Overview
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that simplifies deploying websites on top cloud providers like DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS, and Google Cloud. Founded in 2012 and now owned by DigitalOcean, Cloudways bridges the gap between raw cloud power and managed simplicity with their proprietary ThunderStack technology. In this comprehensive review, we evaluate their platform, performance, and whether the managed layer justifies the premium.
Bottom Line: Cloudways is the best managed cloud hosting solution for users who want cloud performance without server management headaches. Their ThunderStack optimization, built-in CDN, free migrations, and no vendor lock-in make it an excellent choice for growing websites and agencies managing multiple clients.
Pros
- Managed cloud on DO, Vultr, AWS, and GCP
- Free site migration assistance
- Built-in staging environments
- Built-in CDN (Cloudflare Enterprise)
- ThunderStack for optimized performance
- No vendor lock-in or long-term contracts
Cons
- No built-in email hosting
- No domain registration service
- Higher cost than raw cloud providers
- Limited to supported applications only
Cloudways Plans & Pricing
Cloudways pricing depends on the underlying cloud provider:
- DigitalOcean ($14/mo): 1GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 25GB SSD, 1TB bandwidth
- DO Premium ($26/mo): 2GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 50GB NVMe SSD, 2TB bandwidth
- Vultr High Frequency ($16/mo): 1GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 32GB NVMe SSD, 1TB bandwidth
- AWS ($38/mo): 2GB RAM, 2 vCPUs, 20GB SSD, unlimited bandwidth
- Google Cloud ($37/mo): 1.7GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 20GB SSD, unlimited bandwidth
Note: All plans are pay-as-you-go with no long-term contracts. Pricing includes the managed layer, automated backups, staging, and 24/7 support. A 3-day free trial is available.
Performance & Speed
We've been monitoring Cloudways' performance for 15 months. Here are our findings:
- Average Uptime: 99.97% (excellent)
- Average Response Time: 165ms (very good)
- ThunderStack: Apache + Nginx + Varnish + Memcached/Redis
- CDN: Cloudflare Enterprise CDN included
Cloudways' ThunderStack combines multiple caching layers for optimal performance. The combination of Varnish, Memcached, and Nginx reverse proxy delivers consistently fast response times. Their Cloudflare Enterprise CDN integration further enhances global performance.
Features
Cloudways provides a feature-rich managed platform:
- ThunderStack: Optimized server stack with multi-layer caching
- Staging: One-click staging with push-to-live
- Free Migration: Expert team migrates your sites for free
- CDN: Cloudflare Enterprise CDN integration
- Backups: Automated backups with on-demand restore
- SSL: Free Let's Encrypt SSL certificates
- Team Management: Multi-user access with role-based permissions
Customer Support
Cloudways provides 24/7 customer support through:
- Live Chat: Available 24/7 with average response time of 2-5 minutes
- Ticket System: Detailed support requests responded within hours
- Knowledge Base: Comprehensive guides and tutorials
- Premium Support: Advanced and premium add-ons with phone support
Cloudways' support team is knowledgeable about both the platform and underlying cloud infrastructure. Their 24/7 live chat is responsive and helpful, making it easy to resolve issues quickly.
Who Should Use Cloudways?
Cloudways is ideal for:
- Users wanting cloud performance without server management
- Agencies managing multiple client websites
- WordPress and WooCommerce sites needing speed
- Growing businesses that need to scale
- Anyone migrating from shared hosting to cloud
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
Consider other options if you:
- Need built-in email hosting
- Want the cheapest possible cloud hosting
- Need domain registration included
- Prefer managing your own server stack
Verdict
Cloudways brilliantly bridges the gap between unmanaged cloud hosting and fully managed solutions. Their ThunderStack technology, free migrations, staging environments, and Cloudflare Enterprise CDN deliver genuine value on top of the underlying cloud infrastructure. While the premium over raw cloud pricing is noticeable, the time saved on server management, security patches, and optimization makes Cloudways an excellent investment for serious websites and agencies.
Final Rating: 4.7/5 - Best managed cloud hosting platform