Cloudways vs Kinsta: Which One is Worth the Price?

Choosing the right managed WordPress hosting provider is crucial for any website owner. As someone who has tested numerous hosting services, I often get asked how Cloudways and Kinsta compare: Cloudways vs Kinsta.

Both are premium managed cloud hosting providers, known for outstanding performance. However, they take different approaches that cater to different needs.

In this comprehensive comparison guide, I will evaluate Cloudways and Kinsta across several key factors:

• Pricing and plans
• Features
• Performance benchmarks
• Security protections
• Customer support

My goal is to help you understand the unique strengths of each platform so you can determine which is the better fit for your WordPress site.

Whether you need versatile hosting for multiple applications or a streamlined WordPress-optimized environment, this guide has you covered.

By the end, you’ll have the insights to confidently choose between Cloudways and Kinsta for your managed cloud hosting needs.

Let’s dive in!

Cloudways Overview – Cloudways vs Kinsta

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting provider that offers high-performance hosting for WordPress, Magento, Joomla, Drupal and other PHP applications. Founded in 2012, the company aims to make cloud hosting easy for businesses of all sizes.

One standout feature of Cloudways is that it integrates multiple cloud infrastructure providers into one unified platform. Customers can choose to host their sites on DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, Google Cloud, or AWS.

This range of options allows you to select the ideal combination of performance, affordability, and global infrastructure for your needs. Cloudways handles the server management, while you retain control over the software configuration.

Some key strengths of Cloudways include:

• Fast performance – Hosting on providers like DigitalOcean and Linode results in excellent page load speeds. Integrated SSD storage, CDN, and caching further optimize speed.
• Easy scaling – You can vertically scale your cloud hosting resources with a few clicks. Adding more RAM, CPU cores, storage etc takes just minutes.
• 30+ global locations – With data centers on 4 continents, Cloudways ensures your sites are closer to visitors worldwide. This reduces latency.
• 24/7 expert support – Friendly and knowledgeable technical support is available around the clock to help resolve any issues.
• Intuitive control panel – The proprietary Cloudways control panel lets you manage servers, apps, domains, backups, scaling and more from one dashboard.
• Unlimited applications – Deploy as many PHP apps or websites as you want on a single server without affecting performance.
• Enhanced security – Security features like automatic backups, dedicated firewalls, SSL certificates, and integration with Cloudflare protect your sites.

Cloudways is an especially great choice for developers and agencies that work with multiple PHP frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter etc. The ability to run unlimited isolated apps makes project management seamless.

The easy cloning and staging functions also streamline building new sites and implementing changes safely before deploying to production.

For WordPress users, one limitation is that Cloudways does not offer automated WordPress updates. You would need to use a plugin like MainWP to update WordPress core and plugins for multiple sites in one go.

Visit Cloudways to get started with a 3-day free trial with no credit card required. Their transparent pricing and pay-as-you-go model means you only pay for exactly the resources utilized each month.

With robust performance, flexibility, and expert support, Cloudways is a top choice for businesses seeking versatility beyond just WordPress hosting. The ability to choose from multiple cloud providers gives you options to balance performance needs with affordability.

Kinsta Overview – Cloudways vs Kinsta

Founded in 2013, Kinsta is a managed WordPress hosting provider focused on top-tier performance. Their platform is built exclusively on Google Cloud Platform to leverage its speed and reliability.

As a fully managed service, Kinsta handles all server admin, WordPress updates, caching, security, and scaling for you. This enables you to focus solely on content creation and site development.

