By Basharat Ali Khan | Last updated: October 17, 2026

Disclosure: The Cloudways links in this post are affiliate links, so I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read my affiliate disclosure. I use Cloudways for my own projects, and I have tried to keep this review fair, including the downsides.

Cloudways review: if you have outgrown cheap shared hosting but do not want to pay premium managed WordPress prices, Cloudways is one of the first options people suggest. This Cloudways review covers how it works, what it costs, who it suits and who should skip it. It also has a section for Pakistani site owners, because payment and server location work differently for us.

Key Takeaways

• Cloudways is managed cloud hosting. You pay for the server, not per website.
• It suits freelancers, agencies and sites that have outgrown shared hosting.
• It is not ideal for complete beginners who want zero decisions.
• Pricing changed in 2026 and sources disagree, so check the official pricing page.
• You pay in USD, so confirm your payment method before you sign up.

Quick Answer

Cloudways review in short: Cloudways is managed cloud hosting that runs your site on providers such as DigitalOcean, Vultr or AWS. You pay for the server rather than per site, so it suits freelancers, agencies and growing sites. It is not ideal for complete beginners, and because it bills in USD, check your payment method first.

What Is Cloudways and How Does It Work?

Cloudways is a managed hosting platform that sits on top of cloud infrastructure companies. With traditional hosting such as Hostinger or SiteGround, you rent space on servers the hosting company owns. With Cloudways, you choose a cloud provider (DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS or Google Cloud), and Cloudways handles setup, security, backups and support on top.

The result is a server that is dedicated to your applications instead of sharing resources with hundreds of unrelated sites, but with a dashboard that is simpler than managing a raw VPS yourself.

Cloudways Review: Key Features

• Choice of cloud providers. You pick the provider and the data centre closest to your visitors, and you can scale the server size later.
• Unlimited applications per server. You pay for server resources (RAM, CPU, storage), and you can host as many WordPress sites as the server can handle. That is the main reason agencies like it.
• Optimized server stack. Cloudways describes its stack as a combination of NGINX, Apache, PHP-FPM, Varnish, Memcached and Redis, pre-configured for WordPress.
• Free SSL and staging. SSL certificates and one-click staging environments are part of the platform.
• Backups. Automated backups and easy restores from the dashboard.
• SafeUpdates. Cloudways offers a tool that tests WordPress updates before they reach your live site.
• Support. Cloudways advertises 24/7 live chat and ticket support.

Features and plan limits change, so confirm the current details on the official site.

Cloudways Speed and Performance

In this Cloudways review, I focus on tests you can repeat yourself instead of unverified benchmark numbers. Speed depends on the server size you choose, the data centre location, your theme and plugins, and your caching setup. Cloudways makes its own performance claims, but I do not publish benchmark numbers here without screenshots to back them up.

The best test is your own. Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card, so you can try it properly:

1. Start the trial and deploy a copy of your site.
2. Run Google PageSpeed Insights in mobile mode on your current host and on the Cloudways copy.
3. Compare Core Web Vitals and server response time, not just the overall score.

One real advantage is resource isolation. On shared hosting, a busy neighbour can slow your site. On a dedicated cloud server, that is much less of a problem.

Cloudways Review: Pricing Explained

Cloudways pricing is based on the server you choose, not on the number of websites. The entry price depends on the provider and the plan. Cloudways changed its plan structure in 2026, and sources disagree on the entry price: several 2026 guides list the small DigitalOcean server at around $14 per month (with a 2 GB server at around $28), while older guides list $11 and $22. Check the Cloudways pricing page for the current price before you decide.

Use code WPEXLAB for 10% off your first 3 months on Cloudways.

• DigitalOcean and Vultr: the most popular and cheapest options for most WordPress sites.
• AWS and Google Cloud: priced higher, aimed at larger or enterprise sites.
• Extras: some add-ons, such as email hosting, are paid separately.

Plans bill monthly, so you can start small and upgrade as your site grows.

Cloudways Review for Pakistani Users

Cloudways review for Pakistan comes down to two practical things: payment and server location.

