---
title: Pressable vs Cloudways
description: "Pressable vs Cloudways: Fully Managed WordPress vs Managed Cloud -What's the Real Difference Both are managed cloud platforms. The similarity ends there. Pressable fully manages the entire WordPress stack from the server…"
url: "https://hostingguider.com/comparison/pressable-vs-cloudways/"
date: "2026-06-11T05:39:24+00:00"
modified: "2026-06-11T05:39:42+00:00"
author: Rantideb Howlader
type: article
site: HostingGuider
language: en-US
---

# Pressable vs Cloudways

## Pressable vs Cloudways: Fully Managed WordPress vs Managed Cloud -What’s the Real Difference

Both are managed cloud platforms. The similarity ends there.

Pressable fully manages the entire WordPress stack from the server through to the caching layer, HTTP/3, Jetpack Security, and 24/7 engineering support from Automattic: the company that builds WordPress, WooCommerce, and Jetpack. Upload your site. It is handled.

Cloudways manages the cloud infrastructure layer and hands you a pre-configured Varnish and Redis environment to run any application on any of five cloud providers. Provision the server, configure WordPress, manage updates, and deploy. The infrastructure is managed. The application is yours.

![Pressable vs Cloudways hosting comparison banner](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pressable-vs-cloudways-hosting-comparison.webp)

A side-by-side comparison of Pressable and Cloudways hosting services.

In eight direct tests, Pressable delivers better global server response, better concurrent load handling, better desktop rendering, and HTTP/3 out of the box. Cloudways delivers application flexibility, a lower entry price, five cloud provider options, and verified green hosting.

The real difference is not which is faster. It is which type of management you actually need.

Pressable is owned by Automattic. Starting at $20 per month, it enters the market below Kinsta and WP Engine while delivering infrastructure that outperforms both on several key metrics. Every plan includes Jetpack Security Daily, HTTP/3, a Global Edge Network that serves HTML from the nearest node worldwide, and unlimited bandwidth.

Cloudways has no servers of its own. It provides a managed control layer on top of DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Vultr, or Linode. Starting at approximately $11 per month on a DigitalOcean backend, it is the lowest entry point for managed cloud WordPress in this comparison tier. Switch cloud provider without migrating a single application. Run Node.js, Magento, or Laravel alongside WordPress on the same account.

## Quick Verdict

Pressable wins on global server response (16ms edge delivery globally), concurrent load handling (99ms average), desktop rendering, HTTP/3, mobile metrics, Jetpack Security inclusion, and unlimited bandwidth.

Cloudways wins on application flexibility, multi-cloud deployment, entry pricing, and verified green hosting. For non-WordPress applications or for teams needing to switch cloud providers, Cloudways is the only viable option.

## Category Winners

| Category | Winner | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mobile INP | Cloudways | 225ms (25ms over threshold) vs Pressable 309ms (109ms over) |
| Mobile LCP | Pressable | 2.8s (fail) vs Cloudways 5.0s (fail): 2.2s closer |
| Mobile CLS | Pressable | 0.03 (Pass) vs Cloudways 0.99 (severe fail) |
| CWV Overall | Pressable | Fails 2 of 3; Cloudways fails all 3 |
| Global TTFB | Pressable | 15ms to 24ms (edge HTML) vs Cloudways origin 244ms |
| Desktop GTmetrix | Pressable | Grade C vs Cloudways Grade D |
| Desktop LCP | Pressable | 1.1s vs Cloudways 2.0s |
| Desktop TBT | Pressable | 1,000ms vs Cloudways 2,200ms |
| Desktop TTFB | Pressable | 114ms vs Cloudways 244ms |
| Concurrent Load | Pressable | 99ms avg vs Cloudways 451ms |
| Uptime | Tie | Both 100% |
| SSL Grade | Tie | Both Grade A |
| HTTP/3 | Pressable | Supported natively; Cloudways no native path |
| Environmental | Cloudways | Verified green; Pressable not in database |
| Multi-cloud | Cloudways | 5 IaaS providers; not applicable for Pressable |
| Non-WP Applications | Cloudways | Any app; Pressable WordPress only |
| Entry Price | Cloudways | ~$11/month vs Pressable ~$20/month |
| Jetpack Security | Pressable | Included free; Cloudways not included |
| Unlimited Bandwidth | Pressable | Confirmed; Cloudways metered |

