Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting platform that simplifies server management across top cloud providers
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that acts as a management layer on top of major cloud infrastructure providers including DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Vultr, and Linode. It abstracts away server complexity while providing users with choice of cloud provider, server specifications, and data centre location. The platform serves over 100,000 customers hosting more than 570,000 websites and offers both Cloudways Flexible (customisable) and Cloudways Autonomous (fully managed, autoscaling) solutions.
How we scored it
Six-factor weighted score. Each dimension scored 0–10 by our editorial team across testing periods of 3–18 months. No vendor influence.
What it actually costs
Intro pricing shown — see the renewal note for what you'll pay after the introductory term. We don't hide the second-act price.
The real cost
What you'll actually pay across 4 years, including the renewal cliff. We blend the math so you see the true monthly cost.
When the bill actually arrives
Most hosts advertise intro pricing prominently and renewal pricing in the fine print. Here\'s the trajectory drawn to scale.
Cloudways against the field
The highest-scoring alternatives in the same category, compared on the figures we hold for all of them.
| CloudwaysThis page | SiteGround | DigitalOcean | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReviewCost score | 7.8/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.3/10 |
| Cheapest plan | DigitalOcean 1GB (Starter) | — | — |
| From | $11.00/mo | $17.99/mo | — |
| Renews at | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Biggest strength | 99.99% uptime guarantee with proven reliability across multiple independent testing sources | Outstanding 24/7 customer support with average 15-minute response times and knowledgeable staff | Transparent, predictable pricing with per-second billing since January 2026 |
| Biggest drawback | Higher cost than direct cloud provider pricing (approximately 220% markup over raw DigitalOcean/Vultr); resources cannot scale individually | Renewal prices increase 500%+ after promotional period ends (StartUp jumps from $2.99 to $17.99/month) | Limited support on free tier—ticket responses can be slow, no phone support at any tier |
Prices are the published figures at the time of writing and change often. Renewal pricing is shown where the vendor publishes it. See how we review.
What people ask about Cloudways
Straight answers to what buyers actually ask, drawn from the documentation and published user reports.