Menu
Cloudways vs Bluehost Compression
Cloudways is a cloud hosting platform known for its flexibility and scalability, offering managed cloud hosting with support for multiple cloud providers, including AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean. Cloudways provides a user-friendly platform to deploy, manage, and scale web applications, making it ideal for developers and businesses needing high-performance hosting with customizable resources.
Bluehost is a popular web hosting provider that offers a range of services, including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting, with a particular focus on WordPress integration. Known for its beginner-friendly approach, Bluehost provides an intuitive interface, one-click WordPress installation, and 24/7 support, making it a solid choice for new website owners and small businesses.
Cloudways provides scalable, managed cloud hosting for developers and growing businesses, with a focus on performance and customization. Bluehost, on the other hand, offers a traditional, all-in-one hosting experience suited for beginners and WordPress users, emphasizing ease of use and support for smaller sites.
Cloudways
Performance: |5.0| 
Cloudways is built for high-performance hosting, leveraging multiple cloud providers like AWS and Google Cloud to offer fast load times and reliable scalability. With options for dedicated resources, SSD storage, and advanced caching, Cloudways ensures optimal site speed and stability, especially for larger or high-traffic sites.
Uptime: |4.9|
Cloudways offers strong uptime due to its reliance on premium cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean. With dedicated resources and real-time monitoring, Cloudways typically maintains high uptime, making it suitable for businesses that require consistent site availability.
Customer Service: |4.8|
Cloudways provides live chat and a ticketing mechanism for round-the-clock assistance. Users on higher-tier plans can access priority support, including phone support and private Slack channels. The Cloudways team is knowledgeable in server management and cloud hosting, making it helpful for users with technical questions or complex setups.
Bluehost
Performance: |4.8|
Bluehost provides stable performance for smaller websites and WordPress users, with SSD storage and built-in caching. While not as customizable as Cloudways, it offers reliable speed for typical sites. However, performance may be more limited under high traffic compared to cloud-based options.
Uptime: |4.9|
Bluehost provides solid uptime for most users, with an uptime guarantee of around 99.9% on its shared and managed WordPress hosting. However, uptime can vary slightly depending on server load, as shared hosting environments are more affected by high-traffic sites sharing resources.
Customer Service: |4.7|
Bluehost provides 24/7 support through phone, live chat, and a comprehensive knowledge base. Known for its beginner-friendly approach, Bluehost’s support team assists with common issues related to WordPress and basic hosting configurations. Their accessible support channels make it easier for new users to get help quickly.
Cloudways’ support is focused on advanced technical support, particularly useful for developers and high-traffic sites, while Bluehost prioritizes ease of use for beginners. Bluehost is more approachable for basic website setup, whereas Cloudways offers specialized guidance for cloud hosting and scalability.
Overall Comparison Cloudways vs Bluehost
While both Bluehost and Cloudways provide managed WordPress hosting, that’s where their similarities largely stop.
Cloudways specializes in managed cloud hosting, partnering with leading cloud providers like Google Cloud Platform (GCP), AWS, and DigitalOcean. This setup allows users to leverage powerful cloud infrastructure without the complexity of managing it themselves. Within this niche, Cloudways offers some of the best value on the market.
Bluehost, on the other hand, runs its own infrastructure, providing a variety of shared hosting plans at appealing entry-level prices. However, it doesn’t offer cloud hosting options. Although Bluehost’s shared hosting plans are budget-friendly, they come with trade-offs in versatility and performance. Plus, the cost jumps significantly after the initial term due to steep renewal fees.