## Who Should Choose Which

| Choose Pressable if… | Choose Cloudways if… |
| --- | --- |
| Your entire stack is WordPress and you want a fully managed, zero-configuration environment | You run applications beyond WordPress on the same infrastructure |
| You want the Global Edge HTML Network serving pages in under 25ms worldwide | You want to deploy on DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Vultr, or Linode from one panel |
| You want HTTP/3 natively without any configuration step | You need verified green hosting for sustainability reporting |
| You want Jetpack Security Daily included at no extra cost | You want the lowest possible entry price for managed cloud WordPress |
| You want Automattic’s WordPress engineers as your support team | You need to switch cloud providers in the future without migrating applications |
| You need unlimited bandwidth with no metering or overage concern | You want pay-as-you-go monthly billing with no long-term commitment |

## Pressable vs Cloudways: Full Feature Comparison

| Feature | Pressable | Cloudways |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Owned By | Automattic (WordPress.com, WooCommerce) | Independent |
| Founded | 2010 (acquired Automattic 2018) | 2011 |
| Infrastructure | Global Edge Network, US + EU origin | Multi-cloud (DO, AWS, GCP, Vultr, Linode) |
| WordPress Only | Yes | No (any application) |
| Best For | WordPress agencies, WooCommerce, global audiences | Multi-app developers, cloud-flexible WordPress |
| Trustpilot | 4.6/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Mobile INP | 309ms (Fail) | 225ms (Fail) |
| Mobile LCP | 2.8s (Fail) | 5.0s (Fail) |
| Mobile CLS | 0.03 (Pass) | 0.99 (Fail) |
| Global TTFB | 15ms to 24ms (edge HTML) | 0.7ms ping / 244ms origin TTFB |
| Desktop GTmetrix | C (66%, LCP 1.1s, TBT 1,000ms, TTFB 114ms) | D (LCP 2.0s, TBT 2,200ms, TTFB 244ms) |
| Load Test Avg | 99ms | 451ms |
| Load Test Reachability | 100% | 100% |
| 30-Day Uptime | 100%, 0 incidents | 100%, 0 incidents |
| SSL Grade | A | A |
| HTTP/3 | Yes (QUIC + 0-RTT) | No (Cloudflare Enterprise add-on) |
| Green Hosting | Not verified | Verified (Cloudflare) |
| CDN | Global Edge Network | Cloudflare CDN (via provider) |
| Free Domain | No | No |
| Free SSL | Yes (Auto-Renew) | Yes |
| Email Hosting | No (Titan add-on) | No |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Metered |
| Control Panel | My.Pressable (custom WordPress) | Application Manager (custom) |
| cPanel | No | No |
| Staging | Yes | Yes |
| Varnish + Redis | Not separately stated | Yes, pre-configured |
| Jetpack Security | Yes, Daily plan included | No |
| Plugin Restrictions | Yes (caching/backup) | No |
| Billing | Monthly per site/visits | Pay-as-you-go monthly |
| Entry Price | ~$20/month | ~$11/month (DO backend) |
| Free Trial | 30-day money-back | 3-day free trial |
| Support | 24/7 Automattic WP engineers | 24/7 Live Chat (under 2 min) |
| Support Scope | WordPress only | All applications |
| Google Cloud Option | No (proprietary edge) | Yes (one of 5 options) |

## How We Tested

We ran direct technical audits against each provider’s official corporate domain: pressable.com for Pressable and www.cloudways.com for Cloudways.

Note on global latency methodology: Pressable was measured using KeyCDN, which returns full content TTFB. Cloudways was measured using Check-Host.net, which returns CDN edge ping acknowledgment. These are different measurement types. Pressable’s 16ms represents actual HTML content being delivered. Cloudways’ 0.7ms represents the CDN edge acknowledging the connection; full content origin response is confirmed at 244ms from GTmetrix lab data. Both confirm their respective infrastructure architectures accurately.

Note on Cloudways’ mobile CLS of 0.99: This extreme stability failure reflects Cloudways’ corporate marketing site specifically. Significant content movement during page load inflates the CLS score. This does not reflect a customer site with clean layouts.

**Tools:** Google PageSpeed Insights for mobile Core Web Vitals, GTmetrix for desktop rendering, K6 Load Cloud for concurrent traffic simulation, KeyCDN (Pressable) and Check-Host.net (Cloudways) for global latency, Uptime Robot for availability, Qualys SSL Labs for SSL grade, HTTP/3 Check for protocol support, The Green Web Foundation for sustainability.

For complete individual test data, see our [Pressable review](https://hostingguider.com/reviews/pressable/) and [Cloudways review](https://hostingguider.com/reviews/cloudways/).

