Cloudways Review 2026

User reviews (1499)

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that sits between “do-it-yourself” VPS hosting and fully managed premium WordPress hosts. It lets you deploy and manage applications (WordPress, WooCommerce, Magento, Laravel, custom PHP, etc.) on top of major infrastructure partners—AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode—while Cloudways handles much of the ops layer (server stack, security hardening options, backups, monitoring, staging, scaling tools).


About Cloudways:
Owner/CEO:
DigitalOcean
Established:
2012
Phone:
(+356) 35500106
Address:
Junction Business Centre, 1st Floor, Sqaq Lourdes,, Malta
Servers Locations:
  • Data centrer in at
    Vienna
  • Data centrer in au
    Sydney
  • Data centrer in au
    Melbourne
  • Data centrer in bg
    Sofia
  • Data centrer in br
    São Paulo
  • Data centrer in ca
    Toronto
  • Data centrer in ca
    Montreal
  • Show all
Servers Locations: 34
  • Vienna
    Vienna
  • Sydney
    Sydney
  • Melbourne
    Melbourne
  • Sofia
    Sofia
  • São Paulo
    São Paulo
  • Toronto
    Toronto
  • Montreal
    Montreal
  • Zurich
    Zurich
  • Frankfurt
    Frankfurt
  • Madrid
    Madrid
  • Helsinki
    Helsinki
  • Paris
    Paris
  • London
    London
  • Jakarta
    Jakarta
  • Bengaluru
    Bengaluru
  • Mumbai
    Mumbai
  • Chennai
    Chennai
  • Tokyo
    Tokyo
  • Osaka
    Osaka
  • Seoul
    Seoul
  • Amsterdam
    Amsterdam
  • Stockholm
    Stockholm
  • Singapore
    Singapore
  • Taipei
    Taipei
  • Phoenix
    Phoenix
  • Atlanta
    Atlanta
  • Seattle
    Seattle
  • Los Angeles
    Los Angeles
  • Ashburn
    Ashburn
  • Chicago
    Chicago
  • Miami
    Miami
  • San Francisco
    San Francisco
  • New York
    New York
  • Dallas
    Dallas
Customer Support: 4
English
Website: English
All languages (4)
English
Support: English
Live chat
United States
Service Available
4/5
Trusted Provider
Features Excellent
Reliability Trustworthy
User Friendly Good
Support Excellent
Price Affordable
Promotion Good discount
Other Factors Excellent
Author

Andrew Cross

Last updated: 06 April 2026

Cloudways

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that sits between “do-it-yourself” VPS hosting and fully managed premium WordPress hosts. It lets you deploy and manage applications (WordPress, WooCommerce, Magento, Laravel, custom PHP, etc.) on top of major infrastructure partners—AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode—while Cloudways handles much of the ops layer (server stack, security hardening options, backups, monitoring, staging, scaling tools).

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Pros and Cons

Here are the pros and cons of using Cloudways as your hosting platform.

Positives

Singapore data center available across DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, and Google Cloud, with 150+ global locations for optimal SEA latency
Pay-as-you-go billing with no annual contracts, no cancellation fees, and billing that stops immediately upon server deletion
Cloudflare Enterprise CDN add-on provides enterprise-grade edge caching, WAF, and DDoS protection at a fraction of standard retail cost
Cloudways Autonomous offers fully managed autoscaling WordPress on Kubernetes at a competitive price point compared to Kinsta and WP Engine
Industry-leading 24/7 live chat support with 90-second average response time from actual technical engineers

Negatives

Management markup of 140-250% over raw cloud prices means technical users comfortable with SSH can save significantly by going direct to DigitalOcean or Vultr
No email hosting or domain registration included, requiring separate third-party services for basic business communication needs
Stopped servers on DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode continue to bill unless fully deleted, which is irreversible and surprises many users
SafeUpdates for automatic WordPress plugin and core updates is a paid add-on, not included in the base managed hosting experience
Post-DigitalOcean acquisition has brought price increases, AI-first chat support for routine queries, and increased billing-related complaints

Interesting facts

Discover the unique features that make Cloudways stand out

Cloudways was acquired by DigitalOcean in September 2022 for $350 million, valued at approximately 6.7 times its expected 2022 annual revenue of $52 million

Cloudways Autonomous is built on Kubernetes using Google C2 machines with autoscaling and integrated enterprise CDN, bringing infrastructure normally reserved for large enterprises to SMBs

As of early 2026, Cloudways offers access to 150+ data centers across 50+ countries including new Asia-Pacific locations such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Taipei added in 2024-2026

Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card required, covering all providers except AWS, allowing performance testing of Singapore servers before any payment commitment

Cloudways's rating Trusted Provider

We rate features of services on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest rating and 5 being the highest rating. We also take into account the opinions of other users when rating features. We read user reviews and feedback to get a sense of how other people are using the features and what they think of them.

