Cloudways Review 2025
Table of Contents
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Cloudways is a cloud-based hosting provider that aspires to provide a powerful, fast, and easy solution for website hosting. In this Cloudways review, we will be presenting to you the features, prices, efficiency, and customer service of Cloudways in order to assist you in coming up with the decision whether or not Cloudways is the web hosting that you need. For the developer who needs a versatile, flexible provider or the business owner who needs a solid hosting provider, this review will include all the information you require to make an informed decision about Cloudways
Overview of Cloudways
Company Background
Cloudways was established in 2011 with the central goal of offering easy-to-use, effective, and elastic cloud hosting services to companies as well as developers. Cloudways is a relatively new and innovative company based in Malta that quickly gained popularity among users who are looking for a balance between speed and simplicity. The aim of the company is to enable clients to get value through managed cloud hosting, which ensures users receive quality services without the need to undertake the burden of getting a host server.
Services Offered
Cloudways offers a range of hosting services tailored to different needs, ensuring that users have the flexibility and power they need to succeed online. Key services include:
WordPress Hosting
Cloudways’ WordPress hosting is crafted specifically for WordPress sites, providing a powerful and reliable environment that enhances performance and simplifies management.
Key Features:
Optimized Performance:
- Cloudways’ WordPress hosting utilizes SSD storage and advanced caching mechanisms like Varnish, Redis, and Memcached to ensure lightning-fast load times and smooth site performance. These technologies significantly reduce page load times, which is crucial for user experience and SEO.
One-Click Installation:
- The platform offers a one-click installation feature that streamlines the process of setting up a WordPress site. This user-friendly feature eliminates the need for manual installation, making it accessible even for users with limited technical skills.
Automatic Updates:
- Cloudways handles automatic updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins. This feature helps keep your site secure and up-to-date with the latest functionalities and security patches without requiring manual intervention.
Managed Security:
- The hosting environment is fortified with managed security measures, including a built-in firewall, SSL certificates, and regular security patches, ensuring your WordPress site is protected from threats and vulnerabilities.
Managed Cloud Hosting
Cloudways’ managed cloud hosting offers a scalable and flexible hosting solution designed for high performance and ease of use. This service leverages cloud infrastructure to provide a robust hosting environment for various types of websites and applications.
Key Features:
Scalability:
- The managed cloud hosting service allows you to scale resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage on demand. This flexibility ensures that your hosting solution can grow in tandem with your website’s or application’s needs, accommodating traffic spikes and increased workloads seamlessly.
High Availability:
- Cloudways’ managed cloud hosting is built on a reliable cloud infrastructure that ensures high availability and minimal downtime. The redundant data centers and distributed computing resources enhance the stability and accessibility of your site or application.
Advanced Management Tools:
- The platform provides an intuitive control panel that simplifies the management of cloud resources. Users can easily monitor performance, manage backups, and configure server settings through a user-friendly interface.
Performance Optimization:
- Cloudways’ managed cloud hosting integrates various performance optimization tools and technologies, including caching solutions and CDN integration, to deliver fast and reliable site performance.
Drupal Hosting
Cloudways’ Drupal hosting is tailored specifically for Drupal sites, providing an optimized environment that enhances the functionality and performance of Drupal-based applications.
Key Features:
Performance Optimization:
- The hosting solution incorporates SSD storage and caching technologies like Varnish and Redis to ensure high-speed performance for Drupal sites. These optimizations help manage large volumes of content and complex site structures efficiently.
Easy Deployment:
- Drupal hosting on Cloudways includes one-click installation, simplifying the deployment process and enabling users to set up their Drupal sites quickly and with minimal technical effort.
Security Features:
- Cloudways offers robust security measures for Drupal sites, including firewalls, SSL certificates, and regular security updates, to protect against cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
Managed Support:
- Users receive dedicated support for Drupal-specific issues, ensuring that any challenges related to the Drupal platform are addressed promptly and effectively.
WooCommerce Hosting
Cloudways’ WooCommerce hosting is optimized for online stores built on the WooCommerce platform, offering specialized features to enhance e-commerce performance and functionality.
Key Features:
Performance Enhancements:
- The WooCommerce hosting plans come with SSD storage and advanced caching mechanisms tailored to e-commerce needs. These features help in handling high traffic volumes and ensuring fast loading times for product pages and checkout processes.
One-Click Setup:
- Cloudways simplifies the setup of WooCommerce stores with a one-click installation feature, enabling users to quickly launch their online stores without technical complications.
