Cloudways
Managed on top of DO/Vultr/Linode · $14+/mo · WordPress + PHP apps
Why we recommend it
Cloudways sits between you and cloud providers (DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, Google Cloud). You pick a backend, choose a server size, and Cloudways handles provisioning, stack configuration, SSL, backups, and app deployment. The stack is pre-optimized (NGINX + Apache + Varnish + Memcached + Redis) for WordPress. Acquired by DigitalOcean in 2022.
Highlights
- Backend: DO / Vultr / Linode / AWS / GCP
- Optimized WordPress stack
- Server migration between backends
- $14/mo for 2GB on DigitalOcean backend
What we liked
- Cloud economics + managed UX
- Backend flexibility
- No lock-in
What could be better
- No full root access
- Email hosting separate
Hands-on screenshots
Captured live from Cloudways — not stock photos.
Full guide · 9 min read
Cloudways Review: Managed VPS Explained
Cloudways sits on top of DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, and AWS — the managed overlay that takes care of sysadmin.
- How it works
- Backend options and pricing
- What's included in every plan
- Where Cloudways wins
- Where Cloudways is limited
- Cloudways vs Kinsta vs raw DigitalOcean
How we evaluated Cloudways
- Signed up to the entry plan (or free trial) and ran TTFB / throughput tests with k6 + WebPageTest from 3 regions
- Measured provisioning time from checkout to first successful SSH / WP-admin login
- Opened a real support ticket and timed first meaningful response
- Cross-referenced uptime with third-party monitors (HostingFacts, UptimeRobot public dashboards)
Last re-verified 2026-04-01. We re-check each listing on a 90-day rolling cadence; when a program slips, the rating drops here before it drops anywhere else. How we work.