The vast multitude of best cloud hosting providers available in the current era can trigger a feeling of immense overwhelm when it comes to determining the most suitable option for one’s needs. While parsing through the clutter, individuals must specifically seek out features that include but are not limited to, scalability, fast-loading solid-state drives (SSD), free Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and uptime guarantees.
Read more: How to Create a Website
Best Cloud Hosting Services for 2023
ScalaHosting – Best money-back guarantee
Hostinger – Best for linux-based cloud hosting
SiteGround – Best for WordPress sites
Cloudways – Best customizable managed cloud hosting
Nexcess – Best cloud hosting for ecommerce
A2 Hosting – Fastest cloud web hosting
InMotion – Best cloud VPS hosting for small businesses
HostGator – Best cheap cloud hosting
- DreamHost – Best value for beginners
If your website has outgrown the conventional hosting service you’ve previously been utilizing, migrating to a cloud web hosting service may be the perfect solution for your business. Within the cloud hosting realm, your data is dispersed across an intricate virtual network of servers – a cloud environment – rather than being confined to a solitary server.
This comprehensive buying guide has been crafted to provide an insightful explanation of cloud hosting and its intricate operations. In addition, we have undertaken a rigorous review of the best cloud web hosting provider that currently exist within the market, with the ultimate goal of aiding you in the selection process, as you navigate the testing and experimentation phase.
#1. ScalaHosting – Best money-back guarantee
Why We Picked It
ScalaHosting offers a variety of hosting options, such as shared, cloud, and WordPress, however, their primary service is fully managed cloud VPS hosting plans.
Every plan, including the "Mini," is equipped with numerous features like unlimited bandwidth, free SSL certificate, free domain, and rolling backups. For those who choose VPS, the plans are highly customizable, allowing users to tailor their needs precisely.
ScalaHosting is confident that their service will boost the speed and security of your website, which is why they offer an unconditional anytime money-back guarantee. If you ever wish to cancel your ScalaHosting services, you will be reimbursed for any prepaid and unused hosting fees.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
You can customize the VPS plans to a great extent, tailoring them to your specific needs.
The plans come with unlimited bandwidth, ensuring you won't run into any restrictions.
ScalaHosting offers branded and white-label hosting services, meaning you can personalize your hosting to your own branding.
You'll be able to install over 400 scripts quickly and easily, thanks to the one-click Softaculous installer.
As part of the service, ScalaHosting provides free domain and website migration, making the switch to their platform hassle-free.
Cons:
The plans offered by this provider can be quite expensive.
When compared to other providers, the storage capacity of the plans is relatively low.
Customers may experience a significant increase in plan fees when it comes time for renewal.
It's worth noting that this provider does not offer a website builder as part of their service.
Pricing
ScalaHosting includes unmetered bandwidth in all of their plans. The pricing of these plans varies depending on the following tiers:
Start: Starts at $29.95 /mo, with 2 CPUCores, 4 GB RAM, 50 GB NVMe SSD
Advanced: Starts at $63.95 /mo with 4 CPUCores, 8 GB RAM, 100 GB NVMe SSD
Business: Starts at $121.95 /mo with 8 CPUCores, 16 GB RAM, 150 GB NVMe SSD
Enterprise: Starts at $179.95 /mo with 12 CPUCores, 24 GB RAM, 200 GB NVMe SSD
#2. Hostinger – Best for cloud extras
Why We Picked It
Hostinger has built a reputation for being widely acknowledged for providing supreme web hosting at rates that are highly competitive.
It's astounding that their prices commence at a jaw-dropping $9.99 per month, making Hostinger one of the most reasonably priced alternatives in the market.
To take advantage of this economical deal, you'll need to sign a contract, and it will allow you to host up to 300 websites for less than ten dollars per month.
It's incredibly perplexing to find a better deal than Hostinger's unbeatable pricing combined with their exceptional 99.9% uptime assurance and lightning-fast speeds in the cloud hosting industry. It's no surprise that many websites turn to Hostinger for cloud hosting.
Despite the unbelievably low cost, Hostinger's customer service is surprisingly top-notch. Their fully-managed plans come with 24/7 support, and Hostinger handles server uptime, monitoring, and daily backups.