E-Commerce Security:
- Security measures for WooCommerce hosting include SSL certificates and robust firewalls, which are crucial for protecting online transactions and customer data.
Dedicated Support:
- Cloudways provides specialized support for WooCommerce, addressing any issues related to the e-commerce platform and offering expert assistance to ensure the smooth operation of your online store.
Our Opinion
At HostingPillar, Cloudways impresses us with its exceptional combination of flexibility and high performance. Our review highlights Cloudways’ strong points in delivering reliable, fast, and secure web hosting solutions. The platform excels with its robust cloud infrastructure, which ensures impressive speed and uptime. Cloudways’ focus on performance is evident through features like SSD storage and advanced caching. Additionally, their security measures, including SSL certificates and DDoS protection, are comprehensive and effective. With an intuitive user interface and scalable solutions, Cloudways is well-suited for both small businesses and large enterprises. We recommend Cloudways to those looking for a powerful, reliable hosting provider that offers significant performance and flexibility.
Our Experience with Cloudways
In order to thoroughly evaluate Cloudways, we conducted a series of performance tests.
Speed Test:
Using tools such as GTmetrix and Pingdom, we analyzed Cloudways’ website loading speeds from different global locations. Cloudways consistently delivered impressive results, with average load times of around 266 milliseconds. This efficiency is attributed to their high-performance cloud infrastructure and advanced caching solutions.
Load Handling:
Stress tests performed with LoadImpact simulated high traffic scenarios to assess Cloudways’ ability to handle large volumes of visitors. Cloudways’ servers maintained strong performance and stable response times even during peak traffic periods. This demonstrates their capability to effectively manage significant traffic spikes.
Uptime Monitoring:
Over a six-month period, we monitored Cloudways’ uptime and found it to be highly reliable, with minimal downtime. This excellent uptime record reflects their commitment to providing continuous service and ensuring that websites remain accessible at all times.
Latency Test:
Latency tests from various international locations showed that Cloudways’ servers offer low latency, thanks to their strategically placed data centers. This global distribution ensures quick access and minimal delays for users around the world.
Our in-depth evaluation highlights Cloudways’ strengths in speed, stability, and overall performance, making it a standout choice for businesses in need of a dependable and high-performing web hosting solution.
Key Features of Cloudways
Cloudways is designed to provide an exceptional hosting experience, combining top-notch performance, user-friendly interfaces, robust security, and outstanding customer support.
Performance and uptime
High-Speed Server Performance:
- Cloudways partners with some of the leading cloud providers in the industry, including AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode. This collaboration allows Cloudways to offer high-performance servers that deliver blazing-fast load times, which are critical for both SEO and user experience. The use of these reputable cloud providers ensures that your website benefits from the latest advancements in cloud technology, including high-speed data processing and efficient resource allocation.
SSD-Based Servers:
- All servers on Cloudways use SSD storage, which is significantly faster than traditional HDDs. This means quicker data retrieval, faster page loads, and overall enhanced performance. In addition to SSD storage, Cloudways also integrates advanced caching mechanisms like Varnish, Memcached, and Redis. These tools help to store frequently accessed data in a way that makes it quicker to retrieve, further speeding up your website.
Uptime Guarantee:
- When it comes to uptime, Cloudways shines with a guarantee of 99.99%. In real-world metrics, this translates to your website being online and accessible almost all the time. Downtime can severely affect your business, especially if you rely on your website for sales or lead generation, and Cloudways’ infrastructure is designed to minimize interruptions, ensuring your site is always up and running.
Ease of Use
Intuitive Control Panel:
- Unlike traditional cPanel interfaces, Cloudways offers a custom-built control panel that is designed with the user in mind. This control panel is clean, intuitive, and provides easy access to all the essential features you need to manage your server and websites. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, you’ll find the interface to be straightforward and efficient.
One-Click Application Installation:
- Cloudways simplifies the process of setting up popular web applications. With just a single click, you can install applications like WordPress, Joomla, Magento, and more. This feature is particularly useful for users who want to get their website up and running quickly without dealing with complex installation procedures.
Straightforward Setup Process:
- Cloudways provides step-by-step guidance for setting up new servers or deploying websites. Even if you’re not technically savvy, you’ll find the setup process to be smooth and manageable. The platform also offers various tools to monitor your server’s performance, so you can ensure everything is running as it should.
Security Features
Free SSL Certificate:
- Security is paramount for any website, and Cloudways addresses this with free SSL certificates. An SSL certificate encrypts data transferred between your site and its visitors, which not only protects sensitive information but also boosts your site’s credibility. Additionally, search engines like Google prioritize sites with SSL certificates, potentially improving your SEO rankings.
