No server admin experience? No problem. Cloudways abstracts all the complex cloud infrastructure so you can go from zero to a live WordPress site in under 15 minutes. This is the exact process I follow every time I spin up a new project.
🔥 Follow Along — Start Your Free Trial
Open a Cloudways account to follow this tutorial step-by-step. 3 days free, no credit card. Use code HIGHSPEED for a discount when you upgrade.
Create Free Account →What You'll Need
Before we start, here's what you should have ready:
✅ Optional (for going live): A domain name (buy from Namecheap, Cloudflare, or Google Domains for ~$10/year).
Choose Your Cloud Provider
Cloudways is unique because you pick the cloud infrastructure that runs behind it. Here's my honest recommendation based on use case:
| Provider | Starting Price | Best For | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean | $14/mo (1GB) | Most websites, blogs, portfolios | ⭐ Best value — start here |
| Vultr HF | $16/mo (1GB) | Speed-critical sites, WooCommerce | Faster CPUs, slightly pricier |
| Linode | $14/mo (1GB) | Stable, low-latency apps | Solid alternative to DO |
| AWS | $38/mo (2GB) | Enterprise, global apps | Overkill for most — skip unless needed |
| Google Cloud | $34/mo (1.75GB) | GCP ecosystem integration | Premium tier, not needed for beginners |
Step-by-Step: From Zero to Live Site
Step 1: Create Your Cloudways Account
Head to Cloudways signup page and enter your name, email, and a password. No credit card is needed — you get a full 3-day trial with access to all features. The coupon code HIGHSPEED should be auto-applied from our link.
After verifying your email, you'll land on the Cloudways dashboard ready to launch your first server.
Step 2: Launch a Server with WordPress
In the dashboard, click Servers → Launch Now (or you'll be redirected to the server creation screen automatically). Configure the following:
Application: Select WordPress (Latest Version) from the dropdown. This installs WordPress with the Breeze caching plugin pre-configured.
Name: Give your app and server a recognizable name (e.g., "my-blog" and "production-server"). This is just for your reference.
Project: Create or select a project to organize your apps.
Provider & Size: Choose DigitalOcean → 2GB plan ($24/mo).
Location: Pick the data center closest to your audience. For the Middle East, choose Bangalore or Frankfurt. For the US, go with New York or San Francisco.
Click Launch Now. Your server deploys in 5-7 minutes.
Step 3: Access Your WordPress Dashboard
Once the server status turns green ("Running"), go to Applications → Your App → Access Details. You'll see:
Application URL: A temporary URL like wordpress-12345.cloudwaysapps.com — this is your live site.
Admin Panel URL: The /wp-admin login link.
Username & Password: Auto-generated credentials for WordPress admin.
Click the Admin Panel URL, log in, and you'll see the standard WordPress dashboard. Your site is already live on the temporary URL!
Step 4: Connect Your Custom Domain
To use your own domain (e.g., yourdomain.com) instead of the temporary URL:
In Cloudways: Go to Application Management → Domain Management. Add your domain name as the primary domain.
In your domain registrar (Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.): Update the DNS A record to point to your Cloudways server's IP address. You can find the IP in Server Management → Master Credentials.
dnschecker.org.
Step 5: Install Free SSL Certificate
Once your domain is pointing to Cloudways (DNS propagated), install a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate:
Go to Application Management → SSL Certificate. Select Let's Encrypt, enter your email and domain, and click Install Certificate. Enable Auto Renewal so your SSL never expires. Enable HTTP to HTTPS redirection to force secure connections.
Your site now has the green padlock and runs over HTTPS — for free, forever.
Step 6: Quick Performance Setup
Before you start building your site, enable these essentials:
Varnish Cache: Go to Server → Settings & Packages → Advanced → make sure Varnish is ON.
Breeze Plugin: In WordPress dashboard, go to Settings → Breeze → enable Browser Cache, Gzip Compression, and Varnish.
PHP Version: Go to Server → Settings & Packages → Packages → select PHP 8.3 (latest stable).
Backups: Go to Server → Backups → set automated daily backups with 7-day retention.
What to Do Next
Install a Theme
Go to Appearance → Themes → Add New in WordPress. For speed, I recommend Kadence, GeneratePress, or Astra — they're lightweight and developer-friendly. Avoid heavy "multipurpose" themes with 50+ bundled plugins.
Set Up a Staging Environment
Before making major changes to your live site, create a staging clone. In Cloudways, go to your Application and click Staging Management in the Quick Actions menu. This creates an exact copy of your site where you can test themes, plugins, and updates safely. When you're happy, push changes to production with one click.
Add More Sites
One of Cloudways' biggest advantages is hosting unlimited applications on a single server. To add another WordPress site, just click Add Application on your existing server — no need to pay for a second plan. Each app gets its own domain, SSL, and staging environment.
Migrate an Existing Site
If you're moving from another host, install the free Cloudways WordPress Migrator plugin on your old site. Enter your Cloudways server credentials and click Migrate — the plugin handles everything automatically. Cloudways also offers one free managed migration where their team does it for you.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why It's Bad | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Using the 1GB plan for production | Not enough RAM for WordPress + MySQL + Varnish under load | Start at 2GB minimum ($24/mo) |
| Forgetting to enable Varnish | Every request hits PHP — 5-10x slower | Enable Varnish + Breeze immediately |
| Installing SSL before DNS propagation | Let's Encrypt verification fails | Wait until domain resolves to your server IP |
| Skipping backups | One bad plugin update = data loss | Enable daily automated backups on day one |
| Installing too many plugins | Each plugin adds PHP overhead and potential conflicts | Keep it under 15 active plugins |
| Not using staging for updates | Breaking changes go straight to production | Always test in staging first |
🚀 Your Turn — Launch in 15 Minutes
Get started with a free 3-day trial on Cloudways. No credit card, no contracts, cancel anytime. Use code HIGHSPEED for a bonus discount when you upgrade.
Start Your Free Trial →Free SSL · Free migration · Unlimited apps · 65+ data centers
FAQ
Do I need to know Linux to use Cloudways?
Not at all. Cloudways provides a visual dashboard for everything — server management, app deployment, SSL, backups, DNS, and scaling. You never need to touch a terminal unless you want to. SSH access is available for developers who prefer command-line workflows.
Can I host more than one website on Cloudways?
Yes — unlimited websites per server. Each application gets its own domain, SSL certificate, staging environment, and backup settings. There's no extra charge for additional sites beyond the server resources they consume.
What happens after the 3-day free trial?
If you don't upgrade, your server pauses. No charges are made. If you upgrade, billing starts on a pay-as-you-go basis — you're charged hourly for what you use, billed at the end of each month. No long-term contracts required.
Can I switch cloud providers later?
Yes. You can migrate your application between providers (e.g., from DigitalOcean to Vultr) by cloning your server. Cloudways also lets you scale vertically (more RAM/CPU) with zero downtime at any time.
Is Cloudways only for WordPress?
No. Cloudways supports WordPress, WooCommerce, Magento, Laravel, Drupal, Joomla, PrestaShop, and any custom PHP application. However, it does not support Node.js, Python, or Ruby frameworks.
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