Cloudways positions itself as a beginner-friendly managed cloud-hosting platform that removes much of the complexity usually associated with running a server. By sitting on top of leading infrastructure providers and adding an intuitive control panel, it allows first-time site owners to launch, manage, and scale WordPress, WooCommerce, or custom PHP projects without wrestling with command-line tools.
Features
Cloudways partners with DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Linode, and Vultr, so new users can spin up servers in dozens of global locations and pay only for the capacity they actually consume. A streamlined dashboard offers one-click application installs, staging environments, free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates, automated backups on custom schedules, and effortless vertical scaling. Built-in caching layers—Nginx, Varnish, Redis, and Memcached—combine with the Breeze plugin and an optional Cloudflare Enterprise add-on to accelerate page delivery, while a team feature lets collaborators work safely under granular role permissions.
Performance
Because Cloudways deploys each server on SSD-backed instances and preconfigures PHP-FPM, MariaDB, and object caching, even entry-level plans deliver snappy load times. Integrated monitoring shows real-time CPU, RAM, and bandwidth usage, helping beginners spot bottlenecks early. Uptime commitments vary by underlying provider, but the platform’s track record hovers near the 99.99 % mark, and its new autoscaling support for DigitalOcean Premium droplets ensures resources expand smoothly as traffic surges.
Customer support
Round-the-clock live chat and ticket assistance come standard, with optional Advanced or Premium tiers that add proactive application troubleshooting and phone access. The knowledge base, community forum, and in-panel tips offer step-by-step guidance, making it easier for newcomers to resolve common issues without formal sysadmin skills.
Security
Every server launches behind a dedicated firewall, with regular OS patching handled by Cloudways engineers. Two-factor authentication, bot protection powered by MalCare, and IP whitelisting for SSH/SFTP add extra layers of defense. Daily off-site backups, configurable from hourly to weekly, let users restore entire servers or individual sites in a few clicks.
Pricing
Cloudways follows a pay-as-you-go model, charging by the hour based on the provider and specs you choose. A basic DigitalOcean instance suitable for a personal blog or small business site costs roughly the price of a streaming subscription per month, and there are no long-term contracts or upfront fees. Because the platform bills only for the resources actually used, beginners can start small and upgrade seamlessly as their projects grow.
Bottom line
For those entering the world of web hosting in 2025, Cloudways strikes a compelling balance between control and convenience. It blends the power of top-tier cloud infrastructure with a beginner-oriented interface, delivering speed, security, and scalability without the usual learning curve. If you want to focus on building and growing your site rather than managing servers, Cloudways stands out as a flexible, cost-effective choice in the landscape of hosting options for newcomers.
