Cloudways vs Interserver: guide for 2024

Cloudways vs Interserver: Final verdict

Looking over Cloudways vs. InterServer, each hosting provider offers unique strengths tailored to different types of users.

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  Cloudways (Overall grade: 8.5)
  
  
  delivers a high-performance platform ideal for those needing advanced features, reliable uptime, and optimized speed. Its offerings are especially favorable for high-traffic websites, agencies, and ecommerce with its superior support and scalability options. One notable advantage of Cloudways is the combination of an intuitive control panel with extensive security measures like server-level firewalls and automated backups. However, limitations like the absence of shared hosting and dedicated email hosting might not make it the first choice for everyone.
  
• 
  InterServer (Overall grade: 8.1)
  
  
  stands out for its affordability and the provision of unlimited storage and bandwidth, making it great for multimedia websites. It supports a robust range of hosting types, including shared and dedicated hosting, with a strong focus on versatility. Performance and reliability are solid, though not quite on par with Cloudways. InterServer could improve in areas like server response times and more integrated user management features. Despite these minor shortcomings, it remains a dependable option with comprehensive email security and simple migration processes.
  

Hosting types offered

Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.

Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in
certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.

Detailed comparison

Section 1: Winner Cloudways: Cloudways offers near-perfect performance and reliability.

Section 2: Cloudways boasts an impressive track record with uptime consistently reaching 100% in 2020 and 2021, and 99.99% in 2022. With a 99.99% uptime guarantee and a quick average server response time of 229ms, it ensures a high level of availability. Cloudways also excels in performance optimization with built-in caches and an optimized tech stack, making it a strong contender for those seeking reliable cloud hosting.

Section 3: InterServer guarantees 99.9% uptime but has shown long-term performance at 99.99%. Although it offers commendable reliability through its partnership with Cloudflare and innovative caching mechanisms, its average server response time of 662ms and typical loading time of about 1.2 seconds fall short compared to Cloudways. InterServer is solid but doesn’t match Cloudways’ uptime and performance metrics.

In the end, Cloudways’ superior uptime, faster response times, and advanced performance optimization make it a more reliable choice for cloud hosting needs.

🏆 Winner: Cloudways Cloudways stands out due to its advanced performance features and high security measures.

When comparing the general performance of Cloudways and InterServer, Cloudways benefits from SSD hosting, which significantly reduces page load times. It also incorporates built-in advanced caching mechanisms like Memcached, Varnish, Nginx, and Redis, enhancing speed without extra setup. Cloudways supports vertical scaling of RAM, CPU, and storage, and provides Cloudflare Enterprise CDN for added performance and security. InterServer, while offering fast web servers with SSD Caching and RAID-10 Storage, includes a free Cloudflare CDN and maintains a server capacity utilization of 50%, ensuring reliable performance. Both have multiple data centers worldwide; however, Cloudways’ optimized hosting stack (NGINX, Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, PHP-FPM) sets it apart in high-traffic handling.

Website Speed

Cloudways delivers faster website speed due to its SSD drives and advanced caching. PHP 8.2 support and auto-healing servers ensure smooth operations, while the Breeze WordPress cache plugin benefits over 300,000 users. InterServer also focuses on speed with SSD Caching servers and a 10GB Cisco network. While effective, it lacks the combined caching solutions of Cloudways, making Cloudways slightly faster in execution and load times.

Scalability

Cloudways allows elastic scaling with a simple 1-click interface to increase server resources such as RAM, CPU, and storage according to demand. This flexibility supports high availability and minimizes costs. InterServer offers scalability to VPS or dedicated servers with no downtime during migration. Both are efficient; however, Cloudways provides more granular control over scaling without needing to change plans drastically. The specific costs involved in scaling with Cloudways aren’t detailed, while InterServer’s process appears streamlined but might require moving to a higher-tier service.

🏆 Winner InterServer: A secure and versatile hosting provider with advanced email protections.

Both Cloudways and InterServer have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

Cloudways offers free 1-click SSL certificates, server-level firewalls, and bot protection for WordPress sites through MalCare. It also supports various PHP versions up to PHP 8.2. InterServer provides free SSL certificates, virus scanners, and a machine-learning firewall as part of its InterShield Security. It supports up to PHP 8.3 and includes end-to-end encryption for emails. Both providers focus on automated protection but Cloudways leans more toward securing hosting environments, while InterServer has a strong emphasis on email security.

