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Kinsta vs Cloudways: Which host is better for you in 2026?

Pick Kinsta for premium, WordPress‑only hosting where performance and support are fully handled for you. Pick Cloudways for more control and flexibility over server size and provider, usually at a lower price per resource. Skip to the verdict if you are short on time. For deeper coverage of each tool, read the full Kinsta review or the full Cloudways review (2026).

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Quick comparison: Kinsta vs Cloudways

If you want premium, low‑maintenance WordPress hosting with excellent support and don’t mind paying for it, Kinsta wins. If you want more control over your server environment, the ability to host multiple app types, and a more cost‑efficient setup across many projects, Cloudways is the better fit.

Feature / Aspect Kinsta Cloudways
Primary focus WordPress‑only managed hosting Managed cloud hosting (WordPress + PHP apps)
Ease of use Very beginner‑friendly; clean MyKinsta dashboard More technical; easier than raw cloud, but has a learning curve
Infrastructure Google Cloud premium tier, container‑based site isolation Your choice: DigitalOcean, Vultr, Akamai, AWS, Google Cloud
Performance Consistently fast; hard to misconfigure Excellent on the right setup; more responsibility on you
Pricing model Plan‑based (sites, visits, storage); premium but predictable Pay‑as‑you‑go per server; usually cheaper entry‑level
Support WordPress‑specialist, 24/7 chat, fast and knowledgeable Solid for infrastructure; less hands‑on for app‑level issues
Non‑WP apps No — WordPress only Yes — WordPress plus other PHP apps and frameworks
CDN Cloudflare‑backed CDN included CloudwaysCDN available as add‑on
Staging Included on all plans Included in managed stack
Email hosting Not included; use a separate provider Not included; use a separate provider

What each host is

Kinsta

Kinsta is a premium managed WordPress host built on Google Cloud’s premium tier, using a next‑generation, container‑based architecture that isolates each WordPress site for performance and security. It gives each site its own environment, bundles caching, CDN, security, and automatic backups, and manages everything through the MyKinsta dashboard. It’s designed to be a high‑performance, low‑maintenance home for serious WordPress sites where downtime or slowness costs real money.

Cloudways

Cloudways is a managed control layer on top of cloud providers like DigitalOcean, Vultr, Akamai Connected Cloud (formerly Linode), AWS, and Google Cloud. You spin up servers through Cloudways, deploy apps (WordPress and other PHP apps), and manage caching, backups, staging, and security via its panel. You still get “real” cloud servers and pay‑as‑you‑go pricing, but you don’t have to build and maintain the entire stack yourself.

Key differences at a glance

Here are the seven differences that matter most when choosing between Kinsta and Cloudways.

Ease of use

Kinsta

Very beginner‑friendly for WordPress users. The MyKinsta dashboard is clean, opinionated, and hides most server complexity. Great if you don’t want to think about infrastructure.

Cloudways

More technical. Easier than managing raw cloud infrastructure, but still uses concepts like servers, apps, and instances. Better if you’re comfortable tweaking settings.

Scope and focus

Kinsta

WordPress‑only (plus WooCommerce and similar). The entire platform is built around making WordPress fast and stable.

Cloudways

WordPress plus other PHP apps and frameworks. You can run multiple types of applications on the same platform.

Performance and architecture

Kinsta

Uses Google Cloud’s premium tier and a container‑based architecture that isolates each site, with built‑in caching, Cloudflare‑backed CDN, and strong performance tuning by default. It’s hard to seriously misconfigure performance.

Cloudways

Performance depends on the provider and server size you choose. The stack is well‑optimised and includes caching, the Breeze plugin for WordPress, and CloudwaysCDN, but you have more responsibility to pick the right resources and tweak settings. Autoscaling is available on some setups.

Control and flexibility

Kinsta

Less infrastructure control. You choose plan size and data centre, but Kinsta controls the underlying environment. Ideal if you want things “just handled.”

Cloudways

Much more control. You pick provider, region, server size, and can scale up or clone servers as needed. Better if you want to tune cost‑to‑performance and avoid being locked into one provider.

