The Fundamental Difference
DigitalOcean = You get a VM and figure everything out yourself. SSH access, nginx config, SSL certificates, cron jobs — all on you.
Cloudways = They manage the server, you focus on your app. One-click LAMP/LEMP stack, automatic backups, built-in SSH/SFTP.
When to Choose Each
Choose DigitalOcean if:
- You know your way around Linux
- You want maximum control and lowest cost
- You're comfortable debugging server issues
Choose Cloudways if:
- You want to deploy fast without DevOps knowledge
- You're running client sites and need managed backups
- You prefer predictable pricing with no surprise infra bills
Commission Comparison
- Cloudways: $50-175 per sale (one of the highest in hosting)
- DigitalOcean: $25 credit per referred user
Cloudways pays significantly better for affiliates.