Cloudways review
Cloudways is a good fit for WordPress teams that want cloud provider choice without taking on root-level administration. Watch the total bill, because usage-based pricing leaves backup storage, taxes and some infrastructure charges outside the headline rate.
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Score breakdown
Scores come from one formula for every shared & wordpress host, explained on our methodology page.
Plans and the true 3-year price
| Plan | vCPU / RAM / Disk | Traffic | Monthly | Renews at | 3-year cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean Standard 1GB | 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 25 GB | 1 TB | $11 | $11 | $396 |
| Vultr Standard 1GB | 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 25 GB | 1 TB | $14 | $14 | $504 |
| Linode Standard 1GB | 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 25 GB | 1 TB | $14 | $14 | $504 |
| AWS Standard 1GB | 2 vCPU / 1 GB / 20 GB | - | $20.56 | $20.56 | $740 |
| Google Cloud Standard 1.7GB | 1.7 GB / 20 GB | - | $37.33 | $37.33 | $1,344 |
Providers change prices often, and we regularly verify prices against their own pricing pages, though small differences from current prices are possible. Prices checked 10 Oct 2026. Excluding tax.
Who it's for
Pick it if
- You want cloud provider choice for a WordPress site
- You can work within a platform without root access or Docker
- You value automated backups, snapshots and API access
- You prefer usage billing without an introductory renewal jump
Skip it if
- Your apps or agents need Docker or root access
- You need a managed database service
- You want backup storage and traffic costs folded into a predictable package
Reliability, SLA and policies
Our take
Cloudways makes sense when your hosting problem is keeping a WordPress site running while leaving server administration outside your team's workload. Its appeal is the combination of cloud provider choice, automated backups, snapshots and access to support through chat and tickets. The broad geographic footprint also gives you room to choose a location near your audience. We would choose it for a site whose deployment requirements fit the platform, with API access as a useful addition for automation.
The pricing is refreshingly free of an introductory renewal jump across the listed plans. DigitalOcean Standard 1GB starts at $11 and renews at $11, but that base rate is a starting point for budgeting. Flexible bills hourly, taxes are excluded and offsite backup storage is charged separately. AWS and Google Cloud also carry usage charges for additional bandwidth and disk. Estimate those costs against your traffic and backup retention before treating the headline rate as your operating budget.
The platform boundaries matter more than the provider menu if you are deploying apps or agents. Root access is unavailable, Docker is unsupported and there is no managed database service. An API does not remove those constraints. For lock-in, assess how much of your deployment and recovery process would depend on Cloudways workflows, then document how you would move elsewhere. Snapshots and automated backups are useful, but you should still rehearse recovery and check that your application can be restored outside its current setup.
Against Bluehost, DreamHost, Hostinger, Namecheap and SiteGround, Cloudways belongs on your shortlist when cloud provider choice is a specific requirement. If you mainly want somewhere to publish a straightforward site, compare the complete package and support scope before paying for flexibility you may never use. For a small team, avoiding administration can justify platform restrictions, provided those restrictions match the application. The public status page is useful during incidents; we would also keep independent monitoring so your team can see when the site becomes unavailable.
FAQ
Is Cloudways a good choice for WordPress?
Yes, if you want cloud provider choice and can work within its platform restrictions. Automated backups, snapshots and chat and ticket support suit teams that want help operating a site without needing root access.
Does Cloudways increase the price at renewal?
The listed plans have matching introductory and renewal rates. Your bill can still change with usage, backup storage and additional infrastructure charges, so a matching renewal rate does not mean a fixed total.
What costs extra on Cloudways?
Taxes and offsite backup storage are outside the listed base rates. AWS and Google Cloud also charge for additional bandwidth and disk, which makes your traffic profile relevant to the provider you choose.
Can I run Docker or get root access on Cloudways?
No, Docker is unsupported and root access is unavailable. If your app or agent depends on containers or system-level changes, choose hosting that explicitly supports those requirements.
Can I try Cloudways without a credit card?
Yes, Cloudways Flexible offers a free trial without a credit card. The trial is unavailable for AWS and Google Cloud servers.
Should I choose Cloudways or a shared hosting provider?
Choose Cloudways when cloud provider choice and its backup and API features address a specific need. Compare Bluehost, DreamHost, Hostinger, Namecheap and SiteGround when deciding whether a conventional hosting package better fits your site, budget and support expectations.