---
title: "SiteGround vs Cloudways: When Should You Move From Shared Hosting to a Cloud Server?"
description: "SiteGround fits sites that sit comfortably inside shared hosting limits, while Cloudways fits busy stores and multi-site owners who need their own cloud server. The switch point is often the renewal. SiteGround…"
url: "https://hostingguider.com/comparison/siteground-vs-cloudways/"
canonical_url: "https://hostingguider.com/comparison/siteground-vs-cloudways/"
date: "2026-06-11T06:28:24+00:00"
modified: "2026-09-26T13:03:31+00:00"
author: Rantideb Howlader
type: article
site: HostingGuider
language: en-US
---

# SiteGround vs Cloudways: When Should You Move From Shared Hosting to a Cloud Server?

SiteGround fits sites that sit comfortably inside shared hosting limits, while Cloudways fits busy stores and multi-site owners who need their own cloud server.

The switch point is often the renewal. SiteGround GoGeek renews at $44.99 a month on a 12-month term, while a Cloudways 4 GB DigitalOcean server costs $46 a month.

SiteGround is premium shared hosting, where your sites share a server with other customers under set resource limits.

Cloudways gives you your own cloud server, where you host as many sites as it can handle.

The [SiteGround review](https://hostingguider.com/reviews/siteground/) and the [Cloudways review](https://hostingguider.com/reviews/cloudways/) cover each host in full. This page is about the upgrade decision.

## SiteGround vs Cloudways: the short verdict

SiteGround wins for simple, all-included hosting with email and phone support, while Cloudways wins once you need dedicated resources or your SiteGround renewal nears a cloud server’s price.

**Stay with SiteGround** if your site gets steady, moderate traffic, you want email included, and you’d rather never think about server size.

**Move to Cloudways** if you run a busy store or several sites, you see CPU warnings, or your SiteGround renewal is coming up.

**Consider SiteGround Cloud** if you’ve outgrown shared hosting but don’t want to migrate to a new company.

### SiteGround vs Cloudways at a glance

| Decision point | SiteGround | Cloudways |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Entry price | GrowBig $4.99 a month (12-month first term) | $11 a month (1 GB DigitalOcean server) |
| Regular price | GrowBig $29.99, GoGeek $44.99 a month (12-month term) | Same monthly price every month |
| Resource limits | 1,000 to 4,000 CPU seconds an hour | Your server’s RAM and CPU |
| Email | Included | Rackspace add-on from $1.50 per mailbox |
| Backups | Daily, 30 days kept | Automated; offsite storage $0.033 per GB |
| Support | 24/7 chat, tickets, and phone | 24/7 live chat and tickets |
| Refunds and trial | 30-day money-back on shared plans | 3-day free trial, no money-back guarantee listed |
| Uptime stated | 99.9% | No uptime SLA listed |
| Current plans and prices | [See SiteGround plans](https://hostingguider.com/recommend/siteground) | [See Cloudways plans](https://hostingguider.com/recommend/cloudways) |

Prices confirmed on September 25, 2026.

## SiteGround CPU limits vs a Cloudways server

SiteGround caps shared plans at 1,000 to 4,000 CPU seconds an hour, while Cloudways sets no CPU-second or visit limit beyond the size of your server.

SiteGround’s [fair use page](https://www.siteground.com/kb/fair-use-siteground-hosting?utm_source=hostingguider.com), last updated in October 2021, lists these limits:

| Limit | StartUp | GrowBig | GoGeek |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CPU seconds per hour | 1,000 | 2,000 | 4,000 |
| CPU seconds per month | 300,000 | 600,000 | 800,000 |
| Inodes (files and folders) | 200,000 | 400,000 | 600,000 |

A CPU second is one second of processor time spent running your site’s code. Every uncached page view, plugin task, and admin screen uses some.

SiteGround says it relies on early warnings when it can. With severe or repeated overuse, it may limit access to your site until you fix the cause.

