Cloudways is still a strong managed cloud host. So why do so many people search for an alternative? Three reasons keep coming up: the markup over raw cloud pricing, support and product changes since the 2022 DigitalOcean acquisition (a roughly $350 million deal), and the lack of bundled email, a free domain, or phone support at the entry price.
Here is the number that drives most of it. Independent analyses put Cloudways’ management markup at 133–150% over the raw cloud provider. A DigitalOcean server that costs about $6/month direct runs around $14/month on Cloudways. You pay that premium for a genuinely good control panel. The question is whether a different tool gives you the same convenience for less, or more control for the same money.
This independent guide compares the nine best Cloudways alternatives across three categories: fully managed WordPress hosts, control panels you point at your own cloud, and going direct to raw cloud. We rank every option by the same standard. Prices were checked against each provider’s public pricing page and independent reviews current to mid-2026. Plans and promotions change often, so open each pricing page before you buy.
Quick Summary / TL;DR
Short on time? Here is the decision table.
| If you want to… | Use this | Category | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stop managing servers entirely (premium) | Kinsta | Fully managed WP | ~$35/mo |
| Raw WordPress speed for the money | Rocket.net | Fully managed WP | ~$30/mo |
| A cheaper panel + a free tier to test | xCloud | Control panel + managed | Free / from ~$5/mo |
| Keep your own cloud, add a dev panel | RunCloud | Control panel | Panel fee + your VPS |
| Agency tooling and phone support | WP Engine | Fully managed WP | ~$30/mo |
| Root control for a WordPress agency | GridPane | Control panel | Panel fee + your VPS |
| The lowest-cost multi-stack panel | ServerAvatar | Control panel | ~$5/mo + your VPS |
| Flexible pay-as-you-go raw cloud | Kamatera | Raw cloud | ~$4–5/mo |
| All-in-one with email and a cPanel-style UI | ScalaHosting | All-in-one | Budget intro |
In one line: Kinsta and Rocket.net win if you want zero server management, control panels like xCloud and RunCloud win if you want Cloudways-style ease at a lower markup, and Kamatera wins if you are ready to go direct.
What Is Cloudways, and Why Look for an Alternative?
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that sits on top of five raw providers — DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode (Akamai), AWS, and Google Cloud — and wraps them in a control panel that handles provisioning, caching, backups, staging, and scaling so you never touch a terminal. Pricing is pay-as-you-go and starts around $11–14/month on DigitalOcean, with no long contracts and no renewal hikes.
The model is sound. The friction is cost and fit. You pay roughly double the raw cloud price for the management layer, there is no bundled email or free domain, and phone support is not part of the entry experience. For many buyers a different category fits better: a fully managed WordPress host that also tunes performance, a control panel with a smaller markup, or raw cloud with your own tooling.
The Categories You’re Actually Choosing Between
Most “best of” lists mix these up. Cloudways alternatives fall into four buckets, and the right pick depends on the bucket, not the brand.
| Category | What you get | What you handle | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully managed WordPress | Host runs everything; WordPress-tuned stack, support | Your content | $30–100+/mo |
| Control panel (bring your own cloud) | A panel on your own VPS; Cloudways-style ease | The server bill, some ops | Panel fee + $4–24 VPS |
| Raw cloud (go direct) | A blank VPS; lowest price | Everything | $4–24/mo |
| All-in-one (cPanel + email) | Bundled email, domain, panel, phone support | Little | Budget intro rates |
Kinsta, WP Engine, and Rocket.net are fully managed. xCloud, RunCloud, GridPane, and ServerAvatar are control panels. Kamatera is raw cloud. ScalaHosting is all-in-one. Cloudways itself straddles managed and control-panel; that is why no single alternative replaces it for everyone.
How We Ranked These Alternatives
Six factors, weighted by how much each shapes a real switch from Cloudways.
- Total cost — panel or plan price, the server bill, and markup over raw cloud.
- Control — root SSH access, stack choice, and how much the host locks down.
- Performance — server hardware, caching layers, and CDN quality.
- Ease of migration — how cleanly you can move existing Cloudways sites.
- Support — response time, depth, and whether phone support exists.
- Fit — who the tool is built for: solo owners, developers, or agencies.
Performance and pricing claims below are attributed to their sources. Independent benchmarks vary by test setup, so treat single numbers as directional, not absolute.