Generally dependable with mostly positive trust signals. Clear policies, stable performance, and support that usually resolves common issues.

Features
4.5 /5 Excellent

Cloudflare Enterprise CDN, autoscaling Kubernetes via Autonomous, multi-provider choice, staging, and SafeUpdates make this one of the most feature-rich managed platforms in its price range

Reliability
4.4 /5 Trustworthy

99.99% uptime guaranteed on Tier-1 infrastructure from DigitalOcean, AWS, GCP, Vultr, and Linode, with some maintenance-window outages outside Cloudways' direct control

User Experience
3.6 /5 Good

Custom dashboard is clean and well-designed but requires cloud literacy to navigate; not suitable for beginners and has no phone support or cPanel familiarity

Support
4.3 /5 Excellent

90-second average live chat response by actual engineers, 24/7 availability, with slight quality degradation noted post-DigitalOcean acquisition and premium tiers required for priority access

Pricing
3.5 /5 Affordable

Pay-as-you-go is transparent with no renewal markup shocks, but management markup of 140-250% over raw cloud prices plus paid add-ons for email, SafeUpdates, and off-site backups increases real total cost

Promotions
3.8 /5 Good discount

Consistent 30% off for first 3 months via affiliate coupon codes and a no-credit-card 3-day free trial, but no long-term loyalty pricing or significant ongoing discounts

Other Factors
4.2 /5 Excellent

Singapore DC available across multiple providers for strong SEA latency; PHP-only platform excludes Node.js and Python apps; post-DigitalOcean-acquisition billing friction is a documented concern

Cloudways offers a comprehensive set of features, including multiple cloud infrastructure options (like AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean), easy scalability, managed security, SSL, staging environments, and more. However, some advanced features might be lacking for very specific use cases.

Cloudways generally provides reliable hosting services with good uptime and performance. Their utilization of top-tier cloud providers contributes to the overall reliability. However, occasional maintenance or issues can occur.
 

The platform offers a user-friendly interface, making it relatively easy to set up and manage cloud servers even for those without extensive technical knowledge. However, certain advanced functionalities might have a learning curve.
 

Cloudways offers 24/7 customer support through live chat and a ticketing system. Responses are generally prompt, and their support team is knowledgeable. However, occasionally, resolution times might vary based on the complexity of the issue.
 

Cloudways stands out for its focus on managed cloud hosting, enabling users to benefit from the scalability and security of various cloud infrastructures without the complexity of direct management. However, some users might prefer more control or customization options.

Cloudways's FAQs

What is Cloudways uptime guarantee?

Cloudways guarantees 99.99% uptime on all their hosting plans.

How do I register a domain with Cloudways?

You can register a domain directly through the Cloudways platform during the signup process.

What payment methods do you accept?

Cloudways accepts all major credit cards, PayPal, and wire transfer.

What type of customer support do you offer?

Cloudways offers 24/7/365 live chat, email, and phone support.

What is the average user review rating for Cloudways?

Cloudways has an average user review rating of 4.8/5 on Trustpilot.

Do you offer any promotions for new customers?

Yes, Cloudways often offers promotions such as discounts on hosting plans, free trials, and free migrations.

What is the process for requesting a refund?

You can request a refund within 30 days of signing up for Cloudways.

Do you provide a free trial?

Yes, Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial on all their hosting plans.

What is the difference between a managed and unmanaged hosting plan?

Managed hosting plans include server maintenance, security updates, and other technical support tasks, while unmanaged hosting plans do not.

Can I transfer my existing website to Cloudways?

Yes, Cloudways offers free website migrations for all new customers.

