Cloudways vs SiteGround

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Cloudways vs SiteGround

Choosing between Cloudways and SiteGround can be tricky, but many find Cloudways to be the better option overall. And that include us. We find Cloudways more cost-efficient, supports vertical scaling, and doesn’t hit you with price hikes when it’s time to renew. Plus, it lets you pick from top cloud providers like Google Cloud, AWS, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode, giving you plenty of flexibility.

SiteGround, on the other hand, is known for its fantastic customer support and easy-to-use interface. It’s a solid choice, especially if you’re new to web hosting or running a small business. However, its cloud infrastructure options are more limited and the steep price hike during renewal is a hard pill to swallow.

Cloudways & Siteground HostScore

Cloudways - HostScore: 80.8%
SiteGround - HostScore: 62.8%

Cloudways Exclusive Deal

Use promo code ‘HOSTSCORE’ to enjoy additional 25% discount on your first Cloudways bill. Click here to order with discount now.

Hosting Service Offering

FeatureCloudwaysSiteGround
Hosting ServicesCloud, and Reseller HostingShared, Cloud, and Reseller Hosting
Specialized ServicesManaged WordPress HostingManaged WordPress, and Email Hosting
Server LocationsCanada, USA, Brazil, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, India, AustraliaUSA, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, France, Australia, Singapore
Control PanelIn-HouseIn-House
Uptime Guarantee100%99.9%
Money Back (Days)330
Free MigrationYesYes
Support ChannelsLive chat and emailLive chat and email

Key Takeaways

  • Cloudways specializes in managed cloud hosting powered by Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Digital Ocean, Linode, and Vultr.
  • SiteGround, on the other hand, offers traditional shared and reseller hosting; and specialized services like Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. The company also offers Cloud Hosting (powered by Google Cloud).

Plans & Pricing

Hosting TypeCloudwaysSiteGround
Shared Hosting$ - /mo$3.99 - 10.69/mo
VPS Hosting$ - /mo$ - /mo
Dedicated Hosting$ - /mo$ - /mo
Cloud Hosting$11.00 - 1056.00/mo$100.00 - 400.00/mo
Managed WP Hosting$35.00 - 1640.00/mo$3.99 - 10.69/mo
Windows Hosting$ - /mo$ - /mo
CouponHOSTSCORE-
Coupon Details30% Discount for 3 Months-

Key Takeaways

  • Cloudways’ cloud hosting starts at $11.00 and go all the way up to $1056.00 per month, catering to a broad spectrum of needs from basic to highly scalable requirements.
  • SiteGround’s shared hosting plans are more affordable for entry-level users, with prices ranging from $3.99 to $10.69 per month. However, keep in mind that this “honeymoon” period with SiteGround only last for a year. When it’s time to renew your hosting plan, the price shoots up almost 500% to $17.99/mo – $44.99/mo.
  • Cloudways offers only 14 days risk-free trial, but take note that the company does not require you to signup for long term. You subscribe to them on monthly basis and there’s no upfront payment needed.
  • SiteGround, on the other hand, offers a long money-back guarantee (30 days) but require users to signup annually to enjoy the discounted rates.


Exclusive Deal Use promo code ‘HOSTSCORE’ to enjoy 25% discount for 2 months on your first bill. Click here to order with discount now.

Development Features & Others

FeatureCloudwaysSiteGround
Language SupportPHP, Java, Python, Node.js, and Ruby on RailsPHP, Python, Perl, and Ruby on Rails
Dev FeaturesGIT access, WP-CLI, cron jobs, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH accessGIT access, WP-CLI, cron jobs, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH access
Staging ToolBuilt-inBuilt-in
Free SSLYesYes
Built-in CacheYesYes
Global CDNYesYes
Free Malware ScanYesNeed purchase
DDoS ProtectionYesYes
Web Application Firewall (WAF)YesYes

Key Takeaways

  • Both Cloudways and SiteGround offer a solid set of development features, including support for multiple programming languages, built-in staging tools, free SSL, and built-in cache.

Our Recommendation

Key Considerations

When deciding between SiteGround and Cloudways, it’s essential to understand their key differences to determine which one best suits your needs.

