When comparing Bluehost vs Cloudways, we find Cloudways to be the better web host overall. Cloudways leverages top-tier providers like AWS and Google Cloud to provide a huge choice of 65+ global data centers. Bluehost is affordable but its single data center and limited performance features fall short for more demanding users.
In this article, we compare Bluehost vs Cloudways on the grounds of plans, pricing, features included, and performance. We also compare their data center coverage, software supported, developer tools, customer support, and security features. Finally, we answer the question of “Bluehost vs Cloudways: Which is better for you?”
Plans
Bluehost offers 5 types of hosting: Shared Hosting, VPS Hosting, WordPress Hosting, Cloud Hosting, and Dedicated Hosting. Cloudways provides 3 types of hosting: WordPress Hosting, Cloud Hosting, and Reseller Hosting. Managed hosting is available across all Cloudways’ plans. Bluehost’s managed services are limited to their Shared, Cloud, and WordPress plans.
Pricing
Bluehost’s introductory price begins at $2.95/mo. Cloudways starts at $11/mo. Bluehost’s renewal rate is $11.99/mo which is a 300% increase from the introductory rate. Cloudways maintains its $11/mo pricing with no increase upon renewal. This benefits users seeking consistent pricing without surprises. Cloudways also offers a Pay As You Go (PAYG) payment option.
Features Included
Bluehost offers 10 GB of SSD storage on its cheapest plans. Cloudways provides more with 25 GB. Bluehost supports 10 websites, whereas Cloudways allows unlimited websites as long as resources permit. However, Cloudways offers 1 TB of bandwidth compared to Bluehost’s unmetered bandwidth on higher plans. Bluehost includes a free domain and an AI website builder, as well as tools like WonderSuite and Yoast SEO.
Performance
Bluehost claims an 100% uptime guarantee while Cloudways offers a 99.99% uptime guarantee. However, all Cloudways plans operate on high redundancy cloud hosting infrastructure. Cloudways also give customers the choice between top cloud providers like AWS and Google Cloud. Both hosts use SSD servers, but Cloudways includes advanced performance features such as Varnish, Redis, and Memcached caching to further optimize website speed. Both services provide Cloudflare CDN to ensure faster loading times.
Data Center Coverage
Bluehost has only one data center located in Utah, USA. Cloudways operates more than 65 data centers across 6 continents. Bluehost is adequate for businesses focused on local US traffic. Cloudways is by far the better option in this regard for website owners targeting audiences that are based outside the Americas.
Software Supported
Both Bluehost and Cloudways support Linux and 1-click WordPress installation. Bluehost uses cPanel while Cloudways offers a custom control panel tailored specifically for managing cloud infrastructure. Bluehost’s cPanel is easier for users who prefer a familiar, user-friendly environment. Cloudways custom control panel is a better fit for users requiring advanced cloud management tools.
Developer Tools
Cloudways and Bluehost both provide a wide range of developer tools, including staging, WP-CLI, and SSH access. Both hosts support modern languages such as Node.js, Python, and Ruby on Rails. Cloudways does not offer root access, unlike Bluehost’s VPS and dedicated hosting plans.
Customer Support
Both Bluehost and Cloudways offer 24/7 support. Bluehost provides live chat, phone support, and email. Cloudways focuses on live chat and a ticketing system.
Bluehost offers free website migration for WordPress plans, while Cloudways provides migration as a paid service. Bluehost also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, which Cloudways does not offer at all. This makes Bluehost more fitting for users looking for broad support options and assurance.
Security Features
Both Bluehost and Cloudways offer essential security features like free SSL certificates, daily backups, firewalls, and DDoS protection. Cloudways goes a step further by providing proactive monitoring, bot protection, and auto-healing servers.Bluehost partners with SiteLock for additional protection against various cyber threats, but these come as paid add-ons.
Bluehost vs Cloudways: Which Is Better For You?
Cloudways is the better host. Use Cloudways if you’re a business website that needs global data centers for an international audience. Also use Cloudways if you’re a growing or large eCommerce website wanting high-performance cloud hosting with advanced caching and security features. Also use Cloudways if you want to use pay-as-you-go pricing. Finally, use cloud infrastructure if you want cloud hosting from top providers like AWS or Google Cloud but are not a tech expert.
Use Bluehost if you’re a beginner building their first website looking for easy-to-use hosting with built-in tools like cPanel. Also use Bluehost if you want affordable shared hosting with a free domain and WordPress integration. Lastly, use Bluehost if you prefer low-cost plans for smaller websites like blogs, portfolios and personal websites.
Explore more web hosting comparisons here.
Who is Bluehost?
Bluehost is a web host founded in 2003 and headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. It specializes in shared and WordPress hosting. Its strengths include ease of use and affordable plans, but it lacks global data centers. Read our review on Bluehost to learn more.
Who is Cloudways?
Cloudways is a web host founded in 2011 and headquartered in St. Julians, Malta. It focuses on managed cloud hosting. Cloudways excels with fast servers and global data centers, though its higher costs deter budget users. See our Cloudways review for more details.