Cloudways is a popular hosting platform. It lets you run websites on big cloud servers without touching any code. Many people love it. But many people are also looking for something new in 2026.
Why? Three big reasons keep coming up:
- The price keeps going up. Cloudways adds its own fee on top of the server cost. You can pay two or three times the real server price.
- You do not get full control. Cloudways does not give you root access. That means you cannot change deep server settings.
- Some users want newer tools. Things like OpenLiteSpeed servers, free plans, and bring-your-own-server options are hard to find on Cloudways.
The good news is that there are strong options out there. In this guide, we will look at the best Cloudways alternatives in 2026. We will keep it simple. We will talk about what each one does well, what it costs, and who should pick it.
Let’s dive in.
Quick Comparison Table
| Platform | Best For | Starting Price | Free Plan or Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| xCloud | Saving money and full control | Free tier, paid plans low cost | Yes, free tier |
| Kinsta | Big businesses and premium support | Around $35 per month | Demo available |
| SiteGround | Beginners | Low intro pricing | Money-back guarantee |
| RunCloud | Developers with their own servers | Low monthly fee | Trial available |
| GridPane | Agencies with many client sites | Higher monthly fee | Varies |
| WP Engine | Managed WordPress with strong tools | Around $20 per month | Money-back guarantee |
| Hostinger | The tightest budgets | Under $10 per month | Money-back guarantee |
Now let’s look at each one in detail.
1. xCloud: Best for Saving Money and Getting Full Control
xCloud is one of the fastest growing Cloudways alternatives right now. It works in a smart way. Instead of selling you a server with a markup, xCloud lets you bring your own server. You can connect a server from Vultr, DigitalOcean, Hetzner, AWS, Google Cloud, or almost any Ubuntu VPS. Then xCloud manages it for you with a clean, easy dashboard.
This means you pay the real server price. No markup. Independent reviewers have reported savings of around 40 percent compared to Cloudways for similar server specs.
What xCloud does well:
- Free tier. You can manage one server and up to ten sites for free. That is rare in this space.
- Full root access. You own the server. You can change anything you want.
- OpenLiteSpeed support. This is a very fast web server. It can make WordPress sites load quicker than the older setups Cloudways uses.
- Easy WordPress tools. One-click installs, free SSL, staging sites, backups, and a built-in email service.
- Team and white-label features. Agencies can manage client sites under their own brand.
Things to know:
- Since you bring your own server, you pay two bills: one to the server company and one to xCloud (unless you are on the free tier). It still usually costs less in total.
- You need a few minutes to connect a server the first time. It is simple, but it is one extra step.
Who should pick xCloud: Freelancers, agencies, and anyone tired of paying a markup on server costs. It is also great for developers who want root access without giving up an easy dashboard.
2. Kinsta: Best for Big Businesses
Kinsta is a premium managed WordPress host. It runs on Google Cloud’s fastest machines. Everything is handled for you. You never touch a server setting.
What Kinsta does well:
- Speed. Kinsta uses Google Cloud C2 machines, which are built for heavy work.
- Support. Kinsta is known for fast, expert help. Average response times are often under two minutes.
- Security. It includes a managed firewall, DDoS protection, and free malware removal.
- Trust. Kinsta serves over 120,000 businesses and holds top security certifications like SOC 2 Type II.
Things to know:
- It is expensive. Plans start around $35 per month for a single site.
- You get less control. There is no root access and site limits are strict.
Who should pick Kinsta: Businesses with money to spend who want a hands-off, worry-free setup with top support.
3. SiteGround: Best for Beginners
SiteGround is one of the friendliest hosts for people who are new to websites. It also runs on Google Cloud, but it packages everything in a simple control panel.
What SiteGround does well:
- Easy to use. The dashboard is clean and simple. Great for first-time site owners.
- Good speed. SiteGround has fast servers and its own caching plugin for WordPress.
- Free extras. Free SSL, free email, daily backups, and a free CDN.
Things to know:
- The low intro price goes up a lot when you renew.
- Most plans ask you to pay for a full year up front.
- Storage limits are smaller than cloud VPS options.
Who should pick SiteGround: Beginners, bloggers, and small business owners who want simple hosting that just works.
4. RunCloud: Best for Developers With Their Own Servers
RunCloud is a server control panel, a bit like xCloud. You connect a VPS from any provider, and RunCloud helps you manage it.