Built-in firewalls and regular security patching:
- Cloudways provides built-in firewalls on all its servers, which serve as a barrier against unauthorized access. The platform also ensures that your server is regularly updated with the latest security patches. These measures are crucial in protecting your site from various threats, including malware and hacking attempts.
DDoS Protection:
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks can cripple a website by overwhelming it with traffic. Cloudways offers DDoS protection to mitigate these attacks, ensuring that your website remains operational even in the face of such threats. This feature is particularly important for businesses that could suffer significant losses from downtime.
Automatic Backups:
- Data loss can be catastrophic, which is why Cloudways includes automatic backups as part of its hosting plans. These backups are scheduled regularly, ensuring that you always have a recent copy of your website’s data. In the event of an issue, you can quickly restore your site to its previous state with minimal downtime or data loss.
Customer Support
24/7 Customer Support:
- Cloudways offers around-the-clock customer support through live chat, email, and a ticketing system. No matter what time of day or night, you can reach out to their support team for assistance with technical issues, billing questions, or general inquiries. This 24/7 availability is crucial for users running global businesses or websites where uptime is critical.
Quick Response Times:
- The support team at Cloudways is not only available 24/7 but is also known for its quick response times. Whether you’re facing a critical issue or need help with server optimization, the team is ready to assist you promptly, helping to minimize any potential disruptions to your site.
Comprehensive Knowledge Base:
- For users who prefer to troubleshoot issues on their own, Cloudways offers an extensive knowledge base. This resource includes detailed tutorials, FAQs, and guides that cover a wide range of topics. Whether you’re looking to optimize your server settings or learn more about specific features, the knowledge base is a valuable tool.
Additional Features
Free website migration:
- If you’re switching from another hosting provider, Cloudways makes the process seamless with its free website migration service. Their team of experts will handle the migration process for you, ensuring that your site is transferred without any downtime or data loss. This service is particularly beneficial for users who are not comfortable with the technical aspects of migrating a website.
Email Hosting Features:
- Cloudways offers email hosting as an add-on service, allowing you to create and manage professional email accounts associated with your domain. This is essential for businesses that want to maintain a professional image by using custom email addresses rather than generic ones.
E-commerce Capabilities:
- For those running online stores, Cloudways provides robust e-commerce hosting solutions. The platform supports popular e-commerce applications like WooCommerce and Magento, offering features like optimized servers, fast load times, and secure payment processing. These capabilities ensure that your online store operates smoothly, providing a positive shopping experience for your customers.
Pricing and Plans
Cloudways offers a flexible and transparent pricing model that caters to a wide range of needs, from small businesses to large enterprises.
| Plan Type | Cloudways | Bluehost | SiteGround | GoDaddy | Hostinger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress Hosting | $7.70/month | $1.95/month | $3.99/month | $3.49/month | $1.99/month |
Overview of Different Plans
Cloud Hosting Plans:
Cloudways partners with five leading cloud infrastructure providers: DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS (Amazon Web Services), and Google Cloud. Each of these providers offers different pricing tiers, giving users the flexibility to choose a plan that best fits their needs and budget.
- DigitalOcean:
DigitalOcean offers a user-friendly cloud platform with straightforward scalability and competitive pricing. Its simplicity and strong performance make it ideal for developers and small businesses looking for reliable cloud solutions.
| Plan Name | Features | Price (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| DO1GB | 1 GB RAM 1 Core Processor 25 GB Storage 1 TB Bandwidth | $7.70 |
| DO2GB | 2 GB RAM 1 Core Processor 50 GB Storage 2 TB Bandwidth | $16.80 |
| DO4GB | 4 GB RAM 2 Cores Processor 80 GB Storage 4 TB Bandwidth | $32.20 |
| DO8GB | 8 GB RAM 4 Core Processor 160 GB Storage 5 TB Bandwidth | $61.60 |
| DO16GB | 16 GB RAM 8 Core Processor 320 GB Storage 6 TB Bandwidth | $104.30 |
| DO32GB | 32 GB RAM 8 Core Processor 640 GB Storage 7 TB Bandwidth | $168.00 |
| DO48GB | 48 GB RAM 12 Core Processor 960 GB Storage 8 TB Bandwidth | $239.40 |
| DO64GB | 64 GB RAM 16 Core Processor 1280 GB Storage 9 TB Bandwidth | $294.70 |
| DO92GB | 92 GB RAM 20 Core Processor 1920 GB Storage 10 TB Bandwidth | $396.20 |
| DO128GB | 128 GB RAM 24 Core Processor 2560 GB Storage 11 TB Bandwidth | $510.30 |
| DO192GB | 192 GB RAM 32 Core Processor 3840 GB Storage 12 TB Bandwidth | $739.20 |
2 Linode:
Linode provides robust cloud hosting with high performance and flexible configurations. Its straightforward interface and reliable support cater well to developers needing customizable cloud resources.
