Updated September 29, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
Cloudways vs Krystal
Cloudways
Higher score in this comparison
Krystal
Where Cloudways and Krystal differ
| Compare | CloudwaysReviewVisitVisit | KrystalReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Intro price | $11 | £7 |
| Renewal price | $11 | £7 |
| Hosting types | Managed cloud hosting, Managed WordPress hosting, Magento hosting, Laravel hosting, PHP application hosting, WooCommerce hosting, Node.js application hosting, Managed AI agent hosting | Web Hosting, Business Hosting, Reseller Hosting, WordPress Hosting, VPS Hosting, Cloud Hosting |
| Websites allowed | Unlimited websites per server | 1 to unlimited depending on plan |
| Features | Free SSL, Backups, Staging, CDN, EmailCovers more | Free SSL, Backups, Email |
| Data centres | New York, Amsterdam, Bangalore, Frankfurt, London, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto | United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 60 days |
| Intro price term (months) | 3 months | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Uptime guarantee (99.99%).
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 9.0.
- Hosting types: only Cloudways offers Managed cloud hosting, Managed WordPress hosting, Magento hosting.
- Hosting types: only Krystal offers Web Hosting, Business Hosting, Reseller Hosting.
- Features: only Cloudways offers Staging, CDN.
- Data centres: only Cloudways offers New York, Amsterdam, Bangalore.
- Data centres: only Krystal offers United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands.
- Support channels: only Cloudways offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Krystal: 2002 vs 2012.
- Audience: only Cloudways offers Enterprise.
Our verdict on each
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.
Krystal
Krystal suits beginners and small business teams looking for managed hosting for everyday business use across the current lineup. Plans carry an uptime guarantee of 99.99% with site allowances at 1 to unlimited depending on plan and builder coverage for site and store.
Score breakdown
| Area | Cloudways | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Entry of $11 and renewal of $11 are identical, but the entry figure exceeds the web hosting median €2.95. | 8.6HigherIntro pricing at £7 renews at £7 with steady terms. |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.1Plan includes free SSL, backups and email for everyday hosting needs. |
| Trust | 9.1 | 9.7HigherHosting runs from United Kingdom, United States and Netherlands for regional coverage. |
Side by side, item by item
| Features | Cloudways | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Backups | Yes | Yes |
| Staging | Yes | No |
| CDN | Yes | No |
| Yes | Yes |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Cloudways | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
Sources behind this comparison
Cloudways
- cloudways.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Krystal
- krystal.io: 14 facts, checked September 29, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Cloudways | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| Web hosting | 9 of 530 | 5 of 530 |
| Business email hosting | 9 of 425 | 4 of 425 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Cloudways | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Beginners, Small business, EnterpriseCovers more | Beginners, Small business |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free trial |
| Legal entity | Cloudways LLC | Krystal Hosting Ltd |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2012 | 2002Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Website builders
| Fact | Cloudways | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | £5 |
| Free plan | Not confirmed | No |
| E-commerce plan price | Not confirmed | £17 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Templates | Not confirmed | 190 |
| Builder type | Not confirmed | Site, Store |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus |
Domain registrars
| Fact | Cloudways | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| .com first year | Not confirmed | £11.99 |
| .com renewal | Not confirmed | £11.99 |
| .com transfer | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Free WHOIS privacy | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Domain endings | Not confirmed | 20 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Cloudways | Krystal | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
| Uptime guarantee | 99.99%above the median | 99.99%above the median | 99.9% |
| Intro price term (months) | 3 monthslowest quarter | Not confirmed | 12 months |
Median across 380 listed software products.
Pros and cons
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
Krystal
Pros
- Money back cover for 60, ahead of typical level of 30
- Hosting choice spans Web Hosting, Business Hosting and Reseller Hosting to match growth from simple sites to VPS and cloud
- Help available through email, chat and phone for day to day queries
Cons
- No plan at no cost, with builder access by trial model of free trial
- Domain choice covers 20 extensions, which may feel narrow for varied portfolios
- Builder pricing starts at £5 with store plans at £17
Who each suits
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
Krystal
Who it suits
- Choose Krystal over DonWeb if longer money back cover matters, with Krystal at 60
- Choose Krystal over Cafe24 if broader hosting choice matters, with Krystal spanning Web Hosting, Business Hosting and Reseller Hosting
Who should look elsewhere
- Choose DonWeb over Krystal if lowest intro spend matters, since DonWeb lists $2 to $7.90 against Krystal at £7
- Choose Cafe24 over Krystal if regional pricing in KRW fits better, since Cafe24 lists KRW 450
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
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.
Krystal
What does Krystal hosting cost at intro and renewal?+
Krystal lists hosting intro pricing at £7 with renewal pricing at £7. The match between intro and renewal helps planning since renewal does not move above the opening rate. Plan choice affects sites allowed, so review limits before checkout.
How long is Krystal money back cover?+
Krystal offers hosting cover for 60, which sits above the typical category level of 30. The extended window gives room to assess speed, support replies and fit for business sites. Terms may vary by plan, so review conditions before purchase.
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