Operational security measures:

Cloudways features automated protections like Fail2ban and auto-healing servers. It uses dedicated firewalls and offers application isolation for WooCommerce stores, ensuring minimal interruption. InterServer employs InterShield Security to proactively block web attacks and offers self-healing hardware that redirects services to a different node if issues arise. InterServer also includes physical data center security like gated perimeter fences and 24/7 security staff. Both offer multiple layers of operational security, but InterServer extends these measures to include robust email and physical data center security.

Compliance and certifications:

Cloudways’ infrastructure partners provide PCI-DSS compliant hardware, although Cloudways itself is not PCI-DSS compliant. GDPR compliance is inferred due to the company’s focus on security and data protection. Meanwhile, InterServer’s commitment to privacy implies GDPR compliance, but specific details are not provided. Neither provider mentions HIPAA compliance directly.

🏆 Winner Cloudways: Providing a wide array of performance enhancements, security features, and ease of use, Cloudways is an exceptional hosting provider.

Cloudways excels in performance with SSD hosting, built-in caches, and an optimized stack that includes NGINX, Apache, and MySQL/MariaDB. It supports PHP 8 and is bundled with Cloudflare and the Breeze plugin for speed optimization. This hosting also boasts SSD caching servers, ensuring ultra-fast access times. Conversely, InterServer emphasizes its unbeatable storage options with unlimited storage space, data transfer, and weekly backups. It also offers Cloud Linux OS and a 10GB Cisco Network for stability and speed.

In terms of user convenience, Cloudways stands out with 1-click actions for backups, website cloning, and staging URLs. It supports team collaboration with user roles and Git integration. InterServer falls behind here, lacking a staging environment but does include free weekly backups and a free Cloudflare CDN. Domain policies also vary; Cloudways includes free SSL certificates with automatic updates, while InterServer provides unlimited FTP accounts and a standard speed optimization feature, though it doesn’t elaborate much on advanced functionalities.

Both providers support a range of users from beginners to experts with user-friendly website builders and WordPress staging areas. However, in terms of developer tools, both Cloudways and InterServer offer robust options including SSH access, support for multiple programming languages, and Git for version control, thus appealing to developers looking for advanced capabilities.

Email services:

Cloudways offers advanced email features with the option to add Rackspace Email or Elastic Email to your hosting plan, making it suitable for those needing robust transactional email capabilities or bespoke email hosting services. InterServer does not specify particular email features or add-ons, but offers unlimited FTP accounts which may be beneficial for users who prefer standard configurations.

🏆 Winner
Cloudways: Cloudways scores slightly higher overall, mainly due to the robust features included in their plans and the transparency of what’s included.

Evaluating the pricing of plans among various hosting providers can be complex due to their differing pricing and renewal strategies. Additionally, certain plans require annual commitments, which adds to the difficulty of making comparisons. The prices listed are based on monthly commitments; plans requiring annual commitments are indicated. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.

Comparing the pricing plans of Cloudways and InterServer highlights the differences in their offerings. Cloudways presents a wide variety of plans for different needs, with a specific focus on features like RAM, processor cores, storage, and bandwidth across multiple hosting categories. InterServer, on the other hand, often emphasizes unlimited features, like their Standard Web Hosting plan which offers unlimited storage and websites at a highly competitive price. For WordPress hosting, Cloudways offers a range of plans from $11 to $1056 per month, whereas InterServer’s WordPress plans range from $6 to $90 per month, with varying core counts and storage capacities. InterServer provides simpler, flat-rate plans for shared hosting and adds value with features like free SSL certificates and free migration services. Their entry-level Cloud VPS Hosting at $6.00/month offers good value for basic needs.

Enterprise plans

Comparing enterprise plans reveals Cloudways as better suited for large-scale businesses due to its versatile offerings and resource allocations like RAM, storage, and bandwidth across different providers such as AWS, GCE, and Vultr. InterServer, however, focuses on providing more uniform and straightforward packages with heavy emphasis on unlimited features and simplicity. Cloudways also allows businesses to personalize their hosting needs, making it more adaptable for enterprise-level requirements.

🏆 Winner
Cloudways: Offers a user-friendly control panel with 1-click actions for various operations.

Cloudways provides users with an intuitive and easy-to-use control panel designed to simplify server and application management. This custom solution is tailored for both technical and non-technical users, offering features like 1-click installations for popular applications including WordPress and Magento. Users can also take advantage of 1-click backup/restore, website/server cloning, and staging areas for development, making it very accessible for beginners. With pre-installed Git and SSH/SFTP access, Cloudways ensures that even developers have the necessary tools to manage their websites efficiently.