Master Comparison Table
| Rank | Provider | Category | Starting price | Root access | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Kinsta | Fully managed WP | ~$35/mo | No | Zero-ops premium WordPress |
| 🥈 2 | Rocket.net | Fully managed WP | ~$30/mo | No | Raw speed per dollar |
| 🥉 3 | xCloud | Control panel + managed | Free / ~$5/mo | Yes | Lower-markup Cloudways feel |
| 4 | RunCloud | Control panel | Panel + your VPS | Yes | Developers keeping their cloud |
| 5 | WP Engine | Fully managed WP | ~$30/mo | No | Agencies needing phone support |
| 6 | GridPane | Control panel | Panel + your VPS | Yes | WordPress agencies wanting root |
| 7 | ServerAvatar | Control panel | ~$5/mo + your VPS | Yes | Budget, multi-stack projects |
| 8 | Kamatera | Raw cloud | ~$4–5/mo | Yes | Flexible pay-as-you-go cloud |
| 9 | ScalaHosting | All-in-one | Budget intro | Varies | Email + cPanel-style bundle |
Prices are sticker prices. Real cost depends on the server you attach and the time you spend, covered in the cost section below.
🥇 1. Kinsta — Best Fully Managed WordPress Host
Kinsta is the premium pick for people who want to leave server management behind entirely. It runs on Google Cloud C2 compute-optimized machines with Cloudflare Enterprise and five caching layers, across 35+ data centers. In one published test, Kinsta returned a server response of 5.36 ms against Cloudways’ 514.78 ms, though single benchmarks depend heavily on setup.
The Starter plan runs about $35/month on annual billing ($42 monthly), capped at 25,000 monthly visits, 10 GB storage, and one site. There is no root access, because Kinsta manages the stack for you. Support is a real strength: 24/7 chat with sub-2-minute average response in 2026, plus hands-off migrations and a 30-day money-back window.
Key Features
- Google Cloud C2/C3D hardware with Cloudflare Enterprise CDN.
- Five caching layers — bytecode, object, page, CDN, and edge.
- Free unlimited migrations handled by the Kinsta team.
- Isolated container per site for stable performance.
- 24/7 chat support with fast median response.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Top-tier performance and support | ❌ High pricing floor versus Cloudways |
| ✅ Hands-off managed migrations | ❌ Strict 25,000-visit cap on entry plan |
| ✅ No renewal-price games | ❌ No root SSH access |
| ✅ Strong security stack included | ❌ WordPress-focused, not multi-stack |
Best for: Owners of revenue-generating WordPress and WooCommerce sites who want performance and support and will pay for zero maintenance.
🥈 2. Rocket.net — Best for Raw Speed per Dollar
Rocket.net is the value-performance pick. Every plan, including the entry tier, includes Cloudflare Enterprise CDN, unlimited PHP workers, and free Redis, plus the WP Rocket and Object Cache Pro plugins at no extra cost. Unlimited PHP workers matter for WooCommerce, where checkout can bottleneck under traffic spikes.
Pricing starts around $30/month, often with a $1 first month. Storage on the starter plan is limited (around 10 GB) and the platform is WordPress-only, with fewer data-center regions than Kinsta. For single sites and stores where speed is the priority, the value is hard to beat.
Key Features
- Cloudflare Enterprise CDN on every plan.
- Unlimited PHP workers — no queuing under spikes.
- Free Redis, WP Rocket, and Object Cache Pro included.
- Managed security at the edge.
- 14-day backup retention on all plans.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Enterprise CDN on the cheapest plan | ❌ Limited starter storage (~10 GB) |
| ✅ Unlimited PHP workers help WooCommerce | ❌ WordPress-only platform |
| ✅ Premium caching plugins bundled free | ❌ Fewer regions than Kinsta |
| ✅ $1 first month to test | ❌ Shorter backup window than WP Engine |
Best for: Single-site owners and WooCommerce stores that want the fastest WordPress delivery without paying Kinsta’s floor.
🥉 3. xCloud — Best Lower-Markup Cloudways Feel
xCloud is the closest match to the Cloudways experience at a lower markup. It is a managed control panel that you point at your own DigitalOcean, Vultr, or GCP account, or at xCloud’s own managed servers. You keep full root SSH access and choose NGINX or OpenLiteSpeed, with staging, backups, SSL, and Fail2Ban built in.
Independent testing cited by reviewers puts xCloud around 40% cheaper than Cloudways at equivalent specs, and there is a free tier (1 server, 10 sites) for testing before you commit. The platform launched in 2024, manages 100,000+ sites, and holds a 5.0/5 Trustpilot rating from 297+ reviews as of early 2026. Its full-server migration tool can move an entire Cloudways server, all sites at once.
Key Features
- Bring your own cloud (DigitalOcean, Vultr, GCP) or use managed servers.
- Full root SSH and a choice of NGINX or OpenLiteSpeed.
