When we first started building our website, we did what most beginners do—we searched for the best hosting providers and read every “Top 10” list we could find. Over and over, the same names kept popping up: Bluehost, SiteGround, Hostinger. At first, we assumed this meant they were the best options. But the deeper we looked, the more we realized something was off.
These hosting companies all have one thing in common: they offer incredibly high affiliate commissions. And suddenly, all those glowing reviews started to feel less like honest recommendations and more like marketing copy.
We decided to take a different path.
Instead of following the crowd, we searched for a hosting provider that would give us speed, reliability, and scalability—without locking us into overpriced packages or pushing constant upsells. That’s when we found Cloudways, and it turned out to be everything we were looking for.
In this Cloudways Hosting Review, we’re sharing exactly why we chose Cloudways over Bluehost, SiteGround, and Hostinger, and the 7 proven reasons it’s still the best decision we’ve made for our website. Whether you’re just getting started or thinking about switching hosts, this might just save you time, money, and future frustration.
Cloudways Hosting Review: Why We Chose It Over Bluehost, SiteGround, and Hostinger
When we were choosing a web host, we weren’t looking for hype—we were looking for real-world performance and flexibility. That’s exactly what Cloudways delivered. Unlike Bluehost, SiteGround, and Hostinger, Cloudways offers a pay-as-you-go web hosting model built on high-performance cloud infrastructure from providers like DigitalOcean, Vultr, and AWS.
What stood out most? We were able to start small, keep our monthly costs low, and scale up when we were ready—without being forced into long-term contracts or “starter” packages filled with upsells.
Here’s a deeper look at the 7 proven reasons we chose Cloudways over the other big-name hosts.
✅ 1. Transparent, Affordable Pricing (No Long-Term Contracts)
Most shared hosting platforms lure you in with low promo pricing—then hit you with expensive renewal rates a year later. Bluehost and Hostinger, for example, require you to pay for 1 to 3 years upfront to get their “best” rates.
Cloudways is different. You only pay for the resources you use, and you can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time. This pay-as-you-go model is perfect for beginners who want control over their budget without sacrificing quality.
✅ 2. Faster Hosting Out of the Box
Speed was one of our top concerns because we knew it would affect our search engine rankings and user experience. Cloudways blew us away here. Since it’s built on top-tier cloud providers, performance isn’t throttled like it often is with shared hosting from Bluehost or SiteGround.
Cloudways also includes:
SSD-based storage for fast data access
Optimized tech stack with Apache, NGINX, PHP-FPM
Built-in caching and their free Breeze plugin
Access to a global CDN via Cloudflare, included for free
All of this combined has helped us achieve fast page load times, even as our traffic grows.
✅ 3. True Scalability Without Switching Hosts
With Cloudways, you don’t have to worry about “outgrowing” your host. Unlike Hostinger or SiteGround, where scaling up often means migrating to a VPS or premium tier, Cloudways lets you increase your resources with a single click.
Whether you’re launching a new blog or growing a small business site, Cloudways is built to grow with you. We started with a basic plan on DigitalOcean and knew we could scale when the time came—no migrations, no headaches.
✅ 4. Built-In Tools That Actually Matter
Some hosts pack their dashboards with unnecessary tools or paid add-ons. Cloudways gives you exactly what you need, and nothing you don’t. Every plan includes:
Free SSL certificates
Automated daily backups
One-click staging environments
Application-level firewalls
Powerful server-level caching
Everything is streamlined, fast, and simple—perfect for WordPress beginners or anyone who doesn’t want to spend hours managing server settings.
✅ 5. Email That’s Affordable and Flexible
One thing we worried about was email. Some hosts include it “free,” but the quality is poor or it eats into your server resources. Cloudways does things differently:
Professional Email with Rackspace: Just $1 per mailbox/month. Reliable, easy to manage, and completely optional.