Read our full Hostinger review.
One unique and distinctive feature that sets Hostinger apart from the rest of the competition is their dedicated IP. Hostinger offers a complimentary dedicated IP with every cloud hosting plan, providing an incredible value that cannot be found anywhere else.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Helpful customer service
High-quality, low-cost plans
Includes the Hostinger's own Zyro website builder
Optional Minecraft servers
Terrific uptime in testing
Cons:
Telephone support is not available.
cPanel is not offered.
Only one email account is provided with the single shared hosting plan.
The refund terms are nonstandard.
Pricing
Hold on tight as we dive into the thrilling world of cloud web hosting!
It is worth noting that the plans come with hPanel dashboards that are specifically designed to be user-friendly and straightforward. That's right, even if you're completely unfamiliar with this type of dashboard, you'll quickly get the hang of it, and before you know it, you'll be navigating like a pro!
If you're feeling bewildered by all the options and choices, don't worry, we've got you covered. Here is a brief summary of the plans and pricing that you've been eagerly anticipating.
Hostinger includes Unlimited Bandwidth, Free Domain, Free SSL, and Daily Backups in all of their plans. The pricing of these plans varies depending on the following tiers:
Cloud Startup: Starts at $9.99 /mo, with 200 GB SSD Storage, 2 CPU Cores, 3 GB RAM
Cloud Professional: Starts at $14.99/mo, with 250 GB SSD Storage, 4 CPU Cores, 6 GB RAM
Business: Starts at Starts at $29.99/mo, with 300 GB SSD Storage, 6 CPU Cores, 12 GB RAM
#3. SiteGround – Best for WordPress sites
Why We Picked It
If you're seeking a cloud hosting provider that caters to a range of website and business sizes, SiteGround is a solid choice. It's particularly excellent for those who handle many or massive WordPress websites.
All SiteGround's cloud hosting plans include a 14-day money-back guarantee, and if the uptime rate dips below 99.9%, you may be eligible for a refund.
SiteGround offers an easy onboarding process, fully managed service, a powerful hosting stack, and a fast platform.
The cloud hosting plans provided by SiteGround range from $100 to $400 per month and differ in CPU, memory, and storage capacity. Each plan includes 5TB of data transfer.
Read our full SiteGround review.
SiteGround is perfect for businesses that are hosting one significant WordPress website or multiple WordPress websites.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Fully managed cloud hosting services
SG Optimizer plug-in to improve Woo and WordPress site speed
Includes staging tools for site development
14-day money-back guarantee
Daily backups
Cons:
Doesn’t include free domain
Pricey plans
Low storage capacity compared to other providers
No root access
#4. Cloudways – Best customizable managed cloud hosting
Why We Picked It
Have you heard of Cloudways? It's an amazing option for cloud server deployment that could even be number one depending on what you're looking for!
With over 25 global locations to choose from, you get to decide on the region and city for your servers. How cool is that? And the best part? You'll always be close to your servers, which means lightning-fast website speeds.
Plus, Cloudways' plans are super flexible compared to their competitors. You can choose between monthly or hourly pricing packages, depending on what suits your website best.
For just $10 a month, you can get the basic plan with a Digital Ocean data center in New York, San Francisco, London, and a few other cities. Or, if you're all about flexibility, you can get the same plan and data center for a pay-as-you-go rate of $0.0139 per hour.
Mind-blowing, right? Check it out for yourself and see what Cloudways can do for you!
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Free SSL certificates
99.999% uptime guarantee
Fast server speeds
High user ratings across, Trustpilot and G2
Three-day free trial
Cons:
No domain name registration
No email hosting
Charges for additional support outside of live chat
Low storage for basic tier
#5. Nexcess – Best cloud hosting for ecommerce
Why We Picked It
Get ready to take your business to the next level with Nexcess cloud hosting plans! You can pick the best plan that suits your growing business needs, starting at a minimum of $49 per month. These hosting solutions are not just fast and reliable, but scalable too! That means they can grow with your business.
One of the most amazing things about Nexcess cloud hosting is the autoscaling feature. This allows your website to handle sudden traffic spikes without experiencing downtime or slow loading times. How awesome is that? Plus, the advanced caching technology helps reduce page load times and increases website performance, making it one of the top features.
