Confused between Bluehost and Cloudways for hosting your website in 2025? You’re not alone—both are popular choices but serve very different needs. While Bluehost is known for its beginner-friendly shared hosting and seamless WordPress setup, Cloudways is favored by developers and growing businesses for its high-performance cloud infrastructure.
In this comprehensive Bluehost vs Cloudways comparison, we’ll explore the major differences in speed, server control, scalability, ease of use, pricing, and support. Whether you’re building a simple blog or managing multiple client sites, this guide will help you decide which host truly fits your project requirements.
Cloudways offers advanced features like server-level caching, choice of cloud providers (like DigitalOcean or AWS), and custom PHP configurations. Bluehost, on the other hand, remains a reliable choice for bloggers, small businesses, and WordPress users. Still evaluating Bluehost’s capabilities? Check out this detailed Bluehost user experience review to see if it’s right for you.
Bluehost vs Cloudways Quick Comparison 2025
| Feature | Bluehost | Cloudways | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting Plans & Flexibility | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, WordPress, WooCommerce; Free domain & email | Managed Cloud Hosting (DO, AWS, GCP, etc.); Developer-friendly scaling | Bluehost |
| Performance (Speed & Uptime) | SSD, CDN, 99.98% uptime, ~450–650 ms load time | Cloud infrastructure, 99.99% uptime, ~300–500 ms load time | Cloudways |
| Security Features | Free SSL, daily backups, malware scan, SiteLock (basic plan) | IP whitelisting, app isolation, SSL setup, bot protection | Bluehost |
| Ease of Use / Control Panel | cPanel + custom UI, beginner-friendly | Proprietary dashboard, requires technical knowledge | Bluehost |
| WordPress Optimization | Official WordPress.org partner, 1-click install, Jetpack, staging | WP-friendly setup, custom caching, manual setup | Bluehost |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat, phone, email; beginner help focused | 24/7 live chat, ticketing; phone via paid plan | Bluehost |
| Pricing & Long-Term Value | ₹169/mo (initial), free SSL, domain, email; better bundled value | $11/mo starting, pay-as-you-go, extra for email/backups | Bluehost |
| Website Migration & Onboarding | Free WP migration, setup wizard, guided onboarding | 1 free migration, requires manual stack setup | Bluehost |
| Free Domain & Extras | Free domain (1 year), SSL, email, CDN included | No domain or email; extra setup required | Bluehost |
| Advanced Developer Features | Basic tools; not focused on DevOps or staging across providers | Strong DevOps tools, SSH, staging, multi-cloud choice | Cloudways |
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Choosing a Bluehost plan for beginners? You’ll love how this Bluehost plan overview simplifies the decision. Also, browse our handpicked blog hosting options for beginners.
Read Detailed Review of Bluehost Hosting Services
- Bluehost Dedicated Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost VPS Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost WooCommerce Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost Cloud Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost WordPress Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost Web Hosting Review 2025
- Bluehost Webmail Setup 2025
- Why Use Bluehost for WordPress in 2025
- Bluehost Basic vs Choice Plus vs eCommerce
- How to Start a WordPress Blog on Bluehost in 2025
Bluehost vs Cloudways Comparison 2025: Which Hosting Should You Choose?
Choosing between Bluehost and Cloudways in 2025 can be confusing if you don’t know which features matter the most for your business. Both are respected hosting providers, but they cater to slightly different audiences. In this post, we’ll compare them across key features like speed, uptime, support, pricing, and ease of use—so you can make the best choice for your website. Let’s dive in.
1. Hosting Plans and Flexibility
Bluehost offers a wide variety of hosting types—shared, VPS, dedicated, WordPress, and WooCommerce hosting. Their shared hosting is beginner-friendly, while advanced users can easily upgrade to more powerful VPS or dedicated plans. Their managed WordPress plans include staging, updates, and Jetpack add-ons.
Cloudways, on the other hand, doesn’t sell traditional shared hosting. Instead, it provides a managed cloud hosting platform that supports five cloud providers: DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Vultr, and Linode. Users can scale resources based on demand but need more technical understanding.
Key Comparison:
- Bluehost Shared Hosting: Starts at ₹169/mo, includes cPanel, 1-click WordPress.
- Cloudways: Starts at $11/mo (DigitalOcean 1GB), no cPanel.
- Bluehost offers built-in email hosting; Cloudways requires third-party setup.
- Bluehost provides free domain, Cloudways does not.
- Cloudways offers better server-level customization.
🏆 Winner: Bluehost
Why: Bluehost is better for most users due to its all-in-one plans, domain integration, and user-friendly scaling options for both beginners and growing websites.
2. Performance: Speed, Uptime & Reliability
Cloudways has an edge in raw server performance due to its use of cloud infrastructure. You can select from multiple providers like AWS or Google Cloud, making it a good option for developers and performance enthusiasts. Their built-in caching (Varnish, Redis) and dedicated resources per app help boost speed.
Bluehost, powered by its own data centers, delivers consistent performance for small to mid-size websites. With SSD storage, custom NGINX architecture, and CDN via Cloudflare, Bluehost has significantly improved its speeds in 2025.
Performance Stats:
- Bluehost average page load speed: 450–650 ms
- Cloudways (DO plan): 300–500 ms
- Uptime: Bluehost 99.98% | Cloudways 99.99%
- CDN included in both
- Cloudways allows scaling by provider (DO, GCP)
🏆 Winner: Cloudways
Why: While Bluehost performs well for shared and managed WordPress sites, Cloudways offers more raw speed and customization through cloud infrastructure.
3. Security Features
Bluehost includes strong security tools across all plans, including free SSL, domain privacy, CodeGuard backups, and SiteLock. Their security dashboard is easy to use, even for non-tech users.
Cloudways uses server-level firewalls, bot protection, and application isolation. Backups, however, are charged separately depending on configuration. SSL certificates are available but require manual installation or Let’s Encrypt integration.
Security Comparison:
- Bluehost includes SSL, Sitelock, backups in basic plans.
- Cloudways has IP whitelisting, fail2ban, bot protection.
- Cloudways charges extra for offsite backups.
- Bluehost offers 24/7 malware scanning.
🏆 Winner: Bluehost
Why: For non-technical users and growing businesses, Bluehost offers out-of-the-box security with easier implementation and no hidden costs.
4. Control Panel & Ease of Use
Bluehost provides an enhanced version of the classic cPanel, which is ideal for beginners. Their dashboard integrates domain, email, and hosting controls in a simplified UI.
Cloudways has its own proprietary control panel—not cPanel. It’s functional and clean but has a learning curve, especially for beginners who expect traditional control panels.
User Experience Facts:
- Bluehost uses cPanel + custom dashboard (easy for all).
- Cloudways has no cPanel; setup takes longer for beginners.
- Bluehost has guided onboarding; Cloudways expects server familiarity.
🏆 Winner: Bluehost
Why: Bluehost wins for ease of use. The familiar interface, guided setup, and intuitive design make it perfect for bloggers, businesses, and non-techies.
5. WordPress Optimization: Official vs Basic
Bluehost is officially recommended by WordPress.org. Their managed WordPress plans include automatic updates, Jetpack tools, WP staging, and one-click installs with performance-optimized architecture.
Cloudways supports WordPress well, offering advanced caching tools like Breeze, Redis, and Varnish. However, users need to handle setup, plugin selection, and scaling themselves.
WordPress Hosting Facts:
- Bluehost: Official WordPress.org partner
- Built-in WP tools (Jetpack, backups, staging)
- Cloudways: Better for developers wanting more control
- No built-in Jetpack, staging, or email on Cloudways
🏆 Winner: Bluehost
Why: For most WordPress users, Bluehost delivers a plug-and-play experience with features already optimized for speed, security, and simplicity.
6. Customer Support: Real Help When You Need It
Bluehost offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone, and ticketing. Their knowledge base is robust, and most common issues are resolved within minutes.
Cloudways provides 24/7 live chat and tickets, with optional premium support starting at $100/mo. Their support is technically strong but more suited for developers.
Support Highlights:
- Bluehost: 24/7 phone/chat/ticket support (free)
- Cloudways: 24/7 chat + ticket, phone via premium plan
- Bluehost resolves most shared hosting issues quickly
- Cloudways support better for complex tech questions
🏆 Winner: Bluehost
Why: Bluehost provides faster, more accessible help for non-technical users without needing to pay extra for advanced support.
7. Pricing Breakdown & Long-Term Value
Bluehost offers highly competitive entry-level pricing starting at ₹169/month (with offers). Renewals are higher, but the long-term value includes domain, SSL, and backups.
Cloudways uses a pay-as-you-go model. Plans start at $11/month (DO), scaling up based on usage. There are no long-term contracts, which can be cost-efficient for optimized use.
Cost Comparison:
- Bluehost Shared Plan: ₹169/mo (promo), ₹499/mo (renewal)
- Cloudways DO: $11/mo base, higher with backups/add-ons
- Bluehost: Free domain, SSL, CDN, emails
- Cloudways: No free domain or email hosting
🏆 Winner: Bluehost
Why: Bluehost offers more bundled value—especially for beginners looking for an all-in-one hosting solution.
8. Website Migration & Onboarding
Bluehost offers free WordPress migrations and easy setup wizards. Their onboarding process is designed for first-time users and non-techies.
Cloudways allows free first migration and server-level cloning, but onboarding assumes you understand cloud instances, stack selection, and SSH keys.
Migration Facts:
- Bluehost: 1-click WordPress transfer, free migration tool
- Cloudways: 1 free migration via support
- Bluehost: Guided dashboard onboarding
- Cloudways: Manual or semi-automated steps
🏆 Winner: Bluehost
Why: Bluehost ensures smooth onboarding even for beginners, with less friction and automated steps compared to Cloudways.
9. Free Domain and Other Advantages
Bluehost provides a free domain for one year with every shared or WordPress hosting plan. You also get free email hosting, SSL, and CDN.
Cloudways does not offer domains. You’ll have to purchase and configure your domain elsewhere. Email hosting must be set up via third-party services like Google Workspace or Rackspace.
Bonus Features:
- Bluehost: Free domain (1 year), SSL, CDN, email
- Cloudways: No domain or email hosting
- Bluehost integrates everything in one dashboard
🏆 Winner: Bluehost
Why: Bluehost makes it easier and cheaper to launch a full website with domain, email, and security all included.
Final Verdict: Why Bluehost Wins in 2025
If you’re looking for an easy, affordable, and reliable hosting provider in 2025, Bluehost is your best bet. While Cloudways excels in raw performance and developer control, it comes at the cost of complexity and extra fees for essentials like email and backups.
Bluehost shines because it simplifies the entire hosting process—from free domain and email to robust WordPress optimization, excellent support, and unbeatable pricing for new bloggers and businesses.
Why Choose Bluehost:
- ✅ Official WordPress recommendation
- ✅ Free domain, SSL, email, CDN
- ✅ 24/7 expert support
- ✅ Simple dashboard with cPanel
- ✅ Affordable long-term pricing
- ✅ Beginner-friendly migration & onboarding
👉 Ready to get started with Bluehost?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for beginners — Bluehost or Cloudways?
Bluehost is better for beginners due to its easy-to-use dashboard, 1-click WordPress installs, free domain, and bundled services like email and SSL. Cloudways is more suitable for developers who need flexible cloud hosting.
Is Bluehost faster than Cloudways?
While Bluehost offers excellent speed (~450–650 ms), Cloudways generally performs faster on select plans (~300–500 ms) using cloud infrastructure. However, Bluehost offers better value when speed, support, and ease of use are combined.
Does Bluehost offer cloud hosting like Cloudways?
No, Bluehost does not offer multi-cloud hosting. Cloudways partners with providers like AWS, DigitalOcean, and Google Cloud. Bluehost focuses on shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting.
Do both hosts support WordPress?
Yes. Bluehost is an official WordPress.org partner and offers managed WordPress hosting with Jetpack, updates, and staging. Cloudways supports WordPress as well but requires more manual configuration.
Can I get a free domain with Cloudways?
No, Cloudways does not offer free domains. Bluehost provides a free domain for one year with most of their hosting plans.
Which host is more affordable in the long run?
Bluehost offers better long-term value with bundled features like domain, email, and SSL. Cloudways has a pay-as-you-go model which may add up with additional costs for email and backups.
Which hosting provider offers better customer support?
Bluehost provides 24/7 phone, chat, and ticket support with a strong knowledge base. Cloudways offers 24/7 chat support but charges extra for advanced or phone-based help.
Should I choose Bluehost or Cloudways in 2025?
Choose Bluehost if you want an all-in-one solution with great support, free domain, and easy setup. Opt for Cloudways if you’re a developer needing performance tuning and advanced scalability.
Is Cloudways good for high-traffic websites?
Yes, Cloudways is ideal for high-traffic or resource-heavy websites due to its cloud infrastructure and scalable resources. It’s especially good for tech-savvy users.