Northflank vs Cloudways: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Northflank and Cloudways comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Northflank
Deploy any project in seconds, in our cloud or yours, with a comprehensive developer platform.
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (7.3/10 vs 7.0/10)
- • You want to try before committing
- • Deploy and manage applications, databases, and AI workloads across any cloud.
- • Offers comprehensive CI/CD, autoscaling, and observability for a streamlined developer experience.
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting platform
Best for you if:
- • Managed cloud hosting from $11/month on DigitalOcean to $37/month on Google Cloud
- • Pay-as-you-go with free SSL, backups, staging, and 24/7 support across all plans
| At a Glance |  Northflank |  Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Hosting & Deployment | Hosting & Deployment |
Rating | 73/100 | 70/100 |
| Feature | Northflank | Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 73 | 70 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Hosting & DeploymentCI/CD | Hosting & DeploymentVPS & Servers |
How Northflank and Cloudways Compare
Northflank
Deploy any project in seconds, in our cloud or yours, with a comprehensive developer platform.
Free tier available · 73/100 score
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting platform
Paid · 70/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Northflank has a free tier. Cloudways is paid only.
Go with: Northflank
Want the highest-rated option?
Northflank: 73/100. Cloudways: 70/100.
Go with: Northflank
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Northflank
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Northflank is freemium. Cloudways is paid. Northflank lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are hosting & deployment tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Northflank scores higher: 73/100 vs 70/100.
Key Takeaways
Northflank
- Higher score: 73/100 vs 70
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Cloudways
The Bottom Line
Northflank (73/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northflank or Cloudways better?
Northflank scores 73/100 in our evaluation. Northflank is freemium and Cloudways is paid.
What are Northflank and Cloudways used for?
Northflank: Deploy any project in seconds, in our cloud or yours, with a comprehensive developer platform.. Cloudways: Managed cloud hosting platform.
What does Northflank cost vs Cloudways?
Northflank is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Cloudways is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.