Its [web hosting page](https://www.siteground.com/web-hosting.htm?utm_source=hostingguider.com) gives rough traffic guidance: about 100,000 monthly visits for GrowBig and 400,000 or more for GoGeek.

Heavy plugins and uncached WooCommerce pages burn CPU seconds faster than traffic does.

On Cloudways, your sites run on a server with its own RAM and CPU. Nobody else’s site uses those resources, and the limit is the server itself.

| Cloudways DigitalOcean server | RAM | CPU | Storage | Bandwidth | Monthly |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DO1GB | 1 GB | 1 core | 25 GB | 1 TB | $11 |
| DO2GB | 2 GB | 1 core | 50 GB | 2 TB | $24 |
| DO4GB | 4 GB | 2 cores | 80 GB | 4 TB | $46 |
| DO8GB | 8 GB | 4 cores | 160 GB | 5 TB | $88 |

These rates come from the Cloudways [pricing table](https://www.cloudways.com/en/pricing-new.php?utm_source=hostingguider.com). Cloudways bills by the hour, invoiced monthly, with no long-term contract.

The same table lists Object Cache Pro free on 2 GB servers and up.

The trade-off is responsibility. On SiteGround, you never choose hardware. On Cloudways, you pick the server size and decide when to resize.

## When to move from SiteGround to Cloudways

A move from SiteGround to Cloudways makes sense when CPU warnings become a pattern, not after a single traffic spike. Watch for these signs:

- SiteGround emails you about CPU usage more than once in a few months.
- The CPU seconds graph in your Client Area statistics sits near your hourly limit during normal traffic.
- Your store or membership site serves many logged-in users, whose pages can’t be cached.
- You’re about to buy a second SiteGround plan because one account’s limits are full.

Weighing [shared vs VPS hosting](https://hostingguider.com/guides/shared-vs-vps-hosting-which-one-should-you-choose/) in general terms helps if you’re unsure which side of the line you’re on.

## The cost jump: SiteGround renewals vs Cloudways servers

SiteGround GrowBig costs $59.88 for its first year but $359.88 from year two, while a Cloudways 2 GB server costs $288 every year.

| Plan | First year | Second year (12-month renewal) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SiteGround GrowBig | $59.88 ($4.99 a month) | $359.88 ($29.99 a month) |
| SiteGround GoGeek | $95.88 ($7.99 a month) | $539.88 ($44.99 a month) |
| Cloudways DO2GB | $288 | $288 |
| Cloudways DO4GB | $552 | $552 |

SiteGround’s intro prices come from its [WordPress hosting page](https://www.siteground.com/wordpress-hosting.htm?utm_source=hostingguider.com) and require paying 12 months upfront. Its [regular rates page](https://www.siteground.com/kb/current-rates-shared-hosting-plans?utm_source=hostingguider.com) lists the renewals.

Prices confirmed on September 25, 2026.

A 24-month renewal lowers GoGeek to $39.99 a month. Paying month to month raises it to $49.99, and GrowBig to $34.99. Cloudways figures are 12 months of pay-as-you-go billing.

In year one, SiteGround is far cheaper. From year two, GoGeek costs about the same as a Cloudways 4 GB server, which gives your sites dedicated resources.

For your budget, this means the best time to decide is a month before your SiteGround renewal date.

### SiteGround vs Cloudways email and backups

SiteGround includes email and 30 days of daily backups on its shared plans, while Cloudways charges $1.50 per mailbox a month for email.

Cloudways sells email through its [Rackspace email add-on](https://www.cloudways.com/en/addon/rackspace-email-hosting.php?utm_source=hostingguider.com). A small business with five mailboxes would add $90 a year to the Cloudways total.

Cloudways includes automated backups but charges $0.033 per GB for offsite backup storage on each server.

![Cloudways logo](https://hostingguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/cloudways-logo.webp)

### Cloudways

4.7/5

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

## SiteGround vs Cloudways support, refunds, and uptime

SiteGround offers 24/7 phone support and a 30-day money-back guarantee on shared plans, while Cloudways offers 24/7 chat and tickets and a 3-day free trial instead.