- Free tier with 1 server and 10 sites.
- Full-server migration from Cloudways in one operation.
- Built-in SSL, staging, backups, firewall, and Fail2Ban.
- Managed AI agent hosting like OpenClaw, Hermes, Paperclip and more
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Around 40% cheaper than Cloudways at equal specs | ❌ Newer platform, shorter track record |
| ✅ Free tier to test risk-free | ❌ You still own the underlying server bill |
| ✅ Full root access and stack choice | ❌ Fewer premium extras than Kinsta |
| ✅ One-shot Cloudways server migration | ❌ Managed tier still needs a little setup |
Best for: Cloudways users who want the same ease and unlimited sites per server, but a smaller markup and root access.
4. RunCloud — Best Control Panel for Developers
RunCloud is not a host. It is a server management panel that installs on your own VPS — DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, or others. It sits between a raw VPS and fully managed hosting: you get a clean panel for deployments, stacks, SSL, and monitoring, while keeping full control of the server and its cost.
Because you pay the panel fee plus your own VPS bill, the total often lands below Cloudways for the same resources. RunCloud is developer-focused, supports PHP and other stacks, and gives root access. The trade-off is that server-level problems are yours to solve.
Key Features
- Installs on any major VPS you already use.
- Full root SSH retained.
- Multiple PHP versions and stack options.
- Git deployment and team features.
- Free SSL and monitoring in the panel.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Keep your own cloud and pricing | ❌ You own server-level troubleshooting |
| ✅ Lower total cost than Cloudways is common | ❌ Panel fee is on top of the VPS bill |
| ✅ Developer-friendly deploys | ❌ Less hand-holding than managed hosts |
| ✅ Root access and stack control | ❌ No bundled email or phone support |
Best for: Developers who want Cloudways-style convenience but prefer to own the server and its bill directly.
5. WP Engine — Best for Agencies
WP Engine is the agency-first managed WordPress host. The Essential Startup plan runs about $30/month on annual billing ($40 monthly), capped at 25,000 visits, 10 GB storage, and one site. What sets it apart is the toolchain: Local for local development, ACF, the Flywheel platform, white-label portals, 40-day backup retention, and phone support on higher tiers.
Performance is competitive with Kinsta at the entry tier, and the 60-day money-back window is the longest here. Like Kinsta, there is no root access, and the visit cap needs monitoring.
Key Features
- Agency toolchain — Local, ACF, Flywheel, white-label portals.
- 40-day backup retention on all plans.
- Phone support from the Professional tier.
- 24/7 chat with sub-2-minute median response in 2026.
- 60-day money-back guarantee.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Deepest agency tooling in managed WordPress | ❌ Premium pricing, like Kinsta |
| ✅ Long 40-day backup retention | ❌ 25,000-visit cap on entry plan |
| ✅ Phone support on higher tiers | ❌ No root SSH access |
| ✅ Longest money-back window (60 days) | ❌ Overage costs need monitoring |
Best for: Agencies managing multiple client WordPress sites that need white-label portals, phone support, and mature staging tools.
6. GridPane — Best for WordPress Agencies Wanting Root
GridPane is a control panel built specifically for WordPress agencies that want root control of their own servers. Like RunCloud, it installs on your VPS, so you keep the server bill and full access. It leans harder into WordPress operations: multi-server management, staging, backups, and security tuned for agencies running many sites.
The trade-off is a steeper learning curve than a fully managed host. GridPane rewards teams that know their way around servers and want to standardize a fleet.
Key Features
- WordPress-focused control panel on your own VPS.
- Full root access and multi-server management.
- Staging and backup workflows built for agencies.
- Security hardening tuned for WordPress.
- Multi-tenant management for client fleets.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Root control across a server fleet | ❌ Steeper learning curve |
| ✅ Agency-grade WordPress operations | ❌ You own server-level issues |
| ✅ Keep your own cloud and pricing | ❌ Overkill for a single small site |
| ✅ Strong hardening defaults | ❌ Less polished UI than managed hosts |
Best for: WordPress agencies and power users who want root control and multi-server tooling on their own cloud.
7. ServerAvatar — Best Budget, Multi-Stack Panel
ServerAvatar is the lowest-cost control panel here, starting around $5/month per server on top of your own VPS. It manages multiple stacks — LAMP, LEMP, OpenLiteSpeed, and Node.js — and supports WordPress, Laravel, and custom PHP, with white-label client dashboards for resellers.
You connect a server through the API or a manual install script. The interface is less refined than xCloud or RunCloud, which is the trade for the price. For budget-conscious developers juggling more than just WordPress, it is a strong value.