  • Cost and Pricing: Cloudways generally offers more cost-efficient plans, especially in the long run. They support vertical scaling (depends on your plan – it can be done manually or automatically), allowing you to easily adjust your resources as your website grows without breaking the bank. Additionally, Cloudways doesn’t increase prices at renewal time. SiteGround, however, has a significant price hike once the initial term is over. Their renewal prices can jump up to 500%, ranging from $17.99 to $44.99 per month, which many consider to be an unethical practice.
  • Hosting Flexibility: Cloudways offers the flexibility to choose from several major cloud providers, including Google Cloud, AWS, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode. This variety lets you pick a provider that best meets your performance and budget needs. SiteGround’s cloud hosting is powered by Google Cloud, but you can also get Google Cloud through Cloudways, along with other options, giving Cloudways a clear advantage in terms of flexibility.
  • Ease of Use: While Cloudways has a user-friendly platform, it requires more configuration compared to SiteGround. SiteGround is known for its extremely easy-to-use interface, which is ideal for beginners or those who prefer a more straightforward setup process.
  • Performance and Scalability: Both platforms offer strong performance, but Cloudways excels with its ability to scale resources quickly and efficiently. Their new Cloudways Autonomous managed WordPress hosting plan is a game-changer – allowing automatic scaling up and down and charging users only for the server resources they use. This makes it super flexible and cost-efficient. Based on our past experience, SiteGround offers great reliability and speed performance; but lacks the same level of scalability options when compared to Cloudways.
  • Customer Support: Both Cloudways and SiteGround provide excellent customer support. Having hosted with Cloudways for years, you can attest to their good, do-for-you technical support. SiteGround also has a reputation for outstanding customer service, offering quick and helpful responses around the clock.
  • Performance and Reliability: Cloudways offers an excellent performance record, standing well above the industry average, which is crucial for businesses and applications demanding high reliability and scalability.

Final Verdict

In summary, if you need a budget-friendly, highly scalable solution with plenty of hosting options, Cloudways is likely your best bet. Their flexible pricing, extensive cloud provider choices, and innovative scaling options make them a strong contender. However, if you prefer a newbie-friendly platform and don’t mind the significant renewal price hike – SiteGround remains a solid choice.

Your decision will depend on what you prioritize more for your website.


About Cloudways

Cloudways

Established in 2011 by co-founders Aaqib Gadit, Pere Hospital, and Uzair Gadit, Cloudways is a managed hosting platform that initially focused on leveraging partnerships with AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Digital Ocean to serve its customers better. The acquisition by DigitalOcean in August 2022 further solidified this partnership, enhancing Cloudways' ability to provide superior managed hosting solutions.

Cloudways Pros

  • Topnotch server uptime and speed performance
  • Good abstration over complex cloud server setups with integrated dashboard
  • Outstanding customer support
  • High scalability; Autonomous plan supports auto-scaling
  • Easy server cloning, site staging, and website transfer
  • Host unlimited applications in one account
  • 25% discount for first two months with coupon "HOSTSCORE"

Cloudways Cons

  • Getting expensive - Prices increased steadily for the past few years
  • Limited trial period

About SiteGround

SiteGround

Established in 2004 by a group of university friends led by Ivo Tzenov, SiteGround has flourished into a prominent web hosting entity based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Boasting a workforce exceeding 600 employees, SiteGround proudly hosts almost three millions domains worldwide. With a powerful infrastructure spanning 11 data centers across 8 countries, the company offers an array of hosting solutions including shared, cloud, and enterprise hosting, alongside domain registration services.

SiteGround Pros

  • Outstanding hosting uptime and speed performance
  • Excellent customer support
  • Choice of server locations in 11 countries
  • Daily backup included in all shared hosting plans
  • Specialized WordPress support staff

SiteGround Cons

  • Very expensive renewal pricing
  • Limited storage in shared hosting plans
  • Limited developer options on some plans
  • NVMe storage not included


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Article by Jerry Low

Jerry Low has immersed himself in web technologies for over a decade and has built many successful sites from scratch. He is a self-professed geek who has made it his life’s ambition to keep the web hosting industry honest. For latest personal updates and news, follow Jerry on Facebook and Twitter.
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