Caddy vs Cloudways: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Caddy and Cloudways side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Caddy leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Caddy
Modern web server with automatic HTTPS
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Cloudways requires payment)
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting platform
Best for you if:
- • You want managed cloud hosting
| At a Glance | Caddy | Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | From $14/mo, billed monthly Standard plan |
Category | Hosting & Deployment Server Management | Hosting & Deployment Web Hosting |
Rating | n/a | 4.5/5 G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.2 1,238 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | n/a | Potential for higher costs with premium add-ons |
Choose Caddy or Cloudways?
Choose Caddy if
- You want a fully free tool (Cloudways requires payment)
- You want automatic HTTPS
- You want simple configuration
Choose Cloudways if
- You want managed cloud hosting
- You want multiple providers
In-Depth Analysis
Caddy
Modern web server with automatic HTTPS
Caddy's pricing is exceptionally generous, offering a fully-featured modern web server with automatic HTTPS for free.
Strengths
- Pro: Automatic HTTPS
- Pro: Simple configuration
- Pro: Good performance
- Pro: Modern and well-designed
- Pro: Single binary
Weaknesses
- Con: Smaller community than nginx
- Con: Less plugins/modules
- Con: Some advanced features missing
- Con: Commercial license for some uses
- Con: Less enterprise adoption
Key features
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting platform
Cloudways offers a fair pricing structure for managed cloud hosting, especially considering the included features.
Watch out
Potential for higher costs with premium add-ons
Strengths
- Pro: Managed cloud hosting
- Pro: Multiple providers
- Pro: Easy WordPress
- Pro: Good performance
- Pro: Fair pricing
Weaknesses
- Con: No email hosting
- Con: Markup on cloud costs
- Con: Limited regions
- Con: Support varies
- Con: Panel learning curve
Key features
Plans and prices: Caddy vs Cloudways
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Caddy |
| caddyserver.com read Sep 30, 2026 |
| Cloudways |
| cloudways.com read Oct 8, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Caddy pricing and Cloudways pricing.
Key Takeaways
Caddy
- Has a free plan
Cloudways
- Choose if you want managed cloud hosting platform
What the data shows
On the data below, Caddy leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Cloudways has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 1,238 reviews); Caddy has none we can show.
- Cloudways starts at $14/mo, billed monthly; Caddy has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Caddy has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Caddy and Cloudways compare in 2026?
On the data below, Caddy leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Cloudways has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 1,238 reviews); Caddy has none we can show. Cloudways starts at $14/mo, billed monthly; Caddy has no public paid plan price on file. Only Caddy has a free plan.
What are Caddy and Cloudways used for?
Caddy: Modern web server with automatic HTTPS. Cloudways: Managed cloud hosting platform.
What does Caddy cost vs Cloudways?
Caddy is free. Cloudways's cheapest paid plan is Standard at $14/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 8, 2026.
What's the main difference between Caddy and Cloudways?
Caddy's main strength: automatic HTTPS. Cloudways's main strength: managed cloud hosting.