In the ever-evolving landscape of web hosting, Cloudways and Kinsta have emerged as two prominent players offering managed hosting solutions. Both companies aim to provide users with hassle-free hosting experiences, backed by advanced technologies and user-friendly interfaces. Here we provide a brief analysis and comparison of the most important aspects of Cloudways and Kinsta web hosting services, including performance, features, pricing, support, and user experience. There are more in-depth reviews of Cloudways and Kinsta available, but let’s see if we can get to the bottom of the issue, and determine which host to go with, a bit more quickly.
Performance
Cloudways
Cloudways takes a unique approach by offering a platform that integrates various cloud infrastructure providers, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr. This allows users to choose the cloud provider that best suits their needs. With its ThunderStack technology stack (Nginx, Apache, PHP-FPM, and MariaDB), Cloudways emphasizes high-speed performance and scalability. The platform also offers features like Varnish cache and Redis support to optimize website loading times.
Kinsta
Kinsta, on the other hand, specializes in high-performance WordPress hosting. Their infrastructure is built on the Google Cloud Platform, offering a robust and reliable environment. Kinsta employs a custom-made caching system, uses PHP 8.0, and offers server-level optimizations for WordPress sites. Kinsta’s focus on WordPress-centric hosting could provide an advantage for users who specifically require optimized WordPress performance.
Winner: Tie
Both Cloudways and Kinsta offer exceptional performance capabilities, albeit with different approaches. Cloudways’ flexibility with multiple cloud providers gives users more choice, while Kinsta’s WordPress-specific optimizations cater to WordPress users.
Features
Cloudways
Cloudways offers a wide array of features, including one-click installations of popular applications, free SSL certificates, automated backups, staging environments, and easy scaling. The platform also provides advanced features like SSH and SFTP access, Git integration, and the ability to choose from different PHP versions. CloudwaysBot, an AI-powered assistant, helps users manage their servers effectively.
Kinsta
Kinsta’s feature set revolves around WordPress management, with features like automatic daily backups, staging environments, free CDN (content delivery network), and a custom-built dashboard for site management. Their environment also supports SSH access, Git integration, and multi-user access for team collaboration.
Winner: Cloudways
Cloudways offers a broader range of features that extend beyond WordPress-specific offerings, making it a versatile choice for various types of websites.
Pricing
Cloudways
Cloudways’ pricing is based on the chosen cloud provider, with plans starting from $14 per month. The pay-as-you-go model allows users to scale resources as needed. Additional costs might include the cloud provider’s charges.
Kinsta
Kinsta’s pricing is WordPress-focused and starts at $30 per month. While it may seem higher, it includes premium features like a free CDN and daily backups.
Winner: Cloudways
Cloudways’ more affordable starting price and flexibility with cloud providers give it an edge in this category.
Support
Cloudways
Cloudways offers 24/7 live chat support and a comprehensive knowledge base. The support team is responsive and knowledgeable, assisting users with technical issues promptly.
Kinsta
Kinsta is renowned for its excellent customer support, providing 24/7 live chat with knowledgeable WordPress experts. The platform’s support extends to site migration and optimization assistance.
Winner: Kinsta
Kinsta’s WordPress-focused support team provides an edge to users who prioritize specialized assistance.
User Experience
Cloudways
Cloudways’ interface is user-friendly and designed for both beginners and advanced users. The platform’s ease of use is enhanced by its one-click installations, server management tools, and intuitive dashboard.
Kinsta
Kinsta’s custom dashboard is streamlined and intuitive, offering a seamless experience for managing WordPress sites. Its user interface is well-designed, prioritizing usability.
Winner: Tie
Both Cloudways and Kinsta provide user-friendly interfaces that cater to different levels of expertise.
Conclusion
Both Cloudways and Kinsta offer excellent managed web hosting. Cloudways excels in its flexibility with cloud providers, broader feature set, and more competitive pricing. On the other hand, Kinsta’s WordPress-centric optimizations, premium customer support, and excellent user experience make it a top choice for WordPress-specific needs. Ultimately, the choice between Cloudways and Kinsta depends on the user’s specific requirements, budget, and level of technical expertise.
Of course only you can make the ultimate decision concerning which host is best for your particular website, budget, and other specifics. But for me the winner was Cloudways. I was initially considering using WP Engine, but their price of $20 per month lost out to Cloudways $14 per month. After reading their site and lots of user reviews, I decided that Cloudways was the way to go.