- Who Is Cloudways For?
- SMBs and Ecommerce Stores
- Developers and Agencies
- Bloggers and Content Creators
- Tech-Savvy Users
- Features of Cloudways
- Speed & Performance
- Multiple IaaS Providers
- Easy-to-Use Platform
- Advanced Security
- Seamless Scalability
- Integrations & Add-Ons
- Pay-As-You-Go Pricing
- 24/7 Dedicated Support
- Why Cloudways’ Laravel Hosting Works for Developers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Cloudways good for Laravel hosting?
- How much does Cloudways cost?
- Which cloud providers does Cloudways support?
- Cloudways vs Laravel Cloud, which is better for Laravel?
- Conclusion
Quick Answer
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that runs Laravel apps on providers like DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud without the manual server setup. Its strengths are one click deployments, built in caching (Varnish, Redis), easy scaling, a CDN, and pay as you go pricing from around 11 dollars a month. It suits developers and agencies who want control without managing servers. Note that Laravel now also offers its own Laravel Cloud platform, worth comparing. The full review is below.
Feeling overwhelmed by website hosting options?
Cloudways might be your answer.
Imagine having a powerful cloud server but without the messy setup and confusing controls. That’s what Cloudways offers: an easy-to-use platform that lets you choose the perfect IaaS provider for your website.
“I believe that Laravel is the most productive way to build full-stack web applications, and Laravel Cloud will be the platform for shipping those applications that this community deserves.”
Taylor Otwell, Founder & CEO at Laravel
Whether you’re a small business owner, an online store whiz, a blogger with a growing audience, or a developer building the next big thing, Cloudways can handle it all.
It takes care of the server side so you can focus on what you do best.
Source: Cloudways
In this article, we’ll break down Cloudways in simple terms. We’ll talk about the features it offers and whether it’s the right fit for you. So, grab a coffee, ditch the tech jargon, and read this detailed Cloudways review.
Who Is Cloudways For?
Cloudways is a one-size-fits-all solution and caters to a different range of individuals and businesses with specific needs.
SMBs and Ecommerce Stores
Are you an SMB or an eCommerce store experiencing growth spurts? Cloudways scales seamlessly, handling traffic spikes and future expansion with ease. Its pay-as-you-go model aligns well with cost-conscious needs, and the user-friendly interface simplifies server management, freeing up your time.
Developers and Agencies
Flexibility and control matter most here. For Laravel developers seeking optimal Laravel hosting, Cloudways offers strong customization and efficiency.
Choose from various cloud providers and server configurations to build the right environment for your Laravel project. One-click deployments and built-in caching plugins streamline your workflow, and team collaboration features let agencies manage multiple client websites efficiently.
Market stats: Laravel has a user base of 44,323 companies, generating $5.7 million annually. It’s popular among tech-focused businesses in the US, with most users being young programmers. 70% of users are aged 20 to 34, and 38.86% prefer macOS.
Bloggers and Content Creators
Cloudways helps your blog load quickly, keeping your audience engaged even during high-traffic periods. Security matters too, and Cloudways offers firewalls and regular updates to protect your content and audience data while you focus on creating content.
Tech-Savvy Users
Want full control and customization? Cloudways gives it to you. Advanced features and granular controls let you fine-tune performance. Automation tools like scaling and backups save you time, and API access integrates Cloudways with your development tools.
Features of Cloudways
Cloudways packs a lot of value into one platform, catering to both technical and non-technical users. Here are the key functionalities that power your website.
Cloud hosting, security, and performance in one unified platform.
Speed & Performance
Cloudways uses SSD storage, the NGINX web server, and current PHP versions (check Cloudways for the latest supported releases, since older versions like 7.4 are end of life). Varnish caching stores frequently accessed content so it’s delivered instantly.
For global audiences, the Content Delivery Network (CDN) distributes your content across geographically diverse servers, minimizing latency and ensuring consistent performance wherever your visitors are.
Multiple IaaS Providers
Choose from providers like DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud Platform, each offering unique strengths. Need cost-effectiveness? DigitalOcean fits well. Global reach and scalability? AWS takes the lead. Google Cloud Platform offers advanced functionality for technical teams that want more control.
Easy-to-Use Platform
Even if you’re not deeply technical, Cloudways offers an intuitive interface.
Cloudways’ intuitive interface makes launching and managing your website straightforward.
