Features |
| – Users can deploy applications like WordPress and WooCommerce with a single click |
Pros | ✅Bluehost offers competitive pricing | ✅Great for businesses that need scalability |
Cons | ❌ Bluehost does not offer free website migration | ❌ Cloudways can be more expensive |
Ease of Use | – More complex, with a steeper learning curve. |
Choosing the right web hosting can be tricky, especially with so many options out there.
I recently looked into Cloudways and Bluehost, two popular choices for hosting websites. My goal was to find out which one was better for my needs.
Cloudways offers flexible and powerful hosting that’s great if you’re comfortable with some technical setup. It’s known for speed and performance, giving you control over your server.
On the other hand, Bluehost is beginner-friendly, which is perfect if you want something straightforward. They provide good support and easy setup, making it a solid choice for those new to website hosting.
In this comparison, I’ll break down the key features, pros, and cons of Cloudways and Bluehost to help you decide which one suits your website best. Whether you’re a tech-savvy user or just starting, I’ve got you covered.
Cloudways vs Bluehost: Which One Is The Best?
About Cloudways
Cloudways is one of the most reputable platforms when it comes to web hosting in terms of features, advantages, benefits, and pricing. With a growth in the ladder in the niche of web-hosting, many users and customers who are utilizing their brilliant features have praised them for the services and pricing point that they follow.
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform designed to make cloud infrastructure accessible and easy to manage, particularly for developers, agencies, and businesses that require high-performance hosting for their websites and applications.
Unlike traditional hosting providers, Cloudways allows users to host on top of major cloud platforms, giving them the flexibility to choose the infrastructure provider that best suits their needs.
With a free trial of the features that they provide, they have ensured that you are one step ahead by only paying for the features that you would be using, making it cost-effective and ensuring you build and grow towards your success path.
Cloudways, as a platform for web hosting, would cater to multiple areas that you might find beneficial, like the expert solutions that they provide, their performance/speed/uptime, integrations, add-ons, and control panels that are easy to use and navigate, constant monitoring, and security.
About Bluehost
Bluehost is a platform that WordPress, a content management platform across the world, most recommends. The platform ensures you have a one-click, easy installation of WordPress in the blink of an eye.
Bluehost is a prominent web hosting company established in 2003 by Matt Heaton and Danny Ashworth. Headquartered in Orem, Utah, Bluehost has grown to become one of the largest hosting providers globally, powering over 2 million websites.
In 2021, Bluehost became a subsidiary of Newfold Digital, which also owns other hosting brands like HostGator and Web.com.
Their 24*7 customer support team ensures that you have a quick response to resolve queries and ensure you have the required support at all times.
With their money-back guarantee within 30 days, they have ensured that you are one step closer to building and walking towards a path of success.
Considering the fact that they provide one year’s worth of free domain names, they ensure you have tools and integrations that will make your WordPress site crafty and reliable.
From servers to internal tools that they provide, you could grow your WordPress website with a platform that you can rely on, with the security intact and regular checks done.
You would be choosing a platform that ensures you have a secure hosting platform that is built on an open-source platform.
With that being said, Bluehost is a platform that provides unlimited storage as well as bandwidth and low pricing, This is a platform that would be great if you are running on a budget.
Features: Cloudways vs Bluehost
Cloudways Features
Multi-Cloud Hosting Providers
Cloudways allows users to choose from five major cloud providers to host their websites: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr. This flexibility allows users to select the best infrastructure based on their specific needs, whether it’s for performance, cost, or server location.
Fully Managed Hosting
Cloudways is a fully managed hosting platform, meaning they handle the server-side tasks like operating system updates, security patches, and performance optimizations. This reduces the technical burden on users, enabling them to focus on their website or application development without worrying about server maintenance.
One-Click App Deployment
The platform provides one-click installations for popular applications such as WordPress, Magento, Laravel, Joomla, and custom PHP applications. This simplifies the deployment process, allowing users to get their websites or applications up and running in just a few minutes, even with minimal technical expertise.
Scalability
Users can easily scale their server resources, such as CPU and RAM, up or down using the Cloudways dashboard. This feature is particularly useful for handling traffic spikes or ensuring that a website can grow seamlessly as business demands increase.
