Are you trying to decide between Cloudways and Cloudflare for your CDN or other needs? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll explore these two popular cloud services. Both offer unique features to make your online experience smoother and more secure. But, how do you know which one is the best fit for you?
In this post, we’ll compare Cloudways vs Cloudflare and break down the differences between them. We’ll look at what each service offers and how they can help you manage your website or app.
Understanding these platforms is key to making a smart decision.
In this article:
So, let’s get started and find out which is better for you and why!
Cloudways vs Cloudflare: Overview
About Cloudways
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform. Unlike traditional hosting services, Cloudways doesn’t have its own servers. Instead, it partners with giants like DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, Amazon AWS, and Google Cloud.
You can get top-notch server space managed by Cloudways, making complex cloud hosting simpler and more accessible. Essentially, Cloudways is the middleman that takes the powerful but complicated cloud servers and makes them user-friendly, especially for those not tech-savvy.
The pricing starts at just $11 a month for the most basic DigitalOcean plan, and goes up depending on the resources and provider you choose.
While the price is roughly double what you’d pay if you went directly to the cloud providers, the ease of use and additional features Cloudways provides makes it a worthwhile investment for everyone.
Here are some reasons why you may like Cloudways:
- Choice of Providers: DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, Amazon AWS, or Google Cloud.
- Scalable Plans: Entry-level to high-end, fitting various budgets and needs.
- User-Friendly: Designed for ease of use, even if you’re not a tech expert.
- 24/7/365 Support: You can get help whenever you need it.
- Free Migrations: Move your existing site over for free.
- Advanced Security: Dedicated firewalls, regular security patches, and free SSL.
- Performance Optimization: Advanced caching and auto-healing.
When it comes with web hosting services, you want something reliable, easy to manage, and within your budget.
Cloudways ticks these boxes with its user-friendly interface, diverse hosting options, and round-the-clock support.
Whether you’re setting up a personal blog or a business website, the platform makes managing a server less daunting. Plus, with features like advanced caching and automated backups, your site is not only fast but also secure.
If you’re thinking of giving Cloudways a try, use the free 3-day trial. The best thing is that you don’t get a credit card to try their service.
About Cloudflare
Cloudflare is a big name in web security and performance.
Launched in 2009, it’s a U.S.-based company that’s now global, with a network in over 200 cities across more than 100 countries.
Cloudflare offers its CDN (Content Delivery Network) and a whole bunch of other tools to make your website faster, safer, and smarter.
It’s trusted by thousands of businesses, big and small, around the world.
The platform is quite user-friendly and is available in many languages. It’s got a powerful free plan for beginners, but yes, its paid plans can be a bit expensive for people who have a limited budget.
But you get what you pay for, right? Quality!
Cloudflare makes your website zip along at top speed while keeping the bad guys out. Their CDN is a major feature, caching your site’s content on servers all over the globe so it loads fast for everyone, everywhere.
Here are some reasons why you may like Cloudflare:
- Global CDN: Speeds up your website by storing content closer to visitors.
- DDoS protection: Keeps your site safe from attacks that try to take it offline.
- One-click SSL: Makes your site secure and trustworthy.
- Analytics Dashboard: Shows you detailed info about your website’s traffic.
- Intelligent traffic routing: Avoids internet traffic jams for faster access.
But it’s not just about being fast and safe. Cloudflare also makes managing your website easier with an excellent dashboard and helpful analytics.
When it comes to pricing, Cloudflare’s free plan is pretty solid, but if you need more, the Pro plan starts at $20 per month. They don’t offer a free trial, but that free plan is a great way to test the waters. So, if you’re looking to boost your site’s speed and security, Cloudflare might just be your ticket.