InterServer, on the other hand, offers standard control panels like cPanel and DirectAdmin, which are familiar to many users. These control panels provide a wide range of tools for website management through a simple web interface. With 461 one-click script installations, users have access to a variety of applications to choose from. Although well-established, cPanel and DirectAdmin may not offer the same level of integrated features tailored specifically for certain applications, making them slightly less user-friendly for absolute beginners compared to Cloudways.

When it comes to migration tools, Cloudways leads with its free migration service for the first website from any web host, offering both ease and cost-effectiveness. Users can perform these migrations without worrying about additional fees. In contrast, InterServer also provides a free migration service but requires the user to have a full cPanel backup ready and an empty account at InterServer. This can be a bit more cumbersome, especially for users not well-versed in creating backups.

Both hosting providers offer comprehensive help center resources. Cloudways boasts a centralized resource center with a detailed knowledge base and 24/7 live chat support, ensuring users can resolve issues promptly. They also have a strong community of experts offering additional support. InterServer too offers 24/7 support via phone, live chat, and ticket systems, along with a useful knowledge base that includes articles on various technical topics. However, the community aspect and additional premium support add-ons give Cloudways a slight edge.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Cloudways offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. InterServer also boasts a detailed help center with an intuitive search function and around-the-clock support via live chat, phone, and ticketing, ensuring comprehensive user support.

🏆 Winner
Cloudways: Cloudways provides a detailed and efficient way to manage user roles and permissions through the WordPress Admin Panel. Users can be added, edited, deleted, and assigned different roles, all within a streamlined interface. Cloudways supports various default roles such as Super Admin, Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, and Subscriber, each designed to address specific needs and responsibilities. Conversely, InterServer relies on several control panels (cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin) for user management. These control panels generally offer user management features, but the flexibility and depth of role customization do not match the specific framework provided by Cloudways in the WordPress environment.

The user interface and tools for managing users on Cloudways are integrated within the WordPress Admin Panel, making the process straightforward. Users can access the admin panel either directly or through the Cloudways Platform, leading to a unified experience for role and user management. InterServer’s use of multiple control panels may cater to different preferences but can also lead to a fragmented user management experience, as users need to familiarize themselves with the specific panel used for their hosting plan.

Cloudways ensures effective access control measures by allowing precise role assignments, making it easy to delegate responsibilities and restrict access where necessary. As the number of users grows, Cloudways’ reliance on WordPress roles can scale efficiently, allowing administrators to maintain control while adding or modifying users. InterServer’s approach, while functional, can become cumbersome with a large number of users, especially given the different methods and interfaces across its control panels. This can lead to inconsistencies in managing user roles and permissions.

Cloudways user roles table:

🏆 Winner Cloudways: Offers a range of customer service channels including premium support options.

Cloudways and InterServer each offer 24/7 customer support through multiple channels such as phone, live chat, and email/ticket systems. Cloudways extends its support options to include a private Slack channel and phone support with their premium service add-ons, offering various response times depending on the service level. Cloudways’ advanced and premium support add-ons also include customization support and a dedicated account manager.

InterServer offers a tips section for self-help, proactive backups, and free migration services, along with unlimited email accounts and a wide range of control panels for both shared and VPS servers. Their knowledgeable support team typically resolves issues within 48 hours and guarantees a 30-minute response time. Both hosting providers feature extensive knowledge bases and community forums for additional user support.

Cloudways vs Interserver: User feedback

Cloudways consistently receives high praise for its ease of use, robust performance, and excellent customer support. Many reviewers highlight the platform’s intuitive interface, effective server management features, and the ability to choose from top-tier cloud providers like AWS and DigitalOcean. Users appreciate the scalable hosting options and reliable customer service, which often includes quick response times and helpful assistance. However, some customers note areas for improvement, such as the absence of email hosting, limitations on server vendor choices, and discrepancies in pricing transparency. Overall, Cloudways is deemed a solid hosting provider, especially valued for its managed hosting features and performance enhancement capabilities.

User feedback on the hosting provider paints a mixed picture. Many users commend the provider for its affordable, straightforward pricing and extensive features like unlimited storage and bandwidth, free SSL certificates, and a user-friendly control panel. The customer support, while generally prompt and effective, has garnered both praise and criticism, especially due to the lack of a dedicated phone support line and sometimes long live chat wait times. However, performance issues such as inconsistent server speed, downtime, and occasional loss of data have been frequent points of frustration for users.

Cloudways vs Interserver: FAQ