To provide a fair comparison, I focused on their managed WordPress plans, and Cloudways consistently comes out ahead. Continue reading to see why—or check out Cloudways’ latest deals.
| Feature | Cloudways | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Type | Managed cloud hosting | Shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting |
| Best For | Developers, high-traffic sites, and businesses | Beginners, WordPress users, and small sites |
| Supported Providers | AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode | In-house hosting solutions |
| Pricing Model | Pay-as-you-go, scalable | Fixed monthly plans, discounts on annual terms |
| Ease of Use | Moderate; technical setup needed | Very beginner-friendly |
| Performance | High-performance with advanced caching and SSDs | Stable for small to mid-sized sites |
| Uptime | 99.99% uptime with cloud provider reliability | 99.9% uptime, some fluctuation in shared plans |
| Security Features | Dedicated firewalls, regular patching, SSL | SSL, daily backups on higher plans |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat, ticketing, priority options | 24/7 live chat, phone, extensive knowledge base |
1. Plans and Pricing
Cloudways Offers Greater Affordability and Transparency Compared to Bluehost
Bluehost advertises unlimited bandwidth and storage with its WP Pro plans, but there’s a significant caveat. You’re not actually getting limitless storage or bandwidth; both come with restrictions detailed in Bluehost’s user agreement, similar to most shared hosting services. For instance, database sizes can’t exceed 10GB. So much for “unlimited.”
Additionally, Bluehost doesn’t disclose specific RAM or CPU allocations on its site. This is because resources are shared among all users on the same server. If another site on your server consumes more resources, it can impact your website’s performance.
In contrast, Cloudways provides clear and guaranteed resource allocations with each plan. Unlike the ambiguous “unlimited” offer, Cloudways’ dedicated resources aren’t shared with other clients, so you always know exactly what you’re getting. Plus, Cloudways allows you to scale your plan up or down based on your needs.
| Plan Type | Cloudways | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level Plan | Starts at $12/month; pay-as-you-go | Starts at $2.95/month with annual term |
| Mid-Tier Plan | Around $22–$42/month; scalable options | Around $5.45/month on shared plans |
| Top-Tier Plan | Varies based on provider and usage | Up to $13.95/month for shared; VPS from $19.99/month |
| E-commerce | Customizable, cloud-based solutions | Available on higher shared and VPS plans |
| Free Trial/Trial Period | 3-day free trial available | No free trial; 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Additional Costs | Pay for exact resource usage | Renewal rates may increase significantly |
| Scalability | Easily scalable cloud hosting | Limited scalability on shared plans |
| Overall Value | Ideal for high-traffic, scalable needs | Good for beginners and small businesses |
Cloudways’ entry-level managed WordPress plan (on DigitalOcean’s cloud) is significantly more affordable than Bluehost’s WP Build. For a basic website, Cloudways offers 1 vCPU, 1GB RAM, and 1TB bandwidth—more than sufficient for getting started. In comparison, Bluehost’s WP Build costs twice as much as Cloudways’ plan for the first year, and after renewal, it’s three times the price.
Another key difference is payment structure: Bluehost requires upfront payment, while Cloudways follows a pay-as-you-go model. With Cloudways, you’re billed at the end of each month with no hidden fees.
Hosting Management
| Feature | Cloudways | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Control Panel | Custom Cloudways dashboard | cPanel for shared hosting, custom dashboard for managed WordPress |
| Server Management | Full server management with options for scaling | Managed setup for shared and WordPress plans, limited control |
| Staging Environment | Built-in staging for testing and development | Staging only available on higher WordPress plans |
| Backup Options | Automatic backups with customizable frequency | Daily backups on higher plans, limited for shared plans |
| One-Click Apps | One-click app installations (e.g., WordPress, Magento) | One-click WordPress installation and plugins |
| Resource Monitoring | Real-time monitoring and analytics tools | Basic usage stats and resource management in cPanel |
| Cloning & Scaling | Easy cloning, vertical scaling by upgrading resources | Limited to upgrading plans; no real-time resource scaling |
| User Access Controls | User Access Controls
Advanced role-based access for teams | Basic user access for account owners |
| Advanced Caching | Built-in advanced caching options (Varnish, Redis) | Basic caching; optimized for WordPress sites |
2. Features
Cloudways Offers Features for Both Beginners and Advanced Users
Both Cloudways and Bluehost include some excellent features in their managed WordPress plans. You can install multiple websites, link as many domains as you need, and take advantage of automated backups and staging environments. It’s a strong setup from both providers.
