Analysis
Pros
- Quick support
- Excellent interface
- Easy setup
Cons
- Costly
When it comes to web hosting, businesses and website owners need reliable, scalable, and high-performing solutions to keep their online operations running smoothly. Cloudways has emerged as a major player in the cloud hosting space, offering a managed platform that simplifies cloud hosting for developers, agencies, eCommerce websites, and businesses of
all sizes. With a focus on performance, flexibility, and customer support, Cloudways takes a unique approach to hosting that combines the benefits of cloud infrastructure with ease of use.
This in-depth review will explore what makes Cloudways stand out, its key features, pricing, performance, and how it compares to other hosting providers. By the end of this review, you’ll have a clearer picture of whether Cloudways is the right choice for your web hosting
needs.
Overview
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that allows users to deploy web applications on a variety of cloud infrastructure providers. Launched in 2011, Cloudways provides a bridge between cloud hosting and managed hosting, making it easier for businesses to use cloud infrastructure without needing advanced technical expertise.
Instead of operating its own data centers, Cloudways partners with some of the leading cloud infrastructure providers, including DigitalOcean, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, Vultr, and Linode. This means that when you host with Cloudways, you’re technically using one of these providers’ cloud servers, but Cloudways manages everything for you, providing an easy-to-use interface and powerful tools to simplify server management.
According to Larry Ludwig, one of the biggest advantages of Cloudways is that it offers the power of cloud hosting combined with the convenience of managed hosting, giving users a lot of flexibility and control over their hosting environments without the hassle of handling everything manually.
Performance and Speed
One of the main reasons businesses and developers choose Cloudways is its focus on performance. The platform is designed to offer optimal website speed and uptime, regardless of the hosting plan you choose.
SSD-Based Servers
All servers on Cloudways are powered by Solid State Drives (SSD), which provide faster data read/write times compared to traditional HDDs. SSDs improve the overall performance of your website, reducing page load times and providing a smoother experience for visitors. Websites hosted on Cloudways typically load faster than those on traditional hosting platforms.
Cloud Infrastructure Partners
As mentioned earlier, Cloudways partners with top cloud infrastructure providers such as AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean. Each of these providers offers high-performing data centers, and Cloudways ensures that users benefit from the reliability and speed of these global infrastructures. Users can choose the data center closest to their target audience, which further enhances speed and reduces latency.
For example, Kripesh Adwani highlights that the ability to choose between multiple cloud providers and data center locations gives users greater flexibility when optimizing their site for speed and performance.
Built-In Caching Tools
Cloudways integrates several caching technologies that improve website performance. These include:
- Varnish: A web application accelerator that speeds up content delivery.
- Memcached: Reduces database load by caching frequently accessed data.
- Redis: Improves the performance of database-heavy websites by optimizing the retrieval of stored data.
- Nginx: Used as a reverse proxy to reduce server load and improve site speed.
In addition to these built-in caching options, Cloudways also offers an optimized CloudwaysCDN, which further enhances the delivery of your content by distributing it across multiple servers globally. This ensures that visitors can access your website quickly, regardless of location.
PHP 8 Support
Cloudways also supports PHP 8, the latest version of the PHP scripting language, which offers performance improvements over previous versions. Websites running on PHP 8 can process more requests per second, making them faster and more efficient.
Overall, Cloudways’ performance-enhancing features, combined with the flexibility to choose high-performing cloud infrastructure providers, make it a standout option for businesses that need reliable and fast hosting.
User Experience and Ease of Use
Despite its focus on cloud hosting, which can often be complex, Cloudways is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to users of all skill levels. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, the platform’s intuitive dashboard and automation tools make managing your website easy.
Easy Server Management
Cloudways provides a custom control panel that makes server management simple, even for users who are not technically inclined. Instead of relying on the standard cPanel or Plesk, Cloudways has developed its own interface that allows users to manage their servers, applications, and resources with ease. You can:
– Launch a new server in minutes.
– Manage multiple applications from a single dashboard.
– Monitor server performance and resource usage in real-time.
– Scale server resources as needed without migrating to a new server.
