#4 of 8 in Web hosting providers
Cloudways review
A managed cloud platform, owned by DigitalOcean, that lets you deploy apps on a choice of cloud providers and regions with usage-based billing.
Last checked · Available: Global
7.7/10, Very good
5 criteria
Strongest on infrastructure & performance features (9.0).
See every score and reasonScorecard
How Cloudways scores
No renewal jump because billing is usage-based, though entry cost is above shared hosting.
Choose between several cloud providers and many regions, with isolated servers.
24/7 chat and tickets; advanced support is a paid add-on.
Staging, backups and server controls, though email hosting and domains are extra.
Offers a short free trial instead of a money-back window.
Best for
Developers and agencies managing several sites.
Not ideal for
Complete beginners who want email and a domain bundled.
Trade-offs
Pros and cons
What stands out
- Pick your own cloud provider and region
- Usage-based billing with no long lock-in
- Isolated servers suit busy sites
Worth knowing
- Email hosting and domains cost extra
- Short trial window
- More technical than shared hosting
At a glance
Key facts and pricing
- Free SSL
- Yes
- Free domain (first year)
- No
- Money-back window
- Not published
- Free trial
- 3 days
- Main hosting type
- Managed cloud
- Support channels
- 24/7 live chat and tickets
- Data-centre regions
- Choice of providers and regions worldwide
- Renewal pricing
- No intro discount; billed for usage
- Price band
- Premium
- Founded
- 2011
- Based in
- Malta
Pricing: Pay-as-you-go billing based on the server size and provider you pick; no long contract. Free plan: no; short free trial.
Head to head
Compare Cloudways with
Also consider
Cloudways alternatives
Questions
Cloudways: common questions
Is Cloudways good?
Cloudways scores 7.7 out of 10 in our web hosting providers scorecard, rank 4 of 8. A managed cloud platform, owned by DigitalOcean, that lets you deploy apps on a choice of cloud providers and regions with usage-based billing.
Who is Cloudways best for?
Best for developers and agencies managing several sites. Less suited to complete beginners who want email and a domain bundled.
How much does Cloudways cost?
Pay-as-you-go billing based on the server size and provider you pick; no long contract. Free plan: no; short free trial.
What are Cloudways's key terms and features?
Free SSL: Yes; Free domain (first year): No; Free trial: 3 days; Main hosting type: Managed cloud; Support channels: 24/7 live chat and tickets; Data-centre regions: Choice of providers and regions worldwide; Renewal pricing: No intro discount; billed for usage. As published by the brand, last checked 2026-11-01.
What is a good alternative to Cloudways?
Hostinger (8.0/10) is the top-scoring option in the same list. See the full web hosting providers ranking for every alternative.
Transparency
Sources and how we make money
Sources we used
Checked 1 Nov 2026. Brands change terms often; confirm on the brand's site before you buy.
How we make money
Some links to brands may earn AltFTool a commission. That never changes a score, a rank or whether a brand is listed. Scores come only from the criteria above.
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