If you’re considering a new web hosting provider, you may wonder whether Cloudways or GoDaddy is the better option. In this blog post, we’ll compare Cloudways and GoDaddy in terms of performance, security, backups, SEO features, customer support, pricing, and ease of use. We’ll also answer some frequently asked questions about these two companies. By the end of this article, you ought to know which hosting company best suits your requirements.
What Elements Must Be Taken Into Account When Selecting A Web Hosting Provider?
There are many factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider. Here are some of the most important:
- Reliability and uptime: Your website needs to be up and running 24/7, 365 days a year. Any downtime will cost you money in lost traffic and sales. Make sure to research a provider’s track record for uptime and reliability before committing to them.
- Speed and performance: Visitors expect your website to load quickly and smoothly. Slow loading times will frustrate users and lead them to look elsewhere. Once more, research a provider’s performance and speed before deciding to use them.
- Security: Your website must be secure from hackers, malware, and other threats. Choose a provider with robust security features such as firewalls, intrusion detection, and malware scanning.
- Scalability: You will require a hosting solution that can scale with you as your website grows. To be able to upgrade your service as necessary, make sure to select a provider that offers scalable plans.
- Customer support: You’ll need prompt and helpful customer service to restore operations when something goes wrong with your website. Choose a provider that offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email, or live chat, so you always get assistance when needed.
Cloudways Overview
With its managed cloud hosting platform, Cloudways, users can manage their web hosting requirements in an easy-to-use manner. With Cloudways, users can choose from various cloud providers, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), DigitalOcean, and Vultr. Furthermore, Cloudways provides multiple features and add-ons, making it a versatile platform suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Cloudways Pros And Cons
Cloudways is a great hosting option for those looking for managed hosting with many features and integrations. However, some drawbacks to using Cloudways should be considered before signing up.
PROS:
Speed and Reliability
Cloudways provides a fast and reliable hosting service. Their servers are optimized for speed and offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee.
Easy-to-use UI
The Cloudways platform is very user-friendly and has a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy to manage your website.
Flexible Pricing
Cloudways’ flexible pricing model allows you to pay only for the resources you use. You can also scale up or down without worrying about additional charges.
24/7 Real-time Monitoring
Cloudways provides 24/7 real-time monitoring of your website so you can always be aware of its performance. This feature enables you to quickly identify and resolve any problems.
Scalability
Cloudways is a scalable platform that can grow with your business. You can easily add additional resources as needed without worrying about going over budget.
CONS:
- Pricing: Although Cloudways offers many features, their pricing can be quite high depending on your chosen plan.
- Ease of use: For those who are not familiar with managing a server, Cloudways can be challenging to use.
Cloudways Key Features
Managed Hosting Comes with Managed Security
Cloudways provides managed hosting services that come with managed security. The company will take care of your website’s security aspects, including firewall configuration, malware scanning and removal, and SSL certificate installation. In addition, Cloudways also offers a free CDN service that can help speed up your website’s loading times.
Advanced and Premium Support add-ons
Cloudways offers both advanced and premium support add-ons for an additional fee. You’ll get priority support with these add-ons, which can be helpful if you’re having problems with your website that need to be resolved quickly. In addition, you’ll also get access to a dedicated account manager and a team of experts.
Multiple Integrations & Add-ons
Cloudways offers multiple integrations and add-ons, such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, and PrestaShop. These well-known eCommerce platforms and content management systems (CMS) are simple to integrate with your website. In addition, Cloudways offers several other valuable add-ons, such as a live chat tool and an email marketing platform.
High-Speed Performance
Cloudways is known for its high-speed performance thanks to its cutting-edge technologies, such as SSD storage, PHP 7+, HTTP/2 protocol support, and more. In addition, Cloudways has a global network of servers that ensures your website is always accessible from anywhere in the world.
1-Click Free SSL Installation
Cloudways offers 1-click free SSL installation on all plans. You can quickly secure your website with an SSL certificate without manually installing it.
GoDaddy Overview
GoDaddy is one of the largest web hosting companies in the world, and they offer a wide range of services, including domain registration, shared hosting, WordPress hosting, a website builder, and more. They also have a strong reputation for customer support.
With its corporate headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, GoDaddy has been around since 1997. They have over 18 million customers worldwide and manage over 77 million domains.
GoDaddy Pros And Cons
GoDaddy has both pros and cons. Some pros include their large selection of services, low prices, and easy-to-use control panel. However, some cons include their aggressive upsell and uptime issues.
GoDaddy is not as comprehensive as Cloudways as Cloudways gives you a lot of value for your money while GoDaddy makes you pay extra for them.
Key Services Offered By GoDaddy
Domain Registration (Biggest Registrar In The World)
GoDaddy is the world’s largest registrar of domain names, with over 77 million domains under management. They provide a wide range of domain name extensions at affordable prices, and their customer support is available around-the-clock to assist you with any problems you might encounter.