However, hosting several websites on a single Bluehost account isn’t ideal since your RAM and CPU are shared, which can result in resource overuse and potential penalties.
Bluehost does offer a few extras, like automated WordPress updates and an expanding library of themes with every plan. Its Grow plan also includes a Jetpack Premium license, adding another layer of WordPress security.
Despite these perks, Cloudways holds a clear edge. It supports multiple PHP versions (including the latest), offers free website migrations, includes a dedicated server IP, and has built-in caching. Cloudways’ tech stack is also better optimized for performance, which I’ll cover further in the Performance section.
If you’re managing multiple sites and want to collaborate, Cloudways’ Teams feature is a huge plus. You can assign roles and permissions, enabling others to assist with site maintenance or development, and easily remove them when their work is done.
For reusing WordPress themes or setups, Cloudways has Git integration, allowing you to clone repositories and quickly deploy new sites.
Additionally, with any Cloudways plan, you can add the free version of Jetpack and access the same themes that come with Bluehost’s Grow plan. Cloudways is so affordable that even purchasing Jetpack Premium separately costs less than Bluehost’s plan.
For a detailed comparison of Cloudways and Bluehost’s features, see the table below:
| Feature | Cloudways | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Service Types | Managed cloud hosting with multiple providers | Traditional shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting |
| Free Domain | No | No |
| Free SSL Certificate | Yes | Yes |
| Disk Space | 20GB to 3840GB | Unlimited |
| Bandwidth | 2GB to 20TB | Unmetered |
| Automatic Backups | Yes | Yes |
| Control Panel | Proprietary control panel | Proprietary control panel |
| Email Accounts | No | No |
| Free CDN | No | Yes |
| Free Site Migration | Yes | No |
| Money-Back Guarantee | No | 30 Days |
| Pricing model | Pay-as-you-go pricing model | Fixed monthly plans |
| host | Supports AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, etc. | Optimized for WordPress and easy onboarding |
| Caching | Advanced caching options for speed optimization | Built-in caching for WordPress |
| Support | 24/7 technical support with premium options | 24/7 support with live chat and phone |
| server management | Real-time monitoring and server management | User-friendly cPanel for management |
3. Performance
Cloudways Outshines Bluehost
Both Cloudways and Bluehost use SSD storage, ensuring faster content delivery than traditional HDDs. However, Cloudways takes a big lead by offering dedicated resources that aren’t shared with other users, effectively giving you a private environment at a managed WordPress plan price.
Bluehost’s website doesn’t clarify its software stack, but a support agent confirmed it uses Apache and MySQL. While it does offer a CDN, it lacks built-in caching technology.
Bluehost hosts WordPress sites from a single data center in Utah, which could be a disadvantage if most of your audience is in Europe or Asia-Pacific. In contrast, Cloudways offers access to over 65 data centers worldwide, so you can easily pick one closest to your audience.
Cloudways is also transparent about its server stack. The Cloudways ThunderStack combines Apache, Nginx, MySQL, and MariaDB for strong performance. It includes three advanced caching tools—Memcached, Varnish, and optional Redis—plus PHP-FPM, which optimizes the delivery of PHP-based websites like WordPress for better speed and responsiveness.
Neither Bluehost nor Cloudways has an uptime SLA, but each cloud provider Cloudways partners with has its own high standards for uptime.
In our performance tests, Bluehost scored quite low. You can check our detailed Bluehost review to see why. Meanwhile, Cloudways performed exceptionally well. For more on its performance, see our expert Cloudways review.
Cloudways vs. Bluehost: Speed and Performance
When it comes to website speed and performance, Cloudways stands out as the clear winner. By combining their cloud hosting platform with optimized web and database servers from five leading cloud providers, Cloudways delivers some of the fastest website loading times in the industry. Although Bluehost has made strides in improving speed, our testing—and my personal experience—show that Cloudways is significantly superior in this area.
