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HomeCloud HostingCloudways vs Vercel
Updated 4 days ago · Independent Analysis

Cloudways vs Vercel

Capability Overview
Cloudways logo - software comparison
Cloudwaysvs Vercel
4.5G2
Only in Cloudways
  • Managed Hosting
  • 1-Click Install
  • Free SSL
From $11/mo(cheaper)250K+ websites users · est. 2011
Vercel logo - software comparison
Vercelvs Cloudways
4.5G2
Only in Vercel
  • Git-based Deployment
  • Serverless Functions
  • Edge Functions
✓ Free planFrom $20/mo(pricier)700K+ developers users · est. 2015
Quick VerdictIndependent Analysis

Cloudways and Vercel are both Cloud Hosting tools. Cloudways starts at $11/mo, Vercel at $20/mo. Compare features, pricing, and ratings below to find the best fit for your team.


When to Choose Cloudways vs Vercel

The question that matters: “In what situation will I regret choosing A over B after 3 months?”

Scenario: Deploy WordPress in Under Two
Cloudways
Deploy WordPress in Under Two Minutes

Cloudways' 1-Click Install provisions WordPress with Free SSL pre-enabled and a Staging Environment ready for review - all in under 2 minutes.

Vercel
Deploy Frontend Changes Without Downtime

Git-based Deployment builds automatically on every commit and routes traffic to new versions only after verification - shrinking release cycles to under 2 minutes.

Cloudways Unique Strength
Restore Sites From Daily Backups Quickly

Cloudways' Automated Backups run daily, letting hosting resellers roll back corrupted updates in under 5 minutes with a single restore action.

→ Choose Cloudways if this scenario applies to you. Vercel doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Vercel Unique Strength
Review Pull Requests on Live Preview URLs

Preview Deployments generate a unique URL for every pull request - designers, QA, and product managers review live changes without touching the main branch.

→ Choose Vercel if this scenario applies to you. Cloudways doesn't offer a comparable solution.

Pricing Comparison & Plans
High· Verified May 30, 2026

Cloudways starts at $11/movs $20/mo
Cloudways logo - software comparison

Cloudways Plans

Paid plans only

DigitalOcean Standard 1GB

$11/mo
monthlyor$99/yrsave 25%

Best for: This entry-level plan is ideal for small websites or testing environments, offering a cost-effective start on DigitalOcean.

  • Managed cloud platform
  • Choice of 5 cloud providers
  • Built-in caching tools
  • Free SSL certificates
  • Staging environment
View on vendor site

Vultr Standard 1GB

$14/mo
monthlyor$126/yrsave 25%

Best for: An affordable Vultr option for basic hosting needs, offering a balance of performance and cost for smaller projects.

  • Managed cloud platform
  • Choice of 5 cloud providers
  • Built-in caching tools
  • Free SSL certificates
  • Staging environment
View on vendor site

Linode 1GB

$14/mo
monthlyor$126/yrsave 25%

Best for: A solid choice for those preferring Linode, providing reliable hosting for small to medium-sized websites at a competitive price.

  • Managed cloud platform
  • Choice of 5 cloud providers
  • Built-in caching tools
  • Free SSL certificates
  • Staging environment
View on vendor site

Vultr High-Frequency 1GB

$16/mo
monthlyor$144/yrsave 25%

Best for: Recommended for users prioritizing CPU performance, this Vultr plan offers better speed for slightly higher cost than standard.

  • Managed cloud platform
  • Choice of 5 cloud providers
  • Built-in caching tools
  • Free SSL certificates
  • Staging environment
View on vendor site

AWS Small

$21/mo
monthlyor$185/yrsave 25%

Best for: This plan offers entry into AWS managed hosting, suitable for users who need the AWS ecosystem for their smaller applications.

  • Managed cloud platform
  • Enterprise-grade infrastructure
  • Higher reliability and uptime
  • Advanced security features
  • Amazon's global infrastructure network
View on vendor site

DigitalOcean Premium 2GB

$22/mo

Best for: A good mid-range option for growing websites needing more resources and improved performance compared to the standard tier.

  • Managed cloud platform
  • Choice of 5 cloud providers
  • Built-in caching tools
  • Free SSL certificates
  • Staging environment
View on vendor site

Google Cloud Small

$37/mo

Best for: Ideal for users seeking Google Cloud's robust infrastructure and global network for their applications, even at a smaller scale.