Cloudways vs Cloudflare: Differences
| Aspect | Cloudways | Cloudflare |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Year | 2011 | 2009 |
| Service Type | Managed Cloud Hosting Provider | Web Performance and Security Service |
| Main Focus | Hosting Management and Performance Optimization | CDN, DDoS Protection, and Web Security |
| User Base | Over 100K active users worldwide | Millions of users globally |
| Performance | High-performance managed hosting with various cloud providers | Fast content delivery and reduced latency via a global CDN network |
| Security Features | Basic server monitoring, Free SSL, Team collaboration | Advanced DDoS protection, Free SSL, WAF, Intelligent Threat Detection |
| Special Features | Staging sites, Automatic Backups, Free WordPress performance plugin, Vertical Scaling | HTTP/3 Support, One-click SSL, BYIOP, Intelligent Traffic Routing, Browser Isolation |
| Pricing Plans | Free trial for 3 days, then paid plans starting from $11/month for the entry-level DigitalOcean server | Free plan available, Pro plan at $20/month, Business plan at $200/month, and custom pricing for the Enterprise plan |
| Customer Support | 24/7/365 Support via Live Chat and Email | Email, Phone, and Extensive Help Center |
| Number of Data Centers | Depends on the underlying cloud provider chosen | 200+ cities in more than 100 countries |
| Content Delivery Network (CDN) | Not a primary feature, depends on underlying cloud provider | Core feature with an expansive global network |
| Trial Period | 3-day free trial | No free trial, but a perpetually free plan is available |
| Unique Selling Proposition (USP) | Simplifies the complexity of managing cloud hosting from various providers | Provides a comprehensive set of security and performance features beyond just CDN |
| Try Cloudways ⟶ | Try Cloudflare ⟶ |
Cloudways vs Cloudflare: Features
Cloudways Features
- Free 3-day Trial
- 24/7/365 Support
- Free SSL Certificates
- Unlimited Applications
- Dedicated Firewalls
- Free Migration of Existing Sites
- Team Management
- 24/7 Real-time Monitoring
- Optimised Cache
- Automated Backups
- Staging Environment
- Cloudflare Add-on
- Regular Security Patching
- Auto Healing Servers
- HTTP/2 Enabled Servers
- SSH and SFTP Access
- Cloudflare Enterprise CDN
- Object Cache Pro (on 4GB server or above)
- 1-Click Advanced Server Management
- 50+ Global Data Centers
- 1-Click SafeUpdates for WordPress
- Cloudways SafeUpdates
- NVME-Based Servers
- Rackspace & Elastic Email
- PHP 8.1 Ready Servers
- 1-Click Server Cloning
- Server & App Monitoring (15+ Metrics)
- Seamless Vertical Scaling
Cloudflare Features
- Fast, Easy-to-use DNS
- Unmetered DDoS Protection
- Content Delivery Network (CDN)
- Universal SSL Certificate
- Free Managed Ruleset
- Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Lossless Image Optimization
- Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)
- Mobile optimization with Mirage
- Uptime SLA of 100%
- Single-Sign-On (SSO) Support
- Role-based Account Control
- Edge Page Caching
- Page Rules (3, 20, 50, 125 based on plan)
- Bot Mitigation (varying levels of protection and analytics)
- Argo Smart Routing
- China Network Access
- Brotli compression
- Image optimization with Polish
- Wildcard SSL support
- HTTP/3 support
Cloudways vs Cloudflare: Key Benefits
When you’re looking at Cloudways vs Cloudflare, you’re actually comparing two different, but very powerful online tools.
Cloudways is an online platform that lets you choose from 5 different cloud hosting providers and manage your site with ease. Cloudflare, on the other hand, is mostly about keeping your website safe and fast.
Let’s dig into the key benefits, so you get the whole picture.
Starting with Cloudways, it’s great because it gives you top-notch performance at a low price. It also lets you easily back up your site and even clone it if you need to. Now, for Cloudways reviews – users really like Cloudways. They’ve got loads of positive reviews talking about how easy and efficient it is.
On the flip side, Cloudflare protects your site from online threats and makes sure it loads quickly no matter where someone’s looking at it from.
