10 Best Cloud Hosting Services of 2024
Updated December 26, 2023 at 7:00 am
There is nothing like the thrill of publishing a brand-new website. After all of your hard work, it is time to share your labor of love with the world, but first, you have to find a place to house it.
Cloud resources create a home for your application or website on the web where visitors can access it, but not all of the best cloud server hosting is the same. The best cloud hosting services have the right capacity and resources to hold your content on their servers, ensuring that your assets remain working and accessible at all times. However, they can vary significantly in their infrastructure and tools.
Before you go public with your new site or app, check out these best cloud hosting providers for 2024.
Methodology To compile this list, we reviewed the top services on the market, compared the specs and features, and created a short list of the top cloud hosting services. Then, we used product descriptions, reviews, ratings and hands-on experience to find the best cloud hosting services for each category.
Our Picks - Best Overall: Cloudways
- Best for Global Servers: AccuWeb
- Best for Migration: Bluehost
- Best for Storage: Dreamhost
- Best Budget: Hostinger
- Best for Flexibility: HostWinds
- Best Plans: Kamatera
- Best for Customer Support: InMotion
- Best for Daily Backups: SiteGround
- Best for WordPress: WP Engine
Best Cloud Hosting Providers of 2024
Best Overall
Cloudways
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Why We Chose It
With a choice of three cloud providers, Cloudways is the best cloud hosting service when you value flexibility and control. You can even add on enhanced support packages to make the most of Cloudways resources.
Key Features:
- DigitalOcean, AWS and Google Cloud data centers
- Cloudflare’s Image & Mobile Optimization
- WAF, Enterprise DDoS mitigation & Global rate limiting
- Automated backups
- Complimentary SSL
Pros
- Free website migration
- Unlimited websites
- 24/7/365 support
Cons
- Trial lasts just three days
- Off-site storage fee
- No cPanel integration
Best for Global Servers
Accuweb
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Why We Chose It
AccuWeb offers both Windows and Linux cloud hosting with server locations found around the world. Plus, its pay-as-you-go pricing model helps to ensure that you never pay for what you don’t need.
Key Features:
- Windows and Linux plans
- Dedicated IP address
- Scalable storage
- Full root access
- 100% hardware uptime
Pros
- Daily backups
- Affordable pricing
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Usage-based plans can be hard to budget
- Restricted storage and bandwidth
- Limited Windows email accounts
Best for Migration
Bluehost
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Why We Chose It
If you are a WordPress fan, Bluehost is the best cloud hosting service for you with its simple WordPress optimization and tools that make operating your website a breeze. Get started with the free WordPress Migration Tool and enjoy affordable pricing from there.
Key Features:
- WP Migration Tool
- Staging environment
- Yoast SEO
- SSD storage
- Malware scanning
Pros
- Free first-year domain and SSL
- CDN Enabled
- Free email marketing
Cons
- Higher renewal rates
- Must upgrade for domain privacy
- 5 maximum websites
Best for Storage
Dreamhost
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Why We Chose It
Dreamhost’s cloud hosting service offers its storage in 100-gigabyte blocks. You get one for free and have the option to upgrade from there, so you have truly customizable storage that fits your specific needs.
Key Features:
- One-click installer
- Custom control panel
- SSD storage
- Complimentary WordPress migrations
- 100% uptime guarantee
Pros
- 100GB Block Storage included
- Free unlimited bandwidth
- 100% uptime guarantee
Cons
- Difficult to budget
- Not as fast as other services
- No international servers
Best Affordable
Hostinger
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Why We Chose It
Hostinger is one of the best cloud web hosting services to pick since you get to try it free during a three-month trial. You also receive a free domain and free site migration, saving you even more money at the end of the day.
Key Features:
- Domain WHOIS Privacy Protection
- Complimentary website migration
- CDN
- Staging environments
- WooCommerce optimization
Pros
- Unlimited SSL and bandwidth
- Free daily backups
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Higher renewal rates
- Restricts number of sites
- Limited customer support
Best for Flexibility
HostWinds
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
Hostwinds owns all of its own servers, offering 99.9999% uptime as one of the fastest cloud hosting services you can use. With pay-as-you-go pricing, there are tons of extras that come included, like unlimited storage and bandwidth, for some of the best cloud server hosting you can buy.
