Cloudways vs Hetzner: Which Web Hosting Tool Is Better in 2026?
Cloudways
From $11Hetzner
From $3.79Quick verdict
Overall pick: Cloudways
Choose Cloudways if you want managed WordPress, free SSL, 1-click staging, and 24/7 support on top of cloud infrastructure, which suits agencies and fast-growing WooCommerce stores. Choose Hetzner if you are a developer or run high-traffic European workloads and want the lowest starting price with root access and DDoS protection, accepting that managed WordPress, free SSL, staging, and 24/7 support are not included. The trade-off is managed convenience at $11/month versus a $3.79/month flat price with more setup work on your side.
- Hetzner's entry plan ($3.79) is 66% cheaper than Cloudways's ($11).
- Only Cloudways offers: managed wordpress support, free ssl & cdn, 1-click staging environment, 24/7 expert support.
Cost calculator
| Tool | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudways · flat | $11.00 | $132 |
| Hetzner · flat | $3.79 | $45 |
Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.
Which one should you choose?
| If you need… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Agency hosting client WordPress sites | Cloudways | Cloudways includes managed WordPress, free SSL, 1-click staging, and 24/7 support, all of which Hetzner lacks. |
| Developer wanting lowest-cost servers with full control | Hetzner | Hetzner starts at $3.79/month flat versus Cloudways at $11/month, and both include root access and DDoS protection. |
| Fast-growing WooCommerce store needing staging and backups | Cloudways | Cloudways provides 1-click staging, automated daily backups, and 24/7 support; Hetzner has daily backups but no staging or 24/7 support. |
| High-traffic European workloads | Hetzner | Hetzner is positioned for high-traffic European workloads and offers NVMe storage, root access, and DDoS protection at a lower starting price. |
| Buyer who needs SSL and managed WordPress out of the box | Cloudways | Cloudways includes free SSL and managed WordPress; Hetzner lists neither feature. |
Feature comparison: Cloudways vs Hetzner
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ❌ | ❌ |
| Starting price | $11 /mo | $3.79 /mo |
| Managed WordPress support | ✅ | — |
| Free SSL & CDN | ✅ | — |
| High-speed NVMe/SSD storage | ✅ | ✅ |
| Automated daily backups | ✅ | ✅ |
| 1-click staging environment | ✅ | — |
| Full root / SSH access | ✅ | ✅ |
| Enterprise DDoS protection | ✅ | ✅ |
| 24/7 expert support | ✅ | — |
Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.
Pros and cons
Cloudways
- Managed WordPress support included
- Free SSL and CDN included
- 1-click staging environment and automated daily backups
- 24/7 expert support
- Higher starting price at $11/month flat
- No free plan
Hetzner
- Low starting price of $3.79/month flat
- NVMe/SSD storage, root access, and DDoS protection included
- Positioned for high-traffic European workloads
- No managed WordPress support
- No free SSL, staging environment, or 24/7 support
At a glance
Managed cloud hosting on DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud.
Founded 2012 · From $11 · 8/8 tracked features
Best for: agencies, fast-growing WooCommerce stores
See Cloudways alternatives →Unbeatable European price-to-performance cloud and dedicated servers.
Founded 1997 · From $3.79 · 4/8 tracked features
Best for: developers, high-traffic European workloads
See Hetzner alternatives →FAQ
Is Cloudways cheaper than Hetzner?
No. Cloudways starts at $11/month flat, while Hetzner starts at $3.79/month flat.
Does Hetzner include managed WordPress?
No. Hetzner does not list managed WordPress support; Cloudways does.
Do both tools include root access and DDoS protection?
Yes. Both Cloudways and Hetzner list full root/SSH access and enterprise DDoS protection.
Which tool offers 24/7 expert support?
Cloudways lists 24/7 expert support; Hetzner does not.
Do both offer automated daily backups?
Yes. Both Cloudways and Hetzner list automated daily backups.
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Data last reviewed: pending verification. All Web Hosting tools →