G7Cloud vs Cloudways
Cloudways puts a managed panel on a cloud server you still size, scale and pay for — with the important extras sold separately. G7Cloud is a fully managed platform: dedicated container per site, email, DNS, restore-tested backups and the AI Website Builder, at one fixed UK price.
The short version
Three differences that decide it
Who runs the server
On Cloudways, you pick a server size, watch its CPU and RAM, and resize when apps outgrow it — the panel is managed, the capacity planning is yours. On G7Cloud there is no server to run: every site gets its own dedicated container on infrastructure we operate.
How the bill is built
Cloudways bills per server, plus paid add-ons for premium CDN, off-site backup storage and higher support tiers. G7Cloud is one fixed GBP price per plan with everything included — and no usage billing anywhere on the platform.
What counts as "included"
Cloudways is hosting only: email lives with a third party, DNS elsewhere, and new sites get built somewhere else. Every paid G7Cloud plan includes email hosting, full DNS, daily restore-tested backups — and the AI Website Builder for shipping new database-backed sites.
Two pricing models, honestly laid out
We won't invent a "true cost" figure for Cloudways — your server size and add-ons are yours. Here is how each model behaves instead.
The Cloudways model
From about $14/mo on DigitalOcean, as of July 2026
- You choose a server size and pay for it monthly
- Outgrow it and you resize to a bigger, dearer server
- Premium CDN/WAF, off-site backup storage and higher support tiers are paid add-ons
- Email hosting is not offered — third-party service required
- Several apps can share one server you administer
The G7Cloud model
£9–£99/mo fixed, GBP, no add-ons
- One flat plan price — no usage billing, ever
- Dedicated container and database per site — no capacity planning
- ScaleShield WAF + bot protection included on every plan
- Backups included, with off-site targets — restore-tested nightly
- Email + DNS hosting and the AI Website Builder included
Cloudways on DigitalOcean starts at about $14/mo for an entry-size server, as of July 2026 — before add-ons such as premium CDN, off-site backup storage or higher support tiers. G7Cloud prices are fixed GBP and all-inclusive.
Feature comparison
G7Cloud plans — the whole price
Fixed GBP, monthly or annual (save 20%), 30-day money-back on paid plans. All plans include free SSL, ScaleShield and the AI Website Builder.
Starter
One real site on your own domain — with email, DNS and backups.
- 1 hosted site — WordPress, PHP, Ghost, git apps & more
- AI Website Builder — 3 projects, publish 1 on your domain
- 60K AI tokens per day
- Custom domain + free SSL
- Email hosting (mailboxes, webmail, spam filtering)
Business
Up to 3 sites plus full-stack AI apps — shop, bookings, CMS.
- 3 hosted sites — any type, incl. WooCommerce & Magento
- Full-stack AI apps — online shop, bookings, CMS & more
- Real database + admin panel on AI-built sites
- Stripe checkout on your AI-built shop (your own keys)
- AI Website Builder — 5 projects, publish 3
Need 10+ sites? See Pro and Agency on the pricing page
Where Cloudways is still the better fit
An honest comparison cuts both ways. Stay on Cloudways if these matter to you:
Choice of cloud provider and region
Cloudways lets you deploy on DigitalOcean, AWS or Google Cloud in dozens of regions worldwide. G7Cloud runs on our own UK infrastructure — excellent if your audience is in the UK or Europe, but if you need a server in Singapore or São Paulo, Cloudways is the better fit.
Server-level control
On Cloudways you get SSH access to your server and can tune it, cram many small apps onto one box, or resize it on demand. G7Cloud deliberately abstracts the server away — you get an in-browser terminal, SFTP and git deploys per site, but not a whole VM to administer. If you want to be your own sysadmin, keep the server.
A longer track record
Cloudways has been running since 2012 and hosts a very large fleet. G7Cloud launched in 2026 and is built in the open — newer, smaller, and honest about it.
Weighing it up in more depth? Read the full Cloudways alternative guide.
Who should switch
Anyone tired of server admin
If you signed up to build sites and ended up watching RAM graphs, the fully managed model gives that time back. No server sizing, no resizing decisions, no stack tuning.
Businesses consolidating providers
Hosting on Cloudways, email at a third party, DNS at the registrar, backups in a bucket. On G7Cloud the site, mailboxes, DNS zone and restore-tested backups live on one plan with one support contact.
Budget owners who hate surprises
One fixed GBP line item that covers security, backups and support. No add-on creep, no usage component, and a 30-day money-back guarantee to test it risk-free.
Switching from Cloudways — FAQ
Start free — no card
Build a real, database-backed site with the AI Website Builder on the Free plan, or host your existing site on managed UK infrastructure from £9/mo. Fixed prices, and you own the code.