# Cloudways alternative for PHP hosting

Source: https://www.fortrabbit.com/alternatives/cloudways
Created: 2026-05-12
Reviewed: 2026-05-28


## Why pick fortrabbit over Cloudways for PHP?

**fortrabbit is a managed PHP PaaS built by a small, independent team in Berlin.** Cloudways pioneered [managed hosting on top of IaaS providers](https://www.cloudways.com/en/cloud-hosting-services.php) like DigitalOcean, Vultr, and AWS. After [DigitalOcean acquired Cloudways](https://investors.digitalocean.com/news/news-details/2022/DigitalOcean-Completes-Acquisition-of-Cloudways/default.aspx) in 2022, roadmap priorities shifted toward funnel integration with DO's own platform — and many PHP teams are re-evaluating.

If you're moving off Cloudways for PHP, Laravel, Magento, Statamic, or WordPress workloads, fortrabbit gives you a single integrated platform — no underlying IaaS choice required — with native git-push deployments, atomic releases, managed MySQL components, EU data residency, and direct support from the engineers who run the platform. Pricing is per-app and predictable. Plans start at €2.50 per month, and you can try the platform without a credit card.

::ContentButton{property="dashboard" text="Start a free trial — no credit card" route="/signup"}

## How does fortrabbit compare to Cloudways?

| Feature          | Cloudways                | fortrabbit                |
| ---------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------- |
| Focus            | Multi-language           | PHP only                  |
| Underlying infra | DO / Vultr / AWS / GCP   | Integrated                |
| Deployment       | Git, SFTP, app installer | git push, atomic          |
| MySQL            | MariaDB on droplet       | Native, isolated          |
| SSH access       | Yes                      | Full SFTP + SSH           |
| Region           | Via underlying IaaS      | EU (Ireland)              |
| Pricing model    | Per-droplet, hourly      | Per-app, monthly          |
| Free trial       | 3 days, no card          | 7 days, no card           |
| Support          | Tiered, paid for fast    | Human chat, all plans     |
| Company          | DigitalOcean subsidiary  | Independent, bootstrapped |

## Pricing comparison

| Use case         | Cloudways (DO 2GB + add-ons)                         | fortrabbit        |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- |
| Small site / dev | ~$14 droplet + $5 backup ≈ **$19 / mo**              | **€5 / mo**       |
| Production app   | ~$28 droplet + backup + dedicated DB ≈ **$50+ / mo** | **€30 / mo**      |
| Scaled app       | ~$80+ droplet + add-ons ≈ **$100+ / mo**             | **€60–€120 / mo** |

Numbers are illustrative — exact Cloudways pricing varies by underlying IaaS, region, and add-on choice. See :ContentLink{href="/pricing" text="fortrabbit pricing"} for the current matrix.

## Migrating from Cloudways to fortrabbit

1. **Provision the app on fortrabbit.** Pick a region (EU) and a plan. The free trial is enough to validate the move.
2. **Add the MySQL component.** From Cloudways, take a `mysqldump` via SSH and import via fortrabbit's SSH tunnel — see :ContentLink{href="/guides/general/mysql-import" text="MySQL import guide" prefix="docs"}.
3. **Connect your git provider.** Install the fortrabbit GitHub App (or connect GitLab / Bitbucket) and link your existing repo to the new fortrabbit app — see :ContentLink{href="/platform/deployment/intro" text="deployment intro" prefix="docs"}. Pushes to your branch trigger an automatic deploy; Composer install runs as part of it.
4. **Move environment variables.** Cloudways `Application Settings → Environment` maps 1:1 to fortrabbit env vars — set them in the dashboard or via the CLI.
5. **Move media / uploads.** rsync from the Cloudways application directory into your fortrabbit app's persistent storage via SFTP / SSH.
6. **Cut over DNS.** Add the domain in the fortrabbit dashboard, update the CNAME, and watch the certificate issue automatically via Let's Encrypt.

For framework-specific notes see the :ContentLink{href="/guides" text="install guides" prefix="docs"} — Laravel, Statamic, Craft CMS, and WordPress are the most common migrations.

## Why teams switch

- **No IaaS-vendor lock-in.** Cloudways is a thin layer over DO/Vultr/AWS; fortrabbit is the whole platform.
- **Predictable bills.** No surcharge stacking, no hourly droplet math.
- **Owner-run support.** You talk to the engineers who run the platform.
- **Independence.** We're not a DigitalOcean subsidiary. Roadmap decisions are made for PHP developers.

For background on Cloudways itself, see our :ContentLink{href="/hosting-guide/providers/server-management/cloudways" text="hosting guide entry"}. Not sure whether a server-management layer is even the right category for you? Start with :ContentLink{href="/how-to-choose-the-right-hosting-for-your-php-project" text="how to choose the right hosting for your PHP project"}.

::ContentButton{property="dashboard" text="Start a free trial — no credit card" route="/signup"}

::ContentButton{property="www" text="See pricing" route="/pricing" variant="secondary"}

## FAQ

### How do I move my WordPress or Magento site from Cloudways to fortrabbit?

**Self-service** — The migration is two parts: code and data. Push your repo to fortrabbit so the git-push deploy runs Composer as part of the build, then import your MySQL dump via the SSH tunnel into the new MySQL component. Uploads go into the app's persistent storage via SFTP or rsync. Unlike Cloudways, there is no underlying IaaS provider to pick — one platform, one bill, one support channel.

### Is fortrabbit managed hosting on top of AWS or DigitalOcean, like Cloudways?

**No** — fortrabbit runs its own platform on dedicated EU hardware — there is no underlying provider you pick or pay for. Cloudways layers a control panel on top of someone else's infrastructure (DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS, Linode), so you have two failure domains and two roadmap dependencies. On fortrabbit the platform is the platform.

### Does fortrabbit have hidden infrastructure costs like Cloudways?

**No** — fortrabbit pricing is per-app and monthly. The plan includes the PHP runtime, a MySQL component sized for the app, SSL, and persistent storage. There is no separate DigitalOcean or Vultr bill underneath it. You pick a plan and that is the price.

### Is fortrabbit a good Cloudways alternative for EU-based hosting?

**Yes** — fortrabbit runs on AWS EU (Ireland) under EU jurisdiction, with the company itself registered in Berlin. With Cloudways the EU region comes from the underlying provider, but the contractual and operational entity sits in the US under DigitalOcean. For GDPR-bound projects that distinction can matter to a DPO.

### Can a fortrabbit app be cancelled at any time?

**Yes** — Cancellation runs from the dashboard, takes effect immediately, and carries no lock-in or long-term contract. Pricing is post-paid and pro-rated, so there is nothing paid upfront to refund. Support is direct chat during CET business hours, with a median response around an hour.

---

- [About Cloudways](/hosting-guide/providers/server-management/cloudways)
- [All alternatives](/alternatives)