CLOUDWAYS VS ZAP-HOSTING
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 ZAP-Hosting's 87/100, 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 ZAP-Hosting operates from HQ: Munster, Germany, 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| HRI™ | 97 | vs | 87 |
| Trust Score | 25 | vs | 22 |
| Completeness | 24 | vs | 17 |
| Performance | 23 | vs | 23 |
| Freshness | 25 | vs | 25 |
| Google Rating | · | vs | 4.6★ |
| Google Reviews | · | vs | 1,944 |
| Trustpilot | 4.6★ | vs | · |
| Location | HQ: Saint Julians, Malta | vs | HQ: Munster, Germany |
| Founded | 2011 | vs | 2010 |
| Segment | PURE HOST | vs | PURE HOST |
| 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
ZAP-Hosting
- +Strong overall HRI of 87/100
- +High trust signals, 22/25 on the Trust component
- +Excellent Google rating (4.6/5 from 1,944 verified reviews)
- +Profile data is recent and actively maintained
- +Established provider, operating since 2010
- −No Trustpilot profile detected, fewer third-party trust signals
- −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 Germany-based operation or a larger review history (1,944 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 ZAP-HOSTING?
ZAP-Hosting is a web hosting provider based in HQ: Munster, Germany, founded in 2010, specialising in pure host. ZAP-Hosting, founded in 2010 and located in Münster, Germany, specializes in game and server hosting. The company offers a range of hosting products, including shared hosting, VPS, dedicated servers, …
ZAP-Hosting has a HRI of 87/100 and a Google rating of 4.6★ from 1,944 verified reviews. The listing has not been claimed by the host.
CLOUDWAYS VS ZAP-HOSTING, FAQ
Is Cloudways better than ZAP-Hosting?
Cloudways scores higher on HRI (97/100 vs 87/100), reflecting stronger trust signals, profile completeness, and review data. ZAP-Hosting may still suit users who need its specific location (Germany) or specialization (pure host). 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 ZAP-Hosting?
Cloudways has no Google rating, and ZAP-Hosting has 4.6★ on Google (1,944 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 ZAP-Hosting?
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 ZAP-Hosting.
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