Compared 2026-09-05 using published specs and documentation.
Vultr is a developer-focused raw cloud provider with hourly billing. 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 | Vultr |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $11/mo (managed) | $2.50/mo (unmanaged) ✔ |
| Backups | Automated, included ✔ | Paid add-on ($0.05/GB) |
| Support | 24/7 managed by engineers ✔ | Tickets only, self-service first |
| Staging | 1-click included ✔ | None |
| Security patching | Managed ✔ | Manual by you |
| Managed WordPress | Yes (Breeze cache included) ✔ | No |
| Hourly billing | Yes (on DO/Vultr tiers) | Yes |
| Datacenter count | 65+ locations via 5 providers ✔ | 32 locations |
What you give up with Vultr's low price
Vultr's $2.50 instance is a bare Linux box. You install and patch the OS, configure the web stack, set up firewalls, schedule backups and debug every outage yourself. Reviews consistently note Vultr support answers tickets but won't touch your server configuration.
The Cloudways shortcut
Cloudways lets you pick Vultr as the underlying provider — same Vultr datacenters and hardware, but with the full managed layer. You never lose the option, you lose the burden.
Our verdict
Winner: Cloudways. Vultr is a fine raw-cloud provider for experienced admins. For websites that make money, Cloudways' managed service removes the entire operations burden for a modest premium.
★★★★½ 4.7/5
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vultr cheaper than Cloudways?
Yes — from $2.50/mo vs $11/mo. But Vultr's price is for a completely unmanaged server; everything Cloudways manages, you do yourself.
Can Cloudways use Vultr servers?
Yes, Vultr is one of the five infrastructure providers available on Cloudways.
Which is better for WordPress?
Cloudways — it includes WordPress-optimized stacks, Breeze caching, staging and managed backups out of the box.
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