## Performance: Eight Tests, Head to Head

### Test 1: Mobile Core Web Vitals (Google PageSpeed Insights)

**Pressable Mobile**

| Metric | Result | Google Threshold | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCP (Loading) | 2.8s | Under 2.5s | Fail |
| INP (Interaction) | 309ms | Under 200ms | Fail |
| CLS (Stability) | 0.03 | Under 0.1 | Pass |

![Google PageSpeed Insights mobile results for Pressable](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pressable-pagespeed.webp)

Google PageSpeed Insights mobile results for Pressable

**Cloudways Mobile**

| Metric | Result | Google Threshold | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| INP (Interaction) | 225ms | Under 200ms | Fail |
| LCP (Loading) | 5.0s | Under 2.5s | Fail |
| CLS (Stability) | 0.99 | Under 0.1 | Fail |

![Cloudways Google PageSpeed Insights test results](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cloudways-mobile-core-web-vitals.webp)

Cloudways Google PageSpeed Insights test results

Neither provider passes mobile CWV on its corporate site. The comparison within the failures shows a clear hierarchy: Pressable fails two metrics (INP and LCP) and passes one (CLS). Cloudways fails all three, including a severe 0.99 CLS.

Cloudways’ INP of 225ms is technically a smaller failure than Pressable’s 309ms — 25ms over threshold versus 109ms over. But Pressable’s LCP of 2.8s is far better than Cloudways’ 5.0s, and Pressable’s CLS pass versus Cloudways’ catastrophic 0.99 represents a completely different quality of mobile stability.

For [the practical consequence of mobile TTFB and layout shift on real user experience](https://hostingguider.com/blog/fix-ttfb-hosting-level/), Cloudways’ combined corporate site failures are more severe than Pressable’s, even accounting for the INP reversal.

**Winner: Pressable** (fails 2 of 3 vs Cloudways’ 3 of 3).

### Test 2: Global Server Latency

**Pressable** (KeyCDN TTFB — full HTML content delivery)

| Location | TTFB | Rating |
| --- | --- | --- |
| San Francisco, USA | 16.05ms | Instant |
| Frankfurt, Germany | 16.30ms | Instant |
| Singapore | 15.20ms | Instant |
| New York, USA | 23.67ms | Instant |

![KeyCDN global performance test results for Pressable](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pressable-cdn.webp)

KeyCDN global performance test results for Pressable

**Cloudways** (Check-Host.net CDN edge acknowledgment)

| Location | Response | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vienna, Austria | 0.7ms | CDN edge ping |
| Hyderabad, India | 0.8ms | CDN edge ping |
| Sao Paulo, Brazil | 1.4ms | CDN edge ping |
| Frankfurt, Germany | 1.5ms | CDN edge ping |
| Origin TTFB (GTmetrix lab) | 244ms | Full content |

![Cloudways global server ping test via Check-Host](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cloudways-global-latency-ping.webp)

Cloudways global server ping test via Check-Host

![Cloudways DNS propagation test showing Cloudflare IPs](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cloudways-dns-anycast-audit.webp)

Cloudways DNS propagation test showing Cloudflare IPs

The methodology difference matters. Pressable’s 16ms is the time for full HTML page content to arrive. Cloudways’ 0.7ms is the time for the CDN edge to acknowledge the connection. The Cloudways origin delivers full content in 244ms as measured by GTmetrix.

Pressable’s edge architecture serves complete HTML responses from the nearest global node. Cloudways’ CDN caches static assets. For WordPress sites with dynamic content, Cloudways requests hit the origin at 244ms. For equivalent Pressable sites, the edge serves the full cached response in 16ms.

**Winner: Pressable** on verified full-content delivery speed. Cloudways on CDN edge infrastructure reach.

### Test 3: Desktop Rendering (GTmetrix)

| Metric | Pressable | Cloudways |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GTmetrix Grade | C (66%) | D |
| Desktop LCP | 1.1s | 2.0s |
| Desktop TTFB | 114ms | 244ms |
| Total Blocking Time | 1,000ms | 2,200ms |

![GTmetrix performance report for Pressable](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pressable-gtmetrix.webp)

GTmetrix performance report for Pressable

![Cloudways GTmetrix performance report](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cloudways-gtmetrix-waterfall.webp)

Cloudways GTmetrix performance report

Pressable earns Grade C. Cloudways earns Grade D. Pressable’s desktop LCP of 1.1s is fast — content renders quickly. Pressable’s 114ms TTFB confirms the edge infrastructure processes and delivers desktop content quickly.

Cloudways’ 244ms desktop TTFB is higher than Pressable’s 114ms but confirms that the Varnish-backed origin responds reasonably fast. The Grade D is caused by the 2,200ms TBT — heavy marketing page JavaScript that blocks interactivity for over two seconds. Both grades reflect marketing site choices rather than customer application performance.

