hosting comparisons,
The article provides a detailed comparison between Cloudways and Kinsta, highlighting their features, performance, pricing, and customer support. It is informative and can be helpful for individuals or businesses looking to choose between the two hosting platforms.
Hay,Thanks for sharing enough information. Really very informative content. Thanks
You are welcome!
Thanks for sharing this information.
Thanks!The article offers a detailed comparison of Cloudways and Kinsta, highlighting Cloudways’ flexibility and pay-as-you-go pricing for developers, while showcasing Kinsta’s fully managed WordPress hosting with strong performance and security for hands-off users.
Wonderful post! Keep up the good writing. Thanks for sharing with us!