Free SSL Certificates
Cloudways offers free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt for all hosted websites. This ensures that every website has HTTPS encryption, which is crucial for security, user trust, and SEO.
Staging Environments
The platform allows users to create staging environments to test changes or new features before pushing them live. This reduces the risk of errors or disruptions to the live site and helps ensure that everything works properly before changes go public.
24/7 Customer Support
Cloudways provides 24/7 customer support via live chat and ticketing systems, offering assistance with any issues or questions that may arise. They also offer premium support options for users who require faster response times and more in-depth technical assistance.
Bluehost Features
Scalable Hosting Plans
Bluehost offers a variety of hosting options to suit different needs, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated hosting, cloud hosting, and managed WordPress hosting. Users can easily upgrade as their website or business grows.
Free Website Builder
Bluehost includes a website builder with drag-and-drop functionality, enabling users to create and customize their websites easily without needing coding skills.
Marketing Tools
Bluehost offers various marketing tools, such as SEO assistance, Google My Business integration, and other resources to help users promote their websites and improve visibility online.
Managed WordPress Hosting
Optimized for WordPress, Bluehost provides managed WordPress hosting that includes automatic updates, enhanced security, and performance features for WordPress websites.
WooCommerce Hosting
For online store owners, Bluehost offers specialized WooCommerce hosting plans with features designed to help manage online stores, including secure payment gateways and easy product management.
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its hosting plans, providing a risk-free trial for users who may be uncertain about the service.
24/7 Customer Support
Bluehost provides round-the-clock customer support via phone, live chat, and email. This ensures that users can receive help whenever they need assistance with their hosting services.
Verdict- With most of the common features being compared, both of the platforms- Cloudways as well as Bluehost function differently which is something that sets both the platforms apart. With that being said, both of the platforms are really great in terms of all the common features that we have discussed and would completely be a game-changer to a point where it depends on what you are actually looking out for in a platform.
Unique Features
Here are the unique features:
Cloudways
There are a few unique features that you may want to consider that set them apart:
- In terms of pricing, you only have to pay for what you use, which makes it a completely cost-friendly platform if you are running on a budget.
- An unlimited installation of their application is available, while other web hosting platforms might charge after a certain number of installations.
- They have about 60+ global data centers, which is a large number for a web hosting platform.
- A smart Assistant would help you with real-time assistance with regard to your performance. It is an AI-based robotic feature.
- The server and App monitoring feature will give you a performance metric, which could prove to be quite helpful.
Bluehost
There are a few unique features that you may want to consider that set them apart:
- Bluehost is a platform that would provide you with customized hosting plans.
- They have a feature that allows you to opt for their inbuilt website builders, which you can use free of cost.
- Email addresses are provided to their users depending on the niche they are functioning under, which means that emails are domain-specific.
- Cloudflare integration is an additional plus point that would help in speeding up your website’s loading time.
- Bluehost, as a platform, would provide you with add-ons in terms of tools that they provide, which makes a difference for businesses that are just starting.
Verdict- With each of the platforms- Cloudways and Bluehost being platforms that are known for web hosting, both of the platforms are known for their own unique features that set them apart from each other.
There are a few unique features that are really commendable with regards to Cloudways that are not available with Bluehost and there are beautiful features with Bluehost that may help you to grow your business that you may not find with Cloudways.
Hence, you as users have to choose wisely on what would fulfill your requirements better!
Pros and Cons: Cloudways vs Bluehost
Cloudways Pros and Cons
Pros
- Multi-Cloud Provider Options
- Performance Optimization
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Includes multiple layers of security
Cons
- Not Ideal for Very Small Websites
- Limited Cloud Provider Options for Beginners
Bluehost Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent for WordPress Hosting
- User-Friendly Interface
- Free Domain Name for First Year
- Affordable Pricing
Cons
- Renewal Prices Can Be High
- Slow Customer Support Response Times
Verdict- Considering the advantages and disadvantages of both platforms, it is important to understand that it completely depends on the business requirements that match.
While Cloudways and Bluehost both have similar advantages, disadvantages are something that you may want to consider before subscribing to any of the platforms.
