Cloudways Hosting is a one-of-a-kind hosting service provider. They are one of the few hosting providers that challenge the boundaries of affordability whilst also offering great service and performance for their customers. One great feature of Cloudways is the fact they are partnered up with other hosting providers, including Linode; Vultr,  Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and also DigitalOcean, who use truly unique methods to manage their own packages.

One of the most exciting parts of Cloudways is the amount of different hosting packages they offer their customers using partnered packages. Altogether there are 54 hosting packages to choose from, which may prove difficult for the average person to understand and decide upon. Overall, there are 11 DigitalOcean plans; 10 Linode plans, seven Vultr plans, 14 Amazon Web Service plans and 12 Google Cloud plans.

A Brief History of Cloudways

Cloudways is a Malta-based hosting service provider that was founded in 2011. One reason why the platform has become such a successful is its collaboration with leading partners, and that the services they offer support multiple content management systems, including WordPress; Drupal, Magento, Joomla and Moodle.

The platform was revamped in 2016, driving many changes within the business – including the services and plans on offer.

Understandably, they are now seen as one of the most promising up-and-coming hosting providers this side of the Atlantic.

ProfileTree Cloudways Hosting Review

Hosting at Cloudways

Throughout the world, Cloudways have multiple data centers, including all the data centres owned by their partners. For instance, DigitalOcean has eight data centres, stretching from San Francisco on the US west coast to New York on the east coast. Other data centres are located throughout Europe and Asia. Other partners including Vultr, Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud have data centres in Sydney, Australia. Meanwhile, AWS have the only data centre in South America used by Cloudways, located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Partnering with aws application development services leverages AWS infrastructure expertise for custom cloud-based apps.

What does this mean? One of the main reasons for using different data centre locations is the speed this can offer. Ultimately, speed makes or breaks the way people use the World Wide Web and if a user can’t access a website instantly due to loading times, they’re more than likely to not arrive again in future. Indeed, the age-old saying of ‘patience is a virtue’ does not exist online.

Hosting Plans at Cloudways

Overall there are 54 hosting plans offered by Cloudways, all supported by their partners.

You can also start any of the plans for free – a great incentive for those wanting a hosting service but don’t know which one would be right for them. When starting a free trail, no card details are needed – meaning you won’t be billed for a renewed subscription.

Other features that you receive when purchasing a hosting plan from Cloudways include a CDN; 24/7 customer support, backups, firewalls, one-click installation and much more – all for the cost of nothing. Many of these features are usually offered by other hosting companies at an additional cost.

Cloudways Partner with DigitalOcean

Working alongside DigitalOcean, Cloudways offer 11 plans. They are all named after the size of the RAM of the plan. For example, the smallest plan’s name is ‘DO1GB’ as the amount of RAM it comes with is equal to 1GB. This is the same for the largest plan, ‘DO192GB’, as it has up to 192GB of RAM available. To find out details of individual plans, visit below or visit the Cloudways site directly. Below is a screenshot of all the DigitalOcean plans available.

Cloudways hosting - full review

Features of these plans include RAM, storage and bandwidth. The smallest plan has the smallest amount of all three of these features compared to the largest amount for the largest plan. All of the Cloudways DigitalOcean plans can be expensive; but at the time of writing, all the older plans have a discount applied to them to make them much more affordable. That means the smallest plan has a cost of only $14 compared to the $17/£13.62/€15.37 original price. It also means that the most popular plan that would normally cost $70/£56.06/€63.28 now costs $42/£33.64/€37.97 which works out at around a 40% saving.

Cloudways hosting - full review

Meet the Linode and Cloudways Hosting Partnership

Similarly to the DigitalOcean/Cloudways Hosting, Cloudways also has a partnership with Linode.

The plans that Cloudways and Linode offer is very similar to the DigitalOcean plans. There is one less plan between the two and that is the 48GB plan offered by DigitalOcean/Cloudways. Below are the Cloudways Linode Plans.

As you can see from the above image, Cloudways/Linode offer 10 individual plans that range in RAM, Processor, Storage, Bandwidth and price. When comparing the plans to those offered by Linode site itself, all are the same except one vital part: the price. With Cloudways, the price for Linode hosting is more expensive. But that comes at no surprise considering the number of additional features Cloudways offer, along with the hosting – all for the single hosting price.