The platform offers a variety of pre-configured applications such as WordPress, Magento, Drupal, and Joomla, making it easy to deploy these popular content management systems (CMS) with just a few clicks. WPCrafter notes that Cloudways takes the complexity out of cloud hosting by automating tasks such as server setup, updates, and security patches.
Automated Backups
Another key feature of Cloudways is its automated backup system. Users can set up automatic backups at custom intervals, ranging from hourly to weekly, depending on their needs. This ensures that your data is always protected, and you can restore your website to a previous state if something goes wrong.
Additionally, users can perform on-demand backups anytime through the control panel, which is especially useful when making significant changes to your site or server.
Free Site Migrations
If you’re considering switching to Cloudways from another hosting provider, the platform offers free website migration for one website. This service is handled by Cloudways’ expert support team, ensuring that your site is moved without any downtime or data loss. Additional migrations are available at a fee, but many users have reported that the migration process is smooth and hassle-free.
Pricing and Plans for Cloudways Hosting
Cloudways follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which means that users only pay for the resources they use. Unlike traditional hosting providers, Cloudways doesn’t lock users into long-term contracts, allowing them to scale their resources as needed.
Cloud Infrastructure Providers and Pricing
Cloudways offers several cloud hosting options based on the provider you choose:
- DigitalOcean: Plans start at $10 per month for 1 GB of RAM, 1 CPU core, 25 GB of SSD storage, and 1 TB of bandwidth.
- Vultr: Plans start at $11 per month for 1 GB of RAM, 1 CPU core, 25 GB of SSD storage, and 1 TB of bandwidth.
- Linode: Plans start at $12 per month for 1 GB of RAM, 1 CPU core, 25 GB of SSD storage, and 1 TB of bandwidth.
- AWS: Plans start at $36.51 per month for 1.75 GB of RAM, 1 vCPU, 20 GB of SSD storage, and 2 GB of bandwidth.
- Google Cloud: Plans start at $33.30 per month for 1.7 GB, 1 vCPU, 20 GB of SSD storage, and 2 GB of bandwidth.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS): Plans start at $36.51 per month for 1.75 GB of RAM, 1 vCPU, 20 GB of SSD storage, and 2 GB of bandwidth.
Cloudways’ pay-as-you-go pricing model is one of its strongest points, as it allows users to start small and scale as needed without committing to a long-term contract. This flexibility is ideal for businesses or websites that experience fluctuating traffic or need extra resources during peak periods.
Cloudways also provides a free 3-day trial that allows new users to test the platform before committing to a paid plan. While the trial period is relatively short compared to other providers, it’s sufficient for users to assess whether Cloudways meets their performance and hosting requirements.
Additional Costs and Add-Ons
Cloudways offers several add-ons and premium features that users can purchase based on their needs. For example:
- CloudwaysCDN: Cloudways’ content delivery network can be added to your hosting plan for enhanced speed and performance across different regions. Pricing starts at $1 for the first 25 GB of bandwidth.
- Premium Support: While Cloudways provides 24/7 support through live chat and ticketing, users with more complex requirements may opt for Premium Support, which offers more direct access to Cloudways’ expert team, faster response times, and proactive monitoring. Premium support is available at an additional cost.
Cloudways Uptime and Performance
Cloudways provides exceptional dependability and uptime, with a track record of 99% uptime. While there is no uptime guarantee, Cloudways uses cutting-edge technologies such as MariaDB/MySQL, Varnish, Redis, Apache, PHP-FPM, Nginx, Memcached, and SSD storage to ensure maximum uptime and reliability.
Cloudways provides lightning-fast site response times in addition to its robust technology stack. This level of efficiency ensures that your site loads quickly and responds quickly to user requests, ultimately improving the user experience.
However, uptime is more than just technology; it is also about monitoring and proactive maintenance. That is why Cloudways employs website-monitoring tools to ensure that your site remains operational.
In addition to its rock-solid dependability, Cloudways provides WordPress-optimized tools to assist you in designing and configuring your site for maximum speed and functionality.
You can trust Cloudways to keep your site up and running when your clients and customers need it, delivering an exceptional user experience every time.