Transactional Email via Elastic Email: Starting at just $0.10 per 1,000 emails, perfect for password resets, order confirmations, or contact form replies.
We loved that Cloudways didn’t push email as part of a bloated package—you only pay for what you actually use, and you’re free to use any email provider you prefer.
✅ 6. No Pushy Upsells or Affiliate-Driven Noise
It was clear to us that Bluehost, SiteGround, and Hostinger are heavily promoted because of their high-paying affiliate programs—not necessarily their quality. After testing them ourselves, we were met with upsells at every turn.
With Cloudways? None of that. There are no intrusive pop-ups, no upgrade nags, and no pressure to buy add-ons. Everything you need is already there—or affordably available if you want it.
This was a breath of fresh air.
Affiliate Disclosure: We are proud affiliates of Cloudways, and we may earn a small commission if you choose to sign up through our link. However, this recommendation is based entirely on our personal experience as current Cloudways customers. We use it every day to run this website—and we wouldn’t recommend it if we didn’t love it ourselves.
✅ 7. Real Support from Real People
One of our favorite surprises was Cloudways’ support team. Unlike other hosts where entry-level reps follow scripts or bounce tickets around, Cloudways provides 24/7 live chat with actual cloud engineers.
They’ve helped us:
Set up and migrate our site
Configure advanced settings
Solve performance issues quickly
No long waits, no support “tiers,” and no upgrade required to get help when you need it.
What We Avoided by Choosing Cloudways
Once we started using Cloudways, it became even more obvious how much frustration we had sidestepped. Many of the beginner-friendly hosts come with hidden downsides that don’t show up until you’ve already paid and launched your site. Here are some of the biggest problems we avoided by not choosing the most commonly recommended platforms.
❌ Long-Term Contracts and Sneaky Renewals
Most shared hosts lock you into multi-year plans to get their “cheap” pricing—and then hit you with steep renewal rates after the first year. For example:
Bluehost’s pricing can double or triple after your first year.
SiteGround gives you a discount up front, but then charges premium rates at renewal.
✅ With Cloudways: There are no contracts. You pay monthly and can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime. No surprises.
❌ Slow Performance on Shared Servers
We saw this firsthand. Shared hosting means your site is crammed onto a server with hundreds (sometimes thousands) of others. If one site hogs resources, your performance suffers. That’s common with:
Bluehost’s entry-level WordPress hosting
Hostinger’s budget-friendly plans
✅ With Cloudways: You get dedicated cloud resources, optimized server-level caching, and access to a global CDN—even on the most affordable plans.
❌ Constant Upsells and Dashboard Clutter
Many beginner hosts load their dashboards with ads, upgrade prompts, and confusing add-ons. Instead of helping you grow, they try to sell you tools you don’t need.
✅ With Cloudways: The dashboard is clean, focused, and efficient. You only see what you actually need to manage your site.
❌ Resource Limitations Hidden in Fine Print
Even if a plan says “unlimited,” there’s always a catch. We found that:
SiteGround throttles CPU usage if your traffic grows
Hostinger limits email sends, storage, and bandwidth depending on your plan
✅ With Cloudways: You pick the exact server specs you want. As your traffic grows, you simply scale your plan up—with full transparency.
❌ Poor Support on Basic Plans
Unless you’re on a premium or business tier, don’t expect fast or helpful support from some shared hosts. Hostinger, for example, has been criticized for slow ticket replies on entry-level plans.
✅ With Cloudways: Support is expert-level across all plans. We’ve never had to upgrade to get quality help when it mattered.
❌ Migrating Later (The Hard Way)
Many beginner hosts work fine—until you outgrow them. Then, you have to migrate your site, find a better host, and hope everything transfers smoothly.
✅ With Cloudways: We started small, and now we can scale without ever migrating. Cloudways grows with us, not against us.
