If you want the performance and scalability of cloud hosting without the headache of full server management, Cloudways is a strong option. It sits in between shared hosts and full DIY servers, giving you flexibility, tools, and power with much of the setup & maintenance handled for you.
What Is Cloudways?
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform built around offering PHP-based applications (WordPress, Magento, Laravel, WooCommerce, etc.). It doesn’t own its own infrastructure; rather, it lets you choose the cloud provider you want (such as DigitalOcean, AWS, Vultr, Linode) and then layers its management, security, monitoring, backups, and optimizations on top.
It offers two main modes:
- Flexible Mode — more control over your server, resources, provider choice, etc.
- Autonomous Mode — more managed; good for sites with high traffic, needing auto-scaling and “hands-off” performance under load.
Key Features
Here’s what makes Cloudways appealing:
- Choice of Cloud Infrastructure — Pick from several major cloud providers for server hosting, data center region, etc.
- Managed Stack — Built-in tools like caching (Varnish, Redis, etc.), web server optimizations, PHP version flexibility, etc., to help performance without manual configuration.
- Autoscaling (in certain plans) — Ability to scale up resources when demand rises (e.g. during high-traffic events), and scale back when not needed.
- Free Migration — Move existing sites into Cloudways managed servers with minimal effort and, in many cases, at no extra cost.
- Security Features — Free SSL certificates, firewall protection, two-factor authentication, automatic OS & security updates, and optional add-ons for malware protection.
- Team & Collaboration Tools — You can give different users access (for example, developers or clients) with restricted permissions (e.g. SFTP/SSH, control panel, billing etc.).
- Backups & Restores — Automated backups with easy restoration; also options to customize backup frequency.
- Staging Environments — Make changes, test updates etc., before pushing them live to avoid site downtime or issues.
Pricing & Plans
Here are the typical pricing practices and what you can expect:
| Plan Type | Approx Entry Price | What You Get at Entry Level | What Higher Tiers/Upgrades Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexible Cloud Server | ~$10-$12/month | Basic server with modest CPU/RAM, SSD storage, caching, SSL, backups—good for small sites | More CPU/RAM, faster storage, better network performance, more traffic capacity, autoscaling etc. |
| Managed WordPress / eCommerce Plans | Higher cost (depending on resources) | Optimized services for WordPress sites, performance tools, staging etc. | Increased limits, more concurrent users, priority support, add-ons like Cloudflare Enterprise etc. |
Pricing works on a pay-as-you-go basis in many cases; you can scale up/down. Lower tiers are affordable; costs rise with resource use and add-ons.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very good performance and scalability without needing deep server admin skills
- Flexibility to choose cloud provider and region for better latency / cost trade-off
- Many important features included: backups, SSL, staging, team access etc.
- Strong security posture with managed updates, firewalls, etc.
- Autoscaling for high traffic surges in some offerings
- Free migration helps reduce effort switching from another host
Cons
- Cost can escalate quickly as you add resources, use autoscaling, or add premium add-ons
- You don’t get full root access in many plans, which can limit some very custom setups
- Sometimes performance under heavy dynamic loads (e.g. large-scale eCommerce) may require investing in higher tiers
- Some “managed” features are only included in higher-priced plans or as paid add-ons
- Not the cheapest option if your site is small and low-traffic— simpler shared hosting may suffice initially
Who Cloudways Is Best For
Cloudways is a good match if you:
- Run WordPress, Laravel, Magento or other PHP-based apps and want good performance + less technical maintenance
- Need your site to handle traffic surges (e.g. sales, marketing campaigns, seasonal spikes)
- Want flexibility to choose cloud provider and server region
- Plan to scale over time, or have multiple sites/projects to manage
- Want team features, backups, staging, and security built in
It might be less ideal if you:
- Are just starting out on a very tight budget and your traffic is minimal
- Want full control/root access for every aspect of server setup
- Need email or domain registration bundled (Cloudways generally doesn’t include those by default)
- Prefer extremely simple hosting where everything is very set and basic
Final Verdict
Cloudways offers a compelling middle ground: much more power and flexibility than shared hosting, without the full overhead of managing cloud servers yourself. If your site requires performance, reliability, and scaling—and you’re willing to pay a bit more for those—Cloudways is among the stronger choices.
For someone who expects growth, values managed infrastructure (security, backups, scaling etc.), and wants to avoid dealing with too many server details, Cloudways is likely to pay off well.