  • Managed cloud platform
  • Enterprise-grade infrastructure
  • Built-in caching tools
  • Free SSL certificates
  • Staging environment
View on vendor site
MOST POPULAR

DigitalOcean Premium 4GB

$50/mo

Best for: Suitable for demanding applications or high-traffic sites, providing substantial resources for robust performance on DigitalOcean.

  • Managed cloud platform
  • Choice of 5 cloud providers
  • Built-in caching tools
  • Free SSL certificates
  • Staging environment
View on vendor site
Full Cloudways Pricing Breakdown →

Capability Breakdown

7 differences found across 18 standardized features

Feature
Cloudways
Vercel
Managed WordPress
JAMstack / Edge Deployment
Serverless Functions
Object Storage
Free Tier
SSH Access
Managed Databases
Total (raw)
15
27
Cloudways Features
  • Managed Hosting
  • 1-Click Install
  • Free SSL
  • Free Migration
  • Staging Environment
  • CDN
  • Automated Backups
  • Server Monitoring
  • PHP Apps Support
  • WordPress Optimization
  • Team Collaboration
  • SFTP/SSH Access
  • 24/7 Support
  • Git Deployment
  • CloudwaysBot
Vercel Features
  • Git-based Deployment
  • Serverless Functions
  • Edge Functions
  • CDN
  • Preview Deployments
  • Custom Domains
  • SSL
  • Analytics
  • Speed Insights
  • Image Optimization
  • Next.js Optimization
  • Environment Variables
  • CI/CD
  • Team Collaboration
  • Monitoring
  • Caching Control
  • Security Headers
  • Domain Validation
  • Code Splitting
  • Automatic Code Minification
  • Performance Metrics
  • Logging Integration
  • Deployment API
  • Edge Functions API
  • REST API
  • CLI
  • Webhooks

Strengths & Limitations

Evaluative strengths and weaknesses: not feature lists

Pros
  • +Choice of 3 top IaaS providers (DO, AWS, GCE)
  • +Pay-as-you-go pricing with no long-term contracts
  • +Built-in advanced caching (Varnish, Memcached, Redis)
  • +Free SSL, migrations, and staging for all applications
  • +Vertical scaling allows resizing servers with one click
Cons
  • No root access, limiting advanced server configurations
  • Email hosting is not included; requires a separate add-on
  • No domain registration service; must use a third-party registrar
  • Support can be slow unless you purchase a premium support plan
  • No cPanel; uses a proprietary, less familiar control panel
Pros
  • +Seamless Git integration for instant, automated deployments
  • +Optimized infrastructure for Next.js and frontend frameworks
  • +Global Edge Network for high-performance static and dynamic content
  • +Built-in serverless functions that scale automatically
  • +Preview Deployments for every Git push, simplifying collaboration
Cons
  • Pricing can escalate quickly with high bandwidth or function usage
  • Primarily focused on frontend; less ideal for complex backend logic
  • Vendor lock-in risk, especially for teams heavily using Next.js features
  • Serverless function execution limits can be restrictive for long-running tasks
  • Limited configuration control compared to traditional cloud providers like AWS

At a Glance

User Rating
4.5/5vs4.5/5
Cloudways
Vercel
Starting Price
$11/movs$20/mo
Cloudways
Vercel
Feature Count
15 featuresvs27 features
Cloudways
Vercel
User Base
250Kvs700K
Cloudways
Vercel

Oleh KemOleh KemFounder & Lead AnalystExpert verified·Updated 4 days ago·Our methodology
Cloudways · Price & Data SyncLast verified: May 30, 2026 · CE-CLOUD-2026W23-3BB7DB · ✓ Pricing updated May 30, 2026
Up to date
Vercel · Price & Data SyncLast verified: May 21, 2026 · CE-CLOUD-2026W23-40B372 · No changes detected
Up to date

Recent Price History

Cloudways

Cloudways added a new "DigitalOcean Premium 4GB" plan at $50/mo

Plan added · May 30, 2026

Cloudways

Cloudways lowered "Google Cloud Small" from $37.45/mo to $37.33/mo (0%)

Price change · May 30, 2026

Cloudways

Cloudways lowered "AWS Small" from $38.56/mo to $20.56/mo (-47%)

Price change · May 30, 2026

Cloudways

Cloudways removed the "DigitalOcean 4GB" plan

Plan removed · May 30, 2026

Cloudways

Cloudways removed the "DigitalOcean 1GB" plan

Plan removed · May 30, 2026


Frequently Asked Questions


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