Cloudflare’s network reaches 95% of the world within milliseconds – that’s super fast! They’ve got a massive number of users, we’re talking millions here, who trust them to keep their sites safe and speedy.
So, who’s the winner?
Well, it’s not exactly a direct fight.
They both do different things but do them really well. If you’re looking to host and manage your site with ease, Cloudways is your go-to.
If you want to make sure your site is secure and fast for visitors all over the globe, then Cloudflare is great.
You can also use both of the services at the same time.
Cloudways vs Cloudflare: Pricing
Starting with Cloudways, they have a unique Pay-As-You-Go model. You pay a fixed monthly fee, and if you use more resources than planned, you pay a bit extra. The minimum you’d pay for Digital Ocean is $11/month, and the highest for AWS is $3570/month. Prices vary because Cloudways offers different platforms like Digital Ocean, Linode, AWS, Google Cloud, and Vultr.
They’re kind of like a web hosting reseller, which is why their prices might be double what the original platforms charge.
But you’re paying for the ease and extra features they provide.
On the flip side, Cloudflare has a different approach. They offer a forever free plan, which is great. But, if you want more, their Pro plan starts at $20/month, and the Business plan shoots up to $200/month.
They also have a customizable Enterprise plan for big needs.
Cloudflare’s free plan is a big hit, especially with smaller sites or blogs, offering basic performance and security.
Their paid plans pack in more features for bigger needs.
So, if you’re after flexible and scalable hosting, Cloudways is super appealing. Their Pay-As-You-Go model means you only pay for what you use, and they’ve got a free trial to start off. But, if you’re looking for a no-cost option to boost your site’s performance and security, Cloudflare’s free plan is hard to beat.
Cloudways vs Cloudflare: Speed
Cloudways boasts about faster page loads, 99% uptime, and solid security.
They use a combo of optimization features that lead to quick performance and low loading times. Cloudways optimization features include:
- Advanced caching: Memcached, Varnish, and Redis for quick response times.
- Optimized stack: A combination of Apache, Nginx, PHP-FPM, and MySQL/MariaDB for enhanced performance.
- Built-in CDN: Fast delivery of content from the closest server.
- Auto-healing servers: Minimizes downtime by automatically resolving issues.
And, you get to pick from big names like DigitalOcean, Google Cloud, or AWS to power up your site’s speed and cut down costs.
Now, Cloudflare works its CDN magic by moving your website’s files closer to your visitors, which means faster web experiences.
They’ve got this thing called Browser Insights that shows you how well your site is doing from the perspective of people visiting it.
And if that wasn’t enough, they offer a bunch of services to make your website even faster, like image optimization and HTTP/2 Prioritization.
Cloudflare optimization features include:
- CDN: Distributes content close to visitors for faster delivery.
- Browser Insights: real-time analytics on performance.
- Image Optimization: Polish and Mirage for image compression and loading.
- Enhanced HTTP/2 Prioritization: Optimizes order of resource delivery.
- Rocket Loader: Improves load times for JavaScript-intensive pages.
- Brotli Compression: Reduces file sizes for faster page loads.
- TCP Turbo: Enhances connection speed and throughput.
- AutoMinify: Reduces size of source code files.
If I had to pick a winner, I’d say it’s a tie. Cloudways gives you an incredible foundation with its choice of providers and performance features. On the other hand, Cloudflare brings some serious speed and optimization tools to the table. It’s all about what you need and what fits your site best.
They’re both trusted by many to deliver top-notch performance. So, my advice? Try them out, see what others are saying, and then decide.
Cloudways vs Cloudflare: Security
Cloudways is not playing around when it comes to security.
They’ve got DDoS Mitigation to shield your server from those nasty DDoS attacks. Plus, their Vulnerability Scanner, powered by Patchstack, keeps an eagle eye on your WordPress, alerting you to any weak spots.
