Cloudways vs. HostGator (2023) 

Cloudways or HostGator? Which web host is the best for your website?

Finding a trustworthy web host provider can be time-consuming and overwhelming if you need help understanding the differences between each company.

However, the process is simple with the help of an expert like me. I’ve spent years managing websites on Cloudways and HostGator. 

Whether you’re a freelancer managing multiple websites or a small business owner, you must review this 2023 Cloudways vs. HostGator comparison!

So let’s see how these two web hosts perform and which provider is best for you!

How Did We Test Cloudways and HostGator Hosting?

TYB doesn’t take testing web host providers lightly. We only use the highest testing standard with advanced software. For example, we rely on lab testing and data rather than our objective point of view.

To properly test Cloudways versus HostGator, we designed two staging sites, measuring the results in the following categories:

• Hosting Types 
• Features
• Performance & Speed
• Ease of Use
• Pricing & Value
• Security Features 
• Customer Support
• WordPress Features
• Extras

Cloudways Vs. HostGator Hosting Winner:

Cloudways is ideal if you prefer managed hosting plans and can afford the company’s steep monthly rates. 

In comparison, HostGator is perfect if you’re on a tight budget yet still want access to reliable performance and fast loading speeds. 

Each host includes several features that make web hosting easier!

What is Cloudways Web Hosting?

Cloudways is known for being a managed cloud hosting provider with an easy-to-use interface and control panel.

For instance, Cloudways makes web hosting simple with managed services, allowing customers to focus on their websites and businesses rather than technical aspects. 

The fully managed services at Cloudways include features like fast servers, essential security features, and scalability options, to name a few. Check out our Cloudways review if you want to learn more about this web hosting provider!

Who Uses Cloudways?

Cloudways is a great web host for various people, including developers, agencies, small business owners, and bloggers.

One aspect that makes Cloudways appealing for small business owners is the user-friendly tools, allowing them to build websites quickly.

Regardless of how you want to use Cloudways, the web host’s reliable performance and security essentials make it the ideal solution.

What are the Benefits of Cloudways?

Cloudways has several benefits, including fast VPS hosting, managed services, low prices, multiple server choices, and flexible payments. 

VPS servers give users dedicated resources, allowing them to access their websites quickly and securely while offering customization options.

Regarding payment plans, Cloudways allows users to only pay for the resources they use during the month!

Where Cloudways Falls Short

There are a few ways Cloudways falls short, including the lack of hosting options. 

Most hosts offer plans, including shared, WordPress, and Minecraft servers. Cloudways only provides managed cloud hosting. 

Also, Cloudways lacks advanced security tools that other providers provide for free.

Lastly, Cloudways doesn’t offer domain registration services, which is uncommon in the hosting industry.

What is HostGator?

HostGator is a popular web hosting provider offering services for websites of all sizes. 

HostGator provides an array of hosting plans at affordable rates.

Also, every plan includes helpful features that make web hosting easier for customers. Read our HostGator review for more details!

Who Uses HostGator?

HostGator is an ideal web host for small businesses needing to save money, agencies, and beginners!

HostGator offers affordable rates regardless of the hosting solution you choose. 

What are the Benefits of HostGator?

Some benefits of using HostGator include affordable monthly rates, fast loading times, and reliable uptime. 

Further, HostGato’s introductory rates for the shared plans start at $2.75 per month! 

Also, HostGator’s servers are reliable, consistently providing fast speeds and reliable uptime.

Where HostGator Falls Short

One area where HostGator could improve is security. 

The web host only provides the essentials regarding web security and doesn’t go beyond that.

Also, HostGator aggressively upsells once you pay for a plan, which can burden you.

Cloudways Vs. HostGator Hosting: The Details 

What Types of Hosting Does Cloudways Have?

Cloudways is best known for its managed hosting plans, which are available through the following providers:

• Linode
• AWS
• Google Cloud
• DigitalOcean
• Vultr

What Types of Hosting Does HostGator Have?

HostGator offers several hosting plans, which include:

• Shared
• Website Builder
• WordPress
• Dedicated server
• VPS
• Reseller

Winner: HostGator

HostGator offers a broader selection of web hosting plans. Therefore, customers can change their plan from shared to VPS if needed without switching companies. Cloudways only offers managed hosting plans.

Does Cloudways Have Uptime Issues?

Cloudways servers rarely have issues with uptime.

Therefore, the web host has excellent uptime performance and fast server speeds. 

The server speeds are much faster than other web hosts, given the cloud hosting services and powerful data centers.

Does HostGator Have Uptime Issues?

HostGator’s plans come with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, which is standard in the hosting industry.

Still, the web host lives up to this guarantee, and HostGator sites rarely experience downtime. 

