If you’re shopping for scalable cloud hosting but don’t want to get lost in server setups, configurations, and command-line chaos, you’ve probably narrowed your options down to Cloudways vs DigitalOcean. They’re both strong choices—but for very different types of users.
Cloudways is all about simplicity. It takes the raw power of cloud providers like DigitalOcean and wraps it in a clean, managed hosting dashboard. DigitalOcean, on the other hand, gives you pure developer-level control at an unbeatable price—but expects you to know what you’re doing.
After testing both for real-world use cases—from WordPress deployments to custom apps—here’s my honest take.
⭐ Quick Comparison Table: Cloudways vs DigitalOcean
Feature
Cloudways
DigitalOcean
Type
Managed cloud hosting
Cloud infrastructure provider
Ease of Use
Very beginner-friendly
Requires technical skill
Starting Price
~$11/mo (DO server on Cloudways)
$5/mo
Performance
Optimized stack (Nginx + Varnish + Redis)
Raw high-performance Droplets
Support
24/7 live chat
Ticket-based, community help
Ideal For
Small to mid-sized businesses, agencies, non-technical users
Developers, engineers, tech-savvy users
Automated Backups
Yes
Optional (paid)
Server Management
Fully managed
DIY
Free Migration
Yes
Manual or paid tools
Cloudways: What Makes It Stand Out
Cloudways shines for one main reason: simplicity without sacrificing power.
You can deploy a server, launch a site, and optimize performance without touching the command line. Their dashboard feels modern, intuitive, and built with non-developers in mind.
Cloudways is basically DigitalOcean with training wheels—and I mean that in the best way possible.
Where Cloudways Falls Short
Slightly more expensive
No email hosting built in
Not ideal if you want full root-level control
If you want managed power without complexity, Cloudways is one of the best investments you can make.
DigitalOcean: Why Developers Love It
DigitalOcean gives you pure cloud infrastructure—Droplets, Kubernetes, spaces, load balancers, and much more. It’s perfect for users who want to configure everything manually.
What I Like About DigitalOcean
Extremely affordable
Full root access
Highly scalable
Massive library of developer tools
Transparent pricing
Where DigitalOcean Falls Short
Not beginner-friendly
You manage updates, security, and server optimization
Customer support is limited
DigitalOcean is powerful—but only if you’re comfortable managing your own server stack.
Performance: Which One Is Faster?
Honestly? They’re both fast—because Cloudways actually uses DigitalOcean servers for many of its plans.
The difference is the software stack:
Cloudways gives you an optimized hosting environment out of the box.
DigitalOcean gives you a blank slate—you must build your own performance stack.
If you don’t want to fine-tune your server manually, Cloudways wins in real-world performance consistency.
Pricing Breakdown
DigitalOcean: Starts at $5/mo Cloudways (DigitalOcean server): Starts at $11–$14/mo
You’re essentially paying Cloudways a premium to manage, secure, and optimize your server. For many businesses, the extra $6–$10 per month is absolutely worth it.
