Pantheon vs Cloudways: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Pantheon 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:
Pantheon
WebOps platform for Drupal and WordPress
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (7.3/10 vs 7.0/10)
- • You want to try before committing
- • Pantheon is a website operations platform for Drupal and WordPress
- • It provides hosting, workflow automation, and performance optimization
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 |  Pantheon |  Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Hosting & Deployment | Hosting & Deployment |
Rating | 73/100 | 70/100 |
| Feature | Pantheon | 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 & DeploymentCMS | Hosting & DeploymentVPS & Servers |
How Pantheon and Cloudways Compare
Pantheon
WebOps platform for Drupal and WordPress
Free tier available · 73/100 score
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting platform
Paid · 70/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Pantheon has a free tier. Cloudways is paid only.
Go with: Pantheon
Want the highest-rated option?
Pantheon: 73/100. Cloudways: 70/100.
Go with: Pantheon
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Pantheon
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Pantheon is freemium. Cloudways is paid. Pantheon lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are hosting & deployment tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Pantheon scores higher: 73/100 vs 70/100.
Key Takeaways
Pantheon
- Higher score: 73/100 vs 70
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Cloudways
The Bottom Line
Pantheon (73/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pantheon or Cloudways better?
Pantheon scores 73/100 in our evaluation. Pantheon is freemium and Cloudways is paid.
What are Pantheon and Cloudways used for?
Pantheon: WebOps platform for Drupal and WordPress. Cloudways: Managed cloud hosting platform.
What does Pantheon cost vs Cloudways?
Pantheon is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Cloudways is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.