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When you launch a server on Cloudways' Flexible plans, the first question is not about WordPress, PHP or caching — it is which cloud you want underneath: DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode (Akamai), Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud. Cloudways manages the server the same way on all of them, so the choice comes down to price, performance tier, data center location and whether you have reasons to be on a particular cloud.
This guide explains what actually differs, and gives a clear default for most people.
What Stays the Same on Every Provider
Cloudways' value is that the management layer is identical whichever cloud you pick:
- An optimized stack for PHP applications with server-level caching
- One-click WordPress, WooCommerce, Magento, Laravel and custom PHP apps
- Free SSL, automated backups, staging environments and Git deployment
- Security patching and firewalls managed by Cloudways
- Vertical scaling (resize the server) from the dashboard
- The same 24/7 Cloudways support
So you are not choosing a different product — you are choosing the hardware and network it runs on, and the price you pay for them.
What Differs
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Price per GB of RAM | The same server size can cost noticeably more on AWS and Google Cloud than on DigitalOcean, Vultr or Linode |
| Included bandwidth | Allowances differ by provider; heavy media sites should compare this closely |
| Data center locations | Hosting near your audience reduces latency |
| Performance tiers | Some providers offer premium/high-frequency CPU and NVMe options |
| Ecosystem | If your company already runs on AWS or Google Cloud, staying there can simplify compliance and networking |
DigitalOcean — The Sensible Default
Cloudways is owned by DigitalOcean, and DigitalOcean servers are the most common choice on the platform for good reason: competitive pricing, a solid global footprint, and premium server options with faster CPUs and NVMe storage for sites that need more performance.
Choose it if: you run WordPress, WooCommerce or PHP apps for a small business, a blog or a set of client sites, and you want the best balance of price and performance. This is the right answer for most readers.
(ad) Launch Cloudways on DigitalOcean — managed cloud hosting with the best price-to-performance balance for most sites.
Vultr — Performance Options and Wide Reach
Vultr offers a large spread of data center locations and high-performance compute options, which makes it attractive when you need a location the others do not cover well, or want fast single-core performance for PHP-heavy workloads.
Choose it if: your audience is in a region where Vultr has a closer data center, or you want to compare high-frequency CPU performance for a demanding store.
(ad) See Cloudways on Vultr.
Linode (Akamai) — Reliable and Competitively Priced
Linode, now part of Akamai, has a long track record and competitive pricing similar to DigitalOcean and Vultr. It is a dependable choice, especially if it has the data center closest to your users.
Choose it if: you want a mid-priced, well-established cloud and its locations suit your audience.
(ad) See Cloudways on Linode.
AWS — When You Need Amazon
Running Cloudways on Amazon EC2 gives you AWS infrastructure without managing AWS yourself — no IAM policies, security groups or EC2 tuning to learn. It typically costs more for the same RAM, and bandwidth allowances are lower than on the budget clouds.
Choose it if: you have a contractual, compliance or integration reason to be on AWS, need a specific AWS region, or your client insists on it.
Google Cloud — When You Need Google
Cloudways on Google Compute Engine is the equivalent for Google Cloud: premium network and infrastructure, managed for you, at a higher price point than the budget clouds.
Choose it if: your business already runs on Google Cloud, or a Google region gives you the best latency for your audience.
A Quick Decision Guide
| Your situation | Pick |
|---|---|
| Small business, blog, or agency sites — want best value | DigitalOcean |
| Need a specific location or high-frequency CPUs | Vultr |
| Want a mid-priced alternative with good locations | Linode |
| Company standard, compliance or client requirement is AWS | AWS |
| Company already on Google Cloud | Google Cloud |
Does the Provider Affect Speed?
Less than people expect. For a typical WordPress site, caching, theme weight, plugin choices and data center location affect speed far more than which brand of cloud is underneath. Pick the provider with a data center near your audience at a price you are comfortable with, then spend your optimization effort on the site itself.
For sites with large, unpredictable traffic spikes, the bigger decision is not the provider but whether to use a single server at all — that is what Cloudways Autonomous is for.
Can You Switch Providers Later?
Yes. Cloudways lets you clone an application or server to a server on another provider and point your domain at it, so you are not locked in by your first choice. Do it during a quiet period, test the clone, then switch DNS.
Tip: Before choosing a data center, check where your visitors actually are in your analytics. If 80% of them are in Europe, a European data center will usually beat any provider choice for real-world speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Cloudways provider is best?
For most WordPress and PHP sites, DigitalOcean offers the best price-to-performance balance. Choose AWS or Google Cloud when you have a business reason to be on them.
Why is AWS more expensive on Cloudways?
You are paying for AWS infrastructure, which generally costs more per unit of RAM and includes less bandwidth than budget clouds, plus Cloudways' management on top.
Is Cloudways on DigitalOcean the same as using DigitalOcean directly?
The servers run on DigitalOcean, but Cloudways adds the managed stack, security, backups, staging and support. Using DigitalOcean directly is cheaper and gives you full control, but you manage the server yourself — see managed vs unmanaged hosting.
The Bottom Line
Cloudways makes the cloud underneath almost interchangeable, which is the point. Default to DigitalOcean for value, consider Vultr or Linode for location or performance reasons, and choose AWS or Google Cloud when the business already lives there. Everything else — caching, backups, support — works the same.
(ad) Start on Cloudways with DigitalOcean — you can always clone to another provider later.