Kinsta vs Cloudways: Which Managed Hosting is Best for You?

Choosing the right hosting service can make a huge difference in your website’s performance. Two well-known options are Kinsta and Cloudways, but they work differently.

Kinsta is a fully managed WordPress hosting platform built on Google Cloud. It’s designed for users who want fast, secure hosting without dealing with technical tasks. Everything from server maintenance to security updates is handled for you.

Cloudways, on the other hand, is a managed cloud hosting platform that gives you more control. It supports multiple cloud providers like DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud. This makes it a great choice for developers and agencies who need flexibility while still benefiting from a managed setup.

So, which one should you choose? In this guide, we’ll compare performance, pricing, security, features, ease of use, and support to help you pick the best hosting for your needs. Let’s get started!

Why Choose Kinsta Over Cloudways?

✅ Fully Managed WordPress Hosting – No server management needed, perfect for non-techies.
✅ Blazing Fast Performance – Powered by Google Cloud’s Premium Tier Network for top speed.
✅ Better Security – DDoS protection, daily malware scanning, and Cloudflare Enterprise included.
✅ Automatic Scaling – Handles sudden traffic spikes without manual adjustments.
✅ Easier to Use – MyKinsta dashboard is clean, simple, and beginner-friendly.
✅ Expert WordPress Support – 24/7 live chat with WordPress pros (not just general tech support).
✅ 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee – Try it risk-free for a full month.
✅ No Hidden Fees – Fixed pricing model, unlike Cloudways’ pay-as-you-go charges.
✅ Free Premium CDN & Edge Caching – Faster global content delivery at no extra cost.

Why Choose Cloudways Over Kinsta?

✅ More Affordable Pricing – Starts at just $11/month, way cheaper than Kinsta.
✅ Supports Multiple Platforms – Not just WordPress! Run Magento, Laravel, Joomla, WooCommerce, and more.
✅ Pay-as-You-Go Model – Only pay for what you use, no fixed monthly fees.
✅ Choice of Cloud Providers – Pick from DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Vultr, or Linode.
✅ More Control & Flexibility – Customize server settings, install multiple apps, and tweak performance.
✅ Free Website Migration – Move your site at no cost with expert help.
✅ No Visitor Limits – Unlike Kinsta, Cloudways doesn’t restrict traffic on plans.
✅ 3-Day Free Trial – Test it before paying, no credit card is required.
✅ 24/7 Live Support – Get help anytime, with optional premium support for advanced needs.

Cloudways Vs Kinsta: Pricing & Plans

Cloudways Pricing

Cloudways keeps things simple and flexible when it comes to pricing. You can choose from five cloud providers—DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, and Google Cloud—each with its pricing structure. If you’re on a budget, DigitalOcean plans start at just $11 per month, giving you 1 GB RAM, 1 Core CPU, 25 GB storage, and 1 TB bandwidth. Linode and Vultr have similar low-cost plans, while AWS and Google Cloud are more premium options for businesses needing high-performance servers. With so many choices, you can easily find a plan that fits your needs and budget.

One of the best things about Cloudways is its pay-as-you-go pricing. That means you only pay for the resources you use—no long-term commitments or hidden fees. If you’re unsure, Cloudways even offers a 3-day free trial, so you can test the platform risk-free. Plus, you can add extra features like Cloudflare Enterprise for better performance or off-site backups for extra security. Whether you’re a small blogger or running a large eCommerce store, Cloudways makes it easy to scale without breaking the bank.

Kinsta Pricing

Kinsta offers premium managed WordPress hosting with pricing that starts at $30 per month for a single-site plan. If you need multiple sites, the WP 2 plan costs $59 per month and comes with 2 WordPress installs, 70,000 monthly visits, 20GB storage, and 250GB of free CDN. All plans include handy features like free migrations, daily backups, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and super-fast performance. If you’re running a business or a high-traffic website, Kinsta’s managed hosting takes care of all the technical stuff for you.

Compared to Cloudways, Kinsta is definitely on the pricier side. Cloudways’ cheapest plan starts at just $11 per month, while Kinsta’s starts at $30. But Kinsta offers fully managed WordPress hosting, meaning they handle everything—from security to performance optimization. If you’re looking for a hands-off, hassle-free WordPress experience, Kinsta might be worth the extra cost. But if you prefer more control and a lower price, Cloudways is a solid choice.

