Cloudways vs HostGator: Which Is Better in 2026?

A detailed comparison to help you choose the right web hosting tool for your needs.

Our Pick: Cloudways

Cloudways has a significantly higher overall rating (8.5 vs 7)

Quick Comparison

Aspect
C
Cloudways(Winner)
H
HostGator
Overall Rating
8.5/10
7/10
Starting Price
$14/mo
$2.75/mo
Free Plan
Free Trial
Best For
medium
small
Ease of Use
7/10
8/10
Features
9/10
7/10
Value for Money
8/10
7/10
Support
8/10
7/10

Overview

C

Cloudways

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that deploys on AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, and more. Great for developers wanting cloud power with managed simplicity.

H

HostGator

HostGator is a well-established hosting provider offering shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting. Known for extensive plan options and 24/7 support.

Pricing Comparison

Better value: HostGator
C

Cloudways

Pricing ModelPaid
Starting Price$14/mo
Free Trial
Free Tier
H

HostGator

Better Value
Pricing ModelPaid
Starting Price$2.75/mo
Free Trial
Free Tier

Features Comparison

Winner: HostGator
FeatureCloudwaysHostGator
Shared Hosting
Vps Hosting
Cloud Hosting
Managed Word Press
Free S S L
Free Domain
Cdn Included
Daily Backups
Paid add-on
Staging Environment
Uptime Guarantee
99.99%
99.9%

2

features unique to Cloudways

3

features unique to HostGator

Pros & Cons

C

Cloudways

Pros

  • Choice of cloud providers
  • Excellent performance
  • Pay-as-you-go pricing
  • Free staging and migrations
  • Server cloning and scaling

Cons

  • No email hosting included
  • Learning curve for beginners
  • No domain registration
  • Support varies by plan
H

HostGator

Pros

  • Wide range of hosting options
  • 45-day money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 phone and chat support
  • Free domain and SSL
  • Unmetered bandwidth

Cons

  • Higher renewal prices
  • Upselling aggressive
  • Slower than premium hosts
  • Support quality inconsistent

The Verdict: Cloudways Wins

After thorough evaluation, Cloudways emerges as the clear winner in this comparison. With an overall rating of 8.5/10 compared to 7/10, it offers a noticeably better experience across most evaluation criteria.

Cloudways particularly excels in Developers and agencies and High-traffic websites, making it the go-to choice for most users looking for a web hosting solution.

Our recommendation: We confidently recommend Cloudways for most users. However, HostGator remains a viable option if you specifically need beginners needing support.

Choose Cloudways if you...

  • • Need developers and agencies
  • • Need high-traffic websites
  • • Need e-commerce stores

Choose HostGator if you...

  • • Need beginners needing support
  • • Need small business websites
  • • Need those wanting hosting variety

Ready to Get Started?

Try CloudwaysTry HostGator

Read our full reviews:

Cloudways Full ReviewHostGator Full Review

* We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit these tools through our links. This doesn't affect our ratings or comparisons.

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Cloudways vs HostGator FAQ

Based on our evaluation, Cloudways has a slight edge with an overall rating of 8.5/10. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs and use case.
Yes, HostGator is more affordable with plans starting at $2.75/month, compared to $14/month for the other.
HostGator scores higher in ease of use (8/10) compared to Cloudways (7/10).
Yes, migration between Cloudways and HostGator is possible. Most tools offer data export features. Check each tool's documentation for specific migration guides and import capabilities.
For small teams, HostGator is specifically designed for this use case. Consider your budget and specific feature needs when choosing.
For startups, consider your growth trajectory. Both tools require paid plans, so factor pricing into your runway calculations.
Yes, each tool has unique strengths. Cloudways excels at: Developers and agencies, High-traffic websites. HostGator is better for: Beginners needing support, Small business websites. Review our detailed feature comparison above.
Cloudways rates higher in customer support (8/10) compared to HostGator (7/10).
Cloudways offers better value for money with a rating of 8/10 compared to HostGator's 7/10.
Consider switching if HostGator's strengths (Beginners needing support) align better with your current needs. However, factor in migration effort and learning curve before making the switch.