Cloudways Review Cloudways’ user-friendly custom control panel simplifies the website building process for users who are not familiar with command lines and are new to the concept. Despite offering various one-click integrations, Cloudways falls behind some of its major competitors.
In general, Cloudways is a cloud-based hosting company that excels in providing a harmonious combination of reasonable pricing and an extensive range of features. By collaborating with five renowned cloud providers, Cloudways delivers cloud-based hosting services that prioritize speed, performance, and dependability. If you are uncertain about Cloudways, you can always take advantage of the complimentary three-day trial to evaluate its services.
Cloudways Review 2024
Cloudways is a well-known provider of cloud hosting services that enables businesses to divert their attention towards various other aspects of their organization. Users are provided with automated backups, rapid loading speeds, and the opportunity to select from a range of cloud servers such as Amazon Web Services, Linode, Vultr, DigitalOcean, and Google Cloud. Nevertheless, Cloudways offers basic customer support solely through its knowledge base or live chat. Additional premium support add-ons are available for an additional charge. Cloudways presents numerous appealing features for small business hosting requirements.
Cloudways Overview
There is a wide range of web hosting options available, making it challenging to choose one that you won’t regret later on. However, Cloudways stands out among other providers with its distinctive yet straightforward approach to web hosting.
The company, which is based in Malta, collaborates with five leading cloud providers: DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud. These providers offer the necessary infrastructure, but there is no need for you to create a direct account with them because Cloudways will handle the setup process.
As a managed hosting platform, Cloudways assists you in deploying your website quickly and easily. In addition to supporting WordPress, it also accommodates Joomla, Drupal, Laravel, Magento, PHP, and various other open-source tools.
Cloudways offers flexible pricing, which is another appealing feature. They follow a “pay-as-you-go” model, making it a great option for small-to-medium-sized businesses and individuals with budget constraints. To find out more about this cloud-based hosting provider, check out this Cloudways review.
Cloudways Pros
- Choose From 5 Cloud Hosting Services
- Insanely Fast Servers
- Easy To Use Control Panel
- 24/7 Support & Live Chat
- Free SSL Certificates
- One Click Staging For WordPress
- Free WordPress Caching Plugin
Cloudways Cons
- Doesn’t Include Email Hosting
- Lacks File Manager
- Support Can Be Technical
- Can’t Register a Domain Name
- Bigger Server Means a Bigger Fee
- Multisite SSL Limited To 100 Sites
What Is Cloudways?
- Managed cloud hosting for small business
- Choose from AWS, DigitalOcean, Google Cloud, Linode or Vultr servers
- Fast load speeds and free SSL certificates
- Advanced caching technologies, SSD-based servers and CDNs
- Dedicated firewalls and IP whitelisting
- Scale services up and down as needed
How Cloudways Works
Cloudways is an online hosting service that operates through the cloud, offering storage for various website files, databases, and other essential data needed to establish your company’s presence on the internet. This includes a user-friendly website, as well as email and other communication platforms.
Managed hosting offers exclusive resources and personalized server configurations to guarantee consistent performance for your website. Conversely, shared hosting services involve multiple websites sharing resources on a single server, resulting in limited control over settings and performance. Any company looking to establish an online presence requires some form of web hosting. Whether you are building a website from scratch or utilizing a downloaded CMS like WordPress, you will need managed hosting such as the one provided by Cloudways to make your site’s data accessible online. (Certain website builders such as Squarespace and Wix offer integrated shared hosting.)
After creating your Cloudways account, you have the option to select your preferred cloud infrastructure provider from a list that includes Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Linode, Vultr, and DigitalOcean. To install WordPress, just follow a few straightforward steps in Cloudways’ Application Management section.
To ensure that your domain directs to your site hosted on Cloudways, you will need to update the DNS records by adding an “A” record using Cloudways’ IP address. This will point any domain you own to your Cloudways server. Once this is done, you can connect your domain to your WordPress site through Cloudways’ Domain Management section.
Once you have installed WordPress, you have the ability to design and manage your site primarily using this platform. However, if necessary, you can also access your hosting account through Cloudways in order to make any required adjustments.
