Cloud hosting providers have been growing steadily in popularity in recent years, as advances in cloud security solutions have helped to diminish concerns about data security in the cloud. While traditional hosting deploys solutions on a single server, cloud hosting hosts applications or websites on a network of connected servers (both physical and virtual servers). There are several benefits of cloud hosting compared to traditional hosting, including greater flexibility and scalability. The resources can be scaled according to the user’s or business’s needs, and you’ll only pay for the resources you actually use. Often, this makes cloud hosting a more practical and affordable option.
Because your bandwidth isn’t limited with cloud hosting as it is with traditional hosting, cloud hosting can scale to accommodate seasonal demands or unexpected traffic spikes. That means your websites and apps won’t be at risk of downtime due to server crashes if you get a sudden influx of traffic.
We reviewed dozens of cloud hosting providers to identify the best of the best. We looked at managed and unmanaged cloud hosting providers with or without metered storage. We found cloud hosting that offers unmetered storage and those with impeccable customer service. No matter what you’re looking for in a cloud host provider, we’ve found the right one for you.
For the best cloud hosting provider there is, you don’t want to overlook Host Gator.
Check PriceEarly in our research, we determined that there was only one choice for our top spot. With Host Gator‘s double speed from low-density servers and the ability to scale your resources to your online presence, there’s no wonder this is the best cloud hosting Provider available.
The 5 Top-Rated Cloud Hosting Providers
Editor's Picks | Brand | Editor's Ratings |
---|---|---|
Best Cloud Hosting Provider Overall | Host Gator | 4.8 |
Best Cloud Hosting Provider for WordPress | WP Engine | 4.7 |
Best Budget Cloud Hosting Provider | DreamHost | 4.3 |
Best Cloud Hosting Provider for Help and Support | Liquid Web Managed Cloud | 4.7 |
Best Cloud Hosting for Customization | InMotion Hosting | 4.5 |
*Editor’s ratings are current at the time of publication and can change
Best Cloud Hosting Provider Overall: Host Gator
Host Gator will make sure you don’t lose your work, and neither will anyone using your site – it automatically distributes three mirrored copies of your data across multiple devices to ensure redundancy. And should your hardware malfunction, your data will automatically be switched over to another server. Host Gator is four times more scalable, so no matter how much demand spikes, you can expect your site to remain accessible with no downtime.
An intuitive dashboard will allow you to manage your website easily without the confusion. You can track the traffic and keep an eye on its performance all in one place, and Host Gator’s integrated caching will make sure your page loads quickly.
Host Gator Key Features:
- Total control over usage
- cPanel creates new email accounts, subdomains, and more
- 3 cloud plans available
Best Cloud Hosting Provider for WordPress: WP Engine
Enjoy consistent performance and the latest cloud technology optimized for your WordPress website.
Check PriceWP Engine offers automatic updates and maintenance that will save time and keep your WordPress site secure. It will also backup your data so you’ll no longer have to worry about losing anything. WP Engine has servers across North America, Asia, the Pacific, and Europe.
You’ll get a wide range of high-performance solutions that come from WP Engine’s tech partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and also enjoy the latest technology from the Google Cloud Platform technology thanks to WP Engine’s status as a GCP Innovation Partner. Plus, they have a global support team of more than 250 WordPress experts available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
WP Engine Key Features:
- Optimized for WordPress
- Automatic updates and maintenance
- 24/7 global support team
Best Budget Cloud Hosting Provider: DreamHost
If you’re looking for a cloud hosting provider that won’t break your budget, then you’ll want to check out DreamHost.
Check PriceDreamHost is incredibly easy to use, with a control panel that will make managing your website hassle-free. If you need more than just simple web hosting, this full-service host provider is definitely worth consideration. It has everything you need to make your site successful. It’s fast and reliable, and you’ll have access to 24-hour support, seven days a week, making sure you’re never stuck in a place you can’t figure out.
There’s no wonder why this cloud hosting provider was PCMag’s “Editor’s Choice” winner for five years in a row. With three cloud hosting tiers for both Windows and Linux (512MB RAM Server, 2GB RAM Server, and 8GB RAM Server), plus affordable costs with packages starting at $4.50 per month up to $48 per month, there’s a lot to love about this affordable cloud hosting provider.
DreamHost Key Features:
- Full root and full control
- Unparalleled speed
- Servers scale with you
Best Cloud Hosting Provider for Help and Support: Liquid Web Managed Cloud
If your business is lacking in the IT department, then you’ll definitely want to check out all the support you’ll get from Liquid Web Managed Cloud.
Check PriceLiquid Web Managed Cloud is an excellent cloud hosting provider for those who aren’t confident managing their own web hosting infrastructure. With the managed services and support offered, managing a thriving website or app has never been simpler. In fact, this is an excellent option for small companies or creatives who just can’t justify learning or hiring in-house support to manage their cPanel or servers. With Liquid Web, you can create and manage multiple websites without the stress of backend infrastructure management.