Cloudways vs Bluehost: Pricing Battle
Cloudways Pricing
All plans are inclusive of all the features that Cloudways has to offer, from SSL certificates and firewalls to hosting unlimited apps and an advanced caching system.
As Cloudways partners with FIVE different companies, there are five broad pricing categories, based on them. Let’s have a look.
| Cloud Provider | Plan Type | RAM | Storage | Bandwidth | Price (USD/month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean | Standard | 1 GB | 25 GB | 1 TB | $11 |
| Premium | 1 GB | 25 GB | 1 TB | $14 | |
| Standard | 2 GB | 50 GB | 2 TB | $24 | |
| Premium | 2 GB | 50 GB | 2 TB | $28 | |
| Standard | 4 GB | 80 GB | 4 TB | $46 | |
| Premium | 4 GB | 80 GB | 4 TB | $54 | |
| Standard | 8 GB | 160 GB | 6 TB | $88 | |
| Premium | 8 GB | 160 GB | 6 TB | $99 | |
| Standard | 16 GB | 320 GB | 8 TB | $149 | |
| Premium | 16 GB | 320 GB | 8 TB | $170 | |
| Standard | 32 GB | 640 GB | 10 TB | $240 | |
| Standard | 48 GB | 960 GB | 12 TB | $342 | |
| Standard | 64 GB | 1.28 TB | 15 TB | $421 | |
| Standard | 96 GB | 1.92 TB | 18 TB | $566 | |
| Standard | 128 GB | 2.56 TB | 20 TB | $729 | |
| Standard | 192 GB | 3.84 TB | 25 TB | $1,056 | |
| AWS | Small | 2 GB | 50 GB | 1 TB | $38.56 |
| Medium | 4 GB | 100 GB | 2 TB | $91.84 | |
| Large | 8 GB | 200 GB | 3 TB | $183.22 | |
| XL | 16 GB | 400 GB | 4 TB | $285.21 | |
| 2XL | 32 GB | 800 GB | 5 TB | $445.76 | |
| 4XL | 64 GB | 1.6 TB | 6 TB | $733.30 | |
| 8XL | 128 GB | 3.2 TB | 8 TB | $1,412.38 | |
| Google Cloud | Standard | 2 GB | 50 GB | 1 TB | $37.45 |
| Medium | 4 GB | 100 GB | 2 TB | $91.84 | |
| Large | 8 GB | 200 GB | 3 TB | $183.22 | |
| XL | 16 GB | 400 GB | 4 TB | $285.21 | |
| 2XL | 32 GB | 800 GB | 5 TB | $445.76 | |
| 4XL | 64 GB | 1.6 TB | 6 TB | $733.30 | |
| 8XL | 128 GB | 3.2 TB | 8 TB | $1,412.38 | |
| Linode | Standard | 1 GB | 25 GB | 1 TB | $14 |
| Standard | 2 GB | 50 GB | 2 TB | $28 | |
| Standard | 4 GB | 80 GB | 4 TB | $59 | |
| Standard | 8 GB | 160 GB | 6 TB | $105 | |
| Standard | 16 GB | 320 GB | 8 TB | $176 | |
| Standard | 32 GB | 640 GB | 10 TB | $260 | |
| Standard | 64 GB | 1.28 TB | 12 TB | $489 | |
| Standard | 96 GB | 1.92 TB | 15 TB | $707 | |
| Standard | 128 GB | 2.56 TB | 18 TB | $894 | |
| Vultr | Standard | 1 GB | 25 GB | 1 TB | $14 |
| Standard | 2 GB | 50 GB | 2 TB | $28 | |
| Standard | 4 GB | 80 GB | 4 TB | $59 | |
| Standard | 8 GB | 160 GB | 6 TB | $105 | |
| Standard | 16 GB | 320 GB | 8 TB | $176 | |
| Standard | 32 GB | 640 GB | 10 TB | $260 | |
| Standard | 64 GB | 1.28 TB | 12 TB | $489 | |
| Standard | 96 GB | 1.92 TB | 15 TB | $707 | |
| Standard | 128 GB | 2.56 TB | 18 TB | $894 |
Bluehost Pricing
Here’s a detailed breakdown of Bluehost’s hosting plans and pricing as of 2025, including both introductory and renewal rates
Shared Hosting Plans
| Plan | Intro Price (12 months) | Intro Price (36 months) | Renewal Price (36 months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $2.95/month | $4.95/month | $9.99/month |
| Choice Plus | $5.45/month | $7.45/month | $14.99/month |
| Online Store | $9.95/month | $12.95/month | $17.99/month |
| Pro | $13.95/month | $18.95/month | $18.99/month |
VPS Hosting Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price (12 months) | Monthly Price (36 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard NVMe 4 | $59.99/month | $59.99/month |
| Enhanced NVMe 8 | $92.99/month | $92.99/month |
| Ultimate NVMe 16 | $141.99/month | $141.99/month |
Dedicated Hosting Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price (12 months) | Monthly Price (36 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard NVMe 32 | $194.47/month | $194.47/month |
| Enhanced NVMe 64 | $285.11/month | $285.11/month |
| Premium NVMe 128 | $417.11/month | $417.11/month |