Shared Hosting
Because it is inexpensive and simple to set up, shared hosting is one of the most widely used hosting options for small businesses and individuals. GoDaddy offers four shared hosting plans, each with increasing resources and features. Their Starter plan starts at just $3.99 per month and includes one website, 30 GB of storage, and unmetered bandwidth. Additionally, a 1-click WordPress install and daily backups are included.
WordPress Hosting
Millions of websites are powered by WordPress, one of the world’s most widely used content management systems. GoDaddy offers four WordPress hosting plans: Basic, Deluxe, Ultimate, and eCommerce. All plans come with pre-installed WordPress, a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, and 24/7 customer support, and WordPress hosting plans start at $9.99 per month.
Website Builder
GoDaddy’s Website Builder is a simple drag-and-drop tool that makes it easy to create a professional website without prior experience or design skills.
VPS and Dedicated servers
GoDaddy offers VPS (Virtual Private Server) and Dedicated server plans starting at $4.99 per month for businesses that need more power and resources than what shared, or WordPress hosting can provide.
Cloudways Vs. GoDaddy: Performance
Uptime
Cloudways offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, while GoDaddy only provides a 97% uptime guarantee. This means that using Cloudways will result in less frequent website outages as Cloudways has a higher uptime than GoDaddy and was generally more dependable when we tested both.
Speed
Cloudways uses the latest technology to make sure your website loads quickly. They use SSDs, PHP 7, and HTTP/2 to speed up your website. On the other hand, GoDaddy uses an outdated technology called cPanel, which makes your website slower than it could be.
CDN
Cloudways offers a free CDN with all of their plans. This helps speed up your website by delivering content from servers worldwide. GoDaddy does not provide a free CDN, so you must pay extra for this service.
Cloudways Vs. GoDaddy: Security
Regarding security, both Cloudways and GoDaddy offer several features to help keep your website safe. But it’s important to note that the two have some significant differences.
To begin with, Cloudways provides managed hosting with managed security, which means they will handle all the security updates and patches for you. For those who don’t have the time or expertise to do this themselves, this feature is fantastic. In addition, Cloudways also offers several add-ons and integrations that can further improve your website’s security, such as SiteLock and Sucuri.
On the other hand, GoDaddy does not provide as many integrations and add-ons for website security as Cloudways.
One final difference is that Cloudways offers a free SSL certificate with all their plans, while GoDaddy charges extra for this service on their lower plans. For those concerned about security, this is definitely something to consider when choosing between the hosts.
Cloudways Vs. GoDaddy: Backups
Cloudways and GoDaddy offer automatic backups for your website. With Cloudways, you can choose how often you want your website to be backed up – daily, weekly, or monthly. Additionally, you can choose if you want your backups to be kept on-site or off-site. On-site backups are stored on the same server as your website, while off-site backups are stored on a separate server. Off-site backups are more secure but can take longer to restore if something goes wrong with your website.
GoDaddy has similar features when it comes to backups. With GoDaddy, you can set up scheduled backups or choose to do them manually if you prefer. Executing backups with GoDaddy is a simple process, and all backups are stored in a secure cloud.
Both providers offer good backup features, and we recommend either.
Cloudways Vs. GoDaddy: SEO Features
Both Cloudways and GoDaddy offer a variety of features that can help you optimize your website for search engines. However, there are some differences between Cloudways and GoDaddy in terms of SEO features.
Cloudways offers some features that can help you improve your website’s SEO, including:
- A built-in SEO tool allows you to easily optimize your website for Google and other search engines.
- A free SSL certificate to help you secure your website and improve your ranking in Google search results.
- A CDN (Content Delivery Network) to help improve your website’s loading speed and performance.
- A dedicated IP address to help ensure that your website is always accessible to visitors.
GoDaddy also offers several features that can help with SEO, including:
- Domain registration with private WHOIS information helps protect your personal information and prevent spam.
- SSL certificates are included only on the higher shared hosting plans. SSL certificates are now a significant factor in Google’s search engine rankings.
- Pre-installed WordPress plugins are included with WordPress hosting packages to aid in SEO.
- VPS and Dedicated server plans offer more control over your server environment and allow you to install custom plugins and software.
Cloudways Vs. GoDaddy: WordPress Features
If you’re planning on using WordPress to build your website, you’ll need to choose a hosting provider with good WordPress features. In this section, we’ll compare the WordPress features offered by Cloudways and GoDaddy.
One-Click Install
Both Cloudways and GoDaddy offer a one-click install for WordPress. This means you can get your WordPress website up and running quickly and easily without having to manually install it.
Automatic Updates
Another important WordPress feature is automatic updates. This ensures that your WordPress website is always up-to-date with the latest security patches and features. Both Cloudways and GoDaddy offer this feature, which means that your WordPress website will be automatically updated.
Free SSL Certificates
SSL certificates are essential for ensuring that your website is secure and encrypted. Cloudways offers a free SSL certificate with all their hosting plans. GoDaddy doesn’t provide a free SSL certificate on their lower shared hosting plans, but you can use a free SSL certificate instead.