**Support:** SiteGround lists 24/7 chat, ticket, and phone support. Its [phone support article](https://www.siteground.com/kb/phone_support?utm_source=hostingguider.com) notes that phone is English only and may not be offered for every issue.

Cloudways lists 24/7 live chat and tickets on every server, with Advanced Support as a paid upgrade.

**Refunds:** SiteGround’s [refund policy](https://www.siteground.com/kb/do_i_get_a_refund?utm_source=hostingguider.com) gives 30 days on shared hosting and 14 days on cloud. Domain fees aren’t refundable.

Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card (not for AWS or Google Cloud servers) on its [pricing page](https://www.cloudways.com/en/pricing.php?utm_source=hostingguider.com). We found no money-back guarantee listed there.

**Uptime:** SiteGround’s web hosting page states 99.9% uptime. We found no uptime SLA percentage on Cloudways’ pricing or terms pages.

**Data centers:** SiteGround lists 11 data centers on Google Cloud on its [data centers page](https://www.siteground.com/datacenters?utm_source=hostingguider.com). Cloudways lets you pick from five cloud providers, each with its own regions.

## SiteGround Cloud vs Cloudways: dedicated resources without migrating

SiteGround Cloud Jump Start costs $100 a month for 4 CPU cores and 8 GB of RAM, while a Cloudways DO8GB server with the same CPU and RAM costs $88.

The Jump Start plan also includes 40 GB of storage and 5 TB of data transfer, per SiteGround’s [cloud hosting page](https://www.siteground.com/cloud-hosting.htm?utm_source=hostingguider.com).

| | SiteGround Cloud Jump Start | Cloudways DO8GB |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly price | $100 | $88 |
| CPU and RAM | 4 cores, 8 GB | 4 cores, 8 GB |
| Storage | 40 GB | 160 GB |
| Data transfer | 5 TB | 5 TB |
| Email | Included | Add-on |
| Backups | Daily, kept 7 days | Automated; offsite storage $0.033 per GB |
| Automatic scaling | Optional (Smart Autoscaling) | Not listed for standard servers |
| Money-back guarantee | 14 days | 3-day free trial instead |

For your site, this means SiteGround Cloud costs a little more for similar CPU and RAM, with less storage.

In return, you skip a migration and keep email and support in one place.

## Moving from SiteGround to Cloudways

Cloudways migrates your first site free with its own experts, and SiteGround users can move more WordPress sites free with the Cloudways migrator plugin.

Both options are described on the Cloudways [migration page](https://www.cloudways.com/en/free-website-migration-service.php?utm_source=hostingguider.com).

Plan the move before your SiteGround renewal, and move your email separately if you use SiteGround’s.

The steps to [migrate WordPress to cloud hosting](https://hostingguider.com/guides/migrate-wordpress-cloud-hosting-no-downtime/) cover how to switch DNS without downtime.

## Cloudways’ SiteGround comparison, checked

Most of Cloudways’ claims about SiteGround match SiteGround’s current pages, but its backup claim overstates the entry plan’s limits.

Cloudways publishes a [SiteGround comparison page](https://www.cloudways.com/en/siteground-alternative.php?utm_source=hostingguider.com). We checked its main claims against SiteGround’s own pages.

| Cloudways’ claim about SiteGround | What SiteGround’s pages show now |
| --- | --- |
| GrowBig renews at $29.99 and GoGeek at $44.99 a month | Matches SiteGround’s regular rates page (12-month term) |
| CPU-second caps of 1,000 to 4,000 an hour | Matches SiteGround’s fair use page |
| Backups sit behind GrowBig | Daily backups are on all plans; only on-demand backups start at GrowBig |
| Staging starts on GrowBig | Matches SiteGround’s web hosting page |
| 11 data center locations | Matches SiteGround’s data centers page |