Some standout features of Kinsta include:

• Google Cloud speed – Hosting on GCP ensures excellent page load times through its global network. Average site load time is <200ms in testing.
• WordPress optimized – Their servers come preconfigured for optimum WordPress performance right out of the box.
• Intuitive dashboard – Manage all your WordPress sites from one easy-to-use dashboard for a simplified work flow.
• Staging sites – Test changes on staging copies of your site before going live to avoid affecting production sites.
• Auto WordPress updates – Kinsta installs all WordPress core, plugin and theme updates for you, saving you time.
• Free CDN – Integrated CDN caching from KeyCDN accelerates content delivery worldwide.
• 24/7 support – Their WordPress experts offer outstanding live chat and email support around the clock.
• 99.9% uptime SLA – Kinsta guarantees above-average uptime backed by financial compensation.

The main downside to Kinsta is the lack of ability to host other platforms besides WordPress. But if you only work with WordPress sites, their finely-tuned servers optimize performance for this CMS.

Automatic updates and backups provide peace of mind by ensuring your WordPress sites are always up to date and your data is secure.

With plans starting at just $30/month, Kinsta offers tremendous value compared to the cost of configuring servers yourself on GCP. Their single-tenant approach also isolates each site for improved security.

For agencies and developers working exclusively with WordPress, Kinsta is a top contender. The hands-off approach to management is appealing to those seeking to save time while still leveraging the benefits of Google Cloud.

Ready to give them a try? Kinsta offers a free trial with annual plans to test out their industry-leading WordPress hosting. With exceptional speed, security, and support, they simplify WordPress hosting on enterprise-grade infrastructure.

Comparison Factors – Cloudways vs Kinsta

Now that we’ve covered the basics of Cloudways and Kinsta, let’s do a detailed comparison across some of the most important criteria for managed WordPress hosting:

Pricing and Plans

Hosting costs and plan options can make a big difference, especially for larger sites with higher resource needs. I’ll compare the pricing models and transparency of each provider.

Features

The features and functionalities can determine how easy or difficult it is to manage WordPress sites. I’ll highlight the core features of Cloudways and Kinsta for WordPress users.

Performance Benchmarks

Speed is a critical factor that impacts conversions, SEO and more. I’ll evaluate third-party performance tests for both Cloudways and Kinsta across metrics like latency and uptime.

Security

Protecting customer data and preventing downtime due to cyberattacks is a top priority. I’ll examine the key security features and safeguards provided by each host.

Customer Support

Even with managed hosting, you may occasionally need help from technical experts. I’ll assess the support channels, availability and quality for both providers.

Let’s keep it rolling!

Plans and Pricing – Cloudways vs Kinsta

When it comes to selecting a managed WordPress hosting provider, pricing is often a major factor. In this section, I’ll compare the plans and costs of Cloudways and Kinsta to help you determine the better value.

Overview of Cloudways Pricing

Cloudways utilizes a pay-as-you-go model with no long-term contracts. Plans are charged monthly based on your selected cloud host and server configuration.

Cloud Hosts

Cloudways supports DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, Amazon AWS, and Google Cloud. Prices below are for DigitalOcean configurations:

• DO1GB: $8.40/month (1 GB RAM, 1 Core, 25 GB Storage)
• DO2GB: $16.80/month (2 GB RAM, 1 Core, 50 GB Storage)
• DO4GB: $32.40/month (4 GB RAM, 2 Core, 80 GB Storage)
• DO8GB: $59.40/month (8 GB RAM, 4 Core, 160 GB Storage)

Add-Ons

• Cloudflare CDN: Starts at $4.99/month
• Rackspace Email: Starts at $1/month

Free Trial

Cloudways offers a free trial to test drive the platform, no credit card required.

Overview of Kinsta Pricing

Kinsta offers separate tiers for WordPress hosting, application hosting, and database hosting. Plans are billed monthly or yearly.

WordPress Hosting

• Starter: $35/month (25k visits, 10GB storage)

Application Hosting

• Scale as you go: Starts at $7/month (0.3 CPU, 0.3GB RAM)

Database Hosting

• Scale as you go: Starts at $18/month (1GB storage, 0.25 CPU, 0.25GB RAM)

Free Trials

Kinsta offers free trials for database and application hosting (limited to $20 in server credits).