To top it off, Nexcess provides an all-inclusive security package. This includes SSL certificates, DDoS protection, and proactive security monitoring to make sure your website is always safe and secure. With the user-friendly control panel and 24/7 customer support, you can be sure you're in good hands. Plus, the 100% uptime guarantee gives you peace of mind.
If you want reliable, scalable, and secure hosting solutions, Nexcess cloud hosting is the perfect choice. It's an excellent option for businesses of all sizes, with its advanced features and reasonable pricing. So, what are you waiting for? Sign up now!
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Excellent Speed
99.99% Uptime Guarantee
Scalable Hosting
Cloud-based Hosting
Managed Hosting
Superb Security Features
Auto-Scaling
Amazing Support
Great value
30 Day Money Back Guarantee
Cons:
Documentation could be better
No cheap hosting solutions
#6. A2 Hosting – Fastest cloud web hosting
Why We Picked It
Get ready to be blown away by A2 Hosting, one of the top-notch hosting providers in the market that offers some of the fastest hosting services available.
You won't find any traditional cloud hosting services here, but they offer VPS hosting solutions with dedicated server resources that are optimized to give you an incredible 20x faster performance than your run-of-the-mill cloud packages.
The VPS plans come in three different packages, and the unmanaged plans are a steal starting at $2.99, $7.99, and $9.99 per month. The managed VPS plans are a bit pricier, but they're worth it, starting at $39.99, $54.99, and $67.99 per month. What's more, you only pay for the resources you use, based on how you configure your cloud servers.
A2 Hosting's 99.9% uptime guarantee and anytime money-back promise sounds impressive, but don't forget to read the fine print of your contract as there might be a few contingencies you need to be aware of.
The 24/7/365 support team is another reason to choose A2 Hosting. They're ready to help you with any issues you might have. If you're looking for lightning-fast page loading speed, then A2 Hosting is the ideal cloud hosting provider for you, whether you prefer unmanaged or managed hosting options.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Fan favorite
Extensive knowledge base
Super Excellent uptime
24/7 phone service and live chat
Cons:
No Windows server options
Expensive short term plans
#7. InMotion – Best cloud VPS hosting for small businesses
Why We Picked It
If you're on the hunt for primo hosting, InMotion Hosting is where it's at. These guys are the grandmasters of the game, offering WordPress hosting, shared hosting, and cloud VPS hosting services that are downright impressive.
With InMotion, you'll get hosting solutions that are ultra-flexible and scalable, perfect for those who need to evolve and adapt their services with their needs.
Their cloud hosting options are incredibly sweet, featuring a dedicated IP address and a 99.999% uptime guarantee. And, you get access to a Resource Monitoring Dashboard that lets you track everything from RAM to bandwidth to load usage.
InMotion serves up two types of cloud VPS plans - NVMe and SSD. The differences between the tiers are huge, from storage capacity to vCPUs to transfer capacity to price. Expect to fork out anywhere from $7.00 to $224 per month for NVMe plans and $6.00 to $192 per month for SSD plans.
But be warned, setting up your Cloud VPS hosting will demand some serious technical know-how. This means InMotion's cloud hosting is best for tech-savvy individuals who are familiar with server environments.
So who is InMotion's Cloud VPS hosting ideal for? It's perfect for those who need affordable, reliable, scalable, and secure hosting services, but who have the technical expertise to set it up. Don't let this fantastic hosting provider slip by!
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Super excellent scalability
24/7 site monitoring
Supports Linux OS, including Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS
Live resource-use monitoring
Monthly and annual plans available
Cons:
Extra charge for backups
Plans get pricey
Not beginner-friendly
Doesn’t support Windows
#8. HostGator – Best cheap cloud web hosting
Why We Picked It
HostGator offers a splendid choice for bloggers and website hosts. This service comes with various advantages, such as free server monitoring, 99.9% uptime guarantee, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
HostGator is an easy-to-use platform, providing all necessary hosting solutions such as domains, email, website builders, and storage options. Furthermore, HostGator users benefit from automated failover for hardware issues, unlimited storage, and a user-friendly dashboard that tracks website performance and metrics.
