CLOUDWAYS VS NETLIFY
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, Cloudways scores 97/100 on HostList's HRI algorithm versus Netlify's 89/100, making Cloudways the higher-rated provider in this comparison. Cloudways has a moderate lead, though both providers are competitive within the same tier and either is a defensible choice. Cloudways is based in HQ: Saint Julians, Malta, while Netlify operates from HQ: San Francisco, USA, worth considering if your audience has regional latency requirements. HRI is an independent 0–100 algorithmic rating combining trust signals (25 points), profile completeness (25 points), data freshness (25 points), and performance (25 points), never paid placements.
| Metric | vs | Netlify89 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRI™ | 97 | vs | 89 |
| Trust Score | 25 | vs | 21 |
| Completeness | 24 | vs | 20 |
| Performance | 23 | vs | 23 |
| Freshness | 25 | vs | 25 |
| Google Rating | · | vs | 5★ |
| Google Reviews | · | vs | 16 |
| Trustpilot | 4.6★ | vs | 1.7★ |
| Location | HQ: Saint Julians, Malta | vs | HQ: San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 2011 | vs | 2014 |
| Segment | PURE HOST | vs | HOSTING TECH |
| Claimed | Yes | vs | No |
PROS & CONS
Cloudways
- +Strong overall HRI of 97/100
- +High trust signals, 25/25 on the Trust component
- +Trustpilot score of 4.6/5 indicates positive third-party sentiment
- +Thorough profile data: pricing, features, and contact details verified
- +Profile data is recent and actively maintained
- −No verified Google rating available, limited customer-feedback signal
- −Hostscore is algorithmic, does not assess pricing, support response time, or feature parity
Netlify
- +Strong overall HRI of 89/100
- +High trust signals, 21/25 on the Trust component
- +Excellent Google rating (5/5 from 16 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
WHICH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
you prioritise verified customer reviews and trust signals and detailed published plans and feature data.
you specifically need a USA-based operation or a larger review history (16 reviews).
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 services tailored for developers and businesses seeking simplicity and performance. Founded as part…
Cloudways has a HRI of 97/100. The listing is claimed and verified by the host.
WHAT IS NETLIFY?
Netlify is a web hosting provider based in HQ: San Francisco, USA, founded in 2014, specialising in hosting tech. Netlify, founded in 2014 and located in San Francisco, offers a cloud-based platform for hosting web applications and dynamic websites. The service automates deployment from Git repositories to a glob…
Netlify has a HRI of 89/100 and a Google rating of 5★ from 16 verified reviews. The listing has not been claimed by the host.
CLOUDWAYS VS NETLIFY, FAQ
Is Cloudways better than Netlify?
Cloudways scores higher on HRI (97/100 vs 89/100), reflecting stronger trust signals, profile completeness, and review data. Netlify may still suit users who need its specific location (USA) or specialization (hosting tech). HRI is an objective algorithmic rating, it does not account for pricing, which can vary significantly between providers.
Which has better customer reviews, Cloudways or Netlify?
Cloudways has no Google rating, and Netlify has 5★ on Google (16 reviews). 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 Cloudways and Netlify?
The best alternative depends on what you value. If you want unbiased rankings across all hosting types, the HostList directory ranks 30,000+ 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 Cloudways and Netlify.
ALSO COMPARE
Not sure which host is right for your project? Describe your requirements and get a personalised recommendation from 30,000+ providers, no paid placements.