Cloudways Offers Top Of Infrastructure
Cloudways is a cloud hosting platform that provides top-notch infrastructure and services to its users. With Cloudways, you can easily manage your website’s server and hosting needs through their user-friendly interface. They offer a range of features including 24/7 customer support, automated backups, and easy scalability options. Additionally, they support multiple cloud providers such as AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean, giving you the freedom to choose the best option for your business needs. Overall, if you’re looking for reliable and efficient cloud hosting solutions, Cloudways is definitely worth considering.
Starts With One-Click
Cloudways is a cloud-based hosting platform that streamlines the web hosting process with its one-click setup feature. With just one click, users can launch their websites on Cloudways’ servers, which are optimized for speed and reliability. This simple setup process saves time and eliminates the need for technical knowledge, making it an ideal solution for beginners and experienced developers alike. Additionally, Cloudways offers scalable hosting plans that allow users to easily upgrade or downgrade their resources as per their website’s needs.
Is Cloudways Right for Me?
Cloudways, which was established in the year 2011, provides five cloud servers for hosting your managed WordPress website. The primary objective of the company is to assist small businesses across various industries, including freelancers, e-commerce stores, and agencies, with their website needs. However, it should be noted that Cloudways has a limited selection of data center locations, a pricing structure that may be challenging to comprehend, and a user interface that might appear overwhelming for those who are new to the platform.
Cloudways Is Best For
- Websites built using WordPress CMS
- Growing businesses or those with regularly fluctuating data needs that will benefit from flexible scalability
- Media-heavy websites that will benefit from fast loading speeds
- Those who prefer a managed hosting service over shared hosting
- Developers and agencies that manage multiple client websites
Cloudways Is Not Recommended For
- Anyone with limited technological knowledge
- Businesses with limited data needs that could save money with a simple shared hosting service
- Businesses that require a wide selection of data center locations to serve a global audience
- Those who prefer predictable monthly costs over pay-as-you-go pricing
Cloudways Own WordPress Migrator Plugin
Cloudways Own WordPress Migrator Plugin is a powerful tool that allows users to migrate their WordPress sites easily and efficiently. The plugin automates the entire migration process, including transferring files, databases, and other essential data from one host to another. It also ensures that all links are updated, and the site remains fully functional during the move. Additionally, the plugin offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for even non-technical users to migrate their websites without any hassle. With this plugin, website owners can transfer their WordPress sites to Cloudways with just a few clicks.
What Sets Cloudways Apart
Cloudways differentiates itself from its competitors by providing flexibility in selecting a cloud provider. With Cloudways, you have the option to choose from AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean. Additionally, their platform is user-friendly and optimized for performance. They also offer a pay-as-you-go pricing structure that allows you to easily scale services according to your business requirements.
Cloudways offers a range of plans that come with numerous benefits. These include unlimited WordPress websites, 24/7 live chat support, free website migration, an in-house cache plugin to enhance loading times, and team collaboration features. However, it’s worth noting that Cloudways does not include email hosting as part of its website hosting package. Instead, customers have the option to add on email hosting using either a Gmail SMTP server or a fully managed email service. Additionally, Cloudways does not provide domain name registration. Nevertheless, users can still direct their domain from any registrar to their Cloudways-hosted site.
Cloudways Features
Cloud Providers
Cloudways offers a selection of five cloud server providers. These renowned providers include DigitalOcean, Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, Linode, and Vultr. All of these options are suitable for small businesses, as they offer different levels of processing power, memory, and storage space on their cloud-based servers.
Free SSL Certificates
Cloudways is a web hosting platform that offers free SSL certificates to its users. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security protocol that enables encrypted communication between a web server and a browser. With an SSL certificate, your website visitors can be assured that their data is secure while browsing your website. By providing free SSL certificates, Cloudways ensures that its customers have access to the latest security measures without any additional costs. This not only improves the security of the websites hosted on the platform but also helps in building trust with customers.
Auto Scaling Feature
Cloudways’ Auto Scaling feature is a valuable addition to its hosting services. It enables the server to automatically adjust to changing traffic levels and demand, ensuring optimal performance and uptime for your website or application. With this feature, you don’t have to worry about manually tweaking server settings or upgrading hardware as your traffic grows. This can save you time and money while providing a seamless experience for your users. Additionally, Cloudways’ Auto Scaling allows you to set custom rules and metrics to tailor the scaling process to your specific needs.