Cloudways Vs. GoDaddy: Customer Support
Customer service is an essential consideration when selecting a web hosting provider. After all, if something goes wrong with your website, you’ll need to be able to contact someone for help.
Both Cloudways and GoDaddy offer 24/7 customer support via live chat and email. They both also provide phone support if you need assistance urgently.
In terms of quality of support, both companies are pretty good. However, we give the edge to Cloudways. Their support team is more knowledgeable, helpful, and generally quicker to respond to questions.
One area where GoDaddy shines is in its self-help resources. They have an extensive knowledge base with many articles and tutorials that can help you solve common problems. If you’re having trouble contacting customer service, their active social media presence may be of assistance.
Cloudways Vs. GoDaddy: Which Company Is More Reputable?
When deciding which hosting provider is more reliable, there are numerous factors to take into account. In this section, we will compare the reputations of Cloudways and GoDaddy.
First, let’s look at customer reviews. On Trustpilot, Cloudways has a 4.6/5 rating with over 1,000 reviews. The majority of these reviews are favorable, with clients praising the business’s capabilities, effectiveness, and customer service. In contrast, GoDaddy has a 4.7/5 rating on Trustpilot, with over 50,000 reviews. GoDaddy also has generally positive reviews and a good customer experience.
GoDaddy is obviously the more prominent company, as they are recognized as one of the biggest companies in the world. However, both companies are highly trustworthy and provide quality services.
Cloudways Vs. GoDaddy: Pricing
Pricing is always a key factor when choosing a web hosting provider. So, how do Cloudways and GoDaddy stack up in this department?
Cloudways’ pricing model is pay-as-you-go, which means you only pay for the resources you use. Prices start at $12/month for 1GB of RAM and 1 CPU core. GoDaddy, on the other hand, has a more traditional monthly pricing model, with prices starting at $3.99/month for their Starter plan (which includes 1 website, 30 GB storage, and unmetered bandwidth. The downside is that a free domain is only included from the Economy plan onwards.
Cloudways is slightly more costly for beginners, but you must consider the quality of service and performance. Cloudways offers better performance than GoDaddy, but if you’re looking for a cheaper option, then GoDaddy is your best bet.
It’s also worth noting that Cloudways offers a free trial period, so you can try out their service before committing to it, and GoDaddy does not offer a free trial period.
Cloudways Vs. GoDaddy: Ease Of Use
Cloudways offers users a simple yet powerful interface for managing their cloud servers. The platform is user-friendly, focusing on simplicity and ease of use.
In contrast, GoDaddy is a traditional web hosting company that offers a wide range of products and services, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, and more. GoDaddy does provide some managed services, including WordPress hosting, but the company places less emphasis on simplicity and usability than Cloudways.
Cloudways is unquestionably the winner in terms of usability. The platform’s straightforward interface makes it easy to get started with cloud hosting, and its focus on simplicity means that users can quickly learn how to manage their servers. In contrast, GoDaddy’s more traditional approach can confuse new users and those unfamiliar with web hosting terminology.
The Verdict: Cloudways Is The Winner In This Comparison
There’s no doubt that both Cloudways and GoDaddy are leaders in the web hosting industry. But there can only be one winner when contrasting the two hosting providers. Cloudways is the winner in this contest.
Here’s why:
Cloudways offers managed hosting plans that come with managed security. You don’t have to worry about keeping your website secure – Cloudways will do it for you.
Cloudways also offers advanced and premium support add-ons. These add-ons provide access to expert support 24/7, so you can always get help when needed.
In addition, Cloudways offers multiple integrations and add-ons. This makes it simple to increase your website’s functionality. For example, you can add an eCommerce platform or a blog to your website with just a few clicks.
Finally, Cloudways provides high-speed performance. Your website will always load fast, even if you have a lot of traffic. And if you need even more speed, you can use the Cloudways CDN (Content Delivery Network).
Conclusion
Cloudways is the clear winner in this comparison of cloud hosting providers. GoDaddy may be a more prominent name in the industry, but when it comes to features, performance, security, and customer support, Cloudways comes out on top.
FAQ’s
Is Cloudways Good For Beginners?
Yes, Cloudways is a great option for beginners. The platform is easy to use and offers a wide range of features, and you can also get started with a free trial.
Can I Buy A Domain From Cloudways?
No, you cannot buy a domain from Cloudways, however, you can transfer your existing domain to the platform.
Is Cloudflare Better Than GoDaddy?
There is no clear winner between Cloudflare and GoDaddy. Both offer similar features and pricing plans, depending on your specific needs and preferences.
Which Is Better For Hosting, AWS Or GoDaddy?
Again, there is no clear winner here. AWS and GoDaddy offer reliable hosting services, depending on your specific needs and preferences.
Which Server Is Best In Cloudways?
The best server for you will depend on where your customers come from. If they’re based in Europe, you may want to choose a European server, as this will reduce latency.