The price for the different plans varies a lot with the cheapest being quite affordable. The most expensive plan is $1,205/£965.11/€1089.34 a month. To find out more about the plans above, visit the Cloudways website.

The Cloudways Vultr Partnership

Vultr is another hosting company that Cloudways has a partnership with. This partnership offers the least amount of plans with Cloudways compared to the 11 with DigitalOcean, 10 with Linode, 14 with AWS and 12 with Google Cloud, with the last two being further down in this article.

Once again, all plans offered are very similar to the previous DigitalOcean and Linode plans. See all the plans offered by Cloudways/Vultr below:

Vultr Cloudways Hosting Plans

Overall there are seven plans, as you can see from the image above. All these plans offer something different, whether its the size of the RAM, bandwidth or storage, the processor or the price of the plan. Compared to the other plans such as the DigitalOcean and Linode plans, the plans offered by Vultr are cheaper.

If we compare the largest plan by Vultr, the 64GB plan, every feature is the same apart from the price and bandwidth size which is half the size of the Linode plan but 1TB more than the DigitalOcean plan. The price is almost half the original price of the DigitalOcean plan although, at the moment, the DigitalOcean plan is on a deal. It is almost $100/£80.09/€90.40 cheaper than the Linode plan.

Amazon Web Services and Cloudways

Onto the biggest partnership with Cloudways, we have Amazon Web Services. This is the biggest partnership out of the five due to the size of the plans they offer and also the number of plans on offer, at a staggering 14.

The Cloudways and Amazon Web Service partnership is one of two partnerships that offer a CPU processor as opposed to the Core processors in the plans above. The other partnership is the Google Cloud below. Check out the plans offered by the Cloudways/AWS partnership in the image below.

Cloudways hosting - full review

As you can see there are a lot of AWS plans to choose from. It will probably be difficult to understand which is the perfect plan for you. Fortunately there is customer support that can assist you in making that choice. This may be especially hard as there are a number of plans that are very similar (such as the AWS XL) compared to the ones underneath it in the list.

These plans also start from an expensive amount, with the cheapest plan offered to be more than double the other partners with the exception of Google Cloud. This would be due to the processor being used as both AWS and Google Cloud offering CPU as opposed to the Core processor. Find the right plan for you above or visit the Cloudways website for more information.

Partnering with Google Cloud

Alongside the four other partners talked about above, Cloudways have also partnered with Google Cloud to offer hosting plans. These plans are very similar to the Amazon Web Service Plans due to the offering of a CPU instead of a Core processor, but offer a smaller amount of plans via Google Cloud.

Cloudways hosting - full review

Similar to the Amazon Web Services, these plans are more expensive than the DigitalOcean, Linode and Vultr plans. This is due to the processor being used. For additional help finding the right plan for you, Cloudways have their own online chat if you need to find the perfect plan for you.

Cloudways Target Market

When looking at all the plans offered by Cloudways, they all seem quite professional, meaning the average hosting customer may find it very difficult to choose the right plan for themselves. They might not even know what to call every feature they need from their hosting.

On Cloudways, DigitalOcean offer some of the easiest plans to understand, so the others would be increasingly difficult for the Average Joe.

Positives of Cloudways

Overall, Cloudways offer a lot of positives with the plans they offer. Firstly, you can choose from five well-known and established hosting services. The servers of these hosting services are modern and offer fast speeds around the world. There are servers located around the world, including North & South America; Asia, Europe and Australia which contribute to the fast speeds of Cloudways.

Additionally, the features offered by Cloudways are a major plus. Firstly, you don’t need to pay any additional fees. Secondly, they include free website migration; free SSL certificates, 24/7 support, managed backups firewalls, quick website installs, CDN and much more. This is above and beyond the call of duty of any hosting provider.

The control panel offered with the plans is also easy and friendly to use. You also have the option of choosing from many content management systems, such as WordPress and Drupal to name a few.

Cloudways also have a range of plans available for smaller and larger projects and agencies. The support is also very good although sometimes it can be a bit tricky to understand technical terms which may be a disadvantage to those not experienced in hosting.

