Is Cloudways cheaper if I go direct to DigitalOcean?

Yes, the raw server is cheaper going direct, but you take on all server management yourself; Cloudways' price covers the managed layer, monitoring, and one-click WordPress tooling.

Does Cloudways include email hosting?

No. Email is a paid add-on, so alternatives like SiteGround, Hostinger, and DreamHost that bundle email can be more convenient for small sites.

What changed after DigitalOcean bought Cloudways?

Some users report changes to support and pricing, which is a common reason people evaluate alternatives, though Cloudways still runs as a managed platform.

What's the most turnkey alternative to Cloudways?

Kinsta and WP Engine are more hands-off for WordPress, handling more management for you, though both cost more and meter by visits.

Which alternative offers the best raw-cloud value?

Hetzner Cloud typically offers the lowest cost per server, while DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Akamai (Linode) are strong, well-supported options if you can self-manage.

Cloudways Alternatives (2026): 8 Additional Options for Managed Cloud Hosting

Cloudways sits between shared hosting and raw cloud: it manages your servers for you while running them on infrastructure from DigitalOcean, Vultr, and others, with staging, easy scaling, and pay-as-you-go billing. It's a favorite for WordPress and WooCommerce sites that need more than shared hosting can give.

Reasons to compare options have grown since DigitalOcean acquired Cloudways: there's no included email hosting or domain registration, no cPanel, and some users report changes in support and pricing. If you want bundled email, a cheaper raw-cloud bill, or a more turnkey managed WordPress experience, the alternatives below cover both managed platforms and do-it-yourself cloud.

TL;DR

DigitalOcean and Vultr are the raw-cloud layer Cloudways runs on, cheaper if you self-manage.
Kinsta and WP Engine are more turnkey managed WordPress platforms at higher prices.
SiteGround, Hostinger, and DreamHost include email and cost less for smaller sites.
Cloudways still wins on managed cloud convenience with pay-as-you-go, no-lock-in billing.

Why look for a Cloudways alternative?

No email hosting is included; you must pay for an add-on or use a third party.
No domain registration, so you manage domains elsewhere.
No cPanel; you use the Cloudways console, which some users find limiting.
Support and pricing changed for some users after the DigitalOcean acquisition.
You still manage more than on a fully turnkey managed WordPress host.

Cloudways alternatives at a glance

Tool	Starting price	Rating	Best for
DigitalOcean	$4/mo	★ 4.6	Developers who want cloud control without the management fee.
Vultr	$5/mo	★ 4.3	Technical users needing servers in many global regions.
Kinsta	$35/mo	★ 4.8	WordPress sites wanting a fully managed, hands-off host.
WP Engine	$30/mo	★ 4.6	Agencies managing many client WordPress sites.
SiteGround	$2.99/mo	★ 4.2	Smaller sites that want email and support included.
Hostinger	$2.99/mo	★ 4.7	Budget owners who want an all-in-one host with email.
Hetzner Cloud	Cloud servers from around 4 EUR/mo (about $4.50).	—	Technical users chasing the best cloud value, especially in Europe.
Akamai Cloud (Linode)	Shared-CPU cloud instances from $5/mo.	—	Developers wanting a mature, predictable cloud platform.

1. DigitalOcean

Best for cheaper raw cloud

★ 4.6· G2$4/mo

What it does better than Cloudways

DigitalOcean is the infrastructure Cloudways often runs on, so going direct from $4/mo removes the management markup. You get full control, a clean developer dashboard, and predictable flat pricing.

Where Cloudways still wins

DigitalOcean is unmanaged by default, so you handle server setup, security patches, backups, and WordPress optimization that Cloudways automates.

Best for: Developers who want cloud control without the management fee.

Visit DigitalOcean Full review

2. Vultr

Best for global cloud regions

★ 4.3· G2$5/mo

What it does better than Cloudways

Vultr offers a wider data-center footprint than most and low entry pricing from $5/mo, giving you raw cloud servers close to your users without Cloudways' management layer.

Where Cloudways still wins

Like DigitalOcean, Vultr is self-managed, so there's no built-in staging, caching, or one-click WordPress management.

Best for: Technical users needing servers in many global regions.

Visit Vultr Full review

3. Kinsta

Best for turnkey managed WordPress

★ 4.8· G2$35/mo

What it does better than Cloudways

Kinsta is fully managed on Google Cloud's premium tier with a polished dashboard, free CDN, and expert support, so it's more hands-off than Cloudways for WordPress specifically.

Where Cloudways still wins

Kinsta starts at $35/mo, meters by visits, is WordPress-only, and includes no email, making it pricier and less flexible than Cloudways.