**Winner: Pressable**

### Test 4: Concurrent Load (K6 Load Cloud, 50 Virtual Users)

| Parameter | Pressable | Cloudways |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Uptime Under Load | 100% | 100% |
| Reachability | 100% | 100% |
| Avg Response Latency | 99ms | 451ms |

![Latency monitor for Pressable](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pressable-grafana.webp)

Latency monitor for Pressable

![Cloudways server response stability graph](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cloudways-server-response-stability-graph.webp)

Cloudways server response stability graph

Pressable returns 99ms under 50 concurrent users. Cloudways returns 451ms. Both hold 100% reachability — no dropped requests. The 352ms gap reflects the difference between Pressable’s HTML edge caching serving concurrent requests from global nodes versus Cloudways’ origin processing each request through Varnish.

For [understanding how hosted applications handle sustained concurrent traffic](https://hostingguider.com/blog/cloud-hosting-auto-scaling-reality/), Pressable’s 99ms is the infrastructure argument for its $20 entry price.

**Winner: Pressable**

### Test 5: Uptime (Uptime Robot, 30-Day Monitor)

| Window | Pressable | Cloudways |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Last 7 Days | 100%, 0 incidents | 100%, 0 incidents |
| Last 30 Days | 100%, 0 incidents | 100%, 0 incidents |

![Uptime Robot summary strip for Pressable](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pressable-uptime.webp)

Uptime Robot summary strip for Pressable

![Cloudways 30-day uptime monitor graph](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cloudways-uptime-robot-history.webp)

Cloudways 30-day uptime monitor graph

Both providers record perfect availability. Pressable’s SLA-backed 100% uptime guarantee is explicitly stated. Cloudways’ auto-healing architecture achieves the same result.

**Winner: Tie**

### Test 6: SSL Security (Qualys SSL Labs)

| Feature | Pressable | Cloudways |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Overall Grade | A | A |
| Configuration | Modern cipher suites confirmed | TLS 1.2 and 1.3 |
| HSTS | Not specified | Optional |

![Qualys SSL Labs security report for Pressable](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pressable-ssl.webp)

Qualys SSL Labs security report for Pressable

![Cloudways Qualys SSL Labs security grade A](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cloudways-qualys-ssl-report.webp)

Cloudways Qualys SSL Labs security grade A

Both providers earn Grade A. Neither is Grade A+. Neither enforces HSTS by default on standard plans. Both can reach A+ by enabling HSTS — a single configuration step on either platform.

**Winner: Tie**

### Test 7: Protocol Support (HTTP/3 Check)

| Protocol | Pressable | Cloudways |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HTTP/3 | Supported | Not Supported |
| QUIC | Supported | Not Supported |
| 0-RTT | Supported | Not Available |

![HTTP/3 protocol support test for Pressable](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pressable-http3.webp)

HTTP/3 protocol support test for Pressable

![HTTP/3 protocol support test for Cloudways](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/http3-cloudways.webp)

HTTP/3 protocol support test for Cloudways

HTTP/3 is absent on the Cloudways corporate domain and requires the Cloudflare Enterprise add-on to enable.

Pressable’s 0-RTT support means returning visitors begin receiving content before the TLS handshake completes. Combined with the 16ms global edge TTFB, this produces the fastest possible repeated page load on mobile. [HTTP/3’s multiplexed stream handling](https://hostingguider.com/blog/http3-quic-hosting-support/) is a direct contributor to Pressable’s 99ms concurrent load result.

**Winner: Pressable**

### Test 8: Environmental Impact (Green Web Foundation)

| Provider | Status | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pressable | Not Verified | No evidence in database |
| Cloudways | Verified Green | Cloudflare CDN renewable |

![The Green Web Foundation verification for Pressable](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pressable-greenweb.webp)

The Green Web Foundation verification for Pressable

![The Green Web Foundation verification for Cloudways](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cloudways-green-web-check.webp)

The Green Web Foundation verification for Cloudways

Cloudways is verified green. Pressable is not — the same result as Linode in this series. For brands that need a third-party verified green certification for ESG reporting or an eco-badge, Cloudways qualifies and Pressable does not.

**Winner: Cloudways**

### Performance Summary

| Test | Winner |
| --- | --- |
| Mobile CWV | Pressable |
| Global TTFB | Pressable |
| Desktop GTmetrix | Pressable |
| Concurrent Load | Pressable |
| Uptime | Tie |
| SSL Grade | Tie |
| HTTP/3 | Pressable |
| Environmental | Cloudways |

Pressable wins five tests. Cloudways wins one. Two are tied on infrastructure performance. Cloudways wins on the ecosystem dimensions that performance tests do not measure: flexibility, multi-cloud, and price.