Latest user reviews

Anon
• 1 years ago
Consistently good service and experience over the last 4+ years. We have over 1000 sites managed with Cloudways across a large number of servers. Support is always incredibly responsive, friendly and efficient!
Anthony
• 1 years ago
Cloudways is the best most professional hosting company I have used. Always available for support.
Habin Koh
• 1 years ago
He was quick to answer all my questions and was very patient throughout! I resolved everything I needed to resolve. Thank you!
Ioanna iliadi
• 1 years ago
Problem not resolved, my server went down few hours later
Avni V Yayin
• 1 years ago
Literally the best hosting provider nowadays
dimasz kobul
• 1 years ago
Antoine Debernardi
• 1 years ago
The support department is extremely responsive, and the technical teams are top-notch! They were able to help us with server cloning, migration and billing assistance.We are extremely satisfied with the cloudways team.
Nyashadzashe Kunaka
• 1 years ago
What made my experience great is that Sajjad Ahmad Khan was understanding and patient with my peoblem.
Task Me
• 1 years ago
Cloudways is a service you should avoid at all costs. Their customer service is beyond terrible; they are complete amateurs who will not provide any meaningful assistance. I encountered numerous issues that their so-called support team failed to resolve. The billing department is equally unresponsive and dismissive of customer concerns.I experienced a significant data loss due to their incompetent management. My backup was lost, and my database was inexplicably deleted. When I reached out to them for help, they offered no solutions. Instead, they told me I needed my own backup to restore my website. This level of negligence is unacceptable for any hosting provider. Their servers are weak and unprotected, which puts your data at constant risk.My attempts to get answers about why my database was deleted were met with infuriatingly repetitive responses. They kept telling me they didn't know what happened and asked if I had an old backup on my computer. This shows a complete lack of responsibility and technical expertise on their part. When I asked for a refund due to their failure, they refused.Frustrated, I decided to switch to DigitalOcean, which has been a significantly better experience. I highly recommend you bypass Cloudways entirely and go directly to a reliable provider like DigitalOcean. Cloudways is just a middleman that adds unnecessary complexity and cost to your hosting needs.They offer nothing but headaches and extra expenses. Every little feature, like email hosting, comes with an additional charge. This nickel-and-diming approach makes their service even less appealing. Dealing directly with hosting companies is always a better option. Cloudways’ servers are also incredibly slow, and the only way to get decent performance is to upgrade at a steep price.Moreover, Cloudways does not support many programming languages such as Go and Python. This means that applications relying on these languages will not work on their servers.The worst part of my experience was the impact on my business. My website was down due to Cloudways' poor security that "My Database got deleted" , causing me to lose significant traffic and search rankings. All the customizations and developments I paid for on my e-commerce website went down the drain. The downtime not only cost me financially but also hurt my business reputation. You definitely don’t want to go through the same misery.Save yourself the hassle, the frustration, and the money. Avoid Cloudways at all prices. Choose a reputable hosting provider that can guarantee reliability, security, and competent customer service. Your online presence and business deserve better than the subpar service Cloudways provides. Make the smart choice and stay far away from Cloudways.
John S.
• 1 years ago
Absolutely fantastic hosting service with unbeatable customer support. While it's true this host may be a little more technically involved to set up, it is well worth it in my opinion, and the support staff are very knowledgeable and always patient and helpful!

Cloudways's Features

Money-Back Guarantee Money-Back Guarantee
Hourly Payments Hourly Payments
Monthly Payments Monthly Payments
Yearly Payments Yearly Payments
Domain Purchase Domain Purchase
REST API REST API
DDOS Protection DDOS Protection
Crypto Accepted Crypto Accepted
Affiliate Program Affiliate Program
Load Balancers Load Balancers
WordPress Hosting WordPress Hosting
VPS Hosting VPS Hosting
Cloud Hosting Cloud Hosting
Shared Hosting Shared Hosting
Website Builder Website Builder
Email Hosting Email Hosting
SSL Certificate(Free) SSL Certificate(Free)
Backup Services Backup Services
CDN Services CDN Services
Unlimited Hosting Unlimited Hosting
Object Storage Object Storage
Kubernetes Kubernetes
WooCommerce Hosting WooCommerce Hosting
Dedicated Server Dedicated Server
Reseller Hosting Reseller Hosting
Malware Scanner Malware Scanner
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Mobile App Mobile App
Free Site Migration Free Site Migration
NVMe SSD Storage NVMe SSD Storage
1-Click WordPress Install 1-Click WordPress Install
WAF Included WAF Included
E-commerce Hosting E-commerce Hosting
Managed WordPress Managed WordPress

Payment method

PayPal is accepted at Cloudways
Visa is accepted at Cloudways
MasterCard is accepted at Cloudways
American Express is accepted at Cloudways
User reviews (1499)

User reviews of Cloudways

This is where you can share your experience with Cloudways. Read other users' reviews or write your own to highlight its pros and cons based on real use.

