Best Hosting for Laravel Applications (2026)
Shared hosting and Laravel rarely get along. The framework needs a real server environment: SSH to run Artisan and manage dependencies, PHP 8.2 or higher (required by Laravel 11+), environment variable management, queue workers for background jobs, and staging environments so you can test migrations without touching production. Most entry shared plans don't provide these reliably.
This guide is for developers who already know what they need and want a sound hosting choice — not a tour through affiliate-padded comparison tables. It covers what to look for, what to skip, and why Cloudways consistently hits the right marks for Laravel workloads sitting between DIY cloud and premium managed-WordPress hosts.
Short verdict
Cloudways is the cleanest middle ground between provisioning a raw cloud server yourself and paying premium rates for a managed WordPress platform that doesn't genuinely support Laravel. You get real cloud infrastructure — your choice of DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, or Google Cloud — with a managed operations layer on top: SSH access, PHP-FPM, automated backups, free SSL, and staging environments, without becoming the sysadmin for every server.
It is not the right call if you need fully white-glove support, bundled email hosting, or if your project is simple enough that entry-level shared hosting makes practical and financial sense. A personal site or an early-stage side project doesn't need managed cloud infrastructure yet — and it would be dishonest to suggest otherwise.
What a Laravel host actually needs
| Requirement | Why it matters for Laravel |
|---|---|
| SSH access | Artisan commands, Composer installs, and deployment scripts all need a real shell |
| PHP 8.2+ / PHP-FPM | Laravel 11 requires PHP 8.2+; PHP-FPM handles concurrent requests efficiently |
| Staging environments | Test migrations in isolation before they touch production |
| Queue worker support | Background jobs and event listeners need persistent worker processes |
| Managed security patching | OS updates and firewall management shouldn't be a per-server manual task |
| Sensible cost floor | Managed-WordPress hosts charge for tooling you'll never use on a Laravel app |
Why Cloudways works for Laravel
Cloudways explicitly supports PHP application types including Laravel and Magento — not just WordPress. The platform provisions managed cloud servers with SSH access, PHP-FPM (part of their ThunderStack: Apache + Nginx + Varnish + Redis + Memcached + PHP-FPM), and staging environments as standard features. The operations layer — security patching, automated backups, free SSL renewal — is handled automatically, so you get a properly configured environment without manual server-level editing. The independent testing and reporting behind this recommendation is documented in our full Cloudways review.
The pricing model is pay-as-you-go server cost plus a Cloudways platform fee. A DigitalOcean 1 GB server through Cloudways runs approximately $14/month all-in; the 2 GB tier comes in around $28/month; AWS and Google Cloud workloads start in the high $30s. That's substantially cheaper than Kinsta or WP Engine for comparable managed hosting quality, and meaningfully more capable than shared hosting for a real Laravel application.
The multi-cloud advantage
Most managed hosts lock you to one underlying cloud provider. Cloudways manages servers across five from a single dashboard — a genuine differentiator for developers running multiple projects with different requirements:
- Cost-tier matching: Use DigitalOcean or Vultr for development and smaller apps; move to AWS or Google Cloud only where the workload justifies the cost.
- Geographic flexibility: Pick the datacenter closest to your users per project rather than per account.
- Client requirements: "Must run on AWS" contracts are handled without learning a different management platform per engagement.
- Risk distribution: Spread an agency portfolio across providers so one regional outage doesn't affect the entire client roster.
No other managed host in this category offers this. For teams managing multiple Laravel applications across different clients or workloads, it's the defining reason to choose Cloudways over alternatives.
Where Cloudways is not the right fit
- White-glove support: Cloudways automates operations well, but infrastructure decisions — server size, provider, scaling — remain yours. It isn't a fully managed service where you hand over all control.
- Bundled email hosting: There is no included email. You need a separate transactional email provider and mail host for custom addresses.
- Very small or early-stage projects: If your Laravel app is a personal project or proof-of-concept where operational reliability genuinely doesn't matter yet, entry shared hosting is cheaper. Cloudways earns its cost when infrastructure starts mattering.
- Container-first teams: If your stack is already Kubernetes or serverless functions, a managed server platform adds operational friction rather than removing it.
Cloudways provisions a production-ready managed server in minutes — pick your cloud provider, pick your server size, and the stack is running before you'd finish configuring a VPS from scratch.
Get Cloudways →Full review: Cloudways Review (2026) →
Common questions
Does Cloudways provide SSH access for Laravel?
Yes. SSH access is a core platform feature and one of the explicit reasons Cloudways suits PHP and Laravel workloads. From the shell you can run Artisan commands, manage dependencies, and configure deployment pipelines — the same as you would on any properly set up server, without the setup overhead.
Are staging environments included on Cloudways?
Yes, staging environments are built into the platform. You can clone your application to staging, test migrations and code changes there, and promote to production when ready — without touching the live environment in the meantime. This is one of the features that most clearly separates Cloudways from shared hosting for serious Laravel work.
Is Cloudways cheaper than Kinsta or WP Engine for a Laravel app?
Substantially, yes. Premium managed-WordPress hosts charge for a stack specifically tuned to WordPress. If you're running Laravel you're paying for tooling you'll never use. Cloudways sits at a lower price point and doesn't restrict you to a single application type.
Which cloud provider should I start with for a Laravel app?
For most Laravel apps, DigitalOcean or Vultr are the practical starting points — lower cost floor and good datacenter coverage. Move to AWS or Google Cloud when the workload justifies the cost, or when a client contract specifies a required provider. All five are manageable from the same Cloudways dashboard.
Does Cloudways handle backups automatically?
Yes. Automated backups are part of the managed operations layer the platform covers on every server — alongside free SSL renewal and security patching. Backup management doesn't require separate configuration on your part; it's included in the platform fee.