## Desktop and Mobile Speed Summary

| Metric | Pressable | Cloudways | Winner |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mobile INP | 309ms (Fail) | 225ms (Fail) | Cloudways |
| Mobile LCP | 2.8s (Fail) | 5.0s (Fail) | Pressable |
| Mobile CLS | 0.03 (Pass) | 0.99 (Fail) | Pressable |
| Desktop GTmetrix | C (66%) | D | Pressable |
| Desktop LCP | 1.1s | 2.0s | Pressable |
| Desktop TTFB | 114ms | 244ms | Pressable |
| Desktop TBT | 1,000ms | 2,200ms | Pressable |
| SSL Grade | A | A | Tie |
| HTTP/3 | Yes | No | Pressable |

## Global Network and Load Test Summary

| Metric | Pressable | Cloudways | Winner |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SF TTFB (full content) | 16ms | 244ms (origin) | Pressable |
| Frankfurt TTFB | 16ms | 49ms (different method) | Pressable (full content) |
| Singapore TTFB | 15ms | CDN edge only | Pressable (full content) |
| Load Test Avg | 99ms | 451ms | Pressable |
| Load Reachability | 100% | 100% | Tie |
| 30-Day Uptime | 100% | 100% | Tie |

## The Real Difference: Management Depth

The title asks what the real difference is. It is this:

**Pressable fully manages the WordPress stack.** You do not configure caching. You do not manage PHP versions. You do not set up a security plugin. You do not configure your CDN. You do not enable HTTP/3. All of it is handled by Automattic’s infrastructure, pre-configured for WordPress, and supported by engineers who built the software.

For a WordPress-focused team or agency that wants to spend time building sites rather than managing servers, Pressable’s full-stack management is the product.

**Cloudways manages the infrastructure layer.** You get a server, Varnish, Redis, and a clean application deployment environment on your choice of cloud provider. You manage WordPress, plugins, updates, PHP settings, and security configuration. The infrastructure is handled. The application is your responsibility.

For a team running multiple application types, or for a developer who prefers direct control over their WordPress stack configuration, Cloudways’ partial management with full flexibility is the product.

The performance tests show Pressable’s managed stack is technically superior on most benchmarks. The infrastructure choice tests show Cloudways’ multi-cloud flexibility is something Pressable structurally cannot match.

## Pricing and Value

### Pressable Pricing

Pressable starts at approximately $20 per month for one WordPress site and 30,000 monthly visits. Bandwidth is unlimited. Jetpack Security Daily is included. Annual billing provides two months free. The 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all plans.

Monthly Yearly

| Signature 1 | Signature 3 | Signature 5 | Signature 8 | Premium |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $25.00/ /mo | $60 /mo | $155 /mo | $675 /mo | $350 /mo |
| - ✓ 1 WordPress Install - ✓ Up to 30K Visits - ✓ 20GB Storage - ✓ 5 Base PHP Workers (5 vCPUs) Per Site - ✓ Jetpack Security | - ✓ 5 WordPress Installs - ✓ Up to 75K Visits - ✓ 35GB Storage - ✓ 5 Base PHP Workers (5 vCPUs) Per Site - ✓ Jetpack Security | - ✓ 20 WordPress Installs - ✓ Up to 400K Visits - ✓ 80GB Storage - ✓ 5 Base PHP Workers (5 vCPUs) Per Site - ✓ Jetpack Security | - ✓ 100 WordPress Installs - ✓ Up to 2M Visits - ✓ 325GB Storage - ✓ 5 Base PHP Workers (5 vCPUs) Per Site - ✓ Jetpack Security | - ✓ Starting at 10 Base vCPUs Per Site - ✓ Up to Millions of Visits Per Month - ✓ 512MB X Each PHP Worker/Process - ✓ Vertical Scaling with Bursting to 100+ Cores - ✓ Custom Storage with Add-On Capabilities - ✓ 100% Uptime Guarantee - ✓ White-Glove Onboarding - ✓ Overage Protection - ✓ Jetpack Complete License ($599/yr value) - ✓ Enterprise-Level Caching - ✓ Advanced Developer Tools |

[Get Pressable](https://hostingguider.com/recommend/pressable)

### Cloudways Pricing

Cloudways is pay-as-you-go monthly with no annual contract required. DigitalOcean-backed servers start at approximately $11 per month. Google Cloud-backed servers cost more. Bandwidth is metered — heavy media sites should calculate transfer costs. A 3-day free trial requires no credit card.

