Cloudways vs SiteGround
Flat cloud pricing against the promo-priced shared favorite. Which one is cheaper depends entirely on the year you ask.
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Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting with no limit on sites.
SiteGround
Premium shared hosting with top-tier support.
Prices last checked on
| Feature | Cloudways | SiteGround |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Price | From $11/mo | From $2.99/mo |
| Renews at | n/a | $17.99/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | Multiple sites | Serious WordPress sites |
| Category | Managed WordPress | Managed WordPress |
| Provider | Cloudways (DigitalOcean) | SiteGround |
| Visit Cloudways | Visit SiteGround |
Our verdict
SiteGround wins year one, Cloudways wins every year after. Year one costs $35.88 at SiteGround against $132 at Cloudways, but then SiteGround renews at $17.99 a month, six times its promo, while Cloudways stays flat at $11.
The running totals cross around month 26, and over three years you pay $467.64 at SiteGround against $396 at Cloudways, for one site against as many as your server can hold.
If this is your first website and you want top-class support and staging with zero server work, SiteGround is a fine first year as long as you budget for the renewal. Staying longer than two years, or running more than one site: take Cloudways.
“Host unlimited sites and pay per server size: with multiple sites this is far cheaper than the competition. Slightly more technical, but the strongest price-to-performance you will find in managed hosting.”Editorial team, on Cloudways
“Premium shared hosting with the best support in its class and genuinely useful WordPress tools. The renewal price is steep; budget for that, not for the promo rate.”Editorial team, on SiteGround
Frequently asked questions
Is Cloudways cheaper than SiteGround?
Only from year two on. SiteGround costs $35.88 in year one against $132 at Cloudways, but it renews at $17.99 a month while Cloudways stays flat at $11. Over three years you pay about $467.64 at SiteGround and $396 at Cloudways.
How much does SiteGround cost after the first year?
The StartUp plan renews at $17.99 a month, six times its $2.99 promo. That is $215.88 a year, one of the steepest renewal jumps in hosting.
Which is better for more than one website?
Cloudways. One server hosts as many sites as it can handle for a flat $11, while SiteGround StartUp is limited to a single website.