What RunCloud does well:
- Low flat fee. You pay a small monthly price no matter how big your server is.
- Supports many apps. WordPress, Laravel, and other PHP apps all work.
- Good developer tools. Git deployment, cron jobs, and firewall controls.
Things to know:
- It is more technical than Cloudways. Beginners may feel lost.
- Support is mostly through tickets and docs, not live chat.
Who should pick RunCloud: Developers who are comfortable with servers and want cheap, flexible control.
5. GridPane: Best for Large Agencies
GridPane is built for one job: helping agencies host many WordPress sites for clients.
What GridPane does well:
- Made for scale. Tools for managing dozens or hundreds of sites at once.
- Strong security defaults. Hardened servers out of the box.
- White-label options. Your clients see your brand, not GridPane’s.
Things to know:
- The price is high for solo users. It only makes sense if you host many sites.
- The learning curve is steeper than Cloudways.
Who should pick GridPane: Established agencies with lots of client sites and steady income.
6. WP Engine: Best for Managed WordPress Tools
WP Engine is one of the oldest names in managed WordPress hosting. It comes with a strong set of developer tools.
What WP Engine does well:
- Staging made simple. Development, staging, and live environments for every site.
- Included themes. You get premium StudioPress themes for free.
- Solid performance. Built-in caching and a global CDN.
Things to know:
- Plans start around $20 per month for one site, and traffic limits apply.
- Some plugins are banned on the platform.
Who should pick WP Engine: Marketing teams and businesses that want reliable managed WordPress with pro workflows.
7. Hostinger: Best for the Tightest Budgets
Hostinger is the value king. If your budget is very small, Hostinger gives you a lot for the price.
What Hostinger does well:
- Very cheap. Plans often cost under $10 per month, sometimes much less.
- Generous resources. Good CPU, RAM, and NVMe storage for the price.
- Simple panel. Their hPanel is easy for beginners.
Things to know:
- It is shared or VPS hosting, not the same managed cloud model as Cloudways.
- Renewal prices are higher than intro prices.
- Support quality can vary at peak times.
Who should pick Hostinger: Students, hobby sites, and small projects where price matters most.
How to Choose the Right Cloudways Alternative
Still not sure? Ask yourself these four questions:
1. What is your budget? If you want the lowest total cost with real cloud servers, xCloud’s bring-your-own-server model usually wins. If you just need something dirt cheap for a small site, Hostinger works.
2. How much control do you want? Want root access and full freedom? Pick xCloud, RunCloud, or GridPane. Want zero server work at all? Pick Kinsta or WP Engine.
3. How many sites do you run? One or two sites: SiteGround or Hostinger is fine. Ten or more sites: xCloud or GridPane will save you serious money as you grow.
4. How technical are you? Total beginner: SiteGround. Comfortable clicking around a dashboard: xCloud or Cloudways-style panels. Full-on developer: RunCloud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are people leaving Cloudways in 2026?
The most common reasons are rising prices, the markup added on top of server costs, no root access, and slower rollout of new features compared to newer platforms.
What is the cheapest Cloudways alternative?
xCloud has a free tier that covers one server and up to ten sites. For paid shared-style hosting, Hostinger is usually the cheapest.
Which alternative is fastest?
Speed depends on your server and setup. Platforms that support OpenLiteSpeed, like xCloud, often post faster load times for WordPress. Kinsta is also very fast thanks to Google Cloud’s premium machines.
Can I move my site away from Cloudways easily?
Yes. Most alternatives offer free or one-click migration tools. xCloud, Kinsta, SiteGround, and WP Engine all provide migration help. Always take a full backup before you move.
Is a bring-your-own-server platform hard to use?
Not anymore. Platforms like xCloud walk you through connecting a server in a few clicks. If you can use Cloudways, you can use these too.
Final Thoughts
Cloudways is still a fine platform. But in 2026, you have better options for almost every need.
Here is the short version:
- Pick xCloud if you want to cut your hosting bill, keep full control, and still get an easy dashboard.
- Pick Kinsta if money is no problem and you want premium support.
- Pick SiteGround if you are a beginner.
- Pick RunCloud if you are a developer.
- Pick GridPane if you run a big agency.
- Pick WP Engine if you want polished managed WordPress workflows.
- Pick Hostinger if your budget is tiny.
Whatever you choose, take a backup, test the migration on a staging site first, and check the renewal price before you commit. A little homework now saves a lot of pain later.
