CLOUDWAYS Review 2024 | Plans, Pricing, Features
Post is about Cloudways Review 2024, 2023
If you’re looking for a reliable and scalable hosting solution for your high-traffic WordPress website, Cloudways is definitely worth considering.
In this in-depth review, we’ll explore Cloudways’ features, performance, pricing, pros, cons, and more to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your needs.
Cloudways Hosting Plans and Pricing
One of the biggest advantages of Cloudways is the flexibility to choose your preferred cloud infrastructure from leading providers like DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultre, Google Cloud, and AWS.
This allows you to select the right configuration based on your website’s resource requirements.
Here’s an overview of the latest Cloudways pricing for each cloud provider:
DigitalOcean Cloud Hosting
DigitalOcean hosting on Cloudways starts at just $12 per month.
This entry-level plan includes:
- 1GB RAM
- 1 Core CPU
- 25GB SSD Storage
- 1TB Transfer
The highest DigitalOcean plan is $80 per month with:
- 8GB RAM
- 4 Core CPU
- 160GB SSD Storage
- 5TB Transfer
Linode Cloud Hosting
Linode hosting plans on Cloudways begin at $15 per month, including:
- 1GB RAM
- 1 Core CPU
- 25GB SSD Storage
- 1TB Transfer
The top-tier Linode plan is priced at $90 per month and provides:
- 8GB RAM
- 4 Core CPU
- 160GB SSD Storage
- 5TB Transfer
Vultr Cloud Hosting
You can get started with Vultr hosting for just $15 per month, which includes:
- 1GB RAM
- 1 Core CPU
- 25GB SSD Storage
- 1TB Transfer
The highest Vultr plan is $100 per month with:
- 8GB RAM
- 4 Core CPU
- 160GB SSD Storage
- 5TB Transfer
Google Cloud Hosting
Cloudways Google Cloud plans start at $33.30 per month, including:
- 1.7GB RAM
- 1 Core CPU
- 20GB SSD Storage
The top Google Cloud plan is $226.67 per month with:
- 13.75GB RAM
- 4 Core CPU
- 160GB SSD Storage
AWS Cloud Hosting
AWS hosting on Cloudways begins at $36.51 per month for:
- 1.75GB RAM
- 1 Core CPU
- 20GB SSD Storage
The highest AWS plan is $274.33 per month and provides:
- 16GB RAM
- 6.5 Core CPU
- 320GB SSD Storage
Best Cloud Hosting Provider
Cloudways gives you access to use leading Cloud services like AWS, Vultr, Linode, DigitalOcean and Google Cloud, all in one managed intuitive interface!
Key Features and Benefits
Cloudways offers a robust managed hosting solution tailored for high-traffic, performance-driven websites.
Here are some of its standout features:
Optimized for Speed and Scalability
Cloudways utilizes powerful cloud infrastructure to deliver excellent page load speeds and ability to scale seamlessly.
Its servers are fine-tuned to run WordPress sites with millions of monthly visitors without performance lags.
By spreading your workload across multiple servers, Cloudways ensures smooth functioning even during traffic surges.
This makes it suitable for sites anticipating rapid growth.
Intuitive Control Panel
The user-friendly Cloudways control panel enables you to manage your hosting environment without coding skills.
You can carry out various tasks like:
- Select PHP versions
- Manage databases
- Configure caching and content delivery network
- Set up staging sites
- Manage SSL certificates
For developers, SSH access allows configuring servers at code level for greater customization.
Enhanced Security
Cloudways secures all customer sites via features like two-factor authentication, firewall rules, VPN access, and more.
Automatic daily backups provide robust protection against data loss.
The platform also monitors sites 24/7 and provides instant alerts in case of downtime or suspicious activity.
Seamless Migrations
Cloudways offers free site migrations from your current host using advanced technology for minimum downtime.
This makes switching hosts effortless.
Round-the-Clock Support
Cloudways provides 24/7 support via live chat, Email, knowledge base, and an active community forum.
The support team promptly resolves issues related to Cloudways or your cloud provider.
Cloudways for High-Traffic WordPress Sites
With its optimized servers and ability to scale, Cloudways is an excellent choice for WordPress sites anticipating rapid growth and high traffic volumes.
Here’s how it can turbocharge your WP site’s performance:
Caching and CDN for Faster Page Loads
Cloudways enables activating Redis caching and integration with content delivery networks like BunnyCDN, Cloudflare, and StackPath.
Together, these minimize server requests and speed up static file delivery around the globe.
Your pages load almost instantly for visitors worldwide.
Streamlined WP Admin
The Cloudways control panel allows managing key WordPress tasks like staging sites, updating plugins/themes, and monitoring site health without accessing your WP admin.
Auto Healing and Scalability
The platform auto-scales your hosting resources to accommodate traffic spikes.
Server health is constantly monitored and issues are auto-resolved to prevent downtime.
These capabilities help your WP site stay stable and uninterrupted even during peak loads.
