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
4.5/5
Top-Tier Provider
Features Excellent
Reliability Trustworthy
User Friendly Excellent
Support Excellent
Price Very affordable
Promotion Very generous
Other Factors Excellent
Author

Andrew Cross

Last updated: 29 January 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

Choose-your-cloud model: pick provider + region per project needs.
Strong managed tooling for agencies/devs (deploy, monitor, scale, staging, add-ons ecosystem).
Generally strong public reputation across major platforms (mid–high 4.x ratings).
Active platform development (Copilot GA in 2025; roadmap/changelog cadence).

Negatives

Not the cheapest option versus unmanaged VPS (you pay for the managed layer).
“Infrastructure complexity” still exists conceptually (cloud provider choice, scaling, add-on selection).
Email hosting is not positioned as a simple “included mailbox” like many shared hosts (often handled via add-ons/integrations).
Support is primarily chat/ticket-driven; a universal public phone line is not prominently published.

Interesting facts

Discover the unique features that make Cloudways stand out

Cloud-agnostic managed hosting across 5 infrastructure providers.

Published 65+ data center locations (counts vary by page and methodology).

Two product lanes: Flexible (control) vs Autonomous (hands-off autoscaling WordPress).

Payments: Credit card / PayPal, billing in USD.

Cloudways's rating Top-Tier 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.

Strong reputation and consistent customer trust. Mature operations, transparent terms, and reliable support—well-suited for business-critical hosting.

Features
4.7 /5 Excellent

Feature depth is a clear highlight in many cases. Across typical offerings from Cloudways, users often get free SSL, automatic backups, streamlined setup, and strong security options like DDoS protection and malware scanning. Performance tooling—such as SSD/NVMe, caching, and a CDN—is commonly available. Tools like staging and one-click restore tend to be clearly presented, with fewer forced add-ons. Transparent resource limits (CPU/RAM/IO) and built-in performance controls are major positives.

Reliability
4.6 /5 Trustworthy

High reliability is supported by measurable results and mature operations. With Cloudways, we commonly expect sustained uptime at ≥ 99.99%, fast and stable in-region TTFB (often p50 ≤ 200ms and p95 ≤ 500ms), and resilient load behavior (very low error rate, commonly ≤ 0.1%, no crashes, and fast recovery). When incidents happen, communication and remediation are typically timely and professional.

User Experience
4.4 /5 Excellent

The overall experience is polished and beginner-friendly. Setup is straightforward, the dashboard is clean, and common tasks—buying a plan, connecting a domain, installing WordPress, creating email—are simple with Cloudways. Tools like cPanel/Plesk, one-click install, staging, and auto SSL usually work smoothly, supported by clear guides and helpful error messaging. Performance tools (cache/CDN/PHP settings) are easy to find and configure.

Support
4.7 /5 Excellent

Support is consistently responsive and capable. With Cloudways, help is commonly available 24/7 via live chat and tickets (sometimes phone). Replies are fast, answers are clear, and issues are handled end-to-end. Documentation and incident communication are usually strong. In measurement-based checks, chat first response is often ≤ 2 minutes, ticket/email first response ≤ 60 minutes, and most common issues are resolved within 12–24 hours.

Pricing
4.2 /5 Very affordable

Pricing is typically clear and the value proposition is strong. With Cloudways, advertised prices often align with what most users pay, renewals are reasonable, and key needs—SSL, backups, and basic security—are included instead of sold as expensive add-ons. Billing is straightforward, and surprise fees are uncommon.

Promotions
4.4 /5 Very generous

Promotions are straightforward and genuinely valuable. With Cloudways, discounts usually apply reliably at checkout, conditions are clearly explained (eligible plans, duration, renewal visibility), and deals are not hidden behind confusing terms. Promotions still look fair after factoring in renewals and common add-ons.

Other Factors
4.5 /5 Excellent

Transparency and operational maturity are strong. With Cloudways, legal identity and contacts are clear, refund/SLA terms are consistent, and a public status page may be available. Handling of abuse/DMCA is typically mature, and privacy/compliance practices are clearly explained (e.g., GDPR where relevant). “Surprise clauses” are uncommon and policy language is generally consistent.

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!

Payment method

PayPal is accepted at Cloudways
Visa is accepted at Cloudways
MasterCard is accepted at Cloudways
American Express is accepted at Cloudways

Cloudways's Features

Money Back Guarantee
Hourly Payments
Monthly Payments
Yearly Payments
Domain Purchase
API
DDOS Protection
Accepts Bitcoin
Affiliate Program
Load Balancers
WordPress Hosting
VPS Hosting
Cloud Hosting
Shared Hosting
Site Builder
Email Service
Free SSL
Backup Services
CDN Services
SEO Hosting
Unlimited Hosting
Object Storage
Streaming Services
Kubernetes
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!
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Cloudways's Coupons

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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.
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Vaild Until: December 29, 2030
Save Upto 99% OFF on Cloudways Hosting plans + Wordpress Hosting + Free Domain & SSL
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