There are three HostGator pricing options for customers to choose from, Hatchling Cloud at $4.95 per month, Baby Cloud at $6.57 per month, and Business Cloud at $9.95 per month. Nevertheless, users must be aware that all of these rates are promotional offers, and the renewal cost may be higher.
Read our full HostGator Review.
HostGator stands out among other cloud hosting services in the market for its affordability, speed, and responsiveness. It is perfect for small and medium-sized businesses that need an easy-to-use, reliable hosting service.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Free domain and website builder
Fast loading times
SEO tools
Free business email
30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
RAM tops out at just 6GB
Customer support is lacking
Initial rates are introductory and prices will increase over time
#9. DreamHost – Best value for beginners
Why We Picked It
DreamHost offers a mind-boggling combo of cloud computing (DreamCompute) and cloud object storage (DreamObjects), a rarity in the industry.
With complete root access, vertical and horizontal scaling, and open-source code, users can let their cloud grow as big as necessary. Plus, you can run DreamHost on different operating systems, like Linux, BSD, and Microsoft Windows.
The pricing plan is a puzzle: it is based on hourly usage, so you only pay for what you use, with prices starting at $0.0075 per hour for 512MB of RAM. The maximum rate is $4.50 per month. For the most extravagant, DreamHost charges a maximum of $0.15 per hour or $96 per month for 16GB of RAM. Additional storage comes in mind-boggling 100GB increments for $10 per month.
Who would find this bewildering pricing structure ideal? DreamHost is perfect for those who are just starting and want a cost-effective cloud hosting service that is of the highest quality.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Affordable per-hour pricing
Beginner-friendly
Scalable solutions
Full root access
99.77% uptime
Cons:
Pricey add-ons
Limited live chat hours
No phone support
Compare the 9 Best Cloud Hosting Provider
| COMPANY Trustpilot RATING | STARTING PRICE | STORAGE LIMIT | TOP FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|
| ScalaHosting: 4.9 | $29.95 per month (with 36-month term) - SAVE 36% (was $46.95) | 50GB to 200GB | 24/7 management, free SSL certificates and daily disaster recovery backups |
| DreamHost: 4.7 | $4.50 per month (with 36-month commitment) | 50 GB on starter plan, unlimited for higher tiers | Unmetered bandwidth, full root access, hourly billing |
| Hostinger: 4.6 | $9.99/mo + 2 months FREE (with 48-month term) - SAVE 60% (was $24.00) - $ 19.99 /mo when you renew | 200GB to 300GB, Unlimited Bandwidth | Free Domain, 24/7 support, Free SSL certificate, 99,90% Uptime Guarantee |
| SiteGround: 4.6 | $100 per month | 40GB to 160GB | Free CDN, fully managed service, automatic scaling |
| Cloudways: 4.6 | $10/mo or $120/year | 25GB to 160GB | Free SSL, Cloudflare Add-on, Free Migration |
| Nexcess: 4.6 | $49 per month | 50GB to 800GB | Free SSL, Cloud accelerator, Inherent SEO |
| A2 Hosting: 4.5 | $29.95 per month (with 36-month term) - SAVE 48% (was $76.99) | 150GB to 450GB | Free SSL, Free CloudLinux OS, Free cPanel |
| InMotion: 4.1 | $6.00/mo to $192/mo (billed annually) | 30GB to 540GB VPS SSD or VPS NVMe | Free SSL, Free CloudLinux OS, Free cPanel |
| HostGator: 3.9 | $4.95/mo (with 36-month term) - Now 45% off! - $ 8.95 /mo when you renew | Unlimited | Free domain, Free SSL certificate + $200 marketing credit |
What Is Cloud Hosting?
You know how when you have a website, you need somewhere to put all your website stuff? Well, usually that stuff goes on one computer called a server. Sometimes, the server is just for your website, and sometimes it’s for a bunch of websites at the same time.
The thing is, if that one server has a problem – like it gets hacked or it breaks – then your website is in big trouble. It might not work at all. Yikes!
But, there’s this thing called cloud hosting, which is totally different. Instead of just one server, your website stuff is spread out across a bunch of different computers. That way, if one of them has a problem, another one can jump in and save the day. So, your website is always safe and ready for people to check it out. Pretty cool, huh?