Winner🏆– Cloudways

Cloudways wins in pricing due to its flexible pay-as-you-go model, starting at $11/month, making it more affordable for various needs. Kinsta, starting at $30/month, offers premium WordPress hosting but at a higher fixed cost. For those seeking cost-effective and scalable hosting, Cloudways is the better choice.

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Performance Comparison: Speed & Uptime

Cloudways Speed & Uptime Test

I ran a GTmetrix test on a website hosted on Cloudways, and the results are in—spoiler alert: they’re pretty solid!

Cloudways delivers excellent speed and performance, as shown in the GTmetrix test. The website received an A grade, with a 96% performance score and 84% structure score. Key speed metrics are impressive, including a 1.1s Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and 0ms Total Blocking Time (TBT), ensuring fast loading times and smooth interactions.

The Time to First Byte (TTFB) is just 209ms, indicating a quick server response. Other key stats include a First Contentful Paint (813ms), Time to Interactive (943ms), and Fully Loaded Time (2.3s). The Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is 0.06, meaning minimal page instability.

Kinsta Speed & Uptime Test

The Kinsta-hosted website delivered exceptional speed and performance in the GTMetrix test. It achieved an A grade with a 100% performance score and a 96% structure score. The Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) was just 529ms, and the Total Blocking Time was 0ms, meaning the site loads almost instantly with no delays. The Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) was 0.01, ensuring a stable layout.

Performance & Speed Comparison

Winner🏆– Kinsta

Kinsta wins this comparison with faster loading speeds, better structure, and lower LCP. The Fully Loaded Time is 590ms on Kinsta, while Cloudways takes 2.3 seconds.

While Cloudways also delivers a great performance, Kinsta is simply faster, more stable, and better optimized for a seamless user experience.

Cloudways vs. Kinsta – Features Comparison

1. Server & Hosting Infrastructure

• Cloudways: Gives you total flexibility by letting you choose from five different cloud providers – DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, and Google Cloud. This is perfect if you’re someone who wants to tweak their hosting setup based on traffic spikes, server location, or performance needs.
• Kinsta: Locks you into Google Cloud’s premium tier network, which means you get super-fast performance but zero flexibility in choosing infrastructure. If you trust Google’s cloud hosting and don’t want to mess with configurations, Kinsta makes it easy.

💡 Verdict: If you want control and customization, Cloudways wins. If you prefer a “set it and forget it” hosting experience, Kinsta is better.

2. Performance & Speed

• Cloudways: Performance depends on the cloud provider you choose. If you pick Vultr High Frequency or AWS, you get amazing speeds. However, it takes some optimization (tweaking caching, database optimization, and CDN settings).
• Kinsta: Comes with Google Cloud C2 machines, automatic scaling, and Edge Caching, making it insanely fast for WordPress sites without needing extra optimization. In most real-world tests, Kinsta outperforms Cloudways on default settings.

💡 Verdict: Kinsta wins for WordPress sites due to its built-in optimizations. Cloudways can match or beat Kinsta if you manually fine-tune settings.

3. Ease of Use (Control Panel & Management)

• Cloudways: Uses a custom control panel that’s way better than cPanel but still has a learning curve. You get access to server-level settings, which is great if you like control but might feel overwhelming if you’re not tech-savvy.
• Kinsta: Uses MyKinsta, an intuitive, WordPress-focused dashboard that’s incredibly simple. You don’t need to deal with server management—just focus on your website and let Kinsta handle everything.

💡 Verdict: Kinsta wins for beginners. Cloudways is better for advanced users who like server-level control.

4. Security Features

• Cloudways: Includes free SSL, dedicated firewalls, bot protection, IP whitelisting, and two-factor authentication. However, malware removal isn’t free—you have to pay for their add-on.
• Kinsta: Offers free SSL, automatic malware removal, DDoS protection, and built-in Cloudflare Enterprise security. If your site gets hacked, Kinsta will fix it for free.

💡 Verdict: Kinsta wins with free malware removal and Cloudflare Enterprise security. Cloudways is still very secure, but the malware removal add-on costs extra.