Cloudways provides lightning-fast site response times in addition to its robust technology stack. This level of efficiency ensures that your site loads quickly and responds quickly to user requests, ultimately improving the user experience.
However, uptime is more than just technology; it is also about monitoring and proactive maintenance. That is why Cloudways employs website-monitoring tools to ensure that your site remains operational.
In addition to its rock-solid dependability, Cloudways provides WordPress-optimized tools to assist you in designing and configuring your site for maximum speed and functionality.
You can trust Cloudways to keep your site up and running when your clients and customers need it, delivering an exceptional user experience every time.
Cloudways Security
Cloudways takes website security seriously and offers several built-in security features to ensure that your site is protected from malicious attacks and data breaches.
Free SSL Certificates
Every server hosted on Cloudways comes with a free SSL certificate powered by Let’s Encrypt. SSL certificates encrypt data between your website and its visitors, improving security and boosting trust with users. Cloudways also allows users to install custom SSL certificates if needed.
Dedicated Firewalls and IP Whitelisting
Cloudways servers are protected by dedicated firewalls, which filters traffic and prevent unauthorized access to your server. Additionally, the platform offers IP whitelisting, which allows users to restrict server access to specific IP addresses. This is particularly useful for developers and businesses that want to ensure only trusted IPs can access the backend of their website.
Two-Factor Authentication
To enhance account security, Cloudways offers two-factor authentication (2FA). This adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to verify their identity through a secondary device (such as a smartphone) before logging into their account.
Malware Protection and Regular Patching
Cloudways regularly updates its servers with the latest security patches and software updates to protect against vulnerabilities. Additionally, the platform integrates with MalCare for advanced malware protection, ensuring that your website remains safe from malware attacks and intrusions.
According to Kripesh Adwani, Cloudways’ proactive approach to security is one of the platform’s key strengths, making it suitable for businesses that prioritize the safety of their online assets.
Cloudways Support
Cloudways offers a range of customer support options to help users resolve any issues they may encounter.
24/7 Live Chat and Ticketing System
Cloudways provides 24/7 customer support via live chat, allowing users to get immediate assistance with any technical or account-related issues. The support team is knowledgeable and responsive, helping users troubleshoot problems or configure their servers.
For more complex issues, Cloudways also offers a ticketing system, where users can submit detailed queries and receive in-depth support. This system is ideal for users who need help with server configurations or custom setups.
Knowledge Base and Tutorials
In addition to live support, Cloudways provides an extensive knowledge base filled with articles, tutorials, and guides. These resources cover a wide range of topics, including server management, website optimization, security best practices, and more. Larry Ludwig emphasizes that Cloudways’ knowledge base is an excellent resource for users who prefer to troubleshoot issues on their own.
Customer Support
From experience and the reviews left by the users of Payment Depot, this merchant service provider supports its customers via:
24/7 Help & Support
24/7
customer Support is Available
Phone Support
Phone support
between 8 am and 5 pm on
weekdays.
Email support is available
and also 24/4 using contact
form on website
FAQ
Basic
FAQ section on website
Pros and Cons of Cloudways
Pros
- Flexible Cloud Hosting: Cloudways allows users to choose from five leading cloud infrastructure providers (AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode), giving them more control over their hosting environment.
- User-Friendly Interface: Despite offering cloud hosting, which can often be complex, Cloudways’ custom control panel is intuitive and easy to navigate, even for non-technical users.
- High Performance: With SSD storage, integrated caching solutions, and support for PHP 8, Cloudways provides fast load times and excellent performance.
- Pay-As-You-Go Pricing: Users only pay for the resources they use, with no long-term contracts or hidden fees.
- Robust Security Features: Cloudways offers free SSL certificates, firewalls, IP whitelisting, two-factor authentication, and regular patching to keep websites secure.
- Scalable: Cloudways allows users to easily scale their server resources (such as RAM, storage, and bandwidth) as their website grows or traffic spikes.
Cons
- No Email Hosting: Unlike some other hosting providers, Cloudways does not include email hosting as part of its packages. Users will need to purchase email services through third-party providers like Rackspace or Google Workspace.
