FLYWHEELVSCLOUDWAYS
Side-by-side comparison using HRI™ data, Google reviews, and Trustpilot scores. No paid placements, ranked by signal only.
WHICH IS BETTER?
As of 2026, Flywheel scores 87/100 on HostList's HRI algorithm versus Cloudways's 83/100, making Flywheel the higher-rated provider in this comparison. The two are nearly tied, the right choice depends on geographic location, specialisation, and whether you need a claimed and verified profile rather than overall quality. Flywheel is based in HQ: Omaha, USA, while Cloudways operates from HQ: Saint Julians, Malta, worth considering if your audience has regional latency requirements. HRI is an independent 0–100 algorithmic rating combining trust signals (45 points), profile completeness (25 points), data freshness (20 points), and performance (10 points), never paid placements.
| Metric | Flywheel87 | vs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRI™ | 87 | vs | 83 |
| Trust Score | 20 | vs | 19 |
| Completeness | 20 | vs | 17 |
| Performance | 22 | vs | 22 |
| Freshness | 25 | vs | 25 |
| Google Rating | 4.4★ | vs | · |
| Google Reviews | 45 | vs | · |
| Trustpilot | 1.9★ | vs | 4.7★ |
| Location | HQ: Omaha, USA | vs | HQ: Saint Julians, Malta |
| Founded | 2012 | vs | 2011 |
| Segment | PURE HOST | vs | PURE HOST |
| Claimed | No | vs | No |
PROS & CONS
Flywheel
- +Strong overall HRI of 87/100
- +High trust signals, 20/25 on the Trust component
- +Excellent Google rating (4.4/5 from 45 verified reviews)
- +Thorough profile data: pricing, features, and contact details verified
- +Profile data is recent and actively maintained
- −Listing is not claimed by the host, no direct accountability
- −Hostscore is algorithmic, does not assess pricing, support response time, or feature parity
Cloudways
- +Strong overall HRI of 83/100
- +High trust signals, 19/25 on the Trust component
- +Trustpilot score of 4.7/5 indicates positive third-party sentiment
- +Profile data is recent and actively maintained
- +Established provider, operating since 2011
- −No verified Google rating available, limited customer-feedback signal
- −Listing is not claimed by the host, no direct accountability
WHICH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
you prioritise verified customer reviews and trust signals and detailed published plans and feature data.
you specifically need a Malta-based operation.
WHAT IS FLYWHEEL?
Flywheel is a web hosting provider based in HQ: Omaha, USA, founded in 2012, specialising in pure host. Flywheel, founded in Omaha, Nebraska, specializes in managed WordPress hosting. Acquired by WP Engine in 2019, Flywheel focuses on providing hosting solutions tailored for agencies, freelancers, and c…
Flywheel has a HRI of 87/100 and a Google rating of 4.4★ from 45 verified reviews. The listing has not been claimed by the host.
WHAT IS CLOUDWAYS?
Cloudways is a web hosting provider based in HQ: Saint Julians, Malta, founded in 2011, specialising in pure host. Cloudways, a managed cloud hosting platform based in Saint Julians, Malta, offers a range of hosting solutions tailored for developers and businesses seeking simplicity and performance. Founded as par…
Cloudways has a HRI of 83/100. The listing has not been claimed by the host.
FLYWHEEL VS CLOUDWAYS, FAQ
Is Flywheel better than Cloudways?
Flywheel and Cloudways are closely matched, Flywheel scores 87/100 on HRI versus Cloudways's 83. At this margin, the decision should be based on your geographic location, preferred hosting type, and whether you need direct support from a claimed and verified provider. Both are legitimate hosting operations; neither has a dominant quality advantage over the other.
Which has better customer reviews, Flywheel or Cloudways?
Flywheel has 4.4★ on Google (45 reviews), and Cloudways has no Google rating. Review volume matters as much as the star rating, a 4.5★ score from 50 reviews is less reliable than a 4.2★ score from 5,000. HRI weights Google reviews by volume, so providers with more verified customer feedback score higher on the trust component. Check each provider's Trustpilot profile for a second independent signal before deciding.
What are good alternatives to Flywheel and Cloudways?
The best alternative depends on what you value. If you want unbiased rankings across all hosting types, the HostList directory ranks 28,000+ providers by HRI. For AI-powered matching based on your specific project requirements, tech stack, traffic, location, budget, use HostMatch at hostlist.io/match. For category-specific alternatives, the pure host rankings at hostlist.io show the highest-scoring providers in the same hosting type as Flywheel and Cloudways.
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