Cloudways vs Bluehost, SiteGround, and Hostinger – Quick Comparison
| Feature | Cloudways | Bluehost | SiteGround | Hostinger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting Type | Managed Cloud | Shared / Managed WP | Shared / Managed WP | Shared / Cloud |
| Pricing Model | Monthly, pay-as-you-go | Cheap intro, 1–3 year terms | Discounted intro, steep renewals | Very cheap intro, 1–4 year terms |
| Renewal Surprise | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Performance | 🚀 High (cloud servers + CDN) | ⚠️ Slower on shared plans | ✅ Decent, throttled on high usage | ⚠️ Inconsistent on low plans |
| Support Quality | ✅ 24/7 expert cloud support | ⚠️ Scripted reps | ✅ Helpful, but limited access | ⚠️ Slower on entry plans |
| Scalability | ✅ Seamless vertical scaling | ❌ Limited — must upgrade plan | ❌ Limited — move to VPS | ❌ Limited options |
| Upsells / Clutter | ❌ None | ✅ Frequent | ✅ Frequent | ✅ Frequent |
| Email Hosting | Optional via Rackspace ($1/mailbox) | Included | Included | Included |
| Transactional Email | Elastic Email from $0.10/1K | ❌ No built-in option | ❌ No built-in option | ❌ No built-in option |
| Free Backups | ✅ Automated daily | ❌ Manual or paid | ✅ Daily | ⚠️ Weekly free, daily paid |
| CDN | ✅ Built-in Cloudflare CDN | ⚠️ Not included on basic plans | ✅ Available | ⚠️ Basic or external setup |
| Beginner-Friendly | ✅ Clean, simple dashboard | ✅ Easy but cluttered | ✅ Friendly UI | ✅ Custom hPanel (non-standard) |
Who Cloudways is Perfect For
Cloudways isn’t just for large enterprises or tech experts—it’s a versatile hosting solution that fits a variety of needs. Whether you’re just starting out or already on your way to building an online business, Cloudways offers the flexibility and performance to help you grow without the usual hassles.
Ideal For:
Beginners and Side Hustlers:
If you’re new to the online world or just dipping your toes into digital entrepreneurship, Cloudways provides a user-friendly, pay-as-you-go platform that lets you scale up as you learn and grow. It’s a great choice if you’re looking to set up a blog or an e-commerce store without committing to long-term contracts.
For extra inspiration on starting out, check out our article on 10 Brilliant Ways to Earn Online Without Experience – Unique and Beginner-Friendly!Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs:
When every second of downtime or slow page load costs you potential customers, Cloudways’ fast performance and global CDN ensure your website stays responsive and competitive. This is crucial for maintaining your online reputation and boosting your search rankings.Those Focused on Online Income:
For readers who are not just building a website but also planning to monetize it—perhaps through affiliate marketing, e-commerce, or other digital ventures—Cloudways can handle the traffic as you expand. If you’re curious about rapid income-generating ideas, you might also find our post on 27 Genius Ways Make Money Fast – Even If You’re Broke! insightful.
In short, if you value a hosting solution that offers true scalability, robust performance, and a clean, no-nonsense dashboard—without the clutter and upsells common with other hosts—Cloudways is a smart choice that grows with you.
Final Thoughts: Why We’re Sticking with Cloudways
Choosing the right web host can feel overwhelming—especially with so many “top picks” that seem to be everywhere. But once we stepped back and looked beyond the affiliate hype, it became clear that Cloudways was different. It offered what we actually needed: speed, reliability, flexibility, and affordability—without all the fluff and fine print.
We’ve been able to:
Start small and scale with confidence
Keep our site lightning-fast for SEO and user experience
Avoid being locked into contracts or overloaded with upsells
Access powerful tools and support without paying a premium
Whether you’re launching your first blog, building a small business website, or exploring ways to earn online, Cloudways gives you the foundation to grow—without getting in your way.
If you’re curious to try it out, you can explore their plans and see what makes them different right here:
No contracts. No pressure. Just solid hosting that works.