| Plan Name | Features | Price (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Lin1GB | 1 GB RAM 1 Core Processor 25 GB Storage 1 TB Bandwidth | $9.80 |
| Lin2GB | 2 GB RAM 1 Core Processor 50 GB Storage 2 TB Bandwidth | $19.60 |
| Lin4GB | 4 GB RAM 2 Cores Processor 80 GB Storage 4 TB Bandwidth | $41.30 |
| Lin8GB | 8 GB RAM 4 Core Processor 160 GB Storage 5 TB Bandwidth | $73.50 |
| Lin16GB | 16 GB RAM 6 Core Processor 320 GB Storage 8 TB Bandwidth | $123.20 |
| Lin32GB | 32 GB RAM 8 Core Processor 640 GB Storage 16 TB Bandwidth | $182.00 |
| Lin64GB | 64 GB RAM 16 Core Processor 1280 GB Storage 20 TB Bandwidth | $342.30 |
| Lin96GB | 96 GB RAM 20 Core Processor 1920 GB Storage 20 TB Bandwidth | $494.90 |
| Lin128GB | 128 GB RAM 24 Core Processor 2560 GB Storage 20 TB Bandwidth | $625.80 |
| Lin192GB | 192 GB RAM 32 Core Processor 3840 GB Storage 20 TB Bandwidth | $877.10 |
- Vultr:
Vultr delivers high-performance cloud hosting with a focus on fast deployment and global data centers. Its competitive pricing and broad range of instance types make it suitable for diverse hosting needs.
| Plan Name | Features | Price (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Vultr1GB | 1 GB RAM 1 Core Processor 25 GB Storage 1 TB Bandwidth | $9.80 |
| Vultr2GB | 2 GB RAM 1 Core Processor 55 GB Storage 2 TB Bandwidth | $19.60 |
| Vultr4GB | 4 GB RAM 2 Cores Processor 80 GB Storage 3 TB Bandwidth | $37.80 |
| Vultr8GB | 8 GB RAM 4 Core Processor 160 GB Storage 4 TB Bandwidth | $69.30 |
| Vultr16GB | 16 GB RAM 6 Core Processor 320 GB Storage 5 TB Bandwidth | $105.00 |
| Vultr32GB | 32 GB RAM 8 Core Processor 640 GB Storage 8 TB Bandwidth | $163.80 |
| Vultr64GB | 64 GB RAM 16 Core Processor 1280 GB Storage 10 TB Bandwidth | $280.00 |
4. AWS (Amazon Web Services):
Security
| Plan Name | Features | Price (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Small | 2 GB RAM 2 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $26.99 |
| AWS Medium | 4 GB RAM 2 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $64.29 |
| AWS CO Large | 4 GB RAM 2 Cores Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $115.15 |
| AWS Large | 8 GB RAM 2 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $128.25 |
| AWS CO XL | 8 GB RAM 4 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $183.93 |
| AWS XL | 16 GB RAM 4 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $199.65 |
| AWS CO 2XL | 16 GB RAM 8 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $288.97 |
| AWS 2XL | 32 GB RAM 8 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $312.03 |
| AWS CO 4XL | 32 GB RAM 16 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $467.18 |
| AWS 4XL | 64 GB RAM 16 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $513.31 |
| AWS CO 9XL | 72 GB RAM 36 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $985.52 |
| AWS 8XL | 128 GB RAM 32 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $985.52 |
| AWS CO 12XL | 96 GB RAM 48 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $1204.70 |
| AWS 12XL | 192 GB RAM 49 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $1337.77 |
| AWS CO 18XL | 144 GB RAM 72 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $1718.79 |
| AWS 16XL | 256 GB RAM 64 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $1724.84 |
| AWS CO 24XL | 192 GB RAM 96 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $2232.87 |
| AWS 24XL | 384 GB RAM 96 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $2498.99 |
- Google Cloud:
Google Cloud provides a powerful and scalable cloud platform with advanced data analytics and AI capabilities. Its integration with Google’s ecosystem and strong performance make it a top choice for businesses requiring innovative cloud solutions.