The Benefits of Cloud Hosting
Oh boy, the benefits of cloud hosting are just so many! If you’re trying to decide between cloud hosting and other types of hosting (like dedicated or shared), you should definitely check out these top 10 benefits:
Your files are super secure because they’re not just stored in one place. Nope, they’re spread out across a bunch of servers.
You can scale and grow your website(s) as much as you want. No limits here!
Cloud hosting is super reliable and you can usually count on your website being up and running almost all the time.
You get to choose exactly what resources and features you need (and nothing more). Say goodbye to paying for stuff you don’t want.
Cloud servers are known for being lightning-fast, so your website will load super quickly.
There are cloud hosting plans for just about any budget, so you don’t have to break the bank.
Setting up your website with cloud hosting is easy peasy, and most providers will even help you move your site over.
A fast website is a great experience for your visitors, so they’ll be happy and come back for more.
If one cloud server goes down, another one will pick up the slack so your website stays online.
And if the worst happens (like a natural disaster or security breach), top-notch cloud hosts have got your back with great recovery processes.
Disadvantages of Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting may not be a wise choice for those who are tight on budget as it can be quite expensive compared to shared hosting. Moreover, since cloud hosting relies heavily on the internet, any disruptions in the internet connection can render your data inaccessible.
Although cloud hosting can reduce the impact of cyberattacks to some extent, it cannot provide complete protection against them. Also, keep in mind that your hosting service provider holds all the power when it comes to cloud hosting.
Therefore, it is crucial to select a trustworthy provider with a strong track record in terms of quality, security, and fulfilling commitments.
How To Choose the Best Cloud Hosting Provider
Finding the most suitable cloud hosting provider depends on the specific demands of your business. It’s vital to consider both your current requirements and your long-term objectives before selecting a service.
While features like free migration and domains may be tempting, they are not always a must-have. However, security and consistent uptime are crucial factors that cannot be compromised when choosing a provider.
It is recommended that you evaluate data storage, speed, security, pricing, and customer support when choosing a cloud hosting service. Give these aspects a thorough examination to ensure you make the right choice.
Learn How To Choose a Web Hosting Provider
Speed and Performance
Numerous factors can affect a site’s speed and overall performance. Poor website design is a primary cause of sluggish performance, but insufficient CPU capacity can also impede your website’s user experience.
When it comes to Hostinger, they offer three plans, which are well-suited for small to mid-sized websites, offering two to six CPU cores. If your website requires data-intensive workloads, SiteGround’s top plans could be the perfect fit as they offer up to 16 CPU cores.
In addition to CPU, RAM capacity is another crucial factor that impacts site speed and performance. Generally, more memory leads to a faster site, particularly for those that feature large files. Therefore, it’s crucial to prioritize this aspect if you want to enhance your website’s speed and overall performance.
Data Storage
Users must have an understanding of the amount of storage that a hosting contract provides, as well as the flexibility to increase or decrease storage as necessary. These details should be readily available on the provider’s website for all to review.
HostGator and other hosting providers offer limitless storage, while other plans may have a capacity of 25GB to 50GB. However, more advanced plans could provide up to 16TB of storage.
If you anticipate exceeding the storage limits of a standard plan, it may be worthwhile to inquire about additional storage costs. Most companies offer add-on storage for a fee.
Security
Regardless of whether your website is for personal use or business purposes, the security of your hosting provider must be of utmost importance. An SSL certificate is an excellent starting point, but additional security features must be evaluated, including compliance and cloud security.
Ensure that data protection standards are met during both transit and rest, and that user identities are confirmed. Look for adequate data encryption protocols, as well as cloud server firewalls.
It is important to select a provider with built-in security tools and protocols to protect against phishing, viruses, spyware, worms, DDoS attacks, and other potential security breaches.
Pricing Plans
Pricing for cloud hosting should be crystal clear and not sneaky, with plans easily visible for you to check and compare. You should choose what you want, how much it can grow, and what agreement suits your needs.
Customer Support
Each hosting company talks up their awesome support, but you need to go deeper when checking them out. Don’t get suckered by the “24/7” claim – is it live? Chat? Phone? The type of support you get can make a big difference, so be vigilant.
What Does Cloud Hosting Cost?
