Devilbox vs Cloudways
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Devilbox and Cloudways.
Quick Verdict
3.5/5
Devilbox
252 reviews
4.4/5
Cloudways
513 reviews
Cloudways is rated higher (4.4 vs 3.5). Devilbox is a free, open source Docker PHP development environment for local WordPress and PHP development. Pre-configured with Nginx/Apache, MySQL, PHP, and email testing. Managed hosting layer that sits on top of DigitalOcean, AWS, GCP, Vultr, or Linode. You get managed control with one-click staging, Breeze caching, and 24/7 support.
Devilbox Docker-based local development environment for multiple PHP stacks | Cloudways Managed cloud hosting on your choice of provider | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.5 (252 reviews) | 4.4 (513 reviews)✓ |
| Pricing model | free | paid |
| Starting price | Free✓ | From €14/mo |
| Best for | WordPress developers and agencies managing multiple projects who need flexible local development environments with version control and reproducible setups. | Agency developers and freelancers who want managed hosting flexibility without paying Kinsta prices |
| Specifications (entry plan) | ||
| CPU cores | — | 1 vCPU |
| RAM | — | 1 GB |
| Storage | — | 25 GB |
| Bandwidth | — | 1 TB/mo |
| SLA uptime | — | 99.9% |
| Data-center count | — | 65 |
| €/vCPU/mo | — | €14.00 |
| €/GB RAM/mo | — | €14.00 |
| Features | ||
| IPv6 | ||
| DDoS protection | ✓ | |
| Automated backups | ✓ | |
| Snapshots | ||
| Managed option | ||
| Bare metal | ||
| GPU available | ||
| S3-compatible | ||
| Hourly billing | ||
| Free tier | ||
| Data-center locations | ||
| Regions | — | United StatesUnited KingdomGermanyNetherlandsSingaporeAustralia+1 |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | free tieropen source | managed optionddos protectionbackups includedeu datacenterus datacenterapac datacenter |
| Visit Devilbox → | Visit Cloudways → | |
Devilbox
Pros
- + Switch PHP versions per project without reinstalling dependencies
- + Support multiple databases and web servers simultaneously
- + Include phpMyAdmin and Adminer for database management
- + Generate self-signed SSL certificates automatically
- + Run unlimited projects with zero configuration overhead
Cons
- - Requires Docker and Docker Compose knowledge; steeper learning curve than traditional hosting
- - Resource-intensive for systems with limited RAM or storage capacity
- - Not a managed hosting solution; requires manual updates and maintenance
Cloudways
Pros
- + Choose your underlying cloud provider
- + Excellent price-to-managed-value ratio
- + One-click staging environments
Cons
- - Adds markup on top of underlying provider cost
- - Less control than raw VPS for advanced users
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