They also throw in Free SSL Certificates to keep your data safe, and IP Whitelisting, so only the good guys can get in.
Regular Security Patches and Automated Protection with Fail2Ban are like having a round-the-clock guard for your server.
And with Dedicated Server-Level Firewalls and Bot Protection, they’ve got more layers of security than a fancy cake!
Now, Cloudflare – they’re no slouch in the security game either.
Their DNS Security helps stop sneaky attacks and their Cloud WAF (Web Application Firewall) is protects your site against common threats.
They speed up your site with HTTP/2 Protocol and keep it running smoothly with Load Balancing. Rate Limiting and Page Rules are in their toolkit to fend off DDoS attacks and customize your security.
Their Web Application Firewall is powered by global intelligence and machine learning, making it pretty smart at stopping threats. Plus, they’ve got a ton of settings you can tweak to make your defense as strong as a fortress.
So, who’s the winner in “Cloudways vs Cloudflare”?
It’s tough to call. Cloudways has a solid lineup of features focused on server security and management. Cloudflare, on the other hand, offers a broader range of web protection services. If you’re all about server-specific security, Cloudways might be your go-to.
But if you want an all-rounder for web protection, Cloudflare could be the one. It’s really about what you need most for your online space.
Cloudways vs Cloudflare: Free Trial
Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial.
You can try out all their features for 3 whole days without paying a penny.
On the other hand, Cloudflare doesn’t offer a specific free trial period like Cloudways, but they do have a forever free plan. This plan doesn’t cost anything, and you can use it as long as you want.
Cloudways vs Cloudflare: Refund
When you’re comparing Cloudways vs Cloudflare, understanding their refund policies is very important, so let’s dive into that.
Starting with Cloudways, they’ve got a pretty fair deal.
If you’ve got some cash left in your account and you decide you don’t need their services anymore, you can ask for your money back. But there’s a catch: you’ve got to do it within three months of adding the funds. They’ll give back what you haven’t used, minus what you’ve already spent on their services.
Cloudways doesn’t provide a refund for services you’ve already used.
On the other hand, Cloudflare refund policy is a bit more straightforward – but not in the way you might hope.
They clearly state: no refunds. Once you’ve paid, that money’s gone, even if you cancel your subscription. They might give out a credit or discount sometimes, but that’s totally up to them and not something you should count on.
Cloudways vs Cloudflare: Support
Cloudways boasts an impressive support system.
They’ve got you covered 24/7 with live chat, support tickets, and a knowledge base to tackle any hiccups you might face with hosting.
Their standout feature? They act like your extended team, ready to jump in anytime to keep your business smooth. They monitor your server 24/7/365 and boast a 90 seconds average response time.
Plus, with a 95% customer satisfaction (CSAT) rate, you know Cloudways is doing something right.
On the flip side, Cloudflare support levels grow with your business, offering everything from 24×7 support via live chat and tickets to advanced add-ons for deep support. For critical sites, they even offer a premium support with a private Slack channel and direct phone support.
So, both offer strong support tailored to their services.
Cloudways seems more hands-on and personal, while Cloudflare offers tiered support that escalates with your needs.
Cloudways vs Cloudflare: Final Verdict
So, you’ve learned on Cloudways vs Cloudflare, right? Both are awesome, but they serve different purposes.
If you’re looking to get your site set up and running without a lot of tech headaches, Cloudways is a solid choice. Remember, you can “try Cloudways free for 3 days” – a sweet deal to see if it fits your needs.
On the other hand, if your main goal is to keep your site fast and safe from online nasties, Cloudflare stands out. They don’t have a free trial, but their free plan with no time limit is quite useful for a beginner.
I get it, making choices can be tough.
But, the best part? You can actually use both!
Imagine combining the strengths of Cloudways and Cloudflare – Your site could be fast, secure, and easy to manage. That’s a win in my book!
So, go ahead, explore, try, and see what clicks for you.