4.5

Reviewed by 1499 users

5
1219
4
117
3
24
2
13
1
126
0
0
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Write a review
Honest user's ratings is our #1 priority! So bookmakers can't pay to change or delete reviews.
1 years ago
Consistently good service and…
Consistently good service and experience over the last 4+ years. We have over 1000 sites managed with Cloudways across a large number of servers. Support is always incredibly responsive, friendly and efficient!
1 years ago
Cloudways is the best
Cloudways is the best most professional hosting company I have used. Always available for support.
1 years ago
He was quick to answer all my questions…
He was quick to answer all my questions and was very patient throughout! I resolved everything I needed to resolve. Thank you!
1 years ago
Problem not resolved
Problem not resolved, my server went down few hours later
1 years ago
Purrrfect!
Literally the best hosting provider nowadays
1 years ago
so helpful service
1 years ago
The support department is amazing
The support department is extremely responsive, and the technical teams are top-notch! They were able to help us with server cloning, migration and billing assistance.We are extremely satisfied with the cloudways team.
1 years ago
What made my experience great is that…
What made my experience great is that Sajjad Ahmad Khan was understanding and patient with my peoblem.
1 years ago
Cloudways is a service you should avoid…
Cloudways is a service you should avoid at all costs. Their customer service is beyond terrible; they are complete amateurs who will not provide any meaningful assistance. I encountered numerous issues that their so-called support team failed to resolve. The billing department is equally unresponsive and dismissive of customer concerns.I experienced a significant data loss due to their incompetent management. My backup was lost, and my database was inexplicably deleted. When I reached out to them for help, they offered no solutions. Instead, they told me I needed my own backup to restore my website. This level of negligence is unacceptable for any hosting provider. Their servers are weak and unprotected, which puts your data at constant risk.My attempts to get answers about why my database was deleted were met with infuriatingly repetitive responses. They kept telling me they didn't know what happened and asked if I had an old backup on my computer. This shows a complete lack of responsibility and technical expertise on their part. When I asked for a refund due to their failure, they refused.Frustrated, I decided to switch to DigitalOcean, which has been a significantly better experience. I highly recommend you bypass Cloudways entirely and go directly to a reliable provider like DigitalOcean. Cloudways is just a middleman that adds unnecessary complexity and cost to your hosting needs.They offer nothing but headaches and extra expenses. Every little feature, like email hosting, comes with an additional charge. This nickel-and-diming approach makes their service even less appealing. Dealing directly with hosting companies is always a better option. Cloudways’ servers are also incredibly slow, and the only way to get decent performance is to upgrade at a steep price.Moreover, Cloudways does not support many programming languages such as Go and Python. This means that applications relying on these languages will not work on their servers.The worst part of my experience was the impact on my business. My website was down due to Cloudways' poor security that "My Database got deleted" , causing me to lose significant traffic and search rankings. All the customizations and developments I paid for on my e-commerce website went down the drain. The downtime not only cost me financially but also hurt my business reputation. You definitely don’t want to go through the same misery.Save yourself the hassle, the frustration, and the money. Avoid Cloudways at all prices. Choose a reputable hosting provider that can guarantee reliability, security, and competent customer service. Your online presence and business deserve better than the subpar service Cloudways provides. Make the smart choice and stay far away from Cloudways.
1 years ago
Absolutely fantastic hosting service…
Absolutely fantastic hosting service with unbeatable customer support. While it's true this host may be a little more technically involved to set up, it is well worth it in my opinion, and the support staff are very knowledgeable and always patient and helpful!
Glossary.tab_nav_detail.bonuses

Cloudways's Coupons

Below is the list of currently valid coupons provided by Cloudways. Please review the available offers and try applying them at checkout. If a coupon does not work, it may have regional restrictions, usage limits, or may have expired since our last verification.

30$ Discount on any Cloudways plan
United States

We are excited to share this exclusive $30 Cloudways deal with our loyal HostAdvice users. The offer grants you a $30.00 discount on your next payment for Cloudways hosting and places no restrictions on what the discount can be applied to. The company’s offerings start at $10.00 monthly, and include excellent features such as:• Up to 160 GB of storage space for website development• Up to 5 TB of bandwidth for visitors• Choose from DigitalOcean, Linode, AWS,Google Cloud, and Vultr for serversReduce your hosting startup costs and focus your resources where you need them most.
Has bonus worked for you?
NOT REQUIRED

Cloudways.com: Save Upto 99% OFF on Cloudways Hosting plans + Wordpress Hosting + Free Domain & SSL
United States

Vaild Until: December 29, 2030
Save Upto 99% OFF on Cloudways Hosting plans + Wordpress Hosting + Free Domain & SSL
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* TrustHostReview publishes professional hosting reviews with full editorial independence. We use the same transparent standards for every provider. Sometimes we may receive compensation from companies listed here, but it never influences our testing, conclusions, or rankings. Any compensation simply helps cover operating costs like account purchases, testing, and reviewer royalties.