Monthly Hourly

| DigitalOcean Micro | DigitalOcean Small | DigitalOcean Medium | DigitalOcean Large | Vultr Micro | Vultr Small | Vultr Medium | Vultr Large | Linode Micro | Linode Small | Linode Medium | Linode Large | AWS Micro | AWS Small | AWS Medium | AWS Large | Google Cloud Small | Google Cloud Medium | Google Cloud Large | Google Cloud XL |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $11 /mo | $24 /mo | $46 /mo | $88 /mo | $14 /mo | $28 /mo | $54 /mo | $99 /mo | $14 /mo | $28 /mo | $59 /mo | $105 /mo | $20.56 /mo | $38.56 /mo | $91.84 /mo | $183.22 /mo | $37.33 /mo | $84 /mo | $152.02 /mo | $241.50 /mo |
| - ✓ Suitable for personal websites and simple blogs - ✓ 1 GB RAM - ✓ 1 vCPU - ✓ 25 GB SSD storage - ✓ 1 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ Suitable for growing businesses and moderate traffic - ✓ 2 GB RAM - ✓ 1 vCPU - ✓ 50 GB SSD storage - ✓ 2 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ Supports more demanding websites with higher traffic - ✓ 4 GB RAM - ✓ 2 vCPU - ✓ 80 GB SSD storage - ✓ 4 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ Ideal for e-commerce stores and resource-intensive applications - ✓ 8 GB RAM - ✓ 4 vCPU - ✓ 160 GB SSD storage - ✓ 5 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 1 GB RAM - ✓ 1 vCPU - ✓ 25 GB SSD storage - ✓ 1 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 2 GB RAM - ✓ 1 vCPU - ✓ 55 GB SSD storage - ✓ 2 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 4 GB RAM - ✓ 2 vCPU - ✓ 80 GB SSD storage - ✓ 3 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 8 GB RAM - ✓ 4 vCPU - ✓ 160 GB SSD storage - ✓ 4 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 1 GB RAM - ✓ 1 vCPU - ✓ 25 GB SSD storage - ✓ 1 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 2 GB RAM - ✓ 1 vCPU - ✓ 50 GB SSD storage - ✓ 2 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 4 GB RAM - ✓ 2 vCPU - ✓ 80 GB SSD storage - ✓ 4 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 8 GB RAM - ✓ 4 vCPU - ✓ 160 GB SSD storage - ✓ 5 TB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 1 GB RAM - ✓ 2 vCPU - ✓ 20 GB storage - ✓ 2 GB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 2 GB RAM - ✓ 2 vCPU - ✓ 20 GB storage - ✓ 2 GB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 4 GB RAM - ✓ 2 vCPU - ✓ 20 GB storage - ✓ 2 GB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 8 GB RAM - ✓ 2 vCPU - ✓ 20 GB storage - ✓ 2 GB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 1.7 GB RAM - ✓ Shared CPU - ✓ 20 GB storage - ✓ 1 GB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 3.75 GB RAM - ✓ 1 vCPU - ✓ 20 GB storage - ✓ 1 GB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 7.5 GB RAM - ✓ 2 vCPU - ✓ 20 GB storage - ✓ 1 GB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits | - ✓ 15 GB RAM - ✓ 4 vCPU - ✓ 20 GB storage - ✓ 1 GB transfer bandwidth - ✓ Unlimited visits - ✓ Unlimited websites - ✓ Lightning Stack - ✓ 5 free AI Copilot credits |

[cloudways](https://hostingguider.com/recommend/cloudways)

[Get Cloudways](https://hostingguider.com/recommend/cloudways)

### Pricing Comparison

| Factor | Pressable | Cloudways | Winner |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Entry Price | ~$20/month | ~$11/month | Cloudways |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Metered | Pressable |
| Free Trial | 30-day money-back | 3-day free trial | Pressable (longer) |
| Jetpack Security | Included | Not included | Pressable |
| HTTP/3 | Included | Add-on required | Pressable |
| Multi-cloud | No | 5 options | Cloudways |
| Non-WP Apps | No | Yes | Cloudways |
| Annual Discount | Yes (2 months) | Not required | Pressable |

## Features

### Pressable

**Managed WordPress**: Global Edge HTML Network, HTTP/3 and 0-RTT, Jetpack Security Daily, unlimited bandwidth, staging environments, and 24/7 Automattic engineering support.

**Agency and Multi-site**: Centralised My.Pressable dashboard, site cloning, collaborator management, and scalable site limits.