HostGator rarely has uptime issues, proving it is a reliable web host!

Winner: Cloudways

Cloudways has unbeatable uptime performance and fast server speeds. Although HostGator provides excellent uptime, Cloudways’ servers are more powerful and reliable.

How Fast Is Cloudways Hosting?

You don’t have to worry about loading times and server speed with Cloudways.

Cloudways has several data centers worldwide, so loading speeds are fast regardless of a visitor’s location.

Further, the Largest Contentful Paint and fully loaded time are faster than the industry standard. 

How Fast Is HostGator Hosting?

HostGator is well-known for providing fast website loading speeds and server response times.

The Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and fully loaded times are faster than the industry average. 

Some web hosts provide faster speeds, but HostGator’s are exceptional, considering the monthly rates. 

Winner: Cloudways

Cloudways offers the fastest loading times and server response times. Cloudways’ data centers are more powerful than HostGator’s, making Cloudways the clear winner in this category! 

Cloudways Hosting Stress Test

Cloudways can handle significant website stress, even when there is a sudden influx of website visitors unexpectedly. 

Even when our staging sites endured tens of thousands of visitors, Cloudways’ speed and performance stayed the same. 

HostGator Hosting Stress Test

HostGator can handle stress and an unexpected increase in website visitors without compromising speed and performance. 

On our staging sites, we maxed out the number of visitors, and HostGator’s server still provided the same excellent speed, uptime, and performance. 

Winner: Tie

Cloudways and HostGator can handle an unexpected increase in website visitors without compromising speed or performance. The two web hosts are neck-and-neck when it comes to stress tests!

How Easy is Cloudways to Use?

Because Cloudways provides managed hosting plans, its services are straightforward to use. 

Rather than small business owners attempting to alter their websites, Cloudways’ managed plans allow professionals to handle those aspects.

How Easy is HostGator to Use?

HostGator is very easy to use, explaining why it is an excellent web host for beginners.

Further, the web host provider includes an intuitive user interface and dashboard with all the necessary tools in one location.

The company also offers features like automatic plugin installation and site migrations that simplify everything.

Winner: Tie

Cloudways and HostGator are easy to use. Cloudways is a more comprehensive hosting plan, while HostGator offers an intuitive user interface and dashboards equipped with everything you need in one place!

Cloudways Pricing & Value

Compared to other web hosts, Cloudways is a bit more expensive. 

However, Cloudways’ plans vary in price based on the chosen server.

For instance, Google Cloud servers are more expensive than other options.

Still, Cloudways provides incredible value for what it charges monthly.

HostGator Pricing & Value 

As mentioned, HostGator’s shared hosting monthly plans start at $2.75. 

And the features included in these plans are impressive.

For instance, shared hosting comes with the following:

• Free domain names
• Unmetered bandwidth 
• Free migration services
• Free SSL certificates

Winner: HostGator

Cloudways’ servers are more powerful and reliable, but HostGator provides substantial value for the price. You get impressive features included in these plans that simply can’t be matched! 

How Secure is Cloudways?

Security is one area where some customers prefer Cloudways would advance.

Still, Cloudways provides customers with all the security essentials to keep their website safe, including:

• Automatic backups
• Bot protection
• Firewalls
• SSL certificates

How Secure is HostGator?

HostGator provides the security essentials with each hosting plan but doesn’t go beyond that.

For instance, customers must pay extra for advanced security features like firewall protection, two-factor authentication, and backups.

Still, HostGator protects websites from spam and hackers and also includes free SSL certificates with its plans.

Winner: Cloudways

Cloudways provides customers with all the security essentials to keep their websites safe and secure. HostGator does protect websites from spam and hackers, but Cloudways offers more advanced security features for free with its plans.

Can We Trust Cloudways?

We can trust Cloudways because the host works with reputable companies like Google and Amazon.

Also, thousands of customers trust Cloudways to keep their websites running smoothly!

Can We Trust HostGator?

Yes, we can trust HostGator too.

The company has been in business since 2002 and provides daily web hosting solutions to thousands of customers.

Winner: Tie

Cloudways and HostGator have both earned our trust when it comes to web hosting services. Cloudways works with reputable companies, while HostGator continuously hosts thousands of websites.

Is Cloudways Customer Support Good?

Customer support at Cloudways is excellent. Agents respond quickly and are incredibly helpful.

Also, Cloudways offers customer service via various outlets, including 24/7 live chat, online ticketing, a Slack channel, and phone. 

However, some customer support options are only available with a premium support add-on. 

Is HostGator Customer Support Good?

Although HostGator provides 24/7 customer support via live chat and telephone, the service could use improvement.

The response times take longer than other web hosts, and some agents don’t provide the guidance you need to handle your problems.