Small business owners will love this cloud hosting provider for its resilience and consistent performance. When your entire business depends on how well your website operates, you can’t afford unexpected downtime.
Liquid Web Managed CloudKey Features:
- Hassle-free
- 24/7 access to support
- Unlimited sites also available
Best Cloud Hosting for Customization: InMotion Hosting
InMotion will allow you to launch your website or app with your exact specifications with the ultimate in customization options.
Check PriceFor those who want greater control, InMotion Hosting offers a self-managed cloud VPS that allows you to configure your server through SSH access and the command line. It’s ideal for system administrators and developers who are comfortable configuring their own servers without a cPanel but want full root access with SSH keys for complete control.
With InMotion, you get a lightning-fast VPS with minimal overhead, server tools for easy workflow and recovery, and enterprise-quality hardware with 20X faster SSD servers, along with the ultimate blank slate to customize and control your server. InMotion offers a variety of cloud VPS plans based on RAM, CPU, SSD GB, and transfer TB, so you can select the amount of resources you need with prices ranging from $5 to $160 per month. Plus, you can easily scale to different plans as your needs change.
InMotion Hosting Key Features:
- Self-managed cloud VPS
- Unmanaged command line for total control
- Lightning-fast cloud platform with built-in redundancy
Who Should Use a Cloud Hosting Provider
In traditional hosting, resources are deployed on a single server, whereas cloud hosting providers deploy resources across a network of connected virtual and physical cloud servers. Websites and applications hosted by cloud hosting providers benefit from greater flexibility and scalability, with the ability to easily utilize additional storage and compute resources as needed to accommodate unexpected spikes in traffic or other demand.
If you’re managing a website or application that’s in growth mode, cloud hosting allows you to pay only for the resources you use and easily accommodate slow or sudden growth without worrying about your site crashing due to a huge spike in traffic. Even if one server fails, other servers on the network can take over to ensure that your website or app users don’t even notice.
Cloud hosting eliminates the need for on-site servers and hardware, so it’s ideal for solopreneurs and small businesses for which on-site IT infrastructure management isn’t feasible. It’s also an excellent choice for anyone or any business with websites or applications that experience ebbs and flows in traffic, especially those for which uptime is paramount to the bottom line, such as e-commerce websites and lead generation websites.
Looking for more tech to help you manage your growing business? Check out our reviews of the best dual monitors and the best VPNs for Mac.
For the best cloud hosting provider there is, you don’t want to overlook Host Gator.
Check PriceImportant Features to Consider
A cloud hosting provider should offer a few important features. Here’s what to consider when selecting a cloud hosting provider:
- Managed or not. If you’re confident in your ability to manage your server, then you may not feel the need to find a managed cloud hosting provider. If you’re a small business and don’t have an IT department, managed cloud hosting may be an excellent idea for you. For a single blog, though, you probably won’t need managed cloud hosting.
- Upgrade to managed. If you’ve given self-managed, or un-managed cloud hosting providers a chance and felt that you weren’t reaching the full potential to your site, then you may want to consider finding a managed provider instead. Several providers will allow you to maintain all your content on their cloud and simply upgrade you should you choose. If you’re concerned this may one day be an issue, seek out a cloud hosting provider that offers both from the beginning.
- Enterprise cloud storage. This is ideal for businesses (or enterprises). If you need a robust cloud, with plenty of support, multiple clouds, premium security, high storage capacity, and high speed, this is the most capable version of cloud hosting providers. However, as with so many things, you pay for that luxury. If you don’t need the extras, you probably won’t want to pay for the premium price tag.
- Metered storage. If you have a decent handle on your storage budget, then it may make sense to you to only pay for what you’re using. However, if you plan on maintaining significant data storage on the cloud, then you may want to consider a blanket, unmetered cost. You’ll likely pay less for metered, but only if you’re confident you’ll be able to stay under the limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cloud hosting service?
A cloud hosting service, unlike a traditional hosting service, hosts websites and applications on a network of connected virtual and physical cloud servers instead of a single server. Because resources are deployed on a network of servers, other servers can pick up the slack if one server fails, which helps to ensure more consistent uptime for mission-critical websites and apps. Cloud hosting providers also enable customers to use and pay for only the resources they need, so costs are easier to control compared to traditional hosting options. This flexibility also enables cloud hosting services to scale readily to meet the demands of spikes in traffic or seasonal demand shifts.
Do I need cloud hosting?
Cloud hosting will give you a nearly perfect uptime, and if you have high traffic, then there’s a significant appeal to the cloud hosting. It may not be your best bet for an especially small business or a personal website, but if you’re looking for greater speed, reliability, and performance, the switch to the cloud may improve your business.
If you plan for your site to expand in the future, the cloud has unlimited scalability – you can scale your site on a cloud to nearly any level of resources to match whatever kind of traffic you pull. It’s an incredibly reliable hosting solution that’s used by popular websites and services like Netflix and Google.