**Enterprise WordPress**: SLA-backed 100% uptime, dedicated resources, and priority access to Automattic’s engineering depth.

| | Signature 1 | Signature 3 | Signature 5 | Signature 8 | Premium |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Percent Uptime SLA | | | | | |
| Jetpack Security Daily | | | | | |
| NVMe Server Storage | | | | | |
| Global CDN Included | | | | | |
| Free Managed Migrations | | | | | |
| 24 7 Expert Support | | | | | |
| Staging Environments | | | | | |
| Malware Scanning | | | | | |
| Daily Backups | | | | | |
| Auto Scaling Resources | | | | | |
| 10 Plus PHP Workers | | | | | |
| Slack Support Channel | | | | | |
| White Glove Onboarding | | | | | |
| Custom Storage Options | | | | | |
| Advanced DDoS Mitigation | | | | | |

### Cloudways

**WordPress Hosting**: Varnish and Redis pre-configured, staging, team management, and any WordPress use case.

**Multi-application**: Node.js, Magento, Laravel, Drupal, and any LAMP or LEMP stack application alongside WordPress.

**Multi-cloud**: Deploy identical stacks on DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Vultr, or Linode. Switch providers without migrating applications.

**Developer Platform**: Site cloning, team permissions, Cloudflare add-on, staging pipelines.

| | DigitalOcean Micro | DigitalOcean Small | DigitalOcean Medium | DigitalOcean Large | Vultr Micro | Vultr Small | Vultr Medium | Vultr Large | Linode Micro | Linode Small | Linode Medium | Linode Large | AWS Micro | AWS Small | AWS Medium | AWS Large | Google Cloud Small | Google Cloud Medium | Google Cloud Large | Google Cloud XL |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 24/7/365 Support | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Free SSL Certificates | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dedicated Firewalls | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Staging Environment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Automated Backups | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Unlimited App Installation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Team Management | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| HTTP/2 Enabled Servers | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| SSH & SFTP Access | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Free Migration | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Real-time Monitoring | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Auto-Healing Servers | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Regular Security Patching | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Native Email Hosting | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Choice of 5 Cloud Providers | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Who Should Use Which

**Choose Pressable if you:**

- Want the entire WordPress stack managed without any server or configuration involvement
- Serve a global audience and need the fastest possible server response from every region
- Want HTTP/3 and 0-RTT without configuring Cloudflare or any CDN settings
- Want Jetpack Security Daily included without a separate subscription
- Run WooCommerce and need reliable concurrent load handling for peak traffic events
- Want support from Automattic engineers who build the WordPress and WooCommerce software

**Choose Cloudways if you:**

- Run applications beyond WordPress that require a managed cloud environment
- Want to deploy on DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Vultr, or Linode based on cost or regional needs
- Need verified green hosting for sustainability reporting or eco-badge requirements
- Need the lowest entry price for managed cloud WordPress
- Want direct control over PHP settings, caching configuration, and server-level WordPress tuning
- Want the flexibility to switch cloud providers without migrating a single application

### Situation and Use Case Recommendations

| Your Situation | Recommended | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WordPress-only, want zero configuration | Pressable | Fully managed; Cloudways requires app management |
| Mixed tech stack (WP + Node.js + Magento) | Cloudways | Only option in this comparison |
| Global audience (EU + Asia + US) | Pressable | 15ms edge HTML globally; Cloudways origin 244ms |
| Verified green certification required | Cloudways | Verified; Pressable not in database |
| WooCommerce peak traffic events | Pressable | 99ms concurrent load; Cloudways 451ms |
| Budget entry managed cloud | Cloudways | $11/month vs Pressable $20/month |
| Unlimited bandwidth (media-heavy site) | Pressable | Confirmed; Cloudways metered |
| Deploy on Google Cloud specifically | Cloudways | One of 5 options; not available via Pressable |
| [Self-managed WordPress advanced config](https://hostingguider.com/blog/self-managed-vps-skills-needed/) | Cloudways | PHP control, Varnish tuning available |
| Jetpack Security without extra cost | Pressable | Included; Cloudways separate |

## Final Verdict

The real difference is management depth. Pressable manages everything. Cloudways manages the infrastructure layer.

On infrastructure performance tests, Pressable is faster on most metrics: better global TTFB, better concurrent load, better desktop rendering, and HTTP/3 included. These results confirm that Pressable’s full-stack management produces a more optimised WordPress delivery environment at corporate-site scale.

Cloudways’ advantages are structural rather than performance-based: multi-cloud flexibility, application variety, lower entry pricing, and verified green hosting. These are not weaknesses in Pressable’s platform — they are capabilities that Pressable’s WordPress-only architecture does not offer.