Key Features:
- Complimentary website migration
- SSD storage
- Nightly backups
- Enterprise Firewall
- 99.9999% uptime guarantee
Pros
- Five operating system options
- Migration assistance
- 24/7/365 support
Cons
- Usage-based pricing
- No domain included
- Short money-back guarantee
Best for Service Plans
Kamatera
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
Kamatera offers the ability to truly customize your plan with the ability to choose your server for cloud hosting services. Either way, its global data centers help ensure 99.95% uptime for uninterrupted performance.
Key Features:
- Global data centers
- SSD storage
- Multiple server options
- Choice of web hosting panel
- 99.95% uptime guarantee
Pros
- Hourly billing available
- No contracts
- 30-day free trial
Cons
- Limited daily cloud backups each month
- No free domains
- Not the most ideal for beginners
Best for Customer Support
InMotion
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Why We Chose It
InMotion is the best cloud hosting service for customer support, offering multiple ways to get help when you hit a snag. New Account Specialists will get you started, while online tutorials and a Customer Community Team remain on stand-by to help when needed.
Key Features:
- cPanel Hosting
- Complimentary DDoS Protection
- 500,000 WordPress installations
- Unlimited bandwidth and storage
- 99.99% uptime guarantee
Pros
- Multiple subscription term lengths
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7/365 customer support
Cons
- No daily backups included
- Higher renewal rates
- Slow customer support
Best for Daily Backups
SiteGround
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
SiteGround plans are pricey, but they include tons of extras that you normally pay for, like free daily backups with complimentary copies. You also receive unmetered traffic, free SSL certificates and free WordPress installation and migration.
Key Features:
- WordPress management
- WooCommerce auto-updates
- Staging tool
- SSD storage
- Client roles
Pros
- Daily backups
- Free SSL certificates
- Unlimited email accounts
Cons
- Expensive
- Limits site visitors
- No domain included
Best for WordPress
WP Engine
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
When you have a WordPress site, WP Engine is ready to host your site with a ton of WordPress-related tools like free migration, EverCache WordPress caching and automatic updates. You also benefit from over 200 data centers and DDoS protection for greater peace of mind.
Key Features:
- Customizable themes
- eCommerce plan
- Staging environment
- Automated WordPress & PHP updates
- Optional site monitoring
Pros
- EverCache® speed boost
- Daily backups
- Free SSL and SSH certificates
Cons
- Expensive plans
- No email
- No free domain
Cloud Hosting Services Introduction
Before you can publish a website or application, you first need to find it a home. That is where a cloud hosting service provider comes in. It acts as a host for things like websites and apps so that they can live on the web and be accessible to the public. To help you find the best cloud hosting service, let’s take a deep dive into the world of cloud hosting.
What Is a Cloud Hosting Service?
When you use a cloud hosting service, the provider uses the cloud to place your websites and applications on the web. Your content is then supported by the power of multiple servers, which can be physical or virtual but, nonetheless, provide secure and reliable support for your assets. Even better, these servers are scalable, automatically adjusting themselves to accommodate the flow of traffic. This is important because it means your website or app won’t crash if there is suddenly a huge spike in traffic.
How Does a Cloud Host Service Work?
Instead of hosting your resources on a single server, a cloud host service uses the cloud to host them. Behind the scenes, a combination of physical and virtual servers all work together to host your site or app, making it available on the web. Users enjoy greater reliability and uptime with a cloud hosting service that uses multiple servers because there are always backups to keep your digital assets up and running. There are often built-in security measures to protect the data associated with your site, too.
Who Is a Cloud Hosting Provider Best For?
Each cloud hosting service is different in the way that it offers its services. Cloud hosting offers scalability that is great for businesses and high-traffic sites, helping to ensure that your site does not go down from too many visitors. With dedicated hosting, there is also secure storage, which helps keep your content safe from hackers and viruses. The best cloud hosting providers have multiple plans to choose from, offering options that work for both beginners and enterprise clients, so there is something that works for everyone.
Types of Cloud Hosting Services
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): This computing model uses the cloud to provide software, hardware and infrastructure in order to develop, manage and run applications. All resources are housed within the PaaS data center, and all systems and tools are updated and maintained for you by your PaaS provider.