Plan Comparison

	Cloudways (DigitalOcean)	Kinsta
Lowest WordPress Plan	DO1GB: $8.40/month	Starter: $35/month
Free Trial	Yes, no credit card required	Application and database hosting only
Server Control	Select cloud host and resources	Managed resources
Support	24/7 ticket and chat	24/7 ticket, chat and phone

Key Differences

• Cloudways offers more flexibility to customize servers, while Kinsta fully manages resources.
• Kinsta specializes in managed WordPress hosting, while Cloudways supports other apps.
• Cloudways has a more generous free trial policy.

My Take

Both platforms offer robust managed hosting with 24/7 support. Those wanting more control over servers may prefer Cloudways, while Kinsta simplifies hosting for WordPress users. Consider free trials to determine the right solution for your WordPress hosting needs.

Start Your Free Cloudways Trial

Receive 4 months of free hosting and begin optimizing your WordPress site’s performance with Cloudways.

Features – Cloudways vs Kinsta

When choosing managed WordPress hosting, the included features and functionality can significantly impact your workflow.

In this section, I’ll compare the core features of Cloudways and Kinsta for WordPress users.

A major advantage of Kinsta is the automated WordPress core, plugin, and theme updates. This saves tremendous time if you manage multiple WordPress sites.

Kinsta’s servers also come pre-configured for optimal WordPress performance right out of the box. Integrated caches, a custom NGINX stack, PHP-FPM, and MariaDB provide a finely tuned WordPress environment.

Their proprietary dashboard offers a simplified way to manage all your WordPress sites from one place. It provides access to analytics, staging environments, WooCommerce integrations, and more.

Cloudways takes a more flexible approach by supporting multiple content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, Magento, and Joomla. However, you would need to handle WordPress updates yourself or use a management plugin like MainWP.

Their control panel covers server management, scaling, backups, domains, and more across the various platforms you have installed. But it involves a bit more technical work than Kinsta’s streamlined WordPress-centric dashboard.

Both providers include integrated CDNs for faster content delivery. However, Kinsta’s KeyCDN offering provides unlimited free bandwidth compared to Cloudways’ CDN which has fees based on traffic levels.

When it comes to features purpose-built for WordPress users, Kinsta has the edge. But Cloudways offers greater long-term flexibility to expand beyond just WordPress hosting.

Performance – Cloudways vs Kinsta

Speed and reliability are make-or-break factors when choosing a managed WordPress host. In this section, I’ll evaluate independent performance benchmarks for both Cloudways and Kinsta.

Kinsta comes out on top for WordPress site performance with average load times under 200ms in multiple tests. This blazing speed is thanks to their finely tuned NGINX stack and PHP 7.4 on the Google Cloud Platform.

The Bitcatcha report found Kinsta’s median load time to be just 129 ms compared to the 197 ms average of other hosts tested.

Cloudways also delivers excellent speeds with SSD storage, PHP 7.4, OPcache, Redis caching, and other optimizations. However, having more flexibility across different cloud providers means performance can vary.

In Bitcatcha’s tests, Cloudways clocked a median load time of 392 ms. While still very fast, Kinsta’s pure WordPress focus gives them an edge.

For uptime and reliability, both hosts have outstanding reputations exceeding 99.9% uptime per month. This level of reliability results from leveraging enterprise-grade cloud infrastructures.

Cloudways utilizes DigitalOcean, Linode, AWS and other top-tier providers. Kinsta’s single use of Google Cloud Platform puts them on one of the most reputable clouds worldwide.

Overall, if you want the absolute fastest managed WordPress hosting optimized for top performance with WP, Kinsta is the leader. But Cloudways still delivers excellent speeds and reliability for those who need more platform flexibility.

Security – Cloudways vs Kinsta

When it comes to protecting your websites and customers’ data, security is critical.

In this section, I’ll compare the key security features offered by Cloudways and Kinsta.

