Cloudways Pricing Guide: 2025 Plans and Deals

Cloudways is a subsidiary of DigitalOcean that offers managed cloud server hosting starting at $11.00/mo for DigitalOcean servers, with plans scaling up based on your resource needs. This web host is unique for its pay-as-you-go pricing model and access to premium cloud providers with zero technical complexity. You'll get strong performance, excellent uptime, good security, and developer-friendly features across all tiers.​

Cloudways might be your best bet if you're running a growing business, an agency managing multiple client sites, or an ecommerce store that needs reliable performance. Its cloud hosting service includes essential features such as free SSL certificates, automated backups, staging environments, and 24/7 support across every plan.

Throughout this guide, we'll break down what each pricing tier offers and explain the benefits of each.​

How much does Cloudways cost?

Cloudways' pricing plans range from $11.00-$88.00/mo depending on which resource tier you choose. This places it in the mid-range category — more expensive than basic shared hosting but significantly cheaper than most traditional managed WordPress and VPS hosts.​

Compared to competitors, Cloudways offers good value. For example:

• Bluehost shared hosting starts at around $3.99/mo, but with limited resources and shared server environments.
• Hostinger begins at $2.99/mo for basic plans. However, these budget hosts don't offer the same cloud infrastructure or performance levels as Cloudways.​

Traditional managed WordPress hosts like Flywheel start at $15/mo but restrict you to just 5,000 monthly visits and one website. Cloudways, by contrast, lets you host unlimited applications on a single server without visitor caps.

When you factor in the included premium features — such as staging environments, advanced caching, and enterprise-level security — Cloudways provides better value for growing businesses.​

Cloudways price

	Micro (DigitalOcean)	Small (DigitalOcean)	Medium (DigitalOcean)	Large (DigitalOcean)
Monthly cost	$11.00/mo	$24.00/mo	$46.00/mo	$88.00/mo
vCPUs	1	1	2	4
Storage	25 GB NVMe	50 GB NVMe	80 GB NVMe	160 GB NVMe
Memory	1 GB	2 GB	4 GB	8 GB
Transfer bandwidth	1 TB	2 TB	4 TB	5 TB
Learn more	View plan	View plan	View plan	View plan

Key differences in the tiered web hosting costs come down to processing power, memory, and bandwidth allocation. The Micro plan works for small websites with minimal traffic, but you'll likely need at least the Small or Medium tier for hosting sites with moderate traffic. The 1 GB plan is generally underpowered for serious business operations.​

We'd recommend starting with the Medium (4 GB) plan if you're running a professional business site or ecommerce store. It offers 2 vCPUs and 4 GB of RAM, which provides enough headroom for decent traffic without breaking your budget. You can always scale up or down as needed, since Cloudways uses pay-as-you-go billing.​

What do you get with Cloudways?

Cloudways packs premium features into every plan, while other web hosting vendors charge extra for them. You'll get managed cloud hosting that combines enterprise-grade infrastructure with an accessible control panel, plus the flexibility to choose from 5 cloud providers, including DigitalOcean.​

• 24/7 support: Expert engineers are available around the clock via live chat and ticketing to help with any hosting issues​.
• Free SSL certificates: Let's Encrypt SSL is built into all plans to secure your site with HTTPS at no extra cost.
• Staging environments: You can create free staging sites to test changes before pushing them live with one click​.
• Automated backups: On-demand or scheduled backups keep your data safe with easy one-click restoration​.
• Advanced caching: Built-in server-level caching optimizes performance, with Object Cache Pro included free on 4+ GB servers (normally $95/mo)​.
• Cloudflare CDN: Free Cloudflare integration accelerates content delivery globally, with optional enterprise upgrades available​.
• Unlimited applications: You can host as many websites or apps as your server resources can handle without artificial limits​.
• Server-level firewall: Imunify360 protection defends against hackers, malicious bots, and DDoS attacks​.
• Developer tools: SSH/SFTP access and Git integration give you full control​.

Which plan is right for your business?

Choosing the right Cloudways plan depends on your resource needs and technical comfort level. Consider the type of website or app you're running and the amount of server load you expect to handle.​

• Budget-conscious startups: The Micro plan at $11.00/mo works if you're just getting started with a simple site and minimal traffic, though you'll likely need to upgrade soon​.
• WordPress users: The Small or Medium plans from $24.00/mo to $46.00/mo provide enough resources for WordPress sites with moderate traffic and multiple plugins​.
• Ecommerce stores: Go with at least the Medium or Large plans, $46.00/mo to $88.00/mo to handle product catalogs, checkout processes, and traffic spikes during sales​.
• Agencies managing multiple sites: The Large plan $88.00/mo or higher gives you room to host several client websites on one server with team collaboration features​.
• High-traffic sites: Consider the specialized Vultr High Frequency plans starting at $16/month, which offer up to 40% faster performance than standard options​.

Top alternatives

Cloudways offers flexible managed cloud hosting with strong performance, but you might want to compare it with other web hosting options before making a decision. Here are some alternatives to look into.

Bluehost

Bluehost provides beginner-friendly shared hosting starting around $3.99/mo, making it more affordable upfront than Cloudways. You'll get a free domain for the first year and a simplified interface that's easier for newcomers. However, Bluehost uses shared hosting environments rather than cloud infrastructure, which means less flexibility and potentially slower performance as your site grows.​

Learn more in our Bluehost pricing guide.

Hostinger

Hostinger offers some of the cheapest hosting available, with plans starting at $2.99/mo for up to three websites. You'll get decent performance with 100% uptime in recent testing, along with a user-friendly control panel. The trade-off is that you're limited to shared hosting resources and won't get the scalability or advanced features that Cloudways provides.​

Learn more in our Hostinger pricing guide.

IONOS

IONOS positions itself as a budget-friendly option with plans starting between $1.00-$15.00/mo. It's suitable for small blogs with under 5,000 monthly visitors and offers dedicated support for beginners. Like other budget hosts, IONOS uses shared hosting infrastructure, so it won't match Cloudways' performance or scaling capabilities.​

Learn more in our IONOS pricing guide.

FAQs

Bottom line: Is Cloudways worth it?

Cloudways delivers excellent value if you're running a growing business, ecommerce store, or managing multiple client websites. Its pay-as-you-go pricing, strong performance metrics, and premium features make it a smart investment for sites that have outgrown basic shared hosting providers.​

You're basically paying for managed cloud infrastructure that would typically require technical expertise to set up and maintain yourself. The platform handles all the complex server management while giving you access to enterprise-grade cloud providers. With the 30% discount codes available for your first three months, you can try it at a reduced rate and see if it meets your needs.