Curious if a managed cloud hosting plan can cut costs without cutting performance?
Cloudways offers a clear entry path: Starter, Pro, and Annual Savings tiers starting from $10/month, plus $100 in credits and a 3-day free trial so you can test performance and security risk-free.
You get managed server management, a streamlined deployment workflow with 1-click app deployment and Git, and real-time monitoring with instant alerts. These features suit small businesses and agencies that need reliable uptime and fast web delivery.
Compared to SiteGround and Bluehost, this hosting platform focuses on cloud flexibility and developer tools like SSH, staging, and Object Cache Pro tuning for PHP workloads.
Know the limits: email and domain services often come from third parties. To claim discounts, start the guided tour, activate your $100 credits, apply any promo at checkout, and choose Start Free Trial / Get Discount.
Key Takeaways
- Try risk-free: $100 credits plus a 3-day free trial to validate performance.
- Pricing tiers start at $10/month with Starter, Pro, and Annual Savings options.
- Core SMB features: server management, deployment workflow, and monitoring.
- Stronger cloud flexibility than shared hosts like SiteGround or Bluehost.
- Security includes free SSL, firewalls, automated healing, and Cloudflare integrations.
- Watch for third-party needs (email, domains) before you launch.
- CTA: Start Free Trial or Get Discount to lock in savings.
Why Choose Cloudways for High-Performance Managed Cloud Hosting
Use an opinionated managed cloud solution that tunes servers for steady speed and simpler operations.
This platform is built for small businesses, agencies, and growing eCommerce brands. It removes day-to-day server management so your team focuses on marketing and sales. You get predictable performance for your web applications and shops.
Trusted hosting platform built for speed, security, and scalability
You benefit from Object Cache Pro and a tuned ThunderStack (Nginx, Apache, Varnish, Redis, PHP-FPM) that lowers TTFB and speeds dynamic pages. Providers include DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Linode, and Vultr for flexible cloud scaling.
Who it’s best for
Small businesses, agencies, and eCommerce—you need reliable server management, fast deployment, and clear monitoring. The setup works well when you must scale for campaigns without long procurement cycles.
Performance and protection
- Performance stack: Object Cache Pro, PHP tuning, ThunderStack optimizations.
- Security: free SSL, dedicated firewalls, automated healing, plus Cloudflare CDN, WAF, and DDoS protection.
- Developer workflow: 1-click deployment, Git, SSH/SFTP, and staging for safer releases.
- Monitoring: real-time metrics and instant alerts to track uptime and resource use.
Known limits to consider before you switch
Plan for third-party email and domain services. Advanced compliance may need provider-specific configs. Some edge features rely on Cloudflare add-ons.
| Feature | Benefit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Server management | Hands-off maintenance, automated healing | Good for teams without full-time ops |
| Deployment | 1-click apps, Git, staging | Speeds releases and reduces errors |
| Monitoring | Live metrics and alerts | No extra monitoring tool required |
| Performance & protection | Object Cache Pro, WAF, CDN | Optimized for PHP applications and high traffic |
Cloudways Pricing and Plans in the United States
Pick a plan that fits your traffic patterns and budget while keeping management simple.
Starter, Pro, and Annual Savings are the three pricing tiers, with entry pricing from from $10/month. Starter suits new sites and lean teams. Pro gives more resources and priority tools. Annual Savings lowers your effective cost when you commit for a year while preserving pay-as-you-go scaling.
What’s included
Every account includes 24/7 support, free WordPress migration via the WP Migrator plugin, and 1-click app deployment for PHP, Laravel, and other stacks. You also get real-time monitoring, PHP version control, Git/SSH/SFTP, staging, and flexible infrastructure choices backed by DigitalOcean and Cloudflare options.
Free trial and money-back details you should know
You can start with a 3-day free trial and use $100 in credits to validate performance before spending. Credits apply first; promotional reductions lower upfront annual costs. Verify renewal pricing and promo durations at checkout to avoid surprises.
How to claim discounts and the right plan for you
- Click Start Free Trial and create your account.
- Accept the $100 credits or enter a promo code on the billing screen.
- Choose Starter or Pro, toggle Annual to enable annual savings, then pick your infrastructure and region.
- Launch, migrate with WP Migrator, and validate via monitoring dashboards.
Recommendation: For most small businesses and agencies, start with Starter for one production site or a few low-traffic sites. Move to Pro when you need more caching, concurrent users, or multiple client sites. The deployment and management workflow stays the same across tiers; only underlying infrastructure changes.
Cloudways vs SiteGround and Bluehost: Features That Matter for Small Businesses
If traffic spikes or plugin-heavy stores slow you down, a platform built on cloud providers lets you grow without painful migrations.
Quick comparison: Speed, scalability, and total cost of ownership
Speed: This platform pairs Object Cache Pro with a ThunderStack (Nginx, Varnish, Redis, PHP-FPM) to cut dynamic page times. That often outperforms shared plans from SiteGround and Bluehost under concurrency.
Scalability: You can resize servers in minutes on your chosen cloud, avoiding the plan-jump migrations common with shared hosts.
TCO: Annual savings, $100 in credits, and pay-as-you-go billing lower your effective monthly spend as you consolidate sites.
Three SMB-ready features
- Server management: centralized controls and automated healing reduce admin work.
- Deployment workflow: staging, Git, and SSH/SFTP speed safe releases for client sites and applications.
- Monitoring: built-in metrics and alerts shrink mean time to resolution.
Backed by DigitalOcean infrastructure with Cloudflare security add-ons
The platform is backed by DigitalOcean infrastructure and other providers, giving locational choice and predictable servers. Add Cloudflare CDN, WAF, and DDoS for layered protection and better security.
“For agencies and eCommerce shops, this hosting platform model shortens deployment cycles and improves margin consistency.”
| Area | Advantage | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Object Cache Pro + ThunderStack | Faster dynamic pages under load |
| Scalability | Resize servers quickly | Handle traffic spikes without migration |
| Security | Free SSL, firewalls, Cloudflare | Layered protection versus basic shared plans |
Conclusion
Choose a managed platform that shortens launch time and keeps your team focused on growth, not servers.
You get a clear value mix: Starter, Pro, and Annual Savings tiers from $10/month, plus $100 in credits and a 3-day free trial to validate performance before you switch.
Highlights: fast deployments, free WordPress migration, Object Cache Pro, free SSL, Cloudflare WAF, and real-time monitoring that protect production web workloads.
Limits to plan for: third‑party email and domain services, and any compliance hardening your application needs. Use pay-as-you-go scaling to size the server for today’s traffic and tomorrow’s growth.
For small businesses and agencies running WordPress, WooCommerce, lead-gen funnels, or multi-client portfolios, this managed cloud hosting option balances control and convenience.
Ready to save and scale? Start Free Trial or Get Discount now, apply your promo, and use Annual Savings to lower ongoing hosting costs while you test with credits and the 3-day trial.
