Cloudways Review 2025: Is This Managed Cloud Hosting Worth Your Money?

Overview of Cloudways

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that bridges the gap between complex cloud infrastructure and everyday users. Founded in 2011, it partners with top cloud providers like DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Linode, and Vultr to offer scalable hosting solutions.

Unlike traditional hosts, Cloudways doesn’t own servers. Instead, it provides a simplified interface to manage servers on third-party clouds. This model is ideal for users who want enterprise-grade performance without hiring a DevOps team.

For example, a small business can launch a WordPress site on Google Cloud in minutes, while a developer can deploy a custom app on AWS with full server control. Cloudways handles server setup, security, and maintenance, letting users focus on their projects.

Key Features of Cloudways

One-Click App Installations

Cloudways supports PHP-based applications, including WordPress, Magento, Laravel, and Drupal. Installing apps takes seconds: pick your app, name your project, and configure basic settings.

Unlike shared hosting, Cloudways isolates each app on its own server, preventing “bad neighbors” from slowing down your site.

For WordPress users, this means no manual database setup or FTP uploads. You also get pre-optimized PHP settings and Redis caching for faster page loads.

Built-In Caching & CDN

Cloudways uses a triple-layer caching system (Varnish, Redis, and Memcached) to reduce server load. For instance, Varnish Cache stores static HTML copies of your site, cutting load times by up to 50%.

The platform also offers Cloudflare Enterprise add-on (paid), which distributes content across 200+ global servers. This is critical for reaching audiences in regions like Asia or Europe without latency.

Automated Backups & Staging

Cloudways automatically backs up your site daily and stores copies for up to 4 weeks. You can restore backups with one click—no need to contact support.

The staging feature lets you clone your site to test plugins, themes, or code changes safely. For e-commerce stores, this prevents costly downtime during updates.

How User-Friendly Is Cloudways?

The Cloudways Platform is clean and intuitive.

Key metrics like CPU usage, bandwidth, and disk space are displayed upfront. A left-side menu organizes servers, apps, teams, and settings. Even beginners can navigate tasks like installing SSL certificates or scaling servers.

Server Setup Process

Launching a server takes 5 steps:

1. Pick a cloud provider (e.g., DigitalOcean).

2. Choose server size (1GB to 192GB RAM).

3. Select a data center location.

4. Name your server and project.

5. Click Launch Now.

The server is ready in 7–10 minutes. You’ll receive login details via email, and you can install apps immediately.

Server Management & Scalability

Vertical Scaling (Manual Upgrades)

Increase RAM, CPU, or storage with one click. For example, scaling from 2GB to 4GB RAM takes 2 minutes with no downtime. This is ideal for gradual, predictable growth.

Cloudways Autonomous (Autoscaling)

Cloudways’ Autonomous feature automatically scales server resources during traffic spikes without manual intervention. It monitors metrics like CPU/RAM usage and requests per minute.

If traffic surges—say, during a viral blog post or flash sale—Autonomous adds resources instantly to prevent crashes. Once traffic normalizes, it scales back down to avoid overpaying.

Server Monitoring Tools

Cloudways’ monitoring tab tracks CPU, RAM, disk usage, and requests in real time. You can set alerts for thresholds (e.g., 80% CPU usage) via email or Slack.

Developer-Friendly Features

Developers get SSH/SFTP access, Git integration, and Composer for PHP. You can also run custom cron jobs or edit PHP.ini files directly from the dashboard.

How Safe Is Your Data?

Firewalls & DDoS Protection

Cloudways blocks suspicious IPs automatically and offers optional DDoS protection. For example, their Vultr High-Frequency servers include a 10Gbps DDoS mitigation network.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Enable 2FA via Google Authenticator or Authy to secure your account. Cloudways also lets you whitelist IPs for SFTP or API access.

Automated Security Patches

The platform applies OS-level patches without downtime. For apps like WordPress, you still need to update plugins manually.

Is Cloudways Affordable?

Pay-As-You-Go Model Explained

Cloudways uses a transparent hourly pricing model, meaning you only pay for the resources your server uses. There are no fixed contracts or hidden fees—you can cancel or scale anytime. Here’s how it works:

• Hourly Cost: The price depends on your chosen cloud provider and server size.

Monthly Estimate: Multiply the hourly rate by 720 hours (24 hours/day × 30 days).

Let’s take the DigitalOcean 1GB Server plan as an example:

• Hourly Rate: $0.016369

• Daily Cost: 0.016369 x 24hours = 0.39/day

• Monthly Cost: 0.39 x 30days = 11.78/month

This flexibility is ideal for businesses with fluctuating traffic. For instance, if you scale up during a holiday sale and down afterward, you only pay for the extra resources when they’re active.

No long-term contracts—scale or cancel anytime.

7.2 Cost Comparison Across Providers

Cloudways lets you pick from five providers. Here’s a quick cost guide:

Help When You Need It

Live Chat & Ticketing System

Support agents respond in under 5 minutes via live chat. Tickets are resolved in 2–12 hours.

Knowledge Base & Community

Cloudways Academy offers free courses on server management. Their forum has 50k+ threads addressing common issues.

Premium Support Add-Ons

For $100/month, get 24/7 phone support, faster responses, and a dedicated account manager.

Pros & Cons of Cloudways

👍No long-term contracts.

👍Choice of 5 cloud providers.

👍Built-in caching and CDN.

👎No email hosting.

👎Costs add up with add-ons.

Is Cloudways Right for You?

Cloudways is a no-brainer for anyone who wants the power of cloud hosting without the headaches of server management. Its blend of speed, simplicity, and scalability makes it a standout choice—but it’s not perfect for everyone.

Who Should Use Cloudways?

Developers & Agencies

If you need full root access, staging environments, or Git integration, Cloudways gives you control without sacrificing ease of use. Agencies can manage dozens of client sites from one dashboard, while freelancers save hours with automated scaling and backups.

E-Commerce Stores

Sites running WooCommerce or Magento will thrive here. Autonomous autoscaling handles traffic spikes during sales, while built-in caching keeps page loads under 2 seconds—critical for reducing cart abandonment.

Growing Blogs & Startups

The pay-as-you-go model keeps costs low early on, and scaling up takes minutes as your audience grows. No need to migrate hosts later.

Non-Techies:

If terms like “Varnish Cache” or “SSH” sound intimidating, Cloudways’ managed services handle the heavy lifting. The dashboard is so intuitive, even your grandma could launch a WordPress site.

Need More Help?

Comment below or explore Cloudways’ free trial to test it yourself! 🚀

Author Bio

Mansoor Ahmed Khan

I’ve been in content marketing since 2014. Writing stories that grab attention and drive results is my thing. I work on blogs, social media posts, emails, and more. Every piece of content is a chance to connect, inspire, or solve a problem. I love turning ideas into something people care about. When I’m not writing, I’m probably brainstorming my next big idea.