Managed cloud hosting

Cloudways vs DigitalOcean: managed or do-it-yourself?

Updated 2026-06-07 · 工具猫

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Short version: DigitalOcean gives you raw, cheap cloud servers you manage yourself; Cloudways (now owned by DigitalOcean) wraps that same infrastructure in a managed control panel, caching, backups and 24/7 support for roughly 2x the cost. Pick DigitalOcean if you can run a server; pick Cloudways if you'd rather not.

At a glance

Product	Starting price	Management	Support	Best for
Cloudways	~$14/mo (1GB)	Fully managed	24/7 chat	Non-sysadmins/agencies	Visit · link coming soon
DigitalOcean	~$4/mo (Droplet)	Self-managed	Infra only	Developers/technical teams	Visit · link coming soon

Cloudways

4.5

Managed layer on top of DigitalOcean/Vultr/AWS with caching and support.

Best for: Agencies and site owners who want cloud power without the sysadmin work

✓ Fully managed: caching, backups, security
✓ 24/7 support and easy dashboard
✓ Free migration and unlimited sites per server

✕ ~2x the underlying server cost
✕ No email hosting

DigitalOcean

4.4

Raw, developer-focused cloud Droplets at pay-as-you-go prices.

Best for: Developers comfortable managing their own servers

✓ Cheapest entry (~$4-6/mo Droplets)
✓ Full root control and flexibility
✓ Excellent docs and API

✕ You manage everything yourself
✕ No managed support for your apps

Verdict

If you can confidently set up a LEMP stack, secure a server and handle backups, DigitalOcean is far cheaper. If your time is worth more than the ~$8/mo markup, Cloudways' management, caching and support pay for themselves. Note both are now part of the same company.

FAQ

Is Cloudways just DigitalOcean with a markup?

Largely, yes for the DO option: Cloudways runs your site on a DigitalOcean Droplet (or Vultr/AWS) and charges roughly 120-135% more than the raw server price. The markup buys a managed control panel, caching, automated backups, security and 24/7 support.

Did DigitalOcean buy Cloudways?

Yes. DigitalOcean acquired Cloudways in 2022, so both products are now under the same parent company.

Which should a non-developer choose?

Cloudways. Raw DigitalOcean Droplets require comfortable command-line and server-administration skills; Cloudways handles that for you.