Cloudways Pricing Explained: 2024 Plans, Costs & Hidden Fees

Staring at Cloudways’ pricing page and feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone. Unlike traditional shared hosting providers that list flat monthly fees, Cloudways uses a flexible model tied to top cloud infrastructure providers like DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud.

This setup gives you unmatched scaling flexibility, but it can make pricing harder to decode at first glance. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how Cloudways pricing works, compare every plan, highlight hidden fees to watch for, and share actionable tips to cut your costs by up to 40%.

How Cloudways Pricing Works

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform, not a standalone server provider. You’re not just paying for raw server resources – you’re paying for a fully managed stack that includes:

• Free SSL certificates and automated backups
• 24/7 expert support
• Built-in caching (Varnish, Memcached, Redis)
• 1-click staging sites and app installs
• Security patches and server monitoring

All Cloudways plans are billed monthly with no long-term contracts. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your plan at any time, and you’ll only pay for the resources you use for the time you have them.

Standard vs. High-Frequency Plans

Cloudways offers two core plan types for most cloud providers:

• Standard Plans: Use traditional CPUs, ideal for small blogs, portfolios, and low-traffic sites. These are the most affordable option, starting at $11/month.
• High-Frequency Plans: Use newer, 3x faster CPUs, optimized for e-commerce stores, high-traffic WordPress sites, and resource-heavy apps. Start at $16/month.

2024 Cloudways Pricing Plans Breakdown

Cloudways’ pricing varies by the underlying cloud provider you choose. DigitalOcean is the most popular (and affordable) option for most users, so we’ll break down its plans first:

DigitalOcean Standard Plans

Monthly Cost	RAM	CPUs	Storage	Bandwidth	Est. Monthly Visits
$11	1GB	1 Core	25GB	1TB	10,000
$24	2GB	1 Core	50GB	2TB	25,000
$46	4GB	2 Cores	80GB	3TB	50,000
$88	8GB	4 Cores	160GB	4TB	100,000
$176	16GB	8 Cores	320GB	5TB	200,000

DigitalOcean High-Frequency plans start at $16/month for 1GB RAM, 1 Core, 25GB storage, and 1TB bandwidth.

Other Cloud Provider Pricing

• Vultr: Starts at $11/month for 1GB RAM, 1 Core, 25GB storage (matches DigitalOcean’s entry-level pricing)
• Linode: Starts at $12/month for 1GB RAM, 1 Core, 25GB storage
• AWS: Starts at $36.51/month for 1GB RAM, 1 Core, 20GB storage (enterprise-grade features, higher cost)
• Google Cloud: Starts at $33.30/month for 1GB RAM, 1 Core, 20GB storage (ideal for sites already using Google services)

Hidden Cloudways Fees You Need to Know

Cloudways is transparent about its base pricing, but there are a few add-on and overage fees to factor in:

• Bandwidth Overage: Each plan includes a set bandwidth allowance. Exceed it, and you’ll pay $0.10 per extra GB for DigitalOcean/Vultr/Linode, or $0.08 per GB for AWS/Google Cloud.
• Extended Backup Storage: Automated 7-day backups are free. For longer retention, external backups cost $0.05 per GB per month.
• Email Hosting: Cloudways does not include native email hosting. Their add-on costs $1/month per email account, or you can use a third-party service like Google Workspace.
• Extra Site Migrations: Cloudways migrates up to 5 sites for free. Additional migrations cost $15 per site.
• Paid SSL: Free Let’s Encrypt SSL is included. Wildcard or extended validation SSL certificates must be purchased separately.

Cloudways Free Trial & Money-Back Guarantee

Not ready to commit? Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card required. You can test any plan, explore the dashboard, and check site speed risk-free.

First-time paid subscribers also get a 30-day money-back guarantee. Cancel within your first month of paid service, and you’ll receive a full refund, no questions asked.

How to Save Money on Cloudways Pricing

Follow these simple tips to cut your Cloudways costs:

1. Start with the free trial: Test your site on a small plan first to avoid overprovisioning.
2. Scale as you grow: Don’t pay for 8GB RAM if you only need 1GB. Upgrade with 1 click as your traffic increases.
3. Use annual billing: Pay for 12 months upfront to get 2 months free (16% off total cost).
4. Look for promo codes: Cloudways regularly offers limited-time discounts, like 40% off your first 3 months of hosting. Check their official promotions page for active codes.
5. Skip unnecessary add-ons: Only pay for extended backups or email add-ons if you truly need them.

Is Cloudways Pricing Worth It?

Cloudways sits in the sweet spot between cheap shared hosting ($3-$10/month) and premium managed WordPress hosting like WP Engine ($20-$30/month for similar resources).

According to a 2024 global hosting speed study by Pingdom, Cloudways’ High-Frequency plans deliver 3x faster load times than standard shared hosting, making the extra cost worth it for e-commerce and high-traffic sites.

For users who want managed hosting flexibility without long-term contracts, Cloudways offers better value than most competitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cloudways pricing really pay-as-you-go?

Yes, Cloudways uses a flexible billing model with no long-term contracts. You can adjust your plan at any time, and you’ll only pay for the resources you use for the time you have them.

Does Cloudways charge setup fees?

No, Cloudways never charges setup fees. You only pay your monthly plan cost (or a pro-rated amount if you scale mid-month) plus any applicable overage fees.

Can I switch cloud providers after signing up?

Yes, but you’ll need to migrate your site manually or pay for a migration service. Cloudways does not offer free cross-provider migrations, so factor this in if you think you might switch later.

Is there a permanent free plan for Cloudways?

No, Cloudways does not offer a permanent free plan. Their 3-day free trial is the only no-cost option, and it does not require a credit card.

Conclusion

Cloudways pricing is far more transparent than it first appears – once you understand the link between plan size, cloud provider, and managed perks, it’s easy to pick the right option for your budget and traffic needs.

With no long-term contracts, flexible scaling, and a risk-free 3-day trial, it’s a low-risk choice for most website owners.

Ready to try Cloudways? Sign up for their 3-day free trial today – no credit card required. Have questions about which plan fits your site? Let us know in the comments below!