Cloudways vs DirectAdmin
Compare Cloudways and DirectAdmin on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting — Flexible from $11/mo DigitalOcean Standard; Autonomous WordPress autoscaling separate line.
Best for
- • Teams that want managed hosting on a chosen cloud VM without buying a panel licence
- • Agencies running WordPress plus other apps on one Cloudways account
- • Buyers who will actually use hourly Flexible billing and the $11 DigitalOcean Standard floor
Starting from $11.00/user/mo
No free plan
VS
Our verdict
No universal winner. Choose based on which criteria matter most for your team.
Cloudways is better for
- ✓ Integrations
DirectAdmin is better for
- ✓ Starting pricing
Tie
- • Security & admin
Choose Cloudways if: Teams that want managed hosting on a chosen cloud VM without buying a panel licence
Choose DirectAdmin if: Admins who want a cheap panel licence on VPS/dedicated they already run
DirectAdmin
Hosting control panel — Personal Plus $5/mo; Lite $15; Standard $29 unlimited accounts/domains. Does not outrank Plesk 7.4.
Best for
- • Admins who want a cheap panel licence on VPS/dedicated they already run
- • Buyers comparing Personal Plus $5 to Plesk Web Admin or cPanel Solo
- • Hosts that need Standard unlimited accounts/domains at $29
Starting from $5.00/user/mo
No free plan
Screenshots
Verified product UI captures from research — never stock imagery.
Cloudways
No screenshots in this filter.
DirectAdmin
Some visit links may be affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Comparison outcomes are never based on commission.