Cloudways for Agencies: Is It a Good Choice for Your Agency?

If you run a digital agency, you know hosting can make or break your client relationships. Slow load times, frequent downtime, and clunky server management eat into your team’s billable hours and hurt your reputation.

That’s why many agencies are turning to managed cloud hosting platforms like Cloudways. But is Cloudways for agencies actually a good fit, or is it overhyped? Let’s break down everything you need to know.

What Is Cloudways, Exactly?

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that sits between you and top-tier cloud infrastructure providers like AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr.

Instead of managing servers yourself, Cloudways handles all the technical heavy lifting: server setup, security patches, caching, backups, and performance optimization. You pick your preferred cloud provider and server resources, then focus on building and managing client sites.

Key Cloudways Features for Agencies

Cloudways built several features specifically for agency workflows, cutting down on repetitive tasks and streamlining client management.

1. Unlimited App Installs & Team Collaboration

You can host unlimited WordPress, Magento, Laravel, and custom PHP sites on a single Cloudways server, with no per-site fees. This is a game-changer for agencies managing dozens of client projects.

Add team members with role-based access (admin, developer, client) to give stakeholders the right level of control without risking server security. No extra cost per user, either.

2. Vertical Scaling & Pay-As-You-Go Pricing

Agency traffic is rarely static: client product launches, seasonal sales, and viral campaigns can spike traffic overnight. Cloudways lets you scale server RAM, CPU, and storage up or down in 2 clicks, with no downtime.

You only pay for the resources you use, with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. This flexibility keeps costs predictable even as your client roster grows.

3. Built-In Performance & Security Tools

Cloudways includes enterprise-grade tools out of the box, so your team doesn’t waste time configuring them manually:

• Free SSL certificates for all sites
• Automated daily backups (with custom frequency options)
• 1-click staging environments to test updates safely
• Advanced caching (Varnish, Memcached, Redis) pre-configured for speed
• Optional Cloudflare Enterprise integration for DDoS protection and global CDN

4. White-Labeling Options for Resellers

If your agency resells hosting to clients, Cloudways’ white-label features let you brand the entire experience as your own. You can:

• Replace Cloudways branding with your agency logo on client dashboards
• Use custom name servers tied to your domain
• Generate white-labeled invoices for hosting services

These features are available on all paid plans, no enterprise upgrade required.

5. 24/7 Expert Support

Downtime costs agencies both money and client trust. Cloudways offers 24/7 live chat and ticket support, with a knowledge base of step-by-step guides for common issues.

Higher-tier plans include priority support, with guaranteed response times under 1 hour for critical issues.

Pros of Using Cloudways for Agencies

• No server management overhead: Your team focuses on client work, not patching servers or troubleshooting downtime.
• Scalable for growing teams: Easily add new client sites or scale resources as your agency expands.
• Recurring revenue opportunities: White-label features let you resell hosting as an added service to clients.
• Flexible infrastructure choice: Pick the cloud provider (AWS, Google Cloud, etc.) that fits each client’s compliance or performance needs.
• Transparent pricing: No hidden fees, and you can calculate costs upfront based on server resources.

Cons of Using Cloudways for Agencies

• No email hosting included: You’ll need to set up third-party email (Google Workspace, Zoho Mail) for client domains.
• Small learning curve: Teams unfamiliar with cloud hosting may need 1-2 weeks to get comfortable with the dashboard.
• No default root access: Advanced users need to submit a support ticket to enable root access for custom server configurations.
• Higher cost than shared hosting: While cheaper than hiring a dedicated server admin, it’s more expensive than low-quality shared hosting (which agencies should avoid anyway).

Who Is Cloudways for Agencies Best Suited For?

Cloudways is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it’s a great match for:

• Agencies managing 5+ client websites (the time savings outweigh the cost)
• Teams without in-house server administration expertise
• Agencies reselling hosting as a value-added service
• Shops building performance-heavy sites (e-commerce, membership platforms, high-traffic blogs)

Cloudways Agency Pricing: What to Expect

Pricing is tied to your chosen cloud provider and server resources, not the number of sites you host. For example:

• DigitalOcean: Starts at $11/month for 1GB RAM, 1 core CPU, 25GB storage
• AWS: Starts at $36.51/month for 1.75GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 20GB storage
• Google Cloud: Starts at $33.30/month for 1.7GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 20GB storage

All plans include unlimited apps, team members, and free migrations for up to 5 sites. You can upgrade or downgrade plans at any time with no penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cloudways offer a free trial for agencies?
Yes, Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card required. You can test all features, including team collaboration and white-label tools, before committing.

Can I migrate existing client sites to Cloudways?
Yes, Cloudways offers free managed migrations for up to 5 sites. For additional sites, use the 1-click Cloudways Migration plugin to move sites yourself in minutes.

Is white-labeling available on all Cloudways plans?
Yes, all paid Cloudways plans include white-label features. You don’t need to pay for an enterprise-tier plan to remove Cloudways branding.

Does Cloudways handle email hosting for clients?
No, Cloudways does not include email hosting. Most agencies pair Cloudways with Google Workspace or Zoho Mail for client email needs.

Final Verdict: Is Cloudways for Agencies Worth It?

If your agency is tired of troubleshooting hosting issues, managing multiple shared hosting accounts, or paying for unused server capacity, Cloudways is a strong choice. It eliminates 90% of routine server management tasks, letting your team focus on billable client work.

While it’s not the cheapest option on the market, the time savings alone justify the cost for most agencies managing 5+ client sites. According to G2, Cloudways holds a 4.7/5 star rating from over 1,000 user reviews, with agencies praising its reliability and support.

Pro tip: Check out our step-by-step guide to migrating client sites to Cloudways if you’re planning to switch from another host. You can also compare Cloudways to other top managed hosting platforms for agencies in our recent roundup.

Ready to test Cloudways for your agency? Start your 3-day free trial today (no credit card needed) and see how much time you save on server management. Have questions about setting up Cloudways for your team? Drop them in the comments below!