Pricing model

Kinsta

Plan‑based pricing (Starter, Pro, Business tiers) based on number of sites, visits, storage, and features. Transparent, no introductory discounts that jump later, but clearly premium.

Cloudways

Pay‑as‑you‑go based on chosen cloud provider and server size. Entry‑level servers are usually cheaper than Kinsta, and you can scale resources more granularly, but total cost depends on how many servers and add‑ons you run.

Email and ecosystem

Kinsta

No email hosting; pair it with a dedicated email provider. Strong ecosystem around WordPress‑specific tools, DevKinsta for local dev, and built‑in APM.

Cloudways

Also no email hosting; use a separate service. Offers the Breeze WordPress caching plugin, CloudwaysCDN, and integrations for monitoring and backups.

Support

Kinsta

WordPress‑specialist support, 24/7 chat, and a reputation for fast, knowledgeable responses focused on WordPress issues.

Cloudways

Support focuses on the Cloudways stack and server layer. Helpful for infrastructure and configuration, but deeper app‑level debugging is more on you.

Who should choose Kinsta?

Choose Kinsta if you:

  • Run a serious WordPress site (or a few) where speed and uptime directly affect revenue.
  • Prefer to pay more for a fully managed experience and don’t want to manage servers.
  • Want strong WordPress‑focused support and tooling (staging, APM, DevKinsta).
  • Are okay with a more opinionated platform and less infrastructure flexibility.

Good examples: SaaS marketing sites, high‑traffic blogs, membership sites, and WooCommerce stores where WordPress is the core stack and the business can justify premium hosting.

Try Kinsta →

Who should choose Cloudways?

Choose Cloudways if you:

  • Have outgrown shared hosting and want real cloud performance without being a full‑time DevOps engineer.
  • Need to host multiple apps or different stacks (e.g. WordPress + custom PHP) on one platform.
  • Want to choose your cloud provider (DigitalOcean, Vultr, Akamai, AWS, Google Cloud) and tune server size closely.
  • Are comfortable with a slightly more technical control panel and monitoring resource usage.

Good examples: Agencies hosting many client sites, technical founders running multiple projects, or teams that want more control over cost‑to‑performance trade‑offs.

Try Cloudways →

Pricing logic

Kinsta

  • Plan‑based pricing for managed WordPress hosting.
  • Each plan includes a set number of sites, visits, storage, CDN bandwidth, and backup retention.
  • No promo pricing that doubles on renewal; you pay a consistent, premium monthly rate.
  • Great if predictability and high‑touch management matter more than minimising every dollar.

Cloudways

  • Pay‑as‑you‑go pricing tied to the underlying cloud provider and server size.
  • Smaller DigitalOcean/Vultr/Akamai servers start in the low double‑digit USD/month range; larger or AWS/Google Cloud instances cost more.
  • You pay per server, plus any add‑ons like CDN or premium support.
  • Great if you want to match resources tightly to each project and scale cost up or down over time.

Rule of thumb:

  • If you’d rather pay a clear premium for “we’ll handle everything for your WordPress site” — choose Kinsta.
  • If you want to balance cost and control across multiple servers and projects — choose Cloudways.

Pros and cons

Kinsta — Pros

  • Very fast, stable performance on Google Cloud’s premium infrastructure with container‑based site isolation.
  • Clean, WordPress‑focused dashboard that hides most server complexity.
  • Strong uptime, automatic backups, staging, and built‑in APM.
  • High‑quality WordPress support and transparent, non‑promo pricing.

Kinsta — Cons

  • Higher price point than most alternatives, especially for multiple smaller sites.
  • WordPress‑only focus; not ideal if you need to host non‑WP apps.
  • Less flexibility around server sizing and provider choices.

Cloudways — Pros

  • More flexible and usually more cost‑efficient than premium managed hosts at similar resource levels.
  • Choice of underlying provider and easy vertical scaling/cloning, with autoscaling available on some setups.
  • Managed stack with Breeze caching, CloudwaysCDN, backups, and staging.
  • Good fit for agencies and multi‑site setups.