## SiteGround vs Cloudways winners by category

SiteGround wins six of ten categories, mostly on included extras and support, while Cloudways wins on cost from year two, dedicated resources, staging, and location choice.

| Category | Winner | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First-year cost | SiteGround | GrowBig at $59.88 for year one |
| Cost from year two | Cloudways | A 4 GB server costs about what GoGeek renews at |
| Dedicated resources | Cloudways | Your own server, no CPU-second caps |
| Hands-off hosting | SiteGround | No server size to choose |
| Email included | SiteGround | Included on shared and cloud plans |
| Staging | Cloudways | Included on every server, vs GrowBig and up at SiteGround |
| Support channels | SiteGround | Phone support on top of chat and tickets |
| Refunds | SiteGround | 30-day money-back on shared plans |
| Location choice | Cloudways | Five cloud providers vs 11 Google Cloud data centers |
| Growing without migrating | SiteGround | SiteGround Cloud keeps you with one company |

**Our pick:** SiteGround for sites that fit within GrowBig or GoGeek limits. Cloudways once you see repeated CPU warnings or your renewal price approaches a cloud server’s.

## Should you stay on SiteGround or move to Cloudways?

Stay on SiteGround while your site runs smoothly within its limits, and move to Cloudways when CPU warnings repeat or your renewal nears $46 a month.

**If your blog gets about 50,000 visits a month and runs smoothly,** stay on SiteGround GrowBig. Nothing here says you need to move.

**A WooCommerce store getting CPU warnings** is the classic case for Cloudways. A 2 GB or 4 GB server gives it room, plus free Object Cache Pro.

**If your GoGeek renewal is due next month,** price a Cloudways 4 GB server before you renew.

**Want more power but no migration?** SiteGround Cloud from $100 a month keeps everything in one account.

Cloudways also comes up against a pricier managed host in [Cloudways vs Kinsta](https://hostingguider.com/comparison/cloudways-vs-kinsta/), and SiteGround’s shared pricing gets a closer look in [Hostinger vs SiteGround](https://hostingguider.com/comparison/hostinger-vs-siteground/).

Wider questions sit in the [cloud hosting](https://hostingguider.com/topics/cloud-hosting/) section.

**Ready to check prices?** [Visit SiteGround](https://hostingguider.com/recommend/siteground) or [visit Cloudways](https://hostingguider.com/recommend/cloudways) to see today’s plans before you buy.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cloudways better than SiteGround?

It depends on your site’s size. Cloudways suits busy sites that need their own server, while SiteGround is simpler and far cheaper in the first year.

### Is SiteGround or Cloudways cheaper?

SiteGround is cheaper in year one, with GrowBig at $59.88. From year two, GoGeek’s $44.99 monthly renewal nearly matches a $46 Cloudways 4 GB server.

### Does SiteGround or Cloudways include email?

SiteGround includes email on its plans. Cloudways charges $1.50 per mailbox a month for Rackspace email.

### Does SiteGround or Cloudways offer a money-back guarantee?

SiteGround does, with 30 days on shared plans and 14 days on cloud. Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial but lists no money-back guarantee.

### Is SiteGround Cloud cheaper than Cloudways?

No. SiteGround Cloud starts at $100 a month for 4 cores and 8 GB, which is $12 more than the matching Cloudways server.

### Will Cloudways migrate my site from SiteGround?

Yes. Cloudways experts move your first site free, and its plugin handles further WordPress moves at no charge.

### How we compared SiteGround and Cloudways

This comparison is built from official sources only.
For SiteGround, we used its WordPress hosting, web hosting, cloud hosting, and data centers pages, plus its regular rates, fair use, phone support, and refund articles.
For Cloudways, we used its pricing page and pricing table, migration page, email add-on page, and SiteGround comparison page. All details were checked on September 25, 2026.

Our [Methodology](https://hostingguider.com/methodology/) and [Editorial Guidelines](https://hostingguider.com/editorial-guidelines/) explain how we research hosts and correct errors.