Is Cloudways the Best Hosting for Indian Websites?
If you're running a blog, business website, or e-commerce store targeting Indian users, server location and speed matter enormously. Cloudways offers managed cloud hosting with servers in Mumbai (via DigitalOcean and Vultr), giving Indian websites blazing-fast load times of under 150ms for domestic visitors.
After testing Cloudways for 12 months on multiple Indian websites, here's our honest review covering performance, pricing, support, and how it compares to alternatives like Bluehost.
Performance: Mumbai Server Test Results
We tested a WordPress website hosted on Cloudways DigitalOcean (Mumbai) with GTmetrix, Google PageSpeed, and real-user monitoring:
| Metric | Cloudways Mumbai | Shared Hosting (US) |
|---|---|---|
| TTFB (India) | 75ms | 890ms |
| Full page load | 1.0 seconds | 4.8 seconds |
| Google PageSpeed (mobile) | 95/100 | 54/100 |
| Uptime (12 months) | 99.99% | 99.5% |
The difference is dramatic. Indian websites on US-based shared hosting are at a massive disadvantage for Google rankings (Core Web Vitals matter!) and user experience.
Pricing in INR
Cloudways uses pay-as-you-go pricing billed monthly in USD. Here's what it costs for Indian users:
| Plan | RAM | Storage | Price (INR/month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean 1GB | 1 GB | 25 GB SSD | ~ ₹1,000 |
| DigitalOcean 2GB | 2 GB | 50 GB SSD | ~ ₹2,400 |
| Vultr HF 1GB | 1 GB | 32 GB NVMe | ~ ₹1,200 |
| Vultr HF 2GB | 2 GB | 64 GB NVMe | ~ ₹2,600 |
Prices approximate at ₹100/USD. Both DigitalOcean and Vultr have Mumbai data centers.
Tip: Start with DigitalOcean 1GB (₹1,000/month) for a single blog. It handles 10,000-20,000 monthly visitors comfortably. Scale up only when needed.
Features That Matter for Indian Users
- Mumbai server: Both DigitalOcean and Vultr offer Mumbai locations. Choose this for Indian audience targeting.
- Free SSL: One-click Let's Encrypt SSL installation. Google requires HTTPS for rankings.
- Free CDN: Cloudflare Enterprise CDN included (previously a paid add-on). Speeds up your site globally.
- Staging environment: Test changes without breaking your live site. Essential for businesses.
- Automated backups: Daily backups with one-click restore. ₹600/month extra for off-site backup.
- WordPress optimized: Built-in caching (Breeze), PHP 8.x, and server-level optimizations for WordPress.
Cloudways vs Bluehost for Indian Websites
Many Indian bloggers start with Bluehost because of its low introductory price. Here's how they compare:
| Feature | Cloudways | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|
| Server location | Mumbai (India) | US only |
| Starting price | ~ ₹1,000/month | ~ ₹170/month (intro, 3yr) |
| Renewal price | Same | ~ ₹900/month |
| Speed (India) | Excellent (75ms TTFB) | Slow (800-1200ms TTFB) |
| Free domain | No | Yes (1st year) |
| Managed hosting | Yes | Semi-managed |
| Scalability | Scale server anytime | Upgrade plan |
Our Verdict
Choose Bluehost if you're a complete beginner starting your first blog and want the cheapest possible start.
Choose Cloudways if you prioritize speed, performance, and scalability for your Indian audience. With its competitive pricing and robust features, it’s an excellent choice for serious bloggers and businesses looking to grow.