Key Features
- Multi-stack support — Apache, NGINX, OpenLiteSpeed, Node.js.
- White-label panels for resellers.
- Application installers and scheduled backups on paid plans.
- Low per-server pricing.
- API or script-based server connection.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Among the cheapest panels available | ❌ Less refined interface |
| ✅ Handles non-WordPress stacks | ❌ Thinner documentation |
| ✅ White-label for resellers | ❌ You own the server and its ops |
| ✅ Scheduled backups on paid tiers | ❌ Smaller support team |
Best for: Budget-conscious developers who run multiple stacks and will trade interface polish for lower cost.
8. Kamatera — Best Flexible Raw Cloud
Kamatera is the pick for going direct. It is customizable raw cloud with pay-as-you-go billing and global data centers, starting around $4–5/month. You build the server exactly as you need it — CPU, RAM, storage — and pay only for what you run. There is no management layer, so this is the lowest-price path, paired with the most work.
Kamatera fits people comfortable with a terminal, or those who add a control panel such as RunCloud or ServerAvatar on top. It replaces the raw-cloud slot that Cloudways rents from DigitalOcean or Vultr, without the markup.
Key Features
- Fully customizable server specs.
- Pay-as-you-go billing with hourly options.
- Global data-center locations.
- Fast provisioning of new servers.
- Pairs well with a separate control panel.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Lowest price by going direct | ❌ No management layer included |
| ✅ Precise control of server specs | ❌ You handle all server ops |
| ✅ Pay only for what you run | ❌ No WordPress-specific tuning |
| ✅ Global regions | ❌ Best paired with a panel you add |
Best for: Technical users who want the cheapest cloud and either manage it themselves or add their own control panel.
9. ScalaHosting — Best All-in-One with Email
ScalaHosting is the closest to a traditional all-in-one host on this list. It pairs SPanel, a cPanel-style control panel, with NVMe storage, free migrations, and bundled email at budget intro pricing. Unlike Cloudways, you get email hosting, a familiar panel, and a single dashboard for domains and sites.
The trade-off is that intro rates renew higher, the pattern common to budget hosts. For owners who want managed cloud VPS features plus the email and cPanel-style comfort Cloudways leaves out, ScalaHosting fills that gap.
Key Features
- SPanel — a cPanel-style control panel with no per-account license fee.
- Bundled email hosting.
- NVMe storage and free migrations.
- Managed cloud VPS options with root access on higher tiers.
- Daily backups.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Bundled email and cPanel-style UI | ❌ Intro rates renew higher |
| ✅ Free migrations and NVMe storage | ❌ Not as performance-tuned as Kinsta |
| ✅ Familiar panel for cPanel users | ❌ Smaller brand than incumbents |
| ✅ Managed VPS with root on higher tiers | ❌ Fewer premium WordPress features |
Best for: Owners who want a Cloudways-style managed cloud experience plus the email, domain, and cPanel-style comfort Cloudways does not bundle.
Cost Comparison: Where the Markup Goes
Cloudways charges roughly double the raw cloud price for its management layer. The alternatives split that markup in different ways.
| Path | You pay for | Rough monthly cost | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudways | Managed panel + cloud, bundled | $11–60+ | Included |
| Fully managed (Kinsta, Rocket.net, WP Engine) | An all-in plan | $30–100+ | Included |
| Control panel (xCloud, RunCloud, GridPane, ServerAvatar) | Panel fee + your VPS | Panel + $4–24 VPS | Shared |
| Raw cloud (Kamatera, DigitalOcean) | Just the server | $4–24 | You |
The line item people forget is time. A control panel or raw cloud can beat Cloudways on price, but you take on more operations. A fully managed host costs more up front and removes that work. Match the path to how much server work you actually want to do.
How to Migrate Off Cloudways Safely
Use these steps to move without downtime. Each step is one action.
- Back up every Cloudways site fully. Store the backup off the server.
- Set up the new host. Do not point your domain yet.
- Copy each site to the new host. Use the host’s migration tool if it has one.
- Open the migrated site with a temporary URL or hosts-file entry. Check it.
- If the test site works, lower the domain’s DNS TTL to 300 seconds.
- Wait for the old TTL to expire. Then point the domain to the new server.
- Keep the Cloudways server live for 48 hours as a fallback.
- If the new site is stable after 48 hours, cancel the Cloudways server.
Common Mistakes When Leaving Cloudways
- Comparing only sticker prices. A cheaper panel plus your own VPS can cost more once you count setup and upkeep time.
- Forgetting email. Cloudways does not bundle email, and neither do most managed hosts. If you need mailboxes, pick an all-in-one host or a separate email service.
