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Cloudways

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that simplifies cloud server management, offering flexibility and scalability for developers, agencies, and businesses.

Our take: Cloudways sits between raw cloud VPS and traditional shared hosting: you pick the underlying cloud provider, Cloudways handles server management, stack, caching, and backups.

Best forCloudways is suitable for developers, agencies, and businesses that require scalable, managed cloud hosting solutions without the need for extensive server management
ReviewedPricing: Free Trial
7.5 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try CloudwaysFrom $11/mo (DO Micro); 3-day free trial
The bottom line

The sweet spot for developers and agencies who want cloud flexibility without full DevOps overhead — at a price that scales honestly with usage.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

Community ratings

Shown for context only. Our score is independent.

G2
4.7 out of 5
1,100+ reviews
Capterra
4.2 out of 5
90+ reviews
Trustpilot
4.6 out of 5
3,600+ reviews

4.6 / 5 aggregate · across 3 sources

Third-party ratings shown verbatim; aggregate weighted by review volume.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isCloudways — managed cloud hosting platform abstracting DigitalOcean, AWS, GCP, Vultr, and Linode for developers and agencies.
Our takeCloudways sits between raw cloud VPS and traditional shared hosting: you pick the underlying cloud provider, Cloudways handles server management, stack, caching, and backups.
There is no permanent free tier, only a 3-day trial (no credit card required); entry pricing starts at $11/mo on a DigitalOcean Micro plan. The 2025 launch of Cloudways Autonomous adds a Kubernetes-based WordPress tier (from $99/mo) with true autoscaling and bundled Cloudflare Enterprise CDN.
Why we rate itCloudways nails the managed-cloud middle ground: real cloud infrastructure (choose your provider and region) with a polished control panel, one-click staging, free SSL, Object Cache Pro, and 24/7 support.
The 2025 Autonomous tier makes it a credible option even for high-traffic WordPress at scale.
The catchNo root server access limits advanced customisation; add-ons (email, malware, CDN, backups) accumulate fast; Autonomous bandwidth/disk overage charges can surprise growth-stage teams.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • Agencies managing multiple client WordPress or PHP sites
  • Developers who want cloud-provider choice without manual server ops
  • eCommerce or LMS teams needing autoscaling WordPress (Autonomous tier)
Not good for
  • Teams needing full root/SSH server control or custom OS config
  • Static sites or ultra-low-traffic projects (cheaper alternatives exist)
  • Enterprises with strict compliance requirements needing dedicated infra SLAs
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Fast: 3-day no-credit-card trial; first server and app deployable in under 10 minutes via the control panel.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    Autonomous bandwidth ($0.04/GB) and disk ($1/GB) overages bite at high-traffic scale; per-app add-on costs multiply across large agency portfolios.
  3. Walled garden
    Moderate: workloads run on standard cloud infra (DigitalOcean, AWS, etc.) so data is portable, but management workflows, staging, and caching are Cloudways-specific — migrating away requires re-establishing all ops tooling.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, try it on the official site.
Try Cloudways

A look inside

Cloudways product screenshot

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cloudways and what is it used for?

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that enables users to deploy, manage, and scale websites and applications on top of cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode. It focuses on performance, security, and ease of use.

How does Cloudways simplify website hosting?

Cloudways simplifies hosting by providing managed server infrastructure, automated backups, server-level caching, SSL management, monitoring tools, and one-click application deployment. Users can manage their websites without dealing with complex server configurations.

What features does Cloudways offer?

Cloudways offers managed hosting on multiple cloud providers, automated backups, staging environments, server-level caching (Varnish, Redis), SSL support, monitoring, team collaboration, and 24/7 support. These features ensure optimal website performance and security.

Is Cloudways suitable for beginners?

Yes, Cloudways is beginner-friendly due to its intuitive dashboard, guided setup, and automated server management. While basic technical understanding helps, even newcomers can launch and manage websites efficiently.

Who should use Cloudways and what benefits can they expect?

Cloudways is ideal for developers, agencies, freelancers, and businesses that need flexible, high-performance cloud hosting. Users can expect fast website speed, secure infrastructure, scalability, simplified server management, and reliable support, making it a convenient choice for managed cloud hosting.

Alternatives

  • Step up

    Cloudways Autonomous Enterprise (custom) or Kinsta for fully-managed WordPress with stricter SLAs.

  • Lighter alternative

    Vultr or DigitalOcean directly (raw VPS) for teams comfortable with server management, or Hostinger for budget shared hosting.

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Tags

#CloudHosting#Performance#ManagedHosting

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