Head to head · Best Hosting for Media Publishers
Cloudways vs Pressable
Cloudways scores higher overall (3.0 vs 2.8), but the right pick depends on which dimension matters most to you.
| Criterion | CloudwaysMarginal Fit | PressableMarginal Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 3.0— higher score for Cloudways | 2.8 |
| Capability45% of composite | 3.3 | 3.6— higher score for Pressable |
| Publisher fit40% of composite | 2.5— higher score for Cloudways | 1.5 |
| Total cost of ownership15% of composite | 3.8 | 4.0— higher score for Pressable |
| Best for | Small, Mid-Market | Small, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| Pricing | Plans from ~$14/mo; pricing tracks chosen cloud provider. | Tiered monthly or annual subscriptions based on site count and monthly visitor volume, starting at approximately $25/month. |
Cloudways
- Choice of 5 underlying cloud providers
- Very cost-efficient for the performance
- Easy vertical scaling
- Less hand-holding than fully-managed WP hosts
- Support is ticket-first
- No built-in email hosting
Pressable
- High-availability infrastructure
- Performance-tuned for specific CMS architecture
- Seamless scaling for traffic spikes
- Traffic-based pricing can become expensive for high-volume news
- Lacks native publisher-specific tools (paywalls, etc.)
- Strictly limited to one specific CMS ecosystem
Common questions
Is Cloudways or Pressable better?
Cloudways scores higher overall (3.0 vs 2.8), but the right pick depends on which dimension matters most to you. Cloudways scores 3.0/5 and Pressable scores 2.8/5 on Benchmark Grid's independent assessment. Scores are set editorially by SODP against published criteria and cannot be purchased.
Which is cheaper, Cloudways or Pressable?
On total cost of ownership — which covers pricing transparency, entry cost, implementation, hidden-fee risk and ongoing cost — Cloudways scores 3.8/5 and Pressable scores 4.0/5. A higher score means better value, not a lower sticker price.
How are these scores calculated?
Each tool is assessed across 12 criteria grouped into Capability (45% of the composite), Publisher Fit (40%) and Total Cost of Ownership (15%). Assessment is carried out by SODP's editorial team against a published methodology. Vendors cannot pay for inclusion, scores or rankings.
Still deciding?
Answer four questions about your publication and we'll recommend a full stack — with the reasoning for each pick and what it will cost.
Both tools are scored in Best Hosting for Media Publishers. See alternatives to Cloudways or alternatives to Pressable.