Negatives of Cloudways

Cloudways don’t offer any email hosting or domain name registrar services. This is a major disadvantage compared to other hosting services. The services they also offer can also be hard to understand for the non-professional user. The support can be hard for non-experienced people, due to technical terms being used.

Many people will see the no CPanel as a disadvantage, as many users migrating to Cloudways will have experience with this control panel and will need to get used to a new one.

A lot of the plans offered by Cloudways are expensive – but you do get your money’s worth, however.

Money Back Guarantee Policy: Understanding Cloudways Refunds

Before committing to any hosting platform, understanding the refund policy is crucial. Luckily, Cloudways offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on unused prepaid account funds. This means you can test their platform risk-free for a month and get your money back if you’re not satisfied. However, it’s important to understand the specific details and nuances of their policy:

Refundable Amounts:

  • The guarantee only applies to unused prepaid account funds. This means any resources consumed during your trial period will be deducted from your refund amount.
  • Unused monthly subscriptions are also refundable. If you cancel your subscription within the first 30 days and haven’t exceeded your allocated resources, you’ll receive a full refund for that month’s payment.

Non-Refundable Amounts:

  • Setup fees: The initial $10 setup fee is non-refundable.
  • Domain registrations: Any domain names purchased via Cloudways are non-refundable.
  • Add-ons and marketplace purchases: Additional services like malware scanning or application monitoring purchased through the Cloudways platform are non-refundable.
  • Overages: If you go beyond your allocated resources during the trial period, you’ll be charged for the exceeding usage. These charges are non-refundable.

Timeframe and Conditions:

  • To claim your refund, you must initiate the request within 30 days of adding funds to your account. Don’t wait until the last minute!
  • You can request a refund through your Cloudways account dashboard. The process is straightforward and typically takes around 5-7 business days for the refund to be processed.
  • Specific reasons for dissatisfaction are not required. Cloudways trusts that you’ll use the trial period to explore their platform and make an informed decision.

Additional Points:

  • The refund policy applies to all Cloudways account plans, including their pay-as-you-go option.
  • Cloudways reserves the right to deny refunds under certain circumstances, such as fraudulent activity or violation of their terms of service.

Tips for Maximizing Your Trial Period:

  • Set clear goals for your trial: What features do you want to test? What specific questions do you need answered?
  • Deploy a test website or application: This is the best way to experience the platform’s performance and capabilities firsthand.
  • Contact Cloudways support: If you have any questions or encounter difficulties, their support team is available 24/7 to assist you.
  • Track your resource usage: Keep an eye on your resource consumption to avoid surprises on your bill.

In conclusion, Cloudways’ 30-day money-back guarantee provides a generous safety net for new users. By understanding the policy details and making the most of your trial period, you can confidently choose the best hosting plan for your needs.

Cloudways eCommerce Support: Powering Up Your Online Store

For aspiring digital merchants, choosing the right hosting platform can make or break their online dreams. Cloudways recognizes this, offering robust eCommerce support tailored specifically for popular platforms like Magento and WooCommerce. This goes beyond simple hosting – it’s a complete digital ecosystem ready to take your online store to new heights.

Tools and Integrations for Magento:

  • One-click Magento installation: Skip the complex setup process and launch your Magento store in minutes.
  • Pre-configured Magento servers: Enjoy optimized server environments specifically tuned for Magento performance and security.
  • Automatic Magento updates: Stay up-to-date with the latest Magento versions without manual hassle.
  • Easy scaling: Need more resources during peak seasons? Cloudways’ flexible plans let you scale up and down seamlessly.
  • Integration with Magento marketplace extensions: Access a vast library of extensions to enhance your store’s functionality and customize the shopping experience.
  • 24/7 expert support: Cloudways’ Magento-trained support team is available to answer your questions and troubleshoot any issues.

