Cloudways Review: Is Managed Cloud Hosting Worth It for Your Website?
Cloudways puts your site on top-tier cloud infrastructure and handles the server work for you. Here is what it is, what it costs, what you get, and who it suits best.
Quick answer
Cloudways is worth it if you want faster, more scalable hosting than basic shared plans without managing a server yourself. You choose an infrastructure provider (DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS or Google Cloud), pay only for what you use, and get free SSL, free migration, backups and 24/7 support. It costs more than budget shared hosting and uses a free trial instead of a refund.
Cloudways Best for Scalable WordPress
- Choose your cloud provider
- Pay-as-you-go billing
- 3-day free trial, no card
- Free SSL certificates
- Free migration of first site
- Automated backups & staging
- Caching tools built in
- 24/7 support
What is Cloudways?
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform. Rather than owning servers, it adds a management layer on top of major cloud providers, handling server setup, security, updates and backups so you can focus on your website or application.
- Product type
- Managed cloud hosting platform
- Infrastructure choices
- DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS, Google Cloud
- Billing
- Pay-as-you-go, based on provider and server size
- Free trial
- 3 days, no credit card required
- Included extras
- Free SSL, free first-site migration, automated backups, staging
- Works with
- WordPress, WooCommerce, Laravel and other PHP apps
- Best for
- Growing sites, agencies, online stores and anyone outgrowing shared hosting
How much does Cloudways cost?
Cloudways uses pay-as-you-go pricing, so your bill depends on which infrastructure provider and server size you pick. Figures below are approximate entry prices and they change, so confirm current rates on the Cloudways site.
| Provider | Approx. Entry Price | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean POPULAR | ~$11/mo | Most WordPress sites | Lowest entry price, 3-day trial |
| Vultr | ~$14/mo | Faster NVMe-based options | High-frequency servers available |
| AWS | ~$37–39/mo | Large, demanding projects | Enterprise-grade scaling |
| Google Cloud | ~$37–39/mo | Large, demanding projects | Enterprise-grade scaling |
What features does Cloudways include?
Choice of cloud
Pick DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS or Google Cloud depending on your budget and performance needs.
Free SSL
Install a free SSL certificate with a click to secure your site from day one.
Free migration
The Cloudways team moves your first website from another host at no cost.
Backups & staging
Automated backups and staging environments let you test changes safely.
Caching & speed
Built-in caching tools help pages load quickly, and higher-tier servers add extras such as Object Cache Pro.
Support
24/7 support and monitoring on every plan, with premium support available for more help.
What are the pros and cons of Cloudways?
Pros
- Cloud performance without server management
- Flexible pay-as-you-go pricing
- Free trial with no credit card
- Free SSL and first-site migration
- Easy to scale up as traffic grows
Cons
- Costs more than basic shared hosting
- Trial instead of a standard refund
- No free plan, and email is a paid extra
- More technical than beginner shared hosting
Who should use Cloudways?
Good fit if you are…
- Outgrowing shared hosting and want faster pages
- Running a WordPress or WooCommerce site that needs room to scale
- An agency hosting several client sites
- Happy to pay for performance and managed servers
Look elsewhere if you…
- Want the cheapest possible hosting for a tiny site
- Need email and domain bundled in one plan
- Prefer a standard money-back guarantee
How does Cloudways compare with other hosts?
| Host | Strength | Approach | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudways | Managed cloud performance | Pay-as-you-go cloud | Scalable WordPress, stores |
| HostPapa | Beginner-friendly extras | Shared hosting bundle | Small business sites |
| InterServer | Price lock guarantee | Shared and slice-based VPS | Predictable bills |
| Contabo | High RAM per dollar | Unmanaged VPS | Developers |
Is Cloudways worth it?
For sites that have outgrown shared hosting, yes. You get cloud-level performance, hands-off server management and flexible billing, and the free trial lets you test it risk-free. If you only need a basic site at the lowest price, a shared host will cost less.
Cloudways: frequently asked questions
What is Cloudways?
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform. It adds a management layer on top of cloud infrastructure providers such as DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS and Google Cloud, so you get cloud performance without managing servers yourself.
How much does Cloudways cost?
Pricing is pay-as-you-go and depends on the infrastructure provider and server size. Entry plans on DigitalOcean start at roughly $11 per month, Vultr plans start slightly higher, and AWS or Google Cloud plans start at around $37 to $39 per month. Check Cloudways for current prices.
Does Cloudways have a free trial?
Yes. Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card required.
Does Cloudways offer a money-back guarantee?
Cloudways uses a free trial instead of a standard refund policy, so test the platform during the trial before paying.
Is Cloudways good for WordPress?
Yes. Cloudways is popular for WordPress and WooCommerce, with caching tools, staging, automated backups and one-click installs.
Is Cloudways beginner friendly?
It is easier than managing a raw cloud server because Cloudways handles the setup and maintenance, but it is a more technical platform than basic shared hosting.
Does Cloudways include free migration?
Yes. Cloudways migrates your first website for free from another host.
Does Cloudways offer email hosting?
Email is not part of the core hosting plan. Cloudways sells email as a separate add-on, so many users pair it with a dedicated email service.
What are Cloudways’ drawbacks?
It costs more than basic shared hosting and more than buying directly from the infrastructure provider. There is no free plan or standard refund, and email is a paid extra.