What Web Applications Can You Host on Cloudways?

If you’re a developer, part of an agency, or running a business and trying to figure out where to host your web applications, the variety of supported technologies is usually one of the first things on your mind. Cloudways is well-regarded for its user-friendly approach, scalability, and managed infrastructure, but what can you actually host on their platform?

In this article, we will look at the many types of web apps that Cloudways offers, the environments that they require, and how the hosting service assures compatibility, particularly with PHP versions. Whether you want to implement WordPress, Magento, or a customized PHP framework, this article will help you understand what is achievable and possible with Cloudways Hosting.

Cloudways Core Application Stack

At the heart of the Cloudways platform is a PHP-optimized stack, which means that any application built on PHP could be a good fit for hosting. That said, Cloudways officially supports several major web applications with just a one-click installation:

• WordPress (including WooCommerce and Multisite)
• Magento 2
• Laravel
• Custom PHP Applications

These applications are accessible as quick-launch choices whether you’re creating a new server or adding an app to an existing one. This functionality enables quick deployment without the headache of manual server installation and setup.

PHP and System Compatibility

A crucial aspect of hosting on Cloudways is grasping system compatibility. PHP versioning, database engine requirements, and optional dependencies like Elasticsearch all influence whether an application will run smoothly (or at all).

Here’s a quick overview of the currently supported environments for popular frameworks:

Some key takeaways:

• WordPress is quite flexible across various PHP versions and doesn’t depend on additional services.
• Magento 2.4.x has certain particular requirements. It requires PHP versions 8.1 or 8.2, MariaDB 10.6, and Elasticsearch to function properly.
• Laravel is a popular choice for developing unique business logic apps or APIs, as it offers exceptional flexibility with the most recent PHP versions.

If you are installing a new server against your Cloudways account, Cloudways will handle the entire setup for you. However, if you are adding an application to an existing server, you must ensure that the app is compatible with the current setup, otherwise, you may have installation problems.

What Other Applications Can You Host?

While the main supported applications are popular for a reason, Cloudways also accommodates a variety of other PHP-based applications, as long as your server setup is compatible. Here are some examples:

• CMSs and Shopping Carts: Joomla, Drupal, PrestaShop, OpenCart, Zen Cart
• Frameworks: Symfony, Yii (1 and 2), CodeIgniter, CakePHP
• Custom Projects: Any PHP-based project that doesn’t depend on extensions outside of what Cloudways supports

As long as the application you’re deploying can run on PHP 7.4 or higher (ideally 8.x) and utilizes MySQL-compatible databases (like MariaDB 10.5/10.6), it should work seamlessly on Cloudways.

PHP Version Support and Application Compatibility

Cloudways currently supports PHP versions from 7.4 to 8.3. Older versions, such as PHP 5.6 and early 7.x releases, were phased out by the platform as of August 2022, in line with the official PHP end-of-life timelines.

Here’s a quick reference for PHP compatibility:

• PHP 7.4: WordPress 4.3+, Magento ≤2.4.3, Laravel 6+
• PHP 8.0: WordPress 5.6+, Laravel 8+, Some plugins/themes may need testing
• PHP 8.1–8.2: Magento 2.4.4+, Laravel 9+, WordPress 6+
• PHP 8.3: WordPress 6+, Laravel 10+ (Magento not yet compatible)

Remember that compatibility also depends on your application’s themes, plugins, or packages. It’s usually a good idea to test upgrades in a staging environment before deploying a new PHP version to your production applications.

New vs Existing Servers

Cloudways will perform the required actions if you’re installing a new server. To avoid installation problems, you should make sure that the application is suitable with the current setup of your server, this is if you are adding it to an already-existing server.

On a New Server

• First, pick your cloud provider—whether it’s AWS, GCP, DigitalOcean, or another option along with the application type you want, we select WordPress here.

• Next, choose the size and region for your server.

• Finally, hit launch! Cloudways will take care of everything for you, including installing the right PHP version and all necessary dependencies.

On an Existing Server

If you’re looking to add a new application to a server that’s already up and running, Cloudways will check for compatibility.

You may see the prompts for the following reasons, for instance:

• If you try to install Magento 2.4 on a server running PHP 8.0, Cloudways will either cancel the installation or ask you to update PHP to 8.1 or later.

• If your project requires Elasticsearch but it is not already installed, the platform will guide you through the process of adding it.

This allows you to preserve applicationwhile being flexible with your existing infrastructure.

Best Practices for Hosting Web Apps on Cloudways

Here are some pointers for making the most of the platform:

• Align Application requirements: Prior to choosing PHP, MariaDB, or other services like Elasticsearch, find out what the minimal system needs are for your application.
• Test/Staging Environments: Test PHP updates or new deployments without impacting production stability by utilizing Cloudways’ built-in staging environments.
• Use Server-Level Flexibility: If the dependencies of your PHP apps are in sync, you may run many of them on the same server.
• Resource Monitoring: Use built-in analytics to keep an eye on CPU, memory, and disk consumption. This is especially helpful for Magento or Laravel apps that are experiencing high loads.

Final Thoughts

Cloudways is more than simply a platform for hosting WordPress websites. A broad range of PHP-based apps, from standard CMSs to highly customized Laravel setups, are supported by Cloudways robust managed stack. Cloudways simplifies the deployment process by providing capabilities like version-controlled PHP support, staging environments, and compatibility checks.

If you’re in the middle of developing or moving apps and want freedom without giving up the benefits of managed hosting, Cloudways is definitely worth looking into, especially if your stack is based on current PHP.

Salwa Mujtaba

Salwa Mujtaba is a Technical Content Writer at Cloudways. With a strong background in Computer Science and prior experience as a team lead in Cloudways Operations, she brings a deep understanding of the Cloudways Platform to her writing. Salwa creates content that simplifies complex concepts, making them accessible and engaging for readers. When she's not writing, you can find her enjoying good music, reading a book, or spending quality time with her family.

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