VPS Providers: Vultr vs Cloudways vs Liquid Web Comparison
Compare Vultr, Cloudways, Liquid Web and find the best vps providers for your needs. Detailed side-by-side comparison with pros, cons, and features.
Last updated: 2/12/2026
Vultr
Flexible VPS and cloud compute provider with a wide range of instance types, instant provisioning, and global coverage. It is positioned for users who prioritize low entry pricing with broad instance flexibility.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Vultr Best Overall | Cloudways Best Managed Platform | Liquid Web Best Managed |
|---|---|---|---|
9.1 | 8.9 | 8.8 | |
Entry Plan vCPU/RAM/Storage | $2.50/mo (IPv6-only, 1vCPU, 0.5GB RAM, 10GB NVMe) | $14.00/mo (DO 1GB base plan) | $33.00/mo (2 vCPU, 2GB RAM, 40GB SSD, 10TB bandwidth) |
Bandwidth/Traffic | 0.5–25 TB/month | 1–25 TB/month | 10 TB/month |
Data Centers/Regions | 32+ global locations (US, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America) | 150+ locations via AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr | US (Michigan, Arizona), Europe (Amsterdam) |
Virtualization | KVM | Provider-dependent (DigitalOcean/AWS/GCP/Vultr/Linode) | Managed VPS virtualization stack |
Backup/Snapshots | Optional (paid) | Automated (daily, on-demand) | 50GB Acronis included |
Managed (bool) | |||
Support/SLA | Support: 24/7 ticket support | SLA/Uptime: 99.99% | Support: 24/7 chat, ticket | SLA/Uptime: 99.99% (provider SLA) | Support: 24/7 chat, phone, ticket | SLA/Uptime: 100% |
Trial/Credits | Trial credits/promotions vary by campaign. | Short free trial is commonly available (terms apply). | Promotional first-term discounts may apply. |
Updated At | 2026-02-12 | 2026-02-12 | 2026-02-12 |
| Visit Site | View Pricing | View Pricing | View Pricing |
Guided pick
Which product might fit best?
For this head-to-head in vps providers, Vultr stands out because of backup/snapshots (Optional (paid)) and bandwidth/traffic (0.5–25 TB/month), though Cloudways and Liquid Web may fit better when your priorities differ. It underscores Vultr's backup/snapshots (Optional (paid)) and bandwidth/traffic (0.5–25 TB/month) while keeping Cloudways and Liquid Web in view for deployment control.
1. Vultr Best Value
Flexible VPS and cloud compute provider with a wide range of instance types, instant provisioning, and global coverage. It is positioned for users who prioritize low entry pricing with broad instance flexibility.
Pros
- Entry plan baseline: $2.50/mo (IPv6-only, 1vCPU, 0.5GB RAM, 10GB NVMe)
- Bandwidth/traffic: 0.5–25 TB/month
- Regions/data centers: 32+ global locations (US, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America)
- Virtualization/stack: KVM
- Backups/snapshots: Optional (paid)
- Support/SLA: Support: 24/7 ticket support | SLA/Uptime: 99.99%
- Trial/credits: Trial credits/promotions vary by campaign.
Cons
- Unmanaged by default; you handle OS patches, hardening, and app stack operations.
- Backups/snapshots are not included in the base price; budget for add-ons if you need them.
- Promotions/credits are not fixed; plan budgets around published list pricing.
- The lowest entry tier is IPv6-only; choose a different tier if you require IPv4 connectivity.
- Verify the current entry plan, included transfer, and add-on pricing on the official provider page before purchase.
2. Cloudways Best Managed Platform
Managed cloud VPS platform aggregating AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr with unified management. It is positioned for users who prioritize managed control layer across multiple cloud providers.
Pros
- Entry plan baseline: $14.00/mo (DO 1GB base plan)
- Bandwidth/traffic: 1–25 TB/month
- Regions/data centers: 150+ locations via AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr
- Virtualization/stack: Provider-dependent (DigitalOcean/AWS/GCP/Vultr/Linode)
- Backups/snapshots: Automated (daily, on-demand)
- Support/SLA: Support: 24/7 chat, ticket | SLA/Uptime: 99.99% (provider SLA)
- Trial/credits: Short free trial is commonly available (terms apply).
Cons
- Managed scope varies by provider; confirm what is included (OS, backups, security, support).
- Credits/trials can be eligibility-limited; confirm qualification and expiry in the provider terms.
- Underlying infrastructure details depend on the upstream provider/stack; hardware and limits may differ by region.
- Verify the current entry plan, included transfer, and add-on pricing on the official provider page before purchase.
- Confirm whether your preferred OS/images are available on the entry tier (some providers gate options by plan).
3. Liquid Web Best Managed
Premium managed VPS hosting with advanced security, compliance, and 100% uptime SLA. It is positioned for users who prioritize fully managed VPS with strong support and SLA focus. Current plan framing references $33.00/mo (2 vCPU, 2GB RAM, 40GB SSD, 10TB bandwidth), which should still be validated on the official vendor page before purchase.
Pros
- Entry plan baseline: $33.00/mo (2 vCPU, 2GB RAM, 40GB SSD, 10TB bandwidth)
- Bandwidth/traffic: 10 TB/month
- Regions/data centers: US (Michigan, Arizona), Europe (Amsterdam)
- Virtualization/stack: Managed VPS virtualization stack
- Backups/snapshots: 50GB Acronis included
- Support/SLA: Support: 24/7 chat, phone, ticket | SLA/Uptime: 100%
- Trial/credits: Promotional first-term discounts may apply.
Cons
- Managed scope varies by provider; confirm what is included (OS, backups, security, support).
- Promotions/credits are not fixed; plan budgets around published list pricing.
- Verify the current entry plan, included transfer, and add-on pricing on the official provider page before purchase.
- Confirm whether your preferred OS/images are available on the entry tier (some providers gate options by plan).
- Confirm whether IPv4 addresses, additional IPs, or load balancers are billed separately for your configuration.
Explore More Options
Discover additional vps providers options to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Table of Contents
Conclusion
Based on the criteria evaluated above, Vultr emerges as a strong option for many users due to its low entry pricing with broad instance flexibility. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs and preferences. Cloudways is another viable alternative if it better aligns with your priorities. We recommend reviewing all details carefully and considering factors like your budget, features, and user reviews. This is not financial or professional advice. Always verify information from official sources.
Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. Product features, prices, and availability may change. Always verify the latest information from official sources.
Source transparency
Official product pages used in this comparison and the latest verification date for each entry.
- VultrLast verified: 2/12/2026
- CloudwaysLast verified: 2/12/2026
- Liquid WebLast verified: 2/12/2026