Cloudways alternative
The Cloudways alternative: the same freedom, for less.
Like Cloudways, Netkeel gives you your own cloud server with unlimited websites and hourly billing. Both run on Vultr, so the servers are identical: an 8 GB Vultr server costs $61.53/mo on Netkeel and $99/mo on Cloudways.
Free migration · 30-day money-back guarantee · Billed by the hour
The maths
The same Vultr servers, side by side
| Netkeel | Cloudways | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB · 1 vCPU · 25 GB | $9/mo | $14/mo |
| 2 GB · 1 vCPU · 55 GB | $16.50/mo | $28/mo |
| 4 GB · 2 vCPU · 80 GB | $31.56/mo | $54/mo |
| 8 GB · 4 vCPU · 160 GB | $61.53/mo | $99/mo |
| Per-app add-ons | None | From $3/app/mo |
Both columns are Vultr Standard servers with the same memory, CPU and disk. Cloudways prices are its Vultr Standard plans; its cheapest plan overall is 1 GB on DigitalOcean at $11/mo.
Why people switch
What changes when you move to Netkeel.
Lower server prices
The same sizes cost less, and the difference grows with bigger servers.
No per-app add-ons
Cloudways sells Malware Protection ($4/app/mo) and Site Manager ($3/app/mo) per app. Netkeel has nothing to add per site.
Backups in your own bucket
Off-site copies go to your S3, B2, Wasabi or R2 bucket, encrypted with a password you keep.
Preview address for every site
Build on a free HTTPS address, then connect your domain when it is ready.
Per-site SSH, never root
Each site has its own isolated login, so one site cannot touch another.
30-day money back
Cloudways offers a 3-day trial. Netkeel refunds you if you ask within 30 days.
Feature by feature
Netkeel and Cloudways compared.
| Netkeel | Cloudways | |
|---|---|---|
| Websites | Unlimited per server | Unlimited per server |
| Billing | Hourly, capped monthly | Hourly |
| Staging | Included | Included |
| Redis object cache | Included | Included |
| Per-app add-ons | None | Malware Protection $4/app/mo, Site Manager $3/app/mo |
| Off-site backups | To your own bucket | Included, extra storage $0.033/GB |
| Try it | 30-day money-back guarantee | 3-day free trial |
| Email mailboxes | Not offered | Rackspace add-on, $1.50/mailbox/mo |
Cloudways figures from its public pricing page, checked on 4 October 2026, in USD. Prices and promotions change; check Cloudways's site for current offers.
How to switch
Free migration, no downtime.
Our team migrates your sites from Cloudways for free. Your old host keeps serving visitors while you check everything on Netkeel, and visitors move over only when you point your domain.
- Create a serverPick a region close to your visitors and a size.
- Check the previewEach site runs on a free preview address with HTTPS so you can test it.
- We migrate your sites for freeOpen a ticket and our team copies them over. Prefer to do it yourself? Use SFTP or your usual migration plugin.
- Connect your domainPoint the domain to your server and click Connect. Netkeel issues the certificate.
To be fair
When Cloudways may suit you better
You want servers on AWS or Google Cloud, or email mailboxes from the same provider as your hosting.
Can you migrate my sites for me?
Yes, for free. Open a support ticket from the panel and our team moves your sites from Cloudways to your Netkeel server.
Will my site go down while I switch?
No. You build and test on the preview address while Cloudways keeps serving visitors. Nothing changes for them until you point your domain to Netkeel.
Is there a contract?
No. Servers are billed by the hour. Delete one whenever you like.
What if Netkeel is not right for me?
Ask within 30 days of creating your account and we refund what you paid.
Launch your first server today.
Create your account, add a payment method and launch a server in a few minutes. Netkeel handles the updates, backups and security.