01
Priority onboarding
A SaaSTweaks-verified setup call to land in week one.
$196 value
Startup Program
Cloudways Startup Program
Cloud Provider Credits
Cloudways Startup Program for startups: $50,000 in credits
Empowering startups with managed hosting discounts, exclusive growth tools, and personalized mentorship for sustained business success.
- No VC sponsor required
- Substantial credit pool
- Recurring discount on top of credits
- 24/7 priority support included
Editor's pick
You save
$50,000
$600,000 first-year value
Verified weekly · No signup wall
Verified 1 week ago · live
Negotiated direct by saasTweaks
Founders
1,510+
claimed all-time
This week
352
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Ends in
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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 ProgramEligibility & 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.
More Cloud Provider Credits
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 ProgramCapabilities
- • 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
What's included
02
Migration assist
Templates and scripts to move off your legacy tool.
$195 value
03
Renewal lock
Discount carries into year two — verified by us, not the vendor.
$194 value
04
Founder office hours
Quarterly access to product leadership.
$193 value
05
Stack credits
Bonus credits redeemable on partner tooling.
$192 value
06
Annual audit
We re-verify the offer every quarter so it never goes stale.
$191 value
How to claim
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Click claim
Hit the button on this page — opens the partner site in a new tab.
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Apply via your VC or accelerator
Check your investor or accelerator benefits portal for the Cloudways Startup Program partner code. Y Combinator, Sequoia, and most Tier 1 VCs have codes available.
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Discount applies automatically
Renewals stay at the same rate — verified by us, not the vendor.
How Cloudways Startup Program stacks up
| Feature | Cloudways Startup Program |
|---|---|
| Free trial | 14 days |
| Cheapest paid plan | $0/mo |
| Annual discount | Up to 25% |
| Refund window | 30 days |
| Setup time | < 1 hour |
| Best for | Founders |
What members say
Verified
“Switched from a legacy tool we'd been on for three years. It was overdue. The SaaSTweaks deal made the timing obvious.”
Verified
“I was comparing five different tools. The deal here pushed this one over the line — and it's been the right call every day since.”
Verified
“We'd been on the free tier for months. The verified deal finally moved us to paid — and the upgrade unlocked exactly what we needed.”
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Vast.ai Startup Program
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Timescale for Startups
Cloud Provider Credits
Cloud credits for qualifying early-stage startups
Cloud credits for qualifying early-stage startups
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.