Updated October 18, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
1blu vs Cloudways
1blu
Cloudways
Higher score in this comparison
1blu vs Cloudways: the differences
| Compare | 1bluReviewVisitVisit | CloudwaysReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Intro price | €5.99 | $11 |
| Renewal price | €5.99 | $11 |
| Hosting types | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, Managed | Managed cloud hosting, Managed WordPress hosting, Magento hosting, Laravel hosting, PHP application hosting, WooCommerce hosting, Node.js application hosting, Managed AI agent hosting |
| Websites allowed | 1 | Unlimited websites per server |
| Features | Free SSL, Backups, Email | Free SSL, Backups, Staging, CDN, EmailCovers more |
| Uptime guarantee | 99% | 99.99%Higher |
| Data centres | DE | New York, Amsterdam, Bangalore, Frankfurt, London, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto |
| Intro price term (months) | 12 monthsHigher | 3 months |
| Money-back period | 14 days | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Cloudways scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.6.
- Hosting types: only 1blu offers Shared, VPS, Dedicated.
- Hosting types: only Cloudways offers Managed cloud hosting, Managed WordPress hosting, Magento hosting.
- Features: only Cloudways offers Staging, CDN.
- Data centres: only 1blu offers DE.
- Data centres: only Cloudways offers New York, Amsterdam, Bangalore.
- Intro price term (months) is higher at 1blu: 12 months vs 3 months.
- Support channels: only Cloudways offers Chat, Community.
- Uptime guarantee is higher at Cloudways: 99.99% vs 99%.
- Founded is lower at 1blu: 2005 vs 2012.
Our verdict on each
1blu
1blu suits beginners seeking German based hosting with predictable pricing, as the entry package lists an intro price of €5.99 for 12 and renews at €5.99.
Cloudways
Cloudways suits developers and small businesses who want managed hosting rather than shared plans, with WordPress, Magento, Laravel and Node.js covered. Entry plans start at $11 a month, and every server allows unlimited websites. Renewal holds at $11, so the entry figure is the working budget.
Score breakdown
| Area | 1blu | Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8HigherEntry package intro at €5.99 with renewal at €5.99 keeps spend level. | 8.4Entry of $11 and renewal of $11 are identical, but the entry figure exceeds the web hosting median €2.95. |
| Offer | 8.5Choice across shared, VPS and dedicated with free SSL, backups and email covers starter builds. | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 8.5Base in DE with centers in DE and cover of 14. | 9.1Higher |
What each covers
| Features | 1blu | Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Backups | Yes | Yes |
| Staging | No | Yes |
| CDN | No | Yes |
| Yes | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | 1blu | Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
| Web hosting | 15 of 530 | 9 of 530 |
| Business email hosting | 14 of 425 | 9 of 425 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | 1blu | Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners, Small business, EnterpriseCovers more |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free trial |
| Legal entity | 1blu GmbH | Cloudways LLC |
| Headquarters | Germany | United States |
| Founded | 2005Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | 1blu | Cloudways | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 14 dayslowest quarter | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Uptime guarantee | 99%lowest quarter | 99.99%above the median | 99.9% |
| Intro price term (months) | 12 monthsat the median | 3 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 380 listed software products.
Pros and cons
1blu
Pros
- Flat entry package pricing with intro at €5.99 and renewal at €5.99.
- Broad hosting range across shared, VPS and dedicated for growth beyond shared.
- Starter essentials included via free SSL, backups and email with data centers in Germany.
Cons
- Entry package limited to 1 per account.
- Refund cover of 14 sits below the web hosting category figure of 30.
- Uptime commitment of 99% leaves room for stronger guarantees elsewhere.
Cloudways
Pros
- Renewal matches entry, so $11 at sign up becomes $11 on renewal with no jump
- One provider covers the stack: managed cloud hosting, managed WordPress hosting and Magento hosting spans managed cloud, WordPress, Magento, WooCommerce, Laravel, PHP, Node.js and managed AI agent hosting
- Support reaches email, chat and phone, and uptime is guaranteed at 99.99%
Cons
- At $11 a month, entry cost sits above the web hosting median of €2.95
- free trial lists a free trial only, so there is no permanent free plan to test on
- Regions are limited to New York, Amsterdam and Bangalore, so a site needing a location outside that list has to look elsewhere
Who each suits
1blu
Who it suits
- Beginners wanting German hosting with email and backups included.
- Starter projects needing shared now with VPS and dedicated options later.
Who should look elsewhere
- Cafe24 for buyers seeking non German hosting roots rather than centers in Germany.
- Dominios.com.do for buyers comparing intro pricing at DOP 200 to DOP 4,500 rather than 1blu level pricing.
Cloudways
Who it suits
- Agencies and freelancers running client WordPress, Magento or WooCommerce sites that want backups and staging handled, both listed under free ssl, backups and staging
- Developers shipping Laravel, PHP or Node.js applications who want a managed runtime in New York, Amsterdam and Bangalore
- Small businesses that want free SSL, backups, staging, CDN and email covered in the entry plan rather than bought separately
Who should look elsewhere
- Render, whose entry price is $0, suits readers who only want a free starting point
- Afrihost, listed at ZAR 84, is the pick when the opening number alone settles the shortlist
- Hosting.cl, quoted at CLP 159,900, gives readers a second entry figure to weigh against Cloudways $11
Current offers
Cloudways
Current offer
First period offer
30% OFF for 3 Months on All Plans: 30% off for 3 months
Limited time offer on Cloudways Flexible and Autonomous plans, claimed via the pricing page signup link
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
30% OFF for 4 Months on Cloudways Autonomous: 30% off for 4 months
Promotional banner for Cloudways Autonomous; scope limited to that product line
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
3-day free trial: 3 days free
No credit card needed; cancellable anytime
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
1blu
What does 1blu cost at entry?+
The entry package lists an intro price of €5.99 for 12. That structure keeps initial budgeting clear because intro and renewal align. Check term length at checkout since plans bill by package terms.
What does 1blu cost on renewal?+
Renewal for the entry package is listed at €5.99, matching the intro level. That level path avoids a jump after the initial term. Confirm billing cycle during checkout since package terms can affect totals.
Cloudways
How much does Cloudways cost at the start of a plan?+
Cloudways lists an entry price of $11 a month, and that rate applies for an introductory term of 3. After that term the plan moves to the renewal price of $11, which here matches the entry rate rather than rising above it.
Does the price change when a plan renews?+
Renewal sits at $11, the same figure as the $11 entry rate, so budgets do not step up after the first term. That makes the opening number a fair guide to what a managed server costs month to month.