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): IaaS provides on-demand service to ensure your applications run properly and data is stored securely. With this cloud computing model, you receive compute, network and storage resources from your cloud hosting provider.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): With SaaS, users simply connect to the Internet in order to access cloud-based apps, such as Microsoft Office 365. There is typically a subscription or fee required for access, and then you can use the software and its infrastructure for your own purposes. By using a pre-existing framework, you no longer have to do anything yourself.
How To Choose a Cloud Hosting Company
It is hard enough to find a cloud hosting service when you are a professional, let alone a novice. To help you find the best cloud hosting company for your needs, these are some factors to consider.
Performance and Speed
Load times will help you determine how fast a cloud hosting company’s servers will work to keep your site running. Uptime is another important consideration because this lets you know how reliable the servers are so you can be sure your content remains accessible.
Security
The best cloud hosting providers include security protocols to protect your data. Look for security features like SSL certificates, malware scanning and DDoS protection, which can all provide an added layer of defense against threats.
Data Storage
The best cloud hosting services come with cloud storage that you can use to store your data off-site. As seen here, the amount of data storage can vary significantly between the best cloud service providers, with some providers like InMotion offering unlimited storage with certain plans.
Customer Service
When you have a question, you may not have the time to wait until morning for an answer, so it is critical to consider the customer service methods and hours that each cloud hosting company offers. While some services only offer support by email, others may offer support by phone, chat or even a community chat forum.
Other Cloud Host Service Alternatives
HostGator
It is easy to save money when you choose HostGator. Get started with a free domain and complimentary site transfers. From there, its plans include plenty of freebies, like unlimited storage, bandwidth and email addresses. cPanel integration makes use easy, and security remains a priority with complimentary SSL certificates. Enjoy 24/7/365 support, in addition to a free 30-day money-back guarantee to secure your purchase.
IONOS
IONOS is an extremely reliable cloud hosting provider, offering 99.998% uptime for stronger performance. With Intel® Xeon® processors it offers fully scalable plans that you can adjust to your needs. There is unmetered bandwidth for its plans, and IONOS does not limit the amount of traffic you receive for greater flexibility. Plans are based on usage, but a $100 credit gets you started.
Nexcess
Nexcess boasts global data centers with Level 1 PCI compliance and 24/7 server monitoring for extra security. Invite multiple users and manage individual permissions for help with things like analytics, tracking and billing. You will find that storage and bandwidth are limited but generous as long as you don’t mind the investment. Plans are designed for high-volume traffic, hosting a minimum of up to 11 sites with its XS plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Best Cloud Hosting Service for Small Businesses?
It all depends on what you are seeking in a service. The best cloud hosting providers each have their strengths, from storage capability with Dreamhost to plan flexibility with Kamatera. Nexcess is another favorite for small businesses with its vast e-commerce tools.
Is Google Cloud Hosting Good?
Google has long been trusted as a reliable service, and its cloud hosting services are no different. Google Cloud boasts 99.99% uptime for greater reliability, ensuring that your content is always available when users want it, and its partnership with companies like Salesforce means easier integrations into your workflow. A total of $300 in credits is a nice welcome bonus, but watch out for the price tag, which is based on a pay-as-you-go structure that can top many of the other options on our list.
How Much Is Cloud Hosting Per Month?
The cost of cloud hosting services can vary significantly based on several factors. Traffic, storage, CPUs and the provider you choose can all impact the overall price. Additionally, while some cloud hosting providers offer flat monthly pricing, others require a pay-as-you-go structure that can leave pricing somewhat open-ended as it is based on your total monthly usage.
Are There Free Cloud Hosting Services?
The best cloud hosting services come at a cost, but you can benefit from free cloud hosting when you choose a provider with a free trial. WP Engine gives the longest free trial at four months, with Hostinger and InMotion right on its heels at three months. Other cloud hosting services may offer a money-back guarantee to safeguard your investment.
What Are the Best Cloud Hosting Services in the USA?
Some say Cloudways is the best cloud service in the U.S., offering a choice of three cloud providers. Regardless, you will find support for a variety of different websites, including WordPress, Magento, Laravel and PHP systems. Security remains a priority, thanks to DDoS Protection with Cloudflare and free SSL certificates.
Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. We may earn a commission from partner links on Newsweek, but commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