WooCommerce Powerhouse:

  • Effortless WooCommerce installation: Get your WooCommerce store up and running in mere clicks with pre-configured server environments.
  • Automatic WooCommerce updates: Maintain a secure and optimized store with automatic updates for WooCommerce core and plugins.
  • Built-in caching: Enjoy lightning-fast website loading speeds with Cloudways’ advanced caching mechanisms.
  • Staging environments: Test new plugins and updates before deploying them to your live store, ensuring a smooth customer experience.
  • WooCommerce security features: Cloudways offers advanced security measures like firewalls and malware scanning to protect your store from online threats.
  • Integration with popular WooCommerce plugins: Easily connect your store with essential plugins like Yoast SEO and Mailchimp for enhanced functionality.

Beyond Platforms:

Cloudways’ eCommerce support extends beyond platform-specific features. Here are some additional benefits you can enjoy:

  • High-performance servers: Choose from various cloud providers like DigitalOcean and Linode, known for their robust infrastructure and exceptional speed.
  • Global server locations: Reduce latency and improve website speed for international customers with strategically placed servers around the world.
  • Automated backups and disaster recovery: Protect your valuable store data with automated backups and restore them effortlessly in case of any mishap.
  • Pay-as-you-go pricing: Avoid unnecessary expenses with a flexible pricing model that scales with your store’s traffic and needs.

In conclusion, Cloudways’ eCommerce support caters to both the technical and business needs of online store owners. With pre-configured server environments, seamless integrations, and dedicated tools for popular platforms like Magento and WooCommerce, Cloudways provides the perfect foundation for your online venture to thrive. So, choose Cloudways, unleash your eCommerce potential, and watch your sales soar!

Cloudways Recommendation

When it comes to using Cloudways, ProfileTree believe that the positives outweigh the negatives. The price can be expensive, but you really do get what you pay for.

*ALL PRICING WITHIN THIS ARTICLE  WERE ACCURATE AT TIME OF WRITING. ALL STERLING (GBP) AND EURO (EUR) WERE CONVERTED FROM DOLLARS (USD) USING GOOGLE’S OWN CONVERTER.

*ALL PLANS AND PACKAGES ON CLOUDWAYS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY CLOUDWAYS AND THEIR PARTNERS.

Have you checked out the ProfileTree WordPress Hosting Service? At ProfileTre,e we offer our own individual WordPress hosting service. To find out more, visit the WordPress Hosting page.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cloudways Hosting

Is Cloudways good for beginners?

Yes! Cloudways’ user-friendly interface and one-click setup features make it easy for beginners to manage their websites without needing extensive technical knowledge. Additionally, their 24/7 support team is readily available to answer any questions or assist with troubleshooting.

Is Cloudways more expensive than other web hosting providers?

Costs can vary depending on your specific needs and resource usage. While Cloudways may have a slightly higher base price point compared to some shared hosting solutions, their pay-as-you-go model ensures you only pay for the resources you use, potentially saving you money on low-traffic websites. Furthermore, the performance, scalability, and security features offered by Cloudways often outweigh the initial cost difference.

What’s included in the free trial?

Cloudways offers a generous 30-day free trial with access to all their features and functionalities. This allows you to test-drive the platform before committing to a paid plan, ensuring it meets your website’s requirements.

Is my website safe with Cloudways?

Absolutely! Cloudways takes security seriously, offering features like automatic backups, firewalls, malware scanning, and server health monitoring. Additionally, their choice of secure cloud providers and advanced security options provide optimal protection for your website.

How do I migrate my website to Cloudways?

Cloudways makes website migration a breeze with their one-click site cloning feature and pre-configured application setups. They also offer detailed migration guides and support to help you seamlessly move your website to their platform.

Conclusion: Unleash Your Website’s Potential with Cloudways

Cloudways provides a powerful, reliable, and user-friendly web hosting solution for individuals and businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a beginner launching your first website or a seasoned developer managing complex applications, Cloudways offers the flexibility, scalability, and advanced features to power your digital presence. With its emphasis on performance, security, and control, Cloudways empowers you to focus on what matters most – creating exceptional online experiences for your audience.

So, ditch the limitations of traditional shared hosting and consider making the switch to Cloudways. With their free trial, intuitive interface, and comprehensive features, you can easily unleash your website’s full potential and propel your online endeavors to new heights.

Remember, Cloudways is not just a hosting provider; it’s a strategic partner in your digital journey. Take advantage of their resources, support, and powerful platform to take your website to the next level!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *