Cloudways Hosting Review 2026: Is It Still the Best Value?
Cloudways Hosting Review 2026: Is It Still the Best Value?
The world of web hosting is in constant flux, with new players emerging and old giants evolving. For years, Cloudways carved out a unique and powerful niche for itself, offering managed cloud hosting that blended raw power with surprising simplicity. But after its acquisition by DigitalOcean and the relentless march of technology, a crucial question arises as we look at the landscape in 2026: Does Cloudways still represent the best value in hosting? We decided to put it to the test.
For those who have outgrown the limitations of shared hosting but aren't ready to become full-time server administrators, Cloudways has long been the go-to solution. It offers a powerful middle ground, providing access to top-tier cloud infrastructure from providers like DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud, all managed through a clean, intuitive platform. This review will dive deep into its 2026 offerings, examining its performance, features, pricing, and support to determine if it still holds the crown for value-driven performance hosting.
What is Cloudways? A 2026 Refresher
It's important to clarify what Cloudways is—and what it isn't. Cloudways is not a traditional hosting company that owns its own servers. Instead, it's a Platform as a Service (PaaS). You choose a server from one of their integrated cloud partners (like Vultr, Linode, DigitalOcean, AWS, or Google Cloud), and Cloudways builds a powerful, optimized hosting environment on top of it. They handle all the server management, security patching, performance optimization, and support, leaving you free to focus on your website or application.
This model allows them to offer incredible flexibility and scalability. You get the power of a dedicated cloud Virtual Private Server (VPS) without the headache of command-line operations, server software installation, or security configurations. It’s the best of both worlds, and in 2026, this model has become more refined and robust than ever.
Key Features That Define Cloudways in 2026
Cloudways has continued to build upon its solid foundation. Here are the standout features that define the platform today:
Unmatched Performance and Speed: Speed is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity for SEO and user experience. Cloudways continues to excel here with its proprietary "ThunderStack," a potent combination of Nginx, Apache, Varnish Cache, Memcached, and Redis. All servers are SSD-based, and their built-in CDN, CloudwaysCDN, ensures lightning-fast load times for a global audience. Our 2026 tests show that even a basic DigitalOcean server through Cloudways can handle significant traffic spikes without breaking a sweat.
Ultimate Flexibility and Scalability: The core appeal of Cloudways remains its choice. You're not locked into a single infrastructure. You can choose from over 60 data center locations across the globe. More importantly, scaling is seamless. With just a few clicks, you can increase your server's RAM, CPU, and storage—a feature known as vertical scaling—without any downtime. This on-demand scalability is a game-changer for growing businesses and high-traffic websites.
An Intuitive, User-Friendly Platform: While cPanel is familiar, the Cloudways platform is a breath of fresh air. It's clean, logical, and built for modern workflows. Deploying new applications like WordPress or Magento is a one-click affair. Managing SSL certificates, creating staging environments, setting up automated backups, and monitoring server resources are all incredibly straightforward. Even for those with limited technical experience, the platform is far more approachable than managing a raw VPS.
Rock-Solid Security: In an era of constant cyber threats, Cloudways takes security seriously. Every server is protected by a dedicated OS-level firewall. They offer free Let's Encrypt SSL certificates with easy installation and auto-renewal. The platform also includes regular security patching, two-factor authentication (2FA), and bot protection to safeguard your sites from malicious traffic and brute-force attacks.
Pricing Analysis: The Value Proposition in 2026
This is where Cloudways truly shines. Their pricing model is transparent and pay-as-you-go. You pay one monthly bill that covers both the cost of the underlying cloud server and the Cloudways management fee. For example, the entry-level DigitalOcean plan remains competitively priced, offering 1GB RAM, 1 Core Processor, 25GB SSD Storage, and 1TB Bandwidth.
When compared to other managed WordPress hosts like WP Engine or Kinsta, Cloudways is significantly more affordable for similar or even better resources. While it's more expensive than managing a bare-bones VPS yourself, the price difference is easily justified by the time saved, the expert support, and the performance optimizations you get out of the box. For agencies, developers, and small businesses, the value is undeniable. The time and resources saved on server administration can be reinvested directly into growing the business, making the Cloudways fee an excellent investment.
Pros and Cons of Cloudways
No hosting provider is perfect. Here's a balanced look at Cloudways in 2026:
Pros:
- Exceptional Performance: Optimized stack delivers incredible speed.
- Pay-As-You-Go Pricing: Flexible and transparent billing.
- Freedom of Choice: Multiple cloud providers and data centers.
- Easy Scalability: Upgrade server resources on the fly.
- Staging Environments: Test changes safely with one-click staging.
- Top-Notch Security: Proactive security features are built-in.
- 24/7/365 Expert Support: Responsive and knowledgeable support staff.
Cons:
- No Domain Registration: You must purchase your domain name elsewhere.
- Email Hosting Costs Extra: Email is not included by default and requires a paid add-on (like Rackspace).
- Slightly Steeper Learning Curve: For absolute beginners coming from a one-click shared host, there can be a small learning curve.
The Verdict: Is Cloudways Still the Best Value?
After a thorough review of its 2026 offerings, the answer is a resounding yes. Cloudways continues to occupy a unique and highly valuable space in the hosting market. It successfully bridges the gap between affordable but limited shared hosting and powerful but complex unmanaged cloud servers.
For developers, agencies, e-commerce stores, and serious bloggers who demand performance, security, and scalability without the burden of server management, Cloudways is not just a good option—it's arguably the best. The integration with DigitalOcean has only seemed to strengthen its infrastructure and support systems. It provides enterprise-level performance at a price point that small and medium-sized businesses can afford. If you're looking for a hosting partner that can grow with you and deliver consistent, top-tier performance, Cloudways remains the undisputed champion of value in 2026.