- Limited Support for Beginners: While Cloudways offers 24/7 support, the platform may not be as beginner-friendly as traditional shared hosting services. Some users may require a steeper learning curve to manage their servers effectively.
- Paid Add-Ons: While Cloudways’ core services are robust, some essential features, such as a CDN or premium support, come at an additional cost, which could increase the overall price.
Who Should Opt for Cloudways?
Cloudways is the best option for anyone who is just starting out in the world of web hosting, whether they are a small business owner, entrepreneur, e-commerce provider, or anyone else. It’s a great option for anyone hoping to increase their online visibility because of the low cost and reliability of the services it offers.
One of Cloudways’ distinguishing features is its stable systems, which ensure that your website is always operational as it should be, resulting in increased revenue and satisfied customers. This is especially important for e-commerce businesses that rely on customer satisfaction and trust.
However, monetary value is not the only factor. Cloudways is also a favorite for individual websites like blogs due to its robust security options. To get their feet wet in the web hosting world, novices can’t go wrong with Cloudways, as it’s incredibly user-friendly and inexpensive.
In conclusion, Cloudways is an excellent choice for anyone looking for dependable, affordable web hosting, whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, e-commerce provider, blogger, or new to the world of web hosting.
One of Cloudways’ distinguishing features is its stable systems, which ensure that your website is always operational as it should be, resulting in increased revenue and satisfied customers. This is especially important for e-commerce businesses that rely on customer satisfaction and trust.
However, monetary value is not the only factor. Cloudways is also a favorite for individual websites like blogs due to its robust security options. To get their feet wet in the web hosting world, novices can’t go wrong with Cloudways, as it’s incredibly user-friendly and inexpensive.
In conclusion, Cloudways is an excellent choice for anyone looking for dependable, affordable web hosting, whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, e-commerce provider, blogger, or new to the world of web hosting.
Recent Cloudways Enhancements
Cloudways, the web hosting provider, constantly strives to improve its services to meet its users’ ever-changing needs.
One of the most recent enhancements is the ability to run PHP 8.1, which is easily accomplished through the user-friendly Cloudways control panel. You can confidently publish changes to your live server after cloning your server and testing for potential application issues.
Cloudways provides a safe update feature for WordPress users to ensure that your website remains in good standing with search engines. This feature detects and tests updates automatically, eliminating the possibility of internal errors or receiving unwanted 505 or 404 codes.
Cloudways, in addition to providing dependable web hosting, has recently launched an affiliate program through which business owners and entrepreneurs can earn up to $6,000 per month.
With two different commission structures, this program is ideal for those in the performance marketing or media publishing industries and anyone with a blog.
One of the most recent enhancements is the ability to run PHP 8.1, which is easily accomplished through the user-friendly Cloudways control panel. You can confidently publish changes to your live server after cloning your server and testing for potential application issues.
Cloudways provides a safe update feature for WordPress users to ensure that your website remains in good standing with search engines. This feature detects and tests updates automatically, eliminating the possibility of internal errors or receiving unwanted 505 or 404 codes.
Cloudways, in addition to providing dependable web hosting, has recently launched an affiliate program through which business owners and entrepreneurs can earn up to $6,000 per month.
With two different commission structures, this program is ideal for those in the performance marketing or media publishing industries and anyone with a blog.
Cloudways Web Hosting Review
After thoroughly examining Cloudways’ managed WordPress hosting services, we have concluded that this web host is undoubtedly one of the best on the market.
Its excellent pricing options, numerous add-ons, and high user ratings have earned it a well-deserved 4.4 rating. Cloudways unquestionably ranks among the top performers in terms of site functionality and dependability.
Cloudways stands out as a top-tier web host in terms of speed, scalability, uptime, and ability to handle high-traffic volumes. Unbeatable hosting services make it an excellent choice for websites that experience heavy traffic.
By choosing Cloudways, you can rest assured that your website will remain up and running smoothly. Additionally, Cloudways offers exceptional customer service and a plethora of impressive features on its platform, making it a superb option for web hosting.