Is cloud hosting better than shared hosting?
Maybe the best way to answer this is to explain the differences. A cloud hosting provider will offer additional security protection and reliability, as well as better support for higher traffic volumes. These advantages do come with associated costs, though. You can get access to a shared server for inexpensive or maybe even free – but with cloud hosting, you should expect to pay a monthly fee.
If you’re interested in strictly costs, then you’ll also want to bear in mind that you get what you pay for – and more than that, consider that you should also avoid paying for what you don’t need. So while a dedicated server may be the best option for performance, it’ll inevitably be the most expensive.
What are the disadvantages of the cloud?
There are plenty of uses for cloud hosting, it’s the best option for many businesses. But that doesn’t mean there are no disadvantages to the cloud. The biggest downside to the cloud for many years was security concerns. For businesses that handle sensitive information, the cloud may not offer the security you need to keep your data safe, at least without implementing some additional cloud security solutions. You’re also relying on the cloud provider for support, as you won’t have direct control over servers and storage resources for in-depth troubleshooting.
Other Cloud Hosting Providers We Reviewed
For the best cloud hosting provider there is, you don’t want to overlook Host Gator.
Check PriceWe looked at 15 other cloud hosting providers. Even though they didn’t make our 5 best cloud hosting providers list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for hosting your websites and applications. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
Managed Cloud Hosting Providers
You’ll have a record-fast web hosting speed when you sign on for this cloud host provider.
Key Features:
- 2 TB data transfer
- Money-back guarantee
- 3 size options
Cost: $5-15/month
You’ll be able to use this cloud host for your smaller websites, and if you migrate north in terms of usage, then you’ll get a great deal on Enterprise-Grade Hosting, too.
Key Features:
- 99.9% uptime
- Daily website backup
- Linux or Windows hosting options
Cost: $5-15/month
With the assistance of this cloud host provider, you’ll be able to launch your website and go live in just a matter of minutes.
Key Features:
- Free migration
- Managed options
- 24/7/365 support
Cost: $10-80/month
If you’re interested in launching a new site, you may be interested in the fact that every cloud hosting plan from Hostinger comes with a domain name for free.
Key Features:
- Unlimited websites
- Free SSL and domain
- Unlimited bandwidth
Cost: $10-60/month
You’ll be up and running in no time with this cloud host provider – HostWinds boasts the ability to deploy your cloud server in under 20 seconds.
Key Features:
- 99.9999% uptime guarantee
- Unlimited bandwidth and disk space
- Key feature 3
Cost: $4-350/month
This fully-managed cloud hosting provider will take care of your site for you so that you can worry about the content, and not the management.
Key Features:
- Beginner-friendly
- Daily backups
- Free migration
Cost: $30-200/month
When you move your site up to a cloud hosting provider, one like SiteGround is perfect for powerful and dedicated resources, available to you 24/7.
Key Features:
- 5 TB data transfer
- 4 hosting plans available
- Provides your own dedicated IP
Unmanaged Cloud Hosting Providers
No matter what your need is for your cloud hosting plan, you’ll greatly enjoy the $200 starting credit you’ll get when you sign up with 1&1.
Key Features:
- Optional enterprise cloud host
- 9 sized plans available
- Smartphone app operations
Cost: $5-360/month
The servers utilized by Vultr’s cloud hosting feature 100% local SSDs and high-performance Intel CPUs for a better quality cloud service.
Key Features:
- 17 server locations
- No long-term contracts
- Enable scheduled backups
Enterprise Cloud Hosting Providers
For remote work and learning, the cloud provided by the AWS is unparalleled.
Key Features:
- 10-minute tutorials
- On-Demand help from AWS experts
- Pay-as-you-go pricing
Cost: Free for 12-months
With the intelligent analytics that you’ll have access to with this cloud host provider, you’ll be able to make smart decisions to improve your business dramatically.
Key Features:
- Fully-managed data services
- Perfect for retail, healthcare, entertainment, financial services, and more
- $300 free credits at signing
Cost: Starts at $1.19/hour
Ther security of your website(s) is in good hands with the IBM security integration that monitors threats across all clouds.
Key Features:
- Free tier available
- Specializes in modernizing your website
- Wide range of servers – from Virtual Private Cloud to bare metal servers
Cost: Free to $2.21/hourly
Work from anywhere and optimize your website with dozens of free extras that will help make your website exactly what you want it to be.
Key Features:
- 12-months free
- 25+ always-free services
- $200 credit at signing
Cost: Start for free
With the multi-cloud scalability of this cloud host provider, you’ll be able to build an agile network for your website, comprised of your preferred clouds.
Key Features:
- Access to unbiased expertise
- Modernized IT team
- Unified multi-cloud management
Cost: Starting at $50/month
You’ll have your choice in cloud hosting with this provider – manage it yourself or opt for the managed cloud, instead.
Key Features:
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Build your own custom server to save
- 3 snapshots free
Cost: Starting at $10/month