Storage

Contabo offers SSD hosting starting at $6.99 for 200 GB of storage in its VPS plan. NVMe storage is available in newer VPS and dedicated servers, ensuring faster data access and better performance under heavy load.

Cloudways partners with providers like DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud, so SSD storage varies depending on the partner. Its managed environment is optimized for WordPress, Joomla, and other CMS platforms, with features like one-click installs, automatic updates, and performance optimizations. During installation, databases are auto-created and configured for a seamless setup.

Plans and Features

Contabo Plans

Contabo’s VPS S plan starts at $6.99, including 4 vCPU cores, 8 GB RAM, and 200 GB SSD storage. Higher-end plans and dedicated servers start at $59.99. Contabo does not include free domains in its hosting packages.

Cloudways Plans

Cloudways hosting begins at $10/mo via DigitalOcean (1 GB RAM, 1 Core, 25 GB storage, 1 TB bandwidth). It also offers AWS-based hosting from $36.51/mo for high-traffic or complex applications. Automated backups, easy scaling, and advanced partner options make it a strong fit for growing businesses.

Users can upgrade resources anytime to handle growth, ensuring scalability and performance as website needs increase.

Performance and Uptime

Contabo emphasizes performance and reliability. With NVMe storage and strategically located data centers, it offers solid uptime and responsiveness, even for resource-intensive applications. A real-time status page provides transparency for uptime, maintenance, and incident reporting.

Cloudways benefits from its partners’ global infrastructure, delivering optimized performance across regions. Managed features like built-in caching and CDN support make it especially effective for CMS hosting and international sites.

Security Features

Contabo offers full root access, firewall and WAF options, intrusion detection, two-factor authentication (2FA), and DDoS protection. Its data centers are secured with strict protocols, and optional automated backups are available. PCI DSS compliance adds an extra layer of credibility for e-commerce users.

Cloudways provides managed security, including dedicated firewalls, two-factor authentication, bot protection, SSL certificates, and regular patching. Automated backups add resilience for business-critical websites.

Server Management

Contabo offers a custom control panel for VPS and dedicated server management. Users can start, stop, or reboot servers easily. SSH and optional cPanel are available for advanced users, alongside FTP access for direct file management.

Cloudways provides its own control panel instead of cPanel, simplifying scaling, monitoring, and application management. With its managed focus, it’s tailored for non-technical users but flexible enough for developers needing staging, Git integration, or CLI tools.

Support

Contabo offers 24/7 support, with average response times of about 2 hours. While generally reliable, it may be slower than premium providers.

Cloudways support is available via live chat and ticket system, often responding within minutes. Its knowledge base and proactive pre-sales support are strong points, making the support experience smoother overall.

Pros and Cons

Contabo Pros

• Very affordable pricing
• High SSD and NVMe storage options
• Multiple global data centers
• User-friendly server management tools

Contabo Cons

• No free domain included
• Support response times slower than top competitors

Cloudways Pros

• Extensive partner server locations (DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, etc.)
• Managed hosting environment optimized for CMSs
• Excellent support with fast response times
• Advanced scaling and customization features

Cloudways Cons

• Higher pricing than most VPS providers
• Costs can increase depending on chosen partner

Conclusion

Contabo is best suited for smaller companies or developers seeking large SSD storage at low cost, with flexible control. Its affordable entry plans make it a strong choice for VPS and dedicated hosting.

Cloudways targets users who value a managed environment, top-tier support, and global scalability. While more expensive, it offers convenience, performance, and fast support, making it ideal for CMS hosting and international websites.