Managed WordPress Hosting
While Cloudways isn’t a full-fledged managed WP host, their Advanced WP support plan provides hassle-free maintenance with features like:
- Plugin/theme updates
- Daily backups
- Core updates
- Security monitoring
- Content management
This takes WordPress hosting to the next level.
Pros
Here are some of the key advantages of using Cloudways for your web hosting:
Flexible and Scalable Cloud Infrastructure
With the ability to choose your preferred cloud platform like DigitalOcean, Linode, Google Cloud, etc., you get flexibility combined with scalable resources.
This makes Cloudways ideal for businesses anticipating rapid growth.
Optimized Performance
Cloudways offers excellent page speed via optimized servers, content caching, CDN integration, and auto-healing capabilities.
This results in great user experience.
Intuitive Control Panel
The easy-to-use control panel enables you to manage hosting and key WordPress tasks without coding expertise.
Enhanced Security
Robust security features like firewalls, VPN access, backups, and 24/7 monitoring provide rock-solid protection against cyber threats.
Seamless Migrations
Cloudways makes switching hosts hassle-free by providing free site migrations with minimum downtime.
Excellent Technical Support
Cloudways offers 24×7 support via live chat, Email, knowledge base, and community forum to address issues promptly.
Dedicated IP Addresses
You can add dedicated IPs for enhanced configurations at just $2 per month.
Flexible Billing Cycles
Cloudways provides hourly, monthly, and annual billing cycles to suit different needs.
Easy to set up and manage WordPress sites:
Cloudways makes it simple to launch, manage and scale WordPress websites.
Supports multiple platforms:
Cloudways supports deployment on DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, Google Cloud etc. So you have flexibility in choosing your infrastructure.
Managed hosting platform:
Cloudways configures, monitors and manages the infrastructure and performance of your sites.
This removes the technical burden.
Built-in caching and CDN:
Cloudways offers integrated caching from Redis and CDN from BunnyCDN to help optimize site performance.
Free SSL certificate:
Cloudways provides free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt to secure sites.
Cloning and staging sites:
You can easily clone or create staging copies of sites to test changes.
Money-back guarantee:
Cloudways offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied.
Cons
However, there are a few potential downsides to evaluate:
Technical Expertise Required
Although the control panel simplifies management, you still require some technical knowledge for administration and configurations.
No Phone Support
Support is limited to Email, live chat, knowledge base, and forums. Cloudways does not offer phone support.
Limited Refund Policy
The refund policy only covers the first three days after purchase. So you have a short window to test drive and get a refund.
Can be more expensive than unmanaged VPS hosting for larger sites:
The managed hosting service does come at a premium.
Limited control and customization:
You don’t have full server access to customize configurations.
Must use Cloudways platform:
If you want to migrate away from Cloudways later, it may require some work.
No cPanel:
Cloudways does not provide cPanel access, so you manage sites through their dashboard.
Add-on costs can add up:
You pay extra for certain add-ons like backups, staging sites and high powered servers.
How Cloudways Compares To Other Popular Hosting Platforms
Cloudways vs Kinsta
What are the main differences between Cloudways and Kinsta?
Cloudways and Kinsta both focus on speed and security.
The main differences are that Cloudways offers more flexibility to choose your cloud infrastructure while Kinsta provides a fully managed WordPress hosting solution.
Cloudways runs on top of digitalocean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, and Google Cloud allowing you to choose.
Kinsta has its own infrastructure. Both provide SSD storage, CDN, SSL certificates, staging sites, and auto scaling.
Kinsta specializes in WordPress while Cloudways works with PHP, Ruby, Node.js apps.
Kinsta includes one-click WordPress installs, integrations, and automatic updates. Cloudways manages the server but not apps.
Overall Cloudways offers more infrastructure choice and app flexibility. Kinsta provides higher level WordPress-optimized hosting.
Cloudways vs SiteGround
How does Cloudways compare to SiteGround shared hosting?
The main difference is that SiteGround uses shared infrastructure while Cloudways runs on cloud hosting providers like DigitalOcean and Vultr.
With SiteGround, resources are shared with other customers on the same server which can impact performance.
Cloudways gives dedicated resources for predictable fast performance.
SiteGround manages everything including apps like WordPress. Cloudways handles the cloud server but you manage apps and scaling.
For flexibility, Cloudways is a better option. SiteGround shared plans are easier for basic websites.
Their cloud hosting plans can compete more directly with Cloudways.
Cloudways vs Bluehost
How is Cloudways different than using shared hosting from Bluehost?
The biggest difference is that Bluehost uses shared servers while Cloudways uses cloud infrastructure from DigitalOcean, Vultr, and others.
With Bluehost, websites use the same resources as hundreds of other sites causing performance issues. Cloudways provisions dedicated resources with better security and speed.
Bluehost includes things like one-click WordPress installs and managed WordPress.
With Cloudways, you have more flexibility and control but need to manage apps yourself.
For beginners, Bluehost shared hosting is simpler to start. For advanced users, Cloudways has better customization and scalability.
Cloudways vs WP Engine
What are the main differences in hosting WordPress sites on Cloudways versus WP Engine?
Cloudways and WP Engine both focus on fast, secure WordPress hosting.