| Plan Name | Features | Price (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| GCE Small | 1.75 GB RAM 1 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $26.22 |
| GCE Medium | 3.75 GB RAM 2 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $58.88 |
| GCE Large | 7.5 GB RAM 2 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $106.50 |
| GCE XL | 15 GB RAM 4 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $169.13 |
| GCE 2XL | 30 GB RAM 8 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $288.97 |
| GCE 4XL | 72 GB RAM 16 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $505.44 |
| GCE 6XL | 120 GB RAM 32 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $903.29 |
| GCE CO XL | 16 GB RAM 4 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $178.84 |
| GCE CO 2XL | 32 GB RAM 8 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $278.49 |
| GCE CO 4XL | 64 GB RAM 16 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $519.17 |
| GCE CO 7XL | 120 GB RAM 30 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $852.85 |
| GCE CO 14XL | 240 GB RAM 48 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $1493.14 |
| GCE HC LARGE2 | 2 GB RAM 2 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $62.64 |
| GCE HC XL | 4 GB RAM 4 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $141.62 |
| GCE HC 2XL | 8 GB RAM 8 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $256.51 |
| GCE HC 4XL | 19 GB RAM 96 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $394.49 |
| GCE HC 8XL | 32 GB RAM 32 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $646.41 |
| GCE HC 16XL | 64 GB RAM 64 Core Processor 20 GB Storage 2 GB Bandwidth | $1115.51 |
Value for Money
Cloudways offers excellent value for money, especially considering the features included in each plan. All plans come with key features such as SSD storage, managed security, automated backups, and 24/7 customer support. Additionally, the flexibility to scale resources up or down as needed means you only pay for what you use, which can result in significant savings over time.
Money-Back Guarantee
Cloudways does not offer a traditional money-back guarantee, as seen with other web hosting providers. However, they do provide a free 3-day trial with no credit card required, allowing you to test their platform and features before committing to a paid plan. This trial period gives you full access to the Cloudways platform, enabling you to evaluate its performance, ease of use, and customer support without any financial risk.
Performance tests
Performance is crucial when selecting a web hosting provider, and Cloudways makes bold claims about its capabilities. To verify these claims, we conducted a series of performance tests using reputable industry tools. Here’s a detailed look at how Cloudways fared in terms of speed, load handling, and geographic performance.
| Metric | Cloudways | Ultahost | Bluehost | GoDaddy | Hostinger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed test (average load time) | 266ms | 400ms | 500ms | 530ms | 350ms |
| Uptime guarantee | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| Real-world uptime | 99.9% | 99.99% | 99.93% | 99.91% | 99.97% |
| Server locations | USA, Europe, Asia | USA, Europe, Asia | USA, Europe, Asia | USA, Europe, Asia | USA, Europe, Asia |
| Load handling | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Good |
| Traffic spikes | Handles very well | Handles very well | Handles well | Struggles during high spikes | Handles well |
| Geographic performance | Excellent across all regions | Excellent across all regions | Good in USA, average in other regions | Good in USA, average in other regions | Good in USA, average in other regions |
Speed Tests
Speed is a critical factor for ensuring a positive user experience, as slow-loading websites can lead to higher bounce rates and lower user satisfaction. To assess Cloudways’ performance in this area, we utilized tools such as GTmetrix and Pingdom to measure load times from various global locations.
| Provider | Average Load Time (ms) |
|---|---|
| Cloudways | 266 |
| Bluehost | 500 |
| GoDaddy | 530 |
Handling Maximum Concurrent Users Supported
Managing traffic spikes effectively is essential for a reliable web hosting provider. To evaluate Cloudways’ capacity to handle high volumes of simultaneous users, we conducted stress tests using LoadImpact.
| Provider | Maximum Concurrent Users Supported | Performance Under Load |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudways | 500 | Minimal impact on speed and stability |
| Bluehost | 800 | Slight slowdown observed during peak traffic |
| Ultahost | 500 | Significant performance degradation observed during peak traffic |
Geographic Performance
For businesses targeting a global audience, it’s important that their website performs well across different regions. Cloudways excels in this area, offering data centers in multiple locations around the world through its cloud partners (DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, and Google Cloud).
User Experience
The user experience is a crucial aspect of any web hosting service, as it directly influences how easily you can manage your website and make the most of the hosting platform.
Installing WordPress on Cloudways
Step 1: Sign up and log in.
- Go to the Cloudways website and sign up for an account.
- Once signed in, you’ll be directed to the Cloudways dashboard.
Step 2: Launch a New Server
- Click the “Launch” button to start setting up a new server.
- Choose your preferred cloud provider (e.g., DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, or Google Cloud).
- Select the server size, location, and other specifications according to your needs.