Managing servers, applications, and backups becomes straightforward. Need a WordPress website quickly? One-click app deployment makes it happen, and the built-in Breeze plugin optimizes performance for WordPress websites automatically.
Advanced Security
Firewalls constantly monitor and block suspicious traffic. DDoS protection shields you from overwhelming attacks, while regular security patches keep your website up to date. SafeUpdates takes the hassle out of managing WordPress updates.
Manage WordPress updates directly from your Cloudways dashboard.
You can choose to update your core, themes, and plugins on demand or schedule them for automatic execution. This ensures your website always benefits from the latest security patches and performance improvements without manual intervention.
Seamless Scalability
Upgrade with a few clicks, ensuring smooth transitions and avoiding performance bottlenecks. For unpredictable traffic spikes, Cloudways Autonomous handles this automatically, adding servers during peak hours and removing them when things calm down, optimizing both performance and cost.
Scalability, security, and performance without the technical complexity.
Integrations & Add-Ons
Through its selection of integrations and add-ons, Cloudways lets you connect your website with tools that add functionality and security.
One standout integration is Cloudflare Enterprise. This CDN improves your website’s speed and security, minimizing latency and protecting against malicious attacks, all working alongside your Cloudways hosting.
Scale your CDN and security alongside your website growth with Cloudways’ flexible plans.
Cloudways also offers Object Cache Pro, a free add-on (worth $95) that improves performance by caching frequently accessed content. That means faster page loads and a smoother user experience, without added cost.
Pay-As-You-Go Pricing
Cloudways follows a pay-as-you-go model, meaning you only pay for the resources you use. This scales up or down to your needs, saving you money while maintaining performance.
Starting prices are as low as $11 per month, making it an affordable option for websites of all sizes.
24/7 Dedicated Support
Cloudways’ support team is available 24/7 via live chat, tickets, and phone, ready to answer your questions and solve any issues.
If you prefer self-service solutions, explore Cloudways’ knowledge base with articles, tutorials, and FAQs. Their active community group on Facebook also lets you connect with other users and learn from their experiences.
Why Cloudways’ Laravel Hosting Works for Developers
Flexibility and control matter most for Laravel developers, and Cloudways delivers on both. For developers seeking optimal Laravel hosting, Cloudways offers strong customization and efficiency.
Choose from various cloud providers and server configurations to build the right environment for your Laravel project. One-click deployments and built-in caching plugins streamline your workflow, and team collaboration features let agencies manage multiple client websites efficiently.
Worth noting for 2026: Laravel has launched its own managed platform, Laravel Cloud, built specifically for Laravel applications. If you’re evaluating Laravel hosting today, it’s worth comparing Cloudways against Laravel Cloud and other managed options based on your stack, team size, and budget. Cloudways gives you broad provider choice and general-purpose managed hosting; Laravel Cloud is purpose-built for the framework. Neither is automatically the right answer, it depends on what you’re optimizing for.
Not sure which Laravel hosting setup fits your project?
Our Laravel developers can help you weigh Cloudways, Laravel Cloud, and custom setups against your actual needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cloudways good for Laravel hosting?
Yes. Cloudways offers managed cloud hosting with one click Laravel deployment, caching, and scaling, so developers avoid manual server management.
How much does Cloudways cost?
Pricing is pay-as-you-go and starts at around 11 dollars a month, depending on the cloud provider and server size you choose.
Which cloud providers does Cloudways support?
DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, and others, so you can match the provider to your budget and reach.
Cloudways vs Laravel Cloud, which is better for Laravel?
It depends. Cloudways is a general managed cloud host with broad provider choice. Laravel Cloud is purpose-built for Laravel. Compare both on features, pricing, and your stack.
Conclusion
Cloudways is a one-size-fits-all solution that strikes a balance between power, flexibility, and ease of use. If you’re a growing business, a content creator building an audience, a developer seeking control over your projects, or a tech-savvy user who values performance and efficiency, Cloudways is worth serious consideration for your website.
Remember, the ideal hosting solution depends on your specific needs and budget. Weigh the features, pricing, and user experience against your website’s current and future requirements, and for Laravel specifically, weigh Cloudways against newer options like Laravel Cloud too.
If Cloudways resonates with your goals and offers the features you need, it’s worth trying. You may find a hosting setup that’s both powerful and easy to manage for your online presence.