Cloud Hosting Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price (12 months) |
|---|---|
| Cloud 10 | $29.99/month |
| Cloud 25 | $49.99/month |
| Cloud 50 | $69.99/month |
Professional Email
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Professional Email | $2.99/month |
Verdict
In terms of Cloudways, there is no money-back guarantee but they certainly do provide a free trial of their hosting services showcasing the functions and features of their platform. So if you are a startup or a business running on a budget, this might just be your platform.
However, Bluehost is a very well-known web hosting platform, with the features that they provide you with, you could blindly opt for their features by subscribing to them, however, they do not have a free trial available. They, however, provide a 30-day-money-back guarantee that is an assurance for the services that are being provided ensuring it is qualitative.
FAQs On Cloudways vs Bluehost
This is a segment that is normally filled up with Frequently Asked Questions about the products that are talked about or about the concept of web hosting as a whole, and we would be catering to a few questions over this segment:
Which one is better, Bluehost, or Cloudways?
This question isn’t all that difficult to answer with the supplemental features like staging, a whole set of advanced backups, the transparency of prices, the user-friendly support it gives, and the international servers in the majority of the continents like Australia, the States, Asia and Europe of which nothing is provided in Bluehost. However, Cloudways have its own set-apart features, pricing policies, advantages, and benefits that you may want to consider. Hence, it completely would depend on what your business and project requirements are and what would suit you in a way that will make your business easier.
Is a free domain offered here?
It completely depends on which platform you would be using. But in terms of Cloudways or Bluehost, both of the platforms do not provide you with a free domain.
Which platform is better for cPanels?
While both the platforms provide a secure and reliable cPanel, if you are looking at a basic and pre-set CPanel, then Cloudways is an option that you may want to consider. However, if you are looking at your own customized Cpanel then Bluehost may be the right option.
Quick Links:
- Fully Managed Cloud Hosting By Cloudways
- Cloudways Laravel Hosting Review
- Upcloud vs Google Cloud Platform
- Cloudways vs WPMU DEV
Conclusion: Cloudways vs Bluehost 2025
The battle between these two items has definitely been quite a task, as they have clashed with each other. But there must be a winner, and in this case, Cloudways and Bluehost have had their share of benefits, advantages, and disadvantages that you would want to weigh for yourself.
This is because Cloudways has an extensive range of features for the pricing that it has to offer and is sure to outperform that of BlueHost, but beyond that, any customer expects transparency, reliability, and scalability, especially in terms of areas like uptime.
In that way, Bluehost seems to be a much more reliable and efficient web hosting platform in terms of other aspects.
Majorly, the comparison and selection between Cloudways and Bluehost comes down to comparing features/performance, and pricing.
Choose Cloudways if you need a more robust, scalable solution for a high-performance website, application, or online business, and you don’t mind paying a bit more for flexibility and control over your cloud provider.
Choose Bluehost if you’re looking for an affordable, user-friendly hosting service for a small to medium-sized website, especially if you plan to use WordPress or need straightforward hosting without too much technical hassle.