Winner: Cloudways

Cloudways provides excellent customer service with various outlets available. HostGator also offers 24/7 support, but the response times take longer.

Does Cloudways Offer WordPress Hosting?

Fortunately, Cloudways has managed WordPress hosting plans.

To utilize this CMS, customers must install the WordPress application on the host’s control panel.

Cloudways makes installing WordPress easy and only requires you to take a few simple steps.

Does HostGator Offer WordPress Hosting?

HostGator has WordPress plans, starting at $5.95 per month for the first year of service.

These hosting plans are optimized for WordPress, including numerous helpful features like:

• Capable of handling at least 100k visits per month (more with the higher-tiered plans)
• Free SSL certificate
• Free Domain
• Malware protection
• Pre-installed WordPress
• Free site migrations

Also, HostGator’s WordPress plans are managed, which is ideal if you don’t have the time to manage your site continuously.

Winner: HostGator

Cloudways offers WordPress hosting, but HostGator’s plans are more affordable. HostGator’s WordPress plans also come with several features to help users start building their websites quickly.

Will Cloudways Help With Website Migration?

Cloudways will help migrate websites and allow customers to transfer one website for free.

Website migrations are managed like other services at Cloudways. 

Therefore, a Cloudways agent will handle all the technical details that come with transferring websites. 

Will HostGator Help With Website Migration? 

HostGator helps with website migrations from any other provider for free!

The service is completely managed, meaning HostGator professionals handle all the technical work for you free of charge!

Customers must migrate their sites within 30 days for the service to be free.

Winner: Tie

Cloudways and HostGator are both excellent when it comes to website migration. Each host provides website migration from other providers for free. Some hosts charge up to $150 for this service!

Does Cloudways Offer Email Hosting?

Email hosting is a service that Cloudways provides for an additional fee. 

The email hosting is provided by Rackspace, software that makes email management simpler for teams.

Most customers note Cloudways’ email hosting is easy to use and makes tasks more streamlined.

Does HostGator Offer Email Hosting?

HostGator offers email hosting through Google Workspace or an alternative server of the customer’s choice.

The Google Workspace integrations start at $5 per month. 

Also, customers can add new email accounts associated with their website from their account dashboard with a few clicks.

Winner: HostGator

Cloudways and HostGator both offer email hosting, but HostGator’s Google Workspace integrations are more affordable. HostGator’s email hosting plans are more flexible, giving customers more options for their email provider.

Does Cloudways Have a Website Builder?

Cloudways doesn’t include a unique website builder as other web hosts do.

But, Cloudways includes the WP Page Builder plugin for free with all its plans.

This plugin allows you to create a professional-looking WordPress site with minimal effort easily.

Does HostGator Have a Website Builder?

HostGator has an excellent, easy-to-use website builder plan available for all customers.

These website-building plans start at $4.95 per month. 

Some of the features in these plans include hundreds of templates, in-depth website analytics, free stock images, and an intuitive interface.

Winner: Tie

Cloudways doesn’t offer a website builder, but they provide the WP Page Builder plugin for customers. HostGator has an excellent website builder available for all customers at a very reasonable price.

Cloudways Alternatives 

Take a look at these alternatives to Cloudways if you are unsure about this web hosting provider.

A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting is a more affordable alternative to Cloudways.

This web host offers various plans for everyone, from beginners creating their first website to developers needing the fastest page load times.

With A2 Hosting, customers can add Turbo Boost to their hosting plan, a unique feature that provides 20 times faster loading speeds than traditional shared plans.

DreamHost

DreamHost is another alternative to help customers save money if Cloudways’ plans are out of their price range.

Although DreamHost offers affordable rates, that doesn’t mean the services are subpar. 

Rather, DreamHost provides excellent speeds, reliable performance, and consistent uptime!

HostGator Alternatives 

If you’ve already used HostGator before, consider these other web hosts instead.

Liquid Web

Liquid Web is a Cloudways alternative, perfect for customers who need more options than Cloudways offers.

LiquidWeb includes Cloud hosting, shared hosting, and dedicated servers. 

Also, Liquid Web provides regular website backups to keep websites safe from malware, hackers, and spam!

Bluehost

Bluehost is an excellent alternative for WordPress hosting.

Bluehost’s plans are the best for WordPress sites and include several optimization features that make building and managing a WordPress website easier.

Now You Decide

Cloudways and HostGator have advantages and disadvantages depending on the user’s needs.

For customers needing more features, Cloudways is a better choice. However, HostGator may be the best option if the price is an issue.

No matter what you choose, Cloudways or HostGator are excellent web hosts that will provide reliable performance and fast loading speeds.

Are you interested in web hosting? Do you have any questions about our Cloudways vs. HostGator review? Let us know in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions