Compared 2026-09-05 using published specs and documentation.
DigitalOcean sells raw cloud servers (Droplets). Cloudways adds a full managed layer — 24/7 support, backups, security patching, staging and scaling tools — on top of raw cloud servers. The comparison below uses published pricing from both providers' official pages.
Spec-by-spec
| Feature | Cloudways | DigitalOcean |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $11/mo (DO 1GB, managed) | $4/mo (Basic Droplet, unmanaged) ✔ |
| Server management | Fully managed by Cloudways ✔ | Self-managed (DIY) |
| Backups | Automated daily backups included ✔ | Snapshot add-on $0.06/GB/mo |
| Security patching | Managed patching + dedicated firewall ✔ | Your responsibility |
| Staging environments | 1-click staging included ✔ | Build it yourself |
| Managed support | 24/7 by hosting engineers ✔ | Community + paid plans |
| Free trial | 3-day, no credit card ✔ | No free trial |
| Object caching | Object Cache Pro (40-50% faster) ✔ | Self-install Redis |
| Vertical scaling | Click-to-scale servers | Click-to-resize Droplets |
| Raw price at scale | Higher (management fee) | Cheaper raw resources ✔ |
The real cost difference
DigitalOcean's $4 Droplet has no backups, no managed security, no staging and no one to call when PHP breaks. Recreating the Cloudways feature set on DigitalOcean means paying for snapshots, configuring firewalls, installing server management tools — and spending your own hours. For a business site, the $7 difference usually pays for itself in the first incident.
When DigitalOcean still makes sense
Developers who enjoy managing servers, or teams with dedicated DevOps, can save money on DigitalOcean's raw prices. Cloudways runs on DigitalOcean infrastructure too — so you keep DO datacenters and get the managed layer on top.
Our verdict
Winner: Cloudways. For anyone running a business website, agency or store, Cloudways delivers the same DigitalOcean hardware plus everything DigitalOcean leaves out — backups, security, staging, scaling and 24/7 support — for a small premium. It is the safer default pick.
★★★★½ 4.7/5
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cloudways more expensive than DigitalOcean?
On paper yes ($11 vs $4 entry). But Cloudways includes managed backups, security patching, staging and 24/7 support that DigitalOcean charges extra for or doesn't offer at all.
Does Cloudways run on DigitalOcean servers?
Yes — DigitalOcean is one of five providers you can choose under the hood, alongside Vultr, Linode, AWS and Google Cloud.
Can I try Cloudways before paying?
Yes, a 3-day free trial with no credit card required.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this site, at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our rankings — every comparison is based on published specs and pricing.