Live Chat
Cloudways is a web hosting company that offers live chat support to its users. This feature allows customers to get in touch with the support team in real-time and receive prompt assistance for any issues or queries they may have. The live chat support is available 24/7, making it convenient for users across different time zones. Cloudways’ commitment to providing excellent customer service through live chat support sets them apart from other web hosting providers in the market.
Storage and Bandwidth Limits
Cloudways provides a range of plans that offer storage options from 25GB to 3840GB and bandwidth options from 2GB to 12TB. The amount of bandwidth available is determined by your selected plan and cloud server, but your usage is carefully tracked and you will only be charged for the actual amount of bandwidth utilized on a monthly or hourly basis.
Extras and Inclusions
Cloudways hosting offers a complimentary SSL certificate to enhance security, although it does not encompass various additional features that are offered by certain hosting services, such as a free domain and email hosting.
Ease of Use
Cloudways is not suitable for individuals who are new to website hosting and have limited technical knowledge, as its hosting platform requires a higher level of learning compared to other web hosting services. The user interface and configuration options can be complicated and may be overwhelming for beginners who are not interested in delving into server administration intricacies.
User Dashboard/cPanel
Cloudways offers a personalized user dashboard that allows you to oversee your hosting service, as opposed to using the conventional cPanel interface. This dashboard is designed to be more user-friendly than cPanel and aims to simplify server management. However, it may still be slightly more intricate compared to certain beginner-friendly hosting dashboards.
The Cloudways dashboard offers a range of essential server management features, such as managing servers and applications, handling domains, installing SSL certificates, creating backups, and scaling servers.
Security
There are a few security features Cloudways offers on all plans, including:
- Free SSL certificates
- Ability to create an IP address whitelist
- Regular firmware upgrades and patches to prevent potential threats
- Built-in security system to prevent vulnerabilities and unauthorized access to data
Server Monitoring
The dashboard for cloud server users allows them to monitor various aspects of their server’s performance. More than 15 variables can be monitored, including incoming traffic volume. This feature is particularly useful if you want to anticipate a surge in website traffic and temporarily upgrade your plan to accommodate it. By monitoring incoming traffic, you can proactively prepare for any potential issues and ensure that your website remains accessible and responsive to visitors.
In addition to incoming traffic, other variables that can be monitored include CPU usage, memory consumption, disk I/O, network I/O, and more. These metrics provide valuable insights into your server’s health and performance, allowing you to make informed decisions about resource allocation and optimization.
Cloudways Pricing and Plans
Pay-as-You-Go Cloud Hosting
Cloudways provides a pay-as-you-go service, which means you are only charged for the storage and bandwidth that you actually use. This is different from other cloud hosting services that offer tiered web hosting plans. The pricing for Cloudways varies depending on the service provider you select and whether you choose to pay monthly or hourly. All of Cloudways’ plans include a range of features such as 24/7 customer support, free SSL, security features, a staging environment, and more.
Cloudways Customer Service and Support
Cloudways provides customer support round the clock, all year round, through email (when a support ticket is submitted), online chat, or its FAQ help center. Cloudways has received positive feedback for its customer support from various online review sites. Several customers have expressed satisfaction with Cloudways’ prompt and useful support available through multiple channels for convenience.
Bluehost
Fine Print
The scope of customer service is restricted to the help center, email, and 24/7 live chat. To access additional features like a customer service hotline, app, and other customization support, an upgrade is required. The pricing for upgrades starts at INR 8,325.88 ($100) per month. However, Cloudways does not offer support for tasks such as modifying plugin or theme functionality, website content, and debugging codes across all plans.
Top Cloudways Alternatives and How They Compare
Cloudways vs. Bluehost
Bluehost provides hosting service with unlimited resources on a monthly or yearly basis, with contract options ranging from one to three years. In contrast, Cloudways offers a metered hosting service where you are billed based on the bandwidth and storage usage of your website in a specific month.
