Cloudways Startup Program

About Cloudways Startup Program

Up to $50,000 in Cloudways platform credits for managed hosting, plus 15–20% recurring discounts on monthly invoices.
Three-tier program (Build, Grow, Expand) includes 24/7 priority support, exclusive add-ons, and personalized mentorship.
No VC sponsor required; open to bootstrapped and funded startups at early stages.

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform built on top of DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, and AWS. The Startup Program bundles platform credits, hosting discounts, priority support, and mentorship to help early-stage founders reduce infrastructure costs while scaling. Designed for both bootstrapped and venture-backed startups.

Cloudways Startup Program at a glance

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform built on top of DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, and AWS. The Startup Program bundles platform credits, hosting discounts, priority support, and mentorship to help early-stage founders reduce infrastructure costs while scaling. Designed for both bootstrapped and venture-backed startups.

$50,000Max platform credits
15–20%Recurring monthly discount
24/7Priority support tier
3 tiersProgram stages (Build, Grow, Expand)

The Cloudways Startup Program offer explained

Cloudways grants eligible startups up to $50,000 in platform credits applied directly to monthly hosting bills, covering compute, storage, and bandwidth across their managed cloud infrastructure. Credits are paired with 15–20% recurring discounts on invoices, priority technical support, and exclusive add-ons (e.g., advanced caching, security modules). The program is tiered by startup stage and growth metrics.

Heads up: credit programs change their terms and caps regularly — confirm the current offer on the application page before you plan around it.

Apply to Cloudways Startup Program

Eligibility & key terms

Detail	What to know
Stage	Pre-seed through Series A; bootstrapped founders also welcome
Credit allocation	Up to $50,000 depending on tier and use case
Sponsor requirement	None; direct application accepted
Credit validity	Typically 12 months from activation; check terms on approval
Application	Online form; no formal pitch deck required

How Cloudways Startup Program compares

Here's how Cloudways Startup Program stacks up against other cloud infrastructure credits in the same category:

Program	Headline offer	Category
Cloudways Startup Program	$50,000 in credits	This page
Vultr	$300 in free credits for new accounts	Cloud Provider Credits
Oracle for Startups	Up to $100K in free OCI credits	Cloud Provider Credits
Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub	Up to $150K Azure credits + GitHub Enterprise free	Cloud Provider Credits

How to apply for Cloudways Startup Program

1. Visit Cloudways Startup Program page
Navigate to the Cloudways startup program landing page and review the three tiers (Build, Grow, Expand) to identify your fit.
2. Complete the application form
Provide company info, funding stage, monthly burn/revenue, and intended use case. No VC intro needed.
3. Await approval (typically 3–7 days)
Cloudways reviews applications and notifies you of tier placement and credit amount.
4. Activate credits and claim benefits
Log into your Cloudways account, apply credits to a project, and enable priority support and exclusive add-ons.

Pro tip: Stack the platform credits with Cloudways' built-in auto-scaling and managed backups to maximize infrastructure efficiency—many founders waste credits on over-provisioned servers. Start in the Build tier, track your monthly burn, and upgrade tiers as you hit growth milestones to unlock additional credits.

Cloudways Startup Program removes the infrastructure cost barrier for early-stage founders without requiring a VC pedigree—ideal for bootstrapped teams that need production-grade hosting without the DevOps headache.SaaSTweaks editorial

Who should apply — and who shouldn't

Apply if

You're running a web app, SaaS, or content-heavy platform that needs managed hosting and you want to avoid DevOps overhead.
You're bootstrapped or pre-Series A and need to preserve cash for product and marketing rather than infrastructure.
You value 24/7 priority support and personalized guidance as much as the credits themselves.
You're already on or considering DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, or AWS and want a managed layer on top.

Skip if

You're building on Kubernetes, serverless, or edge compute and don't need traditional VPS/managed hosting.
You've already secured significant cloud credits from your cloud provider (AWS Activate, GCP for Startups) and have excess capacity.
Your infrastructure needs are highly specialized (GPU, bare metal, custom networking) and Cloudways' managed offering feels too constrained.

If Cloudways Startup Program isn't the right fit, compare it against Vultr, Oracle for Startups, Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, AWS Activate — or browse the full Cloud Provider Credits category.

Final verdict

Apply — strong program.

Cloudways Startup Program is a straightforward, no-strings-attached credit offer with genuine recurring discounts and support perks. Eligibility is broad (no VC requirement), credit amounts are substantial ($50K), and the three-tier structure accommodates bootstrapped and funded founders alike. Apply early to lock in credits before they're exhausted.

Apply to Cloudways Startup Program

Capabilities

• Up to $50,000 in platform credits
• 15–20% recurring monthly discount
• 24/7 priority technical support
• Exclusive advanced add-ons (caching, security, monitoring)
• Personalized mentorship and growth guidance
• Multi-cloud deployment (DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS)
• Managed hosting with auto-scaling
• Automated backups and disaster recovery

How to claim

Click claim

Hit the button on this page — opens the partner site in a new tab.
Sign up through the partner link

No code needed — the offer applies automatically when you register through our Cloudways Startup Program link.
Offer applies automatically

No surcharge to you — verified by the SaaSTweaks Deal Desk, not the vendor.

See Cloudways Startup Program alternatives →

Members also claimed

Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub

Cloud Provider Credits

Up to $150K Azure credits + GitHub Enterprise free

AWS Activate

Cloud Provider Credits

Up to $100K in free AWS credits

Google Cloud for Startups

Cloud Provider Credits

Up to $350K in free GCP credits

Cloudflare for Startups

Cloud Provider Credits

Up to $250K in free Cloudflare credits

DigitalOcean Hatch

Cloud Provider Credits

Up to $100K in free DigitalOcean credits

OVHcloud Start

Cloud Provider Credits

Up to €100K in free OVHcloud credits

Vultr Startup Program

Cloud Provider Credits

Free cloud credits for eligible startups

Akamai RISE

Cloud Provider Credits

Up to $120K/year in free Akamai Cloud credits

Frequently asked

Who's eligible for the Cloudways Startup Program?

Pre-seed through Series A startups, plus bootstrapped founders. No VC sponsor required. You'll need a valid business and a realistic use case for managed hosting.

How long do the platform credits last?

Credits are typically valid for 12 months from activation. Unused balance expires after that window; plan your infrastructure spend accordingly.

Do I need a VC investor or sponsor to apply?

No. Cloudways accepts direct applications from bootstrapped and funded teams alike. Funding stage is one factor, but not a blocker.

What happens when my credits run out?

You'll revert to standard Cloudways pricing, though you'll retain the 15–20% recurring discount for the program duration. You can reapply in future cycles if eligible.

Can I combine Cloudways credits with other cloud provider programs?

Yes, in most cases. Cloudways credits are separate from AWS Activate or GCP for Startups. However, check your other program's terms to confirm no exclusivity clause exists.

How long does approval typically take?

3–7 days. Cloudways reviews applications in batches. You'll receive an email with your tier, credit amount, and next steps.