Cloudways — Cons

  • More technical than Kinsta or basic shared hosting; there is a learning curve.
  • Pricing can get confusing if you run many servers or forget to scale down unused ones.
  • Support is solid on the infrastructure side but less hands‑on for app‑level issues.
  • No email hosting; you must set up a separate provider.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kinsta or Cloudways better for WordPress?

Kinsta is purpose‑built for WordPress with a clean dashboard, container‑based site isolation, and WordPress‑specialist support. Cloudways supports WordPress alongside other PHP apps and gives you more control over your server environment. Kinsta is better if WordPress is your only focus; Cloudways is better if you want flexibility across multiple projects.

Is Cloudways cheaper than Kinsta?

Generally yes. Cloudways uses pay‑as‑you‑go pricing tied to the underlying cloud provider, so entry‑level servers on DigitalOcean or Vultr are usually cheaper than Kinsta’s starter plans. However, costs can add up if you run many servers or add premium features. Kinsta’s pricing is predictable but clearly premium.

Which is easier to use: Kinsta or Cloudways?

Kinsta is easier for WordPress users. The MyKinsta dashboard is clean and opinionated, hiding most server complexity. Cloudways is more technical — easier than managing raw cloud infrastructure, but still requires understanding concepts like servers, apps, and instances.

Does Kinsta or Cloudways offer better support?

Kinsta is known for WordPress‑specialist support with 24/7 chat and fast, knowledgeable responses focused on WordPress issues. Cloudways support is solid for infrastructure and server‑layer issues, but deeper app‑level debugging is more on you.

Can I host non-WordPress sites on Kinsta or Cloudways?

Kinsta is WordPress‑only (plus WooCommerce and similar). Cloudways supports WordPress plus other PHP apps and frameworks, making it more flexible if you need to run multiple types of applications on one platform.

Which host is better for agencies?

Cloudways is often the better fit for agencies hosting many client sites across different stacks, as it lets you run multiple servers and apps and tune cost vs performance. Kinsta suits agencies focused exclusively on WordPress where premium support and performance justify the higher price.

Does Kinsta or Cloudways include a CDN?

Both include CDN. Kinsta uses a Cloudflare‑backed CDN built into all plans. Cloudways offers CloudwaysCDN as an add‑on, with the cost depending on bandwidth usage.

Which host has better performance?

Kinsta uses Google Cloud’s premium tier with container‑based site isolation and built‑in performance tuning, making it hard to seriously misconfigure. Cloudways performance depends on the provider and server size you choose — it can match or exceed Kinsta on the right setup, but requires more configuration.

Do Kinsta or Cloudways offer staging environments?

Yes, both offer staging environments. Kinsta includes staging on all plans. Cloudways includes staging as part of its managed stack.

Which should I choose: Kinsta or Cloudways?

Choose Kinsta if you run one or a handful of important WordPress sites and want premium, low‑maintenance hosting with excellent performance and support. Choose Cloudways if you manage multiple sites or apps, want to fine‑tune cost vs performance, and are comfortable with a more technical control panel.

Our verdict: which one should you choose?

Choose Kinsta if you run one or a handful of important WordPress sites and want premium, low‑maintenance hosting with excellent performance and support, and you’re okay paying for that peace of mind. Choose Cloudways if you’re managing multiple sites or apps, want to fine‑tune cost vs performance, are comfortable with a more technical panel, and like the idea of choosing your own cloud provider and scaling resources as you grow.

Choose Kinsta if…

  • You run serious WordPress sites where speed and uptime directly affect revenue
  • You want a fully managed experience and don’t want to manage servers
  • You value WordPress‑specialist support, staging, APM, and DevKinsta tooling
Try Kinsta →

Choose Cloudways if…

  • You manage multiple sites or apps and want to tune cost vs performance
  • You want to choose your own cloud provider and scale resources granularly
  • You’re comfortable with a more technical panel and monitoring resource usage
Try Cloudways →

For a deeper look at each host, read the full Kinsta review or the full Cloudways review (2026).

Affiliate disclosure: ToolStackChoice.com may earn a commission if you purchase through the links above. This does not affect our editorial independence or scoring.

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