Migrate WordPress to Cloudways in 20 Minutes

Why Cloudways?

Cloudways is managed VPS hosting: you get a cloud server's performance with a dashboard that handles SSH, Redis, Varnish, and SSL for you. Migration is the fastest of any managed host we've tested — the whole move fits in ~20 minutes.

1. Launch the server

In the Cloudways console:

1. Servers → Launch Server.
2. Pick a provider (DigitalOcean and Vultr are the best price-to-performance; our DigitalOcean vs Vultr comparison covers the choice).
3. Pick RAM (2GB is the sensible starting point for most WordPress sites).
4. Choose a region close to your audience.

2. Install WordPress

From Applications → Add Application, pick WordPress. Set the app name, admin email, and username. Cloudways provisions the app with MariaDB and PHP ready.

3. Import content

Use the built-in Site Backup or manual method:

1. Upload your archive to public_html via Application → Public IP → File Manager (or SFTP).
2. Extract it, then import the .sql into a new database through Database Manager → Import.
3. Update wp-config.php with the new DB name, user, and host (Cloudways shows these in the dashboard).

4. DNS + SSL

1. Application → Domain Management → Add Domain, type your domain.
2. At your registrar, change the A record to your server's public IP.
3. Wait for propagation (1-24h), then Application → SSL and auto-install a free Let's Encrypt certificate.

5. Flip on caching

Once live:

• Enable Varnish (full-page cache) and Redis (object cache) from the dashboard — Cloudways versions are tested and safe with most plugins.
• Install the Cloudways WordPress plugin for cache purging after updates.

When to skip Cloudways

If you're comfortable with SSH and want the absolute lowest cost, a raw VPS is cheaper. If you want the very best managed WordPress experience and don't mind paying more, compare Kinsta vs Cloudways or Cloudways vs SiteGround before deciding.