Check out our sample speed test results below:
Cloudways vs. Bluehost: Website Staging
Cloudways takes the lead in this area as well. Every cloud hosting plan from Cloudways comes with excellent website staging, making it simple to set up your staging environment. While Bluehost offers staging with its managed WordPress hosting plans (WP Pro), this feature is not available with their shared hosting plans.
Due to Cloudways’ comprehensive inclusion of effective website staging across all its hosting options, they gain the advantage in this category.
4. Ease of Use
Cloudways
Custom Dashboard: Cloudways provides a custom management dashboard that’s straightforward for experienced users but may have a learning curve for beginners.
Server Management Flexibility: Users have more control over server settings and scaling, which is ideal for developers but can be complex for those without technical experience.
One-Click App Installs: Supports one-click installs for WordPress and other applications, simplifying setup for various web projects.
Advanced Settings Access: Cloudways allows for easy access to caching, backups, and monitoring tools directly from the dashboard, catering to users who want fine-tuned control.
Bluehost
Beginner-Friendly Interface: Bluehost uses the familiar cPanel and custom dashboards, designed with new users in mind, making navigation easy even for beginners.
One-Click WordPress Installation: Ideal for WordPress users, Bluehost offers a simple, one-click WordPress installation, plus pre-installed WordPress options on managed plans.
Guided Setup and Tutorials: Bluehost provides guided onboarding and extensive tutorials to help new users set up their site with minimal technical knowledge.
User-Friendly Management: The intuitive interface and simplified hosting controls make it easy to manage domains, email, and site settings, ideal for non-technical users looking for ease of use.
Hosting Provided by Cloudways vs Bluehost
What Our Customers Have to Say?
Cloudways:
Performance: Many users praise Cloudways for its exceptional performance and speed, especially for high-traffic sites, noting improved loading times compared to traditional shared hosting.
Scalability: Customers appreciate the ability to scale resources easily, allowing their websites to grow without issues, making it suitable for businesses that experience fluctuating traffic.
Support Quality: While some users report positive experiences with responsive support, others mention inconsistencies in response times, particularly with lower-tier support options.
User Experience: Some customers find the dashboard intuitive, while others feel it could be overwhelming for beginners due to the range of options and settings available.
Cost-Effectiveness: Users often highlight the value of the pay-as-you-go pricing model, allowing them to pay only for the resources they use.
Bluehost:
Ease of Use: Many users commend Bluehost for its user-friendly interface and straightforward setup process, particularly for new website owners and WordPress users.
Customer Support: Customers frequently report positive experiences with Bluehost’s support team, praising their availability and willingness to help resolve issues quickly.
Reliability: Users often express satisfaction with the uptime and reliability of their websites, appreciating the solid performance for small to medium-sized sites.
Resource Limitations: Some users note concerns regarding resource limitations on shared hosting plans, especially during traffic spikes, which can affect performance.
Value for Money: Many customers find Bluehost’s pricing competitive, especially for new users who benefit from introductory offers and the included features like free domains and SSL certificates.
Advantage of Cloudways and Bluehost
| Cloudways | Bluehost |
|---|---|
| Highly scalable with multiple cloud providers | Beginner-friendly interface |
| Pay-as-you-go pricing model | Affordable fixed pricing plans |
| Advanced performance optimization | Excellent support for WordPress users |
| Real-time monitoring and analytics | One-click WordPress installation |
| Greater control over server management | Free domain registration with certain plans |
| Built-in caching options for enhanced speed | Reliable uptime and performance |
| Customizable resources to fit specific needs | Extensive knowledge base and tutorials |
| Ideal for high-traffic websites | Solid support team with quick response times |
Disadvantage of Cloudways and Bluehost
| Cloudways | Bluehost |
|---|---|
| Requires technical knowledge for optimal use | Limited resource scalability on shared plans |
| Can be overwhelming for beginners due to advanced features | Performance may decline under high traffic |
| No free domain included in initial setup | Higher renewal rates compared to initial pricing |
| Support quality can vary depending on the plan | Limited control over server configurations |
| No built-in email hosting, requires external solutions | Occasional slow response times during peak periods |
6. Support
Enhanced Support Comes at a Price with Both Hosts
Both Cloudways and Bluehost provide 24/7 live chat support. In addition, Bluehost offers phone support, whereas Cloudways utilizes a ticketing system. Higher-tier Bluehost plans grant varying levels of access to Blue Sky, the company’s dedicated WordPress support team.
