Before you pick a web host, read this.
Your own cloud server for about $11 a month, without having to manage it.
That's what I've run my business websites on since 2021.
Below: who it's for, the 5 checks to make before you pay any host, and the one thing I don't like about it.
Until October 31: 40% off for 4 months with code TREAT26 (applied through the button below).
No credit card needed to start the trial.
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Is managed cloud hosting right for you?
Three things should be true:
- Your site earns money or carries your name.A store, a business site, client sites, or anything where slow or down costs you.
- About $11 a month is fine.That's roughly 37 cents a day for a server that's yours alone.
- You can run your own WordPress (or app).The host looks after the server. Your content, plugins and design are still yours to manage.
If any of those isn't true, a cheap shared host is fine, and you should keep the money.
What the three kinds of hosting cost
| Kind | Rough price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | A few dollars a month to start, more at renewal | Space on a server shared with many other sites |
| Managed cloud | From about $11 a month | Your own cloud server; setup, security patches, backups and caching handled for you |
| Unmanaged VPS | About $5 to $12 a month | A server and nothing else; you install, secure, update and back it up yourself |
Shared hosting saves money until a busy neighbour slows your site. An unmanaged VPS saves money and costs you the hours. Managed cloud is the middle: your own server, and someone else keeps it running.
5 checks before you pay any host
- The month-13 price.Not the first-year teaser. And whether you're locked into a multi-year term.
- Resources that are yours.Memory and CPU you don't share with anyone else.
- Backups you can restore yourself.Automatic, daily, and a button to roll back without a support ticket.
- Who does the maintenance.Security patches, PHP updates, SSL renewals: the host, or you.
- What costs extra.Email, CDN, backup storage and migrations. Add them up before you compare.
No credit card needed to start the trial.
What I use, and why
I've hosted my business WordPress sites on Cloudways since 2021, on 1GB servers from DigitalOcean and Vultr. Cloudways doesn't own servers. It sets up and manages a server for you on the cloud provider you pick.
What I like: it's easy
Pick a provider and a server size, launch it, and install WordPress from a dashboard. Free SSL, automated backups and a staging copy of your site are built in, so you can test a change before it goes live.
What I don't like: the cost
A 1GB DigitalOcean server is $11 a month on Standard and $14 on Premium. That's more than shared hosting, and the extras add up: email isn't included (Cloudways sells mailboxes as an add-on; I use a separate email provider) and off-site backup storage is billed by the gigabyte. You're paying for speed and for not maintaining the server yourself.
Who should skip it
One small hobby site on the lowest possible budget, or anyone who wants email bundled into the hosting bill.
No credit card needed to start the trial.
I earn a commission from Cloudways if you sign up through links on this site.
Questions people ask
"Is it worth $11 a month when shared hosting is $3?"
For a hobby site, no. For a site that earns money, the server being yours, and someone else patching it, is what you're paying for.
"I'm not technical. Can I use it?"
If you can use WordPress, yes. You never touch the server; Cloudways handles that layer.
"What happens after the 3-day trial?"
The trial needs no credit card. If you want to keep the server, you add a payment method; if not, you walk away.
"Am I locked in?"
No annual contract. Servers are pay-as-you-go and charged monthly, and you can resize or delete a server from the dashboard.
"Will moving my site break it?"
Cloudways migrates your first site for free. Check the current migration terms when you sign up.
"DigitalOcean or Vultr?"
I use both. For a typical WordPress site at 1GB, either works. Pick the data center closest to your visitors.
Prices and plans change, so confirm the current numbers on the Cloudways pricing page when you sign up.
No credit card needed to start the trial.