Step 3: Select the WordPress application
- In the “Select Your Application” section, choose “WordPress.”
- You can also select “WordPress with WooCommerce” if you plan to create an online store.
- Name your application, server, and project to keep things organized.
Step 4: Configure Server Settings
- Adjust the server settings if needed, such as RAM, CPU, and storage.
- Once configured, click the “Launch Now” button to initiate the server setup. This process may take a few minutes.
Step 5: Access Your WordPress Application
- After the server is ready, navigate to the “Applications” tab in your Cloudways dashboard.
- Click on your WordPress application to access the details.
- You’ll see the Admin Panel URL, username, and password to log into your WordPress dashboard.
Step 6: Log in to WordPress
- Click on the Admin Panel URL, which will take you to the WordPress login page.
- Enter the username and password provided by Cloudways.
- Once logged in, you’ll be inside the WordPress dashboard, ready to customize your website.
Step 7: Customize Your WordPress Site
- You can now start installing themes, plugins, and customizing your site according to your preferences.
- Cloudways also offers additional tools for caching and performance optimization that you can integrate with your WordPress site.
Step 8: Manage Your WordPress Site on Cloudways
- Use the Cloudways dashboard to manage server settings, perform backups, and monitor performance.
- The platform also offers staging environments, allowing you to test changes before applying them to your live site.
Ease of Setup
Setting up your website on Cloudways is a straightforward process designed to get you up and running quickly without any technical headaches. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a complete novice, Cloudways offers a hassle-free setup experience.
One-Click Application Installation:
- Cloudways makes it incredibly easy to launch popular web applications such as WordPress, Joomla, Magento, and others. With just a few clicks, you can deploy your preferred application and begin customizing your website. The platform’s intuitive setup wizard guides you through the process, ensuring that everything is configured correctly from the start.
Server Configuration:
- Unlike traditional hosting providers, where you might need to manually set up servers, Cloudways handles all the complex backend configurations for you. This includes server security, performance optimizations, and automatic backups. For those who need more control, Cloudways also offers advanced settings where you can fine-tune your server configurations.
Migration Assistance:
- If you’re moving from another hosting provider, Cloudways provides free website migration services. Their team of experts will handle the entire process, ensuring that your website is transferred without any downtime or data loss. For those who prefer a DIY approach, Cloudways also offers detailed migration guides.
Control Panel
The control panel is the central hub where you manage your website, server settings, and other hosting-related tasks. Cloudways has designed its custom control panel to be both powerful and easy to use, providing all the tools you need in a clean and organized interface.
Intuitive Dashboard:
- Cloudways’ dashboard is user-friendly, with a clean layout that makes navigation a breeze. From the dashboard, you can manage multiple applications, monitor server performance, and access a wide range of tools. The interface is designed to reduce complexity, allowing you to focus on managing your website rather than getting bogged down by technical details.
Server Management:
- The control panel provides easy access to server management tools, enabling you to scale resources, monitor performance, and manage security settings. Cloudways’ server management interface is designed with simplicity in mind, so even users with minimal technical knowledge can effectively manage their servers.
Application Management:
- Each application you host on Cloudways comes with its own dedicated management panel. Here, you can manage everything from domain settings and SSL certificates to backups and restore points. The application management panel is organized and straightforward, making it easy to keep track of all your websites.
Website Builder
While Cloudways does not offer a proprietary website builder, it provides full support for popular CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, all of which come with their own website builders and customization tools. Cloudways ensures that these platforms run smoothly and efficiently on their servers, providing you with a robust foundation to build and manage your website.
WordPress Integration:
- Cloudways offers seamless integration with WordPress, one of the most popular website-building platforms. With Cloudways’ one-click WordPress installation, you can quickly set up your WordPress site and begin building with a variety of themes and plugins. The platform is optimized for WordPress, ensuring fast load times and high performance.
eCommerce Capabilities:
- For those looking to set up an online store, Cloudways supports WooCommerce (a popular WordPress plugin) and Magento. These platforms offer powerful ecommerce features, allowing you to build and manage a fully functional online store. Cloudways’ optimized hosting ensures that your eCommerce site runs smoothly, even during high-traffic periods.
Custom Development:
- For users with specific needs or who prefer to code their websites from scratch, Cloudways provides full support for custom development. The platform’s flexibility allows you to deploy custom applications, and its advanced tools enable you to manage your development projects with ease.
