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Quick Answer
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform: you pick a cloud provider such as DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS or Google Cloud, and Cloudways manages the server for you. Its managed cloud servers start at $11 per month, and you can test it with a 3-day free trial that needs no credit card. It suits growing WordPress sites, stores and agencies that have outgrown shared hosting; beginners with one small site will usually find shared hosting simpler and cheaper.
Key Takeaways
- Cloudways says its managed cloud servers start at $11 per month, with 24/7 expert support.
- The smallest DigitalOcean Premium server is listed at $0.0208 per hour with 1 vCPU and 25GB NVMe storage.
- You can choose DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS or Google Cloud as the underlying provider.
- A 3-day free trial is available with no credit card required.
- Free managed migration, free SSL, automated backups and free advanced staging are included.
How Cloudways Pricing Works
Cloudways does not sell fixed shared hosting plans. You choose a cloud provider and a server size, and pay for that server.
| What you pay for | How Cloudways states it |
|---|---|
| Entry price | Managed cloud servers starting at $11 per month |
| Smallest DigitalOcean Premium server | $0.0208 per hour, 1 vCPU, 25GB NVMe |
| Extra bandwidth on DigitalOcean | $0.02 per GB |
| Extra bandwidth on AWS | $0.12 per GB |
| Trial | 3-day free trial, no credit card required |
Bandwidth follows a pay-as-you-go model: you only pay for the additional bandwidth you use beyond your server’s limit. Prices are taken from Cloudways’ pricing page on 2026-10-07; the exact monthly price depends on the provider, server size and location you choose.
Check current Cloudways pricing
Two Ways to Host: Flexible and Autonomous
- Cloudways Flexible is customizable managed hosting for WordPress, Magento, Laravel and PHP apps, with control over server resources and your choice of cloud.
- Cloudways Autonomous is fully managed WordPress hosting built to autoscale, aimed at high-traffic stores and learning sites.
For most site owners moving up from shared hosting, Flexible is the starting point, because you can begin with a small server and resize later.
What Is Included
- Free managed migration. Cloudways’ team moves your existing site from your current host.
- Free SSL. Let’s Encrypt certificates are built in.
- Automated backups. On-demand or scheduled backups with one-click restore.
- Free advanced staging. Test changes on a copy of your site before you publish them.
- 24/7 support. Chat and ticketing support around the clock.
- Optional add-ons. Cloudways offers extras such as Cloudflare Enterprise CDN and email services at additional cost.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Choice of five cloud providers, including DigitalOcean, AWS and Google Cloud
- 3-day free trial without a credit card
- Free managed migration and free advanced staging
- Pay-as-you-go bandwidth instead of a hard cap
- 24/7 chat and ticketing support
Cons
- More settings to understand than shared hosting
- The monthly price depends on provider, server size and location, so it is harder to compare
- Email hosting and some performance add-ons cost extra
- Extra bandwidth is billed per GB once you pass your server’s limit
Who Cloudways Is Best For
- Growing WordPress sites and stores that need more resources than shared hosting provides.
- Agencies that manage several client sites and want staging and a choice of cloud.
- Developers running Magento, Laravel or PHP apps who want managed servers without doing server administration themselves.
If you only run one small site, a shared host is usually simpler. Compare our InterServer review and GreenGeeks review.
How We Evaluated Cloudways
- We read Cloudways’ official pricing page on 2026-10-07 and use only the prices and features published there.
- Because Cloudways prices servers by provider, size and location, we report the entry price and per-hour rate it states rather than estimating monthly totals.
- We separated what is included from what is an optional paid add-on.
- We have not run our own speed or uptime tests on Cloudways, so this review makes no performance claims.
FAQ
How much does Cloudways cost per month?
Cloudways states that its managed cloud servers start at $11 per month. The smallest DigitalOcean Premium server is listed at $0.0208 per hour with 1 vCPU and 25GB NVMe storage. Your actual monthly cost depends on the cloud provider, server size and location you choose, plus any extra bandwidth.
Does Cloudways offer a free trial?
Yes. Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial that does not require a credit card. You can launch a server, install WordPress and test the dashboard before paying. Because the trial is short, prepare your site and test plan in advance so you can evaluate the platform within those three days.
Which cloud providers can I use on Cloudways?
Cloudways lets you choose DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud as the underlying provider. Cloudways then manages the server, security and updates for you. The provider you pick affects the price, available locations and how extra bandwidth is billed each month.
Will Cloudways migrate my website?
Yes. Cloudways offers free managed migration, where its team moves your existing website from your current host. Plan the move before your current hosting plan renews, so you do not pay for two services at the same time, and test the migrated site on Cloudways before you change your domain’s DNS.