You can also purchase Blue Sky support separately, but doing so may significantly increase your overall monthly hosting costs without providing comprehensive application support.
In contrast, Cloudways’ Advanced and Premium support tiers offer assistance with plugin and theme troubleshooting, database conflicts, and other issues. However, phone support is only available with Cloudways’ Premium add-on, which can be quite costly and is recommended mainly for established businesses.
To give you a clearer picture of support quality, I tested both services through live chat interactions, and both performed admirably. Bluehost’s representative was courteous and inquired about my specific needs. Based on my responses, they suggested a shared hosting package with a discount for a three-year commitment. They also offered to assist until my WordPress site was fully operational, which was a nice touch.
Cloudways
24/7 Availability: Offers round-the-clock support through live chat and a ticketing system, ensuring help is available at any time.
Priority Support Options: Higher-tier plans come with priority support, providing faster response times and dedicated assistance.
Knowledge Base: Provides a comprehensive knowledge base with tutorials, FAQs, and troubleshooting guides to help users find solutions independently.
Community Support: Users can access community forums for peer support and advice from other Cloudways customers.
Technical Expertise: Support staff are generally knowledgeable in cloud hosting and server management, making them suitable for more technical inquiries.
Bluehost
24/7 Support: Available through phone, live chat, and email, making it easy for users to get assistance when needed.
User-Friendly Guidance: Known for offering clear, beginner-friendly support that is particularly helpful for new users.
Extensive Knowledge Base: Offers a wide range of articles, tutorials, and resources to help users navigate common issues.
Quick Response Times: Generally reports indicate prompt response times, especially during off-peak hours.
Account-Specific Help: Support staff can assist with account-specific inquiries, including billing and technical issues related to hosting plans.
Both hosts delivered strong performances during the live chat interaction, though Cloudways’ support was more professional and focused on assistance rather than sales.
If you prefer to handle things yourself, both companies offer comprehensive knowledge bases filled with documentation to help you navigate most hosting-related tasks.
6. Security
Bluehost Lacks in Security
Cloudways provides two robust layers of security for your websites, whereas Bluehost offers only minimal protection. Both services do provide free SSL certificates, which is a positive feature.
Bluehost claims to offer malware scanning and protection through the Jetpack plugin, but this service is available for free with any hosting provider. Additionally, if you don’t activate the free Cloudflare CDN, you won’t benefit from any DDoS protection.
Bluehost’s spam protection is also not exclusive to their service; it’s simply the free version of the Akismet WordPress plugin, available with any host. Unfortunately, Bluehost lacks any firewall protection.
In contrast, every cloud server provisioned through Cloudways comes equipped with built-in firewalls and DDoS protection. Since your account is isolated from others, you don’t have to worry about malware from other websites on the same server affecting yours.
Moreover, Cloudways enhances security with database protection, multiple managed firewalls, and free two-factor authentication. You won’t need to manually handle WordPress security updates either, as these are automatically taken care of in the background.