- Choosing a control panel without server skills. Panels like RunCloud and GridPane hand you root, which means server problems are yours.
- Ignoring the visit cap. Managed WordPress plans such as Kinsta and WP Engine cap monthly visits. Check the cap against your traffic before you switch.
- Migrating with a long DNS TTL. A high TTL stretches the cutover. Lower it before you move the domain.
Which Alternative Fits Your Situation
| If you are… | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A business owner who wants zero server work | Kinsta | Premium managed performance and support |
| A single-site owner chasing speed | Rocket.net | Cloudflare Enterprise on every plan |
| A Cloudways user who wants a smaller markup | xCloud | Same ease, root access, free tier |
| A developer keeping your own cloud | RunCloud | A clean panel on your own VPS |
| An agency managing client WordPress sites | WP Engine | White-label, phone support, long backups |
| A WordPress agency wanting root control | GridPane | Multi-server root management |
| A budget project with mixed stacks | ServerAvatar | Cheapest multi-stack panel |
| A technical user who wants the lowest price | Kamatera | Raw pay-as-you-go cloud |
| An owner who needs bundled email | ScalaHosting | cPanel-style UI plus email |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Cloudways alternative in 2026?
It depends on how much server work you want. For zero maintenance, Kinsta is the strongest fully managed pick, with Rocket.net close behind on speed per dollar. For a Cloudways-style panel at a lower markup with root access, xCloud and RunCloud lead. For the lowest price, go direct with Kamatera and add your own panel.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Cloudways?
Yes. Control panels such as xCloud, RunCloud, and ServerAvatar let you point a management panel at your own VPS, which usually costs less than Cloudways for the same resources. Going direct to raw cloud like Kamatera or DigitalOcean is cheaper still, but you take on all the server work.
Do I have to manage a server myself?
No, if you pick a fully managed host like Kinsta, Rocket.net, or WP Engine. They handle the server, updates, caching, and security. Control panels and raw cloud give you root access and lower cost, but hand you the server-level work in return.
Can I keep my DigitalOcean or Vultr server and drop Cloudways?
Yes. That is exactly what a control panel does. xCloud, RunCloud, GridPane, and ServerAvatar install on your own DigitalOcean, Vultr, or Linode server. You keep the cloud account and its pricing and swap only the management layer.
Which Cloudways alternative is best for WooCommerce?
For a fully managed store, Rocket.net’s unlimited PHP workers help prevent checkout bottlenecks under traffic spikes, and Kinsta’s isolated containers perform well too. If you want control and lower cost, xCloud’s OpenLiteSpeed and Redis object caching are a strong value for WooCommerce.
Is migrating away from Cloudways hard?
Not usually. Most sites move in 10–60 minutes depending on size. Several alternatives, including xCloud, offer migration tools that move an entire server or site with minimal downtime. Follow the safe-migration steps above, keep the old server live for 48 hours, and lower your DNS TTL before you cut over.
Does Cloudways include email hosting?
No. Cloudways does not bundle email, a free domain, or phone support at the entry price. If you need mailboxes in the same dashboard, an all-in-one host such as ScalaHosting, or a separate email service, fills that gap.
Is Cloudways still worth it in 2026?
For many users, yes. Cloudways remains a solid managed cloud host with pay-as-you-go pricing and no renewal hikes. People leave mainly over the markup, the lack of bundled email and phone support, and product changes since the DigitalOcean acquisition. Whether an alternative is better depends on your budget and how much control you want.
What is the difference between a managed host and a control panel?
A managed host runs the whole server for you and usually blocks root access. A control panel installs on a server you own and gives you root access plus a friendly interface. Managed hosts cost more and remove work. Control panels cost less and share the work with you.
Conclusion: How to Choose in 2026
The Cloudways alternative decision comes down to one question: how much server work do you want to own?
If the answer is “none,” a fully managed host such as Kinsta or Rocket.net is the clean path, and you pay for that convenience. If the answer is “some, in exchange for a lower bill,” a control panel like xCloud or RunCloud gives you Cloudways-style ease with root access and a smaller markup. If the answer is “all of it, for the lowest price,” go direct to raw cloud with Kamatera.
The practical move: shortlist two options from different categories, run one real site on each for a couple of weeks, and compare the bill and the effort side by side. Free tiers, $1 first months, and money-back windows make that test cheap. The buyers who are happiest after leaving Cloudways are not the ones who chased the lowest sticker price. They are the ones who matched the category to how much they actually want to touch a server.
By the HostingInfos Editorial Team — Last updated: August 2026
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