Its excellent pricing options, numerous add-ons, and high user ratings have earned it a well-deserved 4.4 rating. Cloudways unquestionably ranks among the top performers in terms of site functionality and dependability.
Cloudways stands out as a top-tier web host in terms of speed, scalability, uptime, and ability to handle high-traffic volumes. Unbeatable hosting services make it an excellent choice for websites that experience heavy traffic.
By choosing Cloudways, you can rest assured that your website will remain up and running smoothly. Additionally, Cloudways offers exceptional customer service and a plethora of impressive features on its platform, making it a superb option for web hosting.
How Do Cloudways Compare to Competitors?
Cloudways vs. SiteGround
SiteGround is known for offering managed WordPress hosting with excellent performance and customer support. While both Cloudways and SiteGround provide strong hosting solutions, SiteGround operates its own infrastructure, whereas Cloudways allows users to choose from various cloud providers. Cloudways offers more flexibility and scalability, especially for users with specific performance needs or those looking to run non-WordPress websites.
Cloudways’ pay-as-you-go pricing model may be more cost-effective for users with varying traffic demands, whereas SiteGround’s pricing is subscription-based. However, SiteGround is often more user-friendly for beginners who want to avoid the complexities of managing cloud infrastructure.
Cloudways vs. Kinsta
Kinsta is another managed hosting provider that focuses exclusively on WordPress. Like Cloudways, Kinsta also leverages Google Cloud infrastructure to deliver high-performance hosting. However, Kinsta is more of an all-in-one managed solution that includes premium features, support, and email hosting as part of its plans, whereas Cloudways requires users to purchase add-ons for additional services such as email hosting.
Kinsta is often seen as a premium service compared to Cloudways, and its pricing reflects that. Cloudways is a more affordable option for those who don’t need all the extra features provided by Kinsta.
Cloudways vs DigitalOcean
While Cloudways uses DigitalOcean as one of its infrastructure providers, there is a significant difference between the two. DigitalOcean offers unmanaged cloud hosting, which means users are responsible for managing everything themselves, including server setup, security, updates, and backups. In contrast, Cloudways provides a managed solution on top of DigitalOcean’s infrastructure, making it easier for users to control their hosting environment without needing deep technical knowledge.
Cloudways is a great option for users who want the power of DigitalOcean but with added ease of use and management features, such as automatic backups, integrated caching, and free SSL certificates.
Conclusion
Cloudways is an excellent choice for businesses, developers, and agencies that need high-performing, scalable hosting without the complexity of managing cloud infrastructure. Its pay-as-you-go pricing, combined with the flexibility to choose from multiple cloud providers, makes it an attractive option for websites with fluctuating traffic or those requiring a custom hosting environment.
One of Cloudways’ main strengths is its ability to deliver high performance, thanks to SSD storage, built-in caching solutions, and global data centers. The platform is also highly secure, with free SSL certificates, firewalls, two-factor authentication, and malware protection included in every plan.
While Cloudways may not be as beginner-friendly as traditional shared hosting providers, its user-friendly control panel, automated backups, and 24/7 customer support make it accessible to users of all experience levels. Additionally, its ability to scale resources with just a few clicks makes it ideal for growing websites and businesses.
However, it’s important to consider the potential drawbacks, such as the lack of email hosting and the extra cost for add-ons like CDN or premium support. If you’re looking for an all-in-one managed solution with these features included, other hosting providers like Kinsta or WP Engine might be worth exploring.
In conclusion, Cloudways is a powerful and flexible hosting platform that delivers high performance and scalability for websites of all sizes. If you’re looking for cloud hosting with the convenience of managed services and customizable features, Cloudways is definitely worth considering for your web hosting needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Cloudways uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where users only pay for the resources they use. Pricing varies depending on the cloud provider you choose, such as DigitalOcean, AWS, or Google Cloud, starting at around $10 per month for basic plans.
Yes, Cloudways offers free website migration for one website. Additional migrations are available at a fee, but the initial service ensures a smooth transition without downtime.
Cloudways offers built-in security features like free SSL certificates, firewalls, IP whitelisting, two-factor authentication, and regular server patching to protect websites from potential threats.