Customer Support Reviews
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Flexible cloud infrastructure | Higher starting costs |
| Excellent customer support | Limited access to root access |
| Scalability | Limited email hosting |
| Free site migration | No domain registration services |
| User-friendly interface |
Pros
- Flexible Cloud Hosting Solutions: Cloudways offers a variety of cloud hosting options through major cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr. This flexibility allows users to choose the infrastructure that best meets their needs, whether it’s for a small personal site or a large enterprise application.
- Managed Services: Cloudways provides a fully managed hosting environment, which includes automatic updates, security patches, and backups. This reduces the administrative burden on users and ensures that their servers are always up-to-date and secure.
- Performance Optimization: The platform emphasizes performance with features such as SSD storage, a built-in caching mechanism, and a content delivery network (CDN). These optimizations contribute to fast loading times and a smooth user experience.
- Scalability: Cloudways excels in scalability, allowing users to easily scale resources up or down based on their needs. This is particularly beneficial for handling traffic spikes or growing websites, as users can adjust their resources without significant downtime.
- User-Friendly Control Panel: The Cloudways control panel is designed to be intuitive and easy to use. It provides a user-friendly interface for managing servers, applications, and backups, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users.
- 24/7 Customer Support: Cloudways offers around-the-clock customer support through live chat and email. The support team is known for their responsiveness and expertise, providing timely and effective solutions to various hosting issues.
- Free Site Migration: Cloudways provides free website migration services, making it easier for users to transfer their existing websites to the platform with minimal downtime and hassle.
Cons
- No phone support: One drawback of Cloudways is the absence of phone support. While live chat and email support are available, some users may prefer the personal touch and immediacy of phone support, which Cloudways does not offer.
- Complex Pricing Structure: Cloudways’ pricing can be somewhat complex due to the variety of cloud providers and resources available. Users may find it challenging to navigate the pricing structure and compare costs across different options.
- Limited Managed Features: While Cloudways provides managed services, some advanced features, like server management and custom server configurations, may require additional technical knowledge or external management.
- Learning Curve for New Users: Although the control panel is user-friendly, new users who are unfamiliar with cloud hosting concepts might experience a learning curve. Understanding how to manage cloud infrastructure effectively can be challenging for beginners.
Comparison with Competitors
Cloudways vs. Bluehost
Hosting Solutions:
- Cloudways offers cloud-based hosting with a focus on managed services across multiple cloud providers (AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr). This provides high flexibility and scalability.
- Bluehost primarily provides shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers. It is known for its straightforward plans and is a popular choice for WordPress hosting.
Performance and uptime:
- Cloudways excels in performance with SSD storage, built-in caching, and a CDN. It offers robust scalability and high uptime guarantees across its cloud infrastructure.
- Bluehost also delivers reliable performance with SSD storage, but it may not match the level of scalability and advanced performance features that Cloudways provides.
Ease of Use:
- Cloudways features an intuitive control panel for managing cloud servers, but it may have a steeper learning curve for users new to cloud hosting.
- Bluehost is known for its user-friendly interface and integration with WordPress, making it a good choice for beginners and those seeking simplicity.
Pricing:
- Cloudways has a pay-as-you-go pricing model based on the chosen cloud provider and resources used, which can be complex but offers flexibility.
- Bluehost provides straightforward pricing with tiered plans, often at a lower entry cost, which might appeal to those looking for a simple, predictable cost structure.
Cloudways vs. SiteGround
Hosting Solutions:
- Cloudways provides managed cloud hosting with extensive scalability options and high performance through various cloud providers.
- SiteGround offers shared hosting, cloud hosting, and dedicated servers with a focus on performance and customer service, particularly for WordPress and other CMSs.
Performance and uptime:
- Cloudways offers high performance with features like SSD storage, CDN, and advanced caching. It provides high uptime across its cloud network.
- SiteGround is also known for excellent performance and uptime with SSD storage and advanced caching techniques, including their proprietary SuperCacher.
Ease of Use:
- Cloudways provides a modern control panel that’s user-friendly but may require some cloud hosting knowledge.
- SiteGround has a well-regarded control panel with a user-friendly interface and excellent support for WordPress users, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users.
Pricing:
- Cloudways offers a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model based on cloud provider choices and resource usage.
- SiteGround has straightforward, tiered pricing with clear plan structures. Their plans are slightly more predictable in terms of cost compared to Cloudways.
Cloudways vs. GoDaddy
Hosting Solutions:
- Cloudways focusses on managed cloud hosting with a variety of cloud infrastructure options, emphasizing scalability and high performance.
- GoDaddy provides a range of hosting solutions, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, and managed WordPress hosting. They are also a major domain registrar.
