As a developer who's deployed hundreds of WordPress sites, I've tested pretty much every hosting platform out there. Today, I want to talk about Cloudways→a managed cloud hosting platform that's been gaining serious traction among developers and agencies.
Unlike traditional hosting where you're locked into one data center or infrastructure, Cloudways gives you the power to choose: DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Linode, or Vultr. And the best part? They manage everything for you.
Let me break down my honest experience with Cloudways and help you decide if it's right for your next project.
What Makes Cloudways Different?
Cloudways isn't a hosting company in the traditional sense. They're a managed cloud hosting platform. Here's what that means:
- You choose a cloud provider (DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, etc.)
- Cloudways sets up, configures, and manages the server for you
- You get a clean dashboard to manage your sites without touching command line
- Built-in caching, security, and performance optimizations
It's like having your own DevOps engineer for $11/month.
The Good Stuff (Why Developers Love It)
1. Choose Your Cloud Provider
This is huge. You're not locked into one company's infrastructure. I typically recommend DigitalOcean for most clients→great performance at a fair price. But if a client needs AWS or Google Cloud for compliance reasons, Cloudways supports those too.
2. Performance That Rivals WP Engine
Cloudways uses:
- NGINX web server (faster than Apache)
- Varnish cache (page caching at the server level)
- Memcached/Redis (object caching for dynamic content)
- Breeze plugin (their own WordPress caching plugin)
In my speed tests, WordPress sites on Cloudways DigitalOcean typically load in 1.2-1.8 seconds→very competitive with WP Engine at a lower price point.
3. Staging and Cloning (Developer Dream)
With one click, you can:
- Create a staging environment to test changes
- Clone an entire server or application
- Deploy from staging to live with zero downtime
I use this constantly when redesigning client sites. Build on staging, show the client, then push live when approved.
4. Pay-As-You-Go Pricing
No long-term contracts. You can scale your server up or down based on traffic. If a client's site suddenly goes viral, you can add more resources in minutes.
The Not-So-Good Stuff
1. No Email Hosting
Like WP Engine, Cloudways doesn't include email. You'll need Google Workspace or their Rackspace add-on ($3/month per inbox). But honestly, separate email hosting is better for deliverability anyway.
2. Slightly Steeper Learning Curve
While Cloudways manages the server, you still have more settings to configure than WP Engine. If you want a "set it and forget it" experience, WP Engine is simpler.
3. No Domain Registration
You'll need to buy your domain elsewhere (I recommend Namecheap) and point the DNS to Cloudways. Not a dealbreaker, but less convenient than all-in-one hosts.
Cloudways Pricing (Is It Worth It?)
| Plan | Provider | RAM | Storage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DO1 | DigitalOcean | 1GB | 25GB | $11/month |
| DO2 | DigitalOcean | 2GB | 50GB | $22/month |
| DO4 | DigitalOcean | 4GB | 80GB | $42/month |
| Vultr 1 | Vultr | 1GB | 32GB | $11/month |
My recommendation: Start with DigitalOcean 2GB ($22/month) for most WordPress sites. It handles 30,000-50,000 monthly visitors easily.
Who Should Use Cloudways?
→ Developers and agencies - The staging and cloning features are perfect for client work
→ Growing sites - Easy to scale resources as traffic grows
→ Budget-conscious - Great performance at a lower price than WP Engine
→ Multiple sites - Host unlimited apps on one server
→ Complete beginners - WP Engine or SiteGround are more beginner-friendly
→ Need email included - You'll need a separate email solution
My Real-World Experience
I migrated a client's WooCommerce store from Bluehost to Cloudways DigitalOcean 2GB plan. Results:
- Load time dropped from 4.8 seconds to 1.4 seconds
- Server response time (TTFB) improved from 800ms to 120ms
- Client saved $60/year compared to their old hosting
- Zero downtime during migration using Cloudways' built-in migration tool
Ready to Try Cloudways?
Get 30% off your first 3 months with promo code below.
Try Cloudways FreeUse code BIG3D for 30% off 3 months
Need Help With Migration?
I offer professional migration services to Cloudways with zero downtime.
Contact Me for Help