Cloudways vs Decodo (Smartproxy)
Compare Cloudways and Decodo (Smartproxy) 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
- ✓ Security & admin
Choose Cloudways if: Teams that want managed hosting on a chosen cloud VM without buying a panel licence
Choose Decodo (Smartproxy) if: Teams that knew Smartproxy and need the Decodo-branded same network
Decodo (Smartproxy)
Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) residential proxies — 3GB $11.25/mo ($3.75/GB); PAYG $4/GB; advertised $2/GB at 1000GB. 3-day trial. Slug remains smartproxy.
Best for
- • Teams that knew Smartproxy and need the Decodo-branded same network
- • Buyers who want a published $11.25 residential starter versus Bright Data commits
- • Projects that will validate a 3-day trial before GB scale
Starting from $11.25/user/mo
No free plan
Cloudways vs Decodo (Smartproxy) at a glance
Criterion-level leaders from verified research.
Scorecard preview
Criterion leaders based on verified research — open the Scorecard tab for evidence detail.
- Starting pricingDepends
Cloudways
Decodo (Smartproxy)
- Free planDepends
Cloudways
Decodo (Smartproxy)
- User / licence minimumDepends
Cloudways
Decodo (Smartproxy)
- IntegrationsCloudways
Cloudways
Decodo (Smartproxy)
- Security & adminCloudways
Cloudways
Decodo (Smartproxy)
Which It Development is better for you?
Quick picks based on fit — not a universal ranking.
- → Cloudways
Best for integrations
Cloudways leads on integrations (8/10 vs 7/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → Cloudways
Best for security & admin
Cloudways leads on security admin (7/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
The biggest differences
Where the products diverge most clearly on verified criteria.
Integrations
Cloudways winsCloudways
Cloudways leads on integrations (8/10 vs 7/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Decodo (Smartproxy)
Trails Cloudways on this criterion
Security & admin
Cloudways winsCloudways
Cloudways leads on security admin (7/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Decodo (Smartproxy)
Trails Cloudways on this criterion
Which should you choose?
Choose Cloudways if
- 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
Choose Decodo (Smartproxy) if
- Teams that knew Smartproxy and need the Decodo-branded same network
- Buyers who want a published $11.25 residential starter versus Bright Data commits
- Projects that will validate a 3-day trial before GB scale
Related comparisons
Alternatives to consider
WP Engine
Managed WordPress hosting — Essential Startup from $30/mo annual first-year; Core from $400/mo; Enterprise custom.
Plesk
Hosting control panel for web/server administration — Web Admin Edition from $16.99/mo on VPS licensing.
Bright Data
Web data / proxy platform — pay-as-you-go from ~$4/GB residential; starter commitments from ~$499/mo.
Oxylabs
Enterprise proxy + Web Scraper API — Residential Starter 5GB $30/mo ($6/GB); Web Scraper API from $49/mo; ISO 27001.
How we compare
A short look at the comparison process. Full methodology
1
Collect
Collect official product information, pricing, and product evidence.
2
Normalize
Map evidence to the same category evaluation criteria for both products.
3
Compare
Evaluate both products against identical criteria — ties and depends are allowed.
4
Explain
Show why each product wins, loses, or ties, with evidence behind the outcome.
Still deciding between Cloudways and Decodo (Smartproxy)?
Use Find My CRM for a shortlist matched to your priorities, or build another side-by-side comparison.
- Independent criterion outcomes
- No invented scores or prices
- Affiliate links never change winners
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.