WP Engine specializes specifically in WordPress while Cloudways allows hosting other apps like Laravel and Node.js.
WP Engine has a simpler interface and includes automated WordPress features like staging, updates, and migrations.
Cloudways has more infrastructure flexibility but less hand-holding.
For larger enterprises, Cloudways may be preferable for the ability to choose different infrastructure backends and scale higher.
WP Engine is ideal for sites focused solely on WordPress. Costs are competitive between both solutions.
Overall WP Engine offers an easier managed WordPress experience while Cloudways has more potential for complex deployments.
Cloudways vs DigitalOcean
How does hosting on Cloudways compare with using DigitalOcean Droplets directly?
Cloudways makes managing infrastructure faster by providing an intuitive interface, boot scripts, backups, and cloning.
On DigitalOcean you need to set up everything manually on your Droplets.
Cloudways also adds features like staging sites, managed databases, free SSL, and a CDN.
Using DigitalOcean Droplets requires doing this yourself or via add-ons.
That said, Cloudways has monthly fees while Droplets allow hourly billing. Complex Docker/Kubernetes deployments may still require Droplet usage.
And Droplets integrate into the full DigitalOcean platform.
Cloudways streamlines infrastructure management for PHP/Laravel sites.
But Droplets provide lower level access and billing flexibility.
Cloudways Review: Final Verdict
Cloudways delivers a robust cloud hosting solution ideal for WordPress sites with high traffic, security needs, and growth expectations.
The ability to utilize scalable cloud servers, CDN, and auto-scaling simplifies hosting high-volume sites.
Developers benefit from fine-grained server access and configuration functionalities.
While Cloudways has a steeper learning curve and higher costs compared to basic shared hosting, the performance gains and flexibility are worthwhile for professional use.
Overall, Cloudways is a top-tier cloud hosting platform suitable for performance-driven websites.
The ease of migrating to Cloudways combined with 24/7 expert support also makes it very appealing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cloudways offer free trials?
Yes, Cloudways offers a free 3-day trial that allows you to test their platform risk-free.
You only pay for the actual resources used during the trial period.
Can I transfer my existing site to Cloudways?
Absolutely! Cloudways provides free and easy site migrations from your current host. Their advanced migration technology minimizes downtime.
Is Cloudways suitable for eCommerce sites?
Yes, Cloudways can efficiently handle resource-intensive eCommerce sites built on platforms like WooCommerce.
The ability to add dedicated IPs also helps.
What content delivery network does Cloudways use?
Cloudways integrates with CDNs like BunnyCDN, KeyCDN, Cloudflare, and StackPath to speed up content delivery worldwide.
Does Cloudways offer phone support?
No, Cloudways does not offer phone support. Their customer support channels include live chat, Email, knowledge base articles, and community forums.
Hope this detailed Cloudways review helps you determine if it’s the right managed cloud hosting provider for your WordPress site!
Is Cloudways Worth It?
Cloudways is worth considering due to its fast performance, scalability, security features, and competitive pricing.
Key benefits include easy scaling of cloud infrastructure to handle traffic spikes, comprehensive security like free SSL certificates, dedicated firewalls and VPN access, and prices that can be 60% less than other managed hosting platforms.
The main downside is Cloudways requires more technical skill to set up and manage.
What Is Cloudways Best For?
Cloudways excels at managed hosting for WordPress and PHP apps.
The platform is optimized to achieve fast page load speeds which helps sites maximize conversions and customer experience.
Developers can easily clone staging sites for testing and QA.
The scalable infrastructure handles sudden traffic volume changes smoothly and prevents site crashes.
Is Cloudways Better Than SiteGround?
Cloudways and SiteGround both offer solid managed WordPress hosting options.
Cloudways provides more flexibility with the choice of various infrastructure providers like DigitalOcean and Linode.
It also scales seamlessly to accommodate higher traffic.
SiteGround provides an easier starter experience for novices, phone support, and better uptime guarantees.
For advanced developers, Cloudways is likely the better, more future-proof solution.
Is Cloudways Good For Beginners?
Cloudways enables fast deployment but does require comfort with technical administration to operate smoothly.
Beginners may find options like SiteGround less intimidating initially.
Though for intermediate and advanced users, Cloudways offers a robust platform to build upon with more customization and infrastructure control compared to other managed WP hosting providers.
Who Are The Competitors Of Cloudways?
Major competitors providing similar managed cloud hosting solutions include Kinsta, Pagely, Pantheon, and WPEngine among others.
Shared hosts like Bluehost or specialized WordPress optimizing hosts like SiteGround also compete for website projects.
The field remains fairly fractured with no single dominant provider.
Is Cloudways Better Than GoDaddy?
Cloudways easily beats GoDaddy when it comes to performance and meeting the needs of more advanced developers.
Benefits include faster page loads, more scalability, and support for more platforms like Magento.
GoDaddy remains an option for novices that need basic shared hosting and starter websites though their managed WordPress plans still lag behind Cloudways’ offerings.
For professional-grade hosting, Cloudways is superior.
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