Bluehost provides customers with a complimentary domain name and hosting for up to five business emails, which is not offered by Cloudways. On the other hand, Cloudways prides itself on its 99.99% uptime guarantee, whereas Bluehost does not mention any uptime guarantee at all, which is quite unusual.
Cloudways vs. HostGator
In addition to its competitors, HostGator provides a range of features that are not offered by Cloudways. It offers unmetered hosting available on a monthly or yearly basis through a three-year contract. HostGator’s hosting package includes unlimited business email accounts and a complimentary domain name, whereas Cloudways does not offer these features.
Both Cloudways and HostGator provide customers with limited customer support options. Both services offer chat support and an online help center, but dedicated customer service comes at an additional cost.
Cloudways vs. GoDaddy
In terms of features, pricing, and services, Cloudways lags behind GoDaddy. GoDaddy provides unlimited cloud hosting at a monthly or annual rate with a three-year agreement. Additionally, their hosting packages include a complimentary domain name for one year and the option to have up to two business emails.
In addition to Cloudways, GoDaddy offers a range of services that are not provided by Cloudways. These include domain name registration and a website builder that is available for free. If you are looking for a convenient option to easily manage all your web services in one place, GoDaddy would be the better choice.
Godaddy Hosting
Our Expert Opinion
If small business owners want to create a cloud-based, managed WordPress site, Cloudways is an excellent choice for them. However, if they prefer a more hands-off approach, it would be better for them to choose a shared hosting service instead (or else they will need to pay for additional customer service add-ons from Cloudways).
Cloudways sets itself apart from other cloud hosting services by not providing domain name registration or email hosting. As a result, users will need to register a domain through an external provider and incur an extra annual fee. Additionally, in order to have email hosting capabilities, users will need to utilize services like Google Workspace or seek out an alternative hosting provider.
If you have a good understanding of technology and are willing to put in the effort, there are other companies that provide pricing structures with more features at a more competitive rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is managed WordPress hosting?
When users opt for managed WordPress services, their website will be hosted on this platform. Additionally, the web hosting company takes care of basic tasks like installing WordPress, automatically updating its core, performing daily backups, and implementing enhanced security measures.
What is the difference between dedicated and shared hosting?
With shared hosting plans, users’ websites are stored on a server along with other users and their websites. Conversely, dedicated hosting provides each website with its own separate server.
What is a bandwidth limit?
Bandwidth refers to the data that is sent to a visitor of a website or when the visitor uploads data to the server. The limit of bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that a hosting company allows on a specific plan every month. If the bandwidth limit is surpassed, it may cause difficulties for visitors trying to access the website.
How fast is Cloudways?
| Average | 5000 ms | 3439 ms |
| Min | 50 ms | 1039 ms |
| Max | 50000 ms | 9296 ms |
| Response Count | ||
| Success | 500 | 3707 |
Is Cloudways a good hosting?
An Excellent, Focused Web Host There’s a lot to like about Cloudways. The service has flexible cloud hosting plans, fast setup times, top-notch web-based customer support, and excellent uptime. It’s a company you can count on to keep your site up and running to services that offer those items.
Is Cloudways better than GoDaddy?
When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found Cloudways easier to use, set up, and administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with Cloudways overall. Reviewers felt that Cloudways meets the needs of their business better than GoDaddy.
Why choose Cloudways?
Cloudways utilizes top-tier cloud providers such as DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud to offer impressive speed and reliability. With optimized server configurations, caching mechanisms, Cloudflare, and many other advanced features, Cloudways ensures fast loading times for websites and applications of all sizes.
Who is the owner of Cloudways?
Aaqib Gadit is the Co-Founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Cloudways, a managed application hosting platform for SMBs that was acquired by DigitalOcean in 2022.
Bottom Line
Cloudways is a reliable and feature-rich cloud hosting platform that offers a range of benefits for businesses and individuals looking to host their websites. With its competitive pricing, flexible plans, and impressive list of features, Cloudways is a top choice for those seeking high-performance hosting solutions. Whether you’re a small business owner, an e-commerce retailer, or a developer, Cloudways provides the scalability, reliability, and security needed to ensure your website runs smoothly. With its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support, Cloudways makes it easy for anyone to get started with cloud hosting. If you’re in need of reliable hosting services, look no further than Cloudways.