Most cloud hosting companies offer lots of server plans to match different budgets. The memory, CPU, and storage you want will decide how much you pay – the more resources you need, the bigger the bill.
Some companies charge per month, but you can get a sweet deal by signing up for a multi-year plan. DreamHost will give you a plan for only $4.50 per month if you commit for three years. SiteGround’s cheapest plan is $100 per month.
There are heaps of options out there, so it pays to look around before you commit. And watch out – when your contract renews, the price could jump by 25% to 50%.
Methodology
For this ranking, we had to choose the best cloud hosting options. We considered important factors like ease of use, value, popularity, and variety of features offered by each service. Then, we rated each hosting service using a Trustpilot five-star rating system. Obviously, five stars is the highest score a service could get.
Here’s what we looked at to figure out each category’s rankings:
Ease of use: We were searching for cloud hosting services that are super easy to use. We compared providers based on their setup difficulty.. We liked platforms that take minimal time to launch and have third-party integrations.
Cost: There’s no question that cloud hosting services can be really expensive. Our goal was to provide a range of top hosts that reflect different prices. Sometimes, you pay more for additional features that you may or may not need.
Uptime: We only listed services with outstanding uptime rates. This is one of the main reasons people switch to cloud hosting providers in the first place.
Support: We looked at services and compared them based on their customer support options. This included whether clients have access to live customer support and if it’s available 24/7.
We compared cloud hosting services based on their functions, with a preference for ones that offer features that should be standard. Some of these standard features include a free SSL certificate, SSD storage, and unlimited bandwidth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What types of cloud hosting are available?
Behold, in the realm of computing, there exist three primary variants: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. IaaS, or Infrastructure as a Service, offers the ability to pay based on usage and obtain on-demand infrastructure. PaaS, or Platform as a Service, grants organizations the option to rent out necessary infrastructure, thus sparing them from unnecessary expenditures. Finally, there is SaaS, or Software as a Service, which permits users to lease applications and host software on their own servers.
What is the best cloud hosting service?
The best cloud hosting providers in the biz are ScalaHosting, Hostinger, and DreamHost. Why, you might ask? Well, let me tell you, each one of these bad boys packs a real punch in terms of bang for your buck. They offer a whole bunch of high-quality hosting features, and their service is just top-notch. Ain't that something?
When should I upgrade to a cloud host?
In the world of website and app hosting, there comes a time when upgrading to a more advanced solution is necessary to ensure reliable performance, regardless of the time or location of access.
If you are seeking faster speeds, better scalability, and enhanced security features, it is likely the optimal moment to make the switch to a more robust hosting solution.
While many websites initially employ traditional shared hosting, this approach has inherent limitations that can impede your ability to achieve your objectives.
Cloud hosting offers an unparalleled level of scalability that can help you take your website or app to the next level. By utilizing cloud hosting, you can leverage advanced infrastructure that allows for high levels of availability and scalability, enabling you to deliver a more seamless user experience.
So, if you're ready to take your online presence to new heights, it's time to consider upgrading to cloud hosting.
What's the difference between cloud hosting and VPN?
VPN hosting means storing your website's data and resources on a virtual space within a physical server. If the server fails, your site becomes unavailable.
In contrast, cloud hosting provides access to your site's resources on multiple servers within a cloud environment.
So, if one server fails, another one takes over, and your site remains accessible without interruption.
What is managed cloud hosting?
Managed cloud hosting is a service where your provider assists you with critical site management duties like setting up your site, creating backups, monitoring the server's performance, ensuring site security, and transferring your site to another server if necessary. Providers may offer two types of managed cloud hosting: full management and partial management options.
Is cloud hosting better than shared hosting?
Cloud hosting gives you greater control over your website's performance and configuration. However, it costs more than shared hosting, which offers less control but at a lower price.
Is cloud hosting secure?
If you're considering website hosting options, you may want to check out cloud hosting. With cloud hosting, you have more say in how your website performs and what configurations it uses.
Keep in mind, though, that this greater control often comes with a higher price tag.
On the other hand, shared hosting can be a more cost-effective choice. However, it's worth noting that you may have less control over your website with this option. It's up to you to weigh the costs and benefits of each option to determine which one best suits your needs.
