Our verdict
Choose Cloudways if you want flexible server-based pricing, especially for several sites or non-WordPress apps. Choose Kinsta if you want hands-off premium WordPress hosting with top support.
Cloudways and Kinsta both move you beyond shared hosting, but in different ways. Cloudways is a managed cloud platform: you choose a server from providers like DigitalOcean, AWS or Google Cloud and Cloudways manages it, with pay-as-you-go monthly pricing. Kinsta is premium managed WordPress hosting on Google Cloud, priced per site and visits, with a polished dashboard and expert support.
Choose Cloudways if…
- You want server-based pricing and to host many sites on one server
- You want to choose your cloud provider and location
- You host PHP apps beyond WordPress
- You prefer monthly, pay-as-you-go billing
Choose Kinsta if…
- You want fully managed WordPress with minimal server decisions
- Support quality and a polished dashboard are priorities
- You value Google Cloud infrastructure and edge caching
- You run business-critical WordPress sites
Side by side
| Criterion | Cloudways | Kinsta |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.3 / 10 | 8.6 / 10 |
| Features & fit | 8.6 | 9.0 |
| Ease of use | 8.0 | 9.0 |
| Value for money | 8.4 | 7.4 |
| Support & reliability | 8.0 | 9.0 |
| Security & privacy | 8.6 | 9.0 |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 8.0 | 8.4 |
| Starting price (indicative) | From around $11–14 / month | From around $35 / month |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | Yes | No |
| Best for | Agencies hosting many sites | Business-critical WordPress sites |
Feature by feature
| Feature | Cloudways | Kinsta |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (indicative) | ~ $14 / month (DigitalOcean 1 GB) | ~ $35 / month (1 site) |
| Pricing basis | Per server | Per sites and visits |
| Free trial | Yes | No (money-back period) |
| Choice of cloud | DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud and more | Google Cloud |
| Staging | Yes | Yes |
| CDN / edge caching | Add-on | Included |
| Non-WordPress apps | Yes (PHP) | Application hosting available |
| Best fit | Agencies and multi-site owners | Business-critical WordPress |
Pricing compared
Cloudways
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean 1 GB | ≈ $14 / mo | Monthly |
| DigitalOcean 2 GB | ≈ $28 / mo | Monthly |
| AWS / Google Cloud | Custom quote | Varies by server |
Kinsta
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single 35k | ≈ $35 / mo | 1 site, monthly |
| WP 2 | ≈ $70 / mo | 2 sites, monthly |
| WP 5 | ≈ $115 / mo | 5 sites, monthly |
| Agency | Custom quote | Quote |
Indicative USD list prices; excludes tax, add-ons and promotions. Confirm on each vendor’s site.
Pricing model
Cloudways charges per server (DigitalOcean 1 GB from around $14 per month) and you can host multiple sites on it. Kinsta charges per plan based on sites and monthly visits, starting around $35 per month for one site.
Management
Kinsta handles everything at the WordPress level. Cloudways manages the server but expects you to choose sizes and scale resources yourself.
Performance
Both perform well. Kinsta includes edge caching and a CDN; Cloudways offers a CDN add-on and caching stack, with performance tied to the server you choose.
Support
Kinsta's support is staffed by WordPress experts and highly rated. Cloudways offers 24/7 support, with premium support as a paid add-on.
Flexibility
Cloudways can host other PHP applications such as Laravel. Kinsta also offers application and database hosting, but its core is WordPress.
Pros & cons
Cloudways
- Choice of cloud providers
- Unlimited apps per server
- Pay-as-you-go
- Email is an add-on
- Some features cost extra
Kinsta
- Excellent performance
- Polished dashboard
- Edge caching and CDN
- High price for small sites
- Visit limits and overages
Key features of each
Cloudways
- Managed servers. Server setup and patching handled.
- Caching. Built-in caching stack.
- Staging. Staging and cloning.
- Backups. Automatic offsite backups.
Integrates with: DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Cloudflare, WordPress.
Kinsta
- Edge caching. Cache pages at Cloudflare's edge.
- Staging. One-click staging environments.
- Daily backups. Automatic and on-demand backups.
- APM. Application performance monitoring.
Integrates with: Cloudflare, Google Cloud, WordPress, WooCommerce.
Who should avoid each
Skip Cloudways if…
- Absolute beginners
- Users needing email included
Best for: Agencies hosting many sites; Sites outgrowing shared hosting; Developers wanting managed servers.
Skip Kinsta if…
- Hobby sites on tight budgets
- Non-WordPress apps on cheaper plans
Best for: Business-critical WordPress sites; Agencies managing client sites; High-traffic content sites.
Switching between Cloudways and Kinsta
Migration difficulty: Easy
Both offer free migrations for WordPress sites. Test on a staging URL before pointing DNS.
- Request a free migration or use the migration plugin.
- Verify the site on the temporary URL, including forms and checkout.
- Reduce DNS TTL a day before the switch.
- Update DNS and monitor for 48 hours.
- Cancel the old hosting after confirming backups on the new host.
Weigh it your way
Adjust the weights to your priorities to see which tool comes out ahead for you. Print or export the result for your team.
| Tool | Features | Ease | Value | Support | Security | Integrations | Your score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Kinsta | 9.0 | 9.0 | 7.4 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 8.62 |
| 2. Cloudways | 8.6 | 8.0 | 8.4 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 8.29 |
Drag the sliders to match your priorities. Scores are our editorial sub-scores; weights start at the values we publish on the methodology page. Nothing you change is stored or sent anywhere.
How our scores and weights work · Add a third tool side by side
Frequently asked questions
Is Cloudways cheaper than Kinsta?
Usually, yes, especially if you host several sites on one server. Kinsta charges more but manages more.
Does Kinsta use Google Cloud?
Yes. Kinsta runs on Google Cloud's premium network.
Do I need technical skills for Cloudways?
Some. Cloudways manages servers, but you choose server sizes and handle scaling decisions.
Which is better for WooCommerce?
Both host WooCommerce well. Kinsta offers more hands-off management; Cloudways lets you size servers for your store.
Does Cloudways or Kinsta have a free plan?
Cloudways has a free trial but no permanent free plan; Kinsta has no free plan or trial. Indicative starting prices: Cloudways — From around $11–14 / month; Kinsta — From around $35 / month.
Which scores higher in our review, Cloudways or Kinsta?
Kinsta scores 8.6/10 and Cloudways 8.3/10 on our weighted rubric. Kinsta leads on 5 of six criteria. A higher score does not make it right for every buyer — see the “choose if” lists above.
