Cloudways vs SiteGround
Compare Cloudways and SiteGround 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
There is no universal winner between Cloudways and SiteGround. Choose Cloudways when Teams that want managed hosting on a chosen cloud VM without buying a panel licence. Choose SiteGround when Teams that want managed WordPress hosting with a published $17.99 ongoing floor. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
Cloudways is better for
- ✓ Starting pricing
- ✓ Integrations
Tie
- • Security & admin
Choose Cloudways if: Teams that want managed hosting on a chosen cloud VM without buying a panel licence
Choose SiteGround if: Teams that want managed WordPress hosting with a published $17.99 ongoing floor
SiteGround
Managed WordPress hosting with shared-plan packaging — StartUp promo $2.99 then renews $17.99/mo; GrowBig $29.99; GoGeek $44.99. Use $17.99 ongoing floor. Does not outrank WP Engine 7.7.
Best for
- • Teams that want managed WordPress hosting with a published $17.99 ongoing floor
- • Buyers comparing SiteGround StartUp to WP Engine Essential and Kinsta Single
- • Orgs that will treat $17.99 as renewal TCO, not the $2.99 promo month
Starting from $17.99/user/mo
No free plan
Evidence & transparency
Sources and research process behind this comparison.
Sources
6
Criteria
5
Screenshots
2
Sources consulted
| Title | Product | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudways — Official Site | Cloudways | official-product-page |
| Cloudways Pricing | Cloudways | official-pricing-page |
| Cloudways pricing | Cloudways | official-product-page |
| SiteGround — Official Site | SiteGround | official-product-page |
| SiteGround Pricing | SiteGround | official-pricing-page |
| SiteGround WordPress hosting | SiteGround | official-product-page |
Methodology steps
- 1Collect first-party product and pricing evidence
- 2Map both products to the same category criteria
- 3Record criterion outcomes with confidence and sources
- 4Publish only when editorial gates allow indexing
Methodology version 1.0.0.
Affiliate relationships never change comparison outcomes. We evaluate both products on the same criteria and allow ties when evidence does not support a universal winner.
Read full methodology →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.