Best for: WordPress sites wanting a fully managed, hands-off host.

Visit Kinsta Full review

4. WP Engine

Best for agencies

★ 4.6· G2$30/mo

What it does better than Cloudways

WP Engine offers mature staging, agency tooling, and transferable installs in a fully managed WordPress package that requires less hands-on work than Cloudways.

Where Cloudways still wins

WP Engine starts at $30/mo, meters visits, bans some plugins, and excludes email, so it's costlier and more restrictive than Cloudways.

Best for: Agencies managing many client WordPress sites.

Visit WP Engine Full review

5. SiteGround

Best for included email and support

★ 4.2· G2$2.99/mo

What it does better than Cloudways

SiteGround bundles email hosting, offers top-rated support, and provides a managed-WordPress panel starting under $3/mo, all of which Cloudways lacks or charges extra for.

Where Cloudways still wins

SiteGround's shared plans cap storage and visits and can't scale like Cloudways' cloud servers under heavy traffic.

Best for: Smaller sites that want email and support included.

Visit SiteGround Full review

6. Hostinger

Best for low cost with email

★ 4.7· Trustpilot$2.99/mo

What it does better than Cloudways

Hostinger includes email, a domain, and an AI builder at a much lower price than Cloudways, with a fast hPanel that's simpler for non-technical owners.

Where Cloudways still wins

Hostinger is shared hosting, so it can't match Cloudways' dedicated cloud performance or on-demand scaling.

Best for: Budget owners who want an all-in-one host with email.

Visit Hostinger Full review

7. Hetzner Cloud

Best for maximum raw-cloud value

Cloud servers from around 4 EUR/mo (about $4.50).

What it does better than Cloudways

Hetzner offers some of the lowest cloud-server prices in the market with strong performance-per-dollar, undercutting the DigitalOcean and Vultr instances Cloudways resells.

Where Cloudways still wins

Hetzner is fully self-managed with no WordPress management layer, fewer non-European regions, and support aimed at technical users, unlike Cloudways' managed console.

Best for: Technical users chasing the best cloud value, especially in Europe.

8. Akamai Cloud (Linode)

Best for a mature developer cloud

Shared-CPU cloud instances from $5/mo.

What it does better than Cloudways

Linode, now Akamai Cloud, offers stable, well-documented cloud instances from $5/mo with a long track record and predictable pricing, a solid raw-cloud base without Cloudways' management fee.

Where Cloudways still wins

Linode is self-managed, so there's no built-in staging, caching, or one-click WordPress that Cloudways provides.

Best for: Developers wanting a mature, predictable cloud platform.

How to choose the right Cloudways alternative

Choose DigitalOcean if you're technical and want cloud control without a management fee.
Choose Vultr if you need cloud servers in many global regions.
Choose Kinsta if you want fully managed, hands-off WordPress hosting.
Choose WP Engine if you're an agency needing staging and client tooling.
Choose SiteGround if you want email and top support bundled in.
Choose Hostinger if you want a low-cost all-in-one host with email.
Choose Hetzner Cloud if you want the best raw-cloud value and can self-manage.
Choose Akamai Cloud (Linode) if you want a mature, predictable developer cloud.

How we evaluated

Feature mapping — we compare each alternative's capabilities against the tool it's replacing, job for job.
Real pricing — starting prices come from each vendor's public pricing page, labeled by tier.
User sentiment — ratings and review counts are aggregated from third-party platforms (Capterra, G2) and shown with their source.
Right-sizing — we weigh which team size, budget, and technical comfort each option actually fits.
Independence — we don't sell a competing product, and affiliate relationships never change our picks.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cloudways cheaper if I go direct to DigitalOcean?: Yes, the raw server is cheaper going direct, but you take on all server management yourself; Cloudways' price covers the managed layer, monitoring, and one-click WordPress tooling.
Does Cloudways include email hosting?: No. Email is a paid add-on, so alternatives like SiteGround, Hostinger, and DreamHost that bundle email can be more convenient for small sites.
What changed after DigitalOcean bought Cloudways?: Some users report changes to support and pricing, which is a common reason people evaluate alternatives, though Cloudways still runs as a managed platform.
What's the most turnkey alternative to Cloudways?: Kinsta and WP Engine are more hands-off for WordPress, handling more management for you, though both cost more and meter by visits.
Which alternative offers the best raw-cloud value?: Hetzner Cloud typically offers the lowest cost per server, while DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Akamai (Linode) are strong, well-supported options if you can self-manage.

Still weighing your options?

Answer a few quick questions and we'll recommend the right tools for your business, budget, and team.

Build your stack Cloudways review