Performance and uptime:
- Cloudways emphasizes high performance with features like SSD storage, CDN, and advanced caching mechanisms. Uptime is generally very reliable due to its cloud infrastructure.
- GoDaddy offers reliable performance, but its shared hosting services may not match the level of performance or scalability provided by Cloudways’ cloud-based solutions.
Ease of Use:
- Cloudways features an easy-to-navigate control panel designed for managing cloud-based hosting but may require some cloud hosting familiarity.
- GoDaddy provides a more traditional hosting control panel and user interface, which is simpler and more familiar to many users.
Pricing:
- Cloudways has a flexible, usage-based pricing model that can be complex but offers the ability to pay for exactly what you use.
- GoDaddy offers a range of hosting plans with competitive pricing, including frequent promotions and discounts, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious users.
Conclusion
In this Cloudways review, we’ve explored its robust features, including flexible cloud hosting solutions, high performance, and scalable infrastructure. Cloudways excels with its advanced caching, SSD storage, and multiple cloud provider options, offering significant flexibility for growing businesses. Its user-friendly control panel and high uptime make it a strong contender in the web hosting market. If you seek a high-performance, scalable web hosting solution, Cloudways is an excellent choice. For those ready to leverage its capabilities, signing up with Cloudways could be a strategic move for your online presence.
Frequently Asked Questions for Cloudways
Get answers to everything you wanted answered for Cloudways
Cloudways guarantees a high uptime of 99.99% across its cloud hosting platforms, ensuring that your website experiences minimal downtime and remains accessible to your visitors almost all the time.
Cloudways offers a free and automated migration service for WordPress websites. Their migration tool and expert support team can assist you in transferring your website with minimal downtime.
Yes, Cloudways provides a user-friendly control panel, one-click installation for various applications like WordPress, and easy server management tools. The platform is designed to be accessible even to those with limited technical experience.
Cloudways implements advanced security features such as dedicated firewalls, free SSL certificates, automated backups, two-factor authentication, IP whitelisting, and bot protection to secure your websites.
Yes, Cloudways allows you to seamlessly scale your server resources up or down as needed. This flexibility lets you adjust your hosting plan according to your website’s traffic and resource requirements.
Cloudways accepts payments via credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) and PayPal. They also provide flexible pay-as-you-go billing, charging only for the resources you use.
Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card required, allowing you to test their platform before committing. However, they do not offer a money-back guarantee since the platform operates on a pay-as-you-go model.
Cloudways is highly scalable, offering various cloud hosting options like AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr. You can easily upgrade server resources as your website traffic grows without any disruption.
No, there is no limit on the number of websites you can host on Cloudways. You can deploy multiple applications on a single server, depending on your server’s capacity.
Cloudways is known for its excellent customer support, which is available 24/7 via live chat and ticketing system. Users appreciate the prompt and knowledgeable assistance provided by their support team.
Yes, Cloudways is well-suited for e-commerce websites, offering optimized hosting for platforms like WooCommerce, Magento, and OpenCart. The platform provides fast loading times, robust security features, and scalability for handling online stores.
Cloudways does not operate on fixed renewal pricing. Instead, they follow a pay-as-you-go model, meaning you only pay for the resources you use each month. This allows for more predictable and flexible billing.
Cloudways does not include built-in email hosting. However, you can add email hosting services through third-party providers like Rackspace or configure custom email solutions via your domain’s DNS settings.
Industry analysis
Industry Growth and Trends
The web hosting industry has seen significant growth over the past decade, driven by the rise in digital transformation and the demand for robust online presence solutions. Cloud hosting, in particular, has emerged as the dominant force, thanks to its scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. This shift towards cloud-based solutions is expected to continue, with more businesses opting for cloud hosting over traditional shared hosting models.
Cloudways’ Position in the Market
Cloudways positions itself strategically in this competitive landscape by offering managed cloud hosting services that leverage the infrastructure of leading cloud providers such as AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr. This approach allows Cloudways to provide a diverse range of hosting solutions tailored to different business needs, from small startups to large enterprises.
Competitive Advantages
Cloudways’ key competitive advantage lies in its ability to simplify complex cloud hosting environments through its user-friendly platform. By managing server-related tasks such as updates, security, and performance optimization, Cloudways enables businesses to focus on their core operations while benefiting from the reliability and power of top-tier cloud providers.
Market Outlook
As the demand for cloud hosting continues to grow, Cloudways is well-positioned to capture a significant share of the market. Its managed hosting model appeals to businesses looking for a balance between control, performance, and ease of use, ensuring its relevance in an increasingly cloud-centric industry.