**Pressable is best for:** WordPress-only sites and agencies that want the entire stack handled, global edge delivery from 15ms worldwide, Automattic’s engineering depth on support calls, and HTTP/3 without a configuration step.

**Cloudways is best for:** Multi-application teams, developers who want direct control over their WordPress configuration, teams needing to run multiple cloud providers from one panel, and deployments where verified green hosting certification is required.

| Category | Winner |
| --- | --- |
| Mobile CWV | Pressable |
| Global TTFB | Pressable |
| Concurrent Load | Pressable |
| Desktop GTmetrix | Pressable |
| HTTP/3 | Pressable |
| Uptime | Tie |
| SSL | Tie |
| Environmental | Cloudways |
| Flexibility | Cloudways |
| Entry Price | Cloudways |

## Tactical Recommendations

**For Pressable: register green energy with the Green Web Foundation.** Automattic is a significant technology organisation with sustainability commitments. Registering Pressable’s infrastructure with the Green Web Foundation would close the one verification gap where Cloudways holds an advantage. For agencies whose clients require eco-certification, this is currently a reason to choose Cloudways over Pressable despite the performance difference.

**For Cloudways: enable HTTP/3 via Cloudflare integration.** Cloudways does not support HTTP/3 natively but routes through Cloudflare which enables it by default. Adding the Cloudflare integration in the Application Manager and enabling HTTP/3 in the Cloudflare dashboard closes the protocol gap with Pressable. This is a one-time configuration step.

**For Pressable: caching plugins are banned for a reason.** Pressable restricts caching and backup plugins because their Global Edge Network handles [caching at the infrastructure level](https://hostingguider.com/blog/caching-website-speed/) rather than the PHP layer. Installing WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache on a Pressable site creates conflicts with the edge caching layer that reduce performance rather than improve it. Use the platform as designed.

**For Cloudways: calculate bandwidth costs before deploying media-heavy sites.** Cloudways charges for bandwidth transfer beyond the included allocation. For sites hosting video content, large image galleries, or downloadable files, the metered bandwidth model adds predictable monthly costs that should be estimated before launch. Pressable’s unlimited bandwidth model avoids this entirely.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the real difference between Pressable and Cloudways?

Management depth. Pressable manages the entire WordPress stack -caching, security, HTTP/3, updates, and PHP configuration are all handled by Automattic’s infrastructure. You manage WordPress content. Cloudways manages the cloud server infrastructure -Varnish, Redis, and the deployment environment are configured. You manage WordPress itself, including updates, plugins, PHP settings, and security. Pressable is a fully managed WordPress host. Cloudways is a managed cloud infrastructure platform.

### Which is faster, Pressable or Cloudways?

Pressable on most performance benchmarks. Its Global Edge HTML Network delivers full page responses in 15ms to 24ms worldwide. Its concurrent load average of 99ms under 50 simultaneous users is significantly faster than Cloudways’ 451ms. Its desktop TTFB of 114ms beats Cloudways’ 244ms. Cloudways’ INP of 225ms is technically a smaller failure than Pressable’s 309ms, and Cloudways’ CDN edge responds in under 2ms. Neither passes mobile Core Web Vitals on their corporate sites.

### Can Cloudways run non-WordPress applications?

Yes. Cloudways supports Node.js, Magento, Laravel, Drupal, Joomla, and any application running on standard LAMP or LEMP stacks. Pressable is exclusively WordPress and WooCommerce. If your stack includes any non-WordPress application, Cloudways is the only option in this comparison.

### Does Pressable include Jetpack?

Yes. Every Pressable plan includes Jetpack Security Daily at no additional cost. This provides real-time automated backups, malware scanning, and site activity logs in the WordPress admin dashboard. Cloudways does not include Jetpack at any tier. Adding equivalent Jetpack functionality requires a separate Jetpack subscription.

### Which is better for WooCommerce?

Pressable for performance under traffic. The 99ms concurrent load average ensures checkout remains responsive during campaign spikes and sale events. The 15ms global edge TTFB means international shoppers receive product pages almost instantly. Cloudways’ 451ms concurrent average and 244ms origin TTFB are functional but noticeably slower. For a WooCommerce store where conversion rate is tied to mobile speed, Pressable’s edge architecture is the stronger infrastructure.

### Does Cloudways charge for bandwidth?

Yes. Cloudways bills for bandwidth usage beyond the included allocation in each plan. The amount varies by server and cloud provider. Pressable offers unlimited bandwidth with no metering or overage charges. For media-heavy sites or sites with high download traffic, Pressable’s unlimited bandwidth model eliminates a variable cost that Cloudways introduces.