Overall
Cloudways leads with its specialized cloud hosting platform, offering superior scalability and performance compared to NameCheap. NameCheap, however, provides a wide range of affordable hosting services – making it an ideal choice for budget-conscious users.
Service Offering
| Feature | Cloudways | NameCheap |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Services | Cloud, and Reseller Hosting | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, and Reseller Hosting |
| Specialized Services | Managed WordPress Hosting | Managed WordPress, Email, and Minecraft Hosting |
| Server Locations | Canada, USA, Brazil, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, India, Australia | USA, UK, Netherlands |
| Control Panel | In-House | In-House |
| Uptime Guarantee | 100% | 99.9% |
| Money Back (Days) | 14 | 30 |
| Free Migration | Yes | Yes |
| Support Channels | Live chat and email | Phone, live chat, and email |
Cloudways focuses on managed cloud hosting services – which is suitable for those who want the power of cloud hosting without the complexity of managing it. NameCheap offers a broader range of hosting services, including shared, VPS, dedicated, and reseller hosting, catering to a wider audience.
Plans & Pricing
| Hosting Type | Cloudways | NameCheap |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | $ – /mo | $1.48 – 4.98/mo |
| VPS Hosting | $ – /mo | $6.88 – 24.88/mo |
| Dedicated Hosting | $ – /mo | $59.57 – 238.88/mo |
| Cloud Hosting | $11.00 – 1056.00/mo | $ – /mo |
| WordPress Hosting | $14.00 – 487.00/mo | $2.91 – 5.74/mo |
| Windows Hosting | $ – /mo | $ – /mo |
| Coupon | HOSTSCORE | – |
| Coupon Details | 25% discount for 2 months | – |
Cloudways employs a pay-as-you-go pricing model, offering flexible and scalable cloud hosting solutions. NameCheap offers some of the most competitive pricing in the market, making it an attractive option for users on a tight budget.
Development Features & Others
| Feature | Cloudways | NameCheap |
|---|---|---|
| Language Support | PHP, Java, Python, Node.js, and Ruby on Rails | PHP, Java, Python, Node.js, Perl, and Ruby on Rails |
| Dev Features | GIT access, WP-CLI, cron jobs, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH access | GIT access, cron jobs, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH access |
| Staging Tool | Built-in | Softaculous |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Cache | Yes | Higher plans |
| Global CDN | Yes | Yes |
| Free Malware Scan | Yes | Yes |
| DDoS Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Web Application Firewall (WAF) | Yes | Yes |
Both Cloudways and NameCheap support essential development features, but Cloudways offers more advanced capabilities such as built-in staging, easy server cloning, simple vertical scaling, and a custom control panel.
About Cloudways
Established in 2011 by co-founders Aaqib Gadit, Pere Hospital, and Uzair Gadit, Cloudways is a managed hosting platform that initially focused on leveraging partnerships with AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Digital Ocean to serve its customers better. The acquisition by DigitalOcean in August 2022 further solidified this partnership, enhancing Cloudways’ ability to provide superior managed hosting solutions.
Cloudways Pros
- Topnotch server uptime and speed performance
- Good abstration over complex cloud server setups with integrated dashboard
- Outstanding customer support
- High scalability
- Easy server cloning, site staging, and website transfer
- Host unlimited applications in one account
- 25% discount for first two months with coupon “HOSTSCORE”
Cloudways Cons
- Getting expensive – Prices increased steadily for the past few years
- Limited trial period
About NameCheap
Established in 2000 by Richard Kirkendall, Namecheap embarked on a mission to revolutionize the domain industry by offering unparalleled low prices and service excellence.
Evolving beyond domain registration, Namecheap now provides a comprehensive suite of online solutions including hosting, security, and managed WordPress services. Today, as the world’s second-largest domain registrar, Namecheap remains dedicated to fostering accessibility and affordability on the internet while prioritizing customer satisfaction above all else.
NameCheap Pros
- Budget-friendly shared hosting plans
- Excellent domain name prices with free lifetime privacy protection
- Free site migration
- Perl, Ruby, and Python support in shared hosting plan
NameCheap Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Limited VPS plans
- Only US and UK-based servers
- Pay extra to choose UK-data center
Our Recommendation
If you’re seeking a high-performance, scalable cloud hosting solution, Cloudways is the optimal choice, especially for developers and businesses. NameCheap, on the other hand, is suitable for individuals or small businesses looking for affordable hosting options, including shared and VPS hosting.