Overall, it’s not a close competition—Cloudways decisively outperforms Bluehost in terms of security.
| Security Feature | Cloudways | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| SSL Certificates | Free SSL certificates available | Free SSL certificates included |
| Firewall Protection | Advanced firewalls and server-level security | Standard firewall protection |
| Regular Backups | Automated backups with customizable frequency | Daily backups on higher-tier plans |
| DDoS Protection | Offered by cloud providers, integrated by Cloudways | Basic protection available |
| Two-Factor Authentication | Supports two-factor authentication for added security | Available for account security |
| Data Encryption | Data encryption in transit and at rest | Data encryption for sensitive information |
| Security Patches | Regular updates and patch management | Regular updates provided, but may depend on user action |
| Malware Scanning | Integrated malware scanning tools | Basic malware scanning available |
| User Access Control | Advanced role-based access management | Basic user management for shared accounts |
Cloudways Outperforms Bluehost in the First Round
In a direct comparison for managed WordPress hosting, Bluehost simply can’t compete with Cloudways. At first glance, it may seem like Bluehost offers more resources. However, the unlimited storage and bandwidth are not truly dependable, as they come with restrictions outlined in the user agreement and are affected by other users sharing the same server.
Cloudways’ managed hosting plans deliver superior performance, support, security, and features. Additionally, you’ll likely save money in the long run, as Bluehost’s renewal rates are significantly higher. While the idea of cloud hosting may seem daunting, Cloudways makes it just as user-friendly as shared hosting.
Although Bluehost is more competitive in shared hosting due to its low prices, it still falls short compared to the offerings from top-tier web hosting services. Therefore, you might be better off exploring other options.
Final Recommendation
| Criteria | Cloudways | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Developers and businesses needing scalable cloud hosting | Beginners and small businesses focused on WordPress |
| Performance | Excellent performance with dedicated resources | Good performance for small to mid-sized sites |
| Ease of Use | Moderate; suitable for those with technical knowledge | Very beginner-friendly |
| Support | 24/7 support with options for priority assistance | 24/7 support, user-friendly guidance |
| Pricing Model | Pay-as-you-go; flexible for varying needs | Fixed monthly plans; often discounted initially |
| Security Features | Advanced security with customizable options | Standard security features, includes free SSL |
| Scalability | Highly scalable resources; easy to upgrade | Limited scalability on shared hosting plans |
| Backup Options | Automated backups with customizable frequency | Daily backups on higher-tier plans |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that allows users to deploy applications on multiple cloud providers, such as AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean, with a focus on scalability and performance.
Bluehost is a web hosting provider that offers various hosting options, including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting, with a strong emphasis on WordPress integration and user-friendly management tools.
Bluehost is generally considered easier for beginners due to its user-friendly interface, guided setup, and extensive resources tailored for new website owners.
Cloudways uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model, meaning you pay for the resources you use based on the chosen cloud provider, with plans starting around $12 per month.
Bluehost offers fixed monthly pricing plans, starting as low as $2.95 per month for shared hosting, but renewal rates may be higher after the initial term.
Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial but does not have a traditional money-back guarantee. For its hosting options, Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Cloudways offers 24/7 support through live chat and a ticketing system, with priority support available on higher-tier plans.
Bluehost also provides 24/7 support via phone, live chat, and email, with a focus on helping beginners navigate common issues.
Cloudways offers advanced security features like dedicated firewalls and customizable settings, while Bluehost provides standard security features with SSL certificates and basic malware protection.
Yes, Cloudways allows users to easily scale their resources up or down based on traffic needs, making it suitable for growing businesses.
Yes, both Cloudways and Bluehost offer optimized environments for WordPress hosting, but Bluehost is particularly focused on providing an easy setup for WordPress users.
Cloudways is generally better for larger e-commerce sites needing high performance and scalability, while Bluehost is suitable for smaller e-commerce sites due to its ease of use and integrated WordPress features.
Cloudways is built for high-performance hosting, leveraging multiple cloud providers like AWS and Google Cloud to offer fast load times and reliable scalability. With options for dedicated resources, SSD storage, and advanced caching, Cloudways ensures optimal site speed and stability, especially for larger or high-traffic sites.
Visit Link
Quick Link
Contact Us
Jhansala, Punjab – 140601
info@comparexpert.in
+91 85790 13995
© 2024 comparexpert.in. All rights reserved.