5. Backup & Restore Options

• Cloudways: Automated backups (daily, weekly, or custom schedule). You can restore with one click, but backups are stored offsite, and extra storage costs extra.
• Kinsta: Daily backups for free, plus 14-30 days of backup retention depending on your plan. Unlike Cloudways, Kinsta’s backups don’t cost extra.

💡 Verdict: Kinsta wins because backups are free and included in all plans. Cloudways charges extra for more storage.

6. Customer Support & Assistance

• Cloudways: 24/7 live chat support, but advanced support is paid. If you want faster response times or direct assistance for complex issues, you need to pay for Premium or Enterprise support.
• Kinsta: 24/7 live chat support with WordPress experts, and all plans include premium support at no extra cost.

💡 Verdict: Kinsta wins because expert support is free. Cloudways makes you pay for priority support.

Winner🏆– Kinsta

Kinsta wins in features, especially for WordPress users, with its optimized Google Cloud infrastructure, built-in performance boosts, free malware removal, better backups, and premium support at no extra cost. Cloudways offers more flexibility and customization with multiple cloud providers, making it ideal for advanced users. However, for those who want hassle-free, high-performance WordPress hosting, Kinsta is the better choice.

Cloudways vs. Kinsta Data Centers

When it comes to data centers, Cloudways takes the lead with 44 locations, while Kinsta has 29. Cloudways gives you more options, with data centers spread across places like the USA (from New York to Silicon Valley), Europe (Paris, Frankfurt, Dublin), and Asia (Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore).

Kinsta, though, isn’t far behind, covering major spots like Los Angeles, Frankfurt, London, and Tokyo. Cloudways also has a big advantage if you’re using services like DigitalOcean and Vultr, adding a total of 22 extra data centers, which gives you even more flexibility.

That said, proximity to your visitors isn’t as crucial anymore if you’re using a CDN with features like full-page caching, Argo, and other optimizations, which can speed up content delivery no matter where your data center is.

So, while Cloudways offers more choices, both platforms have solid global coverage, and your choice might come down to other factors like performance or support.

Winner🏆– Cloudways

Cloudways vs. Kinsta TrustPilot Rating

Cloudways has a 4.5/5 rating and is praised for its flexibility, strong performance, and multiple cloud provider options like AWS and Google Cloud. Users like the freedom it offers, but some mention that customer support can be inconsistent, and it may require more technical knowledge compared to fully managed hosting services.

Kinsta has an impressive 4.8/5 rating on Trustpilot, with users loving its fast performance, excellent support, and easy-to-use dashboard. Many people appreciate how smoothly it runs and the one-click backup feature. However, some users feel that Kinsta’s pricing is high, making it less affordable for small businesses or beginners.

Winner🏆– Kinsta

Finally, Who is the Winner?🏆

Both Cloudways and Kinsta are great options, but the best one for you depends on what you need from a hosting provider.

If you’re looking for an affordable, flexible, and developer-friendly hosting solution, Cloudways is the winner. It starts at just $11/month, offers multiple cloud provider options, and follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model. With its customizable hosting environment, Cloudways is ideal for developers, agencies, and users who want more control over server management.

On the other hand, if you prefer a fully managed, high-performance WordPress hosting experience, Kinsta takes the crown. Powered by Google Cloud’s premium infrastructure, Kinsta delivers superior speed, security, and reliability. With built-in CDN, free malware removal, and top-tier support, Kinsta is perfect for businesses, bloggers, and anyone who values a worry-free hosting experience.

Recommendation

After looking at cost, flexibility, performance, and support, Kinsta comes out on top. Cloudways is a great choice if you need customization and a budget-friendly option. But if you want a fully managed hosting experience with top-notch security and lightning-fast speed, Kinsta is the better pick. If budget isn’t a big concern, Kinsta is worth it.

So Kinsta is my recommendation here.

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Bansidhar Kadiya

Bansidhar Kadiya is an experienced SEO specialist and the founder of BestHostingDeal.net. With over nine years in blogging and digital marketing, he helps users find the best web hosting deals, reviews, and discounts. His goal is to make web hosting affordable and hassle-free for bloggers, businesses, and developers.