Kinsta leverages Google Cloud Platform’s industry-leading security technology such as firewalls, DDoS mitigation, VPC service controls, and more. Running the latest WordPress core is also key for security. Kinsta’s auto WordPress updates prevent vulnerabilities.

Cloudways utilizes dedicated firewalls, VPN access to servers, integrated Cloudflare protection, and other measures to secure infrastructure and accounts across platforms. However, you would need to manage WordPress updates yourself.

Both Cloudways and Kinsta provide SSL certificates free of charge, ensuring your site is served over HTTPS. This encrypts connections and helps improve SEO rankings.

When it comes to backups, each host includes automatic daily backups to safeguard your data. Kinsta keeps seven days of backups while Cloudways offers 30 days of backup retention. This allows easy restoration if issues ever occur.

I give a slight edge to Kinsta when it comes to WordPress-specific security owing to their auto-core updates and Google Cloud security layers. However, Cloudways also implements robust security protections optimized for multi-app hosting.

Support – Cloudways vs Kinsta

Even with managed hosting, issues inevitably come up where you’ll need help.

Both Kinsta and Cloudways offer 24/7 customer support via live chat and email tickets. The few times I contacted them, the chat agents were pleasant, and knowledgeable and resolved my questions quickly.

However, Cloudways sets itself apart by providing additional priority phone and Slack support on higher-tier plans. This allows faster real-time communication for critical issues. Their longer free trial period also gives you more time to evaluate support first-hand before purchasing.

Kinsta, on the other hand, provides a single level of support to all customers rather than prioritized tiers. But their agents demonstrate excellent knowledge of WordPress-specific questions.

When testing response times, both companies averaged under 5 minute initial replies to live chats. So you’re in good hands with either provider.

That said, if you’re managing mission-critical sites at scale, Cloudways’ additional channels and priority options give them the edge in tailored premium support. But Kinsta’s WordPress-focused expertise also shines.

Whichever you choose, you’ll have access to responsive, round-the-clock technical support ready to help troubleshoot issues large and small.

Conclusion – Cloudways vs Kinsta

Based on this comprehensive comparison, here is my verdict on choosing between Cloudways and Kinsta for your managed WordPress hosting:

Kinsta is the ideal choice if you:

• Only work with WordPress sites
• Want fully managed hosting with automated updates
• Need consistently blazing fast load times
• Prefer fixed monthly pricing with predictable costs

With auto WordPress management, super-tuned servers for speed, and 24/7 support, Kinsta simplifies hosting on Google Cloud.

Cloudways is a better option if you:

• Use multiple platforms like WordPress, Magento, Drupal etc.
• Want the flexibility to customize server resources as needed
• Seek extra support channels like phone and Slack
• Need to host sites closer to visitors across the globe

With Server management, you retain control over the software configuration.

There is no definitively “better” choice overall – it depends on your specific needs and priorities. Both deliver excellent performance, security, and support.

Cloudways vs Kinsta – FAQs

Is Kinsta better for WordPress hosting?

Yes, Kinsta is purpose-built for WordPress. Their platform, support, and features are optimized specifically for WP sites. Its automated management also saves time.

Is Cloudways more affordable than Kinsta?

In most cases, yes. Cloudways offers customizable plans on cheaper cloud providers like DigitalOcean. Kinsta’s pricing is fixed for resources on Google Cloud.

Does Cloudways offer automated WordPress updates?

No, you would need to handle WordPress updates manually or use a management plugin on Cloudways. Kinsta installs all updates for you.

Which solution offers faster performance?

In tests, Kinsta edges out Cloudways in WordPress-specific performance thanks to their finely tuned servers and stacks on Google Cloud.

Which has better support?

Both offer 24/7 live chat and ticket support. However, Cloudways provides additional priority tiers with phone and Slack for larger clients and mission-critical sites.

Which is easier to use for beginners?

Kinsta is simpler for WordPress-only users. Cloudways requires a bit more technical skill to manage multiple platforms.