• Payment. Cloudways bills in USD, so you need an international card or a supported payment method. Many Pakistani users pay with an international debit or credit card, or a virtual card. Check what your bank allows before you rely on it.
• Server location. As far as I know, none of the cloud providers Cloudways uses has a data centre in Pakistan. For South Asian audiences, locations in India or Singapore are the usual choice, and they are available on some of the providers. Check which ones are offered for the provider you pick.
• International audiences. If most of your visitors are outside Pakistan, a data centre near them, with a CDN, often matters more than a local server.

For a wider comparison of local and international hosts, read my guide to the best WordPress hosting in Pakistan, and see my WordPress website cost guide for how hosting fits into a budget.

Cloudways Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Cloud-server performance without managing a raw server
• Unlimited sites per server, so costs stay predictable for agencies
• Choice of cloud providers and data centres
• Staging, backups and SSL included in the platform
• 3-day free trial with no credit card, so you can test before you pay

Cons

• A steeper learning curve than shared hosting. You need to understand server size, PHP versions and application management.
• No domain registration. You register domains elsewhere, for example with Namecheap, and point them to your server.
• Email is not included. Email hosting is a paid add-on or a separate service.
• Costs rise on AWS and Google Cloud. Check the plan before you pick them.
• Not fully hands-off. Fully managed hosts such as Kinsta handle more for you, at a higher price.
• USD billing, which can be an obstacle in Pakistan.

Who Should Use Cloudways?

This Cloudways review suggests it fits a specific kind of user, and it is not the right choice for everyone.

Good for:

• Freelancers and agencies hosting several client sites
• Business owners who have outgrown shared hosting
• WooCommerce stores that need dedicated resources
• Developers who want staging and server access

Skip it if:

• You are a complete beginner who wants zero hosting decisions
• You need email or a domain included in the plan
• You cannot pay in USD

Cloudways vs Alternatives

Cloudways review comparisons usually come down to price versus how hands-on you want to be.

• vs shared hosts (SiteGround, Hostinger): Shared hosts are simpler and cheaper to start, and often include email. Cloudways gives you more power and flexibility, especially for several sites.
• vs premium managed hosts (Kinsta, WP Engine): Those hosts handle more for you but generally cost more per site. See my detailed Cloudways vs WP Engine comparison.
• Choosing a data centre: My Cloudways DigitalOcean vs Vultr guide helps you pick a provider.

Cloudways Review Verdict: Is It Worth It in 2026?

Cloudways is a strong choice if you manage several WordPress sites or you have outgrown shared hosting and want more control without running a server yourself. The learning curve, USD billing and extras like email are the main drawbacks. Because it offers a free trial, you can test it with your own site before you spend anything.

Start the free Cloudways trial

Use code WPEXLAB for 10% off your first 3 months on Cloudways.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cloudways good for WordPress beginners?

It is not the easiest choice for complete beginners, because you make decisions about server size and provider. Beginners who want a simple dashboard may prefer a shared host.

How much does Cloudways cost per month?

Plans start at roughly $14 per month for a small DigitalOcean server on current pricing, though some guides still list $11. Prices change, so check the official page.

Does Cloudways offer a free trial?

Yes. Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card required, so you can deploy a real site and test it.

Can I host multiple WordPress sites on one Cloudways server?

Yes. You pay for the server, and you can host as many sites as its resources can handle.

Does Cloudways include backups?

Yes. Cloudways includes automated backups and easy restores. Check the current backup options and retention in your plan.

Can I pay for Cloudways from Pakistan?

Cloudways bills in USD, so you need an international card or another supported payment method. Check with your bank whether international payments are allowed on your card.

Is Cloudways faster than shared hosting?

Usually, because your server resources are not shared with many other sites. The result still depends on your site, so test it with the free trial.

Need Help Moving to Cloudways?

If you want your site migrated and configured properly, see my WordPress services or contact me for a quote.

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About the author
Basharat Ali Khan is a WordPress developer in Gilgit, Pakistan with 8+ years of experience building custom plugins, Elementor sites and WooCommerce stores.
LinkedIn | WordPress.org profile

Related: Best WordPress Hosting Pakistan | Cloudways vs WP Engine | Cloudways DigitalOcean vs Vultr | WordPress Speed Optimization Service