Netlify vs Cloudways(2026)
Netlify is better for teams that need framework-agnostic. Cloudways is the stronger choice if freedom to pick underlying cloud provider. Netlify is freemium (from $19/month) and Cloudways is paid (from $14/month).
Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.
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Netlify
Netlify offers continuous deployment from Git with a global CDN, serverless functions, and built-in form handling.
Starting at $19/month
Visit NetlifyCloudways
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that runs on top of AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr — abstracting server management while giving you cloud flexibility.
Starting at $14/month
Visit CloudwaysHow Do Netlify and Cloudways Compare on Features?
| Feature | Netlify | Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | paid |
| Starting price | $19/month | $14/month |
| Git-based deployments | ✓ | — |
| Netlify Functions | ✓ | — |
| Edge Functions | ✓ | — |
| Split testing | ✓ | — |
| Form handling | ✓ | — |
| Identity | ✓ | — |
| Multi-cloud (AWS, GCE, DO, Linode, Vultr) | — | ✓ |
| One-click app installs | — | ✓ |
| Managed security and patching | — | ✓ |
| PHP/Node/Laravel/WordPress support | — | ✓ |
| Team collaboration | — | ✓ |
| Performance monitoring | — | ✓ |
Netlify Pros and Cons vs Cloudways
Netlify
Cloudways
Should You Use Netlify or Cloudways?
Choose Netlify if…
- •Framework-agnostic
- •Easy branch previews
- •Good free tier
Choose Cloudways if…
- •Freedom to pick underlying cloud provider
- •Significantly cheaper than managed alternatives
- •No server management headaches